2. THE MASTERPIECE
MOON LOVERS SCARLET HEART RYEO
THE GORYEON TALE
OF
WANG SO
2. THE MASTERPIECE MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO
THE GORYEON TALE
OF WANG SO 
There are many amazing Asian historical dramas but Moon Lovers:
Scarlet Heart Ryeo is the only South Korean historical drama in this decade
that has not only captured the imagination of global viewers but also make
them rant and rave, roar with laughter and cry their hearts out. There is no
other drama that has such a stupendous effect on the global audience. No
matter how much some people try to deny it, the evidence that has emerged
only confirms that the 2016 SBS drama, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, is a masterpiece.
(l) Kim Kyu Tae & Jo Yoon Young
 
The historical fiction drama, which is written by Jo Yoon Young
and directed by Kim Kyu Tae, celebrates its third anniversary today, 29
August 2019. It brings back memories of an unforgettable drama with a
wonderful young cast as well as an amazing older cast led by the most amazing
actor, Lee Joon Gi; an ingenious script; astounding cinematography;
unbelievably moving OSTs; lovely, graceful and elegant wardrobes and accessories appropriate for the era including Wang So’s beautiful masks and an
interesting combination of Korean, Chinese and modern culture.
The burning question is, ‘What’s
your first memory of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo?’ Wang So portrayed
by Lee Joon Gi, of course. Lee Joon Gi, who has been treated with much
adulation by the media and the audience alike for his most stupendous portrayal of
Wang So, the Fourth Prince, is one actor fans cannot live without. His
portrayal of Wang So has inspired many to read up on Goryeon history or
Korean history and also watch the original Scarlet Heart or Bu Bu Jing Xin (that is, if they had
not already done so) and also read up on Chinese history.
 
If, for some strange reason, one is itching to comment on Lee
Joon Gi’s weight, please don’t. Lee, who looks tough at the beginning of the tale,
lost 33 lbs for his role of Wang So, the Fourth Prince. Lee fascinates his
audience with his fighting-fit and gorgeous look in his graceful,
tastefully-designed princely robes and warrior attire. In fact, the superstar
has been lionised by the media as the hottest, most charismatic and most
appealing prince-cum-emperor in historical dramas.
The South Korean drama, an adaptation of the Chinese novel, Bu Bu Jing Xing, by Tong Hua has time
travel and romance elements. An important feature of the tale is the solar
eclipse, which is the special device used by the scriptwriter to separate 21st
century Korean history and 10th century Goryeon history at the beginning and the end of the drama. It is also used to weave Hae Soo, the
time-traveller, into the story. The solar eclipse means the moon (prince)
eclipses the sun (king); the implication being Wang So, would eclipse his two
brothers who are monarchs, King Hyejong and King Jeongjong. He would also
eclipse his love and throne rival, Wang Wook, whose name means ‘The Sun Rising in the Morning’. The
sympathy that the audience originally has for Wang Wook would nosedive when
the conflict between the two rivals begins. The eclipse scene, that features the horseriders led by Wang So, is one of the
many spectacular scenes in the drama.
 
The members of the Goreyon royalty are historical figures but
there are two significant fictional figures from the twenty-first century,
Hae Soo played by IU and Choi Ji Mong, the royal astronomer, portrayed by Kim
Sung Kyun.
The scriptwriter serves up a dramatic tale which is brimming
with twists and turns. It revolves around parent-child relationships with
special emphasis on Wang So’s conflict with his mother, Wang So’s passionate
and all-consuming romance with Hae Soo, the ruthless ambition of his royal
brothers and the poison mystery. The themes of death, justice and the responsibility and
accountability of those who hold sway over others feature importantly in the
drama.
The story sees the astounding rise of Wang So, the Fourth
Prince, across the reigns of three kings, King Taejo, King Hyejong and King
Jeongjong.
Wang So, the Fourth Prince, who has a facial scar, is an
unlikely candidate for the throne. He has been sent as a hostage to Shinju. Not
being able to stomach his hostage life, the Fourth Prince, whose martial arts
and equestrian skills are his assets, is determined to remain in Songak. His
dogged determination is shown in the spectacular but horrifying scene in which
he slaughters the horse that has carried him back from Shinju.
 The camera focusses and lingers lovingly on Lee Joon Gi as he regally strides across the palace complex, his black robes swaying in rhythm with his fiery determination. This image of Wang So dispels any doubt that he is a Goryeon prince. In fact, he impresses everyone that he is more regally impressive than any of the other princes. 
The aggressive and uncultured warrior transforms into a humble
and humane prince under the auspices of Hae Soo. The 21st century
maiden raises the issues of responsibility and justice with Wang So
after he stops her from punishing Wang Eun, the Peeping Tom. ‘The higher up you are, the more you should care about justice.’
Wang So rises to prominence after he helps to solve an
assassination attempt on the life of Wang Mu, the Crown Prince, at the Narye
ritual in Songak. The ingenious use of the poison mystery throughout the
drama by the scriptwriter has stimulated thinking concerning the poisoners.
Sherlock Holmes would have been proud of those who have correctly joined the
dots but many may have wrongly guessed the culprits or the number of culprits. There are many murder
attempts on the Crown Prince’s life. At the beginning of the tale, there is an
unsuccessful attempt to poison him. Forewarned is forearmed. But, Wang Mu does
not take any precautions, which he should have, to protect himself. Due to the ferocious machinations
of Queen Yoo, his unscrupulous mother, Wang So becomes the unwitting victim
of palace conspiracies.
 
