# Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016)

> A 25-year-old woman is transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty and wakes in the body of a noblewoman caught among the rival princes of the Wang royal family.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/58577

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 20
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, romance, fantasy
- Created by: Tong Hua
- Network: SBS
- Cast: IU, Lee Joon-gi, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, Baekhyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Ji-soo, Yoon Sun-woo
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5320412/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: melancholic, sweeping, romantic, tense, bittersweet

## What critics say

Viewers broadly praise the lead performances, chemistry and clear handling of a crowded royal cast, while the romance and the bleak ending divide opinion.

## Synopsis

Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016) is a South Korean period romance series created by Tong Hua for SBS. Adapted from a Chinese novel, it follows Go Hajin, a 25-year-old woman who is transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty and wakes in the body of Lady Hae Soo, played by IU. She finds herself among the ruling princes of the Wang family, including Lee Joon-gi as Wang So, Kang Ha-neul as Wang Wook, and Hong Jong-hyun as Wang Yo. Her struggle is to survive the palace's plots while navigating a love triangle and the brutal rivalries between brothers competing for the throne. Each episode layers court intrigue, political maneuvering, and romantic longing into a single story told across twenty hour-long episodes. The mood is melancholic and sweeping, with lush costumes and palace settings giving the romance a sense of fate and loss. Fans of Mr. Sunshine, The Moon Embracing the Sun and Mr. Queen will find resonance in its blend of historical grandeur, time displacement, and doomed love. The series is a single, self-contained story rather than an open-ended saga, and it closes on a somber note that lingers with viewers long after the final episode.

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