Moon Lovers - Episode 6 & 7 Review

Honestly, It's hard to do the recap for Moon Lovers since there are actually some versions aired differently. From what I get after reading some of the comments by netizen online, there are some scenes not aired on international online streaming. But they aired the original on SBS. So, if you happen to watch online on some websites, please take note that there will be some discrepancies with the original one. I will be reviewing the international version that I watched yesterday. 

Lady Hae died and now it left Soo (played by IU) alone in Goryeo. At night, after the death of Lady Hae, Soo comes upon Wook, the 8th Prince (played by Kang Ha Neul) sitting on the floor in his library later that night, but says nothing.

He stares forward as he begins to talk aloud, though it seems like he’s talking more to himself than to her: “Why could I not say it? I knew she wanted to hear it, but I could not tell her that I loved her. I did not think that I did love her.”

But then, he says, he realized that his feelings were love, and that he did in fact love her. He was confused between what he thought were feelings of gratitude and general comfort with her, but in the end, he realized it was love.

I do wonder as to why they made the story between 8th Prince and Lady Hae like this in K-version. Because now it doesn't make sense for 8th Prince to also fall for Soo. He loves Lady Hae but he also loves Soo? I am sorry to say this, but it seems that the 8th Prince seems like a playboy to me. I know that every men during that time not only have one wife, but many.

In C-version, the story regarding Ruo Lan and 8th Prince is really different from here. Ruo Lan doesn't even love 8th Prince, because by marrying 8th Prince, she lost the man she loves even their child. It's true that 8th Prince fell for her the first time he saw her, but over the time, with Ruo Lan's cold attitude towards him, makes him to fall for Ruo Xi, who is far warmer than her own sister. He tried to ask Ruo Lan to let go of her anger and grives, but it seems that Ruo Lan is not able to do that. 

But in K-version, Lady Hae indeed loves 8th Prince and I really don't understand as to why they have to make this kind of story. It seems as if the reason behind 8th Prince and Soo is not written solidly. I know that with the death of Lady Hae, the production team make a way for Soo and 8th Prince to be together, but as I said before, the story seems to be lacking somewhere. I am afraid that maybe they cut some of the scenes. 

On her own, Soo worries about what she’ll do now that Lady Hae is gone. But Eun, 10th Prince (played by Baek Hyun) was there to cheer her up and she finally able to live there. When everything turns out be great, the Hae family sold Soo to get married with an old man who has many sons.

At first, knowing that fact, all the Princes wanted to help Soo, so that she can escape from the marriage. Even faking the one on the horse is Soo, although the real Soo is with So, escaping with Baek Ah there.

Even So, 4th Prince, (played by Lee Jun Ki) also help her to get away, while stating that he helps her is pure because he doesn't want to see Soo live a life where she is controlled by others. He then said to her, "That kind of life is not worth living."

But when they are on the way to escape, Ji Mong and his party stopped them. He said he’s come to take Soo into the palace, and it’s with dawning horror that Wook and the other princes come to realize exactly what he means.

The old man who has many sons is actually, the King, much to the princes’ surprise.

Still, So refused to let the men take Soo, despite Princess Yeonhwa (played by Kang Ha Na) telling him that all of them could pay dearly if he doesn’t comply with the royal command. Soo, hearing this, decided to go on her own so that no one will get hurt because of her.

It's kinda weird when they forced the story, making the King to get married with Soo. I know that the story has to go where Soo has to live in the Palace, otherwise, the real story won't be able to come out. 

FYI, in C-version, all of the Noble Man's daugther has to enter the Palace to serve the King and the Royal Family. They also have to join the Maiden Selection before having the chance to be King's Consort. When they made Ruo Xi to join the Maiden Selection, everything seems to make sense because that's what they normally do in that era. But in K-version, Soo is being sold to the King. Does it seem normal? I think at least the King has to do some selection too. 

After arriving the Palace, Soo is still shocked that she will get married tonight. Knowing this, Jung, 14th Prince (played by Ji Soo) asked Queen Yoo, his own mother to help Soo. Even, Wook (8th Prince) also come to beg his mother to stop the marriage. But both the Queen couldn't do anything about that since it's the King's command.

