Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo vs Moonlight Drawn by Clouds

We have reached half-way through for both dramas, Scarlet Heart Ryeo & Love in the Moonlight. As I have said in my previous post (click here), both of this drama are in historical period and comparable enough because they have the same genre.

Af first, I thought that Love in the Moonlight really has to work extra hard to gain atttention and compete with Moon Lovers.

Park Bo Gum is a young rising actor and this is his first time in historical drama, also, as a male lead. It's truly a pressure for him to compete with veteran actor like Lee Jun Ki who has many experiences doing saeguk dramas. Yet, Park Bo Gum is well known for his acting skill I admit, so we could expect something from him.

With Kim Yoo Jung as his acting partner, I do hope she can help him in doing well. But after we go through half-way for both drama, here's the rating:

Moon Lovers/Scarlet Heart Ryeo

Love in the Moonlight

It's too bad that Moon Lovers end up getting defeated by Love in the Moonlight, not because that Love in the Moonlight doesn't deserve such rating. I am trying not to be biased, even though I admit that Park Bo Gum is really a hottie right in the moment. However, I am someone who always tempted to watch Lee Jun Ki's drama, either it is done well or not. Here's the list as some people have pointed out, in which I don't think Moon Lovers does not do well because of sole reason;

Casting

I had a huge expectation with Moon Lovers because I've been a fan of C-version Bu Bu Jing Xin due to the amazing writing skills. Moreover with super gorgeous casting, comparable to Heirs, wish such a Hallyu projects, I thought they would probably do well. However, as far as I have watched the first second episode, I was deeply disappointed by IU and Baekhyun's acting. I think what netizens have noticed is not something they're purposely being prejudiced towards idols. It's because IU's acting is not convincing enough, meanwhile Baekhyun's acting seems to be forced and awkward enough.

It's such a waste for Lee Jun Ki and Kang Ha Neul because they have nothing to be complained about. IU must have known that taking a lead role in a remade of Bu Bu Jing Xin must put her in pressures because she needs to be comparable enough to Liu Shi Shi who played Ruo Xi. Given that fact, she should work extra hard to understand her character more, but what she does is only making her eyes look bigger everytime she is in shock. I must say that IU's acting is still the same when she did Lee Soon Shin, and with experience and time, I think she must learn how to combine emotions, facial expressions and tone, specially for saeguk dramas if she wants to compete with Kim Yoo Jung. 

Moreover, I don't get it as to why the production team exposed the abs scene where the Princes were taking a bath to introduce them? If they are going to give fan-service like this, I don't hope for such good quality story then. Another casting that put me in shock is, Ruo Lan, the second wife of 8th Prince. How could the production team cast an Ahjumma to play that role? Then she is paired with Kang Ha Neul who is 10 years younger than him? I am not complaining with age gap, but they don't match well on the screen. 

Meanwhile, I have basically no complaint for Love in the Moonlight main lead, Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung, because they both fits perfectly with their role. At first, I was worried with the second male lead, B14A's Jinyoung as he is very new to dramaland, and since he is an idol, he might not work well being a second male lead. However, after I watched how he acted in the first two episodes, I am sure he has talent for doing drama. His line and tone is very smooth and I like it everytime when he saw Ra On with such eyes. Secondly, I don't quite like Chae Soo Bin for playing the royal consort of Yeong later on, because she doesn't look nice for wearing hanbok actually. But alright, seeing that she is the competitor for Kim Yoo Jung, then I am glad they chose Chae Soo Bin, because that way, Kim Yoo Jung is not faded away by her. 

Remade Story Line

Many people have pointed out that most of the Koreans do not like remade dramas. As far as I remember, the only time K-remade drama hit it big is for Boys Over Flowers (remake of taiwanese Meteor Garden) and Playful Kiss (remake of taiwanese It Started With a Kiss). But, let me tell you, remade drama or story line IS NOT a problem for Koreans actually. 

