Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Waiting for season 2!

November 13, 2020November 13, 2020 ~ dramaindna ~ Leave a comment

My journey with this drama started with the OST- For You by EXO-CBX. I am a big fan of EXO’s drama OSTs, they always do a great job. Their soundtracks are heartfelt, clean, gut-wrenching, and emotionally vocal. But can I just say I fell entirely for this one? So much so I decided to watch the series, without knowing about the cast, the plot. Just based on a single OST. Call it blind love but it made me wonder. It never happened before. Sure, actors, songs can attract me to a drama but before preceding, I will always get my nails into the plot. There was so much going on in this one OST that I decided to find out, maybe I am into love-triangles/pentagon or whatever this one was (Certainly twisted).

The story is about a 25-year-old girl Go Ha Jin who saves a young boy from drowning and is transported to the Goryeo era as Hae Soo. Goryeo is under the rule of Tajeo whose children, the princes, Hae Soo befriends quickly. She slowly starts to develop feelings for the 8th Prince Wang Wook followed by the 4th prince Wang So.

Can I start off with the trademark scene? When she drowns and the eclipse of the sun takes us to Goryeo, to Wang So. The concept is great and the transition is executed well. It defines the title ‘Moon Lovers’. However, I am still not sure of the meaning behind the entire title, I tried to search everywhere but nowhere was it literally defined so I came up with my own. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, So you get Moon Lovers from the turning of eclipse or the fact they are destined, you get Scarlet Heart either because it derived from the Chinese drama of same name or novel but I guess the meaning was a love story covered with blood and you get Ryeo from Goryeo Dynasty. (Your welcome!)Spoiler Alert!There is so much I liked about this drama and so much that I didn’t. I am still confused about how I feel about the drama overall. I regret watching it? Yes! Would I regret it if I hadn’t watched it? Definitely Yes! By now I have watched this drama at least 3-4 times which is rare for me. And what’s surprising is every time it left me feeling desolate. Coming to the things I don’t like about the drama first. I failed to understand Queen Yoo’s hatred towards Wang So until the end. Initially, he felt a disgrace to her because of his title ‘Wolf dog’ and his deeds but I felt she could have patched up on her deathbed. I felt sorry for the way Wang So was treated by everyone except Ji Mong, Crown Prince Moo, Baek-ah, and Hae Soo. His mother is a big reason why he turned out that way. There were too many innocent lives that were run down because of power play. Court Lady Oh Soo-yeon’s death was the most heartbreaking. I simply could not understand the marriage arrangement between Wang So and King Moo’s daughter, he should have prevented it, it was way too awkward. (Although that gets resolved towards the end). Prince Wang Eun and his wife’s death was unjust and uncalled for. The drama slowly transcends into a tragic one, we see characters and their principles change, we see betrayal and bloodshed. I feel only Hae Soo’s, Lady Hae, Prince Eun, and Court Lady Oh Soo-yeon stayed true to their character.

Although others were scared of Wang So, I could clearly see a vulnerable boy simply hiding his pain and looking for genuine love and acceptance from his family. Post the rain ritual and removal of his mask, he seemed to showcase an evil side, a hunger for the throne. This, ironically, made me fear him more than when he wore a mask.

I could see Wang So’s constant tussle to hold onto his past self of principles who deeply loves his family and his present self who wanted to rise to the throne at any cost. Eventually, we all know what conquers. He struggled to hold onto Hae Soo and it is one of the reasons he wanted to become the King. I struggled with him too. What broke my heart was when he accepted in front of Hae Soo that he wanted both the throne and her. It made us realize that she was no longer enough. However, Wang So and Wang Eun were the only ones honest with her.

Hae Soo, too, struggles to control the history and her wavering heart torn between Wang So and Wang Wook. Something I really like about this drama is Hae Soo’s character. She is naive but fierce. Even though she was captured by the. Since For You is my favorite soundtrack I wish it featured more in the series and not just towards the end/ preview. I like how each person ends up paying for their deeds in some way and things come to a circle. The way Prince Jung stuck to his words, took care of Hae Soo until the end without forcing his love was admirable and something I had actually hoped from Wang So.

