Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

One of the best K-dramas I've watched...it has been around 3 years since I watched this and I can still remember most parts, that's how much of an impression it made on me. The first half will make you laugh and the second half will make you cry, and the whole journey will make you smile... The characters, actors, and ost are all amazing....
Here I am watching this for yet another time while waiting for Korea to make a second season like China did... Don't know how long it'll take or if it'll even happen but HOPE (the ever present demon) won't let me give up on the idea...

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Still heartbroken

Scarlet heart ryeo is the reason why I'm hooked with historical dramas. I learned that historical dramas rarely has happy ending, however, it's still addicting to watch.

Now, if you want a drama full of amazing visuals, this drama is for you.

If you want happy endings, well, this aint for you.

If you want romance, this can be for you, depending on the level of romance you want that is.

Pros:
1. Amazing visual
2. Great humor
3. Fantasy setting of time travelling
4. Easy going, funny and lovable FL.
5. Amazing character interaction
6. You cant call yourself an IU fan without watching this!!

Cons:
1. Heartbreaking ending
2. Lots of heartbreaking deaths. (All the handsome prince died, except for joo hyuk, ji soo, and joon gi.)
3. A lot of cut episodes. ( I saw a lot of edited scenes in youtube that wasn't in the drama itself)
4. An urge to flood whoever made this drama, tons of letter to request for season 2!!!

So, there you have it. I honestly loved this drama, cause not only they have great visuals, it also has an impactful drama and I can't stop rewatching again and again, plus, I'm an IU fan so I loved it even more.

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I watched the original cdrama and loved it. This one on the other hand was captivating, mesmerizing and haunting. I kept feeling i was in a fantasy world and hated whenever i was interrupted from watching as i was brought back to reality. I don't know it it's the cast, characters, cinematography or the OST, but this drama had me with so many feelings; happiness, overjoy, sadness and many more i don't know how to explain.
This drama left me with so many Wow moments and heartaches and it still haunts my mind. That's just how amazing it's.

What I liked:

The cast, characters and OST especially: Lee Hi - Can You Hear My Heart and Jung Seung-Hwan - Wind.

What I disliked:

What happened to some characters although I knew it was inevitable as i watched the original but this a kdrama I knew it was going to be different, but i was still taken by surprise again and again and again. And what Hae Soo's been through is much more and worse than in the original. Also this version lacked the close relationship between the 13th prince and 4th prince and 13th prince and Hae Soo as in the original.

I will definitely rewatch it again but not so soon as the story is still stuck in my head and heart.

fun fact:

I had to start watching this drama 3 times before completing it. The first time, i knew i was going to love it so after watching 4 episodes i stopped and waited till the drama is completed. the second time, i watched maybe up to ep 12 or 14 then i stopped because i was afraid of what's going to happen and didn't think i could handle it. The third time i said to myself that this time I'm going to finish it no matter what and so i binge watched it for 2 days and experienced the feeling of being sucker punched in the gut and heartaches so many times but i don't regret watching it.

if you are not a kdrama addict, then this drama will make you one.

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Honestly, the only reason I wanted to write a review on this is to point out how well this drama depicted a reverse harem, most especially the main love triangle. (a reverse harem is basically the one girl + a lot of men who like her kind of trope.)

Personally, I dislike love triangles because I always have the 'second lead syndrome", and sometimes I get more attached to the second lead rather than the main. But the way this drama managed to, in a way, make you ship the heroine with BOTH of the leads in the triangle, is very well written and structured. The whole story flows very well and you get pulled along with it.

I think the charm of this drama is really the story and character development. It really isn't your standard cliche romance because there are also themes about friendship, family, power, death, regret, and many more. It ties in happiness and tragedy together very well.

The cast is very star-studded, the acting is great, the music as well.

There were just some aspects of the drama that I found a bit unnecessary, as well as some parts of the story that should have been explained more.

Overall, I do recommend this drama, especially if you want a tearjerker because this made me cry a lot. (I think a lot of people have as well hahaha)

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This is the drama that I never ever regretted I've watched ? Super duper great drama, and the plot is great. All actors and actresses suited well in the character they played. Plot twists are unexpected and really surprising.

Baekhyun (10th Prince) is so cute and charming especially when is grumpy. I really enjoyed all his scenes. I especially loved the story of him and his wife Z.Hera (Park Soon Deok). They looked so great together, and I found them very sweet. Z. Hera is so cute when she pampered Baekhyun. Their scenes are so entertaining and funny, but what I love the most is the scene where they have to stay in hiding. Their story made me giggle, laugh, and cry.

