Drama Review Corner: ‘Scarlet Heart: Ryeo’ Episodes 12 and13

Officially Kmusic

October 6, 2016

Last time Court Lady Oh (Woo Hee Jin) tragically died in place of Hae Soo (IU). After the incident viewers are brought back into the palace where the King (Jo Min Ki) enlists 4th prince Wang So (Lee Joon Ki) as an ambassador. Wang So goes but on one condition: Hae Soo must be protected.

After So leaves, the king forces Hae Soo out of the palace. Hae Soo in her last resort to say goodbye goes on a walk with Wang So. So attempts to make her promise to stay in the palace which of course she can’t do. In a cute little scene Wang So attempts to kiss Hae Soo, who is still uncomfortable, but he lets her go. Then steals one from under her adorably.

Wang Wook (Kang Ha Nuel) fresh off of his betrayal, learns of Hae Soo’s departure and cries realizing she is truly gone.

Meanwhile princess Yeon Hwa (Kang Ha Na) attempts to disengage with the evil queen Yoo Ssi (Park Ji Young). Yeon Hwa switches her focus from killing crown prince Moo (Kim San Ho) to redeeming her mother. After Yeon Hwa leaves, 3rd prince Wang Yo (Hong Jong Hyun) promises to bring her with marriage.

A year passes by and it’s time for the peace celebration. Woo Hee (Seo Hyun) is practicing for her dance with Baek Ah (Nam Joo Hyuk) but is secretly planning on killing the king. Meanwhile, Wang Yo attempts to court Yeon Hwa and gives her a ring. They’re interrupted by Wang Wook who, upon the departure of Wang Yo, discussing becoming king once again. But he has a plan to back up Wang Yo as to seem a hero.

Hae Soo has become a water maiden who is tortured by the others for being kicked out of the palace. Wang Jung (Jisoo) attempts to redeem her by bringing Wang Wook to see her. He once again turns his back on her. But that night he visits Soo, he attempts to help her by claiming once he has power he can help her but leaves her once again.

The next day, Wang So comes home and livid that the king betrays him goes against his order. Hae Soo while folding towels is greeted by So. Wang So offers to help but Hae Soo, still obviously afraid of him, dismisses him.

After a year of marriage, Wang Eun (Baekhyun) is still rather unhappy, and still has feelings for Hae Soo, but it’s clear his wife Sun Duk (Ji Hye Ra) is beginning to grow on him. Meanwhile, the king is slowly dying and Choi Ji Mong (Kim Sang Kyun) enlists the help of Hae Soo to help him. The king upon learning about this summons Hae Soo. The king realizes she is like Ji Mong and knows what the future holds but gives her some wisdom as to how she should handle it.

Back with Woo Hee and Baek Ah, Woo Hee continues to practice her dance as Baek Ah guides her. When she accidentally slices herself. Baek Ah realizes her troubled past and apologizes for not being there sooner. Woo Hee, with her feelings for Baek Ah developing, contemplates on how to continue and discusses with Hae Soo.

During the peace festival, Wang So asks Hae Soo to marry him and tries to convince her to leave the palace with him. She denies his request and runs off upon seeing Wang Wook who then stops Wang So. So, knowing Wook’s betrayal, confronts him.

Meanwhile at the peace festival, Woo Hee gears up to attack the king while Baek Ah looks on. Then realizing what she is doing rushes forward and saves the king and presumably gets stabbed himself. Returning to the scene in episode 13, Baek Ha is in pain but is okay meanwhile the king has fainted and is taken to his palace bed. The king contemplates on his choices while slowly dying.

In the medicine room of the palace, Hae Soo makes tea to help ease the king and she contemplates Wang So’s marriage propasal. When she can’t reach a pot, Jung helps her and he opens up to her. In the meantime, Wang Yo, Wang Wook, and Wang Won (Yoon Sun Woo) prepare for a battle of the throne blocking the roads so no one can leave the palace.

