1,281

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Episode 11

by HeadsNo2

Now this is the kind of episode I’d been waiting for, and boy, does it deliver an emotional wallop. Everything seems to happen at once, leaving Su powerless against the much greater forces surrounding her. It’s not so easy for her suitors to swoop in and save the day this time, and the divide that causes may spell the end of one beloved relationship, while opening the door for another.

 
EPISODE 11 RECAP

So takes that one last, longing look at Su after ingesting the poison, and excuses himself before any of his symptoms can be revealed. Princess Yeonhwa jumps up as though to say something, but ends up merely smiling instead as she tells the king that she has a request on behalf of her brother, Wook.

As Su walks away, So stumbles in his attempt to follow her as the vision of her begins to blur. He reaches out his hand toward her, but it’s only when he coughs in a spray of blood that Su turns around and sees him. He falls, and Su immediately runs to his side to call for help.

He attempts to silence her so that she won’t be found with him, but he falls unconscious before he can tell her why. She just resumes her panicked cries for help.

Princess Yeonhwa claims that she also wants to make three toasts (as So did) before giving the king her requests. Queen Sinmyeongsunseong watches as Yeonhwa pours herself a cup from the crown prince’s tea. Even refreshed, is it still poisoned?

Her first request is for the king to let Wook remarry, prompting Wook to say that there is someone he has in mind. King Taejo permits the request without knowing who the girl is, and Yeonhwa brings the cup to her lips.

But instead of drinking, she stealthily pours the liquid down her sleeve. She acts as though she’s been poisoned, however, and dramatically swoons. Queen Sinmyeongsunseong scoffs at the act before announcing that it’s poison (as if she didn’t already know), while Yeonhwa weakly calls for them to help her half-brother, So.

Blood drips from the corner of Yeonhwa’s mouth as everyone around her panics. Baek-ah finds So and Su first, but the other princes aren’t far behind. Ninth prince Won immediately blames Su for serving the tea, though it’s Astronomer Choi who announces that she’s being arrested for attempted assassination of a prince.

Court Lady Oh watches as Su’s room is torn apart, though she recognizes that there’s a darker plan at work—Su wasn’t originally supposed to serve the tea, and the court lady who was has mysteriously gone missing.

Minister Park Young-gyu seems delighted when he finds a necklace (the one the crown prince gave her) among Su’s things, while one of the soldiers “finds” the vial of poison.

Queen Sinjeong frets as the royal doctor checks her daughter’s pulse, though he claims she’ll be fine. Only when the queen is gone does Yeonhwa rise from her bed, completely fine. She only pretended to drink the poison, she tells the doctor, and bit the inside of her lip to cause the bleeding.

This she announces freely to the doctor, while warning him to keep silent now that she’s freed herself from any suspicion. No one would believe that she willingly poisoned herself.

The antidote is spoon-fed to an unconscious So by another royal doctor as Astronomer Choi, Baek-ah, and Crown Prince Mu look on. Astronomer Choi notes that So just might make it because Grand General Park trained his body to resist poison, but neither of them can figure out why So would have drank three glasses. Surely he knew it was poison after the first.

Crown Prince Mu accurately guesses that the true target of the poison was him and not So, while Baek-ah and Astronomer Choi figure that he tried to leave before his symptoms could be known in order to protect the culprit. But who?

Wook finds said culprit curled up against the wall of a prison cell, and he takes in her bloodied hands when she grasps the wooden bars. He puts his hand over hers, but pulls away when her first question is to ask how So is doing.

Her concern for So seems to make Wook very unhappy, and it’s with a flat voice that he tells her that So will be fine. She needs to worry about herself now that she’s suspected of poisoning the tea, and while he believes in her innocence, there’s no proof.

He warns her that they might very well torture her to find out who was behind the poisoning, but he implores her to endure long enough for him to get her out. She puts on a brave face as she says that she won’t let them use her to frame someone else, so she’s prepared. (Hasn’t she ever seen a sageuk?)

At the next assembly, Minister Park posits that it was Crown Prince Mu who tried to poison So through Su. Mu vehemently defends himself, but Astronomer Choi stops him, lest he end up revealing his illness to the court.

Wook’s theory is that the poison was intended for the crown prince, but was accidentally given to So. Princess Yeonhwa’s poisoning proves as much, though it doesn’t alleviate any of the suspicion with regards to Su’s role in all of it.

King Taejo announces that Su will be hanged for her crime, but the crown prince isn’t willing to let another person die for him, even if it means keeping his illness under wraps. He asks that the king cast him aside instead, but Taejo refuses. Mu is his firstborn, and he wants to give him everything he can.

So attempts to leave his sickbed early to go to Su, who he knows must be alone and suffering. Wook updates him on the allegations against Su, and despite all of them knowing that it makes no sense, he can’t see a way to get her out of it. “I should have never let Hae Su get mixed up with you,” Wook adds, under his breath.

After sending Baek-ah away, So reveals to Wook that it was his mother who was behind the poisoning. At first, Wook accuses So of drinking the poison to protect his mother, but So claims that he did it to save Su and the crown prince.

So adds that he was trying to prevent anyone from finding out about it, but that all changed when Princess Yeonhwa drank the poison. He admits that he wasn’t able to say anything about it before it happened, but now he has to depend on Wook to expose Queen Sinmyeongsunseong’s machinations and save Su.

That night, So goes to the prison to see Su trembling on the floor of her cell, covered in blood from the day’s torture. She rises with great difficulty, yet her only happiness is in seeing that So isn’t dead. “You knew it was poisoned,” she says. Did he drink it in order to save her from suspicion?

So calls the theory nonsense, claiming that he’s not the kind of man to drink poison for a girl. Aw, you big softie. She sees through the lie and tearfully asks why he would do such a thing—did he think her feelings would change? But in her mind, she thinks, “Who am I that you would put your life on the line for me? If you do this, it makes it harder for me to turn away from you.”

He gives her a small smile, admonishing her for always causing him problems. There’s so much left unsaid between them as they manage to make light of the situation despite the severity of it all, as he tells her that she’ll be freed soon. She just sighs, “I don’t know what to do with you.” So replies in kind. That’s oddly sweet.

Meanwhile, Wook tracks down the court lady who first conspired with Princess Yeonhwa, now receiving another package from her. The princess is in disguise, so Wook uses his metal hairpin to threaten the court lady into revealing the truth—if she does, he’ll let her live.

He asks the cloaked figure to reveal himself, only to be taken aback when it’s his sister. The court lady uses the opportunity to make an escape, with Wook too shell-shocked to stop her.

The princess, ever the arrogant one, knows that Wook can’t reveal her crime without damning his entire family as traitors. When he demands to know why she did it, she fires back that he was about to throw away his chance to be king for that girl, and she had to stop him.

When he retorts that he has no desire to be king, she challenges him to search his innermost thoughts. Didn’t he feel wronged when So performed the rain ritual? She knows he wants to be king, and if he still denies it, he can throw both her and their mother away.

Wook suddenly throws the hairpin he’d been holding, and it lands straight in the scheming court lady’s neck. She knows as well as he does that he can’t just cast his own family aside. “From this point on, Yeonhwa, you are no longer my sweet sister. You are a debtor. You to me, and I to you.” He seems resigned to his fate as he says this, and Yeonhwa accepts his offer, though she claims she’ll repay that debt by giving him the throne.

Defeated, Wook says that she can now do with him as she wishes. He has no choice but to submit to her control in order to save his family, even if it means giving up on Su.

He still goes to the prison that night, clutching the bloody hairpin he removed from the court lady’s neck. He drops it outside and turns to leave after one tortured look.

Now fourteenth prince Jung feels like he has to take it upon himself to try and save Su if no one else will, but Wook only acknowledges the presence hiding in the room: Chae-ryung. She falls to her knees as she tearfully begs Wook to save Su. He remains silent, though her pleading makes him visibly uncomfortable.

So goes to the king to ask for Su’s life, even daring to ask if the king is so willing to sacrifice her for the crown prince’s sake. King Taejo doesn’t see the big deal in sacrificing a lowly life in order to save an important one, which So takes particular offense to. Is this what being king means?

Taejo clocks him for his impudence, and warns his son that he’ll kill him if he asks about Su again. The same will happen to anyone else who thinks to plead for her life.

Court Lady Oh visits the prison that night wearing a veil, and tears up at the sight of a bloodied and broken Su lying on the ground. Resolved, she returns to the palace to find Wook waiting for her. He has one request for her: “Stand up for Hae Su. You are the only one who can change the king’s mind.”

When she says that she can’t make such a request, Wook asks if she’ll just let Su die. “I know you feel like a mother to her,” he says, adding that he realized that was the reason Court Lady Oh never liked seeing Su with him. Court Lady Oh turns that back on him, asking why he can’t save Su—doesn’t he love her?

She accurately guesses that it’s his own household holding him back, and his own ambition for the throne. “The reason why men in the royal family become cowards is always the same,” she notes with disdain. “Someday, you will come to regret your cowardly actions today. This one time you turned your back on her will haunt you for the rest of your days.”

With this said, she assents to go to the king herself, since she does care for Su and knows that Wook can’t save her.

After serving the king’s tea, Court Lady Oh waits until she is called upon to speak in order to say: “It was I who tried to poison the crown prince.” Oh no. Oh no! She goes on to give adequate reasons, like the loss of her child (which previous episodes hinted at being Queen Sinmyeongsunseong’s doing), though King Taejo would rather pretend she said nothing.

