The Tale of Lady Ok unfolds with Im Ji-yeon

7 November 1, 2024November 1, 2024

The Tale of Lady Ok unfolds with Im Ji-yeon

by solstices

As the prelude to JTBC’s latest sageuk The Tale of Lady Ok, a second teaser offers yet another glimpse into the agonizing misery that our titular Joseon serf escapes from. When an unexpected incident washes away her past and presents her with a new identity, our reborn heroine seizes the opportunity to reinvent her life.

The teaser opens with the battered serf Gu Deok-yi — played by Im Ji-yeon (The Killing Vote) — trekking laboriously through the snow with a companion. Alas, the blistering cold gets the better of her partner. A flashback reveals the reason for their escape — Deok-yi was wrapped in a straw mat and viciously beaten by the spiteful lady of the house, who screamed that she ought to die.

Just as it seems her world is ending, Deok-yi meets a kindred spirit. Lady Ok, played by Sohn Na-eun (Romance in the House), extends a benevolent hand to our runaway serf. Regarding Deok-yi as an equal despite her lower status, Lady Ok warmly welcomes our heroine into her household.

Alas, their peaceful days don’t last long. One night, a shower of flaming arrows commences an act of arson upon Lady Ok’s residence, and after the blaze dies down, Deok-yi awakes to a relieved embrace. “You’re our dear Tae-young, right?” Deok-yi most certainly is not, but she’s not about to correct the case of mistaken identity and throw away her chance at a new life.

With that, Deok-yi steps into her new privilege as Lady Ok Tae-young. Dressed in fine fabrics and sharing a lavish feast with the nobleman Choo Young-woo (Oasis), Tae-young is finally able to smile brightly and wholeheartedly. For once, she’s no longer at the mercy of others.

Just because she’s risen up the social rungs, however, doesn’t mean Tae-young has forgotten her roots. Not only is she defying the fate of a serf, but she will also use her newly gained power for good: “I will protect the people whom I must protect.” With that, Tae-young takes up arms to defend a group of serfs, a sword in hand with a bow and quiver of arrows upon her back. The teaser ends with our heroine staunchly reasserting her newfound identity: “My name is Ok Tae-young.”

Directed by PD Jin Hyuk (Sisyphus: The Myth) with scripts written by Park Ji-sook (Uncle), The Tale of Lady Ok will turn its first page on November 30.

Via JTBC, Newsen

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1 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)

November 1, 2024 at 11:07 PM

Alternate Endings Game: the real Lady Ok isn't dead, but when she comes back and wants to regain her place Deok-yi silences her terminally rather than face exposure.

Or not.