Kang Ha Nuel (Prince Wang) is so appealing. I almost wanted him for Hae Soo. But I feel pity for his wife when he started to notice Hae Soo, fortunately, his wife is so kind.

Lee Joon-gi (4th Prince) is so great. He is really more appealing and handsome when he's serious. He's so sexy and romantic whenever he makes a move to IU (Hae Soo). I love his action scenes and all the heroic things he did for Hae Soo. My heart broke on what happened during the first part of the rain ritual - his acting is so great that it really pained my heart.

I actually don't like heavy drama or dramas that will make me cry, but this drama is so great that even if it pained my heart, I still loved it and found it one of the bests kdrama. The thing is this drama will make you feel a lot of emotions, so it was never boring. It will excite you, make you in pain, make you laugh, and then cry,and then laugh again.

The ending is not what I expected, but still I like how things went. It shows how mature of them when they handled the situation. I loved how Ji Soo (14th Prince) protected Hae Soo and the fact that he didn't take advantage of the situation.

Though the ending is unexpected, I never thought of it as a sad ending because of the hope they gave so PLEASE RELEASE THE SEASON 2, WE'VE BEEN DYING WAITING FOR IT??????????

#moonlovers
#moonloversscarletheartryeo
#leejoongi
#IU
#baekhyun
#jisoo
#zhera
#kanghaneul
#kdrama
#kdramahookedbylady28
#bestkdramas

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OMG is all I can say to this drama with such amazing acting acting skills perhaps the most requests for a season 2 sine it wasn't the ending everyone wanted. This drama was a rollercoaster of emotions where i felt happy one minute, sad the next to angry for every moment just took my breath away. Lee Joon Gi did a good job of capturing the emotion in their characters with the love story that he was willing to do anything to protect her, but in the end that wasn't what happened. It mad me sad when Kang ha-neul character switched over the evil side when he didn't get IU to love him so he changed his ways. The soundtrack on here was amazing as well kudos to the singers and artists that gave us such wonderful music that went with the scenes. From the bromance with the cast to love stories that was being portrayed with the main couple are one of the few reasons why you should watch this drama. This drama made Lee Joon Gi my fav actor in my top 3. Th e story was so powerful but didn't take away some of the cute moments that happened as well.

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She has come from another time so she in independent and outspoken, thus surprising the group of of 8 surviving Prince’s who are used to more subdued woman. From the very beginning it touched my heart how she had time travelled from her time back into the Historic times of Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. She ends up in the Princes outdoors bathing room. A naturally heated pool where the Princes cleansed themselves and bathed in the natural springs. They were shocked when she appeared there.

Then her cousin Park Si-eun as Lady Hae8th prince Wang Wook's wife and Hae Soo's cousin dies and she is left alone. She is ordered to marry the King as an alliance with her cousins family but she cuts her own arm with a shard from a vase she breaks and avoids the marriage but most of the Prince’s are in love with her. They are so happy she didn’t marry their father and instead becomes a Court Lady under concubine Oh. She is one of the kings favourites.

Lee Joon-Gi/4th Prince. Wang So, he is the grouchiest and the most arrogant he’s always telling her off but deep down he has and unwavering affection for her. He shows her around his favourite hidden places in the place gardens and warns her not to trust anyone. He watches over her from a distance.

The crown Prince Kim San-Ho / 1st Prince Wang Moo the Crown Prince has a variety of aliments and infections on his body like boils or allergy rashes. Hae Soo from modern times knows how to help him. He learns to trust her medications.

A general Sung Dong-il as General Park Soo-kyungand his Tomboy daughter Z Hera/Park Soon Deok [Park Soo Gyeong's Daughter of the General. She has loved 10th Prince Wang Eun from childhood and got to be his wife. Has arrived at the palace. It was not easy for her to get the Prince to love her back as he already loved Hae Soo. The General has been the 4th Prince. Wang So, mentor and teacher. Especially teacher of the Martial Arts. His daughter has the same skills. He has a love for the Prince So and is his greatest supporter. Park Soon Deok was funny when she asked her husband will she get pregnant after they were kissing for the first time.