She lays out the bloody clothes of an infant as she tells him that someone in the royal family sent her tea to drink while she was pregnant ten years ago. Seven days later, her baby died, his baby died, and she’s not about to let the same person who poisoned her get away with killing a girl who’s like a daughter to her.

King Taejo tells her that Su isn’t a replacement for her dead child, and that there’s no evidence against Queen Sinmyeongsunseong. “Will you look the other way this time as well?” Court Lady Oh asks him tearfully. “I will die soon,” she adds, putting a name to the illness that’s been plaguing her: cancer of the stomach.

She knows that King Taejo is acting to save the crown prince, but requests that he help her save Su, so that she won’t lose another child to the evil queen. His eyes wet with unshed tears, Taejo asks if this means she’s finally casting him aside, and a tear snakes down Court Lady Oh’s cheek in answer.

The next morning, So runs to the execution platform, where a bloody and bedraggled Su is being taken to the noose. Her eyes widen in fear as she wonders if this is the end for her, but she only begins to panic when she doesn’t see Wook.

As she looks around for him, it’s not Wook who arrives, but So. He fights his way through the guards, announcing to them that he’ll be taking her with him. He’s willing to spill blood their blood if he must.

But then, Astronomer Choi runs to the execution grounds with a royal command in his hand: There won’t be a hanging, as the real culprit has been discovered. Su promptly faints.

Court Lady Oh walks with dignity to the soldiers ready to take her away, taking one last look around the palace. Su witnesses her assenting to her own punishment and limps over to her, demanding to know what’s going on. “I put the poison in the crown prince’s tea,” the court lady replies.

Su knows she’s lying, but Court Lady Oh has to keep up the pretense in order to save her. So holds off the guards long enough for Su to drag Court Lady Oh into the secret tunnel beneath the baths, only to come up against the newly blocked exit.

Despair washes over Su as she takes this in, and she takes it upon herself to pull at the rocks blocking their exit. “You said we should go to your hometown,” she says, her voice distant. “Let’s go now.” Oof, this is hard to watch. Even Court Lady Oh sheds a tear as Su tries in vain to clear the way.

Court Lady Oh pulls her away, but Su cries—she knows that this is only a cover-up, and Oh will die in her place. She turns back to the exit, but Oh pulls the crying girl into an embrace. “It’s not your fault. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for the king.”

She strokes the girl’s back as she says that she would die soon anyway, so there’s no need for Su to feel burdened. “I’m fine,” Court Lady Oh says through her tears. As she looks down at the scar on Su’s wrist, she mirrors what Su once said about having no regrets for protecting what she needed to protect.

Su sobs piteously as Court Lady Oh again takes her into her arms. She doesn’t say this aloud, but she repeats the advice she’s been giving to Su all this time, because she doesn’t want Su to end up like her.

We find Su in a fresh set of clothes as she limps her way to the king’s quarters. She kneels in front of the steps to make a formal protest for him to allow Court Lady Oh to live, despite her voice being too weak to carry far.

Wook tries to run to her aid only to be stopped by his mother, who refuses to let her son risk his life. Princess Yeonhwa reminds him that he turned his back on Su once, so why can’t he do it again? Wook sends his sister a look: “How much more indebted to me do you want to become?”

Queen Sinmyeongsunseong comes over to gloat and challenge Wook—if he doesn’t believe Court Lady Oh is the culprit, does he believe her to be guilty? His mother immediately prostrates herself at the evil queen’s feet, begging for her to leave her children alone.

Wook tries to pull his mother to her feet, but she brushes him off to continue her heartfelt plea. Queen Sinmyeongsunseong remains arrogant, admonishing Queen Sinjeong for raising her son poorly as said son remains powerless to defend his own mother.

Su’s pleas grow quieter as she grows weaker, even though she continues into the night. By now it’s just a whisper, and she has to struggle to keep from falling over. Baek-ah tries to tell her that her pleas are futile, and that despite everyone knowing that Court Lady Oh is innocent, no one would dare stand up to the king.

He reminds her that Court Lady Oh just barely managed to save her, and if she keeps being stubborn, Oh’s efforts will be for naught. “It is better than doing nothing,” Su replies, causing Baek-ah to give up on trying to stop her. But before he leaves, she asks where Wook is. Ouch.

The next morning, Queen Sinjeong asks the king to rescind the order for Court Lady Oh’s execution. He refuses, and when Astronomer Choi says that Su has been outside protesting for two days, King Taejo announces that if anyone takes her side, they’ll have to answer to him.

It begins to rain, and poor Jung has to be held back by his other brothers from going out to Su with an umbrella. Jung, finally having enough, leaves the safety of the eave to kneel in solidarity with Su. Baek-ah joins him, as does the crown prince (though he stands). Ninth prince Won refuses to have any part of it.

Wook finally approaches Su in the pouring rain, and this look of hope spreads across her features that’s just heartbreaking. But when he stops and begins to back away, realization seems to set in. As he turns away from her, Su can only ask, “Why?”

Just when it seems all hope is lost, a figure emerges next to her and spreads his cloak to cover her. It’s So, who says nothing as Su straightens just enough to remain under the meager protection.

Queen Sinmyeongsunseong takes a moment to taunt Court Lady Oh, who’s on her way to the gallows. She says that Oh dying first means she’s lost, but Oh says the queen has never once beaten her. The evil queen makes sure to have the last word, as she says that Oh is nothing but a lowly court lady who no one will remember after her death.

“If one person remembers me,” Court Lady Oh thinks to herself, “that is enough for me.” In the king’s courtyard, the princes and Su hear the gong signifying the execution. What they don’t see is the support drop out from under Court Lady Oh’s feet as she strangles on the end of the noose before going still.

The king suddenly loses his footing, which is likely all the emotion we’ll see from him regarding her death. In the courtyard, So tries to comfort Su as she screams for Court Lady Oh.

“If I had known someone would die because of me, I would not have been so greedy to live again. If only this was a dream… if only I could wake up without remembering any of this,” we hear Su say in voiceover as she faints in So’s arms.

 
COMMENTS

I knew that the show would have to work hard to drive a believable rift between Wook and Su, but I was honestly surprised at how well they managed to pull that off this episode. Everything seemed dialed to eleven today, and to great effect—this is definitely the best effort we’ve seen from this show, and it’d be hard to pinpoint just one reason why. It’s one of those situations where everything finally just seemed to work, enough to where those little inconsistencies ceased to matter, and we could just focus on the emotional impact of what we were seeing.

Wook’s turn to the dark side was really unfortunate, if only because it wouldn’t have happened were it not for Princess Yeonhwa’s meddling and manipulation. I thought she’d resolved to become more than just the sister of a king, but now it seems like she’s thrown her entire weight behind the idea of making Wook king. And at the cost she’s made him pay, she better have been truthful about everything she said—it was her own ambition for power that caused her to implicate Su in the first place, and while her words to Wook about doing it all for him didn’t ring untrue, it made her seem much more selfless than she actually was. The “I did what I did for you” could’ve made sense had she not conspired with Queen Sinmyeongsunseong in the first place, especially knowing that the evil queen has always had it out for her family.

At least Yeonhwa seemed to realize her mistake when she saw her own mother prostrate herself in front of the queen, but by then, it was too little, too late. It helps to know that Wook disdains his sister for her actions even if he had no choice but to fall into her trap—which is why I can’t hate him for it. Yeonhwa really did make it so that he had to choose between his own family or Su, and for someone as upright as Wook, it would have been unreasonable to expect that he could throw the lives of his mother and sister away, even for the woman he loves.

I actually felt like the show handled his transition much better than expected, because it would’ve been too easy for him to just go wholesale bad. But he knew enough to feel guilty for his inaction, and tried his best to still be of some help to Su, even if it meant helping her from the shadows. Him walking toward her only to literally turn his back on her toward the end was a little heavy-handed, admittedly, but it was the kind of closure Su needed for the question that had been undoubtedly plaguing her throughout the episode’s events: Where was the savior she was promised?

The fact that her savior came in the form of Court Lady Oh was even more unexpected, but fitting. And when that thread really got going, it was absolutely heartbreaking. Court Lady Oh had been one of the deeper characters presented to us, and her constant watchfulness over Su had already clued us into the depth of feeling she had for the girl. We knew that she looked at Su as a younger version of herself, but the parallels between taking her on as a daughter to replace the child she’d lost—to the evil queen’s machinations, no less—were solid enough for her sacrifice to ring as both believable and extremely, extremely sad.

Her sacrifice didn’t come off as a deus ex machina to save Su from the gallows, but as more of a natural progression of their relationship, made easier to bear by Court Lady Oh’s terminal illness. I doubt that she needed Wook to ask her for her to have done what she did, and even if it was a teensy bit hard to buy that Su and her could just run off together, the moment they had in the cave was worth the suspension of disbelief required to get them there. Giving them that last chance to say their goodbyes was hard to watch, but along with making Court Lady Oh into one of the best characters ever, it went a long way toward endearing Su as a character. She still doesn’t have any agency, but at least she’s still willing to try despite being powerless.

While I did think it was a bit of a letdown to miss out on Su’s inner thoughts during her torture and even directly afterward, I guess we could say that she was counting on Wook to rescue her until the end, which is why she didn’t show fear until she realized that he wasn’t coming to save the day. Still, it was jarring to see how well she handled being cruelly tortured and imprisoned, but that’s neither here nor there anymore.

Despite whatever Wook was trying to do in the background, it was really So who emerged as Su’s defender, and that almost reckless abandon for his own status and future was what sold his love for Su to me. I’d been on the fence about their relationship before, which wasn’t helped by So’s emotional immaturity, but seeing him throw caution to the wind to save Su—or at least die trying—was powerful. It’s enough to make me think that even if Court Lady Oh hadn’t stepped in, So’s efforts might’ve just been enough to save Su. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. I can’t tell if Su is just that lucky, or just that unlucky anymore.

