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

[enigmatic_zephy]

Moral of the story:

Behind every successful man is a woman..

Behind every great war is a woman..

 

[TheRoadNotTaken]

16 minutes ago, Lmangla said:

so history tells us Wangsoo married YH and had five kids with her; my reaction -- ???? how did that happen? even with marrying first cousins, there is often genetic complications and they managed to produce five kids with no mental health or physical health problems when they are half siblings? how is that possible?

so my plausible scenario based on years of watching all the kdramas -- those kids probably don't actually belong to YH. just like how mistress kids is placed in the family registrar as those belonging to the first wife -- how many dramas have we seen using that? so many! -- these kids could belong to concubines including Haesoo.... how is that for a random musing?

Only if both of them are carriers to a defected gene there will be a problem, if both of them have healthy genes the kids are fine 

[qwenli]

@chickenchopflipflop I went to see the ws ww fight scene again and I must say if Kan really used a double, I can't tell at all.

the fight scene was filmed primarily in three angles. One is the closer shot that can see both their faces, then a further full body shot and then another aerial shot.

through it all, we call see Lee joon gi's face clearly but for the aerial shots, Khn face is not shown, so it is highly probable that there was a double but I am not sure of that. I noticed in the further shot, Lee joon gi used his famous Tae Kwon Do kick again. He also used this in the final fight scenes with Wang yo at the cliff.

while rewatching the fight scenes, I begin to understand how tedious it must have been to fillm them. They probably took a whole day to do one scene because they had to rehearse first then film from different angles.

anyway, Lee joon gi never fail to amaze me by being so pretty but yet such a good fighter

[MadraRua]

Quote

A Tale of Two Princes - Scarlet Heart Ryeo meta - part 2

Prince So - A Scarred Heart

One of the first scenes of Wang So is him killing a horse. An overdramatic (and unnecessary to modern viewers) gesture that conveyed his determination in staying in the palace from now on and his fierce desire to never go back to his “adopted” family.

All characters, from minor to major, are worried about his return and what it means. He’s called a mad dog, someone who murdered an entire village. And he’s introduced to us, the viewers, by killing a helpless, loyal animal that carried his richard simmons very far.

This clearly was a choice to make the viewers also worried about his return and wary of him. Actions, we’ll soon learn, mean a lot more than words in Moon Lovers/Scarlet Heart. And the show is aware of that.

So himself does little to change people’s opinion of him. He threatens Su constantly. He keeps everyone at arms’ length, and the only person he appears to care about (his mother) rejects his presence. His decision to support the Crown Prince is merely a tactic for his survival than anything else, at first at least.

But quickly we learn of So’s tragic past and the reason for it: his scar. Under a mask he wears, So bores a symbol of his mother and father’s shameful past.

And because of it, he has been sent away to live with a group of abusive people who have no problem throwing him, literally, to the wolves. The only affection he received is fleeting and from a woman consumed by grief and probably mentally ill. He’s held for a brief moment, then tossed away as she recalls that he isn’t her dead son. His best friend was a tree he had to burn for heat and to scare off a pack of wolves.

Ouch.

After that, it’s easy to feel bad for him, right? Yes. But at the same time, So threatens cinnamon roll Su multiple times, acts like a jerk, and kills an entire temple of assassin monks to hide his mother’s crime (a character who has been introduced as the villain).

Even as we learn of his past and pain, So’s actions (Remember, actions matter) justify everyone else being wary of him, including the viewers. We might feel for him, but we can’t exactly root for him either, not completely. Perhaps just like Su.

We have someone who kills without apparent guilt, who is aggressive and off-putting, but at the same time gentle with his mother, open about his desires and true to his word. This seemed contradictory to me at first, but it slowly made more sense as the story unfolded. Despite what the characters around him believe, So has no malice. So’s actions are not of a villain or a villain to be, as Su fears. His actions are of someone that has the emotional maturity of a young teenager–still trying to make sense of his emotions without knowing how to.

