“Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” has just aired its first two episodes, but it looks like the drama is already getting a lot of flak.
Some of the negative criticism the SBS drama has received was directed toward the editing, directing and the glaring plot holes, but most were aimed at the actors and their performances. With leading man Lee Jun Ki’s and Kang Ha Neul’s stellar performances carrying most of the drama, the rest of the cast’s acting seem lacking in comparison.
Leading lady Lee Ji Eun a.k.a. IU, who plays Ko Ha Jin, a woman who is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea, has received flak for her acting, alongside Hong Jong Hyun (3rd Prince Wang Yo), Nam Joo Hyuk (13th Prince Wang Wook/Baek-ah) and Ji Soo (14th Prince Wang Jung).
Some of the negative criticism the SBS drama has received was directed toward the editing, directing and the glaring plot holes, but most were aimed at the actors and their performances. With leading man Lee Jun Ki’s and Kang Ha Neul’s stellar performances carrying most of the drama, the rest of the cast’s acting seem lacking in comparison.
Following the assassination attempt at the palace and the chase through the forest, fourth prince Wang So faces off against his half-brother (and eighth prince) Wook, holding Hae Su in a threatening grip—she caused him to miss out on vital information about the assassins, and he’s furious.
Wook keeps his cool and says that Su has nothing to do with this matter. She asks So to believe that she merely lost her way, but he says darkly that he has no reason to, since he doesn’t know her.
Wook slowly drops his sword to the ground, and reasons that they can find proof of Su’s guilt once the soldiers arrive. Until they do, Wook asks So to let her go.
So grudgingly lowers his sword and shoves Su aside, and she hurries to Wook’s side. Wook asks in concern whether she’s okay.
Su stammers that people were killed nearby, and that they were dressed like the dead assassin, wearing similar demon costumes. The princes exchange alarmed looks.
At the palace, Crown Prince Mu is feeling regret, thinking that he shouldn’t have had So take his place in the ceremony. Astronomer Choi tells him that So took this opportunity for himself, so it’s not something Mu should feel guilty about. But Mu replies that using his younger brother’s desperation for his own benefit is a sin. Aw, I like you. You seem nice.
In the forest, So and Wook lead soldiers to the spot where Su saw the assassins die—only, now the area’s empty. So asks suspiciously how dead bodies could have disappeared and demands answers of Su that she doesn’t have, such as who the culprit was. At least Wook finds clues in the surroundings—blood spatters and sword cuts—and he deduces that the same person who mobilized the assassins also killed them.
Now So turns his frustration on Wook for killing their last witness, although Wook holds firm and says he couldn’t let harm come to Su. He suggests taking care of So’s injured arm, but So flings off his hand, shoots a dark glance at Su, and stalks off.
Hong Si-wan, Seoul