Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

Story: 9/10
So the story was nearly a 10, however, there could have been more explanation on the "How" and "Why" Go Ha Jin ended up as Hae Soo and what the eclipse had to do with the whole situation (Which would also clear up the ending somewhat). I personally didn't mind the ending, if only because it meant hope. I think it made real Hae Soo's main quest of "changing history"
I know some people stop liking a drama if they don't understand or want answers, but I like to fully put myself in to what i'm watching - if I enjoy it until the end (leaving aside my complaints) then it did a good job, but if you can't get past the inconsistency then it did a bad job. This did a good job at keeping me captivated and to me that means the Drama served its purpose to entertain. Even if you find holes in the story its told well enough for you to keep going. I've seen that people don't like the relationship progression but to me its more real. The feelings are raw and confusing. They aren't black and white. The whole drama and its relationships are not fairy-tail ones - they hurt and they try to persevere.

Acting: 10
I've now seen many dramas, some cringy and some not. I think each cast member brought a good personality to the characters. I cared about some and hated others. That is all you can hope for, if you dont feel anything for the character at all I think the acting wasn't worth it. I ended up crying a lot.

Music: 9
There wasn't any one particular song that stood out to me, the music was good but nothing that made me go "Wow I want to download this". Perhaps I was focused too much on watching that I wasn't hearing it. Although perhaps thats a good thing, you can't have music too overpowering for a story like this - and sometimes the way that the drama repeats the same powerful song every episode annoys me.

Rewatch: 10
I would watch this again to focus on details I may have missed the first time. Side characters, subtle hints or actions, try to answer some questions I asked by taking what I know from the first watch and fill in the pieces.

Worth the watch, definitely, It's very emotional and raw. The music doesn't overpower the story and distract you from the very intense and fast paced lives of Hae Soo and the princes.

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Hae soo's journey of life.

This review has many SPOILERS. Pls notice that.

I watched many dramas but this is the one and only drama I can recommend without hestitate.. every minute is worth watching you don't want to skip any scene of this drama. It really gives deap impression of life. Script , dialogues, actors, cinematography, ost all are well paced. They didn't give us any chance to blame at all. We can only appreciate this masterpiece. I just think kdrama fans of future can't find any kdrama like this. This is the only one i can't forget for my life. I watched it 3 times without skipping any scene.this gives us imotional rollercoaster.

Also this drama has romance between wang so and hae su. they strongly showing us the journey of hae su's life. I can only think hae su and wang so are really bad lucking. Think of it when hae su lives in wook's home under myung hee's protection myung hee died. When hae su in myeongdang under court lady oh had to died. Also hae su witnessed 3 king's death in front of her eyes. It's amazing the way that iu portrayed hae su's change when time had to passed. Firstly her smile was soo bright and nice but after facing many hardships little by little her smile goes away.

Wang su's life is also like that. He had to live his whole life so lonely. Firstly he lived as a hostage. His mom hurt his face yet he also hoped his mom will love him. Instead of mom's love he had to take his mom's hate. Also his father didn't care a lot of him. After he meets hae su they loved but they didn't have many time to stay with each other. After so become the king all people he loved left him so quickly. Even though he had a wife and son their wasn't love. His life is so lonely he haven't any person at last he can believe.😭

Idk why mdl patners criticise this masterpiece. This deserve more than recognise and ratings. I just hope all can watch this drama wisely💗💗💗💗💗

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Although I really enjoyed this drama, there were a few things that really bothered me.

1. Characters who should not have gotten redemption, got it, and that really frustrated me.
2. It felt like they put in tragic stuff just for the sake of it.
3. There was no closure on anything. Characters that suffered in the beginning were still suffering at the end.

However, the actors were phenomenal. Joon Ki was absolutely amazing. Extremely captivating, he was the main reason I continued to watch until the end. I hope for a season 2 or a special to give us some closure. I don't like how it ended at all. But I'm someone who likes happy endings lol.This drama made me cry really hard. Way too hard.

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Traumatizing and unfair

Beautiful drama that started promising, but then something terribly wrong.
Amazing actors, visuals, OST, everything, but story traumatized me.

