Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Episode 5
by HeadsNo2
Our heroine gets put through the wringer when it comes to history this hour, and manages to be pretty darn entertaining while she’s at it. Her flailing around provides some much-needed (and honestly surprising) levity during an episode rife with confused feelings and repressed emotions. I laughed, I cried, I cursed at certain characters for being awful people. It may not be perfect, but it’s fun.
EPISODE 5 RECAP
The princes, dressed ceremonially, look on as King Taejo pays his respects to the ancestral tablets of kings past. What’s important is that So is counted among the princes, and it’s clear by the queen’s glare toward him that she is not happy about it.
But rather than choose to live in his designated palace quarters, So brings his things to Astronomer Choi’s tower, much to the man’s dismay. Despite the astronomer’s arguments, So claims he can’t see the sky from his room the way he can here in the tower, and smiles at the thought of what Su said about being able to see the stars in Goryeo.
Lady Hae presents Su with a host of medicinal herbs courtesy of eighth prince Wook, since she’d expressed interest in them before. Su is delighted, and mixes a concoction together to create soap for both Lady Hae and the queen. Wook watches from afar, a smile lighting his face.
His wife doesn’t miss this look from him, but only mentions how happy Su is, and how much she’s changed since her injury—for the better, in most respects. But when Lady Hae mentions that she wants to find a good husband for Su, Wook’s face turns unreadable. He only agrees with his wife’s wish to keep Su around for as long as possible.
Lady Hae sees the change in her husband’s expression, and looks from him to Su. Next thing we know, she’s asked Su to meet her in the library… only when Su enters, it’s not her cousin she sees, but Wook. This is cute and disturbing all at once.
Wook decides that being politely dismissive is the best course of action, and goes about his work as best he can. Unfortunately, Su is too awkward to just ignore, so he has to speak up in order to guide her to the ink she was supposed to fetch for her cousin.
This requires Su to come closer to Wook at his writing desk, where she becomes transfixed with his calligraphy. He notices her staring awkwardly and smiles, telling her that it’s a poem originally penned by the famous Chinese poet Tao Yuanming, and that he’s including it in the letter he’s written for his wife (since she always sends a poem along).
He suddenly asks her whether she likes poems or songs more, but he’s surprised when she answers that she likes songs, which were more popular with commoners than poetry, which required literacy. She realizes this belatedly and changes her answer to the much more ladylike “poems,” which gives Wook pause. When did she learn to make ink, anyway?
Wook decides to give her a poem instead, instructing her to read it carefully. Is he, by chance, testing her? Su has no hope of being able to read the complex Hanja characters, and she’s severely misguided if she thinks that her slave Chae-ryung will be able to read it, which she can’t.
Su tries her best to figure the poem out one character at a time, only to bemoan the fact that she’s as good as illiterate in this time period. After spending a moment cooing over how the characters are written as handsomely as their writer, she falls back into her illiterate lamentations, which thirteenth prince Baek-ah overhears.
“Are you illiterate?” he asks. Su claims that she totally does know how to read, she just conveniently forgot when she hit her head. Baek-ah begins to read for her, only to be interrupted by the arrival of Lady Hae, who finishes the poem from memory. The poem is by Liu Yuxi, entitled “Song of Bamboo Branch,” and one of the lines is, “Hark and I hear on the river, songs from my love, my beau.”
When Baek-ah asks if Su understands what the poem means, she looks at it from the surface level only, guessing that because it mentions willows and water, it must be about nature. His expression grows grave when she innocently reveals that Wook gave the poem to her.
Lady Hae seems happy that he gifted her such a poem, and tells Su to prepare to visit the queen tomorrow to gift her the soap she made. When Su’s gone, Baek-ah gets angry with his brother on his sister-in-law’s behalf, since the poem is a love poem. “Is my brother in his right mind?” he all but bellows.
He calms considerably when he sees Lady Hae’s shaking hand go to her chest, figuring out that she already knows how Wook feels. Instead of answering, she only asks Baek-ah to finish a drawing he was preparing for her. It sounds like she’s on a timeline, and Baek-ah realizes this, despite not wanting to acknowledge it.
Su tries to parse out the poem based on what she heard, but isn’t able to get very far in figuring out its true meaning. Or rather, she doesn’t want to acknowledge that there’s another meaning to it, and tries to convince herself to think of Wook in non-romantic ways.
The next day, she’s all smiles as she travels with Lady Hae to the palace. Wook admires the wonder in her eyes as she takes in all the sights, smiling.
Queen Sinjeong, Wook’s mother, pays a visit to the surly Queen Sinmyeongsunseong, and the two share barbed comments about whose son is superior in scholarly pursuits. Queen Sinjeong shares her desire to get medicine for her daughter-in-law from one of the concubines, which Queen Sinmyeongsunseong sneers at—the concubine is nothing more than a court lady, and she certainly is no doctor.
They’re interrupted by the arrival of Lady Hae, Wook, and Su. Queen Sinjeong is happy to see them, especially Su, but Queen Sinmyeongsunseong only knows Su from the bruise she gave the tenth prince, Eun.
Su gives Queen Sinjeong a box of her handcrafted soap, and struggles hilariously to speak properly in front of her, eliciting a muffled laugh from Wook. Queen Sinmyeongsunseong, who wasn’t doing her best in hiding her dismay in not receiving a gift, tries to act nonchalant when Su gives her a box of soap.
Since Queen Sinmyeongsunseong can’t be happy about anything, she lands a barb about Wook and her rival queen’s daughter-in-law being childless, but before she can go on, they receive another visitor: King Taejo.
Su’s eyes grow as big as saucers as she beholds the founder of Goryeo, who she’s only ever seen in dramas before (hah). She can’t help but gape at him, but the king instantly recognizes her as the girl who got into a fight with Eun. Wook tries to defend her, but the king isn’t having it.
Su’s first line of defense is to fall to her knees and beg forgiveness, but when that elicits a less than favorable response from the king, she realizes something vital: Tyrants feed off fear, but wise kings value virtue. So when the king asks her if she’s afraid of him, she rises to answer that she isn’t afraid, since she knows him to be a good and wise king.
This seems to please Taejo somewhat, but when he asks her why she thinks he’s wise, she’s without an answer. It just lands her in hotter water now that the king thinks she was using empty flattery, so Su racks her brain to think of something to say… and comes up with the baseline bits of history she knows about Taejo, like how he united the three kingdoms, founded a new nation, etc.
The king laughs, and Su inwardly thanks her junior high school history teacher for making her memorize these facts, when she used to curse her for it. Hah! The king rewards her with a fine rug, and Wook prods her to thank him. She launches into a parody of sageuk when she does, causing even more laughter. They must think she’s absolutely insane.
Once out of there, Su goes running around for a restroom, the nerves finally getting to her. Just as she’s about to use something that’s probably not a bathroom, she’s stopped by none other than So, sporting a more refined hairdo and mask.
