MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO
It is amazing that Wang So had effortlessly swept Hae Soo into
his arms and subsequently settled her on his stallion.
The viewers are convinced that the Fourth Prince is a chivalrous
knight-in-shining armour as fate had placed him there on the road to rescue the
young damsel in distress. They expect him to lock eyes with Hae Soo and then, swoon at her. But, who would have expected
that the Fourth Prince and Hae Soo would be on a collision course in their
first meeting?
THE TWIST IN THE TALE. Although it was common knowledge in Goryeo that the Fourth Prince was a barbaric beast, the 21st century girl was totally blur about it. The Fourth Prince, like a wolfdog,
arched his head to stare at Hae Soo with his searching gaze. The intensity of
his gaze at such close proximity almost suffocated her. But, being from the
21st century, the initially bewildered lass survived the initial
shock and regarded her hero’s enigmatic gaze unflinchingly. But, they do not
speak.
A dangerous glint lit his eyes. For some unaccountable reason,
and to everyone’s consternation, Wang So deftly knocked her off his stallion
and took off. The push was dramatic and everything was over in a second. The
poor girl had been unceremoniously dumped; she found herself sprawled on the
ground.
The audience is stunned. Everyone is wrong about Hae Soo’s hero
in black hanbok.
If Wang So had been struggling against his wild instincts, it
is clear that savagery had triumphed.
Hae Soo rose to the challenge. It was time that Goryeon horsemen
learned some manners. Leaping to her feet, the spunky twenty-first century
girl yelled for him to wait.
Intrigued by her unprecedented boldness, the brutish Fourth
Prince, with a fearsome reputation, made a U-turn. She rushed up to him and caught hold of the reins of his horse. His whole attitude was one of tense, arrogant expectancy.
Which courageous, assertive and outspoken girl of integrity
would let a man with such unchivalrous manners off so easily?
Hae Soo bore a startling resemblance to a fishwife when she
started berating him loudly. Was she a bag that he could simply flick off his
horse? The modern girl had forgotten herself; she was in 10th
century Songak, not 21st century Seoul. Had she known that he was the
infamous savage Fourth Prince who was cruel to man and beast alike, she would
have meekly accepted her fate.
The handsome prince cocked his head at her. The smirk and disdain, which reached his eyes, betrayed his contempt for her. To add
insult to injury, he nudged the stallion’s head in her direction. Her face was
just a mere few centimetres from the horse’s muzzle. Its breath was stinky
and foul.
Quite encouraged by her startled reaction, the savage Goryeo
warrior made a show of male power and dominance. Wang So’s diminished
conscience was obvious when he pulled hard at the reins of his magnificent brown
stallion so that it reared menacingly.
A strangled gasp escaped Hae Soo’s lips as she fell to the
ground. But, Hae Soo had the clarity of mind to resist gawking at its belly.
Before its hooves came crashing down, she had already scrambled to safety.
“Blimey, what a narrow escape!’, you’d have exclaimed. Methinks
she had a crash course on quick-thinking.
A lightning-quick reflex, which had saved her, was certainly a
valuable asset in Goryeo.
A smirk flickered on Wang So’s mouth and his black eyes were blazing
with savagery as he galloped away.
As Hae Soo staggered to her feet, a kindly peasant lady restrained
her. She was told to hold her tongue. It was pointed out that she had
offended the Fourth Prince. It was useless and even dangerous to reproach someone
who was as barbaric as him.
Hae Soo had tempted fate. It left a bitter taste in her mouth. The
realisation that she was in the black books of an important member of the
royal family came too late.
What lesson could she draw from this disturbing experience?
Restraint. But, Hae Soo was not a fast learner. It did not dawn on her that she
was just a defenceless Goryeo damsel in an ancient kingdom without any hard
and fast rules.
Despite his tardiness, Wang So was unapologetic when he arrived
for the meeting with his siblings. He made a grand entrance by kicking the
door open and then made himself comfortable by placing his booted feet on the
table.