RELATED POSTS

Tags: featured, Hong Jong-hyun, IU, Kang Haneul, Lee Jun-ki, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

1,281

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

i'm sorry for posting this..
i kown it's not the right time but just for cool the mood after cry on watching this episode..
please enjoy the move..
https://youtu.be/qwlkdXXno4U

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

i just spent a half hour looking at all the promos because i couldn't look away, lol.

he's illegally handsome.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Now that's how you deliver an episode. Lots of angst, uncertainty and definitely heart breaking moments in this episode. My emotions where like a roller coaster! Angry at Wook but at the same time understanding him about his choice. He picked his blood. But when he turned away from her and we saw Soo's realisation that he won't help I felt really sorry for her. The scene between court lady Oh and Hae soo really got me. Both actors protested their characters so well at that moment that I felt everything such a heartbreaking goodbye. 4th prince on the other hand was like always, a brave hero. Even though he was not fully recovered from the poison he still went to see if she was ok, and the scene where he's prepared to fight and draw blood to protect her and the rain scene....god Soo how much more can I guy do for you for you to start feeling something!! Although to be honest I did have a sense that she's started liking him even though she seems unaware of that right at this instant. Hope for more episodes like this!! Maybe less death but certainly more scenes leaving you speechless! Can't wait for the next episode!

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

*portrayed

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Damn the last time I cried hard for a drama like this was when Bidam died getting in front of Queen Seon Deok just to say her real name. *sniffs*

I never expected this drama to be this heart/gut/soul wrenching. because:

-like Su, till the end I thought that Wook would still step in to save the day. The way the rift grew between Wook and Hae Su in just a matter of Yeon hwa's manipulations, was disappointing, and unbelievable. (Kudos though to the writer.amazing twist)
- For me the most sad love in this series was thAt of Court Lady Oh and King Taejo (the forgotten love, the one who bathes her one great love's lovers, the one who lost her child) and the way her life ended in this story was definitely sad. My tears lost it when they were in the cave, Su trying to get the rocks off and they were hugging each other. And the voice over saying what Court Lady Oh is trying to teach Su all this time. I loved it when she said to Wook, "The reason why men in the royal family become cowards is always the same. Someday, you will come to regret your cowardly actions today. This one time you turned your back on her will haunt you for the rest of your days.” SHOTS FIRED.
-And lastly. I don't doubt it anymore, Wang So. I love you, now.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

myeongwol07 same wiyh you. I also cried when bidam died in front of queen seun deok. Btw Bidam and So has same character and background. I hope So has better ending then Bidam

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Wook only seems to show up when it's the good times. Like when there's that little bit of peace after Lady Hae's death, oh he was so full of how he really loved her, now he's going to love and protect Soo, they'll be together and get married. But tough times? He crumples like a cheap table. Not impressed with him anymore. Yes he was protecting his family, but to be so scared for himself that he won't even approach Soo to give her a few words of comfort just screams spineless.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I only got interested in this drama because while I was on youtube I stumbled upon the OST 1 preview (For You by Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin) and it was so beautiful! And I found out the drama was starting soon. So I waited for the drama and now I'm crying over it! Damn! This episode is so heavy! I love this drama! I hope it gets higher ratings in Korea. The acting is really great even with just their facial expressions.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Hey! Same here. I was thinking of passing this drama despite my love for Lee Jun Ki but then i saw the Ost 1 in youtube and it looked too intresting for me to pass. Funnily,the thing that gets the most flak in this drama are the Ost' and the close ups.

Rating wise domestically i guess we can say its a dud. But it seems to have found a place in international viewers heart. Lets just ignore the rating drama and enjoy the show. :)

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

If there's one person who can possibly be worse than Queen SMS in this show, its Yeonhwa. She's just so manipulative it's frustrating to watch people treat her as though she's a much sought-after treasure when actually she's just so selfish.

I don't buy the whole thing about doing everything so that Wook can be king. This woman will do anything and everything to be on top, and making Wook the king is just one of her approaches. She fake-drank the poison just so she can implicate Su in it. Cause lets' face it, she hates the girl whether or not Wook is involved in it.

0
8
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Someone mentioned before that possibly Yeon-hwa also drank the poisoned tea not only because she was trying to frame Su, but also because she was trying to save So. I really like this theory.

Yeon-hwa is set to be one of the villains and we are supposed to feel ill towards her, but girl sure knows which strings to pull. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. I root for Su but how I wish Su had just a bit of what Yeon-hwa has, lool.

0
6
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I do think that she was indeed trying to save So. That's why before she "collapsed", she mentioned that So already drank from the cup first - to make everybody noticed that So was not alright. I kind of appreciated her for that.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I don't quite see her as a villain to be honest. She has as much right to her father's kingdom as her brothers.
There is only one throne and it's reserved for one of the male heirs but she can claim the queen's seat.

It was not uncommon for families in Goryeo to share their inheritance equally between brothers and sisters. Women were more independent back then. They own land, homes etc.

If her desire for power makes her a villain then we should apply the same to the men in her family.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yes of course, I don't deny her right to the kingdom and that's the same reason why we see Yo and Queen SMS as the antagonist too. I guess it's just a matter of the degree of violence they engage in. In which case Queen SMS and Yo are more obviously evil where we haven't seen that in Yeonhwa fully yet. Wonder if the show will maybe reveal what's really motivating her(other than the Wook-on-the-throne thing) to see what extent she will go to, to get what she wants.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I took Yeonhwa drinking the poisoned tea as a way to save her own arse and cover her steps. When she saw that the plan to kill the CP failed,maybe she realised that the investigation later might point towards her so to throw off suspision she pretend-drank the tea. Later she could reason that if she poisoned the tea,why would she drink it willing. Even the Evil Queen gave her a appreciative smirk after that.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

+1

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yup definitely. YH tries to save So. She looked horrified to see So drank the poison, and I believe she still cares fpr So.
It also serves to framed Su.
Slow clap, slow clap... She is so quick to think. Two birds in one stone. Saving So, and framing her rival.
I prefer this kind of villain. She is not boring to watch

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I like it that she is a manipulator. Although she still far behind Queen SMS in manipulating game, she certainly capable and has Queen in the making (minus good personality).

What I like the most is when she got caught by Wook as the real culprit in poisoning attempt, after Wook said they are indebted to each other and to do whatever she planned for him, she bowed and we can see her smiled/smirked, like Wook has fallen into her trap. I had chills when I saw that. I was like 'damn, at this rate she's gonna get what she wanted'.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I was wondering how the show could believably cause Hae Soo to stop loving Wook and start loving So. I figured it would be an annoying and hamfisted plot twist. Boy, was I wrong!

This was beautifully orchestrated - all along, Wook has shown a frozen indecision whenever action is required. He avoids having unpleasant discussions, he avoids confrontations even when he has the power to end the crisis, and he never, ever puts his position at risk. (This is understandable because of his family's precarious position.)

Wang So, on the other hand, has never had anything to lose, so he barrels in anyway. He acts with purpose, but it's all driven by emotion and his need for the love of others. He kills the horse which might carry him back to his imprisonment, he kills the assassin monks, and when he decides he loves Hae Soo, he runs to her aid in just the same way.

Wook thinks, So acts.

Tonight, when push came to shove, Wook couldn't break out of his frozen indecision, even allowing his sister to force him into complicity with her attempted murder and treason - while So directly acts, even though the consequences would be dire.

This is why Wang So will be King, and Wang Wook will not.

Hae Soo discovering what Wook's promises are worth - especially in comparison with So's firm promises - works beautifully as the cause for a change in Soo's affections.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

This episode was powerful. Very well done. Heart-wrenching. The drama did a great job in showing how many different people were affected by Su's false accusation and the ripple effect of that incident.
The emotions gradually built up to a peak at the end.

I cried A TON for Court Lady Oh. TT____TT
Her character was amazing. Her story was heartbreaking. Her speech about caring for Su like a daughter was so touching.

I was completely captivated by this episode. Everything felt real and believable. No actions were out of place. Su's personality seemed somewhat like her old self before she was scared of So (ex: her actions in trying to protest Court Lady Oh's execution).

Thank you for the speedy recap!

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yeon Hwa..

I applaud your resolve girl. Pretending to drink the poison to erase yourself on suspects and deliberately biting your inner cheeks to draw blood.

0
3
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

and to bring attention to poor So

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

How hard must she bite to draw that much blood, tho. I admired her for this!

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Forreal. The canker sore that's going to form is gonna hurt like a beach.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

this episode is GOLD and now I'm a mess.

- SoSu bantering in the prison is just so painful yet romantic and cute and sweet at the same time HOW DO THEY DO THAT (I love all the SoSu scenes this episode but this one hit home to me, it stayed so true to the most basic elements in their relationship)

- LADY OH, LAYDY OH!!!! I can't bear with the thought that we won't be able to see her and hear her wise, rational words any more... (now I'm getting real scared of that ost, every time it was played Su lost one person closed to her, please no!)

- Baek Ah is a pure GEM! He's always be right there supporting SoSoo. And I love that the show didn't forget to portray his feelings towards Wook (when Yeon Hwa talked to the king about Wook's marriage, when So asked him to leave so he could talk with Wook privately, when Soo kneeling asked him where was Wook damn that look in his eyes was like WAKE UP GIRL!!!!! AFTER ALL THIS TIME??!!)