Love in the Moonlight is also an adaption from famous webtoon with the same name, and most Koreans must have read that webtoon I supposed, which I think they have known the story by now (although I am not - since I cannot read Korean) 

The real problem is that, viewers tend to choose dramas that is easy to connect with and doesn't drain their energy. With much things happen in our everyday life, we want a drama that is easy to understand, delivers good message to viewers, brings happiness feeling when we wacth it and not to burden us nor make us feel heavy or complicated. But, I do not mean that heavy dramas won't do well because there also also some dramas with heavy plot but still gained high rating.

Most famous blink-blink tracking suit of Kim Joo Won (played by Hyun Bin)

But as far as I have seen from previous years, most of the hit dramas tend to have a story line that is easy to connect, has some funny moments and influence the society either with the lead's antiques, styles, words, fashion, catchphrases etc. For example, Secret Garden hit it big for Kim Joo Won's chanting of Kim Soo Han Moo....bla3, influenced the fashion industry for the blink-blink tracking suit, engage with viewers because of the funny soul-swapped.

Another one, A Gentleman's Dignity also hit it big for portraying a group of men in their 40s but they act as if they are still in 20s. With how that men interacts to protect one another in telling lies and trying to flirt, this show hit it big because it is easy to connect to real life.

You Who Came From the Star is also an example for hitting big because of Cheon Song Yi's antique.

Jun Ji Hyun is not afraid for exposing her ugly face after being heart-broken and her rapping skill.

Boys Over Flowers also hit it big because of Lee Min Ho's cuteness being a rich chaebol with lack of affection, though it was not only because of this.

Last but not least, Descendant of the Sun who just happened to be booming this year, has a story line which is easy to connect with, a real life situation and choices, with Song Joong Ki being a big boss with suave personality, his character is loved by many people. 

In fact, Love in the Moonlight does very well even though it's an adaption story because the story line is easy to connect with and allows us to feel the heart-touching moment with the memory of innocent youth romance story.

And so, as we know, with heavy plot to tell, actors and actress have a lot to work on it. I swear that the first two episode of a drama is very important in attracting viewers. However, over the course of episode 1 and 2 of Moon Lovers, the theme seems a little bit gloomy for making it a hit. The plot is not easy to understand unless you've watched the original version. Maybe they should start with IU waking up in Goryeo dynasty, thinking it was all a dream, cursing all the people there then have a flashback how things turned out that way rather than telling us how she gets drowned and transferred back to Goryeo, getting lost and shocked. That's where the feelings are lost because the production team should give us something to be excited about in the first place, then they need to tell us the reasons behind it. I am not a pro and my suggestion does not mean that everything will turn out well if they did that scenario. It's just what I think and it may probably work for the better or maybe for worse. 

Directing & Editing

Directing and editing scenes for drama play a really important part to deliver the message the writer intended to tell. There is of course a lot of differences as when the cinematography needs to zoom in and zoom out. It tells a whole different story, for example if you want to expose the beauty of a person, you should zoom in to every details, like the eyes, nose and lips rather than having a picture as a whole.

In terms of editing, I believe that every scenes in drama would not be able to be taken as a whole completely one episodes. Actors and actresses might not be able to shoot one episodes in a day, thus they make it scenes by scenes or we usually call it take by take. While cutting and putting each scenes and making it into one whole episodes, it is important to know that the story line would make some sense, as if the story is a whole package.

In case of Moon Lovers, given that they are pre-produced drama, I believe that the production team would have much time to edit each scenes. But sometimes I’ll come across some puzzling edits, jarring cuts, and nonsensical compositions which are confusing to some of the viewers. As I mentioned on my previous post (click here) there are scenes in Moon Lovers that is better to be aired as real scenes rather than a flashback, because it will give us a better picture. I am truly disappointed that the production team of Moon Lovers only can bring this much of an average production, even though they are given a huge budget. Maybe their budget is wasted on having so much expensive casts.

