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Tear-jerker
After watching the original version (Scarlet Heart 2011) I already have an idea about the ending for this one. Having really loved the Chinese version of Scarlet Heart I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one. But it surprised me! The story concept was the same but the way the story played out was different and intriguing. I really love the cast they chose.Overall I mostly enjoyed the chemistry between the leads as well as the brotherhood between the male lead and his best bro. The story has you laughing one moment and then tearing up in another moment. It is very melodramatic and can be a bit depressing--especially if you already know how it will end. It was very emotional and heart moving. I only hope they will eventually make a 2nd season with a wholesome ending.
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I've seen that people have been rewatching this drama multiple times, and that's what I'll do in a couple of months as well. But as for my first time watching this, I really enjoyed it. And I can't find a single flaw in it. I haven't watched the parent story to this, but Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was an amazing remake, I'll tell you that. It made me waver between characters, I still have a hard time letting my heart decide who should end up with who. Nevertheless, this great experience couldn't have been so great if it wasn't for the actors themselves. The star-studded cast was amazing, especially all of the princes. I'd read some criticizing comments about IU's performance, however, as her first major role, I think she did spectacular and even more experienced towards the end. I haven't looked how the plot coheres to actual Korean history, but I got so excited and interested, that I've picked up a book to read on it. To add, the OST increased the satisfaction of watching this about 50%. All of the songs were spot on with the lyrics, the artist choice is incredible, but I was a tad bit sad that IU didn't have a single in her own drama.
Overall, if you're not watching this, you're missing out big time. This drama is one of the best historical Korean series in my opinion, it sucks you in and let's you go all sad and weeping at the end, but it's so worth the bragging!
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This review may contain spoilers
It has been three months since I watch this drama, and still I can’t overcome it. I haven’t been able to watch any other sad drama because this one had too much of sadness for itself.First of all I didn’t watch the prior Chinese version, so I can’t compare both. I know a lot of people thinks the Korean version is the worst, but I really liked it, although I’m not happy with the ending and I’m sure it has a lot of flaws.
Story: when you finish watching this drama you have the feeling you have watch two different things. The first half of the drama is like a comedy, and I althought there are some typical and (and cheesy) tropes, it’s funny. The second half is so sad... and so good at the same time, but so so sad that you will need a lot of Kleenex to get to the end.
Things I didn’t like about the story:
- I didn’t understand that the female lead gave up so easily on finding a way to return to her time. I had the feeling she even didn’t try to find out. It seems too as it would be really easy to adapt to the past that it could be worthless to try anything else.
- The ending: SPOILER ALERT!!!!.........
.....…
I get that it’s not an easy task to have a happy ending with time travel stories, because you can’t change history, but in this drama I didn’t understand why they made IU remember everything when she returned to her actual time. I like the fact that when she disappeared in the past she returned to her actual time, but in my opinion it’s really cruel to let her know that she lived in the past, she loved someone who had been dead for centuries, and she even had a child she never ever could have the possibility to see.
She could have just returned and live her life in her own time, but like this she’s going to pass her life in complete pain remembering everything.
END OF SPOILER
Casting: I heard that there were a lot of complains about IU acting, but sorry here, I liked her. I think she did a good job although sometimes I didn’t like the way her rol had to act.
For example,
(SPOILER ALERT),
when Lee Joon Gi decides that he likes it better to become a king than to stay beside her (as he had told her he’d do), I would have preferred a strong female lead who would have left him there and would have lived her life anywhere else. Ok, that wouldn’t be the same story, but, come on! in the beginning she had a strong character and afterwards she was so submissive... At the end I was overjoyed when she decided to leave him and marry his brother Wang Yoon (the 14th prince).
END OF SPOILER
I loved too the rest of the casting. I hadn’t seen anything of Lee Joon Gi before, so I wasn’t rooting for him to win the girl, neither for the 8th brother (he didn’t deserved her anyway). But I liked very much all the bromance moments among the princes. It was like it should have been in Hwarang but much better.
Music: I liked the OST very much, overall the song “Will be back”, that represents this drama for me: a wonderful and sad story at the same time.
Rewatch value: I’ll probably watch it again in the future, but not every episodes, only the first half of the season until it gets sad (I don’t want to cry it over and over again).
If you are willing to see a beautiful story even if you know that it will make you cry, go ahead, it's worth it.
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The cast was perfect!! I don't even know where to start! Everyone was soo good! They delivered their characters perfectly! Not to mention the visuals!! Such handsome and beautiful casts! Acting was superb! Broke my heart a thousand! Just perfect!
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This review may contain spoilers
A disappointment!!!
I was so disappointed with this drama like damn, i have killed the writers a million times in my imagination. The actors were amazing but All the characters were selfish and greedy except the female lead. The ending like damn, it was like someone dropped a cold water bucket on me. After so many struggles how can u give an ending like that! Like why & how!!! And how can anyone call this a masterpiece like seriously they destroyed it! What was the use of so much struggle if it was gonna end that way. They could have at least created an alternative ending or something. I don't understand how this drama has a high rating. The ending just spoiled the whole drama for me because it was so unsatisfying and didn't match with having going through so much and then still ending up badly.Was this review helpful to you?
This drama definitely didn't age very well....My love for JoonGi is touching even Heaven...
I dont rlly like the FL like most ppl... shes such a messy character I cant tell what the whole point of her character is. And from what Ive heard, the whole ryeo remake cast sounds like a downgrade from the original characters.I cant tell what the FL value is. At first, you would think shes a modern girl who will impress the prince with her modern mindset. Than towards the middle it seems like she adapted to the era and did a 180 with her personality?? But she still keeps her naive modern mind where everhthing can be solved easily?? And I also dont like how shes too kind even towards ppl that betrayed her, wtf?? The first few episodes makes me think its a strong FL type??
I can definitely see why it would be poorly received in Korea. Terrible plot execution and unlikable characters. I only liked like Baek Ah, Jung, and Eun. Also good lords in heaven, this drama doesnt even have the intricate and detailed court politics and scheming it seems to sell. Jeus christ the writer could at least take some examples from the original. OR BETTER YET from actual Goryeo history. Cuz real GwangJong doesnt seems to give two fucks about the aristocracy and even known to have solidify the kingship
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The characters are captivating.
Some slowness in the scenario but i strong.recommand this drama especially if you like Lee Joon Gi and IU who are acting pretty well..
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https://www.change.org/p/sbs-make-scarlet-heart-ryeo-season-2-possible?recruiter=625478327&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
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As much as I loved the show I was not happy with the ending, I felt everything was packed into one episode.....I'm probably just been a greedy viewer but I need some type of closure, and I think the only way is to have a season 2. Like they're so many questions that needs to be answered...like did 21st century Hae-Soo go back to her normal life?...what happened after she left the museum?...what actually did happen to the Goryeo era Hae-Soo when 21st century Hae-Soo took over her body?....So many questions and I think they can only be answered by having another season. Which is probably never gonna happen.
I really hope they do end up having another season because when you think about it, the other versions had a sequel.
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