The prince casts off his mask to fight for the people in Ruler—Master of the Mask

90 May 5, 2017April 30, 2023

The prince casts off his mask to fight for the people in Ruler—Master of the Mask

by tipsymocha

We’ve made it beanies! We are now 5 days away from the premiere of MBC’s Ruler—Master of the Mask, and the show is busy in its last promo spurt. The drama has just released an extended trailer, as well as some more pretty stills of our main cast on the set. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been waiting for this drama for foreveerrrr.

The teaser begins with the prince’s birth in the palace, and Dae-mok, the villainous head of the shadow organization Pyeonsoohwae played by Heo Joon-ho (Beautiful Mind), boldly ordering the king to bring the prince before him. Huh, well, at least we know where we first stand in the power struggle between the royal family and Pyeonsoohwae. The king gravely requests of his son, “You must grow the strength to fight against them. One day, I pray that you will take off this mask and become a true ruler.” We see the military strength Pyeonsoohwae wields, and the king placing the titular mask over the face of his infant son.

We fast-forward to grown-up prince Lee Sun—portrayed by Yoo Seung-ho (Remember—Son’s War)—who is constantly hounded by rumors that he has to wear his mask because he’s cursed or diseased. As mentioned in earlier reports, he leaves the palace in search for answers, and while running away from the guards, he bumps into Ga-eun, played by Kim So-hyun (Bring It On, Ghost). Can I just say, I LOVE how she literally catches him in her arms, all reverse damsel-in-distress. That made my day.

The meet-cute scene was in a previous teaser as well, where the prince asks her whether she thinks he’s handsome and he flirts with her, but I have absolutely zero complaints about watching it all over again. *Rewind, play, repeat* Ga-eun is initially unimpressed with the prince and takes issue with him speaking down to her, to which he replies, “I’m someone who can do that.” Yeah, prince or no prince, you’re kind of asking for it when she stomps on your foot, hee. I have to admit, I squealed a little when the prince looked mighty pleased to find that Ga-eun isn’t betrothed. Great, now I know this drama is gonna tear my heart out when the eventual tragedy strikes.

Ga-eun and the peasant Lee Sun—portrayed by L (She’s So Lovable)—lead the prince to Woo-bo (played by Park Chul-min of Moonlight Drawn By Clouds), who is the first to inform the prince of the existence of Pyeonsoohwae. We see the king outnumbered in political allies in his own court, and that Dae-mok controls a vast army of warriors and politicians. The king rages at Dae-mok for his plan to privatize Joseon’s water supply, and Dae-mok says to his followers, “That water will supply our coffers!” The prince launches an investigation into Pyeonsoohwae’s efforts, but it looks like the king is threatened with the prince’s life, so the king orders the arrest and execution of Ga-eun’s father while ignoring the prince’s tear-filled protests. Eugh, the heartbreak is hard to take already. I’m gonna be a mess.

It looks like Woo-bo and Dae-mok also have some history together, as Woo-bo laments, “I see you have given up on being human and have become a dog.” We get a glimpse of Yoon So-hee’s (Memory) Hwa-goon character, when she asks her grandfather Dae-mok what would happen if she steals the prince’s heart. He replies, “Then you will have to make him watch his tongue.”

We see the prince lead his pauper into the palace and inform his father of his intention to make the pauper take his place. Flashes of intense fighting are shown as a woman asks offscreen, “Has anyone in this kingdom survived a fight with Dae-mok?” And the prince cries to his father, “I never asked to be the crown prince!” Hmmm, it looks like it’s still peasant Lee Sun behind the mask when he ascends the throne; I wonder whether that’s another power struggle the real prince will have to overcome.

This trailer promises epicness and heartrending angst in spades, and I am so ready for this show to start already. Take my tears, Ruler, I will gladly hand them over. Ruler—Master of the Mask will begin next Wednesday, May 10.

