potatok
Uaena Kingdom
Scarlet Heart Ryeo is the Korean version of the Chinese novel "Bu Bu Jing Xin," which was also adapted into a popular Chinese drama. I watched both versions, and while the Chinese one was great, Scarlet Heart Ryeo's stellar acting, storyline, music, and production made it the one that left the deeper impression. I've watched over 200 dramas, and Scarlet Heart Ryeo remains my #1 favorite.
Music:
The reason why I started to watch Scarlet Heart Ryeo was because of its OST. I was listening to the soundtrack on Spotify and liked all of the songs so much that I decided to watch it immediately. From Punch, Davichi, Taeyeon, AKMU to SG Wannabe, the artist lineup was pretty insane and each OST was perfect for any scene/situation; the songs were incorporated so well that it really took the entire drama to another level.
Story:
If you can't handle ugly crying you really shouldn't watch Scarlet Heart bc it really hits you hard with the feels. Have a box of tissues ready and be prepared to laugh and cry at the same time because you really end up forming a deep connection with the characters.
The story was well-paced - it's not the type of drama where you plant your hands on the right arrow key in case you need to fast forward - you don't want to skip any scene because they're all important, all of the side characters are likable and play an important role to the main story, and no episode is slow or boring. The friendships/relationships between the characters were very touching and strongly built, and the love lines were well developed. The struggles between familial responsibility, loyalty to friendship/love, and personal morals is what makes the story so deep and powerful. I'm glad I watched this after it aired because I honestly don't think I could've handled waiting a week for two episodes. I literally finished Scarlet Heart in two days.
Acting/Cast:
Each and every actor in this drama was a perfect fit for their role - they all portrayed their characters flawlessly.
I was most impressed by Kang Ha Neul's acting in this entire series; his calm composure, cautious and reserved manner, mild facial expressions, and complex emotions were all conveyed brilliantly. The way he showed his affection towards Hae Soo and his character transformation as the 8th prince was perfect and spot on.
Lee Joon Ki also did a great job acting as Wang So. The 4th prince's anger, feelings of frustration and shame, and his passionate, bold, reckless, yet loyal personality was well delivered.
As for IU, her acting was often criticized by people when the drama first came out. Although she wasn't as good as KHN or LJK, I still think that she did a good job. Over time, we can clearly see how Hae Soo's initially carefree and fearless character slowly transforms through each of her experiences.
The King, the Queens, the princes (Hong Jong Hyun, Nam Joo Hyuk, Ji Soo, Baekhyun), and literally every side character (Hae Soo's cousin, court lady Oh, the princess, Chaeyeong, and the general (Sung Dong Il LOL) left lasting impressions because of their realistic acting.
Rewatch Value:
I've rewatched this series like three times and every time I watch it I cry a river and get stuck with the feels for like 5 days. Definitely worth rewatching every once in a while.
After finishing Scarlet Heart Ryeo, I was so attached to it that I literally checked every week to see if there was news of a second season lol. But since that didn't seem possible and because I liked the story so much that I couldn't move on, I ended up watching the Chinese adaptation. It had been around for a while (I think since 2011?) but I could never bring myself to watch it because of the bald dudes. It was actually really good too and I recommend all fans who can't move on from this drama to go on and watch that one. But I liked this one better ㅠㅠ
It's such a shame how this was poorly received in Korea despite the high popularity overseas. But overall, Scarlet Heart Ryeo is really a funny, heartwarming, sad, and unforgettable drama that I definitely hard rec to anyone who hasn't watched it yet.
Music:
The reason why I started to watch Scarlet Heart Ryeo was because of its OST. I was listening to the soundtrack on Spotify and liked all of the songs so much that I decided to watch it immediately. From Punch, Davichi, Taeyeon, AKMU to SG Wannabe, the artist lineup was pretty insane and each OST was perfect for any scene/situation; the songs were incorporated so well that it really took the entire drama to another level.
Story:
If you can't handle ugly crying you really shouldn't watch Scarlet Heart bc it really hits you hard with the feels. Have a box of tissues ready and be prepared to laugh and cry at the same time because you really end up forming a deep connection with the characters.
The story was well-paced - it's not the type of drama where you plant your hands on the right arrow key in case you need to fast forward - you don't want to skip any scene because they're all important, all of the side characters are likable and play an important role to the main story, and no episode is slow or boring. The friendships/relationships between the characters were very touching and strongly built, and the love lines were well developed. The struggles between familial responsibility, loyalty to friendship/love, and personal morals is what makes the story so deep and powerful. I'm glad I watched this after it aired because I honestly don't think I could've handled waiting a week for two episodes. I literally finished Scarlet Heart in two days.
Acting/Cast:
Each and every actor in this drama was a perfect fit for their role - they all portrayed their characters flawlessly.
I was most impressed by Kang Ha Neul's acting in this entire series; his calm composure, cautious and reserved manner, mild facial expressions, and complex emotions were all conveyed brilliantly. The way he showed his affection towards Hae Soo and his character transformation as the 8th prince was perfect and spot on.
Lee Joon Ki also did a great job acting as Wang So. The 4th prince's anger, feelings of frustration and shame, and his passionate, bold, reckless, yet loyal personality was well delivered.
As for IU, her acting was often criticized by people when the drama first came out. Although she wasn't as good as KHN or LJK, I still think that she did a good job. Over time, we can clearly see how Hae Soo's initially carefree and fearless character slowly transforms through each of her experiences.
The King, the Queens, the princes (Hong Jong Hyun, Nam Joo Hyuk, Ji Soo, Baekhyun), and literally every side character (Hae Soo's cousin, court lady Oh, the princess, Chaeyeong, and the general (Sung Dong Il LOL) left lasting impressions because of their realistic acting.
Rewatch Value:
I've rewatched this series like three times and every time I watch it I cry a river and get stuck with the feels for like 5 days. Definitely worth rewatching every once in a while.
After finishing Scarlet Heart Ryeo, I was so attached to it that I literally checked every week to see if there was news of a second season lol. But since that didn't seem possible and because I liked the story so much that I couldn't move on, I ended up watching the Chinese adaptation. It had been around for a while (I think since 2011?) but I could never bring myself to watch it because of the bald dudes. It was actually really good too and I recommend all fans who can't move on from this drama to go on and watch that one. But I liked this one better ㅠㅠ
It's such a shame how this was poorly received in Korea despite the high popularity overseas. But overall, Scarlet Heart Ryeo is really a funny, heartwarming, sad, and unforgettable drama that I definitely hard rec to anyone who hasn't watched it yet.
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