** SPOILERS **

In the end, when Wook asked her why did she chose So, she answered that is because So was honest to her, but, as far as I remember, Wook loved her and told her that he wants the throne because he was not able to protect her, it was for her, while So, in order to become the king, left her saying that he does not love her anymore. So from my point of view, what So did was more unfair and he was the one who was not honest. At least Wook had the reason that he was forced by his sister, but So did this on his own, he chose to left Hae Soo for the throne... Wook wanted the throne for Hae Soo, while So wanted the throne for him.
And then, Hae Soo was so easily disappointed by Wook when he did everything for her, but she continued to love So even after he was so bad and possessive to her... I can't believe. But maybe she was so disappointed by Wook because she loved him more. And I hope, that when Yeon Hwa told her why her brother acted like this, she realised how wrong she was and how much she hurt Wook...
And I think that she still loved Wook because she knelt down for him.

I want Soo and Wook to meet again in the present, I want her to meet Wook and not So, because she lived her love with So, but she didn't fulfilled her love for Wook.

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Then a TV channel aired this drama. At first I said that it is just too painful to watch again, but then I said "Ok, just watch again, maybe you will see it differently". I am somehow happy that watched it again, because I could see many details that I skipped first time or that I forgot.
In ep. 12:
- When Soo was in prison, Wook went to her, but she asked him about So. This hurt him so much. I know that she was a good girl that worried about everyone, but she should've think also of Wook.
- Wook couldn't say anything about the real culprit in order to protect his family. He was forced. But he tried to save her by talking to Lady Oh. He really loved Soo, but he was caught between her and his family... and he couldn't betray his family. So I don't know why everyone blamed him, when he was just a victim.
- When Soo was kneeling for Lady Oh, she saw Wook coming and leaving and she asked herself why. Her love was not so strong to trust Wook and to know that he must have his reasons.
In ep. 13:
- Soo accuses Wook that he used her to kill So... well, how did she reach that conclusion? She couldn't trust Wook... and Wook did everything because he loved her...
- She then ask Wook to leave with her, but he is afraid that something else might occur. She can't understand his feelings... and accuses him once again that he does not love her and abandons him... she doesn't even let him explain.... she accuses him that he does not trust her feeling towards him, but she was the one who didn't trust him....
In ep. 16:
- Soo learns that So left her in order to get the throne, but it is OK since it is So... really? She left Wook when he wanted the throne, but since she knows that So will be the king it is OK? From my point of view So was the one unfair to her, not Wook. And then she lets So speak to tell her that he will make her agree. Seriously, she didn't give that chance to Wook...
In ep. 19:
- Poor Wook, who did everything to protect his family is abandoned by his mother and sister...
- Soo hears that Wook is going to die and she kneels down for him, to save his life. Later, Wook tells her to pay attention such that So won't suspect her, and she then says that she would have done this for every prince. But I don't think that she would have knelt down for any of the other princes, but she did this for Wook, because she deeply loved him. Or maybe the meaning (maybe lost with the translation) was that So can't suspect her, because he would think that she would have done this for any of them.
- When she leaves the palace, at the gates, she meets Wook. They are both outside the palace, this may mean something. Also, Wook says "It's over in this life.". If we want to search for hidden meaning, then this is equivalent with "In the next life we can be together.". Here Wook finally looks calm, and I think that it is because he kept his promise to take Soo out of the palace, even if he can't be with her. He finally could keep his promise and helped her and this made him happy.
In ep. 20:
- Before Wook dies, he seed his wife, Lady Hae... I'm not sure about this, it may be interpreted like he is going to be with her in the afterlife... Why did he not see Soo... an answer may be that she is alive in the present. But what if Lady Hae will take him to Soo in present? Since it was her wish for Wook to be with Soo...

So, in the end, Soo was the one who couldn't trust Wook and he was the one who was hurt the most.
And it is such a pity, because their love story, as seen in the first episodes, was the most beautiful love story that I ever saw in a drama, but after ep. 12 everything was ruined....

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Breathtaking drama with bittersweet ending

The K-drama period that I just finished watching is, without a doubt, one of the best ones I have ever seen. I was completely sold on it and couldn't help but be captivated by the cast's performances, the chemistry between the characters, and the intricacies of the plot.

While I was hoping for a happy ending, I couldn't give it a perfect score because of the bittersweet conclusion. However, there was an open-door possibility that the main lead would find a way to be with her lover. The mysterious voices she heard and the paintings she saw, as well as the appearance of a man who looked like the 8th Prince in modern clothes, all suggest that there is a chance for a resolution to their love story. Sadly season 2 never been produced.

