This review may contain spoilers
Nine Years Later, This Time-Slip K-Drama Still Rips Your Heart Out ?
Genre: Historical, Slight Fantasy
Tropes: Transmigration, Love Triangle (that turns into some other weird shape later in the series)
I’ll start by saying that I have no words after finishing this. I had to take some time to process everything before sharing my feels.
If you are an international K-Drama fan like me, you probably know that for the longest time, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" remained unavailable for viewing on any major streaming platforms.
It’s also important to note that it’s not a new drama. It was released in 2016, and while the quality of K-dramas has gotten way better in the past 9 years, this is still an ambitious series with a larger-than-life story, and it’s currently one of the most searched series on Viki.
At the heart of the story is a young woman in the present day who, after a
drowning incident during an eclipse, finds herself transported back in time, inhabiting the body of a noble lady closely connected to the royal family. As she navigates the unfamiliar customs and expectations of the Goryeo era, our heroine must forge new relationships with various people to survive. I’d like to mention that Goryeo dynasty was a significant period in Korean history that lasted from 918 to 1392. So, it’s important to understand this was the time of strict societal norms and a power struggle that knew no bounds.
Our heroine makes friends with several princes, ultimately falling for two of them simultaneously. So, the first half of the show we are invested in the love triangle.
But as the drama progresses, the narrative takes a dark turn. The love story becomes entangled in a complex web of family feuds, as the princes vie for the throne (and a few more vie for our heroine’s heart), their ambitions eclipsing any notion of a happily-ever-after. It's a harrowing, emotionally draining journey, yet one that we simply cannot tear ourselves away from. At this point, we are too invested in the characters and their fates because they are fleshed out and real, and we can’t help it. It’s almost like watching a trainwreck in slow-motion. There’s absolutely no comedic moments left, just lots of anxiety and some foreshadowing.
Things I enjoyed:
Acting and star-studded cast. And I do mean star-studded. This show gave a boost in popularity to a lot of beloved Korean actors. We even have a small cameo from Byeon Woo Seok from “Lovely Runner.”
I know the opinions on IU’s acting are divided. I think it has nothing to do with her skills but with the way her character was written. Historical setting and rules women had to adhere at the time also play a big role in her behavior. She essentially had to forget where she was from and try to make it work in her current situation. I have no problem with her character or acting. I think she did a great job. I think any woman in such circumstances would have done the same.
Lee Joon Gi, who played 4th Prince, carried the show on his shoulders. But… I am also not upset about some of the things that happened in the last two episodes. Yes, there’s romance but it’s not going to end the way you think. (SPOILER) For some reason, I rooted for 14th prince because he gave our heroine what she wanted. Not all, but the most important things that mattered in the end, in my opinion.
I loved all the other couples and how the relationships between the characters were portrayed.
Things I think could have been done better:
The ending. It’s not a secret this show doesn’t have a happy ending. This is ultimately a historical show with a dash of fantasy (and I mean just a dash) and it reflects the harsh realities of the time period it’s set at. I can definitely deal with some of the open endings where it’s easy to guess what could happen. Knowing what the deleted scene at the end of the last episode would have been, it gives me a little comfort. But leaving it the way it is is weird because if the writers are alluding to what we think they are alluding, it needs to be shown somehow. I think the ending definitely needed some finesse.
In a nutshell, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” is a romantic historical drama about the price of power.
I suppose, you’re asking yourself why watch it if it doesn’t have a HEA.
Some shows are there for pure entertainment and to make you feel good. “Moon Lovers” is a show where you enjoy the journey not the destination. Not every work of fiction is going to give you fuzzy feelings. Some are there to show you other things.
Even years after its release, the series remains a staple of what a Korean historical drama, or "sageuk," should aspire to be. Its ability to seamlessly blend romance, political intrigue, and gut-wrenching tragedy has cemented its status as a true classic of K-drama.
It's finally available to watch on Viki.
Tropes: Transmigration, Love Triangle (that turns into some other weird shape later in the series)
I’ll start by saying that I have no words after finishing this. I had to take some time to process everything before sharing my feels.
If you are an international K-Drama fan like me, you probably know that for the longest time, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" remained unavailable for viewing on any major streaming platforms.
It’s also important to note that it’s not a new drama. It was released in 2016, and while the quality of K-dramas has gotten way better in the past 9 years, this is still an ambitious series with a larger-than-life story, and it’s currently one of the most searched series on Viki.
At the heart of the story is a young woman in the present day who, after a
drowning incident during an eclipse, finds herself transported back in time, inhabiting the body of a noble lady closely connected to the royal family. As she navigates the unfamiliar customs and expectations of the Goryeo era, our heroine must forge new relationships with various people to survive. I’d like to mention that Goryeo dynasty was a significant period in Korean history that lasted from 918 to 1392. So, it’s important to understand this was the time of strict societal norms and a power struggle that knew no bounds.
Our heroine makes friends with several princes, ultimately falling for two of them simultaneously. So, the first half of the show we are invested in the love triangle.
But as the drama progresses, the narrative takes a dark turn. The love story becomes entangled in a complex web of family feuds, as the princes vie for the throne (and a few more vie for our heroine’s heart), their ambitions eclipsing any notion of a happily-ever-after. It's a harrowing, emotionally draining journey, yet one that we simply cannot tear ourselves away from. At this point, we are too invested in the characters and their fates because they are fleshed out and real, and we can’t help it. It’s almost like watching a trainwreck in slow-motion. There’s absolutely no comedic moments left, just lots of anxiety and some foreshadowing.
Things I enjoyed:
Acting and star-studded cast. And I do mean star-studded. This show gave a boost in popularity to a lot of beloved Korean actors. We even have a small cameo from Byeon Woo Seok from “Lovely Runner.”
I know the opinions on IU’s acting are divided. I think it has nothing to do with her skills but with the way her character was written. Historical setting and rules women had to adhere at the time also play a big role in her behavior. She essentially had to forget where she was from and try to make it work in her current situation. I have no problem with her character or acting. I think she did a great job. I think any woman in such circumstances would have done the same.
Lee Joon Gi, who played 4th Prince, carried the show on his shoulders. But… I am also not upset about some of the things that happened in the last two episodes. Yes, there’s romance but it’s not going to end the way you think. (SPOILER) For some reason, I rooted for 14th prince because he gave our heroine what she wanted. Not all, but the most important things that mattered in the end, in my opinion.
I loved all the other couples and how the relationships between the characters were portrayed.
Things I think could have been done better:
The ending. It’s not a secret this show doesn’t have a happy ending. This is ultimately a historical show with a dash of fantasy (and I mean just a dash) and it reflects the harsh realities of the time period it’s set at. I can definitely deal with some of the open endings where it’s easy to guess what could happen. Knowing what the deleted scene at the end of the last episode would have been, it gives me a little comfort. But leaving it the way it is is weird because if the writers are alluding to what we think they are alluding, it needs to be shown somehow. I think the ending definitely needed some finesse.
In a nutshell, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” is a romantic historical drama about the price of power.
I suppose, you’re asking yourself why watch it if it doesn’t have a HEA.
Some shows are there for pure entertainment and to make you feel good. “Moon Lovers” is a show where you enjoy the journey not the destination. Not every work of fiction is going to give you fuzzy feelings. Some are there to show you other things.
Even years after its release, the series remains a staple of what a Korean historical drama, or "sageuk," should aspire to be. Its ability to seamlessly blend romance, political intrigue, and gut-wrenching tragedy has cemented its status as a true classic of K-drama.
It's finally available to watch on Viki.
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