- Yeon Hwa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wook and some other princes. My god I just wish she was a prince so I could watch her fabulously fight for the throne. Girl is bad but awesome. And I need more Yeon Hwa - Queen Yoo scene, these two women would kill me with the intense and darkness.

This show is so precious it makes me love all the women in it!!! Their stories, their schemes are all very charming and captured well.
I can't wait for Woo Hee in next episodes, I guess she's involved in killing the king with Yo's people (while dancing beautifully?? gilr I'M IN) but but but she's gonna love Baek Ah... I'm so torn.

p/s: I kinda miss Yo, boy you need to comeback and join this wonderful mess with your ever thicker eyeliners real soon.

0
5
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yeon Hwa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wook and some other princes. My god I just wish she was a prince so I could watch her fabulously fight for the throne. Girl is bad but awesome.

I would totally root for YH trying for world domination. or even team up with WS and destroy all the people who hurt him and grab the throne.

except i want my ship to sail. Strangely I don't particularly like HS as such but she is the person who makes WS happy. And i want the poor puppy to have joy and hugs and care in his life

So YH as much as i love you, wrong show girl!

0
4
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I second! If only we could get a show on awesome ladies that do the work, not relying on men. I mean, she did it all.

(Ironically, she points a sword at Hae Su, but puts a shield before So. But who cares, Goryeo's not prepared to have a queen with the likes of Hae Su yet.)

Queen Sinmyungsunseong at least depended on Yo, before Yo becomes mother's biggest disappointment after So.

Hae Su, run. Run away from the palace. Marry a musician and live a happy long life. Screw the princes that bring you nothing but heartaches.

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

"Hae Su, run. Run away from the palace. Marry a musician and live a happy long life. Screw the princes that bring you nothing but heartaches.".....Gehrel I second that!.....Does anyone else feel frustrated by Su's time travelling not ever being a part of the plot... I want someone to know, she is no Goryeo chick....I want a big time tunnel to open in the middle of the fight for the throne and for Su to stand there and take a big leap into it and all of the court to just stand there with their jaws dropping, because guess what Su wasn't at all what you thought......she can take Batman (So) with her...

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

.Does anyone else feel frustrated by Su’s time travelling not ever being a part of the plot

My daughter was complaining last night that they've dropped that thread altogether.

0

Historically, YHxWS is canon though the exact time they got married is unknown (?). I have seen picture of Yeon Hwa wearing wedding clothes (similar to Soon Deok) and guess they would get married when So is still a prince (cause if he's already the king then Yeon Hwa must wear Su's red clothes when she was forced to marry the king).
I'm so excited for this!
I was worried that they would make Yeon Hwa character only a jealous princess but wow her ambition and boldness stunned me. Definitely one of my most favorite characters from the show!

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yes agreed with you heads and others this is the best episode so far. Every schene is meaningful. And every character show their real self. The good guy become bad guy. The bad guy becoming good guy. The evil becoming more evil. The most powerful becoming lest powerful. On the otherside there is a thin red line that connect every actions of every character. Is love to someone or something

1. Wook sacrifice Soo to save his family
2. Yeon hwa sacrefice her pride to save her family and her ambition
3.queen Sinjeong sacrifice her dignity for her kids.
4. King Taejo sacrifice Soo and lady oh for Mu
5. Mu want to release her throne for others
6. So sacrifice himself for his love one
7. Even the evil queen sacrifice her son to her ambition

But my fave schene is when Wook knowing Yeon Hwa behind the poisening case. Poor Wook

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Everyone is sacrificing something of theirs - their life, their pride, their throne, their freedom ...

Its only Wook and the King that are sacrificing (literally) another person for their gain. Wook sacrificed HS, the King sacrificed Lady oh!

Thats why i don't agree when people say that WS is like the king. Wook is more like the king - Having other people give up their life or happiness for something that benefits themself

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

This ep is gold ??

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the ever-speed recap, Heads!

Here to read the comments and bask in the love you guys have for this show. I love to see everybody's opinions and supports in the comments. Keep it up, guys! :)

My friends and I cried towards the end of the episode. :') Superb writing and production from the SHR team, the plot goes as they want without making the characters to be out-of-character much. I can't help but feel that the rift between 8th and HS was pretty much heaven's (writer's) will (not that I'm complaining, tho). Sorry 8th, we just have to sacrifice you so So could finally win her heart.

Anyway, one of the thing I noted in this ep is we got to see that 8th, when faced in more or less the same condition with the 4th, also did the kill-them-protect-my-family thing. It's an irony that his *close* bond with his family is the one thing that separates him and HS, vice versa the 4th.

I'm glad this episode ended quite satisfyingly, that I can spend this week in peace. :D

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

This episode is touching, acting of LJK & IU are best in this episode.Hope for the happy ending for WS & HS....

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I just wish Lady Oh speak out loud to Queen Sinmyeongsunseong “If one person remembers me, that is enough for me”, because she knows that Queen Sinmyeongsunseong will never have King's heart.

I just wish she said that instead of thinking of it in her mind.

0
3
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I agree. I wish Lady Oh had wiped that smirk off Queen Sinmyeongsunseong's face with that line.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I wish Lady oh had hit queen evil. Then i realised that her hands are tied. So i was yelling - spit on her. She killed your baby, you are going to die, just spit on the snake

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

It's frustrating that more often evil people last longer on this earth than the good ones.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Unlike a lot of people, I love the character of Su. Of all kdrama heroines, I think she reminds me a little of the lead girl in Hero. She's joyful, brave, impetuous, reckless, funny, kind and bright. I quite understand why the princes love her and the women mother or mentor her.

Since her Gwangjong revelation, however, she's become increasingly "small". UI is small but I never noticed how small until Su's million watt smile disappeared. She's like a wan tiny mouse in these episodes - if So looked like a huge vampire bat when he spreads his cape over her, she looks like a tiny white mouse at his feet. When I look at the previews, I never see the smile anymore.

I hope we get Su back, a little changed from her experiences, but still the same Su, tiny girl with huge personality. Without her smile, it feels like all the joy has been sucked out of Goryeo.

0
4
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

**meant "lead girl in Healer (not Hero)"

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I liked the lead girl in Hero (2009, Lee Jun Ki's drama)! She was brave, smart, caring, and funny. A little judgmental at the beginning though.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I totally concur with you. I really like Hae Su as well. It may be unfair (and even unrealistic) for people to expect that Hae Su can charge into 10th Century Goryeo with 21st Century behaviors, attitudes, and speeches.....and, what? Make it out alive? Change what we consider unacceptable behavior?

Hae Su's character is realistic given where she is (the PALACE); her actions must become more muted. It would be overwhelming to be dropped in the middle of such strong personalities (and plots/treachery) vying for the throne.

You're right, it is her personality that makes her sparkle - and enchants everyone else (especially Wang So). I also hope we get more of that before it takes a tragic turn for the ending.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I thoroughly enjoyed your comments. IU delivered just a wonderful wonderful performance!!

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Why Lady Oh? WHY??? WHY??? ? The never ending river coming from my eyes is all your doing... And it hurts so good.

I really am beginning to appreciate So as a romantic lead. When he's been poisoned and all he keeps looking to is Su. Just seeing her and being near her is enough for him. Even as he's dying he just wants to see her, and there's something so beautiful about that. It's so simple and straightforward, like So.

*world weary sigh* after meeting with recruiter Yo, Wook has finally joined club evil... And got initiated by it's Vice President, his sister. Gah, I wish her hand had slipped and she really poisoned herself. That way she'd be dead and up for a Darwin Award.
Well done drama, you've turned me against my favorite. *insincere slow clap*
Ok, from now on my new favorite is Baek Ah. Don't screw this up drama!

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

What a great episode !
If only the previous episodes were just as good (music wise, cinematography wise etc)...

Lady Oh -- :(( what a beautiful character... This whole episode was so heartbreaking...

Wook -- I'm torn about him. I could see how the choice was difficult for him. I just wish he had some comforting words for Soo, despite not being able to save her. That's where I was disappointed.

So -- I loved how he didn't ask Soo to stop her kneeling. He knew it was important and necessary for Soo. But he offered his support and protection instead. I loved the scene.

I'm also wondering about the series ending. I'm pretty sure So will be King. Will he also marry like history tells us, and will he part away from Soo to be reunited with her in the future (present)?

Astronomer guy -- I don't get him. Is he from the future (present) too and traveled to the past like Soo, or is the other way around ? And what are his objectives: is he just letting things take their course or is he trying to make So a king ?

Queen S -- I don't get her. Why so much hate towards her own son? I get that she has some ambitions for her son Yo, but So could also be a candidate to be King. So why not help him too? I must have missed the explanation in earlier episodes.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

From Wikipedia:
"With the institution of the national civil service examination in 958 (과거, Gwageo), Gwangjong was able to expel from the court people from powerful clans and replace them with civil officials recruited by merit, giving everyone, not only the rich and powerful people, the opportunity to work for the state."

I can see how So's characterization comes from now. All these problems stems from the power craze clans, the ones that wants Crown Prince Mu dead and let Yo replace him.

It was the upbringing of So that make him having the wildness and care less attitude. He doesn't have much support from anyone any way. Hence, he's daring to protect who and what he likes. Wook on the other hand, are tied with connection, and a family that needed him to protect. It make sense now why the evil queen has to be evil and abandoned So in the first place. Imagine if they are in good terms, So's role in Soo's life would have had a different turn.