I must say that I watched the entire series in a marathon, unable to let go of the story. The multiple love stories that were intertwined The scriptwriters finally got it right this time - they respected the timeline and nothing was rushed. They took their time to allow her to truly fall in love with her first love, and then to gradually unlove him. It wasn't until much later that she fell in love with someone else. The years apart were the perfect choice, and the scriptwriters nailed it. were all beautiful yet tragic.

The scriptwriters finally got it right this time - they respected the timeline and nothing was rushed. They took their time to allow her to truly fall in love with her first love, and then to gradually unlove him. It wasn't until much later that she fell in love with someone else. The years apart were the perfect choice, and the scriptwriters nailed it.

The love stories portrayed in the production were truly believable and heartfelt. Each storyline had a timeless quality to it that made it resonate with the audience on a deep emotional level. The themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, mistrust, jealousy, pain, despair, and even hatred were all perfectly executed by the talented cast. Every actor brought their A-game, immersing themselves in their respective roles and delivering performances that left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. Overall, the production was a masterful display of storytelling that left the audience feeling captivated and emotionally moved.

As much as I loved the drama, I must say that I have a deep dislike for time travel dramas in general. The same old sad ending of the main lead leaving her lover behind and returning to modern times is something that I find predictable and cringe-worthy. It would be great if the lead could live in the past, or if she were given a real choice, rather than being forced into an unhappy ending.

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I recommend this to you if you are someone who enjoys suffering greatly.

I'm not really sure how to explain the love-hate I feel for this story; I think it's actually more hate than love.
We have an ordinary girl who "dies" for no reason and appears in this era, in the body of another girl who looks just like her... So I wonder, what happened to the real owner of the body? Was she just a perverted girl destined to die while spying on princes taking a bath?

Anyway, the first half of this series is quite boring. We see our female lead falling hopelessly in love with one of the many princes, and at the same time, many princes are falling for her... Not much happens... But the second half of this series is pure torment, and that's because this series is made to make you suffer!! The characters who seemed nice in the first half all turn evil, and I don't know which one is the most wicked!! Although I must admit that deep down, I liked the development. The female lead, who at first thought she could change the future, ends up getting into more and more insurmountable problems.

Returning to the fact that this second half of the series is tormenting... I can't explain how much I wanted to kill them all... For them to stop suffering ALREADY! PLEASE!! And just when I thought things couldn't get worse, they did; it was one stab after another, and I don't say that because it hurt me every time something dramatic happened, but because I felt like screaming and screaming... And it's not just because of the despair the story caused me; in many of the dramatic scenes, there were quite a few mediocre performances... Not all of them, clearly... But a large part.

I must also say that even though I liked the OST, whenever there was a sad scene and they played the same song, I imagined the person in charge of the music pressing a red button labeled *insert dramatic music* while sipping on a juice.

I'll talk for a bit about the main couple, the Moon Lovers. They started with an almost nonexistent romance, so much so that I questioned the title of this series. The male lead treated the girl like a burden and almost killed her several times until one day, for some reason, he decides that she "belongs" to him, but he doesn't put much effort into winning her over. However, when the female lead began to fall for the male lead, I really liked their chemistry... And that was it... There weren't even 10 consecutive minutes of drama where they were happy; something bad always had to happen. I must also say that at first, when the male lead made promises to do good things and blah blah blah, I believed him... And it hurt me how his character developed, although I understand it considering the kind of life he led. I would have liked this couple to find a bit of happiness in the end, even if it wasn't in that era; I really would have liked that.

In short, this series could have pleased me more; maybe if I had watched it at another time in my life or if it had been better produced... I don't know... Many things could have been of better quality with just a little more effort. I think I'll watch it again someday with a bit more patience.

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Yes this is based on a Chinese Book, but this is a remake and they sort of buy the rights, so under the hands of a good screenwriter even a bad book would turn into a marvelous drama. Most of the actors are wasted in the drama, we did not see anything much of love. Scarlet Heart Back in 2011 was my first CN drama. It was the first year I started to watch Korean CN dramas did not know much about them, I accidentally discovered them on youtube.. I can only say this this was not as brutal as the original one.

I still want a S2 if all the fans get together and push them by petitions & twitter parties we'll get it but we won't get anything by sitting and hoping..

I am still not recovered by this drama, I want to go and watch it back, I have done the same on Scarlet Heart a couple of times.

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The Most Emotionally Unforgettable Historical Romance Drama to ever exist!

