Summary: A girl in the present time gets transported to the Goryeo era after drowning in the river. She wakes up in the past as Lady Hae Soo, who’s related to the wife of the 8th Prince. Because of her status, she easily gets befriended with all the princes including the mysterious, scarfaced 4th prince who later claims the throne and becomes the 4th king of Goryeo, King Gwangjong.
Genre: Period, Romance, Fantasy, Kings & Princes, Flower Boys, Melodrama
Episodes: 20
Stars: Lee Joon Ki as Wang So (4th Prince)
IU as Hae Soo
Kang Ha Neul as Wang Wook (8th Prince)
Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Yo (3rd Prince)
Kim San Ho as Wang Mu (Crown Prince)
Yoon Sun Woo as Wang Won (9th Prince)
Byun Baek Hyun as Wang Hyun (10th Prince)
Nam Joo Hyuk as Wang Yoo (13th Prince)
Ji Soo as Wang Jung (14th Prince)
Likes: There so much to like about this drama but the main thing I think is the perfect balance between richness in characters (everyone is interesting), stories (everyone has each own story), picturesque setting, the heavier focus on the main couple and the bittersweet ending (it’s afterall the Goryeo era).
Now for the characters, I will focus on the princes (of course) and their relationship with our main lady Hae Soo…
Wang So (4th Prince) – though the first episodes were not much about him and Hae Soo but there were promising scenes already that he would be Hae Soo’s destiny. Take for example when he rescued her from falling off the bridge. Wang So wearing his famous mask, wearing black outfits all the time, riding his horse and known for his wolf stories exudes mystery and darkness. To top that all, he has his famous facial scar that no one would dare to look at and touch… except Hae Soo. That defines their connection and the chemistry between the two was undeniably great! He first fall for her, there was resistance from her as she was into someone else but isn’t this the best part! Their love was definitely difficult. In order to keep the love, they would have to be separated. It’s tragic but it’s Goryeo era, it was kind of expected.
Wang Wook (8th prince) – if I were Hae Soo, in those circumstances, I would also fall in love with this prince. Wang Wook though married to Hae Soo’s cousin, had the looks, the intelligence, the calmness and the love he didn’t hesitate to offer. Aside from that, he was backed up by a very powerful family that could easily make him the successor of the throne. Hae Soo and Wang Wook had some beautiful scenes when they were falling in love like the walk on the snow, the meeting at the cave, the writing tutorial and more. But Wang Wook wasn’t the luckiest, he lost the throne and the woman he deeply desired.
Wang Mu (crown prince) – the crown prince entrusted Hae Soo with his important secret, his skin illness. Because Hae Soo came from the present, she had an idea about the illness and how to manage it. So when Wang Mu became king, Hae Soo became the Damiwon lady who was responsible for everything like tea and bath for the king
Wang Yo (3rd prince) – he rose to the throne by plotting an uprising and kicking Wang Mu out (by of course killing him). Wang Yo became insecure of who his real supporters were. He never liked Hae Soo but kept her as a bait for Wang So’s loyalty. He was the queen’s favorite son and him as the king was like a trophy for her. Good-looking (Big Bang TOP’s deadringer) but too greedy and lacking support, he failed to keep his position.
Wang Hyun (10th prince) – his playful attitude drew Hae Soo’s attention though their first meeting wasn’t really that pleasant. He was a boy at heart who loved toys, plays, games but started having a crush on Hae Soo. His dream of marrying Hae Soo didn’t realize when his father King Taejo married him off to the general’s daughter. He was of course sad but ended up in love with his wife till the end.
Wang Yoo (13th prince) – he was the only one who was into music and drawing, the artist. A good friend and confidante of Hae Soo. They were very close that even Wang So thought Hae Soo liked him. Wang Yoo became Wang So’s loyal people when the latter became king and Wang Yoo’s closeness to Hae Soo became deeper when she became friends with Woo Hee (Wang Yoo’s love interest).
Wang Jung (14th prince) – he was the most gentleman of them all. Having an unrequited love for Hae Soo, he waited until Hae Soo wanted to get out of the palace and took his chance to have her with him. He was the last man Hae Soo was with and the man Hae Soo entrusted his daughter to. A former general, tough and good in fighting, full blooded-brother of Wang So – the king, he chose in the end to live his life loving the lady he love most.
Wang Won (9th prince) – the sneakiest prince. He supported whoever was in power. He took for granted the love of a servant, Chae Ryung whom he manipulated to help him poison the bath of Wang Mu, the former King. Chae Ryung was like a sister to Hae Soo. Hae Soo was so devastated about her death punishment that she despised Wang Won so much that after her own death she left a will punishing Wang Won to his death.
The kisses! Who would forget Wang So’s forced kiss on Hae Soo and Hae Soo’s first-move kiss on Wang So? These 2 made me crazy!
Beautiful dating places of Wang So and Hae Soo. My favorites, the boat ride on that picturesque lake and the 2’s walking place which was adorned with giant trees. Just beautiful scenes!
Don’t forget the awesome OST! I love listening too all of the songs… check out Moon Lovers OST.
The costumes were daebak! They all looked good, the princes specially. Hae Soo’s lady outfits were really beautiful.
The ending! It’s bittersweet but I like it like that. There was a closure to every important story. As I see King Gwangjeong at the end acknowledging that the life of a king is afterall fleeting and vain, seriously I have to hold back my tears! It’s sad but I accepted it as a beautiful sageuk ending. But come on, the ending screams part 2! Give it to the fans please! I’m one of those who wants to see both of them in the future.
Dislikes: Some scenes were too touchy to pass and some punishments were to weak for the Goryeo era.
My Rating: 9.5 stars! (10 as highest)
Continue reading “Moon Lovers – Scarlet Heart: Ryeo” →
Summary: Dong Baek starts a new life with her son in a small town, opening a bar called Camellia. She is being criticized and bullied by her neighbours for the kind of livelihood she is having but that doesn’t stop a few people to admire and respect her. One of them is Hwang Yong Shik, a constable. His persistent character makes Dong Baek consider falling in love again.