Somehow, Wang So's character reminds me of GoT's Tyrion Lannister. The social outcast, the one with the scars on his face. Perhaps the director did model that scar from Tyrion. hahaha.. As gray as Tyrion's character has been in GoT, So showed the same potential. He's neither the true hero or true villain, but he's a survivor in the crazy time of Goryeo palace.

This episode is just a tear jerker. Heart wrenching, heart breaking. Lady Oh is a wise one, through experience, she knows that Wook will never have that courage to save Soo. It's exactly like King Taejo who turned a blind eye when she lost her child. Even when he knows that it is the work of the powerful queen, he dare not to confront her, afraid that he might lose his throne.

Hae Soo's monologue about how she shouldn't try to live on so hard is so true.. When you realize that every action you made has a consequences on other people's life, your perspective on life will totally change. She realized that her judgement on Wook and So was wrong. And when Wook gave up her to protect his family, it's a big tight slap to her face. I think after all these ordeal, Soo's character will experience a huge change.

With all that is going on, is 20 episode for the story line to go on? This episode is definitely the best one that we have seen out of the series so far. Oh well, 6 more days to go.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

While i haven't had a chance to watch this episode completely yet having abused the #scarletheartgoreyo on Instagram,I think I have seen enough of the important scenes to comment...SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE LJK AN AWARD ASAP!! he is truly killing it as Wang so. Those micro expressions..not many actors can pull it off .
Its very sad that many dropped this show based on the first few episodes, cause the last 3 have been brilliant. I have a feeling because of the low ratings LJK might be overlooked come award time ;(

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I don't think they would overlook the international rating which is a larger chunk of its whole market. I think SBS still has some royalty for international coverage.

Then there's the Baeksang Awards. Lee Joon Gi nailed the Wang So character. He is just brilliant.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

"Astronomer Choi notes that So just might make it because Grand General Park trained his body to resist poison,"

What was the poison, iocane powder?

I now have the urge to call So "My Westley!"

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Despite his inaction and failure to do anything 'right', I can't help but see Wook as a very pitiful character. I don't hate him, all I feel is disappointment and sadness for Su. His transition was believable and incredibly sad to watch because he truly believed he could marry the girl and live a happy life. Too bad his sister messed everything up for him and the family because of her ambitions. When he found out Yeon-hwa was the one behind everything, you could literally see his shock, anger, and emptiness thereafter. Slow clap for you, Kang Ha Neul!

I felt like So has grown a lot in these last two episodes, especially because he was willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING for Su. Su believed Wook would never change, but in actuality, So was the one who kept his promise of never letting her go. The scene when he was running towards the execution platform was one of my favorites. I wish we could have seen what he was doing prior to that as well as his inner turmoil over Su's situation. Their conversation in the prison cell and rain scene were also one of my favorites.

As for Su, I felt so bad for her this entire episode. Her last moment with Lady Oh broke me (and I'm sure a lot of people as well). It was so heartbreaking and so sad... At this point, I just want those romantic scenes we were promised between So and Su before all the bloodshed and tears again.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I have a question. If this has been answered already, can you tell me where?

So, why is the queen roaming around scot free when everyone and their mothers know she is the one who is responsible for the poisoning? I simply do not get it.

And if King has some political reasons (I would love to knw what they are) for not punishing the queen, why does he allow the innocent to be killed and tortured?

Is this some saguek thing? What are the motivations here for the king to behave this way? I simply do not understand this at all.

Can someone explain this to me? Is this drama writing just manipulative or is there some intelligence to these royal decisions to kill the innocent?

0
4
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

From what i gather is that her maternal clan is the most powerful one and actually create problems in the court for the king.

So to oust her, he needs proof. Concrete, irrefutable proof. And honestly i'm not sure that he would move against her with proof too.

because though he might be able to justify the queens exile or punishment with proof. But her clan would still withdraw their support later on.

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Gosh, I hate saguek dramas with passion. I picked this up for the timetravel stuff. But it is just like any other frustrating Saguek. I wish there are sagueks where a King is a King and the opposition comes from external kingdoms..

Still, I do not understand why he has to punish the innocent though. Why did they have kings anyway if they had no power. Stupid Sagueks.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Have you seen Dae Jang Geum? :D

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

This drama is not trying to be authentic. What you see is a mixture of fantasy, Goryeo historical figures and events. Some parts are being adapted from the novel and the original series etc.
(The rain scene in this episode is lifted from the original tv series).

If this was an authentic sageuk, Hae-soo would've been dead for beating up Eun.

This queen is the writer's own interpretation. Queen Yoo is portrayed differently in other more authentic sageuks.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Everyone commented on this thread so fast!

Finally, this episode is definitely the turning point and it's an awesome one. Moon Lovers is definitely getting better each episode.
We all already knew that Lee Junki's gorgeous look and awesome performance carried this show, but on this episode, I could feel the emotion (what a heartbreaking performance from Court Lady Oh and Soo) and also the beautiful cinematography.

I have a feeling that now we are into the second half of the show, the intensity will be even better. No more playing.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I couldn't stop crying at the end of the episode. I couldn't believe that IU had become such a mature and moving actress. Well done.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Sooooooooo many people in this drama need to die...

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

That scene of her and courtlady Oh makes me bawled my eyes out, even more than Lady Hae piggyback to death.
Go Ha Jin, how unfortunate she is being thrown to foreign time and yet has to see people she trust dying one by one. By now I can say that she is a stupid foolish girl with a big heart :')

Her development with So were awesome. First, that conversation behind both sides of the bars was affectionate. Second, when she symbolically accept So's protection in the downpour after Wook turn his back on her.

I am a Wook-Soo shipper ready to jump ship :p Wook-ah... it's not your fault.. You too just another star crossed lover because of situations….

I only watch IU singing in Infinity Challenge festival before, but wow she actually did a good job in acting.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I wrote this last week, when I was still feeling chirpy about the show. I'm going to post this before I watch this episode, and the descent into darkness.

SCARLET BUTTS Part 3

Wook: Brother! My dear brother! You decided not to leave after all! You could not find it in your heart to forsake me!

So: It is hard to enter the palace. It is even harder to leave. My horse refused to lift a hoof beyond the periphery of Goryeo. I was forced to turn back.

Wook: I am surprised you did not cut the horse down in anger, like you did to your horse from Shinju.

So: That horse was suffering from an incurable illness. It was an act of mercy.

Wook: I have misjudged you, brother! I thought you had struck down that horse in the grip of a fiery rage! I shall now confide in you a strange dream I had yesternight: I dreamt of you lifting your huge sword to strike down our sweet younger brother Eun – he had three arrows wedged deep within his back, as his bride lay dead upon the ground! – ah, brother, I shiver and shake at the recollection of the dream – look at my eyes - they are as big as saucers - nay, bigger than saucers - as big as cartwheels - nay, bigger than cartwheels - !

So: I have dreamt a similar dream, but in my dream, it was you, not Eun, that I struck down with my huge sword; the most frightful part was that you would not stop prattling even as you lay dead upon the ground; your head lolled from side to side and your mouth opened and shut as you gibbered on and on; in panic, I drew my bow and shot thirty arrows, one upon another in quick succession; they all landed in your back, then I aimed one straight through your tongue, so you would cease your prattle, but to my horror, you hoisted your body up, and lay upon the thirty arrows as a bed; looking up skyward, you intoned: “Greeeeh, O greeeeh is the willohhhh”, the arrow through your tongue quivering with every syllable you spoke, at which point I was jolted awake, shivering and shaking.

Wook: The dream goes to show my poetic soul lives on even in death! But brother, I am hurt – why do you avert your eyes as you speak to me?

So: I am pretending I am still in the throes of that hellish nightmare.

Wook: It saddens me that you do not look at me – my eyes are filling with tears at your coldness – they are on the verge of spilling –

So: - stop your gibbering -

Wook: - my lungs are about to burst with my pent-up grief –

So: - I implore you -

0
3
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Wook: - as I draw my deepest breath –

So: - in the name of the gods! -

Wook: - to unleash the mother of all wails upon your ears: WAA WAA WAAH -

So: Very well, very well…for the sake of peace and quiet, I will look at y – ARGHHHHHH!!!!

Wook: Behold Wook, the rising sun! Ah, you are stunned into silence by my dazzling brilliance!

So: You – You are not wearing any clothes…..not a stitch…..!

Wook: I was wilting, wilting in the scorching furnace of the cruel arid desert! The gruelling heat of the drought had taken its toll on my beauty; so I took it upon myself to go unclothed; look at me - I feel as light as air and as cool as a Goryeon cucumber, diverged of my stifling apparel.

So: My eyes are cursed for eternity!

Wook: The perfection of my form takes your breath away, does it not? You are not the only one awed by this wondrous temple of beauty! I took a leisurely stroll through the palace halls, and everyone I met – the maids, the court ladies, my brothers – they shrieked and covered their eyes when they saw me while the palace guards swooned in ecstasy!

So: Oh, the horror…would that I could erase this memory…

Wook: I have not bathed for a week since we last met but smell me, brother; now, now, no time for games - take your hands away from your eyes - go on, take a sniff –

So: No. No. No. I do not wish to smell you –

Wook: Then I will sniff myself – SNIFFSNIFFSNIFF - ah, I smell as fresh as the morning dew! Do you want to know why I exude this heavenly aroma, brother?

So: NO.

Wook: It is because of this precious bar of soap that I own. Here it is, tucked between the ripped muscles of my stomach – let me flex my muscles – FLEXFLEXFLEX - so it will slide out like a secret jewel from where it nestles within the tight coils of my flesh, like so; ah, here it is, my pretty…

So: Get away from me.