Meanwhile, Love in the Moonlight gives a truly impressive story telling, cinematography and perfect plot for us to understand it. They tend to finish the story within each episodes. Besides, they also give the titles for each episodes to match it with the theme story. Even when they introduces a new problem, they don't drag the problem for a long time and that's what I love about it. I like it even more when Crown Prince Yeong kissed Ra On first then they did a flashback on the next episodes, surprising us that actually Yeong knew that Ra On is a woman. I give my standing applause for the last 2 episodes due to the fact the production team, specially the videographer and editor, surprised us with much excitement for the next episodes. They really know how to cut the scenes!

Value Added (Teaser/Preview)

Given that Moon Lovers is a pre-produced drama, maybe they should make something as a value-added rather than having it plain as regular dramas. Maybe they should air the behind-the-scenes for us, or maybe something like promotional video or anything to attract viewers?

What they did is showing off abs of the fantastic cast. Are they going to give us much fan-service like this? Is this the value-added one? Does it necessary for the story line? If yes, then I wouldn't hope for the quality of the story.

On the other hand, I am absolutely impressed to the idea of Park Bo Gum dances Bombastic for the first preview of Love in the Moonlight which eventually that video becomes a hot topic, because it depicts a whole different personality and character of a normal Crown Prince of historical drama.

Then this drama becomes as the most anticipated drama!

Even, Park Bo Gum also dances for real at Gwanghwamun Square! Isn't that epic? I think Bombastic's preview is the BEST preview ever for a drama so far!

Let's admit it, You Who Came From The Star also made some special ending story which may not be part of the story itself to give us better understanding.

Specially when the scenes of Do Min Joon kissed Cheon Song Yi in the winter lake, when she confessed her love, but she got rejected. Do Min Joon actually stopped the time and kissed her instead. This gives us totally different level of understanding, right?

Another one, A Gentleman's Dignity gives us mini scenes in every beginning of the episodes, which might not be related to the episodes' story. This is what I mean special value-added thing. As for the evidence, you may check the rating.

Production Value

It's really important to check and do the right budgeting for a drama. It's about where you would put the money for the production. Whether you would invest on the background place, costumes, casts, advertisement or comfort.

In my opinion, Moon Lovers put much budget on hiring the cast. Specially I don't understand as to why they cast EXO's Baekhyun as the 10th Prince. Thinking that with EXO's fanbase, they will boost the rating? It's too bad that the hanbok they are wearing is not something that I would be attracted to see.

While the palace they used seems to be too old. I guess with a huge budget like Moon Lovers, they should invest on costumes and setting up the Palace room more thoroughly, like what Love in the Moonlight did.

Park Bo Gum's hanbok is all designed by hanbok designer, Lee Jin Hee (check here) and as what she said, each hanbok took four months to be completed. Meanwhile, the drama set for Crown Prince's room and everything like library and details of the Palace is being set independently. Thus, the scenes come out so pretty, right?

Luck

In whatever case, I think luck also plays an important part here. I am not a fan of Park Bo Gum at first, because I never watch his series. I only hear what people say that Park Bo Gum is trully a talent in acting and he's pretty popular right now because of the Reply series.

It turns out that he is truly a talented actor, who can manage such expression in his eyes, his facial expressions, his tone and even his smiles. I've become devoted to him too knowing that he is younger than me, but very talented in acting. While he is still a humble young actor, he gains a lot of respect from many people. Maybe this is his opportunity in his life which would make him to hit it big, or maybe Park Bo Gum is a real Crown Prince in the past! 

I am not being subjective that Love in the Moonlight wins over no matter what. I just watch half-way for both dramas and found some points like what I have explained above. Maybe you should see both dramas too to compare, then you might check on what I have pointed out here.

I would say that Love in the Moonlight really deserves such high rating, meanwhile Moon Lovers is not a drama that deserves to get a rating below 5%. That's too much, hopefully they would make it to around 7 - 8% in rating.