![]() ![]() But sadly, I never got around to watching it. In fact, 5 years later, I still haven't been recommended a drama like that, with such intense passion and by so MANY people. But I remember a bunch of my online friends strongly recommended me to start Scarlet Heart. At that time I was into my second year of drama-watching and I hadn't watched anything much besides Korean dramas. When Scarlet Heart first came out back in 2011, it was all the rage. Rewatch Value 10 Moon Lovers and I go wayy back. ![]() However, if you enjoy nonstop political scheming and backstabbing, majority-villain ensembles (including both male leads, arguably), and romantic narratives that reject relationship = identity myths, Scarlet Heart Ryeo is probably up your dark and twisted alley. If you're not a fan of tragedy or bloodbaths, if you need your female characters to be ~empowered~ and save the day, if you prefer people in love to be functional and communicate well - look elsewhere. Here's the bottom line: This drama is an acquired taste. (To be fair, they were working off of the Chinese novel, but they *could* have made it more public-friendly.) In a market saturated with wannabe Pride & Prejudices, Scarlet Heart Ryeo is out here being a totally unapologetic Wuthering Heights, which is pretty gutsy for a YA reverse-harem premise. If, on the other hand, you're the sort to appreciate tragic missed opportunities of love driven by bad timing and fatal ***character flaws***, then Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is the Greek tragedy of your dreams (and/or nightmares). If you're looking for a classic tale of star-crossed lovers foiled by evil external forces. If you're looking for a fairytale where love conquers all, this is not the show for you. (2) My other "disclaimer" for MLSHR is that it has a deeply cynical and subversive approach to romance. (MLSHR was poorly received in Korea, but it is/was a certified international sensation, the first ever kdrama to make Tumblr trends, etc.) It's not for nothing that the show has drawn such an unusual amount of discussion and fannish activity, especially internationally. but at the same time some of the most complex and compelling character arcs I've come across in kdrama. The upshot is that it has possibly the most uneven execution and post-production editing ever committed. Scarlet Heart Ryeo is above all an *ambitious* drama, probably excessively so. However, I'm also the kind of viewer who will forgive a lot of flubbed execution for a really good idea, which this drama has in spades. and not enough space to tell it (20 episodes compared to the original 35-ep C-drama). ![]() The general consensus is that Scarlet Heart: Ryeo had a great story that was screwed up by messy editing/directing/pacing etc. If you're the second kind of viewer, this show may drive you mad. (1) The extent to which you'll enjoy this drama depends on whether you value IDEAS or EXECUTION. This review may contain spoilers MLSHR is among a small number of k-dramas that have left a deep impression on me, yet it's also a drama I'd hesitate to recommend to people at large. ![]()
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