Elizabeth Ogilvie

I really feel the story has tanked. it's beyond messy now. it simply has no point to offer the viewer. I suspect the super POOR ratings made them try to "fix"
the story...but heck who knows.

yes. the storyline took a waffle today. poor ratings are making them switch from the intended drama into something else.
feels like rubbish doesn't? beyond frustrating. I guess the drama will end as if we'd watched a Disney fairytale 🙄

Wish I could say episode 9 moved this unhappy story closer to a resolution. It felt like waste of time - packed with unnecessary stories.

Oh that is encouraging; Thank You!! My level of investment once I love the characters can be intense. I will say I've put it on HOLD for a few days now just so I can breathe. The OST is so darned depressing; and the pace is so darned slow - it was taxing my emotions. But I know that, so I've taken a break and will return because.... our Leads are such interesting and well created characters. On a side note, it is unbelievable the FL could lead any kind of life in that psychological frame of mind - she is sullen to the point of needing to be on Rx or in fulltime psychological therapy. But it is a work of fiction, so I will go with the flow of how she's presented.
Again, thank you for the reply and encouragement to continue.

oh no. that's how it ends? I'd put off watching this for so long and am on episode 8. this is why I hate anything marked melodrama. For all the unhappy choices already made, this drama says...it's all set in concrete. bah! Maybe if I was watching another upbeat, or fluffy @ happy drama I could manage. but this is 3 of 3 I'm watching at the same time with depressing stories.
thank you for the comments. well written & insightful.

You wrote a fairly comprehensive review. Thank you. I do appreciate you filling in on details I was not aware of. But...personally I like that The Scandal lost its teeth and that I could feel sympathy for 1 character. That this adaptation was to my liking - for an ultimately dreadful story I've seen too many times.

Son Ye Jin (SYJ) and Nana (N) did not suit their roles. SYJ was aloof, and emotionless - lacking the necessary presence for the role - so I totally agree with you. I got the feeling she was strapped in like she was wearing a corset. Ji Chang Wook did a splendid job until the last episode, when he lapsed into the Wookie most of us know. But there was no chemistry to speak of - and TBH, it's not needed for such a story because there is no real romance going on here. All it needed was the "arousal of senses" and because the entire production was so decadent it worked. I too, felt it was worth watching; it's my 4th time watching an adaptation on this French novel. But the Director failed the actors (I think he was more interested in showing the R rated component than allowing the actors to bring their roles to life). And maybe that's what you mean by. The other major failure IMO was the cosmetics/makeup...a bit too chalky while all the other visual stuff like n-screen colors, costumes and lighting was so beautiful.

7 is very high after reading your review. I agree with your observations. I believe this method of characterizing ppl in Korean dramas shows the true of nature of the Korean mindset. And it doesn't give a warm feeling to the western mind. Mr Kim was a prideful jerk who "knew it all" and had his mother to blame. That scene as a child was the "hook" for the viewer's interest but Mr Kim was incapable of gratitude and many other life skills. The drama never made Mr Kim sympathetic a person so it was just an unpleasant drama about an incapable person.

I really appreciate your review. Never expected another person to have such a similar pov on a wretched drama. I think my rating of 7/10 is generous. and even your rating of 8/10 feels generous too. All in all it was HARD to find enjoyment as I'd lost patience with it at the beginning of part 8. Then it finally came alive ... but only just came alive. Had it been more episodes I'd have dropped it and never looked back. But I find when a drama is this popular it helps to watch it all - if only to have conversations about it and compare notes (so to speak).
The only real difference between my review experience and yours is the OST. I put the drama on MUTE frequently because I disliked the ost so much. MeloMance was the 1 shining star in that area. But such is life in Kdrama world.

This is the photo I saw in 2025 that started my Brave New World (that became My Royal Nemesis) journey. A fresh pairing of actors that NOW seems more than fortuitous!!

they BETTER NOT!!!
And thank you for commenting. it's been so confusing trying to figure out why I couldn't watch episodes as they aired. Yet seeing countless SMS about them..and the ending. While I wait to get access to episode 11 & 12 on Monday😑

Disney+ and Hulu (the official streaming service) will not air the last 2 episodes until on April 6. Meanwhile, the drama ended in Korea. Serious error in marketing choice.

Since you haven't seen actress Go Youn Jung prior to this, I suggest you check her out in Alchemy of Souls season 2. As Mu Hee, she's seems to be the exact same person here which I found distracting & disappointing.
Thank you for your considerate review on CTLBT.