The Moon Peeps Over the Horizon... FINALLY

Ambassador:
I promised a post listing specifically what I'm most excited about in the now airing drama Moon Lovers.

Moon Lovers AKA Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is the Korean remake of the hugely popular Chinese drama Scarlet Heart, adapted from Tong Hua's novel of the same name.  Although I haven't technically watched Scarlet Heart all the way through (lots of clips, MVs, read multiple people's recaps of the whole thing, and read the partial fan translation of the novel) it's my favorite Chinese drama- currently tied with Ice Fantasy.  It's a gorgeous piece of storytelling and filmmaking.  I had been aware sometime early last year or before that that Korea had bought remake rights for the drama but no move was being made on it yet.

So I was over the moon (yes,  pun intended) when the project was greenlit for production and casting and filming and then airing this year.  Eagerly I followed every single bit of casting news, from the stars who would personify the beloved characters in a different light (LEE JOONGI AND KANG HA NEUL?  WERE THE CASTING DIRECTORS READING MY MIND?), to the secondary characters.  I sent the Empress and Unni and other friends emails and messages full of news.  I stalked news sites.  I pounced on every behind-the-scenes picture from the script reading to the wrap party.  Every poster.  The day the first trailer came out (the long one that was shown to Chinese audiences) was a red letter day for me and my fellow dramaphiles.  Every trailer since then I've seen multiple times.  Same with the interviews.  The press conference.  And finally, several hours ago, the first two episodes of this glorious drama aired and I am waiting eagerly for them to be subbed.

So why specifically am I so excited about this drama?
~ The original story is well written and the plot and pacing are excellent.
~ I love harem dramas.
~ I adore reverse harem dramas- they're one of my favorites.  To quote the Empress: 'IT'S LIKE...A DOZEN PUPPIES IN LOVE WITH HER...AND TWO TIGERS FIGHTING OVER HER.'
~ Palace dramas are also a huge favorite of mine.
~ I love history and this is about a lesser known time in Korean history.  As a someone who is frequently frustrated by the lack of English Language materials on Korean history, this will be gold.
~ Lee Joonki playing the Fourth Prince- it is going to be amazing.
~ Kang Ha Neul playing the Eighth Prince - he's one of my favorite Korean actors and I love that his range of roles is expanding.
~ Hong Jong Hyun playing the scheming Third Prince - HJH can do dark and sinister but still intriguing /very well/.  In an interview, cast members described his character as 'someone who doesn't seem real' 'super evil' and 'someone who should be locked up' due to how bad the character is... and I'm eagerly looking forward to it.
~ HAREM POLITICS - queens and empresses and wives head to head.  Yesss PLEASE.
~ Nam Joo Hyuk and Ji Soo's bromance
~ Baekhyun playing the rascal prince - and ohhhhh what a hilarious rascal.
~ Yoon Sun Woo's ninth prince - who he described in an interview as 'cunning' and someone else in the same interview described as 'greedy'
~ Z. Hera's warrior noblewoman
~ Seohyun's last princess of one of the Three Kingdoms turned gisaeng
~ Jo Min Ki as Taejo - from what I've been able to learn of Taejo, he was a very smart and cunning manager of people and politics.  I'm eager to see this portrayal of him.
~ The aura of the drama from the trailers is exactly my top favorite kind of aura.  100%. 

My only quibble?  As it stands right now, we're only supposed to get 20 episodes.  People.  That is not enough.  We need at least 24 and 30 would be better.

Empress:
To this most excellent of summaries I have little to add...I have been intrigued by Scarlet Heart ever since I first saw pictures of the drama on tumblr (and was first amazed by the everlasting number of princes apparently involved), but despite later hearing about the Ambassador's interest, it ended up becoming one of many Chinese dramas in my drama queue. A Korean remake definitely piqued my interest, however, and once I saw who was being cast, I knew I was going to watch it. The piece by piece release of information, posters, stills, and trailers served only to absolutely fascinate me. I mean...come on:
- based on a novel (I'm always biased for dramas based on previously written stories...it comes from being a voracious reader.)
- actors involved (Lee Jun Ki dramas tend to go on my immediate to-watch list until I find reason to remove them, and Kang Ha Neul dramas are getting close to that place. Those two alone would make me watch this, let alone the rest of the cast involved.)
- quality of filmography/direction evident in what has been released so far
- sheer number of relationships going to be explored in this drama
I am preemptively in love with the entire drama and fully prepared for my heart to be drama-destroyed, though a part of me insists on hoping that the remake involves some form of happy ending for at least a few more characters than the Chinese version. XD


Our beloved Unni is actually in Asia at the moment, once more teaching English in Taiwan.  Should she find time soon to add her thoughts about this drama, this post will be updated.


Are you planning to watch Moon Lovers?  Why or why not?

WWW ~ August 2016

This is verrry late due to a crazy month, but I couldn't let August go by without one, since there are at least two dramas airing this month that I've been looking forward to for a long time.


Korean:
~ Moonlight Drawn By Clouds
Empress: Oh, yes. Park Bo Gum in a saeguk with Kim Yoo Jung. This has been on my list for a while. XD
Ambassador: The plot sounds HILARIOUS and with Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung- stars yes I'm watching it.
Unni: I am here. This is EXACTLY the kind of DRAMA I LOVE...and it has Park Bo Gum...um...that is probably all you needed to say................but this sounds like the kind of recipe that makes for a very very very happy late night drama watching me.


~ Laurel Tree Tailors
Empress: LOL It sounds amusing, but not amusing enough.
Ambassador: Not really interested, no.  Way too many episodes to even want to try it, not with the dramas I'm currently watching and the ones I'll be starting over the next few weeks, I have no spare time at all.
Unni: Interesting, but not enough to use up my fangirling time, unless it’s like...really good or something.


~ Blow Breeze
Empress: There has to be more of a reason...like saeguk reason...or okay, Ojakyo Brothers Joo Won kind of reason...to watch something that long.
Ambassador: Not likely.  Interesting plot but just way too long.  There's no way I can't do 40+ episodes right now... even if I wanted to.
Unni: If it wasn’t 40 episodes....I would probably sign myself up for this one


~ Jealousy Incarnate
Empress: LOL naww, thanks.  I'm good without watching that...
Ambassador: NO.  24 eps of rom-com with this plot makes me want to find the nearest brick wall to bang my head into.  I like Go Kyung Pyo's acting, but he's not enough to make me even take a second look at this.
Unni: *giggles* OH MY GOODNESS!!! This sounds HILARIOUS! Almost funny enough to hook me, but I’d probably spend most of my time wanting to bash their heads in for being idiots, so for the sake of my blood pressure, and idiot barometer, I’ll say no.


~ Our Gab Soon
Empress: Um...an exercise in writing relationships? Yeesh. Not remotely interested...
Ambassador: Well... it sounds like it might have a lot of interesting relationship dynamics?  I know many fans are looking forward to the reunion of the 'skinship couple' Song Jae Rim and Kim So Eun from We Got Married, and I agree that would be amusing to watch, but not with 50 episodes of a weekend drama.  No can do.  *ruthlessly leaves it off 'try' list, too*
Empress: Same.
Unni: Umm..................................................uh........how many ways can I say NO? Just....just no.


~ Cinderella and the Four Knights
Empress: Unrealistic plot line, but...Cousins and a bodyguard and a Cinderella retelling? I'm already hooked. (ANd I've wanted to watch a drama with Jung Il Woo for a long time and just not gotten to it.)
Ambassador: DEFINITELY.  It sounds like Boys Over Flowers 2.0- without the epic immediate bromance of the F4 but also without the wide-eyed naivety of Jan Di (hopefully).  Furthermore, at least two interesting pieces of trivia tie it to BOF: not only is Jung Il Woo a very good friend of Lee Min Ho's, but Ahn Jae Hyun is married to Ku Hye Sun.  I'm definitely watching it.
Unni: *raises hand vigorously* I wanna watch it!!!! *settles down with popcorn* Okay! *prepares to sail away on many ships*


~ Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Empress: Ha. HA. NEED YOU EVEN ASK. THIS HAS BEEN ON MY LIST SO LONG...I'VE BEEN INTRIGUED BY THE CHINESE STORY EVEN BEFORE THE AMBASSADOR STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, AND THEN WHEN I SAW THE KOREAN LINE-UP...YES, I'M WATCHING..
Ambassador: No, I'm not watching this.  WHY WOULD I WATCH THIS?  I haven't been eagerly pouncing on every fresh scrap of information since they announced that the production had been greenlit (and been wishing for it to be made since before that- when the idea was first thrown around).  YES, I'M ABSOLUTELY WATCHING IT.  I've been anticipating it so much that I'm going to write a separate post on it, so look for that later this week or next week.
Unni: o.O wow....I know the Ambassador has been talking about this for sometime...but the storyline WOW. I’ll watch it because it sounds really cool in Korean.


Chinese:
~ Weiwei's Beautiful Smile
Empress: Heh, why is this a drama...XD All in the execution, I'm sure, but...eh.
Ambassador: Nah, not even going to think about it, though Zheng Shuang can be fun to watch.
Unni: Interesting plot thought, but no.


~ Hot Girl
Empress: LOL Hot Girl??? Titles these days...It sounds like it could be interesting. Though my list I think is too long at the moment.
Ambassador: This though, does sound great, and with Dilireba Dilmurat, yes, I'm adding it to my list.
Unni: *dies* oh my goodness...this is just about half tempting...but I’ll never end up watching it, so I am going to pass.


~ Men With Sword
Empress: Okay, I was hooked until that last line. Probably a no. I prefer some realism with my epic (Six Flying Dragons...).
Ambassador: Wuxia is hit and miss for me, but the plot is interesting for me to add 3/4 the way down on my insanely long TBW list.
Unni: Okay....that last line was really creepy... *slowly backs away from the drama* it SOUNDED interesting....sounded.


~ My Little Princess
Empress: Reminds me of Boys Over Flowers without the bromance. Which was honestly the only thing I liked about that drama. (The love triangle. Though I realized it was more a matter of liking one character worse and then switching back and forth throughout the drama...)
Ambassador: Not enough time, not enough interest, not enough anything to make me add it to a list.
Unni: CUTE! but no...


~ Mr. Bodyguard
[Sequel to School Beauty's Personal Bodyguard.]
Empress: Haha. Sounds like the girl needs to go to the bodyguard school in the other drama above and learn to protect herself...It's a sequel and I'm definitely not interested enough to watch either of 'em.
Ambassador: Well, it sounds mildly interesting but I likely won't get around to trying it unless I wind up sick in bed for six months and I have no plans of that happening, so no.
Empress: Yeah, please don't do that. The dramas probably won't be worth it.
Unni: *giggles* Well, honestly, I’d like to be a fly on the wall in some K or C or even J-drama school because it would be hilarious...but no.


~ Noble Aspirations
[Also known as Legend of Chusen]
Empress: That leaves me wanting to say, "And?" Is it a revenge drama or a romance...Having never seen a Chinese drama, I'm not sure how they follow/deviate from genre lines...XD I doubt I'm putting it on my list...maybe someday...XD
Ambassador: There has been a lot of buzz around this one for months and I'm curious enough to add it to my list.
Unni: Ouch! This drama just seems like it’s asking for heartbreak, I only have one, so I am keeping it for other things.


Hong Kong:
~ A Fist Within Four Walls
Empress: I am intrigued. It makes me think of a Western, set on the opposite side of the world in a totally different culture. Also, after Time Between Dog and Wolf, I have a soft spot for characters finding out they're being mentored by/trusting/loving somebody on the opposite side....That said, I don't know how Hong Kong does dramas, and with restraint this could be fascinating...without it could be super violent and sleazy and entirely uninteresting. I might wait to see what reviews say about it, if I can find them.
Ambassador: It sounds really interesting.  Normally Hong Kong dramas don't hold my attention but this one sounds like it would.  *adds it to list*
Unni: OUCH! I like the premises, it sounds intriguing! I’ll have to wait and look into it, or ask these two what they think once they watch it.


Which of these dramas will YOU be watching?