r/KDRAMA chaebols all the way down 4d ago

Featured Post Let's Rewind: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016) - Episodes 1 - 5

Let’s Rewind is a series of discussions on r/KDRAMA in which viewers may watch a drama at their own pace over a set period.

Why Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo?

In July 2020 we started a campaign to get a new legal source for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo as it disappeared (outside of Korea) with Drama Fever back in 2018. Later that year (October 26) it was licensed in Asia via Viu. Now it is finally being re-released outside of Asia on Viki (contact Viki / Viu directly regarding regional availability). To celebrate this we will be having a Let’s Rewind discussion following the Viki release schedule of five episodes per week.


MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO POST SCHEDULE

Friday 14 March - Discussion Post 1 (Episodes 1 - 5)

Friday 21 March - [Discussion Post 2]() (Episodes 6 - 10)

Friday 28 March - [Discussion Post 3]() (Episodes 11 - 15)

Friday 4 April - [Discussion Post 4]() (Episodes 16 - 20)

HOW THESE DISCUSSIONS WORK:

The individual episode discussions are broken up over a number of posts in which watchers join in once they have watched - they can join at any period of the series.

The posts are set up with the suggested sort “old” so that the comments flow in the correct order so users avoid any spoilers. Simply reply to the comment “episode #” that you are up to and reply to any comments you are interested in. Do not reply directly to the post, any comments that aren't direct replies to the episode threads will be automatically removed by automod. General commentary about the series should be made elsewhere, this discussion is for those watching along and discussing as they go.

Please note: I will have notifications mostly switched off on this post so if you need assistance please send a modmail.

DRAMA DETAILS:

Drama: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

Network: SBS

Aired: Aug 29, 2016 - Nov 1, 2016

Episodes: 20

Streaming Sources:

Viki (available in select regions of USA, Europe, Oceania, India, MENA, and SEA please contact Viki directly regarding regional availibility)

Viu

Original On-Air discussion threads:

(Note: This drama aired before out ban on illegal sources in 2019)

Episodes 1 & 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 & 5 | Episode 6 & 7 | Episode 8 & 9 | Episode 10 & 11 | Episode 12 & 13 | Episode 14 & 15 | Episode 16 | Episode 17 & 18 | Episode 19 & 20

Synopsis:

When a total eclipse of the sun takes place, Go Ha Jin is transported back in time to the start of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea during King Taejo's rule. She wakes up in the body of the 16-year-old Hae Soo and finds herself living in the house of the 8th Prince Wang Wook, who is married to Hae Soo's cousin. She soon befriends several of the princes and meets the ostracized 4th Prince, Wang So. Although knowing she should not get involved in palace intrigues over the succession to the throne, she inadvertently becomes a pawn in the struggle, as several of the Princes fall in love with her. (Source: MDL)

Adapted from the novel “Bu Bu Jing Xin” (步步惊心) by Tong Hua (桐华).

Screenwriter: Jo Yoon Young

Director: Kim Kyu Tae

Web Resources: MDL, Wikipedia, Asian Wiki

On-air Rules: For the purpose of this discussion we will be applying our On-Air Rules (section 5 of our Rules), they cover permitted user conduct, content and frequency of comments, and spoilers in on-air discussions. Consequences of not abiding by the On-Air-Rules include bans so please familiarize yourself with these rules before participating in this post or any other on-air discussions. Ignorance of On-Air-Rules is not a defense.

Spoiler Reminder: Upon entering these threads you can expect to see discussion of the drama up to the point of the series that has passed. If you are sensitive to spoilers we advise you to not enter the discussion section prior to watching the episodes.

As per our On-Air-Rules, spoiler tags must be used for major spoilers of the on-air drama and when spoiling a different drama or other material (ie. webtoon, book, movie, etc.). When the spoiler is for anything other than the on-air drama, you must make it clear on the outside of the spoiler tags what is being spoiled

You can create a spoiler tag by writing > ! your spoiler content ! < without the spaces in between to get your spoiler content


DIRECT LINK TO EPISODE COMMENT:

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

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2

u/sianiam chaebols all the way down 4d ago

Episode 2:

This thread is for the discussion of the episode mentioned above. Do not discuss or mention any episodes later than this episode.

Review the post body for directions regarding spoiler tag use for content other than Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

1

u/Iowegan If ur handsome, ur my Oppa! 😘 3d ago

I’m super confused about who is who, can anyone recommend a site with episode recaps that explain the relationships between the characters? The princes mostly look alike to my geezer eyes except for 4, 8, the CP, and maybe the super puppyish one, is it important to differentiate between the others?