Via iMBC (1), iMBC (2), Sports Chosun, Insight, Naver TV

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1 Sky robot

May 5, 2017 at 2:13 PM

Can't waitttttttt! Ruler , you may rule my heart.

Kim so hyun constantly surprises my by tackling so many different roles. I can't believe she is only 17.

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somegirl

May 5, 2017 at 10:32 PM

Oh right, I forgot she's only 17! This lady! ?

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2 cutie

May 5, 2017 at 2:29 PM

That scene where she catch him from falling was gold..

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mulan

May 5, 2017 at 4:49 PM

YAS. Talk about flipping those damn gender roles.

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vanptc

May 5, 2017 at 9:58 PM

lmao. switch gender, right? I love it. So hilarious.

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byeol

May 6, 2017 at 12:30 AM

Lol talking about switch gender roles, I love how beautiful the first photo (of this post) and.. hilarious
He's inside the palanquin covering himself with a hanbok and she's the one outside.
I'm taking it as though she's waiting for his prince charming to finally step up or she's trying to rescue him and offer her hand for a help. Ghash forgive me. It's just that this show is giving me a lot of feels ?

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3 wackycashew

May 5, 2017 at 4:09 PM

Totally counting down to this show!! Been anticipating for the longest time!! Love the cast and I'm ready for a good sageuk!! ?

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4 owl 🦉 🫰

May 5, 2017 at 4:37 PM

Master of the Mask coming soon! And this on the heels of rewatching Moon Lovers (mask theme). Yoo Seung-ho, can't wait ~

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Ek Ladhki Thi

May 5, 2017 at 7:46 PM

Moon Lovers was one of my favourite sagueks of last year. That drama did strange things to my emotions.

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5 bananachocolate

May 5, 2017 at 4:45 PM

BRING ON THE ANGSTTTT!!!!!!

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6 Melona

May 5, 2017 at 4:56 PM

Not trying to rain on Ruler's parade, but judging from this teaser, L is still pretty bad. The rest, I'm looking forward to. Kim So-hyun is great as always, and so pretty.

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chingu

May 5, 2017 at 7:00 PM

Oof. I kinda saw that, too. Also with Yoon So-hee! I hope there's more to them than the little snippets we saw of them in this trailer.

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Mandy

May 5, 2017 at 8:11 PM

I actually hope not. I'd rather the drama focuses on the main leads because the second leads are not going to make me very happy. Yoon So-hee can possibly manage but my heavens L is just as terrible as he's forever been in just a few seconds. Ugh I hope I'm wrong.

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Han Ga Eun's boyfriend King Lee Sun

May 5, 2017 at 11:33 PM

I approve this comment!

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chingu

May 5, 2017 at 11:43 PM

Oh my goodness, yes, I'm totally with you in that the show should totally focus on the main leads (but they probably won't seeing that L's role is kinda important as the prince's stand-in). What I was saying was that I hope both L and So-hee show more potential (to be good/better than what is shown in these promo vids) in the actual drama and they carry out their roles well, not wanting to see more of them. Heh. I didn't want to judge them off of only a few seconds and wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. I actually don't care much for L's (although I AM curious to find out how and why he's chosen to be the one to disguise as the prince behind the mask) and So-hee's characters, but I don't think they'll be cast aside so easily, so I'm hoping at least they'll be good.

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7 yuelie

May 5, 2017 at 5:10 PM

I don't watch "Rebel" because I can feel a "massacre drama" vibe from it, meaning lots of characters won't end the show alive. It's not spoilers, I'm just speculating!
I don't watch Saimdang 'cause it didn't click with me...

I need some Sageuk! Show, come quickly!

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bqk318

May 5, 2017 at 11:54 PM

So much sageuk are coming!

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8 jaybird

May 5, 2017 at 5:33 PM

I am beyond excited for this drama! Keen as a bean

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9 Tara

May 5, 2017 at 5:51 PM

D-4 ????

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10 ketchup

May 5, 2017 at 5:54 PM

*chants in circles* Please be good DramaGods! Please be good!

