Tat

I expected better

Well, I finally got to see Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo (on Viki).

(Minor spoilers ahead)

For all the hype. I expected better. Don't get me wrong. It had a great cast (including a screen full of shirtless hotties right from the get-go), good music, a story that I wanted to see the end of, and characters that made me love them and cry. BUT all it also has all of the things I've come to hate in (especially older) K-dramas: toxic relationships, out of control spiraling self-sabotage, a lack of communication being a major source of tension (or not telling the whole truth to protect someone. Over. And. Over. Again.) lack of chemistry between leads, and a vague ending that doesn't give much closure (although, that seems to be more a regular C-drama issue).

I'm not sorry I watched it. Some of the characters are very memorable, and now I can cross this one off my bucket list. I cried several times (and if I couldn't tell whether or not I should care, they kept playing what sounds kind of like a Korean version of Take My Breath Away from the Top Gun soundtrack, which helped w the lack of chemistry). But it was extremely frustrating that there were almost no protagonist driven plot changes after the first few episodes and until the last two or so (like the FL was just calling it in). I spent a lot of the time wanting to pound my head against something (or one of the leads', especially FL). I get that it's supposed to be tragic and all, but I don't understand why this is so beloved. Just not my type of drama, I guess. I would much rather sob over a love story that I actually got to care about like Princess Weiyoung or Empress Ki.

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Interesting Ethical Dilemmas and A Surprising Ending

A drama with real life issues that challenge modern and cultural ethics and values. I thought it was interesting. I wasn't expecting the ending that we got.

It was frustrating to see how the woman's mistakes were judged vs the man's. The woman had an emotional affair that lasted a short period of time and ended in a one night stand and accidental pregnancy. The man was verbally and emotionally abusive of a long period of time and eventually r*ped her (it doesn't matter if you're married or not. Sexually forcing someone is r*pe, and in my opinion as a DV survivor, is even more traumatizing than if it were a stranger.)

I won't make excuses for the woman's behavior (although that I will say that I can understand how easy it would be to seek comfort in what seems like a safe and understanding place in those circumstances). An affair, no matter the circumstances, is breaking the vows made in marriage. It would be one thing if she'd tried to leave or divorce him, but he was so abusive that she couldn't, but at that point, she hadn't even tried. I can also see why she was lying and keeping things like paternity a secret to protect the child, but....

However, abuse in any form is also a breech of those vows. It bothers me that this show barely even treats that like the huge problem that it is. The woman is judged and ostracized for her mistakes, while the man seems to struggle a bit with his own faults, no one bats an eye at the HUGE things he did wrong.

I also hated how the one lady was forgiven so easily for lying about the ML's identity/death to keep him to herself. There were huge consequences for others that resulted, but no one seemed to care.

The ML's character arc was interesting. Can becoming a parent change someone like that for the better? Could a new baby really become a "guiding post" like we saw here? I don't know. It's interesting to consider. Personally, I think that when someone has been treating their spouse so badly for so long due to displaced anger, self-hatred, and resentment, it won't change that easily. It could definitely become a catalyst for change and self-reflection, but real change takes time, and we only had 6 months and 10 episodes. But then, we also have him seriously consider drowning himself and the baby? Seriously. *facepalm*\

I hated so many of the FL's choices. Like not telling the guy that he was the father even when everyone else and their dog already seemed to know. If he was some awful person she was hiding the baby from, that would make total sense. But he was a nice guy who cared about her and the child's wellbeing, so....

But, it was an interesting and thought provoking drama that I don't regret taking the time to watch.

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Extremely overrated!

It wasn't the worst drama I've seen, just possibly one of the most overrated. I know some who love it a lot, and I can respect that. There were some things I liked, but the annoying things far outweighed them.

I was hoping for something lighter, which seemed likely for this the first third or so with all the conedy (more like Shopping King Louis). I loved the trio of friends w the ML and wished they had been a bigger part of the story (I would watch a whole series with them!) They were amazing but underutilized and underdeveloped. Give us more!

I didn't really feel the romance of the love story. And it didn't help that whenever anything got remotely dramatic, the same whiny, overly emotional song started playing. I swear my ears were bleeding by the end.

Too many episodes. It dragged on forever and needlessly included plotlines that seemed important but had absolutely no meaning in the end.

Speaking of the end, the ending was too ambiguous for me. Guess I prefer things spelled out clearly and in detail.

The mystery was good. I didn't see it coming. The outcome of the case of the murder of the crown princess kept me guessing till the end.

Oh my gosh that awful song won't stop screaming in my head! I'm never going to be able to sleep again. 😭

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