Now, of course, he’s not a child, but at the start of the story, he certainly has no experience interacting with people in a healthy way. The princes and Su are open to him, as much as they can considering his reputation, yet he rejects their company, either with threats or simply staying silent and not participating.

If you want to stay in the palace, why not try to make some friends, So? Help your case a bit? Tsk!

Here’s the thing, by the time we met So, the damage to his psyche has already been done. I don’t believe I recall him ever placing the blame of his scar where it rightfully belongs: at his parent’s feet. He doesn’t resent them for the scar. Not even his mother who used him as an object, a hostage since he was little. Nor his father that placed the throne above his son’s safety.

So has internalized the abuse he suffered as his own failings. The scar isn’t only a reminder of his reputation, but that he’s not worthy of love. It’s like he’s held hostage by it, overpowered by what it represents.

And every time he walks into a room, it’s like all his insecurities, all his fears, are exposed for everyone to see. He’s vulnerable in front of people he doesn’t trust or understand. There’s no way to shield himself or protect his inner demons from view. He tries to do this with the mask–perhaps it’s his way of “owning” it, of pretending he has a hold on his fears. Doesn’t work.

No wonder he lashes out all the time – he’s always on the defensive. He’s acting tough to compensate how vulnerable and weak he feels. Unfortunately, that’s the only way he knows how to deal with this situation.

He’s like an injured, cornered animal. A dangerous one, no doubt, but one that if you pull out the thorn off its paw, will turn meek and loyal… to you.

And that’s exactly what Su does.

I think this is a good place to talk about Su and So’s relationship a little. At least, the version of their relationship that I liked. Before Su helps him cover his scar, she’s his first and most important friend. 

And, in a way, he’s also her only friend as well. Like So, Su is new to the palace. Like So, Su has failings she can’t hide. Without the knowledge of this period’s customs and laws, she stumbles around the palace, calling attention to herself and getting into trouble. Although she has a supportive family, she feels indebted to them and tries to keep a cheery smile all the time so not to make them worry.

Both feel out of place, but want to fit in. Naturally, they gravitate towards each other. She doesn’t know the unspoken rules of the palace, and he doesn’t like or wishes to follow them. She doesn’t put any weight on his reputation, judging him for his actions, and he doesn’t know the “old” Su or expects anything from her (err… at the start).

It’s an easy companionship, and it provides the emotional support both desperately need. For once, So finds someone who doesn’t see the mask or the scar. It has no meaning for her, and thus when they are together, it has no power over him either.

Su’s decision to help him with the scar is done out of her need to heal wounds and keep the peace. She’s against conflict and wishes a simple, happy existence for everyone. 

But, I think, there’s also a measure of connecting to him emotionally. There’s a flashback to Su’s modern life where she is being chased by people, much like he was being chased and scorned by the villagers. She’s also has been betrayed and thrown away. She talks to him about survival, of doing what it takes because we deserve to live, etc. Su, more than with Wook or any other Prince, relates to Wang So.

Sadly, that friendship didn’t blossom into love as I hoped. Not on her side. Not for now.

In a society that puts so much value in outer appearances like the palace, being able to change yours at will it’s a powerful thing. Suddenly, So’s source of weakness is a weapon, boosting his confidence and forcing others to view him beyond his scarred face.

The curse is lifted, and So becomes happier and much less confrontational. By literally covering the scar, Su helped So cover and hide the aspects of himself he felt were exposed.

After that, So regains the control of his own identity. Granted, he has no control over his fears yet, but finally, he’s allowed some privacy, some internal tranquility to deal with his issues without feeling like everyone is aware of his struggles.

But the power Su gives to So during the rain ceremony changes their relationship forever. Just as So mellows out, Su realizes he’s the one destined to kill his own brothers in a bloody battle for the throne.

They aren’t on equal grounds anymore. He has the whole world ahead of him, and she fears that this power will destroy her hopes for a happy, peaceful existence for her, Wook, and the other princes she cares for. 