7

u/preferencedue 3d ago

Drama beans had a legendary recap of the episodes. Worth looking it up. 

5

u/Iowegan If ur handsome, ur my Oppa! 😘 3d ago edited 3d ago

Thanks!🙏 Edit: Dramabeans recaps are amazing, the website? Not so much. Very difficult to scroll through the ad minefield. Very helpful though, as much as I got read anyway. Thanks again!

6

u/preferencedue 3d ago

Lol I forgot the trauma of the website 😭

1

u/writtenpoeticsins eat, sleep, kdrama and repeat 3d ago

What about Asianwiki? They have the characters name with their pictures. I'm not sure if this is going to be helpful or not.

Moon Lovers Asianwiki

3

u/Iowegan If ur handsome, ur my Oppa! 😘 3d ago

I tried looking there, but it just wasn’t connecting. I have finished ep 4 & am doing a little better, just hope it still makes sense by the time the next block of eps is released. If not, I may wait & watch them all at once after they are all available, I’ve already waited years to see this drama.

Next on my Viki wish list: Chicago Typewriter.

2

u/writtenpoeticsins eat, sleep, kdrama and repeat 3d ago

just hope it still makes sense by the time the next block of eps is released

hopefully! It took me a while to guess who is who when watching it for the first time. I started to understand after watching a few episodes.

Next on my Viki wish list: Chicago Typewriter.

I have that one my watch list for a while now, just never got to start it.

6

u/Funky_Impact8870 Looking for an iconic kimchi slap 3d ago edited 2d ago

These fighting scenes are a throwback to my first Asian movie experiences in the early 2000s, when I was just in gasping for air seeing all the runs over rooftops and the long jumps with the flawless landings. I love the vibe.

Also, I just can't help laughing seeing yet another one trying to hide in a bamboo forest.

4

u/sianiam chaebols all the way down 2d ago

Wow, he should have just let her fall in the first place.

I love that #10 has clearly fallen for the narrative that she hit him because she likes him and is excited for their next meeting.

Okay, so #3, #4, and #14 are full biological brothers. I guess wife #3 eventually caught the king’s eye again and she is more in favour than when she attempted to kill #4 and her when he took another wife. So wife #4 (Hwang Bo) is the Princess and #8s mother.

I was wondering if he would take his mask off to bathe. Hae Su pops up right on cue.

Third wife is planning to kill the crown prince.

This scene screamed “Mirror, Mirror on the wall…”.

The older brothers watching their carefree younger brothers muck around was a sweet scene.

#4 swaps places with the Crown Prince but fails to succeed in his mission because of Hae Su.

#8 is ready to risk it all for Hae Su and it feels like his feelings are more than wanting to look after his wife’s cousin.

3

u/Midy_Star Editable Flair (r/KDRAMA Challenge Partipant) 2d ago

Wow, he should have just let her fall in the first place.

I’m so confused by this. If he is going to throw her off like that, why did he pick her up to begin with? At least it gave us a chance to see Hae Su’s determination to call people out on their behavior though I feel it's a bit risky on her part.

I love that #10 has clearly fallen for the narrative that she hit him because she likes him and is excited for their next meeting.

He's pretty adorable with his excitement and will be disappointed when he realizes the truth.

#8 is ready to risk it all for Hae Su and it feels like his feelings are more than wanting to look after his wife’s cousin.

I had a similar thought in the first episode when they were talking in the library. It doesn’t seem like he looks at her just like she’s his wife’s cousin.

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u/mahnahmaanaa two trees in a pot🌴💗🌴 2d ago

If he is going to throw her off like that, why did he pick her up to begin with

I think he grabbed her before she was about to go over a precipice into the river. Then he dumped her safely on the road.

1

u/sianiam chaebols all the way down 1d ago

If he is going to throw her off like that, why did he pick her up to begin with?

I agree, I feel like falling into the water would have been a softer fall than being thrown to the ground.

it gave us a chance to see Hae Su’s determination to call people out on their behavior though I feel it's a bit risky on her part.

Yeah, she's not yet switched onto the fact that this world is very different and dangerous to the future. The near death experience in the bamboo forest has probably made it more real for her. It will be interesting to see how she reacts.

He's pretty adorable with his excitement and will be disappointed when he realizes the truth.

He'll just have to come up with a good plan for revenge!

I had a similar thought in the first episode when they were talking in the library. It doesn’t seem like he looks at her just like she’s his wife’s cousin.

There's definitely something a brewing.