I like how the scenes have been romantically drafted with a touch of historical vibe. The horse scene at the beginning of episode 2 is one of my favorites. It is executed well and Lee Joon-gi’s gaze is to kill.

To be honest all interactions between Hae Soo and Wang So until episode 9 are innocent and sincere. An all-time favorite scene that actually gave me goosebumps has to be when Prince Wang So protected Hae Soo against all odds. This moment was defining.

The chemistry between Lee Joong-gi and IU is unbelievable but that is more so because they are Wang So and Hae Soo, if you know what I mean. I feel there is a character made for every actor out there, and that is something the world will always know them for, no matter how many new characters they pick up. Wang So is one such character for Lee Joong-gi, I cannot imagine any other actor doing this role and I will always see him as Wang So. The cast is strong but the chemistry of the lead takes it on another level. The feeling of unrequited love, yearning, and longing is spread out throughout the drama (in the end everyone is left wanting and wishing for something) leaving us even more palpable.

If we have to discuss the soundtrack, can I just say Moon Lovers has one of the best soundtracks in the Kdrama world? Almost all the songs are my favorite. For You, Say Yes by Loco and Punch, Can You Hear My Heart by Epik High (ft Lee Hi), All With You by Taeyeon, My Love by Lee Hi, I Remember You by I.O.I, Be With You by AKMU, and many more. All songs are pretty great and catchy. Even if they are modern songs imposed on an old era, they still fit the central theme of love. I also love the background tracks such as Wing of Goryeo and Gesture of Resistance that fit the political backdrop and old era vibe. The music is soulful and so meaningful to the story, it’s heartening. The soundtrack will be forever etched in my heart as one of the best.

This drama was one of the very few that made me feel all sorts of emotions. I was excited, I was sad, I was happy, I cried a bit, I was so nervous to know what happened next especially in the last few episodes. I had my hands in my hair trying to figure the twisted plot and ending. I never felt like this before. I was heartbroken, I was regretting the decision to watch it with all my might because I thought I would never be the same again. At the same time, I desperately hoped for next season. And it wasn’t like a very outstanding drama, to be honest. Nothing like the best ever, but it made me feel all these emotions like never before. I believe if a drama can do that then it surely is a good one as they succeeded in what they set out to do.

This drama was my first historical ever, and it has changed my perception of historical dramas. I can’t say that I will watch all but dramas like Scarlet Heart would definitely make it to my list. All I can say is you will regret watching this one but regret even more if you haven’t.

IU had posted on her Instagram a few deleted seconds from the ending scene where we can see a man giving a handkerchief to Go Ha Jin. We, all Moon Lover fans, desperately hope it was a reincarnation of Wang So and that forms the beginning of season 2. What made us more hopeful for a second season was its adaption, the Chinese drama named ’Scarlet heart’, had one too. Lee Joon Gi, we are still holding onto your hint of season 2. (Four years have passed! Where is it?)

IU had posted on her Instagram a few deleted seconds from the ending scene where we can see a man giving a handkerchief to Go Ha-jin. We, all Moon Lover fans, desperately hope it was a reincarnation of Wang So and that forms the beginning of season 2. What made us more hopeful for a second season was its adaption, the Chinese drama named ’Scarlet heart’, had one too. Lee Joon-gi, we are still holding onto your hint of season 2. (Four years have passed! Where is it?)

Why watch it?

If you are a fan of any of the cast members, IU, Lee Joon-gi , Nam Joo-hyuk, Kang Ha-neul, Baekhyun, Ji-soo or any other
If you like historical dramas
If you are into romantic Kdramas
If you like dark dramas with grey characters
If you like the drama it’s adapted from
Amazing storyline and ensemble cast
Great OST

Click here to watch with English subtitles

Comment down below if you liked this review and also tell me which drama I should review next.

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KDrama Review| Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

May 16, 2020May 18, 2020 ~ dramaindna ~ Leave a comment

What happens when a “peanut size” (his words, not mine) woman with super strength tries to save the world? You get a historic drama that challenges the conventional roles.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is one such drama. Now, there are many woman empowering series or dramas with strong woman characters. However, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is a little different and here’s why.