2016's "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is one of the most emotionally unforgettable historical romance dramas I have ever watched. It is an exceptional blend of romance, heartbreak and political tension, that stays with you long after the final episode ends. This drama is not just a love story, it is a powerful journey through fate with a message that love can transform even the most wounded hearts. 💔


This show was recommended to me by two of my friends who both said I need to keep my tissues ready because by the end of the show, my heart is sure to break! And they were definitely right because by the end of the show, I was crying so hard due to the heart breaking ending and the events that lead up to it.😭 I felt really empty after finishing the last episode but this show gave me everything I could ask for! It had a beautiful storytelling, unforgettable characters, intense romance, tragic moments, stunning visuals, excellent OST's and acting performances that completely pulled me into the ancient world of Goryeo.


The story itself is really interesting. It follows a modern Korean woman who is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty as Lady Hae Soo where she becomes entangled in the lives of princes fighting for power and survival. This drama explores royal politics, conspiracy's, conflicts, betrayal, brotherly love and romance while making us realize that sometimes love alone is not enough to change cruel circumstances. The story is well written and engaging which is why it leaves an impact on your heart even after ending and stays with you. Honestly, this reminded me of anime shows like The Apothecary Diaries, Colorcloud Palace and other Historical Drama's. The storytelling is very simple with a few impactful plot twists that help build this simple story into something stronger. The pacing was well maintained and nothing felt rushed. The first 10 episodes also had many light hearted moments in between all the political conflicts and blooming romance but the last 10 episodes of this show literally kept me on the edge of my seat and pulled at my heartstrings!


The best thing about this show is how well each of the characters are written. Since this show has a big main cast so it was necessary to portray each of the characters differently through the writting and this show does that perfectly. Each of the princes have significantly different personalities and traits that makes it easier for us as audiences to understand each of them properly. We mainly see the Journey's of the Crowned Prince Wang Moo, 3rd Prince Wang Yo, 4th Prince Wang So (Main Male Lead), 8th Prince Wang Wook, 9th Prince Wang Won, 10th Prince Wang Eun, 13th Prince Wang Baek-ah and 14th Prince Wang Jung alongside our Female Lead Character Lady Hae-Soo and Princess Yeon-hwa. No one exists just to fill space. Every supporting character has depth, purpose, and emotional weight in the story. Each of them take decisions that have direct consequences shown in the story which is why the royal politics aspect of the show feels so personal from their perspectives. I loved each of the characters and they all did things and made choices that are appropriate for their characters. Even characters that were in negative roles did an amazing job bringing out their characters motivations on screen. Yes, I did despise many of the negative characters but I did also understand that from their perspectives they are just trying to survive in between the royal political conflicts and achieve their ambitions of becoming powerful. But of course my favorite characters from this show were 4th Prince Wang So, 13th Prince Wang Baek-ah, Lady Hae-soo and 8th Prince Wang Wook. Although, 8th Prince Wang Wook and Lady Hae-Soo made some questionable choices near the end of the show, I cannot deny how well they were written and how great their contribution was in shaping the entire story.


For me, the absolute highlight of the drama was 4th Prince Wang So, one of the most compelling male leads I have ever seen in any show! He is portrayed on screen by actor Lee Joon-gi and absolutely nailed this role! 🖤 I honestly became his fan after watching his portrayal of this complex character. His character journey was extraordinary to say the least. I went from not liking him to feeling pity for him to loving him to ultimately being completely crazy about him as the story progressed. By the end of the show I was heartbroken and bawling my eyes out because of the cruel lonely fate he had to endure. 💔😢 He starts off as someone who is feared by all and seems very ruthless because he grew up without love or affection from his mother that he craved a lot. But as he starts getting closer to Lady Hae-Soo and builds a beautiful connection with her, he becomes a gentle yet strong human. He values and cherishes her love because it is the only affection he has felt in all his life and that's something I could feel while watching this show. Seeing a man who never knew love become someone willing to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves so deeply was both beautiful and heartbreaking. His transformation was powerful and I was completely invested in him from beginning to end.🫶🏻


The second highlight for me of this show was the romance! ❤️ Hae-Soo portrayed by IU and Wang So portrayed by Lee Joon-gi had such great chemistry that I was deeply rooting for their love. The way Wang So literally calls Hae-Soo his "person" is so dreamy and sweet that it made my heart flutter! 🫶🏻 Their iconic rain scene when Wang So protects Hae-Soo using his cloak made me completely speechless and that was the moment I fell in love with Wang So as well. There are so many moments of sweetness, longing, jealousy, tenderness, and heartbreak between them that hit so deeply because the connection between them feels genuine. Their love story is not simple and it develops gradually but it is full of obstacles, misunderstandings, sacrifices, and tragic timing. That is exactly what makes it so memorable. It shows how deeply two people can love each other even when the world seems determined to tear them apart.


