Although sageuks never cause an increment in my excitement meter for a show, upcoming romance drama Ruler: Master of the Mask does make me a bit interested. It is mostly due to the cast, comprising young talents Yoo Seung Ho and Kim So Hyun in the lead roles. Frankly speaking, I haven’t seen any of his dramas before and have seen her in only minor roles (except maybe Goblin, where her role cannot be considered minor). But I have read so many good things about these two and know how amazing she is, and looks so graceful in a sageuk; it definitely had to be a positive feeling for Ruler: Master of the Mask.

The show has star crossed lovers at its center. Yoo Seung Ho (Remember —Son’s War) plays the Crown Prince, who is in search of answers to the major question in his life — why is he forced to wear a mask? Kim So Hyun plays the woman who wants to take revenge against the Crown Prince whom she considers responsible for her father’s death. But of course, she will fall in love with him later on. Then there is L (She’s So Lovable), starring as a peasant who acts as a stand-in for the prince. The prince fights against a powerful organisation called Pyeonsoohwae as it’s known to be corrupt. Yoon So Hee (Marriage Not Dating) plays the granddaughter of this organisation’s president, played by Heo Joon Ho (Beautiful Mind). Rounding out the cast as our hero’s teacher is Park Chul Min (Moonlight Drawn By The Clouds).

The drama certainly has all the features to become the next epic sageuk tale. It will have the Wednesday-Thursday slot on MBC, the channel which broadcasts a relatively large number of sageuks (Dae Jang Geum, Empress Ki, Gu Family Book, to name a few). It is penned by two new writers and is directed by the PDs of Soulmate, Make A Woman Cry and Working Mom Parenting Daddy, A Daughter Just Like You. It starts on 10th May this week.