Lee Joon-Gi/4th Prince. Wang So house riding skills are phenomenal and he takes her (Hae Soo) away with him for an all night ride all the way to the seashore to watch the sunrise. She is the only one he can trust of confide in. Episode 11-12 is hard to take when he knowingly drinks the poisoned tea meant for the Crown Prince and he almost dies. He was trying to save Hae Soo and the Crown Prince but she was still imprisoned and tortured. His character is really a sweetheart and so genuine in his conversation and his feelings but pressured by external events and politics. He falls deeper and deeper in love with her because of her great compassion, sympathy and caring nature. This is why as viewers we love this drama so much. Lee Joon Gi acting as Wang So the 4th Prince brings a heart felt dimension to this character that moves us so much as the viewer. So we watch this over and over just to see his wonderful portrayal of this outstanding character that he has brought to life in our hearts and minds. We love him, LJG so much.

I can't understand people complaining about his acting and the acting of the brother sibling. It is because of Hae Soo interfering nature why she always get in trouble. When she about to be executed her boss comes to her rescue and takes the blame.en years before someone send her poison and she miscarried the Kings baby. So just 10 years earlier her and the king were still sleeping together. She is a concubine. She tells the King she doesn’t want to lose another child to Queen Yoo. She Lady Oh will take the place of Hae Soo. She is dying anyway.

Hae Soo went outside the Kings residence to kneel to beg for Lady Oh life to be spared. She is already in a weakened state after being tortured. Looks like she has sustained a deep injury to her leg. The Nam Joo-Hyuk 13th Prince Wang Wook (Baek-A) comes to talk to her but she doesn’t listen. He tells her Lady Oh is doing this to save her and she is just angering the King. He said he’ll go prepare medicine for her and she asks for the 8th Prince but he is forced to abandon her because of what he knows. She’s been kneeling for two days without food and water. The rain comes. Everyone has been forbidden by the King to help her. Who comes to her aid to shelter her with his cloak and stand with her in the rain none other than the one that loves her the most and will risk his life and the wrath of the King ………… Yes who else but Lee Joon-Gi/4th Prince,Wang So. While others stand aside and watch. 8th Prince Wang Woo walks away. I think that this was Wang So’s greatest moment in this drama. I was so proud of him. The two youngest Princes were kneeling to the side. Wang So was send away as an ambassador to Jin as punishment for assisting Hae Soo but asked for her to be taken care of.

I hated and detested the character of Park Ji Young/Dowager Empress Yoo [Tae Jo's 3rd Queen and mother of the 3rd Prince, 4th Prince and 14 Prince ). This evil queen wanted Goryeo to belong to one of her son. She got her wish but it went to the son that she had disowned. Karma gets you. She’ll do anything to put her son on the throne. She even stopped to gloat when the Lady Oh was being lead away to her execution because Lady Oh was her greatest rival and the Kings confidant. The King loved her.

s soon as Lee Joon-Gi/4th Prince,Wang So left the palace Hae Soo was kicked out by the King. She becomes a Gyobang water maid doing washing.
A year later when Wang So comes back and finds Have Soo gone he refuses to do what the King has asked him to do. He goes straightaway to find her at her job, to hug her and greet her and tell her that he missed her. She makes him take off the mask that he has been wearing again. He is so demanding and never lets her do her own thing. She has to give him the put down “When I meet you I remember every thing that I want to forget.” His broken hearted face is too much ……… for me to look at. He has deep thoughts in his caring for her. He’ll give up everything to make her happy. I like Wang So saying to Wang Wook”Your uselessness makes me shake with anger.” At the point of episode 13 she should have married Wang So when he asked her.

I love Lee Joon-Gi/4th Prince,Wang and Hae Soo together LJG and UI have strong chemistry together.

Seo Hyun/Gisaeng Woo Hee [Last Princess of Hubaekje] has been self harming herself. She has scar cuts on her arm. The Nam Joo-Hyuk 13th Prince Wang Wook (Baek-A) is in love with her. They are lovers but she is not sure of her alliance with the Kings rules. She is planning to assassinate the King during her dance routine at the Peace Summit. He(13th Prince) is an excellent Prince with the qualities of charming, delightful and likeable man. The happy Prince the beautiful man reads her dance moves and gets in front of her sword and she stabs him instead of the King. His father the King killed her whole family she was the only one left that is why she has antagonisms.

II didn’t realise it was Kang Ha-Neul 8th Prince Prince Wang Wook what was putting mercury poison in the King Kim San-Ho / 1st Prince Wang Moo the Crown Prince bath. I thought it was the sneaky 9th prince, Wang Won (Yoon Sun Woo) who frequently causes trouble behind the scenes. Quietly causes mayhem without getting caught for a very long time. This guy was actually the baddest Prince who managed to put the blame on tho everyone but himself but he got his Karma in the end. The 8th Prince is one of the cleverest of the brothers and he is behind the scenes manipulating them. Hae Soo is shocked to earn that the 8th Prince poisoned the King.