It was not long before a hilarious public fight
broke out between Hae Soo and Wang Eun, the Tenth Prince outside Wang Wook’s mansion.
Wang Eun had been caught peeping
on Chae Ryung, Hae Soo’s maid and Hae Soo had demanded an apology from him.
The Tenth Prince, who thought he was above the law, refused. He felt that she
had no right to sit in judgement on the son of Taejo.
Locking horns with the assertive
young lady over the apology, the egoistical Tenth Prince got into a vicious fight with
her. Being bigger and taller than Hae Soo, Wang Eun was able to
topple her and wrestle her to the ground.
But, the indignant young lady was not one to quake in her
dainty shoes. They were soon tearing each other to pieces. When it came to
the crunch, she did not chicken out.
Undignified as it might be, Hae Soo did not hesitate to bang her forehead
against the Tenth Prince’s forehead! The infantile prince squealed in pain.
The hilarious fight makes viewers hard pressed not to snicker.
The childish pair provides the much-needed comic relief in the otherwise
serious drama.
By this time, all the royal siblings had emerged from the mansion
and were witnesses to the unruly fight of the Goryeo teenagers. The ungainly Tenth
Prince groaned in pain. The Fourth Prince was faintly amused; he knew that Wang Eun had finally met his match in that fight.
Every young royal and palace servant knew the pair had become a
laughing stock in the palace.
Raising her hand to sock Wang Eun across the face once again
for his impertinence and persistent refusal to apologise, Hae Soo was stunned
when Wang So seized her wrist in mid-flight. No words passed between them. It
was his opportunity to teach the insolent young lady another lesson on self-restraint.
When everything had calmed down, Hae Soo followed the Fourth
Prince when he left the place. When he turned, she drew herself to her full
height and told him off for siding with his ill-behaved half-brother. She not
only demanded that he apologise to her for his earlier brutal act on the road
but also get Wang Eun to apologise to her as well.
She admonished him, ‘The
higher your position in life, the more you should care about justice!’ Wang So mocked her. He agreed to apologise
but after hearing his apology, she must be willing to die. The appearance
of Lady Hae, her cousin, saved her from responding to his threat.
Lady Hae was displeased with Hae Soo's unbecoming moral conduct. She brought her young cousin to the temple grounds to reflect on her behaviour that had gotten her into trouble time and again.
The older woman pointed to two doltap or
stacks of stones in the palace grounds. She explained that Queen Hwangbo had
made them for her two children, Wang Wook and Yeon Hwa.
Lady Hae confided that she, too, had set up one
to pray for Hae Soo’s well-being.
Every time a visit is made to the doltap,
a stone or two would be added on top. Each one represents a prayer. The doltap is
part of Buddhist culture.
The Fourth Prince made another
visit to his mother’s quarters in the Damiwon Palace. Wang So neither noticed the
presence of Choi Jin Mong nor his younger half-siblings who were hanging
around the place.
The Fourth Prince’s grim demeanour and determined steps aroused
their curiosity and they stuck their ears to the wall to eavesdrop on his
conversation with his family.
Wang So entered his mother’s room unannounced. His two blood brothers,
Wang Yo, the Third Prince and Wang Jung, the Fourteenth Prince were happily
engaged in conversation with their very attentive mother. He might have been
burning with envy at the intimate and loving way she smiled at his brothers.
Tension filled the air when they
looked up at him.
Wang So steeled himself forward to greet Queen Yoo. For her
benefit, he first put on a smile and braced himself for her icy response. Then,
he prostrated before her, not as a filial son but like a lowly servant. Instead
of sitting cross-legged on the floor like his blood brothers, he was sitting on his heels. It gave the impression that he was not a family member but an
inferior foreign envoy.
The air grew tense. He had to tread cautiously lest he
irritated his mother. It was as if he was treading on eggshells.
Creepy things were crawling out of the woodwork. The mouth of
Wang So’s cold-hearted older brother was dripping contempt and scorn for him.