Baek Ah, the 13th Prince (played by Nam Joo Hyuk) came to So (4th Prince) to ask a favor, to help Soo to escape the palace. So refused, saying that it's her decision to enter the Palace, so he doesn't have any right to force her. However, So was curious as to why Baek Ah insisted to help that girl, is that because Baek Ah likes her?

Also, in C-version, the Queen is able to have power over the King's Consort selection and with the request of 14th Prince and 4th Prince (for the sake of 13th Prince - who happened to be best friend with Ruo Xi) to the Queen, the Queen has taken out Ruo Xi from the Maiden list, instead she sent her to serve the tea for the King. But in K-version, it turns out the Queen is not able to do anything. 

 Secondly, since when Baek Ah and So becomes closer? Right from the start, they made both of this brother seem to go on separate way. They must have cut the scene, is it? It seems strange that Baek Ah is now close enough with So, to even ask him for help. 

*To note: in the original version aired by SBS, it turns out that So has helped Baek Ah once when he was being criticized by Yo (3th Prince)

“I am not the one who has feelings for her,” Baek Ah retorts, though he doesn’t say who does. Instead, he tells his half-brother about how he and Soo bonded after Lady Hae’s death, about their drunken antics following the funeral. Soo had asked him about his own feelings for Lady Hae, but Baek Ah explained that his status was too low for him to do anything about his feelings back then. Thoroughly wasted, Soo had bemoaned the status system in Goryeo, and told Baek Ah to wait a thousand years—there (then), no one is above anyone else.

Soo indeed introduced Baek Ah to the life he never knows and that freedom itself inspired Baek Ah to help Soo, not to be locked down in the Palace life. 

It's a wrong one for the production team in K-version to make the drunken scene between Baek Ah and Soo only to be a flashback, because the story is now a little bit weird. The last episode, both Soo and Baek Ah were fighting because of Lady Hae, but since when they become good friends now? Ahh, frustrating. 

The King himself was also surprised that the one who's been offered by Hae family is actually Soo, his late daugther-in-law's cousin. That night, before the King entered the room, Wook was there, kneeling in his path. Wook knew that what he was doing is dangerous, but he asked the King why he’s bringing another household into the palace. The King explained that he needed the help of the Hae Clan to settle border disputes with the Kitan (the people of Manchuria to the north), then asked Wook what stake he has in stopping the marriage. That’s when So steps in to provide another solution.

Their intervention doesn’t please the King in the least, but So goes on to say that he has a witness who saw one of Lady Hae’s uncles conspiring with the Kitan, adding that the Hae Clan should be punished, not brought in as in-laws. Their strength should be hindered in his view, and not helped. But King Taejo says he will proceed with the marriage, since none of the options So presented are feasible. He has a responsibility to protect the border, and he sees no better way than to marry within the Hae Clan. Punishing them is not an option.

Soo, having overheard the boys trying to stand up for her, runs out of the chamber. The King advances with the princes powerless to stop him, until he hears a crash and turns around. In her hand, Soo holds a bloody vase fragment, which she’s used to cut her wrist.

In a shaking voice, Soo tells the King that she cannot marry him with a scar on her body, which she’s now created. “Let me go now,” she pleads, and the King can’t help but admire her gumption. He orders Lady Hae’s uncle brought in, and Soo proceeds to collapse.

Soo ended up not marrying the King but be placed at Damiwon, considering her ability with the traditional herbs and makeup skill. She’s more than happy to tell her superior about how much she knows about both herbs and cosmetics,

Outside, she found So waiting, So grabbed her bandaged wrist. “You could have died,” he finally says. “If the cut were any deeper, you would have.” Soo’s smile disappears as she somberly says that she didn’t die, but that’s not good enough for So, who tears into her about scarring herself and the ramifications of becoming a court lady, since she might never be able to leave the palace now. If that’s the case, he asks, why didn’t she just marry the King?

“I don’t know!” she answered in her defense. She told him that she just couldn’t go through with it, and knew that only she could save herself. Tears well up in her eyes as she told him this, but So just answered by calling her a fool. Then, his soft underbelly shows as he adds, “Don’t think about doing that again. I won’t ever forgive you.”