Wook: This is no ordinary soap, brother! I made this myself. Ah, you marvel at my creative skills! I toiled for many nights making this fine bar of soap, and many more nights, making many more bars of soap. I have made enough soap to fill my entire house - nay, the entire palace! - to last an eternity! But brother, this soap works magic on me – I rub it all over myself, like so, and a coat of soap appears and insulates my body from the stink of sweat!

So: It is hard for me to listen to your prattle when you are in your present state of undress.

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Wook: If it makes you feel more comfortable, I will slip on something –

So: What in the – are you wearing a jade bracelet on your wrist????

Wook: You marvel at it, brother! Look at the fine red thread! – I spun it myself, in between the nights I toiled at making soap – I have been a busy little bee, have I not! - and coloured it with the red sap from a tree located in the east garden of the palace, where I take shelter under, and weep tears of sadness into, when I feel melancholic.

So: I cannot make up my mind which is more horrific to look at – you in a state of undress before, or after you wore that bracelet.

Wook: The red thread is to protect me from misfortune, and the jade symbolizes a happy relationship between you and me.

So: There is no happy relationship between you and me, you dim-wit!

Wook: Ah, do not be angry with me, brother! I have just the thing to cheer you up –

So: Nooooo.

Wook: Look at this book, brother – it is filled with drawings – I drew them myself…ah, the look on your face! I never stop surprising you with my skills! Let me flip the pages quickly, like so: do you see the pictures, brother? They are of you and me! Ah, what a lovely pair we make, tripping prettily across the snow – that is me in front, you behind – ah, a precious moment, captured by my incredible brush painting prowess! - you slip, I reach out my hand and grip yours in mine!

So: Have you lost your mind? We have never walked in the snow before – we have never walked ANYWHERE before!

Wook: Ah, you are waiting for me to ask you – very well then - will you walk in the snow with me, brother?

So: There is no snow, you blockhead! It is summer! We are in the throes of the deadliest drought in the history of Goryeo!

Wook: Ah, it slipped my mind – silly me that I am! Forgive me, for I cannot think coherently with the sight of you looking so splendid filling my vision! The jet black of your hair is set off magnificently against the whiteness of your attire! Next winter it is then, brother! We will hold hands and walk together in the snow, you and me -

So: NO. NO. NO. Not this winter. Nor the next. Not EVER!!!! I would rather be ripped apart by the savagest of wolves than to walk in the snow with you!!!!

Wook: Ah, brother, just say you will. You know you want to. SAY YES SAY YES!

So: What the – are you singing????

Wook: I was seized by a sudden compulsion to sing –

So: - hush! What is that sound?

Wook: The patter of raindrops! The rain is falling! I must go outside at once –

So: The rains came! Ah, I feel the raindrops on my face – nooo, what in the world are you doing now?

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Wook: - Why, brother, I am taking a bath, of course! – I would have you know that I have not bathed for a week since we last set eyes upon each other - not that you would know, from my fragrance! - ah, I am well-prepared, ever ready for the rain; for seven days and seven nights, I salved layer upon layer of my excellent soap upon every inch of my body, from head to toe, lovingly, meticulously; watch me as I scrub – I am second to none at scrubbing! - I will scrub hard – ah, ah, like so – SCRUBSCRUBSCRUB – oh, oh - I grow worried - the soap has caked and dried to resemble a thick slab of stony concrete – oh, oh - it refuses to come off…oh, oh, brother, I implore you - help me scrape off this soap - you have strong fingernails, horned from ripping apart wolves with your bare hands –

So: I would rather be ripped apart by a horde of snarling, hungry, bloodthirsty wolves than lay a fingernail on you.

Wook: But, brother, I am DESPERATE! - To be trapped in this concrete prison of soap for eternity is an unbearable thought! - AHHHHH!

So: Have you finally bitten off your tongue?

Wook: I am having a vision! –

So: It is the soap-making. And the spinning. They have clearly affected your mind.

Wook: I see a red mist –

So: That is perfectly normal; I see a red mist every time I look upon your face.

Wook: You are dressed in a king’s robes – you look splendid, brother! And your hair is pulled up, and I see - I see your forehead…ooh, what a fine-looking forehead, brother! so smooth, so white - almost as fine as mine! -

So: I am being punished for my sins.

Wook: - wearing a tall bun – it looks like my bun, brother! – though not as straight as mine – and you are….you are smiling…oh, oh, oh…

So: Are you trembling?

Wook: I am….I am…trembling, shaking -

So: - with fear?

Wook: - with joy! You smiled at me, brother! You, who never smiled at me before! I am overwhelmed, overcome –

So: Gah.

Wook: But the vision makes me curious – it is making me wonder....wonder –

So: - wonder how long you can continue to jabber before your jaw caves in on your face?

Wook: - wonder – what - my place is - in the palace…

So: You can stop wondering. I will tell you what your place is. Your place is deep in a dungeon, behind an iron door, padlocked by a hundred locks and guarded by a thousand men.

Wook: You are stalking off – do not leave me in the rain like this – wait, brother, wait! - I am seized by a sudden compulsion yet again! –

So: AHHHHH!!!!

Wook: - to hug you tight - like this - from behind - from the back –

So: AHHHHHH! Guards! Help!!!!!

Wook: I am yours.

So: Let – me –go -

Wook: You are mine. You cannot leave without my permission. You cannot die without my permission –

So: ARGHHHHH! That’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m drawing my sword. You can die with my permission!

Wook: Oh, very well, brother, if that’s what you want, I will leave. I see the rain has not improved your sourness. Farewell...

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I guess, we share the same thing today,
we all shed a lot of tears.???
Till the end after watching the raw, I can't stop crying, it was so heartbreaking!
The first thing I did after watching the raw was to refresh DB if there is a recap posted for ep.11 because I wanted to write this so badly,
" Lets cry together & get through this awful feeling till next monday comes."

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Side note, did anybody notice both international and SBS version are the same this time (except some of the music)? So rare

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

The preview for episode 11 (shown at the end of episode 10) showed Wook yelling Soo's name, but where was that scene in this episode? Was it cut?

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

yea i was wondering about that too, it wasn't in the SBS version either. maybe next week we'll see wook yelling soo's name and breaking their bracelet

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Wet Junki is the best Junki.

Oh wait, no: wet, caped Junki is the best Junki.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Hahahahaha...definitely so true!

Did you notice that even the drops of water fall gracefully from his hair and gorgeous face. Such an amazing view to look at.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

GOSH - that scene between So and Soo in the jail!!!!!!! My heart!!!! Now, THAT'S what I call pure romance - so charged with emotion and meaning. WOW!!!!!!!

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

that scene in the prison was GOLD, soo and so really looked like a pair of lovers worrying over each other

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap, Heads!

Finally, the kind of ep I've been waiting for!! This ep was hitting all the emotions and was definitely one of the most heart-wrenching ep's thus far.

I'm glad that Su saw So poisoned as I'd thought it might've been one of the things that he had to suffer alone. The fact that he was trying to quiet her down amidst his extreme pain really spoke to me. Even when he is in that state, his first thought is Su's safety. This is mirrored later when Su is imprisoned and the first thing she asks Wook is So's safety. These two are being drawn closer naturally, and it's evident how much they already mean to each other. When So went to visit Su in prison, I could see how much it pained him to see Su all bloodied and weak. =(

Wook just gets worse per ep. The lack of action just cements what I've always thought--he never loved Su all that much, and his own ambitions, life, and family will always take precedence over his love for Su. I know that YH basically put him in this situation where he just can't choose Su over YH. But along the way, how much did he really do for Su? Not much, if anything at all. He's a coward. He already thinks there is no way out of this mess when he bumps into So outside the prison. He just sits there while Jung is pleading with him to save Su. He is fully aware of his own ambitions from the throne, which he's been keeping under wraps, but this hasn't escape his sister. He doesn't even see Su at all after that prison visit and all his promises turn out empty. He even approaches Court Lady Oh for help, but the questions he poses to her makes me think, shouldn't she be asking YOU the same things? How can you do nothing? Why aren't you standing up for Su? Even So believed that you would.

The cave scene broke my heart and I cried so much. The deep bond between Su and Court Lady Oh, and that final good-bye. I wish it didn't turn out this way, but there really doesn't seem to be any other solution and the king pretty much just needed a scapegoat in order to save Mu.

So awesome to see Jung being the first to kneel down, followed by BA and even Mu. Maknae has the balls whereas hyungnim Wook just shows up and turns his back on Su. It'd be better to not appear at all than to break her heart like that.

Love the classic cape scene, which I was anticipating in this adaptation. It was perfect since we can now see that Su realizes who's the one who's always by her side. Bu-bye, Wook!

Court Lady Oh, we will miss you, especially since Su only has So to completely lean on now (though I expect Jung and BA would also be of help). Anticipating next week's eps!

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

The royal tea party was written, and enacted like a Shakespearen dramatic scene. It could have been accomplished in one episode only, instead of bridging the episodes, 10 and 11.

Episode 11 is the turning point of the drama. Lee Ji Eun went from K-pop Idol actress to dramatic actress in those two tearjerker scenes (the cave with Lady Oh and the palace courtyard). She and Woo Hee-jin as Court Lady Oh, portrayed the sadness and despair of their characters so convincingly, that there should not be a dry eye in the TV/online audience. The final rejection by Wang Wook, (crying?)in the rain, terminated the Love Team Wook-Soo, and set into motion, Love Team So-Soo.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Okay this episode was a BLAST for me. Just a succession of awesome scenes. Woohoo.