She takes one look at him in wonder, noting that no one would see him as anything other than a prince now. He quips back that he’s always been a prince, but then turns the subject back to her, and what she’s doing at the palace.
They share a brief but friendly conversation about So’s adaptation to palace life, though it becomes clear that Su thinks he has a much better relationship with his family than he actually does. She realizes just the opposite is true when she spots his mother coming and hides within perfect earshot to hear his mother spew vitriol at him.
Even so, So thanks her for her her concern and remains cordial. When he turns around to find Su, she’s already gone, feeling awkward about having overheard them.
Lady Hae alarms her mother-in-law when she coughs up blood in front of her, but she quickly falls to her knees to remind the queen that she’d once promised to honor any request she made.
Queen Sinjeong grasps her beloved daughter-in-law’s hands and asks what she wants, but is taken completely aback when Lady Hae asks her to accept Su as Wook’s wife. If she didn’t know before, Queen Sinjeong knows now that Lady Hae doesn’t have much time left.
While on her way back with Wook, Su spots Astronomer Choi, recognizing him as the homeless man from her time. She grabs him by the shoulders to ask if he recognizes her. Doesn’t he remember the drink they had together?
The astronomer just shakes his head, and hilariously imitates Su’s whole-body shaking as he imitates her whining about having looked all over for him with a similarly whiny, “But I don’t know you, Agasshi.” She insists he does, reminding him that the last time he saw her was one thousand years in the future.
“Be careful,” he warns her, and for a moment, it seems like he’s warning her because he’s in on the secret. But his words are eerily similar to his future counterpart’s as he tells her, “If you ended up living here, you should abide by the norms here. Your life can’t change just because you want it to.” Then he winks at her. It is him!
After their meeting, Su trudges after Wook in the heavy snow, with him occasionally looking back to check on her with a smile. She doesn’t seem to notice that he’s caught onto the fact that she keeps stepping in his footsteps (either for fun or to make it easier for her to walk), but he’s there to catch her the second she stumbles. Likely because he made his steps wider just for fun.
He asks her about Astronomer Choi, though she claims that she only thought she knew him. She offers him a bar of soap she made just for him, saying that she did it to thank him for all that he’s done for her—even the poem.
Wook takes the gift with gratitude before asking if she’s discerned the meaning behind the poem. Su recites what she knows from it, claiming only that it was beautiful. Wook can’t help but laugh, seeming to know that she didn’t truly understand it, but advises her to respond with a poem of her own. It’s only proper etiquette, of course.
That night, Su sits down with a brush and paper, trying her best to copy the characters from another page. It’s useless, and she soon gives up on the endeavor. She can’t even begin to wonder how she’ll compose a reply… but then a smile lights her face as she thinks of something.
Instead of writing a poem, she draws a reply, and eagerly leaves it on Wook’s desk where he’s most likely to see it. But she’s greeted instead by all the princes and Princess Yeonhwa, and the eager tenth prince Eun is quick to snatch up the letter she left.
Su sends a pleading look Wook’s way, but he can only move his eyebrows by way of silent response—it’s like they’re kids having to hide notes in class. Luckily, he steps in before she can be completely humiliated, and gives her leave to go, though it means admitting that she was responding to a poem he gave her.
This makes thirteenth prince Baek-ah decidedly unhappy, and Wook is powerless to stop Eun and fourteenth prince Jung from opening her letter and finding what they can only decipher as gibberish on it. It’s not a poem or a drawing. Is that… an emoji?
The princes each take a turn trying to figure out what the strange symbol (\^0^/) means, with Wook being the most puzzled of all. Omg, I’m dying. It’s So who tells Eun how to raise his arms and contort his face to mimic the symbol in the drawing. Hahahahahaha! He is WAY ahead of the times.
Everyone has a good laugh at this, as So recognizes the drawing as a face laughing with excitement—Su must have been pretty happy to receive Wook’s poem. Jung also tries to mimic the expression, much to everyone’s amusement.
Baek-ah is less than thrilled, and pulls Su aside when he finds her. He asks her how she could do this to Lady Hae, though she doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about.
“You steal glances at each other,” he accuses her. “If your hands happened to brush, you [two] would reflect upon that for days. I’m sure the thoughts of ‘What sort of food would that person like, what would make that person laugh’ would likely never leave your mind. Anything you see would make you think of him. How you and Wook would fuss over one another! Did you think that no one would find out?”
He grows more and more upset as he goes on, leading Su to look fearfully up at him. It’s only when he tells her that Lady Hae knows everything that’s been going on that she looks absolutely stunned into silence. Baek-ah warns her against interfering in Lady Hae and Wook’s relationship, threatening that he won’t stand idly by if she hurts Lady Hae.
Wook is standing there when he turns to leave, and soon the two forbidden lovebirds are left alone together. They both apologize to each other, though Wook says it’s not her fault—he’s the one who gave her a poem and received hers in an effort to make her laugh. “It’s all my fault,” he adds gravely. “Don’t blame yourself.”
But she does, because she knows that her complicity and silence didn’t help matters. She knew what was going on but hoped things would resolve on their own, even though she made advances of her own, like taking his hand, or leaving her room that night when she pretended to be asleep at first.
Tears spring to Wook’s eyes as he tells her not to say things like that, and tears fall down her own cheeks as she apologizes for always crying when she’s with him. She bows in apology and leaves, going home to hide the poem he gave her within the pages of a book.
Likewise, Wook locks away the soap she gave him in a box. The metaphor is clear, but it still makes me sad.
Princess Yeonhwa visits her father the king to gift him a silk pillow she embroidered. King Taejo loves the gift, but the talk soon turns to marriage, and how one of his daughters by Queen Sinmyeongsunseong, Princess Naklang, was married and left the palace.
Though Yeonhwa tries to hide her true emotions behind smiles and kind words, she’s unhappy at the thought of a potentially unwanted marriage. She brightens at the sight of her half-brother, So, noting that she’s still unused to seeing him in the palace.
She mentions that their father is planning to marry her off, but when So asks who, third prince Yo interrupts with a haughty, “You don’t think it’s you, do you?” He’s… teasing his half-brother over being too ugly to marry their half-sister?
When Yo asks Yeonhwa if she could stand to look at So’s ugly mug forever, Yeonhwa demurs by saying that she only wants a man who will cherish her. Yo’s quick to say that he would regard her as an empress since her potential husband would need to know her value in order to treasure her, but she’s more interested in So’s reaction.
So refuses to put a value on her (nice), and says that he wants a woman who would treasure him, and one who would think nothing of his face. Yo just scoffs at his reaction, claiming that he’s just like an animal. Yeonhwa smiles, seeing it as a challenge: “How fun would it be to turn an animal into a human?” Ack, stop it.
Su finds Lady Hae burning clothes and trinkets that seem precious to her, and intervenes only when she finds her cousin coughing blood. Lady Hae picks that time of all times to ask Su what her feelings are for Wook, but when Su goes quiet, she calls her foolish. Both of them are foolish.