So gave her a pessimistic tour of one of the palace lakes, explaining the rigors of palace life and how everyone within its walls is alone. Relentlessly optimistic, Soo said she’ll be fine since she’s not alone, and indicates the prince standing next to her as proof. She’s confident that no matter what happens, she’ll be able to endure, and even So is inclined to believe it just based on her positive attitude. Though he doesn’t resist quipping that palace life certainly won’t be boring with her around now, he can’t help but smile once he’s turned away from her.

This is way better than the C-version, because we are able to see 4th Prince more since the first episode and he seems to have a warmer character here rather than in C-version. I like this better! The interactions between So and Soo is also much more than what I expect during the earlier episodes. In C-version, you would only see a glance of Ruo Xi and 4th Prince in the first ten episodes and that's frustrating as I do wonder who's the real main lead. 

The next day, Wook came upon Soo trying to practice reading and writing, and corrects her mistakes. This is the first he’s heard about her not being able to read, so when he asked her how she was able to read his poem, she tells him that Lady Hae read it for her. His face fell at that, as he sid to himself that he owes his late wife. He watched her continue to try writing and laughs, eventually covering her hand with his own so he can help her write properly. She’s too busy staring at his close proximity to notice what he’s doing with the paper, and he draws even closer to her as they start their next character: his name, Wook. “It means the rising sun,” he adds, and she smiles.

The smile leaves him when he notices the scar on her wrist, now old, and he ties a bracelet onto her wrist to cover it. The red thread is to protect her from misfortune, and the jade symbolizes a happy relationship. “Please promise me… that you will never take it off,” he says.

Soo looks up at him and nods, breaking out into a small smile. Wook assures her that he’ll return her to where she belongs, and tells her to wait for him. Then, he leans forward and kisses her on the forehead, causing her to really smile. She studies the character that stands for his name that night, and thinks on the meaning behind it. She also studies her new bracelet, and mulls over how she’s happy to wait, because she likes Wook. "If I’m with him… I think I would be okay being Hae Soo, and not Go Ha Jin."

The Grand General came and he is the one who trained So for his martial arts skill. He said to the King that So is really a candidate for being the Crown Prince if not because of the scar on his face. When he met with So, he asked So as to what the reasons for So to stay in Songak. 

He knew that only one prince will remain in the palace, and that’s the prince who will sit on the throne. Again he asked what So’s real reason for staying in the palace is, but So gave him a silent look rather than an answer.

Woah, I like this plot better than the C-version! It seems as if the General now tried to warn So about the throne and whether So's real intention is indeed the throne. In C-version, it's true that 4th Prince want the throne, but it was nit shown directly like this. 4th Prince in C-version tends to keep everything inside him. Meanwhile, we understan So as the 4th Prince here better than the original version. His sorrow, loneliness and his awareness of Soo's beauty which makes his heart flutters. K-version really portrays the character of 4th Prince better than the original one. 

After being given leave by Court Lady Oh to throw her own party for Eun (10th Prince), Soo set up decorations, replete with her own chibi drawings of the prince, she found Eun drunkenly stumbling back to his quarters. He’s so drunk he sees three of her, and she just shakes her head. 

Eun was over the moon when Soo shows him the party spread she’s prepared for him, and was more than happy to wear the silly birthday hat she’s made for him. Soo thanked him for being the first friend she made in Goryeo, and told him she has an even more special gift: She sings “Happy Birthday” for him, while adding some flourishes of her own. 

So saw the display and laughs, much to Princess Yeonhwa’s ire. The other princes soon came upon them, with Crown Prince Mu revealing that he was in on the plot to let Court Lady Oh let Su take the day. It’s hilarious how all the princes get after ninth prince Won for comparing Soo to a gisaeng, even though he meant it in the good way. (Gisaeng were known for their singing and dancing, which wasn’t a very common practice for noble ladies.)

But the boys all want her to sing for them too, even though Eun would rather keep her all to himself. Su obliges, and they all fall silent as she launches into a simple, yet thoroughly modern song. So and Wook seem most entranced by her, but it seems safe to say that all the boys have now fallen under her spell. So seems especially moved, and once he became aware of it, he awkwardly left. 

Jealous over Soo’s little display, Princess Yeonhwa tries to send her off when the boys aren’t looking. Soo doesn’t take kindly to the princess reminding her of her place, but luckily, Crown Prince Mu intervenes. It was he who gave Soo permission to throw the party, because Eun enjoys spending time with her. That was the present he thought to give to his little brother.