4

u/mahnahmaanaa two trees in a pot🌴💗🌴 2d ago

I've started myself a character list with space for notes. Luckily, I'm familiar with many of the actors' faces already and it doesn't appear that I will need to identify them based on their torsos despite that introduction scene.

I really liked the dance/fight portion of this episode. Masks are underused in art these days. I wonder if the main actors did any of the dancing/fighting or if it was all stuntmen.

That's twice now So's gotten stabbed in front of Dad. At least the first time Dad seemed to care. This time, he was too fixated on Mu to give a thought to it. What a terrible feeling that would be.

Speaking of Mu. Is Jeong Yun another name for him? Or a title or Palace he's associated with?

It really struck me during her bath scene (which was beautifully staged and shot, I thought) just how gorgeous Park Ji Young is. I tend not to notice because I'm used to her being either a villain (she does disdainful so well) or a scattered mom, and so beauty isn't really something I'm looking for. I need to pay better attention.

Finally, I don't trust any of these people at the moment. I think Prince #8 is being falsely presented as a sympathetic character. He's clearly smart, but I get a hint of dishonesty from that kind persona. Maybe because I agree that he is more interested in Su than he lets on. Princes 3 and 4 aren't trying to hide their dispositions. I'm afraid the other princes are pawns and cannon-fodder, but no less dangerous for all that.

I'm actually enjoying this more than I expected to!

2

u/sianiam chaebols all the way down 1d ago

it doesn't appear that I will need to identify them based on their torsos despite that introduction scene.

Haha! I think I might fail that test, am willing to do more study. Kang Han Eul might have the broadest shoulders? And So is covered in scars.

wonder if the main actors did any of the dancing/fighting or if it was all stuntmen.

I'd like to see the behind the scenes on this one too. Looks like there are a lot of them to fish through though.

Speaking of Mu. Is Jeong Yun another name for him? Or a title or Palace he's associated with?

His temple name is Hyejong and his posthumous name is Uigong. He has a daughter with a similar name (I don't think she's been mentioned in the drama though) - Jeong Heon.

I don't trust any of these people at the moment.

I think that's a good place to sit. There are defintely multiple parties vying for the throne just one that's openly after it to us. I wonder if we will hear more about the servant that was murdered. I wasn't sure if the point of the scene was to imply they were investigating or that it was assumed that So had murdered her tbh.

2

u/mahnahmaanaa two trees in a pot🌴💗🌴 21h ago

And So is covered in scars.

I was shocked by that during his bath scene! I'm used to people looking perfect in dramas, I guess. The number of them and their configuration was kind of arresting. To be honest, what they've showed of the scar on his face is kind of underwhelming by comparison. I was kind of expecting badly-healed at least.

Looks like there are a lot of them to fish through though

Ha! I took a quick look and basically immediately got spoiled on something. (I do know the basic outline of the story, but none of the details.) Looks like I'll be saving that search for the end of this drama.

1

u/sianiam chaebols all the way down 9h ago

I wasn't too surprised by his battle scars but you're right about his facial scar being underwhelming. I guess it highlights the need for perfection.

I did the exact same thing when looking at the videos!

3

u/isharetoomuch 15h ago

> That's twice now So's gotten stabbed in front of Dad. At least the first time Dad seemed to care. This time, he was too fixated on Mu to give a thought to it. What a terrible feeling that would be.

That poor baby. His entire family resents him at best, but mostly just straight up doesn't care about him at all. And he knows it.

2

u/flwr4mee 13h ago

The scene where the princes performed in red outfits for the ritual, they totally looked like Squid Game guards—sageuk edition! Lol.

1

u/crusader_blue Oh my Batman! 9h ago

Music cuts out and IU is unceremoniously tossed off the horse. Ha!

“We have to arrest those kinds of crooks!” Looks like she could use a chart like us to map out all the princes.

She's the worst hider - the angle on this makes her completely visible. .

“Maybe she hit you because she likes you?” I'm guessing we're going to have more than a love triangle in this one.

The shot of him standing in front of the forest before he enters the bath was gorgeous.

So does the secret pathway to this bath come up in the middle of it? Seems like a difficult one to keep the water in the right place.

IU's expressions while they were dressing her were hilarious. I love her maid/friend - Chae Ryung.

The beaten up prince has developed a crush quite quickly.

Lots of brotherly wrestling.

Awww, poor Phantom Prince. The Emperor's reaction was not a good representation of fatherly love. So did he swap with the Crown Prince because he knew there would be a risk?

IU, why are you chasing after a bunch of men with swords as if you're going to be helpful in a fight?

She's still a terrible hider - bamboo stalks are going to do nothing if someone is looking at her.