With tears in her eyes and blood on her lips, Lady Hae then asks Su to do her makeup for her, one last time. “I want him to remember me as being beautiful,” Lady Hae adds, which is just heartbreaking.
Lady Hae studies Su as she prepares her makeup, and Su does her best to hold back her tears as she applies it. We hear what she doesn’t say aloud to Su, willing her to control her actions and temperament in the future, especially around the royal family. But most of all, she wills Su to be a good wife for her husband, and to be his “pillow,” someone he can depend on and somewhere to rest his head in order to help ease his many worries.
Su’s tears fall despite her attempts to smile, and Lady Hae’s cheeks grow wet as well. The two share a moment where it’s like they’re speaking to each other without words as Su brings color and brightness back to Lady Hae’s wan face.
Next thing we know, Su is rushing out to bring Wook to see Lady Hae. Despite how ill she is, Lady Hae still manages to walk with the support of her husband out in the snow. She reminisces about when they first met, prompting a flashback of her seeing, liking, and subsequently hiding from him.
She tells of how she was the one who pushed for marriage because she wanted to help him, since he was a prince who had been kicked out of the palace when they met.
In the present, Wook tells her he knows exactly how she feels. She reaches a hand up to touch his face with tears in her eyes. “Now… I want you to watch over Su,” she pleads. But soon, she’s doubled over in pain, and Wook has to carry her home on his back.
As he walks her home, Wook mentions how she’d said he didn’t love her before. He tries to amend that now, but Lady Hae stops him from finishing. “I was able to love you more,” she breathes. “That was enough.”
And then, she goes limp. Su, from behind, calls out for her cousin. Wook’s eyes fill with tears as the realization of her death hits him… or not. He turns and shushes Su: “Let us not wake my wife.” Oh. Oh no.
Su clasps both hands to her mouth to stifle her sobs as Wook walks on, carrying his dead wife.
COMMENTS
Gah, the whole “They’re just sleeping” thing gets me every time. I wish we would’ve gotten to hear the rest of what Wook had to say to Lady Hae, and if he was going to admit that he loved her—though, knowing her, she wouldn’t want him to say it so as not to feel guilty. Lady Hae presents an interesting picture overall though, especially since she deviated so far from the norm of what we’d expect to see.
Despite being a wife who desperately loved her husband, she also desperately wanted him to be happy, and was more than aware of her own mortality. Situations like this can easily come off as making the wife in the relationship look bad, but here, she actually came off as a bonafide saint. I was repeatedly surprised by just how selfless she was being, and found her relationship with her husband and Su as heartfelt as it was morbid and strange. It’s as confusing for the viewer as I’m sure it was for those three characters, but definite props are deserved for the story being much more immersive this hour.
It’s a tough day to be So as a romantic lead though, even if it feels like we’re setting up for the end of Wook and Su as we know it. Lady Hae’s death is bound to cause a shift of some kind, and it’d be way too easy for them to just be happy now that the main obstacle to their romance is gone. (I know this sounds clinical, but it’s true.) Years of dramas tells me that there’ll have to be some scaling back with the second lead in order to make room for the first, but I can’t help but like where we are now. Change is scary, even if it’s good.
Su was definitely much more endearing this hour, and I’d credit that to us seeing her sweat a little—her illiteracy and her thoroughly modern reply to Wook’s thoughtful poem was a hoot. But there were also deeper feelings going on, and not just between Wook and Su. I’m not quite sure what Baek-ah’s game is at this point, but he seems primed and ready to be the one prince (besides Yo, who hates everyone) to be a foil for Su, which gives him a whole new exciting layer. Slowly but surely, we’re getting to know each prince in turn, so I feel confident that no one’s going to get lost in the shuffle.
But how hilarious was it to see Su use what little she remembered from her history class to get on the king’s good side? These are the kind of fish-out-of-water moments I was missing, so I was glad to have them today. Watching her flail about spouting “Your grace is immeasurable!” to the king was enough to make my belly ache. And having So of all people discern the true nature of her emoji reply was priceless. If only we had gotten these moments sooner, maybe it would’ve changed some things. Alas, the most we can do is look forward to next week.
RELATED POSTS
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Episode 4
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Episode 3
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Episode 2
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Episode 1
- Here are alllllllll of your Moon Lovers
- Fire meets water in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart: Goryeo
- Longing stares and lunar eclipses for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart: Goryeo
- Scarlet Heart’s princes share bath time, games, and a lady love
- Oh Snaaaaaap! Scarlet Heart’s rival princes stake their claim
Tags: featured, Hong Jong-hyun, IU, Kang Haneul, Lee Jun-ki, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
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1 IvoryLight
September 6, 2016 at 6:40 PM
Thanks for the recap!!
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Still_Yoyo
September 6, 2016 at 9:10 PM
Yaaas fastest recapper!! Thanks, Heads!
Also...best part of this episode, hands down goes to:
\^0^/
Goryeo just learned their first emoji. #priceless
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nchoe
September 6, 2016 at 9:29 PM
No one understands Hae Soo the way Wang Soo does.
\^0^/
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patinalee
September 7, 2016 at 5:11 AM
So gets Soo. He just does.
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Worried Audience
September 7, 2016 at 6:14 AM
Speaking of So-So relationship.. I'm wondering how this story might end. If they follows the origin bubuyungxim story... that would be too much disappointment for us ?
I hope the writer-nim and PD-nim will more creative in this case.
And ah... I ❤ this episode so much... this is what we are waiting for ?
Chandler
September 7, 2016 at 7:38 AM
And this is why I still ship them more in the long run, even if her chemistry with Wook is undeniable.
Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 8:57 PM
@Worried Audience - I hope they make the ending happy. Don't want a sad ending for this. I checked the ending (only) of the original, and I did not like what I saw.
Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 8:54 PM
Yes, So understands Soo well :)
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Flin
September 7, 2016 at 11:29 AM
I so want to read all the beanies comments below, but how am I going to read all those 500+ exciting insights.... ??
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napria
September 8, 2016 at 12:57 AM
I was worried about the ratings but with the amount of comments after each recap, I think it's fine :)
Or should I put \^o^/
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PastryPrincess
September 9, 2016 at 7:36 AM
just wondering. does the high number of comments for a recap translate to high ratings?
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Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 8:59 PM
No, it doesn't translate to high ratings. However, the high number of comments does show that many people watch the drama and like/love it to discuss it in detail.
My understanding is that ratings depend on how many Korean people are watching it during the original air time.
Subhadra
January 25, 2017 at 9:05 AM
ah! I so believed my grandmother to have been asleep when i saw the first glance of her after her death....It was like a unoccassional sadness had descended upon us
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2 Mel
September 6, 2016 at 6:41 PM
I really wish there was more So in this episode! But it was awesome to see he is growing and standing up to his mother now!