Hae Soo attends to the king as the queens anxiously wait outside. The king instructs Hae Soo to find the crown prince and to tell no one about his condition. He also warns whoever asks if he has died is plotting to be king. Hae Soo rushes to find the crown prince when she’s stopped by Wook, she lies to Wook and he reveals his plans to be king.

Back on the road Wang So attempts to leave the palace but is stopped by Yeon Hwa and he informs her he wants to be king to win over Hae Soo. In the kings bedroom, the queens have entered just in time for the king to pass away. Baek Ah confronts Woo Hee about her plans to kill the king. Woo Hee tearfully informs him that the king is responsible for the death of her family. Wang Yo and Won learn of Hae Soo and try to stop her from getting the crown prince and revealing their plans.

Hae Soo on her way leaving the palace find Won asking about her. She hides behind a pillar and Wang So finds her. Realizing that he might be her only hope, she tells him the king has died. So upon realizing this informs her where the crown prince is and realizing it’s Woo Hee’s hometown go to Woo Hee and Baek Ah. As Baek Ah is explaining his feelings, So and Hae Soo rush in informing them both of the kings death and Woo Hee agrees to get the crown prince.

That night in the throne room, Hae Soo worries over the fight that is about to occur. She makes Wang So promise to not kill Wang Wook. Hae Soo still scared of So’s future reassures him she’s not worried about his life because he will live for a while.

While the queens are still mourning their husband and trapped in his bedroom, Wang So pays a visit.  It’s revealed every year the king has sent So a new mask and one year two years ago he came and visited. Back in the present, So warns Ji Mong of the fight for power and they prepare for battle as Wang Wook’s mother comes to terms with her sons betrayl.

On the road to the crown prince, Baek Ah and Woo Hee bond and share a kiss.

Back at the palace the battle begins as Wook and Yo take a stance, and Wook admits he wants Wang So dead. Wang So, however, has come prepared and a fight between Wook and So begins. The fight begins to surround with a horde of arrows being shot at those on the betrayers side. The battle comes to an end when the crown prince returns and Wang Wook betrays Yo.  It’s announced the king is dead and Wang Moo is the new king.

Each of the brothers mourn the lose of the king and Wang Eun is warned that he could die by Sun Duk. In a touching scene, Eun finally comes to terms with his marriage. Meanwhile, Hae Soo confronts Wang Wook about Wang Yo. He reveals he used her as a pawn and that he wanted to kill Wang So. Hae Soo in a moment of clarity realizes that Wook wasn’t who he used to be and leaves him.

In the forest Wang Yo is being chased by the guards and his brothers. On the edge of the cliff Wang Wook tries to kill him with a bow and arrow but So stops him. Wang So takes over and in a sword battle, Yo is disarmed. Wang Wook stabs him and he falls off the cliff. In the garden Hae Soo meets with Wang So who reveals he killed his brother. Hae Soo consoles him and the episodes end with a sobbing So in the arms of Hae Soo.

I loved episode 13, episode 12 not so much. And not because it was a bad episode but a frustrating one. The struggle of Hae Soo not realizing what a bad person Wang Wook was and not reciprocating Wang So’s feelings made my heartache. I’m really glad that she finally realized Wook isn’t the sweet caring man she fell for and I hope now that she’s realized So isn’t a heartless killer and even regrets killing his traitorous brother, that he isn’t the person she thinks he is.

I also seriously enjoy the parallels between the two brothers, Hae Soo has to ask if Wook missed her whereas So says it immediately and Wook asks if the king is dead and So before anything else makes sure Hae Soo is okay. I think it shows which one cares more and I absolutely love the way the script does that. Really great episodes this week but I have to give it a 9/10 because suddenly Yoo Ssi’s hair went from black to gray in the middle of episode 13. I’m not sure what that was meant to represent.

Catch “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo” Mondays and Tuesdays!

What are your thoughts on this weeks episode? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: SBS

Edited By: Sarah Smith

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