In a country like South Korea that has developed so much in no time, gender roles are still much traditional. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon features a woman character physically stronger than her male counterparts. Where most woman are projected as a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued, this one comes as a change of air where the male leads standby and watch things unfold (not always but that’s a start).

The story is about Bong-Soon who was born with superhuman like strength. Her strength is hereditary and passed along only to the women in her family. She dreams of creating a video game with herself as the main character. Along with the CEO of her company and her old friend, she uncovers a series of woman being kidnapped in her neighbourhood.

Coming to the characters, Do Bong Soon has literally become one of my all time favourite characters. She know her priorities straight. Maybe it’s because of her strength that she takes on things and beats up guys without batting an eye. But it’s because she is Bong Soon she never gives up, even when the world calls out her worth and intelligence. Bong Soon stands up against the wrong, stand by her friends, protects her loved ones but also exposes her vulnerable side from time to time. Such a strong character placed inside a tiny woman makes it all the more charming.

An Minhyuk- this guy is a dream. Everything about him is lovable, his righteousness, his fun suave office behaviour, his passionate love, and even his anger and concern for Bong Soon. This drama was definitely the most cutest one, I couldn’t stop smiling whenever I would witness Min Hyuk swooning over Bong Soon. It made me feel all the butterflies in my stomach. Park Hyung Sik admitted to having a crush on Park Bo Young and it so evident in the drama. He wants her to take the main frame and be the main character. What I loved the most is that there are instances where he wants to ‘be the man’ and protect Bong Soon but there are also instances where he ‘man’s up’ and realises her strength. He respects her family, her decisions, her space, and the fact that she is special. Infact, it is her abilities and her good heart that makes him fall deeper for her. (What a guy! Do they manufacture them anymore?)

Gook Doo’s character tries to keep a balance between progressive actions and regressive thoughts. A macho man with a lot of pride. Initially, cold with his love interest and later somewhat a Tsundere. He tries to protect Bong Soon like a fragile leaf who possibly can’t take care of herself. His views on her being a ‘tiny little woman’ don’t falter much even after finding out about her strength. His character provides all the conventional elements in the drama. I love the fact that he did not get hung up on his girlfriend seeing someone else considering he had feelings for someone too. And is actually cool about crossing paths with his ex and even protecting her. We find his true strength in setting aside his feelings for Bong Soon and maintaining his friendship with her.

The whole Bong Soon family, Secretary Gong, Head of planning department Oh Dol-ppyeo and Baek Tak gang were great additions to the drama. They complemented the drama well. In fact, the whole cast did great acting.

Now, I also want to talk about something interesting here. This series is one of the few where the guy or his pride isn’t hurt in acknowledging that his woman is stronger than him and can protect him better than himself. Not only does he acknowledge it, he embraces it!

Korea still isn’t entirely open on the idea of LGBT but the show has given full blown screen time to bromance between ‘Gook Doo’ and ‘Min Hyuk’. Not only this, they also featured a gay character and his interaction with the rest of characters is both fun and interesting.

The series doesn’t pit woman against each other. Well, not really!

Image Credit: jediprincess.wordpress.com

I love how Bong Soon’s parents take care of Kyung Shim like she is their own kid, and the lengths Do Bong Soon goes to just to save her friend. She even backs of and subdues her feelings for Gook Doo, because he has a woman. This line of plot had a great message, that it isn’t impossible to get over someone you thought you never could. If you actually shift your eyes around a better door will open.

Another important message is via Bong Soon’s will to help out the weak and abused with her power. She makes a faithful following out of the drop out kids who leave their ganster like antics. They actually start cleaning up the neighborhood and try to protect Bong Soon even from Min Hyuk. (How cute!)

There’s hardly anything that I don’t like. Maybe (just maybe!) the Bak Tae story development could have reduced screen time especially around the whole turning into a monk thing. But I loved that nevertheless, it was funny.

The soundtrack is amazing and so in-sync with the story. Be it the cute song Heartbeat, the beautifully mellow You are my Garden or the fun and upbeat Double Trouble Couple and Pit-a-Pat I love them all. Most of the main tracks are sung from a woman’s perspective which is understandable. Super Power Girl should be declared a girl’s anthem!