Can we believe her visions? The man we are now rooting for completely surely can’t turn into someone as ruthless as she fears, right?

Most actions So has taken after Su’s initial vision have been positive (let’s ignore the forced kiss, that’s a whole different bag of shitty). He has stayed loyal to the Crown Prince, has helped Su as much as he could, obeyed his father when he sent him away for a year, felt bad when “killing” his brother, protected the throne etc. 

It seems hard to believe Su’s visions will come true.

But, I think here’s where another aspect of So is worth mentioning: he’s starving for affection. His fear of rejection is only lesser than his hope for love. He puts himself out there again and again because he wants to love and be loved. We see this with his mother (he only gave up after literally killing for her and still not getting the love he wanted), and we see this with Su now. As of episode 13, he’s keeps trying to win her affections despite her repeated rejections to the point of turning viewers against Su. 

While we can feel pity for him, and wish him happiness, the fact he remains that this is not a healthy way to earn love. He has good intentions, the best intentions, but not only his insistence puts unnecessary pressure on Su to return his feelings (pushing her way even more), but it also puts his own well-being in danger. And perhaps the well-being of others.

Because of his desperate need for love, his loyalty to the ones he cares for is unflinching. Even after being rejected by his mother multiple times, he still protects her and is incapable of condemning her to death directly.

And while we might see that as a positive trait, one that shows how sincere he is in his feelings–so much that he risks his own life for his loved ones–this trait also has a dark side.

We saw that he’s capable of killing for love. We know that he’s willing to throw everything away for it too. It’s possible that love will push him to kill his brothers and prove Su’s visions true?

We’ll see. I think that if he’s destined to kills his brothers it will be either an accident or a tragic, unavoidable choice he doesn’t take any pleasure in it.

Wang So is sincere in his feelings, decisive in his actions, but reckless with his love and raw in his reactions. In many ways, he’s the opposite of Wook. Wook was surrounded by love and respect, but that made him bury his own self deep, building a shield of good manners and propriety to hide his desires. Meanwhile, So had none of that, and this made him fight for everything, demand that his existence to be acknowledged by others, not matter the cost. He knows, if he wants something, he has to fight for it.

When you had nothing for a long time, the few things are now everything. 

Cr: scila

The second part of their tale between two princes. Again a treat to read. 

Spoiler

 

@enigmatic_zephy

hypocritical? how so? I'm not sure whether you were responding to me or not in your previous post as you did mention varied tastes. I have nothing but the greatest of respect to other individuals, doesn't mean I can't question their thinking. To each their own I say. 

 

Spoiler

Cr: annergy

 

Edited October 5, 2016 by MadraRua
added fanart

[Lmangla]

24 minutes ago, enigmatic_zephy said:

Its not 100% that babies will ahve problem.. take muslim community..do you see problems..

And who knows maybe a problematic child is killed or not problems are not recorded..

 

They married , had sex (def >5), and made babies... AND that is the truth.. for HS and for us

 

7 minutes ago, mewtwo said:

Only if both of them are carriers to a defected gene there will be a problem, if both of them have healthy genes the kids are fine 

actually there could be problems if taejo and the queens themselves are related. usually with first generation intermarriage, there are less probability for issues but take it to the second generation intermarriage, then there would be. am assuming that taejo himself married within the clan. and simple problems can be skin pigmentation issues. we know that based on history, we do have kids swapped and registered as another queen's simply for political reasons. so I was thinking of an empress ki kind of situation. anyways, it wasn't meant to be a serious discussion thought. simply a random musing.  

[millie10468]

All I'm thinking is that we'd better start saying goodbye to General Park, Wang Eun and Soondeok. They'll most likely be the next casualty in this bloody fight for the throne. Soo's premonitions seem to coming true

They'll be welcomed by Lady Oh, the palace maid Wook killed, King Taejo and CP after next week. I don't know how Yo goes but I hope he does his fabulous eyeliner and Lion King mane of glory justice before he goes.