Z Hera/Park Soon Deok and her husband the 10th Prince Wang Eun are fleeing from the King’s men when they are cornered. He 3rd Prince Wang Yo has put out a rumour that Wang Sun grandfather has caused the coup. She, Park Soon Deok is the better fighter and is protecting her husband. He is pleading for their lives from their brother. She is wounded from behind by a soldier. He comfort and consoles her and says” we will go together” as she dies. The king his brother shoots two arrows into him. Wang So the 4th prince tries to protect him. Jung the 14th Prince arrives and Wang So goes to his aid as the Kings arrow strikes the other brother. The younger talks about his birthday and the gift only he can give. Then he talks bout his wife that he can’t let her go alone “so give me the gift only you can give me so I can go with her.” He’s begging Wang So to kill him. Although it stresses him to the max and tears are streaming down his face. He stands up takes up his sword, Scream out and swings it. Silence reigns the Wang So laugh maniacally and crying at the same time stands up and walks away. Just shocked at what he had just done.

I was like a moth to a flame and so close to it that I nearly got my wings burnt. So why? First of the language and the poetic ways, the history, the wonderful actors (the Princes) (they had their own little stories),the imagery, the horse riding (I’ve got a thing for horses), the costumes, the scenery, the romance between the 4th Prince and Hae Soo and the story itself. This girl from the future changed history and made all these Princes fall in love with her because she was different. All the little problems she encountered and experienced. How she solved them in her own way but also complicated conditions and relationships so that eventually she had to leave the palace because she didn’t really understand the politics of that society and that it was impossible to change what has been set for a thousand years into mere weeks and months. So there were many experiences that for the viewer tore at the hearts and minds. Despite the kings total love and commitment to her he couldn’t get over the politics. They shared some tender moments that will be engraved on your heart, moving, poignant, emotional, heart wrenching and sweet. These will keep you locked into their love story to the very end. No you don’t get the ending you want but their story will keep you coming back for more and reliving again all those fragile, affectionate, loving and sometimes treacherous times. Its not all about the love, some of it is about the hate and the betrayal, the insidious double dealing. That betrayal is what breaks her heart and its not even his duplicity. It is also a story of revenge, become king and I will remember the evil you and yours have done to me. All of my spitefulness, malevolence and vindictiveness will take satisfaction.

I have finished watching this again. It is still my favourite of all favourites. Despite the sad parts there is something very addictive about this fascinating drama

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Tear-jerker

After watching the original version (Scarlet Heart 2011) I already have an idea about the ending for this one. Having really loved the Chinese version of Scarlet Heart I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one. But it surprised me! The story concept was the same but the way the story played out was different and intriguing. I really love the cast they chose.
Overall I mostly enjoyed the chemistry between the leads as well as the brotherhood between the male lead and his best bro. The story has you laughing one moment and then tearing up in another moment. It is very melodramatic and can be a bit depressing--especially if you already know how it will end. It was very emotional and heart moving. I only hope they will eventually make a 2nd season with a wholesome ending.

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I have watch this series so many times and each time I feel like I’m watching it for the first time. The scenes that are heartfelt make me want to cry. The scenes that are sweet make me smile and feel all giddy inside. The scenes that made me angry, I still get upset even though I’ve seen it all but I absolutely love it. This is one of those series for me that I can never really get enough of. I have watched it so many times because it is just that good. What I like about this series is that it is not your traditional time travel series. It doesn’t have the person trying to go back-and-forth or that Syfy feel to it. It feels so darn genuine. There is a scene multiple scenes in this series that I have be like bawling my eyes out but I can re-watching it and it is absolutely made me love the actors so much more because of his scene in this. If you have not watch this watch it you.What I like about this series is that it is not your traditional time travel series. It doesn’t have the person trying to go back-and-forth or that sci-fi feel to it. It feels so darn genuine. There are multiple scenes in this series that have me bawling my eyes out but I can’t help re-watching it and it has absolutely made me love the actors so much more because of his scene in this. If you have not watch this, watch it now.

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So many feelings after watching this! I can't believe that I missed out on such a great drama for so long. Hands down the best historical drama that I've watched: magical, tragic, inspiring and so much more than a TV series. It combines a magnificent story, history, visuals and a captivating soundtrack!

