Fantasy period dramas dominate small screen

Yoo Seung-ho, right, and Kim So-hyun in a scene from "The Emperor: Owner of the Mask" / Courtesy of MBC

By Park Jin-hai

The small screen is heating up this summer with a war between fantasy period dramas. Although these dramas are not free from the criticism that they are distorting historical facts for a more dramatic story, all three major broadcasters are offering their brand of fusion period dramas set in the Joseon Kingdom, vying to lure local viewers.

The one that is currently a notch above the others in this race is MBC with “The Emperor: Owner of the Mask,” which premiered last month. SBS joined the race last week with “My Sassy Girl,” a Joseon-era version of the popular movie of the same name, which originally told the story of an ordinary man and his eccentric girlfriend. Late comer KBS followed with “Queen for Seven Days,” a tragic love story based on the historical figure Queen Dangyeong, who was crowned and deposed from the throne within seven days.

“The Emperor: Owner of the Mask,” starring Yoo Seung-ho and Kim So-hyun, has seen smooth sailing so far with a strong viewership.

The Wednesday-Thursday drama, which is being compared by critics to last year’s smash hit fantasy period drama “Love in the Moonlight,” has topped the ratings in the same time slot for four straight weeks, with its latest episode posting nearly 14 percent.

A scene from "Queen for Seven Days" / Courtesy of KBS

Dubbed as a Joseon-era “Romeo and Juliet,” the drama tells the story of Crown Prince Yi Sun, played by Yoo, fighting against an organization that controls the country from behind the scenes with its monopoly of the nation's water supply. Yi’s love interest Han Ga-eun, played by actress Kim, mistakenly believes Yi killed her father and hates him. But the drama takes a fresh turn after they happen to reunite after five years.

“My Sassy Girl,” SBS fantasy period drama starring Joo Won and Oh Yeon-seo, is the remake of 2001 romantic comedy film of the same title. In the drama, where whole episodes are shot just before they are aired, actor Joo plays a Joseon-era scholar and actress Oh plays the role of an eccentric princess who climbs walls when she is drunk.

As drama producer Oh Jin-seok said in a press conference that “the drama is an official remake of the famous movie in dramatic form,” many scenes overlap with the original film but in different historical settings.

“Queen for Seven Days” on KBS sheds light on the life of Queen Dangyeong, played by actress Park Min-young. The story revolves around the love triangle between the Queen, King Jungjong, played by Yeon Woo-jin and Yeonsangun, Jungjong’s half brother dethroned in a coup, played by Lee Dong-gun.

Unlike classic period dramas, the so-called fusion period dramas mingle historical facts with fictional elements of romance fantasy and action. For the past few years, fusion period dramas have received strong responses from drama fans. The fad started with “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” (2010) and continued with “The Princess’ Man” (2011), “Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012) and “Love in the Moonlight” (2016).

A scene from "My sassy girl" / Courtesy of SBS

Critics say this trend will continue for some while. “Already many period dramas have tapped into fantasy elements and this fusion trend will become more conspicuous in the future,” said culture critic Shin Ju-jin.