I look forward to watching Go Ha Jin run into people in the future who look like her deceased loved ones. It will be extremely sad for her though.

[Lyna]

35 minutes ago, Lmangla said:

so history tells us Wangsoo married YH and had five kids with her; my reaction -- ???? how did that happen? even with marrying first cousins, there is often genetic complications and they managed to produce five kids with no mental health or physical health problems when they are half siblings? how is that possible?

so my plausible scenario based on years of watching all the kdramas -- those kids probably don't actually belong to YH. just like how mistress kids is placed in the family registrar as those belonging to the first wife -- how many dramas have we seen using that? so many! -- these kids could belong to concubines including Haesoo.... how is that for a random musing?

 

I'm actually more curious if it would show Wangsoo married YH in this drama or if it'll cut that part out like it'll tell us that he married YH in the future and end it at that. 

Since the focus on this is Wangsoo transition into becoming King and his love with HaeSoo. It's a love story and the impact that love that leads him to aim for the throne and become emperor, and that love that turn his heart back to cold and ruthless. The way it seem, from start So had only one goal and was to remain in the palace with his family and not return to his "adopted" family. But it was his encounter with Soo and eventually love that lead and entangle him further into battling for the throne. 

And so far, there has hint about Soo's health. Her leg hasn't heal after a year and you can see instance where she's grabbing to her chest (her heart). It may interpet different but I look at it as sign of health issue. 

So I can see this drama being that of So and Soo and how they were destined to meet and change the course of their fate. Soo bring So to his fateful place as King and from So, Soo learn what true love really is. I am hoping that the only mention of marriage between So and YH probably would be the end when Soo return to her time and see that history does show So and YH married and it'll be the end of it. I will look at it and hope that it is Soo who entrusted YH to take care of So given that she know YH truly care for So and she wanted someone to at least be there for So when her time is up. 

 

Sorry guys, I am kind of bored at work so I'm just rambling! LOL!

[wackeemarie]

@soorani right after SH Ep13 aired I checked LGJ's IG, he had 992k followers and in less than 24hrs since I last checked it, he reached 1M. That's 8,000 new followers in less than 24hours.

*I realized I seem like a stalker after typing that. I promise though I'm not a sasaeng fan. Just a very devoted fangirl*

[jerboa83]

I cannot find the SBS version in any streaming site... :-(  Can you help me (via pm)? 

[Chickpea]

Good Morning, Chingu...

Finally watched Eps. 12 & 13 last night...  only comment on those is... YH certainly thinks highly of herself.  She's going to make WW king, she's going to make WS king, she's going to be WY's Queen...

Regarding the speculation above about WS and YH's children... I mentioned before history is written by the scribes writing for the regent who determines what gets written for posterity.  If the regent claims all his issue are from his Queen then that is what gets written regardless of the actual circumstances of the birth so, unless there is empiricle evidence to the contrary (i.e., eye-witness confirmation), we have no way of knowing who the actual mother of WS's children were.  Just what the scribes were told to write.

More interesting to me is the historical WS upon which the character is based.  So far I've seen two dramas about him, Shine or Go Cray and Scarlet Heart.  In each, he is portrayed as someone who was disqualified for the throne but who ended up as regent.  In both he is a kind of silent hero.  He's definitely someone worthy of further study...

My guess at the ending to this drama...  HS makes her way back to the 21st century and becomes a sort-of historical scholar and rewrites the history books to present WS as someone who overcame tremendous obstacles to become King rather than a monster who killed all his brothers...

Cheers...

[gwiyeowooh]

3 hours ago, sunshinefate said:

Actually, the above is just a liptouching whereas the below one is the real kiss although it is forced

I've went to the link IG photo for Ceci to support and comment Lee Joon Gi oppa and IU.

But I got scared, it is flooded with baek ah and seohyun fans. Hehe.

So I decided to just share it here. The photo below with IU and Lee Joon Gi oppa is heart fluttering.