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JanuaryBlues
September 6, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Me too!! I'm just not invested in the Wook/Su relationship.
Although, Kang Haneul many close ups did make up for it :)
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bips99
September 6, 2016 at 8:39 PM
Shockingly, even without much of WS, the episode was really heartwarming. Not a dull moment. And i am more shocked how much of ground we cover in each episode. They are jam packed.
Though we need some sort of rule - LJK should be there at least for 50% of the time. Too much ? Or still too little ?
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milwon
September 6, 2016 at 9:13 PM
i agree with you. there is no dull scenes in this episodes. everything was great, even baek-ah (nam joo hyuk) surprises me with his scenes. he does it very well. 1 hour in episode 5 felt really fast.
there is too little scene of lee jun ki in this episodes that i miss him already.lol.
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pigsnout
September 6, 2016 at 11:45 PM
Yeah we only got a few scenes of LJK this time. But I liked her scenes with the other younger brothers too, even Nam Joo Hyuk improved a lot since School 2015. It's nice because he could say that dialog and no one wants to cringe.
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BlueberryCheesecake
September 7, 2016 at 10:12 AM
Totally agree on the Baek Ah part! I realize that Nam Joo Hyuk shows some great improvement from his school and CITT days. I could totally see his angst and totally understand what his eyes see! Glad to see that! The way his mouth twitching and his eye express it!
Also, for me, LJK must be bring that much new lesson for the younger.
Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 9:00 PM
Nam Joo Hyuk is good here.
7oho
September 7, 2016 at 3:53 AM
yep!! at least 50%!! but I am sure we will see more of him in the next episode... when he will "save" Hae Soo from the marriage with the 8th prince ....Maybe I am wrong about her marrying Wook...but the cousin talking to the queen about how she wants Hae Soo as Wook's wife and also Wook's sister noticing something is going on between those two - she will probably have a word in it too. That way she can keep Hae Soo away from Su.
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7oho
September 7, 2016 at 3:55 AM
* keep away of SO*
sorry :D
Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Yes, LJK needs to be there at least 50% of the time.
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IvoryLight
September 6, 2016 at 11:15 PM
The Wook-Su love line strikes me as sweet and melancholy in the first love and would-have, should-have, could-have kind of way. I'm enjoying it, especially once I put aside my automatic rejection of it because he's married. It's a different time, and things like that were accepted.
And agree about the KHN close ups...also..
WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT HIS MANE OF GLORY IN THE FLASH BACK SCENES???!
I was not prepared...*sweats*
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Pat Munzer
September 7, 2016 at 12:33 AM
Interestingly, I really haven't been on board with the Wook/Su love line - in modern times she was betrayed by her friend and boyfriend....is she not doing exactly the same thing to Lady Hae? I see that she's conflicted, but at the same time, she hasn't shut it down either. One would think that she could relate complete to Lady Hae's situation and not even try to go there.
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IvoryLight
September 7, 2016 at 4:27 AM
Ah yes- I guess that's where the 'forbidden' aspect of their romance comes in. I appreciate that they didn't really 'act' on their feelings, and the symbolism of her locking away the poem, and he locking away the soap after Baek-eh's calling them out wasn't lost on me either as I took that to mean they were locking their feelings away too.
Yes, because of what she went through with her boyfriend and her friend, it would have been better for her to not have even gone there with Wook, so that was wrong on her part, but it was human, and relate-able no? I like that they're not portraying her as some Mary Sue who can do no wrong.
crazyahjummafan
September 7, 2016 at 7:23 AM
To compare Su and her traitorous girlfriend is not quite fair. Su was plonked 1000 back into the Goryeo dynasty, away from home, family and anything familiar. Wook was kind and caring. Difficult not to fall for him especially when he looks so intensively at her. And to be fair to her, she really tried not to fall for him. Her friend on the other hand was in a different situation and openly betrayed Su right outside Su's shop, back-hugging her bf.
Beanies206
September 9, 2016 at 7:06 AM
Totally agreed with you in this point. I was cringing throughout this episode. Their chemistry is good but how I wish Su did not show or act on the feeling. Yes, one cannot stop or change one's feeling. But she has been cheated before so she has to know how horrible THAT feels.
Llian
September 7, 2016 at 7:34 AM
the camera is so generous to KHN his too charming, makes my heart flutter :)
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Rosepetal
September 6, 2016 at 7:44 PM
I agree! I was hoping there would be moments of So getting used to palace life in this episode but there was none of that. Maybe next episode?
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E
September 6, 2016 at 8:34 PM
So's first fish-out-of-water moment in the ep was in the very first scene. He didn't even know he was supposed to bow! ... I like the fact that the story is drawing the OTP together because they're outcasts not just in the big moments, but little ones like this.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 8:49 PM
Yeah, I noticed that! Poor fish-out-of-water So.
Also that moment is so relatable even now, I've definitely had it when attending religious services in a place I'm unfamiliar with.
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Miranda
September 6, 2016 at 8:55 PM
John Mulaney had a routine about the Catholic Church changing "and also with you" to something else in the early 2000s. It instantly outed anyone who told their mom they still go to church, but then at Christmas got blindsided by the entire congregation saying something else completely.
...and yeah, I got caught by it. 2006ish.
pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 9:48 PM
@Miranda - yeah, I was thinking of Catholic religious ceremonies myself - there is definitely a lot of looking around (and trying to do it subtly) to see what others are doing!
Rosepetal
September 6, 2016 at 9:09 PM
Ah! I totally forgot about that! I laughed at that scene! I want more~
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gem28
September 7, 2016 at 12:15 PM
Yeah, I noticed that too and his brothers seem to be more at ease around Wang-So I liked that although I doubt it'd last long. Lady Hae, her initial heartbreak and subsequent deat, that was beautifully done. She did her character justice. I have a question, even though she did want them to be happy and gave them blessing, with the mentality of a modern woman and having had her heart broken, will somebody like Soo ever be able to love Wook completely with all her heart without the burden of guilt?? I honestly thing that is why this relation may not work.
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Bauble
September 6, 2016 at 8:43 PM
Remember that scene right at the beginning, where the King is bowing in the shrine and the princes outside all bow at the same time? It takes So a split second to look at the others and bow with them and I think it happens twice. I actually thought that was like a subtle nod to So being a fish out of water in the palace.
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nchoe
September 6, 2016 at 10:18 PM
I love So. But, I don't know... lack of him in this episode didn't ruin my enjoyment of watching this episode. I love Wook-Soo-Lady Hae conflict even though I don't necessarily hope for Wook-Soo to happen. It's quite interesting and beautifully done.
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lolalarue
September 7, 2016 at 12:47 AM
I'm starting to think that it's a good think LJG has 1/4 of his face covered for this drama. I'm not sure I can handle the full force of his beauty completely revealed.
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7oho
September 7, 2016 at 3:56 AM
ahhahahhahah love this commment!