The wedding scene was so good and deserves a special mention. You can easily see how Park Hyung Sik is actually swooning over Park Bo Young.

I loved the fact that they end up with two girls, who have Bong Soon’s super strength. (Ah! Poor Min Hyuk!)

Not only would I say, get a guy like Ahn Hye Min who looks at you and treats you the way he treats Do Bong Song. I would also say get a girl like Do Bong Song who would love you with all her heart and protect you from any danger. (Don’t mind the tiny injuries)

All in all, it was an amazing one-of-a-kind drama that I have actively watched more than once or twice. (And that doesn’t happen often!)

Why watch it?

If you are a Park Bo Young, Park Hyung Sik or Kim Jisoo fan
If you like woman centric Kdramas
If you are into rom-coms
If you are into action and thriller
Amazing storyline and ensemble cast
Great OST
If you like ageyo, cute couple type dramas

To watch with English subtitles, click here.

Comment down below if this review was helpful and your views on the drama. Also suggest dramas that I should view and review next.

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How to pick a drama to binge watch: Do’s and Don’ts

December 7, 2019April 20, 2020 ~ dramaindna

Have you ever started watching a drama and after a few episodes started regretting your decision?

Well, you are not the only one! And if you are a person like me who needs to see things through then it’s just a sweet pill you try your best to swallow.

It’s not like everytime you pick a drama you grow a liking to it or like every aspect of a drama you love. However, there are some things you could do and avoid to dig a drama that you will fall in love with:

The Do’s

1. Research, Research, and Research!

It goes without saying that for one to decide what they like or dislike, they have to research about it. Checking for potholes and plotlines is great way to figure out if you will like the drama or if it’s worth your time and effort. You can look for summary, cast, trivia, any related news, etc on various websites.

2. Casting Couch (Picking your bias in the industry)

If the cast of drama is enough to make you stick to it or if you are a die hard fan of an actor/actress (not necessarily the main leads), this trick can do wonders for you. I have watched dramas staring the same male or female lead back to back. It helps me analyse their method, reminisce their different characters together and even aid in moving on.

3. Pick a mix of genre

Picking up only one genre drama or making your watchlist entirely based on a single genre can get monotonous. Instead try and pick a mix. For instance: Romance coupled with action and thriller is a personal favourite. You can also pick up single genre dramas for instance, hard core romance and then pick up a family comedy as your next just to keep yourself hooked.

4. Decide: Ratings Vs. Instinct

Public opinion obviously brings a big consent for watchlist. That being said, it may not apply to everyone, I for instance rarely go for ratings and rather base my decision on instincts.

5. Watch Scenes/ Short Clips

You can test the water for it’s depth via this method. Just watch some episode clips or scenes on YouTube. This is my go to method. You might come across a cliff hanger/climax scene as well. Therefore, this method is only advised for people who dont mind spoilers. If a 2-3 minutes clip is able to make your heart race, in all likelihood the series would too.

6. Ask for a personal recommendation

Sharing dramas with your friends could make up for interesting conversation. Your friends know your likes and dislikes, therefore, their recommendations may not only save you time but even turn out to be more accurate to your choice too.

The Don’ts:

1. Giving too many breaks

This is a bummer. If you take watching dramas seriously enough, giving breaks in between becomes somewhat a no-no as you have to pick on where you left off and it also breaks the flow of the story. I have watched dramas stretched over a long span of time, what happened is either I had to watch the previous episode again or I wasn’t as interested as I would have been if I binged watched.

2. Going by the trend

Many have this habit of watching shows merely out of peer pressure even if they come to like it later. GOTS and FRIENDS are popular example. I for one have not been able to stick to trends, it turns I mostly tapped into markets that only later on become mainstream. This one is entirely a personal choice though. You could pick your watchlist based on trends or simply what suits your taste.