However, because of how much I felt their bond the conclusion of the show broke me down emotionally! 💔 I truly was not prepared for how devastating it would be. It left me heartbroken and emotional long after the final scene. I cried so much because by that point I had become deeply attached to these characters and everything they had endured. The tragedy of the ending does not feel cheap or forced rather it feels like the painful conclusion of lives shaped by cruelty of fate. It was very hard for me to accept the ending because of how heartbroken and empty I felt upon watching it! But this ending was necessary because this tragic ending also made the story more meaningful and memorable in the hearts of the fans including me.


The technical making of the show is also perfect. The screenplay was tight and there were no unnecessary scenes. The visuals were beautiful and it brought the ancient world of Goryeo to life beautifully. Every frame feels elegant and cinematic. The colors, lighting, and attention to detail make it easy to believe you are witnessing another era. The cinematography of the scene when Prince Wang So does the rain ritual and it really does start to rain was one of the most noteworthy moment from this show. Apart from this the royal palace and every moment taking place surrounding those areas felt grand. The production left no lackings in designing the sets of the scenes. The costume and hair department also deserves praise! All of the Princes looked manly and princely because of their outfits and hairstyles.


But I must praise the music and sound department separately because of how amazing the BGM's and OST's are in this show! ❤️ Seriously, the songs are to die for they are that good! The music is absolutely beautiful and enhances every emotional moment perfectly. Whether it is a tender romantic scene, a painful farewell, or a dramatic confrontation, the soundtrack always knows how to elevate the emotions. Many songs stayed in my mind long after I finished the show. My favorites are "For You", "I Love You, I Remember You", "Wind", "My Love" and "Can You Hear My Heart"🎶


In the end, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" is a mix of beautiful emotional storytelling and tragedy that will forever remain one of the most memorable K-Dramas I have ever watched. It reminds us that even the strongest people can be broken by pain, and even the coldest hearts can learn to love deeply!🌙

📌Personal Rating: 9.5

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Since this drama is a remake of its Chinese cousin, I had high hopes before watching this drama. It took me a year of starting and putting it on hold to finally finish this. I must say, I liked the main cast better than the Chinese version because IU! and JOONGI! However, because of the many model-turned actors and idol-turned actor, Baekhyun, the acting was a bit sloppy and somewhat fake at times to be honest. No shades here, for Baekhyun to act this way for the first time is very good for an idol but sometimes I feel like he's over-acting for the sake of it (I do look forward his future works as an actor and see how he grows). The romance between the main characters and each character's development throughout the drama, from main to support, is what kept me watching the whole thing.

I do like a drama that has a good plot and good acting? But I guess this one only has a good plot, for a drama that has been remade. The ending though? I wanted to kill myself but sadly NO SPOILERS.

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a cinematic masterpiece

when i started to watch kdrama i always saw "moon lovers" being highly recommended but after seeing a lot of reviews such as it's a very sad drama, ending is not good, iu's acting is not good in this drama because of these negativity i really hesitate to watch this drama but after like 2 years i finally decided to watch this drama and now i realize how much of a fool i was... this drama by far become my favorite drama of all the time... this drama really affect me both emotionally and mentally... after watching this drama i'm wondering "how can a drama can be so beautiful"... the story, the cast, the cinematography, osts, everything about is drama is so perfect and beautiful and after this drama i truly become a huge fan of Lee joon gi and iu to a whole another level, their acting in this drama is so freaking beautiful and the fact that i don't always cry while watching dramas and all but this specific drama literally made me cry like a mess and this really taught me so much about the life and relationships, truly this drama affects me to a great extend... If you're reading this review and hesitate whether to watch it or not i'm telling you don't hesitate just watch it and avoid watching spoilers beforehand, this drama will truly become a beautiful experience you've ever had in ur entire life, after finishing this drama i felt so lucky that i watched this masterpiece but also felt empty and depressed for days because this masterpiece is already over, that's why i truly truly want second season of it but it's been 5 years and yet there's no announcement of season 2, it makes me sad but i'm still hoping for it, with the same cast but in the different era... just thinking about it giving me goosebumps all over my body. I truly become a huge fan of this kdrama and i don't think any drama will replace it's place in future, this drama will always have a special place in my heart.

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