Ignoring Wang So, the Third Prince asked his mother if she had
heard of a wolfdog in Songak. It seemed the tale about an ugly dog was doing
the rounds in Goryeo. Wang Yo continued to heap abuse on his younger brother.
‘They say it is awful to look at and it
is worse than a wolf or dog.’ Wang Yo’s malicious intention was
crystal-clear.
The Fourth Prince was unintimidated by his brother’s slur but, he was not going to take it lying down. Although Wang So’s lips
trembled a little, he did not miss a heartbeat with his rejoinder ‘They say it is from Shinju, don’t they?’
The conflict had cast a shadow over the atmosphere. The scene
bristled with tension and ill-will. If Wang So was hurt, he tried hard not
show it. His feelings were reined in.
But, viewers feel nauseated with the sudden gush of vitriol.
Queen Yoo, then, dropped the cruel bombshell, ‘You no longer need to visit me while you’re
here.’ Then, suddenly, without mincing her words, she dismissed him.
Wang So was hurt; he probably felt his whole body sag. They had
not seen each other for two years and yet, his mother couldn’t stand another
minute with him in her presence. Queen Yoo refused to acknowledge that she
had three sons.
There was a cold air of detachment about her. She cawed that if
he stayed longer than necessary, his adoptive mother would miss him.
Wang So seemed optimistic when he informed his mother that he
planned on staying a little bit longer this time around. He had hoped that she
would allow him to stay with his brothers in the palace.
But, she loudly rebuked him, stating in no uncertain terms that
he couldn’t since he was now a member of the Kang family. Queen Yoo
rationalised that the longstanding conflict between the Kang royal clan, his adoptive family, and the Wang royal family would be stirred up again.
One could see the flicker of sadness in Wang So’s eyes and the slight
twitch of his facial muscles.
With a downcast face, Wang So protested quietly that he was not
an adopted son of the Kang family but a hostage. That elicited a roar of
derisive, raucous laughter from the impertinent Wang Yo. His mother denied
that he was a hostage but, who was he to argue?
It all put Wang So’s situation in
perspective. A mental, emotional and psychological war had been launched
against him without mercy.
Queen Yoo had demonstrated a most chilling disregard for his
suffering. So, who could blame Wang So for the young man that he had become?
The viewers are aghast to learn that Wang Yo was as malevolent
as his mother. The arrogant and mean-spirited Third Prince was definitely his mother’s son. They were cut from the same bolt of cloth. The older prince, who had been groomed by his mother to be the next king,
took pleasure in pummelling his blood-brother’s self-esteem. It was certain that Queen Yoo’s
hatred for Wang So had been passed from mother to son.
Every viewer could see the hurt creeping into Wang So’s eyes again as he grappled with the fact that his emotionally detached and unavailable mother did not have even an iota of love for him. 
It was unfortunate that Wang So couldn’t come to terms
with the truth. Tears threatened to roll from
his eyes.
Taking his leave, he respectfully prostrated again before his
mother but she rudely ignored him.
When Wang So was out of earshot, Queen Yo instructed Wang Yo to
send him back home once the ritual was over. Wang So’s scar was a constant reminder of her guilt; he was a
thorn in her side.
The scene serves to demonstrate that Wang So had to go through
all manner of trouble and suffering just to gain the maternal love and approval
that he craved.
When Wang So emerged from his mother’s quarters, Choi Ji Mong
suggested that he should take the purifying bath before the Narye ritual.
The ever-cautious Wang So surveyed the pool area before removing his clothing.
 
The various interesting camera angles reveal the hard, rangy lines
of the Fourth Prince’s body, his well-toned muscles and masculine v-shaped
torso.
When Wang So removed his half mask, it revealed a pair of
gorgeous, smouldering black eyes, and a scar, which was perceived to be his
weakness.
Unexpectedly, as if by magic, Hae Soo emerged from the water. She
had somehow got into the bath area with the ill-conceived and ridiculous plan
of returning to the 21st century.