In one of the drama’s and also Lee Joon Gi’s most engaging
scenes, Wang So is accidentally poisoned by the tea meant for the Crown Prince. Even the most naïve viewer would
have begun to think that something isn’t quite right. In the end, the kindly and humble Crown
Prince comes to a gruesome end, a victim of mercury poisoning, and at the
hands of his younger half-brother, Wang Yo, who has no compunction about killing
him.
  
Good fortune smiles upon Wang So. It transpires that Wang So does
not want to be king but the reluctant prince is fired by predictions that he
would be king and he is propelled to the top of the Goryeo hierarchy. King
Taejo has only 2 sons in mind for the throne, Wang Mu, the Crown Prince and
Wang So, the Fourth Prince. King Taejo, Grand General Park Soo Kyung and Royal
Astronomer Choi Ji Mong, Wang So's unwavering supporters, have to be given credit
for grooming him and mapping out his route to the throne. There is no
room for dreamers and weak princes; life in the palace is for survival of the fittest.
 
The severe drought in the kingdom is the turning point for Wang
So when King Taejo and Choi Ji Mong manipulate the situation for him to
become the rainmaker. To Wang So's chagrin, he is humiliated and stoned but he
is encouraged to persist. With the help of Hae Soo, his appearance is
changed. His scar, which has coloured the people’s perception of him, is
covered up. When the rain falls, Wang So gains considerable prestige and the
favour of the commoners and his royal father. This is another one of the most
spectacular scenes involving Lee Joon Gi.
Wang So has no desire to fight his older blood brother but King
Jeongjong’s cruelty and hunger for domination forces his hand. He is compelled to carry out his act of mercy killing when Wang Eun pleads with him to end his humiliation and suffering, and not die at the hands of Jeongjong, the callous tyrant. The Fourth Prince's vow, ‘I, Wang So, will become King of Goryeo’
becomes another important defining moment in his life. This is one of Lee Joon
Gi’s most powerful scenes in the drama; it is a shocking but touching portrayal of
the Fourth Prince.
The drama raises the issue of how King Taejo manages to stabilise
his kingdom by marrying the daughters of the chiefs of clans or influential
people. This affects the royal family including the relationships between Queen
Yoo and Queen Hwangbo with their children. Numerous assassination and
murder attempts are committed in the name of the security of each family. The
power struggles result in the love-hate mother-son relationship between Wang
So and Queen Yoo, with Wang So loving his mother and trying to win her love.
But, Queen Yoo harbours an irrational hatred for her second son. Her loathing results in Gwangjong’s vengeful monologue at her deathbed. It is one of Lee Joon
Gi’s most astoundingly heart wrenching scenes.
It reminds one of another amazing scene which is linked to Queen Yoo's vilification of Wang So when he reports that he has removed all evidence connecting her to the
assassination plot to kill the Crown Prince.
 
Wang So’s love for Hae Soo, the time-traveller, is passionate,
perhaps bordering on obsession. Clearly, he approves of her kindness and
concern, the missing ingredients in his relationship with his mother. Falling unequivocally in love with
her, he pursues her relentlessly and proposes to her. Though their lives are
inextricably enmeshed, she is commitment averse to him. Even when he gains
her acceptance, she does not show her trust in him until her earth shattering
realization about Wang So’s humanity when Wang Eun is killed.
 One of the drama’s most memorable scenes of Lee Joon Gi and IU is when the rain pelts down on them as they protest against the injustice of the death sentence meted out to Court Lady Oh.   
There are frequent reminders that Goryeon culture and history have been touched by Chinese influence. Examples that allude to the assimilation of
Chinese culture are the Ninth Day of
the Ninth Month celebrations and Chinese love poems written by Wang So
and Wang Wook to Hae Soo. Goryeo celadon pottery is a significant feature of
Goryeon culture. Hae Soo’s ignorance about Goryeon and Chinese history is
crystal clear when she thinks that Wang Eun’s silk ball is from the Qing
dynasty. The insertion of a third culture, the modern twenty-first century culture,
like the use of humorous emoticons by Hae Soo in response to Wang Wook’s love
poem, is ingenious and surprising. Hae Soo’s modern decorations and modern
birthday song for Wang Eun’s birthday add interest to the story. The love myth, that Hae Soo shares with Wang Eun about dying one’s fingernails with bongseonhwa (balsam flower) dye to ensure a meeting with one's true love, is certainly not of Goryeon origin.
The serious drama about Wang So and his rivalry with the other ruthless
Goryeon princes is not all doom and gloom. Hae Soo and Wang Eun provide comic
relief at the beginning of the tale. Even the serious Wang So has a sense of humour.
Wang So stands tantalising beyond censure. The crux of Wang
So’s appeal is his passion and vulnerability. Lee Joon Gi’s astounding
performance as the Fourth Prince bowls everyone over. Strong yet vulnerable.
Humble yet assertive. Cold yet passionate. Volatile yet calm. Masculine yet
gentle. The romance of the irresistible pair, Wang So and Hae Soo, has also
caught fire and sparked the audience’s imagination. The legendary hero, Wang So and
Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo, a global success, have shaped and inspired other
Asian dramas and have been immortalised in the annals of the Asian drama industry.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, which continues to draw interest, has unquestionably vaulted Lee Joon Gi to a higher level of superstardom.
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