[Drama Review] 'Scarlet Heart: Ryeo' - Episode 18

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SCARLET HEART: RYEO -- EPISODE 18

Why does she look like someone ran over her puppy?

So gets married -- and it's not to Hae Soo!

Probably the most powerful scene in this episode is the interaction between So and his mother. It's also one of the scenes I didn't quite understand. King So apparently intends to punish her by taking care of her and becoming the only son in her life. Yo is dead, and he's exiled Jung for opposing his ascension to the throne. I get all that -- sort of. But his mother's reaction is extremely curious. At the end, she reaches up to touch his face, but her fingers are bent and claw-like, like she wanted to dig them into his face. Was it a caress or an attack? I guess that secret died with her. So's reaction to her death really brings tears to the eyes, in spite of the fact that she was an evil hag.

So seems to find solace in Hae Soo, even though everyone unhelpfully reminds him they can't get married because she has a self-inflicted scar that got her out of marrying Taejo. This episode was filled with those cute moments that I live for: Hae Soo and So leaving the palace, walking through the market where decorations were set up, loving each other, laughing and having a good time. It's a beautiful sight, not only from the opulence but also So's rare smile.

Not even Goryeo is immune from the creepy clown craze

But for every cute moment, there has to be some darkness. Chae Ryung has been discovered to be a spy and is sentenced to death by beating. I can sort of understand Hae Soo's disbelief -- I know people who have had a friend betray them, but they still care for their former friend's welfare. Chae Ryung apparently was guilty of a lot -- her crimes stretch back years. But Hae Soo is upset at her death just the same. I have to hand it to the writers and assume that's no accident.

What I can't get over is this: if So's rule is that unpopular or supported, wouldn't there be peasants rioting or more claimants to the throne? It just seems like his court is empty, which is low hanging fruit for an assassin to come in and eliminate So. To the best of my knowledge, you can't block an arrow with a sword. I dunno, it almost seems like they depopulated the show to save money, and then made light of it.

Get that off your face, man! It's an alien Face Hugger!

This episode seemed a little slower than normal. Sure, we got some shocks and not one but two deaths, but it still seemed like it was lacking something. I found myself wishing they'd focus more on the romance, maybe. Most of the brothers are gone, so you don't get the witty banter of the early installments. Also, the performances weren't dripping attitude like they were before.

It all comes down to this: I think the writers were scrambling by this point in the scriptwriting process, trying to find what they lost, and they couldn't quite figure it out. This show is sort of a shell of what it was. I'm hoping they can turn it around by next week since that's all the time they have left.