Wang So flinched; there was a sharp intake of breath. A gasp
escaped Hae Soo’s mouth. She physically recoiled from him. Gaping at him, Hae
Soo was oblivious of everything that was physically charming about the Fourth Prince - his masculine
assets including his attractive physique and gorgeous black eyes. She only noticed his
facial scar.
Embarrassed by the exposure of what he thought was a flaw in
his life, Wang So froze for a moment. His brain was a vortex of swirling
confusion. He had the look of a wounded animal. There was a deep hurt in his eyes. The tears that welled up his
eyes showed his emotional turmoil.
Seized by mounting panic, Wang So grabbed hold of Hae Soo’s neck and bellowed, ‘Have you seen it?’ Wang So’s tone was unmistakably strident. He warned her to forget what she saw. The incident had addled his brain but he was sufficiently sensible to quietly leave the pool. Hae Soo was grateful that he had not strangled her.
The vulnerable look in Wang So’s eyes has burnt itself in the
viewers’ memory. Hurt. Anguish. Pain.
In a cruel twist of fate, Wang So’s vulnerable spot had been revealed to Hae Soo but, she was the young woman who would soon change his destiny. 
Later, when she questioned her
maid about Wang So, she was told that he hunted animals as a hobby since
young. Rumour has it that he had caught and killed all the wolves in Shinju.
And, he had also killed people indiscriminately.
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THE NARYE SHAMANISTIC RITUAL 
Queen Yoo's private bathing pool, which was bathed in red, eerily resembled a blood bath. Did it foreshadow the massacre that was soon to come?
When rumours swirled around that King Taejo intended to abdicate in favour of Wang Mu, the Crown Prince, Queen Yoo and
Wang Yo were forced to act swiftly. Spinning with excitement, the mother-son pair discussed the second assassination plan which would be put into action that very night.
Wang Yo tried on his
grotesque brown Chang Soo mask
which he would wear at the Narye
exorcism rite. The grotesque mask, which
was used in shamanistic rituals and mask dances, evoked fear.
The duo had no inkling that their elaborate plan had been leaked. 
The Narye preparations were
already underway. Decorations with dragon symbols and colourful lanterns
would adorn the great hall of the palace.
Before the big night, the
princes had rehearsed their dance moves. They were scheduled to
perform the shamanistic Narye mask dance as part of the shamanistic exorcism
rite. The ritual cleansing dance was aimed at warding off evil spirits.
At their dance practice, the hilarious pranks of
Wang Eun and Wang Jung roused the laughter of the older princes. Even the normally serious
and moody Wang So was tickled by their childish play. For the first
time since his homecoming, Wang So seemed genuinely happy.
Like the other Goryeo princes, Wang So would wear the benign red and white Jin Ja
mask.
Bangsangsi Mask of the Exorcist
The Crown Prince would be wearing the grotesque Bangsangsi mask. The Bangsangsi, the exorcist, played the most important role in the religious ritual.
Besides the Crown Prince, Wang Yo, the Third Prince, was the only other prince who would
be wearing a different mask. Taking on the role of the Chang Soo, he would cast spells to drive away evil spirits.
The Bangsangsi mask and Chang Soo mask used by the Crown Prince and Wang Yo respectively had greatly
exaggerated expressions which had been created to powerfully deliver the
message of the performance.
One interesting aspect of
the ritual dance was acrobatic performers were added to create more
excitement to the performance.
Just before the dance performance,
unbeknownst to the others, Wang Mu, the Crown Prince, secretly exchanged his
mask and dance role with Wang So. They had expected another assassination
attempt on the Crown Prince’s life during the performance.
Having honed his martial
arts skills, Wang So was a formidable opponent who could slay assailants
assigned to assassinate the Crown Prince.
None would disagree that
this segment of the drama is awesome. Like the spectacular scene showing Wang So’s journey
back to the Goryeo palace, it resembles a scene from a
movie.