Court Lady Oh is bad. ass. Bless her soul! She pulled a Dumbledore and I got chills watching her complete her arc.
I wish I could feel more for Su though. I'm still not completely connected to her after all this time. The way she endured the torture and still stood up to the king this ep on top of all the stress she's already gone through in previous eps, I shouldn't be able to help but cry for her and with her just by looking at her and yet I don't feel that way. That goodbye scene she had with CL Oh I thought would have me bawling but it didn't quite get me there. I really do want to cry with her when she does, not out of pity, but in solidarity because our girl has a heck of a lot of fighting spirit. Maybe I'll find that connection in later eps or once I binge-rewatch the show. Still, I loved that scene. And I root for our strong heroine very much so.
There were so many things I enjoyed here, like Wook.
Eat sh*t, Wook! Gaahh. That scene with Wook and CL Oh was ? and the one with his sister dearest too was great. His character's been pretty passive from day 1 and boy did I enjoy him try to come to terms with that this time. Not because I want him to fail or that I hate him, but now his character can have trajectory now instead of being the predictably safe one. He can serve the story much better this way and I look forward to that a whole lot.

And So, who I've come to depend on to give me satisfaction after every episode, didn't fail me this ep of course. I love this character. I didn't get to share my thoughts on this site about that kiss yet, but I'm one of those who understood and accepted it narrative-wise. I like that he can be flawed and just be plain wrong sometimes, but still be someone I can feel for. And this episode he was still the one I rooted for to stand up to the king, not just for Su's sake, but just because it's the right thing to do. Someone needed to call the palace out for being really lame and the king for being even lamer. (Wook, you take the prize for being the lamest, yeah? Yeah!)

I love that Evil Queen thought she could finally gloat, but she didn't really get to (gloat gloat).

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I only read recaps randomly bar dramas that I like, reallly wanna know since when the craze for 'microexpressions' phrase began... it's everywhere in almost every comment section nowadays ... the last time I faithfully followed a drama recap and its comment section (Lucky Romance) it's not there yet ..

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

It's just obvious here because the PD likes the 100000x magnification close up. And LJK delivers on the acting front. That's why it gets brought up a lot in Moon Lovers.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

did anybody die when Lady Oh said "i can't let the queen take my child away from me again" T_T THIS POOR KIND HEARTED LADY

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

As much as I love this show, I'm disappointed that it was Wook who initiated the break-up with Su. In the original, it was Ruoxi who ended the relationship because 8th wouldn't give up his ambitions for the throne. I love the original because it's Ruoxi-centric: we hear her thoughts and commentaries about Qing dynasty and the story really revolves around her. I just hoped the Korean adaptation retained that female-centric viewpoint and didn't take away Su's agency.

0
4
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

i agree, the original was in ruoxi's POV but it seems like in this version it's pretty general. i kind of wished it was Soo who dumps Wook, but oh well, as long as they break up I'm kind of ok

And where is that scene that i saw in the preview that Soo tells Wook that they're not meant to be???

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I reckon that many things are actually done purposely in order to avoid hate and uncomfort against our female lead character, because she is the protagonist so she is living under a halo. It's a little bit disappointing that they have to portray her like that since the original story was very Ruoxi-driven, thus making her more dimensional, because she made her own choices regardless of whether they would look good on her or not. But it is understandable, because Ruoxi evoked some criticism, so I guess they wanted to avoid that. For example in MLSHR, 8th's wife MUST die first in order to justify HS and 8th's relationship because our female lead CANNOT be a home wrecker. Also, 8th Prince MUST be a douche by being the one who abandons and turns his back to our female lead in a very cruel way in order to justify female leads turning point towards another man, 4th Prince. Our female lead MUST NOT be a bitch by abandoning 8th Prince.

Whereas in the original version, it has always been Ruoxi who initiated the break up with 8th. They broke up pretty earlyish in the drama since there is a two year gap between her relationship with 8th and her relationship with 4th. She and 4th knew each other for more than 10 years before that actually "began" something together. Ruoxi broke up with 8th because 1). He was never completely honest with her, 2). Didn't really understood her well, 3). Deep down her heart, she wasn't ready to suffer his downfall with him together as he would not give up on his ambitions for the throne. She knew what will be waiting ahead of him. 4). As a girl from the 21st century, she knew that his household with multiple wives would eventually ruin their relationship throughout the years (one wife being her family's rival, another her own sister). Yes, a bit selfish our Ruoxi might be.. But Girl is realistic in putting herself above others first (until she met the one of course) and I love how each character in the original were neither completely the protagonist nor the antagonist, they were all flawed and everyone made choices that benefitted themselves. The bad ones have love deep down their hearts too, such as 9th, 8th's first wife Minghui and the Empress. The good ones have their dark and selfish side too, such as Ruoxi, 4th, Yu-tan etc. Ultimately, none of the princes would give up the throne for a woman... Yes, not even 4th Prince.

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I agree completely. As much as I like LJG, I'm disappointed that the focus seems to be so much on his character. One of the best thing about the other version is the fact that it's driven by the female lead; it's Ruoxi story and journey and she plays an active role in it.

Your comment about the need to have the heroine be likeable limiting her as a compelling character is spot on. And having love being the main thing that she's preoccupied with doesn't help either. Ruoxi was aware of how vulnerable she was and made some practical decisions to ensure her survival. Like you listed out above, practicality was a huge factor in her ending the relationship with 8th. Even with 4th whom she adored she eventually left him for very compelling reasons. It just wasn't one thing that drove her to leave, but a combination of reasons that are in line with how her characters was set up and developed. I like that she wasn't "all I need is love, nothing else is important." This applies to male characters as well. Yes being all about the girl is swoony and romantic, but it doesn't makes for a very interesting character

I hope that all the things that happen in this episode will result in changes in Su and she will have more agency and develop into a multifaceted/interesting character. This goes for Wook as well.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

That kind of complex logic will hurt these poor fangirl's hearts. :p

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

If I were WS and found who the real culprit behind this, I would intentionally marry the evil princess and proclaim to her ' I have given a title of Queen that you so desired yet I will make your life completely loveless in the caged palace and treat you very badly from now on'.

I have never rooted for Su and Wook. Coming from the painful experience that her best friend cheated with her BF, I did not know how she could handle her relationship with Wook. Wook is a cultured prince but because of this, he contemplates first and his action is tad too late to take a decisive decision. Thus he would not have protected Su even if his sister had not been involved with the plot.
I understand that Wook had to sacrifice Su in order to save his family. I just wish this action makes him think that he does not deserve Su and wish Su end up with a better person because she deserves him. But I guess he will be jealous of Soo furiously. What a small minded gentleman wook is.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Oh my... that music when Court Lady Oh is talking to Wook and serving the King tea is so good.

also WOOOK NOOOOO. nuff said. That hair pin throw and what it represents makes me sad. I mean Wook's killed people before and Su understood it, but this was pure cold blood to protect his conniving sister.

I still think that Wook and Su's relationship is sooo much more natural and organic as they both have feelings for each other. Su and So kind of feel way too heavily one-sided from So's side, and just because he keeps saving her is why Su will start to fall for him? I mean it's something to be grateful for but not something to change your love-focused mind on.

Su and Wook were always just happy together and it was a mutual thing, which makes it so much harder for me to accept that it won't be Wook and Su in the end.
(I mean the posters for the show kind of spoil the main relationship, but I was still rooting for Wook and Su)

0
3
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

also where is Eun?

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

so and soo have feelings for each other too, their friendship. love can growing out of friendship

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Although I am always team So, I felt the same way for Wook-Soo scenes. Wook was so romantic while Soo always had that I-am-so-into-him look in her eyes. But their relationship was ended smoothly and reasonably. The fact that Wook married Lady Hae makes me feel that love has never been a priority to him. Soo was attracted to Wook partly in the same way So was attracted to her. He was the first one offering her a helping hand and treated her gently while So threatened to kill her everytime they met ?. And on the surface, Wook is indeed the man in dream of all girls. He is gentle, knowledgable, romantic, good looking, and he is a prince.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

The moment Wook threw his hairpin to that scheming court lady's neck, it was all done. He had destroyed the only solid evidence, the only ticket to freedom for Soo. Without that, there was no way to prove Soo's innocence and Soo would eventually get executed.

Poor So even asked Wook to find the evidence because So trusted that Wook would defend Soo. And he promised him he would. Heh. He did though, only to destroy it moments later. Why am I not surprised of Wook failing to keep his promise? Just like every single promise he made for Soo.

At that moment, I realized that Soo wasn't Wook's first priority anymore. Covering up his sister's crime (and the throne?) was much more important than Soo's life.

Therefore I wasn't surprised that Wook didn't show up on what was supposed to be Soo's execution. He might feel guilty, knowing very well that he was the very reason she lost her only ticket to freedom and life.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

While I love this new episode, and the direction the show is taking, I’m still quite annoyed at the characterization of Su. I believe she is falling into the typical trap of a sacrificial heroine. Her role is to influence the people around her (ie. the princes) rather than be a fleshed out character with development. This episode, while centered around her acquittal, has little actually to do with her. We don’t see her torture scenes or any of her thoughts while in prison. Only the actions of the *princes* to save her, which change the trajectory of their lives, are shown on screen. She has little power or agency and all of the sass she should have carried over from the future is completely lost. Her character reminds of Mok Dan (the leading lady) from Gaksital. While she was a bad-ass spy and resistance fighter, her value was primarily defined by how it influenced the men around her to action.

Following this thought, relegating your main *female* heroine to serve as a catalyst (rather than fully developed human being) for your *male* heroes is a form of sexism that is so prevalent in kdramas. Women aren’t one-dimensional objects! They have feelings and layers! Can we please stop depicting women as tools that exist solely to aid men, and then masking this issue by "centering" the drama about the heroine's "journey"?

