A wager staking chastity, love that began as a game, devotion worth risking one's life: The Scandal unveils first-look stills!

The Netflix series 〈The Scandal〉 has unveiled first-look stills from the story of Lady Jo, a woman whose extraordinary talent cannot be confined to the life prescribed for women in Joseon; Jo-won, Joseon's greatest womanizer; and Hee-yeon, a woman entangled in their audacious and dangerous wager in love. The newly released stills capture the three characters' hidden desires and precarious relationships, as well as a striking mise-en-scène distinguished by Korean beauty.

The images first show Lady Jo (Son Ye-jin) seated in the inner quarters in modest attire, Jo-won (Ji Chang-wook) gazing at a woman with a sly expression and Hee-yeon (Nana) embroidering in a hemp garment, her face haggard. Their contrasting circumstances reflect the lives of three people navigating a Joseon ruled by taboos, heightening curiosity about their stories. Cousins Lady Jo and Jo-won were childhood pen pals who exchanged letters and confided their feelings in each other. Now, as they discuss the wager, the expressions on their faces suggest a more troubling undercurrent.

Another still shows Jo-won approaching Lady Jo, who is dressed in an undershirt, raising questions about how the wager will change their relationship. Meanwhile, Jo-won approaches Hee-yeon to win the wager, while Hee-yeon pushes him away. A still of Jo-won leaning in close enough to kiss Hee-yeon hints at a shift in their relationship and leaves viewers wondering how the wager will end.

A photograph of Lady Jo and Hee-yeon together also raises questions. With Lady Jo holding the reins of the wager, viewers will be watching to see how she will unsettle Hee-yeon's heart and how the relationship between the two women, who share similar pain as women living in Joseon, will affect the wager.

The released stills also fully showcase a stylish mise-en-scène steeped in Korean beauty. The alluring, elegant hanbok designs incorporate each character's distinct traits, while modern, original props and spaces that break free from the conventions of traditional period dramas offer a fresh look and build anticipation for 〈The Scandal〉's distinctive appeal.

The Scandal, which reimagines a classic story through a modern lens, combines an immersive Korean mise-en-scène with the ensemble performances of Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana, along with direction from Jung Ji-woo, who will delicately portray the characters' desires. The series premieres exclusively on Netflix on Friday, Sept. 18.