The Goryeo palace was the epitome
of opulence and beauty. The palace premises, which were furnished for the
grand event, were illumined by the lights of many beautiful and colourful lanterns.
The lanterns were strategically placed - from the dance area right up to top of the stairs of the
main palace, where King Taejo and his queens were seated.
Silk brocade decorations
and decorative flags brightened the palace grounds. Luxurious carpets were
draped over the two enormous parallel staircases.
The huge buk, an impressive
traditional big drum with the Taegeuk symbol, had been placed at the side of
the stairs.
Wang So, wearing a black and red robe and the huge brown
exorcist’s mask, the Bangsangsi mask,
made an impressive entrance. In his hand, he held a sword and a shield with the imprint of a dragon’s head.
In this impressive and thrilling
scene, King Taejo, together with his queens and other Goryeo royalty, was attired
in splendid and glittering regal clothes. A festive air pervaded the place. Everyone was waiting for the mask
dance to begin.
 
There was a splash of
the vibrant, vivid colours of white and red. Some of the princes, clothed in similar scarlet robes and wearing
scarlet-white masks, took their places in the dance spot while others waited
on the stairs. The expressions on
the princes’ masks seemed benign and the lips form a smile so they do not
appear to be sinister nor grotesque.
What is the colour
perception of the Koreans?
Red is a powerful
colour. Red, not unlike in China which is a colour for joy, happiness and
good fortune, is also the colour of passion. Red is related to positive
forces and masculine energy.
White, which is the
traditional Korean colour, means purity, innocence, peace or patriotism.
Wang So,
as the all-important exorcist, stood in front. None suspected that he had
changed places with Wang Mu.
Wang Yo,
who wore the grotesque Chang Soo mask stood at the side.
There is
an impressive crane shot of the princes in their scarlet robes. The grey
floor design of four sinuous white dragons look stupendous from the air.
The princes were also
showcased in a one-point perspective.
A call for the exorcism rites to begin was heard. ‘We
will now cast out the evil spirits.’
The big
drum or buk was beaten. Music rolled. The
traditional barrel drums, hyeokbu, were beaten in rhythm with other
traditional musical instruments
 
The mask dance began. Wang So moved with the agility and athleticism
of a martial artist that stunned even the empresses. In one impressive
dance move, Wang So glided with animal ease to the beat of the
music. The king was mistaken about the identity of the Bangsangsi, the
lead dancer. With pride in his voice, he explained that the fluidity of the
Crown Prince’s performance was due to his experience in military battles.
Wang So and the acrobatic dancers in black, who
were built like tigers, swirled and pranced across the hall. Brilliant
acrobatic moves were performed.
Other dancers in black, including Wang Yo,
sprang forward down to join in the performance.
Wang So was vigilant; he observed the
changing scene through the holes of his mask.
Suddenly, a swarm of
black-attired assailants in grotesque black masks spiralled down from the
lofty ceiling of the Goryeo palace.
The assassins had finally appeared.
The camera gives the
viewers a magnificent view from above and other angles as the menacing figures hurtled down like a rain
of death. The cinematography is astounding.
A violent struggle
for the Goryeo throne had begun and as expected, it would result in a river
of blood, a blood bath, which resembled Queen Yoo's bathing pool which had been drenched in red.
Confusion and chaos reigned
as Wang So, with the determination that was as fierce as that of a wolfdog,
fought his vicious enemies. With lethal precision and silent fury, Wang
So drove his sword fiercely into his foes as they bore down on him. His eyes blazed as he leapt and struck his enemies. His sword flashed in a deathly
arc several times. His black dance robes swirled as he leapt to deliver deadly kicks.
The pulse of the
viewers must have raced as the clanging of swords and
weapons echoed thunderously throughout the hall.
The assassins in black robes
thrashed at Wang So. Their target had been Wang Mu but unknown to them, they
were fighting against a warrior who was deadlier than the Crown Prince. Wang
So’s martial arts prowess enabled him to slay the swarm of attackers who had lunged madly at him. The atmosphere reeked
of death.