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11 selenium

May 5, 2017 at 6:31 PM

I'm afraid this drama will disappoint me because everything we've seen so far has built up the excitement for me. THIS BETTER BE GOOD!!! It looks awesome and tragic. Bring on the angst!

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Mina

May 6, 2017 at 12:54 PM

Same with me!! In fact, I can't help remember my baby Lee Jun Ki's sageuks while reading this article and that scare me because Scarlet Heart and Scholar (...) were great disappointment for me! And back then, I had a hard time recovering from that!
Fingers crossed!

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12 chingu

May 5, 2017 at 6:57 PM

Chills.

Can't wait to check this out next week! I'm ready to give Show all my tears, too. I just don't get HOW (and why) the butcher's son gets to don the prince's royal mask and be in his place. I predict lots of blood and tears to be shed–the latter will be on my end, as well. Bring it on, Show!

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13 etrenelle

May 5, 2017 at 7:04 PM

I can already hear my heart tearing to pieces.....

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14 PinkSushi

May 5, 2017 at 7:31 PM

I AM SOOOOOOO READY

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15 Ek Ladhki Thi

May 5, 2017 at 7:44 PM

Yes, take all my feels!!!!! TAKE IT!!! I'm ready to be ripped to shreds. I haven't watched any Wed/Thurs dramas in a while so I hope this fills the hole.

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16 celine

May 5, 2017 at 7:46 PM

A dream pairing right here! I cannot wait to see Seungho and Sohyun on ma screen.

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17 outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍

May 5, 2017 at 7:51 PM

Am I the only one excited to see how badass Heo Joon Ho is? He was very good in Beautiful Mind but he looks even more awesome here. It also helps that he has what I call a 'saeguk face' ?

I'm already sold on YSH and KSH but since when has KSH not have a chemistry with anyone?

Even L looks fine in this teaser. I think the mask might help to cover his inadequacies. He needs a good PD. I've seen how a PD can help make an actor look better than he actually is at acting.

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byeol

May 5, 2017 at 10:25 PM

Yes! Badass Heo Joon Ho in a sageuk is perfect. Plus the all black costume and the dark 'office' with the Pyeonsoonhwae shining logo at the back. I have to comment how much I like the design of that room. Never seen a villain's room like that in a saguek before. It showed how influential Dae Mok is. The show makes it look like he have his own throne and fancy room. Geeez.. the antagonistic feels is overflowing.

With regards to L, I think the mask can possibly make it worst because it means that he have to emote through his eyes and deliver the emotions to the viewers through it since his whole face is covered & we'll only be looking to those two tiny holes. I agree that a good PD can work on it. Although it's hard and it requires doubled effort to achieve it (lots of retake for camera angles and such)

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18 waenyol

May 5, 2017 at 8:02 PM

Woah! The trailer makes me eager to watch this drama. It's epic!!!! Kim Soo Hyun is ?.

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Elle F

May 5, 2017 at 8:27 PM

Kim SO Hyun!

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19 lush

May 5, 2017 at 8:29 PM

i'm not much of a yoo seungho fan but i'm always in a mood for an epic sageuk. i'll be looking forward to this

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20 J

May 5, 2017 at 8:45 PM

MBC is promoting this intensely since they've been in a slump. They even had a teaser in last year's drama awards.

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Elle F

May 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM

What's wrong with that?

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J

May 5, 2017 at 9:27 PM

Nothing in particular. But excessive media-play is bound to backfire if the project doesn't exceed the now very high public expectations that MBC has been setting on this since last year. Ruler is viewed more favorably because of the leads but this tactic just reminded me of Moon Lovers and Uncontrollably Fond, which were also pre-produced and failed miserably.

(I'm a mainstay of Naver so I experience first-hand the push this is getting from MBC compared to its other dramas or any soon-to-air drama. So it really better be good.)