Edited October 5, 2016 by gwiyeowooh
Typo

[feverdrama]

This episode was great, all the swordfighting, done in a Bourne style with kinetic cuts and some of those really cool looking wide shots. See director, what you can do when you give actors scene context!

Hae-Su is finally coming into her own as a character because she finally has a purpose. It occurred to me that in C-BBJX, it can be read as a feminist text since it’s about a woman existing in wildly oppressive times and her struggle to maintain identity. Hae-Su struggles with the same thing, but it’s done in a way that doesn’t allow us to glimpse into her inner workings. We are dying for some actual Hae-Su perspective, but the director is just not giving it to us. Wang So is definitely a more well defined character b/c we see everything from his point of view. It would be nice to get those moments for Hae Su, instead of trying to infer from her interactions with Wang So how she really feels. This is where a lot of her relationships with the female characters are wasted, like her maid Chae Ryung. We can get from her maid how she REALLY feels about being in this world. The “best friend trope” exists because that’s how we get some quick exposition out of the way. I would argue that someone like Lady Oh and/or Lady Hae aren’t those characters, we need someone on the same footing. Instead Hae-Su gets defined by her relationship with Wang So or Wang Wook, which is a classic male-writer mistake. They rarely think about female characters outside of their intended purpose for the male heroes. *feminist rant over*

It is mildly annoying to me that she needed a directive from the king to realize her purpose, I felt like Jimong gave her direction already, but now the King kind of does a 180 and tells her that she needs to make sure CP ends up on the throne? Kinda the opposite of what he was saying to her earlier to not interfere. Alright, not taking advice from a dying King plz.

———Entertainment Biz Rant

Oh one more thing, people are complaining about too many idols and speaking from an industry perspective, the idols are most likely the reason that the show got sold, as well as netting a huge streaming deal with Youku. Idols are money in the bank, so to speak from a product packaging perspective. I know I hopped on the show b/c I’m not normally a fan of sageuks, but this one had all the eye candy. Yes, some of these actors aren’t great. But it’s the sausage-making of the entertainment industry; you need the meat to sell to the audience. Also keep in mind that this is a network broadcast show, beholden to many many stakeholders, not some indie film where the auteur has all control and vision.

[Angiiee]

B O T H  H A N D S GUYS, T W O  H A N D S

 

this is gonna hold me over until Monday

[glacial]

the eventual break up of Soo and So could be different from sending her away or her leaving, she could be kidnapped by Wook or Jung or both and kept somewhere very secret for a long time. Just an idea... idk. Guess we'll have to wait and see how the k-drama makes it happen. I just had the thought because Wook was like "you'll come back to me." He seems more psycho than So, infact So is very considerate and gentle with Soo. So lets see! she could get kidnapped and held hostage or forced marriage with Jung. 

[iridescentmoth]

The reception of Hae Soo seems to have improved this week, the general consensus is evidently more lenient and sympathetic towards her. 

I'm glad after reading some rather unflattering posts on tumblr about her. The writer made the character more palatable and introduced scenes that conjure sympathy and not just empathy. 

It was a little disconcerting to see Wang So taking precedence among my roommates when we watched, they all were preoccupied with his traumatic experience and forgot our resilient and cynical heroine! No doubt a testament to LJK's enthralling depiction. I'm just happy IU and Hae Soo received some commendations and fan fervour this week.

[shabbychic]

Hello friends,

Once again I enjoyed reading all your comments, even if I don't comment often I'm still here reading every single one of your comments with amazement since I'm not a great writer sigh....

