I expected better
Well, I finally got to see Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo (on Viki).
(Minor spoilers ahead)
For all the hype. I expected better. Don't get me wrong. It had a great cast (including a screen full of shirtless hotties right from the get-go), good music, a story that I wanted to see the end of, and characters that made me love them and cry. BUT all it also has all of the things I've come to hate in (especially older) K-dramas: toxic relationships, out of control spiraling self-sabotage, a lack of communication being a major source of tension (or not telling the whole truth to protect someone. Over. And. Over. Again.) lack of chemistry between leads, and a vague ending that doesn't give much closure (although, that seems to be more a regular C-drama issue).
I'm not sorry I watched it. Some of the characters are very memorable, and now I can cross this one off my bucket list. I cried several times (and if I couldn't tell whether or not I should care, they kept playing what sounds kind of like a Korean version of Take My Breath Away from the Top Gun soundtrack, which helped w the lack of chemistry). But it was extremely frustrating that there were almost no protagonist driven plot changes after the first few episodes and until the last two or so (like the FL was just calling it in). I spent a lot of the time wanting to pound my head against something (or one of the leads', especially FL). I get that it's supposed to be tragic and all, but I don't understand why this is so beloved. Just not my type of drama, I guess. I would much rather sob over a love story that I actually got to care about like Princess Weiyoung or Empress Ki.
(Minor spoilers ahead)
For all the hype. I expected better. Don't get me wrong. It had a great cast (including a screen full of shirtless hotties right from the get-go), good music, a story that I wanted to see the end of, and characters that made me love them and cry. BUT all it also has all of the things I've come to hate in (especially older) K-dramas: toxic relationships, out of control spiraling self-sabotage, a lack of communication being a major source of tension (or not telling the whole truth to protect someone. Over. And. Over. Again.) lack of chemistry between leads, and a vague ending that doesn't give much closure (although, that seems to be more a regular C-drama issue).
I'm not sorry I watched it. Some of the characters are very memorable, and now I can cross this one off my bucket list. I cried several times (and if I couldn't tell whether or not I should care, they kept playing what sounds kind of like a Korean version of Take My Breath Away from the Top Gun soundtrack, which helped w the lack of chemistry). But it was extremely frustrating that there were almost no protagonist driven plot changes after the first few episodes and until the last two or so (like the FL was just calling it in). I spent a lot of the time wanting to pound my head against something (or one of the leads', especially FL). I get that it's supposed to be tragic and all, but I don't understand why this is so beloved. Just not my type of drama, I guess. I would much rather sob over a love story that I actually got to care about like Princess Weiyoung or Empress Ki.
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