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Globe

May 5, 2017 at 10:34 PM

Firstly, Ruler promotions only really began in April so I won't say they've been promoting for a long time and the teaser at the drama awards was a complete non-teaser since it told us nothing whatsoever. And MBC has been constantly releasing still cuts and interviews for King Loves even before the drama had an air date/time slot. JTBC did the same with ManxMan. In fact all the JTBC dramas got a major magazine spread.

Secondly, this is only about 60% pre produced since they've only filmed about 12-13 episodes at present and will be filming well into May and June much like SWDBS.

Lastly, I think by now people have learnt to keep their expectations at a normal level for pre-produced dramas given everything that happened last year and then this year with Saimdang.

And SP has been promoting excessively in the last 2-3 weeks as well so I think it's safe to say that both drama's are at an equal footing for now.

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J

May 5, 2017 at 10:56 PM

I don't know why you're trying so hard to prove that they are not promoting so heavily, really. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's not even a bad thing, it's just that some productions have been burned by overly-enthusiastic PR teams so stations should proceed cautiously.

MBC is in a slump, so the pressure to deliver is already high. I mean, whatever you say, it was still a teaser. They even have both the leads present at their award show to create buzz that early. That's already promotion, same with The King's Love. Stations don't even normally do that, they reserve that for their prestige projects which Ruler is for MBC.

Of course, SP is an underdog. We didn't even know about it two months ago. Whatever, I'm done with the back-and-forth.

Globe

May 5, 2017 at 11:02 PM

That was my point, the production team hasn't be over promoting as much as I would like them to. For a drama that's been in production since Jan the lack of BTS videos and cast interactions has been killing! Didn't mean to come across as hostile. My apologies!

But can a drama with JCW ever be an underdog though? K2 was impossible to watch but did so well! I can't even wrap my head around that.

Sam

May 5, 2017 at 11:04 PM

Gurl, they did start promoting early. Like, come on. Seven Day Queen, which will premiere two weeks after Ruler just dropped a teaser that didn't allude to any plot at all. Ruler dropped theirs last year!

Kim

May 5, 2017 at 11:11 PM

@Globe

I know JCW is beloved by overseas fans but he's not really top-tier leading man in So-Kor. He hasn't headlined certified hit in a public channel yet. YSH and KSH have higher public recognition than JCW or NJH.

Globe

May 5, 2017 at 11:24 PM

@Sam

I still think for a drama that started production in Jan the promotions have been too few. Saimdang, UF, DOTS & Hwarang had way more. I would prefer more BTS videos and a magazine spread to be honest. And the still cuts and trailers are all from scenes they shot way back when. I don't even think it goes beyond the first 3 episodes. It's too little! :(

@Kim

Oh I didn't know that! From the comments on Naver I assumed he had an immense popularity in S.Korea as well. He keeps trending every few days.

Sam

May 6, 2017 at 12:05 AM

@Globe Well, of course. Since it's not a drama aimed to sell to China with a star writer, nor it has an ensemble cast full of Hallyu stars like those you've mentioned. But compared to others, it is indeed getting a massive push. /end

Globe

May 6, 2017 at 4:04 AM

@Sam - I would just like to state that this drama has already been sold to Taiwan which last I checked was still part of China. IQyi will be airing it if I'm not wrong.

byeol

May 5, 2017 at 11:52 PM

I maybe in the minority but I feel different. What I see is that MBC is promoting it LESS than what they expect in return. Their wed-thurs are consistenly on the bottom so it's given that they expect to get back on the track through this show but the PR team must work more if they expect greater.

The hype came mostly from the name of the casts (which is pretty much like moon lovers). The promotions they gave us are the usual materials. No excessive behind the scenes. Its just that the promotional campaign started early given that it is pre produced and the station itself is really excited.

