Appearing before the dramacourt: Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo Ep 09
[This is a special review because we had so many issues with this episode in particular. We have no plans to go back and review other previous episodes of this drama]
***If this is your first time browsing The Drama Files, please read The Rules section first for our reviewing and rating system***
Issues:
- Whether a complete 180 of a personality change and pushing people away is necessary when having visions of the future?
- Whether the side characters serve any purpose, if at all?
- Whether the “forced” kisses should be given any standing?
The Rule:
- Uhhh…No. Because when you have a brain, you think first before you start freaking out about things that haven’t even happened yet.
- There is no purpose for a side character if they are written one-dimensionally and are just there to fill screen time.
- ABSOLUTELY NOT. A “forced” kiss is never okay. EVER. And should not be given any standing.
Application:
RedRosette J: Okay so, can we just take a minute to talk about how awful the editing has been for this drama? I mean really? This is the equivalent of a twelve-year old on PowerPoint. It’s just upsetting because I went into this drama with such high expectations given all the hype and it is failing to deliver MISERABLY. Though this may sound like I’m an anti-fan, I’m actually not. I love the (non-idol) actors in this drama and hold them in high regard for their previous works (LJK & KHN I’m talking to you). It’s just that it’s so obvious that they are working within the confines of a very limiting script and bad editing.
Jubiemon J: Agreed. The editing is atrocious and spoils the plot. Sageuk speech may be too hard for idol actors at this point as well. LJK is doing the best he can, as far as I can tell with his role. It’s seriously the bad editing and the condensed script. Twenty episodes are not enough to cover this story.
Issue 1: Whether a complete 180 of a personality change and pushing people away is necessary when having visions of the future?
RedRosette J: This approach is totally unwarranted especially when you come from a modern world that values rationalism. Here’s my biggest problem with this: for some reason, everyone seems to have forgotten that she’s from THE FUTURE. Having knowledge of the time that only she’s privy to, you’d think that she’d react differently when she suddenly as a vision of the “future”. It’s a vision. How much gravity are you going to give something like that? I’m sorry. I thought you were a rational person but I guess not. Okay fine, I admit, it might have been scary when she saw him as Gwangjong but it’s her approach to that information is what annoys me. At first she decides that she’s going to be the one to change his future and then goes and does a 180 after she has another vision of him killing Prince Eun. What part of “vision” does she not understand? It’s not real. Sure, it’s shocking but again, it’s not real!! Suddenly she’s telling everyone and their grandmother about it and then also goes tells the (very emotionally unstable) So that she’s afraid of him! *facepalm*
Jubiemon J: I think she’s older than 20 when she was living in the present, so I can see why behaving rather irrationally is unwarranted. Her vision could have been interpreted differently and if she were to have visions, she probably should have had them earlier? Sort of random to start seeing visions of So becoming evil?
RedRosette J: Also, Who in their right mind goes and tells the person who is literally hovering at the edge of an emotional cliff something that will completely push them over it? *sigh* So much for “I can change his future”. The drama make her take 3 steps forward and then 5 steps back in almost every episode.
You either make her a modern girl who thinks like one, or brainwash her (or give her amnesia) so that she completely abandons her rationality and goes with the times. You can’t have it going both ways. It makes for disjointed story-telling.
Also, please give the girl some common sense. K thankx bye.
Issue 2: Whether the side characters serve any purpose, if at all?
RedRosette J: The problem with this drama is that it’s trying to do too much. Yes we get it. The use of so many idols and models in one drama is totally novel and mind blowing and I have no complaints about idols and models being used. I like watching shows with pretty people as much as the next person. But if you’re going to introduce so many characters, you need to make sure they’re written well, especially if they have such little screen time. Being pretty can only do so much to further the plot.
Jubiemon J: Again it’s the number of episodes versus the amount of plot that we should cover. In this scenario, I would have cut out some minor characters as well. I know they’re not supposed to be minor, but given that there are only 20 eps for this drama, they have to be minor.
RedRosette J: I agree with the number of episodes issue. If they’d had more time for character exposition this idea would have worked well. Prince Eun’s (Baekhyun -_-) character is one-dimensional; we see nothing else from him except being a total goofus which was funny for like the first five minutes and then it just became draining to watch.Where is the character development? And his character doesn’t seem to further the plot. He’s just in there for (non) comedic relief. I have to seriously fight the urge to fast forward all the scenes he’s in. I am not impressed.
Jubiemon J: I understand that he is supposed to be childish and silly, but it bugs me that he is that rude to the general’s daughter. His relationship between Soo seems forced too. I just don’t feel that “friendship” between them. The Chinese version had more time to develop that friendship and for some reason that character could pull off goofy and childish very well. I think Baekhyun just had trouble acting given that this is his first time acting and it’s also sageuk language. I’m just happy there is a fast-forward button. I’m sorry, Baekhyun. I know you tried.
RedRosette J: Then there’s the Baek-Ah character who we are first introduced to as carrying a serious torch for Wook’s wife, only to have her die and him suddenly fall for Seohyun’s character. Wait. What? Now I just have a headache trying to wrap my head around this. Show! you spent so much time convincing us that he secretly liked this other woman only to do a 180? Again? Yea sure time has passed in the story, but Seohyun’s character has had like three minutes of screen time (total) and they have no chemistry. How is that a love story? Again, it just seems like they wanted to fill the extra screen time with idols.
Jubiemon J: Baek-Ah’s character falling for another woman that quickly . . . really bugged me too. Just sort of supports the stereotype that men fall out of love very quickly. Meh.
RedRosette J: The only side character who is intriguing to watch is the Astronomer character and everyone else just falls flat.
Anyway, the point is that if you’re not going to give them a strong character arc, please don’t waste our time by giving them precious screen time that could have been given to someone else. *cough* LJK *cough*
Issue 3: Whether the “forced” kisses should be given any standing?
RedRosette J: There is never a time when a forced kiss is okay. Ever.
[Although I feel like the drama did try to save face by having So say in the next episode that he’s never going to kiss her without her permission again. That’s not the point. They shouldn’t have made So do it in the first place. There are other ways to show “desperately loving/wanting you”]
I understand that it might be trying to be historically relevant (the patriarchy) but at the same time, the message that is being sent is worrisome. Especially because it’s a romantic melodrama and not some crime/drama type of show where you might expect to see some of this behaviour being portrayed in a negative sense. It’s not her rejection of him that I have the issue with. It’s his reaction to her rejection:NO MEANS NO. It does not mean “TRY HARDER” and grab and kiss her. This really sends the wrong message. Again, like Jubiemon J said in the previous post, this might be acceptable in the drama-verse, but what about the real world? It does not translate well. Don’t me wrong, I’m not against the whole rough grabbing and being slammed against walls…it’s totally hot and steamy….just as long as she’s consenting to it.
The take-away: CONSENT IS SEXY. ALWAYS.
Jubiemon J: What I also didn’t get from Soo at that point was the fact that she was just standing there, waiting to be pounced. You run the hell out of there, girl. You’re not a damsel in distress . . . oh wait, you kind of are one in this drama. Sigh. Still . . .
RedRosette J. Sidebar: I think that the Worst Drama Mom of the Year award should go to So’s Mom. No contest. (she is literally Queen Bitch)
RedRosette J. Aside: The one good thing about this episode though was all of So’s smiles!! Give us more smiles!!!
Conclusion: Appeal Dismissed.
Rating: 2 = Yell at EVERYONE!!!! (Sorrryyyy)
Jubiemon J: Let’s just not yell at LJK, okay? He’s my bias. Hahahaha! And his eye expressions are still amazing!
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