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Lynn
September 7, 2016 at 5:45 AM
Lol, you're right, I mean he is dominating every scene he's on with only half a face visible... With his full pretty face I think we would truly overload this site's server, or the comments section. \^o^/
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gem28
September 7, 2016 at 12:20 PM
Hahaha, this comment sure made my day. I totally like his Prince Zuko style with all the angst that comes with it but that pretty face, even a scar isn't enough to make it ugly and they keep calling him ugly. I know the beauty standards are different in Goryeo but he is so pretty, its unbelievable to me. On a second note, I love the Prince Zuko/Uncle Iroh dynamic developing between Wang So and Astronomer Choi, I think unlike Hae-Soo, he remembers history hence is supporting Wang So but I am okay with that since our boy is so lonely.
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mindy
September 9, 2016 at 4:33 AM
Omg I love your Zuko/Iroh comparisons. Didn't even think about that and I LOVE ATLA!
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Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 9:12 PM
I think beauty standards are still very strict in Korea. I heard that you have to have certain features to be considered beautiful; many people don't fit those standards naturally; that's why there is a lot of plastic surgery.
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3 luvnlife
September 6, 2016 at 6:44 PM
Lady Hae's sendoff scene was so beautiful. Well done, director. Love this show!
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Sinjuma
September 6, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Yes. I second that.
Kang Haneul was good at suppressing his emotions when Lady Hae's life line was cut off. It was this scene that I decided to become Kang Haneul's fangirl.... and I will still adore him when he goes throne-crazy and possessive over Su.
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bips99
September 6, 2016 at 8:41 PM
I usually find saint like characters annoying. But they showed just enough of her to make a viewer connection before moving the story forward. Wonderfully emotional last parts.
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giegie
September 6, 2016 at 11:38 PM
KHN was totally great since first eps! He's my main reason why I watched Moon Lovers. At the 4th eps, KHN's interaction with Soo made my heart flutters and now at the 5th eps, like you said, KHN's acting towards Lady Hae made me cried at the last 2 minutes of this eps, the most emotional ending so far
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Indigo
September 7, 2016 at 1:15 AM
So true. Wook's "Shhhhh. Let's not wake my wife." just about did me in.
Also, Kang Ha Neul is just beautiful. Sometimes heart-achingly pretty but through this show I've come to really respect his acting.
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Puni
September 7, 2016 at 4:43 AM
@indigo-Well said!! Agree 1000%! I've always liked Kang Han Neul, but this drama and especially episodes 4 & 5 have made me a major fan. His acting is extraordinary.
Both he and Lee Joon ki have this ability to just pull you in and no let go. Both get me emo in seconds.. My reactions are immediate flutters and tears. I can't choose one over the other.
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skelly
September 7, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Kang Ha Neul first caught my eye in Angel Eyes, where I thought he was the most talented actor in the entire cast. I stopped watching when he "grew up."
Indigo
September 8, 2016 at 3:20 AM
I thought he was good in Heirs but his role there was small. Here he's getting the chance to shine and, boy, is he ever!
Because of him I'm excited about the Wook-So relationship. KHN's and LJK's talent should blow up the screen! And please can I get an epic Wook-So fight scene? Pretty please?
chi
September 8, 2016 at 3:16 AM
the light quiver in his voice when he said shhhhh was absolutely heartbreaking.
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Indigo
September 8, 2016 at 3:23 AM
No lie. That was it right there.
IvoryLight
September 6, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Agreed. I was crying the whole time..I'm never going to look at those cutesy piggy back ride scenes the same way again.
Also I think IU knocked her crying scenes out of the park this episode. The makeup scene and the last scene? Heartbreaking.
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JanuaryBlues
September 6, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Yeah, i think IU's crying scene in this episode is one of her best moment so far.
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Immanuella01
September 6, 2016 at 7:33 PM
True. The scene is heartbreaking. Although I can't help but thinking dying in KHN's piggyback is definitely not a bad way to go. :)
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Still_Yoyo
September 7, 2016 at 3:58 AM
That piggyback trumps any other deathbed scene. It literally made each step Wook took to be heart shattering. What a graceful exit for Lady Hae.
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Lynn
September 7, 2016 at 5:49 AM
... That piggyback trumps any other deathbed scene.
You're so right, I mean from now on I think I'll be comparing every death scene with this one, it was beautifully handled. I watched the episode twice, and I cried both times. This is how you do it dramaland!
pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 8:52 PM
IU's really good at crying scenes in general, and actually doing different types of crying. She really does have a gift for making you feel right along with her.
(except for that time after So threatened to kill her after she saw the assassins, that was... I don't know what they were going for there)
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
September 6, 2016 at 9:26 PM
Agree. IU as Cindy in Producers actually was the best thing ever and fell in love on her ever since.
Theisdrama is getting better and better, in wish I hope that epi 1-3 were much better in order to draw more audiences.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 9:47 PM
aaagh that scene when the 1N2D team came to get her for a 'mission' after she'd been ruined and blacklisted and she got woken up with a spray of mist to the face, that was honestly brilliant.
patsybee
September 6, 2016 at 11:46 PM
This reply is for pogo, idk but I can't reply to your comment. I agree! I cried at that scene when ksh sprayed her face. You could feel how touched she was through that acting.
mindy
September 8, 2016 at 6:13 PM
Pogo: That scene in Producers alone made me a fan of IU's acting! She's always been my favorite soloist, but it wasn't until Producers when I really began to respect her as an actress.
Some people have been making digs at her acting in this drama but except for the scene with So already mentioned, I haven't seen any glaring, badly-acted moments and I have seen quite a few that I thought were well done. And she's definitely improving as the show goes on.
taro
September 7, 2016 at 12:25 AM
many do not like the scene but it was very realistic. big emotional shock/pressure really brings it out from you :)
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paroles
September 6, 2016 at 7:37 PM
It was pretty moving. I actually cried though I never do when I watch romantic scenes.
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Still_Yoyo
September 6, 2016 at 9:14 PM
It was definitely a beautiful send off. Everything was done right. For an episode that had zero sword killings, the balance of emotions and the pacing of the story was enough to make it such a satisfying episode to watch and even repeat.
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milwon
September 6, 2016 at 9:16 PM
it definitely was so beautiful. i cried hard watching that scene. and the ost plays at the end was so mesmerizing. i want that kind song to play in next episodes.
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ET
September 6, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Initially I didn't quite like the actress playing Lady Hae, purely superficial about her appearance. But she grew on me more and more. Usually, I dislike these kind of sickly, saintlike female characters. Kudos to the actress, she pulled off her character very well.
I have no words for Kang Ha Neul. He's so nuanced in his emotions that it hits much much deeper. When Wook hushed up Soo and told her that MH is sleeping, more tears flowed. Gahhhhhhh.....
