Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Loving is dangerous when power decides who deserves to be happy.
4,7
Loving is dangerous when power decides who deserves to be happy.
4,7
Go Ha-jin is a young woman who, during a solar eclipse, suffers an accident and travels back in time, awakening in the body of Hae Soo in the Goryeo era. Inevitably, she becomes entangled in palace intrigues as she forms strong bonds with the princes of the Wang dynasty, the emperor’s sons. As she becomes more involved in their lives, Hae Soo finds herself torn between love, friendship, and duty. The choices she makes will not only affect her own fate, but also determine the future of the empire.
One of those series you keep putting off — everyone talks about it, you’ve seen hundreds of spoilers, and yet you can’t watch it because it isn’t available in your region. Then, suddenly, for its tenth anniversary, Viki decides to release it in your country. I couldn’t have received better news. Desperate to watch it, but with a heart nowhere near ready for what was coming. Weeks have passed since we finished it, and I don’t think we’ve fully recovered yet.
Without a doubt, this is one of those series that leaves a mark on you from episode one. Everything is brightness, splendour, and joy in the first half: stunning cinematography, beautiful sets, exquisite costumes, magnificent palaces, and a cast that feels almost heavenly — every prince charming and likeable. They are merely the prelude to the dark and cruel second half.
Carefully thought out and planned like a military strategy, the series makes you fall in love with every character without realising it, only to hit you hard and emotionally strip you bare in the second half.
The QKdramas team needed several cups of coffee to discuss and decipher the family relationships (we’ve included a little diagram below).
Once you understand the family ties, you’ll have your favourites and your most hated characters. As the series progresses, the characters develop, and every prince has their moment to shine and play a crucial role in the story.
I can’t deny that I was completely captivated by the Thirteenth Prince — a perfect 10 out of 10 from start to finish. He never falters, never stops, never bends.
Sadly, I must say that our beloved female lead, despite having some very strong moments, also had others that left me feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. For that reason, I’d rate her performance an 8 out of 10.
This series is based on real historical events, and some characters did exist in real life. SPOILER ALERT 🔔: after the death of Emperor Taejo, the throne was inherited by Wang Mu; however, he died of natural causes, not assassination. Wang Yo then ascended the throne, largely due to pressure from his maternal clan. His reign was short, and there was not as much rivalry between brothers as the series suggests. He voluntarily abdicated the throne in favour of his biological brother, Wang So, and later died. Wang So became the fourth emperor of Goryeo and ruled for 26 years. He married his half-sister, Queen Daemok (called Yeon Hwa in the series), and is known as the most powerful and reformist monarch of the Goryeo kingdom. His eldest son ruled for six years. Other princes in the series, such as Wang Uk and Wang Jung, also existed historically, though they were less significant. Wang Eun, Wang Baek-ah, and Wang Won are largely fictional or loosely inspired by minor princes. Hae Soo, however, is a completely fictional character.
The cast of this series is absolutely incredible — all the actors are well-known and truly shine in their performances. Below, you’ll find a section dedicated to each of them.
At the beginning of the series, the imperial family tree can be quite confusing. That’s why we’ve included an explanatory image, so if you have any doubts, you can easily check it here.
Lee Joon-gi portrays the Fourth Prince in one of the most heartbreaking performances in Moon Lovers. He brings to life a deeply tormented prince, broken from within, and does so with absolute commitment. His dedication is undeniable, but what truly stands out is an emotional depth that reaches straight through the screen.
From the very first moment, his presence is overwhelming: strong, determined, without doubts or hesitation. Wang So knows exactly what he wants and never takes a single step back. That iron will is what sets him apart from all the other princes. He does not compete — he dominates.
He fills the screen. He breaks your heart. You want to comfort him, walk beside him, protect him on his journey. A perfect ten. Flawless.
For me, Lee Joon-gi is so powerful and commanding that it hardly matters who shares the scene with him — no one manages to match his intensity. No woman truly reaches his level. And yes, IU tries… but even so, she does not quite get there. To stand beside Wang So requires a will of steel, and Hae Soo simply does not have it.
She falters through a lack of loyalty, a lack of honesty, her constant doubts and, above all, her weakness. In a brutally harsh historical context, where failure to defend yourself means death — palace intrigues, punishments, torture — Wang So survives through sheer strength. He was raised fighting wolves. He has the power of a puma. And she… she has the innocence of Candy Candy.
A poor partner for a life like his. No matter how much her character matures, she always lags ten steps behind. She never becomes his equal, his support, his other half. And so everything ends the way it does: because of the protagonist’s lack of strength of character.
And yes, there comes a point when you feel the urge to shout at her and say: you lost him, you failed him, you abandoned him! Now you can cry… because you did not know how to fight for what was yours.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo became a legendary K-drama for its beauty, tragedy, and emotional impact — the kind of series that stays with you long after the final episode ends.
It draws you in without you realising it, only to deliberately break your heart when power, ambition, and fate take control. It makes you fall in love with every character without warning, forces you to choose favourites, puts your emotions to the test, and reminds you that in a world ruled by power, love is never safe and happiness always comes at a price.
Ultimately, it is an intense emotional journey through love, loss, loyalty, and sacrifice, crafted with stunning visuals, unforgettable characters, and a story brave enough to hurt you. It may not leave you happy, but it will leave a mark — and that alone makes it a series everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime.
I really love it.
All the actors are incredible and shine in their performances. They are all well known and deserve a 10/10 rating.
No matter how tough the series is, deep down we loved it and waited all day to see the next episode.
Considering that the series is based on real events and reflects how hard life was at that time, we found the ending appropriate. The conclusion is realistic, unlike other K-dramas that opt for idealised endings.
4,7