Princess Yeonhwa acted nice as she takes her leave, but not before shooting Soo a terrible glare. The Crown Prince and Soo got to share a friendly moment, with him thanking her for helping him the other time before when the Crown Prince was having itchy skin, and Soo promised to help him in the future if he ever needs it.

Eun got his presents next, and while some are toys (which he loves), Jung gave him a book, which he’s much less happy about. Wook and Soo smiled at each other as Eun opens his gifts. So takes some time to himself, but he can’t stop from thinking about Soo. Baek Ah tried to bring him back to the festivities, and resorts to pulling him back when So doesn’t want to go.

Inside, Yo seemed to deliberately ask Eun what gift So gave him, only for Eun to reply that it was enough that So even came. Yo claimed that there’s a special present only So could give before whispering something to Eun, only for him to reply that So wouldn’t give him something like that. 

Eun run over to Soo to ask if she knows anything about the gift, and if she could help him get it. That’s when Baek Ah dragged So back into the party, and he can’t help but smile a little when he catches Soo smiling at him. Yo put So on the spot for not getting a gift, so So offered to get his younger brother anything he wants in return. Eun made him promise, and once he did, Eun innocently asks: “Show me your face without the mask!” 

Seriously, I really don't like Baek Hyun acting for 10th Prince. It was like I wanna kick him out those gorgeous Prince for his lack of acting skill. He is pretending to be innocent rather than real-innocent. He knows that So wouldn't give him that present, but why he insisted the have So to show his face without the mask?! What a coward. You shouldn't just listen to what other tell you Eun. Left aside the plot, I honestly don't think that Baek Hyun fits for a role in acting. He's suck. His acting was shown too much, as if he is only memorizing his line rather than truly feel the character.  

Crown Prince Mu admonished Eun for asking for such a gift, and Eun ended up implicating Soo in the plot, because he can’t seem to take a hint. So relented and carefully untied his mask in front of everyone.

Revealing his whole face, his scarred face, caused Princess Yeonhwa’s hand to go to her mouth in shock. So locked eyes with Soo before he finally can’t take anymore and leaves. Yo laughed, and Yeonhwa demanded that Eun apologize to his older brother. Crown Prince Mu admonished the lot of them, but mostly Yo, for exploiting people’s weak spots far too often.

Soo chased after So, who ends up taking out his frustration on her. She tried to get him to stay so that he could hear Eun’s apology or else he’ll rip all the brothers apart, but So used the hand she lays on his own to push her up against a column.

“Look at me. Look at me properly!” he commanded, face to face with her now. “That look… that look in your eyes… I hate it so much that it makes me crazy.”

Soo could only stare at him with that look, and he stared right back.

It's so sad that Moon Lovers can only gain 5% in rating. This is the evidence that pre-produced drama can also lead to failure. The production and editing team have failed in bringing a good quality of scenes and pictures. Maybe they should change the editor. This was a bit of a strange watch, and I wonder if that has something to do with the airing order having changed due to the first week’s triple header. I’m trying to figure out if this episode would’ve been better served had it come directly after Episode 5 as opposed to one week afterward, and while I think that might’ve mitigated some of the problem areas here, it wouldn’t necessarily have fixed them. 

It’s hard to know whether there’s an issue in the editing, directing, or writing, but this episode more than ever had a sort of disjointedness about it, like we were seeing scenes chopped from other scenes that didn’t need to be in any specific order. A through-line emerged as the episode wore on that I was more than happy to cling to, but I felt more confused than Soo ever was about what was happening to her and why. 

I thought at first because this is a pre-produced drama, they should at least have done their best in choosing the costume and shooting places. Seriously, they did a poor job on this which makes them get defeated by Love in The Moonlight. At least, Love in The Moonlight invested in making the room of Crown Prince on set, rather than using an old castle. Thinking about that, Love in the Moonlight is not a pre-produced drama but they did a good job in editing each scenes which make it easier and not confusing to watch. Moon Lovers maybe should have done the same, otherwise they would not be able to handle the competition. What a waste of Lee Jun Ki and Kang Ha Neul.