Synopsis: Lee
Joon Ki (Arang and the Magistrate) and Lee “IU” Ji Eun (Dream High)
star in a dangerous romance across time in what sure to be one of the biggest
historical epics of the year. Hae Soo (IU) is a 21st century woman who gets
caught in a solar eclipse and is transported to the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled
Korea from the 10th century for nearly 500 years. Suddenly, Hae Soo finds
herself in the royal palace, where she comes across Fourth Prince Wang So (Lee
Joon Ki). A man as feared as he is handsome, Wang So is based on the real-life
fourth king of the Goryeo Dynasty and makes others tremble but wins over Hae
Soo’s heart. However, he is not the only one in the palace with eyes on the
throne, and a political battle of deception, secrecy and lies ensues between
Wang So and all the other princes. Adding to the drama are Eighth Prince Wang
Wook (Heirs star Kang Ha Neul), who is less than willing to wait in
line behind seven other members of the royal family, and Third Prince Wang Yo
(Beloved alum Hong Jong Hyun), whose right to the crown actually precedes Wang
So’s.
Also known
as Moon Lovers - Scarlet Heart: Ryeo, the drama is based on the
Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin by Tong Hua, which also inspired the 2011 Chinese
hit Scarlet Heart starring Cecilia Liu and Nicky Wu.
My thoughts: MY FAVORITE K-DRAMA OF ALL TIMES! BY FAAAAR! It has everything: romance,
action, history, drama, comedy and adventure!
It’s about a 21st century
girl who gets transported to the Goryeo Dynasty (around the 10th
century and lasted about 500 years) because of a solar eclipse. She gets caught
up in the royal family, having to live among the fourteen princes of the King
Taejo. In between, there is the arrival of the 4th prince Kang Wang
So, who was “adopted” – more like living as a hostage – by another region and
returns home. But, because of his looks – he has a scar that is covered up by a
mask that resembles the one of the Phantom of the Opera – and the rumors
surrounding him, is feared by everybody.
First of all, I have to say that I
LOVE HISTORICAL SERIES. That’s because they have to put more effort than the
series that happen today. Not that the present-time series aren’t good, but
historical need to do a lot more research in order to be accurate, from social structure
and behavior to the wardrobe. With that being said, this show is very historically
accurate, at least for me who am not very familiarized with Korean History. The
series is all history based, so their way of moving and talking is completely
different from today. Even the alphabet at the Goryeo Dynasty was distinct:
they seemed to use the Chinese symbols rather than the Hangul, which is the
alphabet used today. So the series made sure to show that.
Also, the reason I liked it so much
was because it resembled me of Outlander, by Diana Galbadon. A girl
is transported to the past and has to try to survive in there, without knowing
when she was going to come back.
Second, the acting was ON POINT. Lee
Joon Ki (that plays Wang So) was amazingly good, as well as all the other actors
– Baekhyun (EXO’s main vocalist) as the 10th prince, IU (singer) as
the protagonist Hae Soo, Kang Ha Neul as the 8th prince, Kim Ji Soo
as the 14th prince, and everybody else. I screamed and cheered
throughout this TV show, and the last episodes made me cry, because their
acting was SO GOOD, that I couldn’t help but suffer WITH them. As you all know,
it’s VERY hard for me to cry when watching something: be it a movie, a TV show,
you name it. So to be able to actually
make me cry, make my nose run and my tears fall is a HU-GE deal for me. I hated
Yeon Hwa – she is the 8th prince’s sister, a b** who wants the
throne and the power that comes with it – with all my heart, as well as the 3rd
prince Wang Yo, the 9th prince Wang Wook and the Queen Mother Yo –
mother to the 3rd, 4th and 14th prince. The
queen specially because she was the one who scarred her son for life, and was
such a fake person, rotten inside and manipulative toward her sons, that I
questioned myself if she ever loved one of them, or if she was only trying to
secure her place as one of the most powerful people inside the palace.
A thing that I realized in Korea is
that looks REALLY matter over there, and apparently in the past that also
applied. The 4th prince was condemned to live apart from his family
for years because his mother couldn’t LOOK at the face that she herself
scarred. He used a mask for most of his life because he knew that people would
be disgusted and afraid to look at him! Only when Hae Soo appears and sees him
as a NORMAL BEING, not a monster or a demon because of his looks, that he first
experience affection. The actress that played Hae Soo was very good: she isn’t
like Outlander’s
Claire, strong-headed lass, but she isn’t a plant either. Soo is, after all, a
21st century woman, and even in Korea things have change since the
10th century. It was very pleasant to watch her.
Third, the soundtrack was AMAZING. I
liked it so much midway through of the series I already knew how to sing most
of them – in a broken Korean, but no matter. They were so soft, beautiful and heartbreakingly
adorable, as well as some were melancholic AF. The OST has to be good in order
to complete the context of the scene that is shown and boy, they killed it!
The only ONLY thing that really
irritated me was the ending. Don’t take me wrong, it was beautiful and touching
and all that, BUT I WAS PROMISED A MEETING, A RENCOUTER, AND THAT DIDN’T
HAPPEN! For Pete’s sake, the way they ended it was so maddening that I couldn’t
function after a few hours and even when I lied in bed to sleep I wasn’t
believing my eyes. They created such a beautiful love story, a kind of transcendental
love, that would last centuries and ENDED LIKE THAT?! C’MOM PEOPLE YOU CAN DO
BETTER THAN THAT! The alternative endings I created in my mind were FAR BETTER.
It was a good ending, but not up to
the level of the show.
Rate: