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@40somethingahjumma your analysis of ep 4 is sooooo good, I'm making mega Uk like moony eyes at the screen

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1 hour ago, kdramawriter said:

Yeah this is a pretty good interpretation, but I think the helicopter parent thing is going way too far. HS is concerned with the survival of her baby, not how its gonna do in pre-K testing. Helicopters parents are concerned with the success of their kids, not the survival.

I always argue HS's point of view, but I'm the OG Hae Su hypeman. 

Here's the major 3 things that drive Hae Su's actions: 

1. Her relationship with GJ has deteriorated. 

 Hae Su's and Wang So's relationship had deteriorated so much to this point that she could not really trust him the way she could trust him before. The relationship they have in the palace is NOT the relationship they had before he became king. [this is crucial part of the writing, which demonstrates to us that once GJ enters the palace, he is CHANGED irrevocably - we see it when he marries YH, presumably sleeping with her to gain Wook's downfall] 

We're forgetting that the inciting incident is Chae Ryung's death. No matter how we, the viewer feel about CR, her death is important because it is the death of someone that Hae Su loves. We already know how Hae Su feels about people dying for her (see Lady Oh). Gwangjong punished CR as a direct threat to Hae Su, but also as a threat to his regime. There's only one man responsible for CR's death, it's the King who gave the order, and that's GJ. Hae Su may have come around eventually to the idea that WS had to make that choice, but CR's death really forestalls that the palace is NO palace for love. HS could not save CR even tho she loves her. It's logical to Hae Su that she might not be able to save her baby unless she finds a way to leave the palace. This isn't HS not allowing GJ to make a choice, it's true desperation on her part.

2. Hae Su and Gwangjong are not equals in their relationship once Gwangjong becomes King:

He makes decision for her, to protect her but it also restricts her autonomy as a person. Even though she has made her decision to leave the palace clear to him, he chooses to ignore her requests. Viewers are saying that Hae Su should have let GJ into her decision making process when he's clearly left her out of his--sorry not sorry, that's not fair to HS. 

3. At the end, Wang So agrees with Hae Su's actions: 

He essentially arrived at the same conclusion that HS did, that in order to keep their baby alive, she has to live outside of the palace, away from him. He recognizes the dangers as clearly as HS did before her death. 

What am I trying to say? Give HS a little bit of credit for making the very TOUGH choice of leaving the palace. She truly had no options at the end. The writing has alway ensured that HS and WS would NOT have a happy ending. The palace will always crush love and the people too weak will die. 

well organized and well argued.

The relationship angst between the two of them is so nuanced and very true to life. They never really fell into accepted trope of "damsel in distress" "controlling boyfriend" etc. etc. but rather seem to subtly shift with each episode and each life stage. That's probably why I'm still lurking and reading an incredible amount of fanfiction. Yesterday was a good day, both you and ladyfriday updated! 

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10 hours ago, Silvermaine said:

For your first paragraph, I got it. 

For your points on Soo's sacrifice, I cannot eloquently put it into words, but it just generally leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 

Indeed, a mother's maternal instinct gives off a rare and almost indestructible form of courage. Many writers have exploited this truth. (e.g. Harry Potter) I'm not criticizing her decision to leave the palace; survival is an instinct. In a perfect setting, So and Soo would have been married and lived as commoners or nobles outside Songak starting episode 12. Or, they could also have been King and Queen. I'm not criticizing her decision to protect her baby, that's absolute courage. What I dislike is the fact that she decided everything on her own. Making a child involves two people, and unless either of the parents dislike having a child, then is it not appropriate to at least inform the involved parties? Yes, it was incredibly tricky to inform So; but would he have endangered his child and the mother of his child? We know from his attitude and moral compass that he would have given up even his own life if it meant protecting the people that are important to him. IF he was told of Soo's pregnancy and Soo's grievances about the palace, would he actually have made a stupid decision or a smart one? IDK ugh the "what ifs" of this drama is one of the things that hurt me the most, BUT from what I have watched and analyzed, So is on the back-end of the list of 'people who do stupid sht in MLSHR'.

OR OR OR maybe I just really absolutely feel bad for So that I'm saying this? At the end of drama, I found myself more attached to Wang So. He was barely given a proper choice to anything in his life, not when he was a prince, nor during his first years as a king. He couldn't even do anything about the existence of his daughter. Soo essentially destroyed him when she left, and she took his heart and soul when she died. He did not know the real reason why. No one gave him the opportunity to understand anything, he just figured things out on his own. When he finally figured things out, he didn't have time to grieve, or to be happy, or to simply feel, he's just... there. The drama just expected him to simply take it and be devastated because HECK THAT'S WHAT HIS WHOLE LIFE BASICALLY IS. 

Okay I'm rambling bye *cries in the corner while playing My Love by Lee Hi*

I also think to myself why I'm so unsettled with the tailend of the drama. What Kdramawriter wrote was my initial take-away and belief, but having given it more thought, I think the lack of choice Soo gave So may be one of the biggest reason why I feel so badly for Wang So. Just like the time with Eun/SD; I do believe HS was trying to keep them and WS apart to protect him from fulfilling his vision... BUT at the end, she never gave him the choice and the trust to go through the process of trying to rescue them and (perhaps) failing. Her maternal instincts with regards to So is both understandable (wanting to protect him for a hurtful decision) but ultimately unsettling to me as a viewer. It's almost like those helicopter parents of today, whose love for their child is undeniable, but by "smoothing" their path, enters into an emotionally stunted relationship. Now, the flip side of this is that Soo understands So too well and realize that giving him the choice will break him in a way that's unacceptable to her and that's the reason she takes on the onerous of the decision making. Perhaps it's because she KNOWS he will make the right decision and destroy himself in the process is the reason why she takes the reins here. 

I'm unsettled as to which version is the "correct" one. Adding on the additional wrinkle of time travel, Soo is aware to not "meddle" too much with Goreyo history; perhaps that's why she choose to erase her and her child from So's life?

1 hour ago, kiinn said:

 

I agree. 

And I think the bottom line of the story is summarised by So's line:  in the end, it's a fleeting and vain life. 

It pains me so much, I don't know should I hate or love the director for this.

 

Speaking of So and baby..........

cr leejoongi.co.kr

I think I died.

Yeah, I did. This is my ghost typing.

 

 

I hope you or your ghost keep on posting these little gems..

 

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Still haven't totally moved on though the pangs of Monday longing has dulled a bit; surfed over here mindlessly on a Sunday and so pleasantly surprised to find @oyashirazuand @40somethingahjummapenning such thought provoking comments. Echoing kdramawriter, I hope this keeps up. 

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2 hours ago, wandaraiju said:

 

This is hae soo letter for Wang so

[Drama 2016]Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo 달의 연인-보보경심 려 ~ \^0^/ Thank You Eclipses ! HaeSoo letter to WangSo (link: http://forums.soompi.com/en/topic/378975-drama-2016moon-lovers-%E2%9D%A4-scarlet-heart-ryeo-%EB%8B%AC%EC%9D%98-%EC%97%B0%EC%9D%B8-%EB%B3%B4%EB%B3%B4%EA%B2%BD%EC%8B%AC-%EB%A0%A4-~-0-thank-you-eclipses/?do=findComment&comment=20162305) forums.soompi.com/en/topic/37897…

From @virsvirs:

Life is like a dream.
Right and wrong. Love and hate.
They all get buried with the passing of time and leave quietly with no trace.

Do you still think that you don’t have my whole heart and resent me?

I’m always worried that I may have left you with hatred instead of love, not allowing you to rest in peace.

I still love you.
When you gave up everything and stood by me in the rain…
When you threw your body in the way of a flying arrow to protect me…
you became someone I could never forget in my life.

I came to realize that the opposite of loving is not hating,but leaving.

I’m afraid you may think that I left you and that you left me.
I yearn for you so much, but I can’t be near you.
I yearn for you so much, but I can’t be near you.

I hope and wait to see you again inside these fences,
I’ll be waiting for you… every day.

- Soo’s letter to her beloved Wang So

 

It was indeed a heart touching letter! Oh my SoSoo feels 

I like how the SoSoo letter left out the stuff about the 8th prince... It showed how both of them knew the 8th prince was just a distraction. In the novel, 8th role was much bigger.

 

thanks for posting 

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2 hours ago, Sharine Phinisia said:

 

I read that speculation somewhere (i forgot) and I was like, "Ooohhh!"

I totally thought JiMong and WM had a gay-esque relationship. Started with WM's death scene. JM is just too worked up for a friend, no matter how close

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How do you upload a picture from iPhone? I have the letter in my camera roll but it won't post!!

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I'm still lurking here! I can't believe it. I've been passing my time reading your posts, fan fics and re-reading BBJX the novel. The letter that RX/HS wrote her lover is so beautiful. Here's my very awkward translation. I've replaced the Chinese names with HS/WS.

 

So,

life is a dream, passing like the clouds. Right or wrong; love or hate, nothing can surpass the silent trickling of days and nights; like water streaming. Those who don't believe this, chose to remain in a dream. When some one carelessly told me "I'm your person"; he already holds the key to my heart. When someone guarded me in the rain, sharing my pain, I've already opened the door to my heart. And when someone used his body to block the arrow, I already know I am his for the rest of my life. Everything that happens afterward just mired me deeper and deeper.

 

after all of this, do you still need to ask about the Eighth Prince?

 

From love comes resentment, from love comes hate, from love comes obsession, from love comes remembrance. Resentment, hate, obsession and remembrance; these have been my constant companion since I've left you. At this moment, are you still annoyed with me? Angry with me? Do you still resent me? Do you still hate me? Under the cold moon, on this piece of paper, sitting on my lavender swing, I want you to know that in Soo's heart, there is no King, there is no Fourth Prince; there is only Wang So, the man who stole my soul! I dream of you, I think of you, but I can't go to you. In trying to cut my ties to you, I've only redoubled its hold on me. My longing runs deep through every part of my body.

I long for you, 

I will wait for you

every day 

Hae Soo

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I have not written a lot and definitely was a lurker for about 700 of these 1900 and growing pages.  But I wrote early on that I am flabbergasted how much this drama has affected my thoughts, emotions and energy despite its numerous and very obvious flaws. Why? Why? Why? And sometime this morning I realized that perhaps this is an allegory to the human condition itself. I’ve spent a greater part of my life striving for the logical conclusion of problems faced, I suspect most of my fellow eclipsers are the same. An A is better than a B, a 100 is better than 50, reading reviews of Yelp or Amazon for new products and restaurants. At school and work, we are summarized in to grades, reports and feedbacks, yet with all of these “facts” of us and our lives, it is not a summary of us as a person. Perhaps you all know the perfect student who is a real prick, or have a coworker that shines at evaluations but is a nasty human being?

Here is this deliciously imperfect show, full of obvious flaws and yet so perfect in its ability to entertain, devastate and provoke its audience. The least civilized of the brothers; the one that’s purely ruled by emotions comes out the victor for the battle for the throne. He had no clue his chosen mate operated on an entirely different thought process as his; her need for autonomy, for freedom, for safety are second nature to us but entirely incomprehensible to him. In that sense, they did not make sense for each other (I mean, I’m pretty sure, they would not have been matched on any online compatibility dating sites such as eHarmony); yet their love and devotion to each other rang so uniquely true. I believe the reason I’m hurting now is this: this show mirrors an epic battle of heart and brain, logic and loin, sense and sensibility and something we wage every day.

Soo is not as fortunate as So in his one purpose-ness. She will always hold back, perhaps it’s the nature of a woman, a survivor or an impending mother. Except for a few episodes, her emotions are always tethered to her fear of GJ and for GJ, her fear of future, her fear of her health, her fear for her child. She finally found sweet relief when she was in Jung’s home, able to be with her man in every thought, breath and action (though not in actual person). This time is a gift for her, a respite while she waits to bring the final thing she can do for WS, a physical remnant of their love.

I do believe So at the end of ep. 20 finally understands that there is a greater world that his Soo orbits in. In typical So fashion, he declares “I will find you, my Soo”. That moment, when he unmasks his scar and grits his jaw; there is no reason for me to ever suspect the wolf-Prince will not make his words come true. I’ve read that this drama is a repeat theme of HS in trouble, WS saves her, over and over and over again. I will not believe that WS; fierce, loyal, barbaric man, will allow his love to mourn him her entire life on another dimension. If Eun will follow SD to the afterlife so she is not lonely, So will follow Soo into the eclipse in any form.

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On 10/24/2016 at 0:13 PM, lunaluna33 said:

Here's my crazy theory. I do really feel that the writer is sending a message that a pregnancy will happen, but it may not end in a miscarriage. (at least I hope!) In the Chinese book and version. the 13th Prince (basically HS/RX's best friend) had a daughter that was the light of both HS/RX and WS/Emperor's life. there's a hint that the 4th prince in the novel was a very strict parent to his other children, but this niece of his was adored and pretty much allowed to do anything. We have not seen this little girl yet in Ryeo.

WS's son with YH did become the next emperor, but his rule was short and by all account, he was not a spectacular ruler. But I remember that BA (13th)'s daughter married the next king (or the one after? sorry, wiki is failing me here). What if HS and WS has a daughter and HS entrusted her to BA (because BA here has not had a child yet). WS knows this and that's why he doesn't end his life prematurely as he wants to protect his favorite brother (13th) and his daughter. This little girl was allowed the freedom her mother never had outside of the palace and knows her father only as "uncle". Eventually she married back into the royal family. I think with HS/WS has a son, I can't imaging his life being anything but tragic.

Just my 2 cents.

 

 

I just finished the last episode (still weaving a long detour past the dreaded ep 19) and I'm just taking an opportunity to give myself a fist pump! I called it!!!! yeah! like 300 pages ago! okay, now back to hitting that rewind button 20 times.

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After reading 20+ pages here, I think I'm going to sit out ep 19. I love both of these characters too much to take sides and I'm afraid I will leave the series with a bitter feeling toward both. Though it may be a "life lesson" I can't and won't watch YH's victory lap at the expense of all that's good in this story. Call me a fair weathered fan.... I actually found quite a bit of relief reading the book. The nuance and subtleties of love, regret, resignation and longing are so beautifully spelled out in the written word..

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3 hours ago, bluesunny3 said:

 

I love this x1000!!!! 

The scene where So promises to make Yeon Hwa HIS ONE AND ONLY QUEEN and QUEEN MOTHER happens BEFORE the scene with Soo and Baek Ah.

I saw it as So condemning Soo to a lifetime of grievances! Making Yeon Hwa his only queen and promising her that her son will be the crown prince gives her so MUCH more power over Soo!

Can you imagine living with such a EVIL, HEARTLESS, UNDERHANDED SNAKE who hates you? Who'll probably torment you endlessly? Who will stop at nothing to get rid of you? And knowing you have no status....no family....ABSOLUTELY NO POWER to fight her off.......(think of Lady Oh and Queen Yo. King Taejo LOVED Lady Oh but that didn't protect her from the evil clutches of Queen Yo!)

And Yeon Hwa is only ONE person!....Imagine all of So's other enemies who will come after you and cause harm to you or him!....

i just can't sentence Soo to that kind of life.

So in the next scene with Soo telling Baek Ah she's willing to leave with Jung....

I was like "Yes! Save yourself and get away!"

 

 

I have a lot of conflicted feelings about the last few episodes, and may get my thoughts down in a longer post at some time. But I absolutely agree with the above post and the referenced post. HaeSoo in the palace would really only have one currency of power, WS's love. But a man's love for a woman is fickle. This drama has never put us significantly in HS's head in terms of memories,flashback and voiceovers; but I wonder how much she's remembering Lady Oh, her "mother" who sacrificed herself for HS's chance at life. She must remember Lady Oh's wise observation that all relationships can be severed, HS severed her potential marriage to Taejo with one cut, but the cut to free her from WS may take her life. ("if you cut any deeper, you would have died"). Somethings are worth your life.

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I watched ep 17 again and all I have to say is when Wook tells YH "you will be queen" I was like "now? Now? You chose now to become a man of your words?" "Why can't u be all-words-no-action-Wook like always! "

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Here's my crazy theory. I do really feel that the writer is sending a message that a pregnancy will happen, but it may not end in a miscarriage. (at least I hope!) In the Chinese book and version. the 13th Prince (basically HS/RX's best friend) had a daughter that was the light of both HS/RX and WS/Emperor's life. there's a hint that the 4th prince in the novel was a very strict parent to his other children, but this niece of his was adored and pretty much allowed to do anything. We have not seen this little girl yet in Ryeo.

WS's son with YH did become the next emperor, but his rule was short and by all account, he was not a spectacular ruler. But I remember that BA (13th)'s daughter married the next king (or the one after? sorry, wiki is failing me here). What if HS and WS has a daughter and HS entrusted her to BA (because BA here has not had a child yet). WS knows this and that's why he doesn't end his life prematurely as he wants to protect his favorite brother (13th) and his daughter. This little girl was allowed the freedom her mother never had outside of the palace and knows her father only as "uncle". Eventually she married back into the royal family. I think with HS/WS has a son, I can't imaging his life being anything but tragic.

Just my 2 cents.

 

 

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This new still cut makes my heart all 

19 minutes ago, parmma said:

 

You beat me to it! The last one is heart crushing 

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GOOD NEWS FOR MONDAY?

I find Yibada generally suspect in terms of their reporting, but the following seems legit

SBS confirm Scarlet heart ep 17 for Monday, the baseball game will move to SBS Sport (they have a sports channel? why did they put us through last week!!! Grrrrrrr)

https://twitter.com/melloviciousiu/status/788940853926428673/photo/1

http://en.yibada.com/articles/168621/20161020/moon-lovers-scarlet-heart-ryeo-episode-17-confirmed-air-oct.htm

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I read that LGJ stated in his latest interview with "Single's" magazine that he's disappointed with Ryeo's ratings.. that just totally depressed me today. I need to cruise over IG and let him know that Wang So is really a defining acting role for him. I know there's a number of online polls and voting going around, wonder if he's going to pick up any of those :-(

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14 minutes ago, cojulie said:

 

I have no idea if there's a hidden meaning behind trees but Hae Soo (해수/海水) means seawater in Korean and tree is namoo.

 

So the Chinese translation for Soo is 樹... Literally Tree. So every time So says Soo's name, the translation in Chinese is... Tree-ah. How curious about the Korean symbolism being much more rooted in the water.

 

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6 hours ago, 40somethingahjumma said:

We've been directed to view the throne as the holy grail in this drama right from the start. The seat of power that is coveted by men seeking the power that it holds for whatever ends. Watching Yo descend into madness (albeit somewhat quickly) suggests that the throne was not meant to be his in the first place and the means he used to consolidate his position would become his ultimate undoing. The truth is that no one can wield its power without being unscathed in some fashion but the more interesting question then becomes how much of an impact does it have on the soul of the one that sits on it?

It certainly has interesting parallels with the Ring of Power... the One Ring... from LOTR. Is it an instrument of corruption or does it merely show what is in the heart of the man who wears it? In the case of ML... the throne represents the gaining of absolute power but the question then is... what manner of man can hold such power in his hands?

What will the throne do to So... will he be a Gollum or a Boromir (which is what Yo falls victim to) or will he will be something closer to an Aragorn or even a Faramir or a Frodo? 

I think it's clear from the books that the Ring of Power takes what is inside the wearer even with the best of intentions, amplifies and corrupts it. A wonderful allegory of sin developed by Tolkien. 

In Lang Ya Bang (Nirvana in Fire) there's a fascinating conversation between the Emperor and the protagonist about what the throne represents. The Emperor insists that the throne changes people. Even with all the good intentions in the world to do good when one attains power, one is inevitably changed by it. Power... as the saying goes... corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The protagonist disagrees... he postulates that the man who sits in it determines the quality of the rule and determines what that seat becomes. A good man who doesn't seek power for its own sake won't ever be corrupted by it. Well, at least not to the extent that he will eschew all the principles he holds dear. From this perspective, the throne is a revelation... it becomes a mirror of the man who sits in it.

It's a great debate... probably one that has been raging since time immemorial. 

So then... what man can rule? What kind of man can handle so much power and will never completely consumed by it? That is the million dollar question.