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7oho
September 7, 2016 at 4:00 AM
true. what also helped was the scene showing her at a young age, before marring the 8th prince.
and that "let's not wake her"-scene.....oh lord!! :(
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Chandler
September 7, 2016 at 7:54 AM
I'm actually really happy for this actress. She was the original Hong Sister second female lead yeaaaars ago in DGCH and then I never saw her in anything for over 10 years. I'm glad she got to have such a lovely role like this so I don't have to remember her as, well, a horrible one-note second lead forever. This just goes to show what good material and experience can do. She really impressed here.
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BlueberryCheesecake
September 7, 2016 at 10:21 AM
I totally remember her in Chunhyang! Back then I hate her so much. In first episode of MoonLovers I think I would hate her as much because she look sick and act all care about Soo. But dang, she totally hit it this one! She did everything for Wook consciously. It aint easy to marry someone when you were aware he just using your clan and family status to enter the palace once again. But she accept it all. She did her best, until her last moment, at that *sobs*
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ina
September 7, 2016 at 1:54 AM
Yes this scene had been really beautifully done. I must say Mong Ryeong's noona did really well. I was tearing up for her...sobz...
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Lin_K
September 9, 2016 at 9:22 PM
I started crying when Hae Su started applying makeup and didn't stop until the end scene. It was so beautiful and sad. Lady Hae was a good woman, and I feel so bad for her. Though I do believe that Wook loved her. Maybe not in the heart-fluttering, giddy kind of love or one where you fall in love fast and become infatuated with the other. He did defend her when Queen Yoo taunted her about not having kids. He did care for her health and well-being. What I got from their scenes is that he cared for her a lot. And that can be a form of love? Idk. To me, the emotions on his face when she passed said that he loved her.
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4 DangerousSnowPea
September 6, 2016 at 6:45 PM
Does anyone know what the name of the very last song in this episode was? When Lady Hae dies?
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Irochka
September 6, 2016 at 7:02 PM
I'd like to know as well! I tried searching by using some of the lyrics but couldn't find it anywhere...hope it is released soon! I wish more of the OST was like this...
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DangerousSnowPea
September 6, 2016 at 7:08 PM
I don't know if its a song that has been released already or if it was licensed for this drama and just hasn't been released (which would explain its elusiveness). Its such a lovely song though! It really melded the scene together, the snowy, bleak back drop, her death,- the song lent a haunting but bittersweet final note to the scene. Ahh! I wish I knew what the name of that song was. Someone help!
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JanuaryBlues
September 6, 2016 at 7:28 PM
I dont think it's officially release yet either.
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DangerousSnowPea
September 6, 2016 at 8:09 PM
I tried finding the song through naver, but naver apparently thinks the song is background noise...
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bips99
September 6, 2016 at 9:04 PM
The irony! .... We all hate the OSTs. And the one OST everyone likes, no one knows what it is lol
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 11:09 PM
I want them to release the instrumental OSTs and background music already! Stop with the crappy raps and ballads and give us the good stuff!
Flightey Gazelles
September 6, 2016 at 11:47 PM
IKR? Lol!
Irochka
September 7, 2016 at 9:21 AM
For anyone looking for some of the background music/instrumentals; it's been compiled here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-9fSfJN_2s
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PakalanaPikake
September 7, 2016 at 8:10 PM
@Irochka,
Many thanks! The final two segments were particularly good and gave the epic feel that I have been wanting to hear in this show.
Napkiin
September 6, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Since the OST isn't out yet, so nobody knows the name of the song I guess. But I can tell it's sung by Taeyeon
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Irochka
September 6, 2016 at 7:19 PM
The song by Taeyeon is played when Wook and Lady Hae are walking (and during the flashback scene). The song we are talking about starts right when Lady Hae actually passes.
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Napkiin
September 6, 2016 at 7:22 PM
oh right, ditto!
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 9:52 PM
I really like the OST Taeyeon did for That Winter, I hope this is another solid one.
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nchoe
September 6, 2016 at 10:23 PM
I'm so confused with the season. Seeing how heavy the snow was falling, it seems like it's winter already in the show. But at some scenes we can see the plants are still so green.
mary
September 7, 2016 at 1:29 AM
That Winter, The Trees Grow
Sica
September 6, 2016 at 10:13 PM
That OST hasn't out yet. But, there's rumor said it was sung by Lee Sun Hee! The composer of this song said on instagram that he's looking forward to this OST the most ^^ Let's wait~
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DangerousSnowPea
September 6, 2016 at 11:20 PM
Daebak-thanks for the name! One step forward in our investigation ladies and gents.
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PakalanaPikake
September 7, 2016 at 8:17 PM
If the rumor is indeed true, I'm thrilled out of my shoes. A wonderful tip of the hat to LJG's first sageuk.
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Mariah
September 27, 2016 at 8:41 AM
Ahhh I really want to know the song as well. Been looking for it since episode 5, and it made a recurrence at the ending of episode 11 and ahh the feels. I need to know this song!
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5 bi_cali
September 6, 2016 at 6:46 PM
don't take bad but most often , the clever line from Hae Soo,
the beautiful scenery in the snow is taken from the original,
and I feel that all the lines that are taken from the original are more beautiful and meaningful than the other lines,
the drama feels empty, like no minister, no cameo, no one, just the character involves and it doesn't look good,
I like KHN and it's too much close up, at least the whole face shown, not half his bang
Idk why I feel like the show lost its charm, it tries to hard to fit the modern world view of candy girl, love triangle, hero saving princess and good triumph evil in the most ideal way,
we can assume and predicted and give background to make it fuller but the show doesn't do that,
even the fixed OTP, it feels like the show dictated me to like certain shot and screen because it looks beautiful and grand but lacks context,
it looks like they make the unnie passed away to fix the love triangle when I think she can do more,
why don't let our heart and moral be asked about a certain scene, it feels like they played it safe for the viewer so we will agree with her moral boundaries in any meaning when it actually convenient,
or maybe because Wang So story is the only gripping story in this entire drama,
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ScarletFighting
September 6, 2016 at 7:08 PM
It all boils down to preference really, I tried watching the C-version and only made it to 4th episode. I am yet to pick it up after watching MLSHR.
MLSHR used the original novel as backdrop, so there are parts bound to be similar but different in feels. This drama is pretty much a drama of its own.
\^O^/
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Saph
September 6, 2016 at 7:37 PM
Totally agree, some scenes may have been taken from the original but the way they're presented is completely different.
e.g. the scene where Su meets Taejo was comedic whereas in BBJX this was a serious scene
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nchoe
September 6, 2016 at 9:47 PM
Her inner monologue during that scene is so funny. She's like omo omo it's King Taejo it's King Taejo... LOL. I mean, if I get to see any famous historical figure I'd react the same.
It's unpopular opinion, but I like that, unlike Ruoxi, Hae Soo's having a hard time to remember history and catching up later little by little. It's more realistic and relatable this way.