You also can totally see in this episode how little lessons/events add up to form Wang So’s reign as king. His relationship with his mother, his confrontation with his father, his scar are moments that will create the bigger picture of his reign.

0
4
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I approached this differently (above) but I think we share similar concerns.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

you know what's weird? hae soo is almost the most divisive character of the drama. for me she is a well written character, for others a one dimensional goryeo candy with senseless behaviour and decisions...
this is our cognitive dissonance about hae soo: too many expectations...

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I agree whole heartedly. I mentioned this elsewhere, but don't particularly like the characterisation of Su. I'm generally not fond of having romantic love as the be all and end all for a character. This is particularly true for female characters who are too often defined solely by their relationship to the male love interests. In this instance the focus has been pretty much on Su and her relationship to Wook and So - she doesn't seems to have much else going on outside of this. Like you, I don't really like that the end of her relationship with Wook was more due to him than a deliberate/conscious decision that she makes. I hope that this pattern won't be repeated and she will be given more agency in her coming relationship with So.

I can't quite put into words my reasons, but I don't really care for the way So-Su relationship has been developed. I think the fact that he refused to takes no for an answer and refused to give her space really bother me. And now with the way everything went down it seems like she'll turn to him because he's always there. I hope they'll give it some space and have her coming to that decision after careful consideration of the consequences.

To be fair to Su, both Wook and So seems to be driven by their romantic entanglement with her as well. It understandable for So, being the love starved doberman that he is, but I wish they have taken a different tactic with Wook.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Yes, while I like Hae Su, I do wish she had more character development.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

It's my first time commenting on here, usually I'm a silent reader :D But I couldn't help it this time and really wanted to pitch in my thoughts because this episode is everything and more that I wanted from this show. I can forgive all the stupidity so far by the production team with the editing and BG if they give out episodes like this in the future.

I think everyone here has already said everything I was thinking but I would like to point out one thing that I noticed being said everywhere which is the fact that - Wook has everything to lose while So has nothing to lose.
I feel that is sorta unfair because from the way I see it, the biggest difference between Wook and So has always been Loyalty. The reason So and Soo are made for each other is because they are both loyal to a fault, they have time and time again proved that they will give up everything for the people they love. Maybe its cause So has been so deprived of love that he values it so much or maybe it's just the way So as a person is that he has given 100% loyalty to the people he loves. Every time he has been pushed to choose between two things like the crown prince and his mother previously, he tried to the best of ability to save both and not just one person because for him he owed his loyalty to both of them.
Wook's loyalty has always been shaky, be it to Lady Hae or Soo, added to that is his burdens which provides him an excuse for his inability to be take a proper decision and stick to it. Had So been in Wook's position I believe he would have still somehow fought for Soo and wouldn't have just given up to his fate as quickly as Wook did.

I won't call Wook a coward neither would I call him brave for making a difficult choice, I find him weak for not being able to be true to the promises he made and always using the fact that he shouldering heavy burdens as a way out for not being truly loyal. I have been in a similar situation as Wook (not as dramatic :P ) where I had to give up something really important to me for the sake of my family so I understand him more better than I would in the case of So which is exactly why I find his character weak.
In life you will always be forced to choose and sacrifice but is something is really important for you then you will try in some way or another.

0
4
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

The reason So and Soo are made for each other is because they are both loyal to a fault, they have time and time again proved that they will give up everything for the people they love.

@Rina, glad that you made the move to post your insightful comments here. What you said struck a deep chord in me. Both So and Su (or modern Ha-jin) had been betrayed by people they loved and had been desolately cast aside to fend for themselves. This probably explains why when they encountered someone who treated them with utmost sincerity and genuine kindness, they appreciated its preciousness such that in turn, they would not hesitate to reciprocate that true love by sacrificing themselves.

Here's a very meaningful and thought-provoking quote from the Japanese Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba, which encapsulated the gist of what we've discussed:
Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.

0
3
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

@Pebble: Thank you for your warm welcome :)

Exactly, I agree with each and every word you said. Su and So have connection with each other that they would not be able to have with anyone else, they share similar experiences in life (after this episode, you can also add the experience of being physically tortured and locked up to that list) which leads them to understand each other much better than anyone else.
The prison scene in this episode for an example has so much left unsaid between them yet it was clear as day that they were more concerned about the other person than themselves. He was nearly falling over from the effects of the poison but still all he cares about is the fact that she is all alone, she is utterly broken and bloodied yet all she cares about is his health.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful quote which is truly quite apt for Su and So. It's their loyalty and devotion to the people they love that gives them the courage and strength to withstand anything.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I completely agree with @Rina in that So and Su are completely loyal to a fast, and so is Wook. I mean the choice he has to make - So or his family - is awful no matter what choice he makes. The fact that he gives up his love just proves how loyal he is to his family. I could honestly say that I would probably make the same decision he did in the moment.

So and Su are lucky because they have much less to lose by being loyal to each other. So has no "real" family, too busy trying to get him sent away, and same with Su (especially now that Lady Oh is gone).

For me, a lot of Su and So's relationship is less due to their personalities but more to outside influences. If Wook didn't have to protect his family or was as beloved, he could have saved Su. Would So have run to save So if he had the same family as Wook and had to choose? I don't know.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

So would have found a way to protect both his family and Su. I agree with Rina on that.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Why do I think it will be Wook who becomes the King and not So? All along I've thought that - even when Soo hallucinated So in that role. There's just something so manipulative about Wook. Maybe I need to run off and read Wikipedia to bone up on this family's succession. Whatever it is, My love for LJK brought me here and I'm SO glad I stayed. Scarlet Heart has earned a new place in the hearts of viewers. What a relief!

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

With how Wook has been so passive this whole show, I feel like Yeon-hwa has a better shot at becoming a king at this point lool.

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

It's too bad the queen's reign ended with Shilla.

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

I'm so in love with my Umbrella Prince! Was wondering when this scene would happen. It was super romantic in BBJX!

This was the best episode by far. I cried my eyes out!

Finally So and Soo can start their romance. So much for Wook wanting to make up for not loving Lady Hae. The WooSoo ship has sunk. Yes!

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Now I get it why this was entitled Moon Lovers and Wook's name is The Rising Sun. He is really a sun character, being the strength of the household and strength of Soo as well, etc., but So is the Moon, who will be there at Soo's darkest times, giving her light.

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

This is certainly the Best episode : Tears Overflow, So heartbreaking… :'(
Finally we've come to the turning point of this series, the long awaited change of heart and turnaround of events.

Hail to Grand General park for training our dear prince So to resist poison. Very good job there, if it were not for this training he must have died right away even if he is physically fit and stronger of all the princes.
So yes, thank you GGP for saving our dear prince life.

My heart breaks also for Wook as he was left with a devastating decision whether to save his family or Su. It is a very tough one, and I fully understand him choosing still his family despite knowing for a fact that it means losing and sacrificing the one person whom he cherished and love.
We can now only wait and see the progression of his character as his ambitious sister takes him to the promised throne.

I ams till in awe of court Lady Oh's bravest sacrifice out of love in saving Su. My heart cries out when the two of them speak together and bid their last farewells. This was really heartbreaking.
Grieving here also for the very untimely yet noble and heroic death of Court lady Oh.

And now, finally Su can felt the sincerity of prince So's affection for her. He was indeed his knight in shining armour, who will defy even the King's order to protect and save the very important person in his life.
He was willing to shed blood and die for someone he considers his, and is willing to give up everything he has in the name of Love. Aw, LJK you are just totally awesome.

Its time for you now Su to make up your mind. See for yourself, feel in your heart who really loves you. Time to take off that bracelet and embrace the lovely pin Prince So gave you.

Cheers to the whole SH team for coming up with this perfect conflict to spin things around, everything was believable and it definitely hit the RIGHT mark.
This exceeded my expectation. Daebak!

0
0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Does anyone know what the ratings were for this episode. ?

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

7,5

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Thanks! Im glad they are going up :)

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

There is an internet meme doing rounds

If I received a won for every promise Wook didn’t keep I would be a chaebol by now.

:)

0
5
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Where is the like button when I need it?;p

0
1
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

☆ (I guess that will be my like symbol)

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Lol.

That's the thing about Wook though. I understand his situation, I do, and I even have some sympathy for him given that he was manipulated into having to choose between his family and Su. But the thing is, he MADE that choice, so there you go.

Wook hasn't ever put his money where is mouth is when it comes to Su, and now that his inaction indirectly caused the death of Su's beloved Lady Oh, I don't think there's any going back for them.

With that said, Su's been in love with him for a hella long time. It would be bad writing to have her fall out of love with him immediately. The process is going to be as painful as it was easy for her to fall for him in the first place.

I just hope that in the coming episodes, she gets as fully invested in Wang So as he is in her. I was promised an epic romance damnit, and it better come with a side of them still being besties too. Less of depressed and frightened Su in future, please, I know she's been through a terrible trauma but I'm really missing her spark and spunk. I cheered when she was back to lecturing him in her jail cell, I've missed that side of her immensely.

0
2
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

☆

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

+1

I also miss her cheerful self :(

0
reply

* Register or Login (Get credit for your great comments)

Required fields are marked *

Join our newsletter ♥

Editors' Digest

Featured Videos

Linky



    Currently Airing

    Prime-Time Shows This Week
    Monday-Tuesday (September 9-10) Wednesday-Thursday (September 11-12) Weekend (September 13-15)