K-Drama Review: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is a Tearjerker! (2016 TV Series)

“Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” (2016) is a Korean adaptation of a Chinese novel. Warning! It is a tearjerker so keep a box of tissues handy.

Per quotes from Wikipedia RE “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” (2016): “Despite its ensemble cast, extensive publicity and US$13 million production budget, the series only averaged single-digit audience rating of 7.59% in South Korea, and was overshadowed by Love in the Moonlight (2016). It received criticisms for its screenplay, direction and performances, but was well received overseas.”

Since I’m in America that places me in the “overseas” group that received this series well. This TV show was binge-worthy entertainment that left me with a lingering thought: Does this cruel world really have to be so cruel to live in?

At the beginning of each episode, there is a message to the effect that the scriptwriters took some artistic liberties with the records of history. Artistic liberties? Yes indeed. The idea of a girl from the future falling through water and accidentally ending up in Joseon is the reason my rating is 4 out of 5 stars. Nevertheless, if you don’t know that much about Korean history, especially during the…