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bi_cali
September 6, 2016 at 9:55 PM
I should make myself clear,
it wasn't hae soo vs rooxi
but using the exact line without build up the context,
the line fit ruoxi characterisation but not hae soo,
not even about history since she knew it king taejo before,
it's the use of the exact line from her
I should be honest then, my initial reaction is
"why don't they re-write the line/dialogue so it's not exact one from the original?, even her own monologue, since when he knew haebal from thousan year before tae joo and not after tae joo,
the music is what makes it feels different
sorry, I can't phrase it better but it feels like they just used it for convenient, used this nice line or used that one and not make our own, no one will think we didn't write it
nchoe
September 6, 2016 at 10:35 PM
No it's my mistake for not making myself clear. The ruoxi-hae soo comparison part was not meant as reply to your comment. It's just me stating an entire new comment. I see a lot of commenters in DB who feel disappointed with Hae Soo character since she's not as smart as Ruoxi. I found this comment related to my previous paragraph since I was talking about King Taejo scene where Hae Soo was trying so hard to remember her history lesson in high school. So I decided to state the way I feel about Hae Soo-Ruoxi comparison in this comment.
Va
September 7, 2016 at 9:31 AM
I definitely agree; Hae Soo is a refreshing character because of how realistic she is. With Rouxi and BBJX, everything was just so masterfully put together, it was a little too perfect Imo. I don't think people remember historic details as well as Rouxi did and if they did, a similar monologue would take place. It certainly would for me. Heck, I have the same monologue when I'm just talking to a teacher!
kirin
September 7, 2016 at 6:20 PM
@Va
But that is exactly what I find Ruoxi so much more fascinating. She wasn't meant to be the model of the everyday modern girl, she wasn't meant to be a cipher, or a self-insert. She was her own person, and boy was she was brilliant and ingenious and so clever and resourceful. (Do you know how rare it is to have a female protagonists who actually feel that they're smarter then the viewer? That was a rare treat in itself, I'm more used to seeing males take that role in fiction.)
The problem with the characterization of Hae Soo to me is that they're trying to mesh Ruoxi and the 'everyday modern girl' cipher in one being. But in the process at it does is that we don't quite buy what they're selling. In a way it would have made more sense for them to reinvent the character of Hae Soo to make her a more believable everyday modern girl and not make her personality like Ruoxi's at all, just her circumstances . We would lose out on Ruoxi's brilliance, but at least the character would ring true. (Normally I would have want them to recreate Ruoxi, but to be honest I don't think they could pull it off. )
bi_cali
September 6, 2016 at 7:45 PM
I see as this drama as its own
but those exact lines and scene to repeated when the korean version lacked certain context just make me sad,
those scene in the original has some meaning but this feel like they just cut and paste those scene for convenient
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rei
September 6, 2016 at 7:49 PM
I think, comedic approach withstanding, the scene was supposed to show how the King reacted to and show us his impression of Hae Soo.
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taro
September 7, 2016 at 1:30 AM
i think it's not lacked a certain context, they gave an "other" context for the scenes
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bips99
September 6, 2016 at 9:08 PM
I agree with @scarletfighting . This drama is pretty much a drama of its own
I have seen the C-version (not completely) but i don't want to see the same story, the same scenes repeated by a different set of actors. Whats the point of a new show then? So its useless to compare.
They have just taken the broad concept and basically spun a complete new story out of it. Which I love.
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bi_cali
September 6, 2016 at 9:58 PM
no this is different drama, I said that,
don't be so defensive
but the used of the exact line from the original is what bother me because it doesn't fit this drama as its own but geared to the original which is not a good move, since they already deviated so much,
sorry if I looked too cynical and looked detailed
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nchoe
September 6, 2016 at 10:07 PM
I second all of your points.
I'm glad that this show's trying to be different than the original. I don't want to watch the exact same show twice. What's the point especially if the original one is already so good.
I think people should stop complaining about how much this show being different than the original. It's not like this adaption automatically will ruin the original one. I mean, the original one is still available to watch if some of us like it that much.
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bi_cali
September 6, 2016 at 10:32 PM
no this is different drama, I said that,
don’t be so defensive
but the used of the exact line from the original is what bother me because it doesn’t fit this drama as its own but geared to the original which is not a good move, since they already deviated so much,
sorry if I looked too cynical and looked detailed
Jan
September 7, 2016 at 3:16 PM
I think the way they used the line fits the situation perfectly in their context, and I loved how they changed it such that Haesoo was so in awe of the King. It was just so Haesoo the way the scene was enacted. Since they bought the rights to use the original source material to make the adaptation, they can use the lines in the novel.
Nessie
September 6, 2016 at 7:47 PM
I can totally understand how you feel. I don't like the change they've made to the female lead and her "cousin" story. Don't wanna be too spoilery about the C-drama but I just felt so wronged watching this scene. Like they removed the crucial part from the original which made the snow scene so much more emotional and important. This scene was meant to emphasize on why it's important Hae Soo is from the future, and how it contributed to her relationship with the 8th prince (wook in this case).
However, I have also come to accept that this is an entirely new story. They've taken the main concepts from the original and adapted it to a new version suiting the Korean history. So it's best not to expect much similarity and try enjoy it as it is.
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bi_cali
September 6, 2016 at 7:54 PM
no. . . I see it as it own and doesn't draw the comparison,
but when the same exact line, thought and scene is popped out,
I feel like where's is this coming?
and then they play it like the original but doesn't know why it play like that in the original is just weird,
again, this is like cut and paste session because it looked good,
I like where this show went before but this seems like they shifted gear
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LillyLee
September 7, 2016 at 1:29 AM
I have not seen the original and this all looked really good to me.
I like the switching back and forth from humor to serious and back again a lot.
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youcallitwinter
September 7, 2016 at 3:10 AM
I'm confused as to what is being talked about. There was no scene in particular that stood out to me contextually as not belonging. I can understand its jarring for fans of the original to see some scene with a different background be inserted here, but if people just watching Scarlet Heart can't tell the difference, idk if its that contextually divorced from this drama?
mary
September 7, 2016 at 1:36 AM
@bi_cali, I understand what you're trying to say.
It's probably a disadvantage for fans who saw the C-drama first. Because those lines already come with their own buildup and backstories and delivered in such a way that just blends in the original. To see them pop up here in Moon Lovers when this show has a totally different tone from BBJX must be jarring.
I have yet to watch either versions (just following ML recaps for now), but I just want to say I understand what you're trying to say though I haven't experienced it myself, not having watched the C- or K-version yet.
I hope there are fewer instances of that happening so you can continue enjoying Moon Lovers as is. :D
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ina
September 7, 2016 at 2:07 AM
I know what you are trying to say. I too had that moment. I was like "ok...did they just took that entire scene and inserted in here?" I felt like the tone and flow of the drama was somewhat broken by the insertion. It felt hmm weird. I would prefer that it was entirely original since as you've said, they have already deviated from the c version, tone, plot and all.