Regarding SP, The news came out a bit late but it is not a total underdog (not the LOTBS vs WLFKBJ type) considering it have Ji Chang Wook + it is his last drama before enlistment + it's not an action. The promotions this past few weeks are consistent and appealing so let's expect a tough ratings competition. *grabs a popcorn*

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Mabella

May 6, 2017 at 1:48 AM

Actually Ji Chang Wook is not considered a ratings draw in Korea. He was always known to be more popular overseas especially in China than domestically. I think Master has wed-thurs ratings in the bag unless the script fails and the directing goes south. Yoo Seung Ho is extremely popular in Korea. Even his last drama which honestly had a pretty terrible script and less than stellar chemistry with Park Min Young did 18%.

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cutie

May 6, 2017 at 1:54 AM

Remember son's war hits 20%

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FAN-attic

May 6, 2017 at 2:19 AM

Considering that Ruler has a newbie writer and a director with no saeguk experience and KSH herself saying they could've done better in some areas I'd say being concerned about the ratings is only fair. Not to mention the 2nd leads are less than desirable in the acting department.

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outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍

May 6, 2017 at 2:35 AM

Yikes! She said that? Oh dear, I hope she was just being modest. Still, I can take flaws as long as the whole thing works.

FAN-attic

May 6, 2017 at 2:55 AM

It was a passing comment in her Vlive today so I'm not sure what to make of it either but hoping the drama will be awesome!

Here's the link if anyone is interested:
http://www.vlive.tv/video/29451

kiara

May 6, 2017 at 5:50 AM

Watching for her because she won't disappoint.
I can see why they went fictional with the characters here. There is no way anyone would order King Yeongjo around like that.

cutie

May 6, 2017 at 1:52 AM

@ the comments above me. Mbc never over promotes this drama, the reason why they showed the first teaser last year was because it started shooting at dec 26, four days lAter was the award show. It was tiring waiting for this drama really due to non updates from mbc their selves, it was last month that they started promoting this drama very well, the way their supposed to..

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21 fayt890

May 5, 2017 at 8:56 PM

Finally a new drama I'm super excited for! I've been in a strange drama lull as of late. Hope this is a good one! *prays to kdrama gods*

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22 Globe

May 5, 2017 at 9:03 PM

That reverse falling-catching is pure GOLD! Please let there be plenty of gender reversals in this drama! Saeguk heroine's breaking gender molds are the best!

I've been trying to keep my expectations for this drama very low but everytime I see YSH & KSH together its just....WAAA!!

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byeol

May 5, 2017 at 10:40 PM

As far as what the show gave us, Ga Eun is not the typical noble woman in Joseon Era. She can horse ride and hold a sword since she came from a clan of swordfighters. We are yet to see much If sword fighting is necessary for her plan of revenge if not making the prince fall inlove then eventually break his heart and stab him for a double kill. Though we know it will not happen before she finds herself falling in love with him. But at least, give us some badass fighting kim so hyun please.

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Globe

May 5, 2017 at 10:44 PM

I'm happy with the dagger in the heart, literally or metaphorically! Lol!

KSH playing strong female leads is a given and to think she's achieved that niche so early on in her career. So proud!

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23 Starry Knight✨

May 5, 2017 at 9:39 PM

Cheonaaaa!!! Please let this drama be good!!?

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24 mysteriousrhain

May 5, 2017 at 9:49 PM

We'll expect a great acting from two experienced child actors. A young actress is suitable with Yoo Seung Ho so Kim SoHyun is just perfect for him. I can sense some The Princess' Man vibes from this drama. Politics + Romance + Sageuk + RomeoJuliet type of drama. Can't wait!

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25 byeol

May 5, 2017 at 9:56 PM

The prince fall in love to Ga Eun and befriended butcher lee seon. There was an emotional attachment already since it looks like they were the first persons he met outside the palace and saw his face.

Prince lee seon bringing in the pauper himself showed how much he trusts butcher lee seon.
So if the pauper will really go dark later on as we suspects, we will both expect a friend's betrayal and a tragic romance. *shoots two arrows straight to the heart* ??

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Ruler–Master of the Mask