3. Judging by the length

The length of dramas was never really a question for me and shouldn’t be unless you are time bound or going off the internet. I have seen dramas with length of 10-11 episodes timing less than 30 minutes and dramas with 70-80 episodes of over two hours each! Both have entertained me their best. Many asian dramas like kdramas, thai dramas and cdramas could be finished in anything between 15-50 hours.

Choosing from an endless sources and titles can be daunting task. Many a times I simply end up browsing and watching none. This list is neither rigid nor absolute. It is just to help you pick out a drama that you could enjoy.

Happy Binge Watching!

Romance is a bonus book: Kdrama Review

October 2, 2019November 19, 2019 ~ dramaindna ~ 1 Comment

I finished watching the drama Romance is a bonus book. I started watching the drama after I saw a few clips of the actor, Lee Jong Suk that caught my attention. And also the title was something that really caught my eye. It was different, catchy and mysterious. This show has been the longest Korean show for me in terms of the time I took to finish it. It is beyond 1 month, not because it was boring but because I was busy. But yes, stretching it over such long period may have made it a little less interesting for me.

The story is about a woman named Kang Dan-i who is desperately trying to comeback as an advertising copywriter after years of break. Her best friend is Cha Eun-ho who is a successful author and a senior editor at a publishing company. During her difficult phase, Cha Eun-ho tries to help Dan-i overcome her personal and professional obstacles. Slowly both realise their underlying feelings for each other and how romance is just a bonus on their everlasting friendship.

The first 2 episodes were really really interesting. Like I said not a lot Kdramas start of with a bang for me. I need to dig deep into the story first. But this one did it for me. The actress has played the character absolutely beautifully. She feels irreplaceable (although I don’t know a ton of kdrama actresses).
The first few episodes were so realistic, I could actually relate to her story and her struggles to make her comeback, wanting to do something for herself after a long time. It was touching. When I learnt about how the two of them became friends, I thought that Eun-ho should have done a lot more. (Spoiler Alert!) I mean the person saved your life, made you a successful writer. You should be indebted.
I realised later that not only did he do a lot for her, he thought a lot for her too. A guy or a friend may do a lot for you but they may not always think for you. This made Eun-ho different.

Anyhow, the show in general made me learn a lot about books, what goes into making them, behind the scenes of publishing. It made me realise it’s not as easy as it seems. And also I had a new found respect for books even the ones I don’t like. There is so much backstory to a book and so many people involved, it is actually matter of life for some people. The deadlines and how people relentlessly work for it like it’s their baby. This is writer’s gold.

The marketing ideas discussed are unique and something I haven’t seen, if not new. I really loved them, it was an eye opener. There is an epilogue at the end of the episode which includes quotes and captions by the characters. This in my opinion is such a nice way to kind of take the story forward or reflect on something in past but from a different perspective. The comic scenes induced in between are not so subtle but they do make you smile if not laugh. Something’s however were highlighted more than necessary like the writer’s story, it kind of became more important than the characters itself. The protagonist’s child was dropped from the picture altogether only to be talked of at the end, which gives it a round end but does not look realistic. It makes me wonder if she talked to her child the whole time? Not even told her daughter about her boyfriend?
I really like how they have used the ‘Moon is Beautiful’ phrase. How Eun-ho used it to convey I love you to Dan-i. How they even used it to thank the viewers for watching the show. It reminds me of the phrase ‘I purple you’ from BTS.

I am not a big fan of ost from drama. It wasn’t something I listened to again and again. And for some reason unbeknownst to me, I kept picturing Dan-i and Eun-ho more as best friends than lovers, maybe because their friendship was real solid and enduring.

I liked the ending it was really soft and deep. It talked about how we should be like a book and the book we are may not be liked by some but it will also be loved by some. Be a book for someone.

All in all, it was a great drama with a good and different storyline. If you like thoughtful dramas, books, or are struggling professional, this one might just be for you. It definitely makes up on my must watch list if not the top ones.

The drama teaches us that life is about giving second chances even to yourself.

Why Watch it?

If you like bestfriend to lovers dram theme
If you are a Lee Jong-Suk fan
If you are a Lee Na-young fan as she has comeback with a bang
To explore friendships, books and life
If you wish to watch something deep and thoughtful along with a bit of humour

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