In Spiderman talk... the other side of power is great responsibility. Used for altruistic purposes, power can do much good. I am also reminded of another piece of popular culture, Ever After, about a prince who didn't want to be King. He was constantly running from it, calling it his "gilded cage". But when he met the right woman, she opened his eyes to the possibilities of what being a King could be. He could use that position to do a lot of good. (Lots of references to Thomas More's Utopia which was incidentally satirized by Voltaire in Candide) All the things he was passionate about could be a platform from which he made his contribution to his land.

I believe Gwangjong could be that kind of man. Although the woman by his side never wanted him to become King... which is perhaps in part why she was loathed to get involve with him romantically... Through the ironies of fate, she becomes the means by which his eyes were opened to its possibilities for good. To protect her and whatever's left of his family, he's finally put his hand up for the job after being misused, abused, bullied almost to the point of losing his own sense of self (constantly labelled pejoratively as a "dog" or a "wolf").

What kind of man can potentially be a good king? I think the message of the drama is... one that has suffered and loved through suffering. 

And in this story really no one has suffered as much as So... and no one arguably has loved as greatly as So. 

This!

i think that's why this show is so engrossing to me. It feel like a grand piece of literature. Probably due to extremely well written source material and the on point acting skills of this cast.

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So I've been forcing my husband to watch Ryeo in an effort to bring us to equal level of madness (he is curiously unswayed by the utter perfection that isLGJ's jawline). As a result, I've seen and had to explain a number of previous episode to my #1 Dude. I thought I noticed something and wonder if our more senior member of the community can comment on it (or if it's already been discussed, point me in the general direction)

Is there an allegory to trees that is being played out?

We all know that WS told HS about Patpat, apparently his one friend in Shinju (a tree) that was sacrificed to drive out the wolves. Through that sacrifice, WS presumably took on the moniker of Wolf Prince

but here's two tidbit that I'm picking up more recently.

At Eun's wedding, presumably all the Princes brought gifts that represented their hopes and wishes for the new couple. Won, typically, brought "silver" and WS stated he is giving the new couple a tree. Something that provide them shade in the summer and fruits when they are hungry.

Also I'm sure many of you know that the Chinese translation for Hae Soo is Hae Tree (I don't know the Korean, but I think it's very similar)). At the time of the Patpat story I thought, what a clever pun, this lonely prince burned one tree, but found a living human tree to mend his heart.

 

Now I'm much sadder thinking of above. If Patpat's death (still remembered all these years later) gave him his identiy; Eun and SD's death (their marriage tree's death) gave him his new purpose; is our HS (his last tree) next in line? what would this sacrifice teach him??

 

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

9 hours ago, UnniSarah said:

That make a lot of sense @lunaluna33 but I will say this WS and HS are truly soulmates. She is the first person to ever truly care for him, worry for him and understand the harsh thing he had to do. After watching with subs, WS chooses to give her up for power but to protect her too. His choosing was a double edged  sword. HS and WS understand each other and no each other better than they know themselves. They do stupid things for the people they love but lose sight of where they are. They are at time where violence is used to control/ manipulate  their environment and people around them. 

Ok, I got a reasonable night of sleep so much less doom and gloom than last night. I do think that's the escapism aspect of this, the premise of BBJX and Ryeo lies therein: though the human heart is impermanent; there are certain love/bonding that are so deep that it defies rules of man and time. RX in BBJX (C-version) stated before she died that she plans to drink an extra bowl of "forget-everything" soup (a deeply held Chinese belief of afterlife that you are given the choice of forgetting the current life and move on to emotional neutrality) when given the option. However, she wakes up remembering it all. Presumably after weighing all of her options, she still chose to love, lust, grieve and nurture her love with the fourth prince. No matter what the ending is, I imagine WS and HS would chose the same. Like what you write @UnniSarah what they have is a double edged sword. 

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

13 minutes ago, UnniSarah said:

Beautifully said @lunaluna33.... When he chose to go for the throne , he did give up Hae Soo but she was the one doing the chasing.  WS finally gave up on HS so he can stop the bloodshed but WS is still naive to think it will stop once he became king. With power comes enemies who are willing to do use or manipulate that power to their own advantage. smh smh.