Suddenly, the masked Wang So staggered; he had taken the blow
reserved for the Crown Prince. The royal audience was appalled to see him
sinking to the floor. Slashed in the arm, his blood seeped out. Wang Mu valiantly
fought off the attackers.
The astronomer, Choi Ji
Mong, hollered, ‘Protect the king!’ The palace military sprang into action to
protect the royalty.
The assailants fled the
scene. Although their attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince was botched, it
had shaken up the Goryeo throne.
Wang Yo seemingly rushed
off in pursuit of the assailants. Wang Wook took command of the palace
militia who were deployed to capture the attackers.
The king and his queens
rushed down the stairs. Was the king stunned when Wang So removed his Bangsangsai mask?
Taejo’s first thought was the safety of Wang Mu, the Crown Prince. ‘Where is Wang Mu?’ the king asked with anxiety in
his voice. The king’s soft sigh of relief was audible when Wang Mu reassured
him that he was safe and sound.
But for the much-neglected Wang
So, it was hurting to be overlooked. Did his royal father not even feel a teeny-weeny bit of concern for him since he had taken the brunt of the attacks against Wang Mu?
A sickly pallor
tinged his facial features. Tears threatened to drip from Wang So’s eyes when it dawned on him that he also did not figure importantly in his father’s heart.
Accustomed to being unloved, the Fourth Prince quickly recovered from his momentary lapse; he promised his royal father that he would catch the assailants and find out the truth of the matter. |
THE
CHASE IN THE FOREST
Hae Soo had not been invited to the Narye ritual as the palace had been informed about her fight with the Tenth Prince. However, she was in a celebratory
mood. She and her maid were merrymaking in the market place. Beautiful
lanterns, made in various shapes like flowers, fruits and animals, were
everywhere.
The assailants had fled into the crowded market place. Wang
So’s athletic abilities were undeniable as he leapt onto the rooftops in hot pursuit of the
villains. Standing on the rooftop, Wang So could see the fleeing masked men
as they headed towards the dark forest.
Hae Soo saw Wang So and was intrigued. Curiosity got the better
of her and she followed him.
She lost sight of Wang So but happened upon a blood bath. To
her horror, some masked men were being slashed to death on the orders of the
leader who wore a fur coat.
Fleeing in panic in the dark forest, she crossed paths with
Wang So, who was hot on the assailants’ heels.
The Fourth Prince was in the midst of his killing spree. As he leapt into the air, his powerful legs swirled like tornadoes. He brutally slammed down on one of the assailants. He felled one assailant after another. Finally, only one of them was left. The masked man knew that it was the
end of the road for him.
Wang So identified himself; he promised to let the assailant
off if he told the truth. He demanded, in a menacing tone, for the details of
the assassination attempt on Wang Mu’s life.
The assailant was about to surrender when out of the blue, the
terrified Hae Soo appeared. The masked man reacted swiftly; he caught her by
her neck and gripped her tight, with a sword to her neck.
Although shocked by her sudden disruption, Wang So was
determined not pass up the opportunity to get the vital information he wanted.
He fiercely challenged the assassin to kill Hae Soo, who stared at him in
wide-eyed horror. Hae Soo was an insignificant commodity to be killed at
random in the violent Goryeon world.
Desperate, the spunky girl grabbed the villain’s wrist and bit
fiercely into it.
For a crucial moment, the assassin was distracted. A knife which
had been hurled by Wang Wook, landed right smack on the assassin’s head. Hae
Soo could have been the sacrificial lamb.
Furious that he had lost the chance of unravelling the web of
conspiracy, Wang So did not conceal his displeasure. Grabbing her violently,
he berated her for being an obstruction. His fiendish eyes burned into hers.
Wang Wook ordered him to let her go but the defiant Wang So taunted
him with his gnashing teeth.
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