I had a good laugh today while reading a comment left by a french Eclipse on another site so I thought I'd share. The person was wondering if Wangyo had maybe died when he fell off the cliff went to the future  and just like Haesoo came back to life but in his own body 

Well that was quite creative I'd say lol This drama is driving everyone crazy I guess, trying to find what's gonna happen next and everything. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ddeokbokkii]

58 minutes ago, Lmangla said:

 

actually there could be problems if taejo and the queens themselves are related. usually with first generation intermarriage, there are less probability for issues but take it to the second generation intermarriage, then there would be. am assuming that taejo himself married within the clan. and simple problems can be skin pigmentation issues. we know that based on history, we do have kids swapped and registered as another queen's simply for political reasons. so I was thinking of an empress ki kind of situation. anyways, it wasn't meant to be a serious discussion thought. simply a random musing.  

I think a good example for what you are trying to say is Dong Yi, she's a concubine. But her son got adopted by the queen to become king later on. The queen couldn't produce a heir, so she adopted Dong Yi son. The adoption by the evil queen in Empress Ki, I think it's just a made up story.

[elisluvgeunscouple]

 

Gwangjong ( Wang So )

• Father: Taejo of Goryeo (태조, 31 January 877-4 July 943)
• Mother: Queen Sinmyeongsunseong (신명순성왕후, ?-951)
• Consorts and issue:

1. Queen Daemok (대목왕후), half sibling
   1. Wang Ju (왕주, 9 November 955-13 August 981), 1st son - Gyeongjong of Goryeo
   2. Crown Prince Hyohwa (효화태자), 2nd son, died prematurely
   3. Lady Cheonchujeon (천추전부인), 1st daughter
   4. Lady Bohwagung (보화궁부인), 2nd daughter
   5. Queen Mundeok (문덕왕후), 3rd daughter
2. Princess Gyeonghwagung (경화궁부인), daughter of Hyejong of Goryeo (Wang Mo )and Queen Uihye (의화왕후)

[mabelialong]

 

[KdramaAddict]

Finally I am back for another 10-15 minutes here... cant back read to join any fun or discussion...

If I loved epi12 then I loved epi13 much much more than that.. reason its the most satisfying episode so far for me. Everything that we wanted to happen between WookSoo - Beak up and WangSoo - their love boat finally (yeah finally) started from the shore. And at the same Fight for throne has begun with so many contenders in line including:

YH - this girl is something...among so many already aggresive princes she keeps her opinions clearly stated, voice - clearly heard to claim the throne. And she clearly knows what to do and how. Her brain is so sharp and never in doubt what she wants.. her aim is clear and being ambitions makes her more dangerous.

Wook - I always wondered what kind of person he was, he is the Underdog that I underestimated the most so far. Always thought of him to be just the second lead (and his uselessness made me shake in anger many times in past).. but this episode he was poles apart as he was before. His planning to Kill a traitor will make him a hero was proving again his Calculative brain. Soo was surely the Catalyst for his ambition for throne but eventually he preferred Throne without her instead of Her companionship without throne (and i am not complaining cause finally he decided his priority that freed Soo to decide hers). Thats what Soo needed the most, one clear word/reaction from Wook to find out he is not what he once was to make it easier for her to move on. and she did what I loved the most.. run away from him as much as she can.

King Taejo + So Yeon - I liked the way King called her name before dying to prove the point that OSG told Eveil Queen that It'd be enough if just one persons remembers her name and that happened here.

Wang So + Hae Soo - my love birds.....all their interactions in epi 12 and epi 13 just swelled my heart, gave me smiles and tears at the very time.... cause i have been there in all their struggles so far and when ever they had their small tiny moments I just watched them without blinking eyes, to absorb their emotions as much as I could..... I lied Kiss, I missed you back hug, Marry me and lets leave by WS. And HS looking for him all over palace cause she trusts him to share Kings real situation. Their chit chat in front of Throne...

and final scene HS hugging WS....it was just role reversal of Rain hug that WS gave HS..... and how tenderly she was patting his back like he is a small kid hurt and all alone. Such moments dont need words just presence of someone who can hear your heart and can give you solace.

Preview: all chances it might again giving us something different than actually in episode... but still i can be happy seeing HS in love with WS. But it will be shortlived seeing so much fight and blood shed so i have keep my heart strong.