I've seen that people have been rewatching this drama multiple times, and that's what I'll do in a couple of months as well. But as for my first time watching this, I really enjoyed it. And I can't find a single flaw in it. I haven't watched the parent story to this, but Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was an amazing remake, I'll tell you that. It made me waver between characters, I still have a hard time letting my heart decide who should end up with who. Nevertheless, this great experience couldn't have been so great if it wasn't for the actors themselves. The star-studded cast was amazing, especially all of the princes. I'd read some criticizing comments about IU's performance, however, as her first major role, I think she did spectacular and even more experienced towards the end. I haven't looked how the plot coheres to actual Korean history, but I got so excited and interested, that I've picked up a book to read on it. To add, the OST increased the satisfaction of watching this about 50%. All of the songs were spot on with the lyrics, the artist choice is incredible, but I was a tad bit sad that IU didn't have a single in her own drama.

Overall, if you're not watching this, you're missing out big time. This drama is one of the best historical Korean series in my opinion, it sucks you in and let's you go all sad and weeping at the end, but it's so worth the bragging!

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It has been three months since I watch this drama, and still I can’t overcome it. I haven’t been able to watch any other sad drama because this one had too much of sadness for itself.
First of all I didn’t watch the prior Chinese version, so I can’t compare both. I know a lot of people thinks the Korean version is the worst, but I really liked it, although I’m not happy with the ending and I’m sure it has a lot of flaws.
Story: when you finish watching this drama you have the feeling you have watch two different things. The first half of the drama is like a comedy, and I althought there are some typical and (and cheesy) tropes, it’s funny. The second half is so sad... and so good at the same time,  but so so sad that you will need a lot of Kleenex to get to the end.
Things I didn’t like about the story:
- I didn’t understand that the female lead gave up so easily on finding a way to return to her time. I had the feeling she even didn’t try to find out. It seems too as it would be really easy to adapt to the past that it could be worthless to try anything else.
- The ending: SPOILER ALERT!!!!.........
.....…






I get that it’s not an easy task to have a happy ending with time travel stories, because you can’t change history, but in this drama I didn’t understand why they made IU remember everything when she returned to her actual time. I like the fact that when she disappeared in the past she returned to her actual time, but in my opinion it’s really cruel to let her know that she lived in the past, she loved someone who had been dead for centuries, and she even had a child she never ever could have the possibility to see.
She could have just returned and live her life in her own time, but like this she’s going to pass her life in complete pain remembering everything.


END OF SPOILER
Casting: I heard that there were a lot of complains about IU acting, but sorry here, I liked her. I think she did a good job although sometimes I didn’t like the way her rol had to act.

For example,

(SPOILER ALERT),




when Lee Joon Gi decides that he likes it better to become a king than to stay beside her (as he had told her he’d do), I would have preferred a strong female lead who would have left him there and would have lived her life anywhere else. Ok, that wouldn’t be the same story, but, come on! in the beginning she had a strong character  and afterwards she was so submissive... At the end I was overjoyed when she decided to leave him and marry his brother Wang Yoon (the 14th prince).

END OF SPOILER

I loved too the rest of the casting. I hadn’t seen anything of Lee Joon Gi before, so I wasn’t rooting for him to win the girl, neither for the 8th brother (he didn’t deserved her anyway). But I liked very much all the bromance moments among the princes. It was like it should have been in Hwarang but much better.
Music: I liked the OST very much, overall the song “Will be back”, that represents this drama for me: a wonderful and sad story at the same time.
Rewatch value: I’ll probably watch it again in the future, but not every episodes, only the first half of the season until it gets sad (I don’t want to cry it over and over again).
If you are willing to see a beautiful story even if you know that it will make you cry, go ahead, it's worth it.

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Okay. So I didn't make 10/10 (although it really does deserve it!) because I feel like the story is somehow cliche (okay not really). I mean traveling from the future to the past, come on. But seriously, I didn't expect this drama to be sooo good. Like sooooo good! This is the first ever korean historical drama that I have ever finished (I know I know there are a lot of good ones out there but I just can't seem to finish any) and probably the reason I will start watching historical dramas!

The cast was perfect!! I don't even know where to start! Everyone was soo good! They delivered their characters perfectly! Not to mention the visuals!! Such handsome and beautiful casts! Acting was superb! Broke my heart a thousand! Just perfect!

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