Thank you @UnniSarah for reading. I remember one of my favorite quotes (and I'm doing this from memory, so not an exact quote) from the Other Boleyn Girl was when Anne Boleyn went to her execution and she thought the King of England spent 14 years chasing the "sweet deer of Hever (her)" and today it will end in a kill as all hunts do. I wonder now that HS is available and unrestrained with WS; is the hunt over? Is a woman desired and not obtained more precious than one kissed and owned? Random blue thoughts on a really gloomy day here...

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

I'm a total newbie but just had a very long rant rattling in my head for about a week that I have to get down. thanks for reading (I'm so not tech savvy that I've outlined spoiler in old fashion way... sorry!!!)

I can’t believe I am writing about a k-drama, but I need to get this off my chest.

I did watch the leaked ep 16, so there are some spoilers here. I’ve also made mention of C-version of BBJX. You’ve been warned. 

Good entertainment should not only help us pass our leisure time, but in certain cases, inspire us to have deeper thoughts about our inner being, the culture/society that are weaved by these human frailties and the very truth of our nature. Both the original Scarlet Heart and now Ryeo are doing this for me. (I’m super embarrassed to be writing this, shouldn’t it be Shakespeare? or something equally high brow?)

While there are tremendous sensory payoff from both dramas (the beautiful people, the gorgeous sets, stirring music etc.), I feel an overwhelming sense of melancholy. At it’s core, both of these dramas are an indictment of the impermanence of human emotions and the the corrupting aura of power. Over and over, the point is driven home, the only thing we (the viewers, readers etc.) can count on is: no one can have it all. In order to maintain a pure love, one need to disdain power; in order to grab the throne, one need to forsake one’s heart.

Taejo chose power, and died remembering the simple herbalist daughter from another time. I can read Chinese and I feel sometimes the subtleties of the writing is lost in the English translation. One of the most moving words he said while on his death bed was “what is this all for? time is fleeting.” (or something of that nature). The man founded an empire and has his name recorded in annals of human history for goodness sake.

Spoiler

 

******SPOILER ALERT****

One of the reasons the So-Soo reunion, while magical, was tinted in blue for me was the conversation they had at the end. There is a new lover for So — the throne of Goryeo. This is more polygomous than So’s 10 second marriage to his niece; this new lover is all encompassing and ever present in a way that a human woman just cannot be.

******END SPOILER********

 

The thought of Wang So from ep 14, ever being with another woman in the name of power is laughable; but the Wang So from ep 16 becomes a match for YH. He’s finally ready to step into the ring that she’s participated since birth. In the 20+ years he would rule Goryeo (probably only 2 episodes in drama time); he may come to love and respect the steadfastness of YH’s vision and the tactics she would use to make sure her family is not wronged. However, I suspect the WS of ep 20 (dizzying drama speed time) will rue the fleeting nature of human happiness and remember the pureness of his love for a court lady on a boat on a lazy summer day.

Arghhhh… why can’t anyone have it all?

Taejo: founded a dynasty and lost his love

Wang So: saved his family and his country and lost his sole/soul mate

HS: finally found love, squandered years of time with him, lost him to a country.

YH: has her cinderella story, but smart enough to know her husband’s heart is always locked

WW… and the list goes on and on, everyone paid a price for something precious to them. Some with their lives, some with their sanity and some with their souls. 

 

The song from the C-version of BBJX (the opening song) basically sock you in the face with this thought:

 

一眼之念一念执著

注定就此飞蛾扑火

明知是祸为何还不知所措

 

Essentially, it says, if you know you are being drawn in like a moth to a fire, why would you still go? (is the beauty of the flame worth your life?)

 

then later

最好不见最好不念

如此才可不与你相恋

 

Its better if we never saw each other, that’s the only one we can not long for each other. 

 

Tear…

 

I guess there are four more episode to see if the K-version can spin this concept in an unique way. The C-version really went for the melancholy with gusto and there are days I really dig it (in a self flagellating type of way) and there are days when I think “entertainment is suppose to be about escapism… and this blows”.

 

End Rant..