The premiere of Scarlet Heart: Ryeo wastes no time hurling its protagonist — and the audience — from the mundane present into the treacherous, beautiful world of early Goryeo.
We meet (IU), a spirited, somewhat cynical 25-year-old woman living in modern-day Seoul. After a painful breakup and a series of job struggles, she feels like her life is a complete failure. During a freak solar eclipse, she tries to save a drowning boy at a lake — only to fall in herself. When she surfaces, the sky has changed. So has everything else.
Hae Soo (IU) is unhappy with her life. He tells her that her life can't change easily. Now if she died and came back to life, then... WordPress.com Show all The Ostracized Wolf: Wang So (Lee Joon-gi), the 4th Prince, makes a striking entrance, immediately establishing his "wolf-dog" reputation by killing a horse to signal he will not be a hostage anymore. His mask and scars serve as visual parallels to characters like the Phantom of the Opera. The Gentle Scholar: Wang Wook (the 8th Prince, played by Kang Ha-neul) is introduced as a warm, trustworthy figure who first aids Hae Soo. The Reverse Harem: The episode famously features a scene with the princes at the royal baths, which some reviewers noted felt like "fluffy romance" bait to mask the darker political thriller to come. Reddit +8 Production & Technical Review Cinematography: Reviewers praise the high production value, particularly the lush costumes and set designs that distinguish the Goryeo period from the more commonly seen Joseon era. Music (OST): The soundtrack received mixed initial reactions for its modern feel; some critics felt the inclusion of rap and contemporary pop was jarring for a
Hae-Ryung finds herself in the imperial palace, where she meets the crown prince, Wang Won (Yeo Jin-goo). Initially, she is confused and disoriented, but she soon tries to adapt to her new surroundings.