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Lynn
September 7, 2016 at 6:13 AM
@bi_cali I do get completely what you mean because I watched BBJX, and is true that I thought "what the hell" when I heard Hae Soo’s go from "Omo Omo, what to do?" to think the exact same wise words that Ruoxi did.
But for me it was weird because I think that as a character that phrase doesn't fit her much (in my opinion), as it did to Ruoxi, whose intellectual background was well established on the c-novel. However that didn't stop me from appreciating the scene, I honestly laughed a lot when Hae Soo’s did that awfully executed bow to the king when she thanked him for the rugs.
I think it might help you to have selective amnesia for a while and forget about the original BBJX plot, because the way I see it, this show is completely different. And I love it so much! I mean that \^o^/ moment was priceless!
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 8:59 PM
I don't know, I haven't seen BBJX and prefer to take Moon Lovers on its own merits, and what we have so far story/character-wise isn't bad at all.
I actually like the slow development of the OTP here. They seem to be going for So and Su becoming friends first rather than instant attraction or bickering, and their best moments in this episode weren't grand ones but the smaller ones - I liked the way So casually slung an arm around Su and teased her, and the way he figured out her emoji-poem.
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bips99
September 6, 2016 at 9:12 PM
@pogo
oooo... i loved WS slinging an arm around HS so casually. Small moment, not really emphasized but this is a person who has been shunned by his family completely. To be comfortable enough to initiate unknowing casual contact - be still my heart! my ship is sailing ... woo hoo!!!
btw, did you notice, the evil princess (I sound like a 5 year old) ... did not deny that she thinks WS is ugly or an animal . And that is why you evil princess *snicker* will never get his heart.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 9:38 PM
@bips99 - I am an absolute sucker for friends-to-lovers romances, and I love that So and Su basically took a reset after he realised she really wasn't going to betray him (went through a beating rather than admit just where and how she got the hairpin) and that they could actually just talk.
About evil princess, I was still too discombobulated by So referring to a woman having to be able to live with his 'ugly face' (UGLY HOW?!!! YOUR FACE IS LEE JUN-KI'S FACE!) to fully register what Princess Nasty said.
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bips99
September 6, 2016 at 10:08 PM
Friends to lovers romances are my weakness too. They just feel so .... organic. And i love the show is doing a Goryeo version of it.
So what can be passed off as a completely non-moment in the 21st century means a lot for WS. Like her chiding him to not get angry all the time and then asking him to eat well. Awww... How long has it been that someone has cared about him?
Thats why i don't even mind the wook loveline right now. Because this means she not seeing WS with rose colored glasses. Instead he is becoming someone that she cares about a lot without even realising.
Lol ... is this the show trolling us - calling LJK who is almost manga like ugly ? But since the evil princess did not deny that he is ugly, i thought that what WS said was more like a parting shot to her - that I am looking for someone better than you. See how her face fell after his comment.
pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 10:27 PM
Yeah, that was such a lovely moment - she starts off with the laundry list of ways not to mess up in the palace, but then she says 'eat well' and you can just see the change flicker in Lee Jun-ki's face (this is when I love close-ups, take notes PD-nim). That one moment speaks volumes about how unused he is to hearing words of care, even more than his speech to the Queen at the start of last ep.
Maybe it makes me a terrible person, but I love both love lines - the burning desire between Wook and So (it's so rare to see chemistry between two actors in a kdrama that actually feels sexy, if you know what I mean) and the comfort between Su and So that is going to tip over into something else altogether the minute one of them realises it.
IvoryLight
September 6, 2016 at 11:28 PM
++++
Friends to lovers and slow burn ships where the couple knows each other at their worst and falls in love with them anyway is one of my absolute favorite kinds of OTPs.
And the scene with Mean Princess and So and Yo was funny, although I had have to tell myself over and over to see them as very very distant relations or not even related at all, as essentially it was like Mean Princess was trying to get them to audition for who would be a better fit as a husband for her???
I did love how So handled that..calling her out on wanting a value ascribed to her, and then declaring that HE wanted to be cherished too, in spite of his face...I join everyone in incredulous laughter that anyone would find LJK's face ugly. I mean this is drama, so some suspension of belief is required, but it's asking too much to sway me over to the 'Wang So is hideously ugly' train. I mean what? In what universe??
pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 11:52 PM
@IvoryLight - maybe Astronomer Ji-mong should have sent an optometrist through the time-travelling eclipse pool to Goryeo, not a cosmetician.
I mean, I know only half of it is visible but anyone saying THAT FACE is ugly is severely in need of an eyesight check. I get that beauty standards change but this is a disbelief I cannot suspend!
pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 6, 2016 at 11:56 PM
sorry, I mean WOOK AND SU in 5.3.1.1.2
I'm NOT accidentally advocating a BL story between brothers!
IvoryLight
September 7, 2016 at 12:16 AM
@Pogo, tell me about it. Any time someone says Wang So is ugly my expression mirrors 10th, 14th and 9th's faces as they attempt to interpret Hae Su's 'art' lol.
Re: Hae So's cosmetic skills...I'm speculating, but I think we've all pretty much come to the conclusion that her skills will come in handy with dealing with Wang So's scar. I am PRAYING that the show handles this part well, because it runs the very real risk of becoming cheesy and unbelievable. It would be like 14th teaching how to defend herself and then boom, she's on Kim Na Na's level in taking down bad guys??? There better not be some 'apply once, scar disappears forever' magic cream that she applies *prays to the Drama gods, please don't let them go that way!!*
I know scar cream existed in Goryeo already, and as a Prince, Wang So would have had access to the best, but since his was much more serious than Hae Soo's cut, it couldn't be faded completely. As much as it will help him to have the scar fade away...I hope it comes with a good dose of..."Taking the scar away isn't what makes you a worthy person, you were already a worthy person, having it gone will just help everyone else see that too -(although they already should have known it in the first place)"
Sorry for the rambling!! ...Is it Monday yet???! And ugh, I will never not be weirded out by my looking forward to Mondays. It's just wrong. Look what you've done to me, show!!
bips99
September 7, 2016 at 12:30 AM
@ivorylight
tell me about it. after dropping literally everything else that is currently airing, moon lovers is the only show i'm watching live. Monday seems so far away *glum face*
I'll second you on the cosmetic skills. i hope they do it in a believable way. And most importantly he realises his worth inspite of the scar not just because she can hide it. Though i would have preferred had they left his scar as it is and him facing everyone with it clearly showing. That would have been awesome.
Chandler
September 7, 2016 at 8:11 AM
I'm just sitting here agreeing with everything. The lovelines are both wonderful. I'm enjoying the undeniable pull between Wook and Su that will likely end in tragedy, while the friendly, comforting connection slowly builds into something more between her and So. It's a pretty damn near-perfect situation to be in as a drama-viewer, gotta say. I'm definitely in for the ride!