Set in 18th-century Joseon, it tells the fictional story of Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung-ho) and his fight against the powerful and wealthy organization, Pyunsoo-hoe that controls the country behind the scenes due to its monopoly of the nation's water supply. With the help of the woman he loves named Han Ga-eun (Kim So-hyun), Lee Sun overcomes adversity and grows as a just ruler.[3]
Despite differences in tone, the media noted the drama's similarities with KBS2's hit series Love in the Moonlight (2016) as both are set in Joseon era with young lead actors born in 1993 (Moonlight'sPark Bo-gum, Emperor'sYoo) and 1999 (Moonlight'sKim Yoo-jung, Emperor'sKim).[13][14]Emperor also co-stars Park Chul-min who had a supporting role in Moonlight.[15]
The first script reading took place on December 23, 2016 at MBC Broadcasting Station in Sangam, Seoul, South Korea. The series was pre-produced with filming commencing in December 2016, and lasted six months.[16][17][18][19] The series reunited Kim So-hyun and Yoo Seung-ho who starred in Missing You (2013), and Kim Myung-soo and Yoon So-hee in The Day After We Broke Up (2016).[20][21]
The series was promoted heavily by MBC, with the first teaser released six months before its premiere at the MBC Drama Awards, where leads Yoo and Kim also served as presenters.[22] There were also several exclusive Naver features and V Live broadcasts before and during its run.[23][24][25]
Despite being touted as the next Love in the Moonlight (2016) which became a youth sageuk sensation,[33]Emperor was not able to emulate Moonlight's success and only averaged modest ratings of 12.4%.[34][35] Additionally, even though it topped ratings in its time slot, it was overtaken by its competitor in the important 20-49 year old demographic, as well as streaming, popularity, and brand reputation charts for consecutive weeks.[36][37] With the extensive promotion and hype the series received before premiere, its figures were underwhelming.[38][39][40] Performances of the cast were praised, though audiences also stated their dissatisfaction with the story and the production as a whole.[34][41] William Schwartz of HanCinema stated that the series is "irredeemably stupid", adding that "...the obstacles the characters run into are never clearly defined. It's one of the reasons why the resolutions in this drama are so unsatisfying. There's no tension."[42]
Ratings
In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
In Philippines, the drama will be aired this 2018 as part of GMA Network's The Heart of Asia under the title Emperor: Ruler of the Mask on the 15th anniversary celebration.
In India, the drama will be aired when announcement on Sony TV as Dubbed With Hindi, Rename as सम्राट: मास्क के मालिक (Samraat:Maask ke maailk), Same Time, Will Be Join Dubbed With Tamil on Star Vijay as பேரரசர்: மாஸ்க் உரிமையாளர் (Peraracar:Mask Urimaiyalar), Dubbed in Malayalam on Asianet as ചക്രവർത്തി: മാസ്കിന്റെ ഉടമ (Cakravartti:Maskinre Utama), Dubbed With Telugu on Star Maa as చక్రవర్తి: యజమాని యొక్క యజమాని (Cakravartti:Yajamani yokka yajamani) and Dubbed With Bengali On With Same Title On Star Jalsha as সম্রাট: মাস্কের মালিক (Samrata:Maskera Mailka).
Notes
^ abIn order to circumvent Korean laws that prevent commercial breaks in the middle of an episode, what would previously have been aired as single 70 minute episodes are now being repackaged as two 35 minute episodes, with two episodes being shown each night with a commercial break between the two.[1]
^ ab"No Hit Drama Among the Three Big Broadcasters". Yonhap News (in Korean). 주연을 맡은 배우들은 너나 할 것 없이 멋진 한복차림으로 '어여쁨'을 뽐내고 있고, 이들이 펼치는 로맨스는 어김없이 감정이입을 이끈다. 하지만 스토리가 받쳐주지 않으면서 로맨스도 더는 치고 나가지 못하고 있다. 배우들끼리의 멜로 화학작용 자체도 썩 매끄럽지 못하다. '구르미 그린 달빛'이 지난해 9~10월 시청률 20%를 넘어서며 '박보검 신드롬'을 일으켰던 것과 비교하면 현재 세 사극의 성적은 초라하다. '군주'가 11~13%로 그나마 10%를 넘어서고 있고, '엽기적인 그녀'가 7~10%, '7일의 왕비'는 6%대에 시청률이 머물고 있다. '어디서 많이 본 듯한 이야기의 짜깁기', '닥치고 애틋한 멜로만 강조한다' 등의 지적이 나온다.
^"'드라마=로코' 성공 방정식 깨진다". Se Daily (in Korean). 수목 로코 드라마도 상황은 마찬가지다. SBS의 '수상한 파트너', MBC의 사극 '군주' 역시 시청률 10% 안팎을 힘겹게 오가고 있는 것. '군주' 역시 지난해 화제가 됐던 '구르미 그린 달빛'을 연상케 하는 풋풋한 사랑에 아역 출신 유승호와 김소현의 매력이 더해져 커다란 사랑을 받을 것이라는 관측이 지배적이었다.
^"The Irony of Suspicious Partner". Newsen. 그러나 전체 시청률을 제외한 TV 화제성, 브랜드 평판, 2049 시청률 등에서는 '수트너'가 압도적으로 1위다. 전체 가구 시청률에서 20세에서 49세까지의 시청률을 별도로 산정한 '2049 시청률'은 '수트너'가 6연속 1위를 차지했고, TV 화제성에서는 3주 연속 1위를 유지했다. '수트너'의 주인공인 지창욱은 5주 연속 TV 드라마 출연자 화제성 1위에 이름을 올렸다.language=ko{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
^"안방극장엔 사극열풍, `진부한 로맨스` 비판도 (A Criticism of the Classic Romance)". MBN (in Korean). 사극 로맨스는 수차례 증명된 흥행공식이다. '공주의 남자'(2011)는 24.9%, '해를 품은 달'(2012)은 시청률 42.2%, '구르미 그린 달빛'(2016)은 23%를 기록하며 종전의 히트를 쳤다. 하지만, 이번 세 작품의 성적표는 기대이하다. 가장 높은 시청률을 기록하고 있는 '군주'가 11%, '엽기적인 그녀'가 8%, '7일의 왕비'는 6%에 그쳤다.(6월 둘째주 기준).