The thread is open.
I’m sure there’ll be comparisons made between this and Junho’s “Red Sleeve.” I’ve a decided preference for Kang HanNa’s acting and beauty but I don’t know whether I like Lee Joon or JunHo better. We shall see.
gifs from seawherethesunsets’ tumblr
Let’s enjoy the show!!
Kalimera @Packmule3!
Thank you for this thread!
I think both JunHo and Lee Joon are versatile actors. I really enjoyed Lee Joon on The Silent Sea and on Bulgasal but he has totally different vibes from JunHo. – I am also rooting for JunHo to take the Baeksang Award in a few days!
As for Kang Hanna I am interesting to see her in a sageuk. She was pretty good in “Start Up” and “My Roommate is a Gumiho”! I have also watched the short “Bite Sisters” on YouTube.
Let us see how Bloody Heart will go!
The first episode reminds me a lot of Seven Day Queen. Done so well, grey characters and all.
Annyeong!
The fist episode was good as an introduction to our story.There are so many spies and conspiracy in the Palace. It is a fantasy setting of course.
Jang Hyuk is pretty awesome as a baddie.
Lee Joon and his younger actor were pretty good in all the emotional scenes and we get to see more of Kang HanNa who is so beautiful!
It resembles RSC on the fact that the director is a woman but here the writernim is a man. We shall see how this will go.
Rio contributes a song to Bloody Heart.
I really like her voice!
Rio – Dimly : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8655c8wQ
Can anyone tell me where you are watching this? I am so depressed that Disney+ is just dumping all these shows into some black hole. I missed Crazy Love and Grid, but I really don’t want to miss Bloody Heart!
Hi there, @Jane M.
Long time no see.
If you don’t mind illegal sites, there’s dramacool and kissasian.
I’ve subscriptions to Netflix, Viki, Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium, and Apple TV. I dropped Disney+ recently.
Because Netflix and Viki don’t allow me to screenshot, I’ve to go to dramacool and kissasian. So far, I haven’t had trouble from those sites but then I’m not a techie and I wouldn’t know a malware from a TikTok app.
I just watched the first episode and I think it will do well ratings wise. The acting was really good. But I am a little concerned about the writing. And it’s just the first episode.
With regards to the lead, Bulgasal is still fresh from my mind. So seeing LJ as the Crown Prince during the first scene, made me imagine his face contorting into a monster for at least a couple of seconds. Haha.
Since KHN’s scenes were shorter, I must say she seems to remind me of Robin Hood’s Lady Marian.
So to compare the adults with their the younger counterparts, the young girl was equally pretty but her vibe is very different. She acts like a noble’s daughter and is very dignified. Crown Princess personified I must say.
So when the young CP told her she is ugly then proceeded to tell her he will marry her I practically rolled my eyes. No wonder they have lines like this. The writer is a guy. Sigh.
I am just glad the younger portion is just a short bit because the young actor playing CP is already 27 years old.
With regards to the last scene where the prince left the Palace to meet the now adult Hana I was actually surprised that she was smiling brightly at him upon his arrival.
I guess I feel it was more realistic for Hana to react like Jang Ki Yong’s character in My Ahjussi where he hated IU for killing his dad.
The last image of young Hana was of her crying in deep grief over the loss of her parents. They were beheaded because they were accused of treason to which they were completely innocent. She was sentenced to death as well and only managed to escape. Normally, she would have hated him or seeing him would remind her of the injustice her family suffered. Or at least, she she would feel divided. Happy to see him and yet guilty for being excited to see him. Something like that.
So her smiling at him now seems quiet baffling to me. Am I the only one who thinks this way?
Hey M,
I really think that Kang Hanna as the adult Crown Princess doesn’t know that the King is coming for her. She is calling him “Sunbaenim” and she believes he is a scholar and not the King or her fiance.
Lee Joon aka the King protected his wife as his Mother the Queen told him so. His father the previous King also helped him to save her by revealing to him the secret passage to sneak outside the palace.
I believe that we are going to learn tonight about it more.
Still, we shall see how this will go. As it seems, the story will be with lots of tears.
Let us enjoy tonight’s episode!
Just watched Episode 2. Definitely we are going to cry buckets for this one. I am getting prepared…
P.S. @M, I was right, she doesn’t know he is the King.
@Cleopatra
Thks haven’t watched episode 2 yet.
Thanks you, packmule3. I will try watching on one of those sites. I dropped Disney+ too.
Just finished ep 2. Kang hana is sooooo pretty 😍😍😍 it is the usual king’s romance dilemma that I prefer to avoid… but I am making a drama cheat because of my bias and I am loving kang hana in her role. hope to see her intelligence in the next few episodes.
It does seems like she didn’t connect the dots yet when he told her about his mom’s death that night. How can he marry her knowing she thought someone else killed their parents when truth is his mom killed herself and it inadvertently created a convenient accusation toward her family as the perpetrator. The king is selfish for wanting to stay together with her with the fact that it will cause her more harm when he knows he could never commit to her. This plot in a sageuk I will never understand.
I am so glad I found a site to watch this drama! I have to admit to being a little confused after these first 2 episodes, but I know that these historical dramas have many, many twists and turns. The scenes where Lee Joon is placing pieces on a Go board make me believe he has a very long and detailed plan to unfold. Also, please forgive me for possibly breaking a rule here, but some of the scenes are just so incredibly beautiful to look at that they take my breath away. I am hoping I will see a little more of how this story will fit together in ep 3!
Dear @Packmule3,
Can you change the title to 1-4 episodes? As it seems we are a few who are watching Bloody Heart.
Also, brand new Song from the OST : Kim Yeon Woo – Wish Becomes Stars
Okay, @Cleopatra!
Thank you my Lady! ❤️
You’re welcome. 🙂
Finally, we have some action in this chess like game!
Episode 3 and especially 4 gave us some pace!
Especially episode 4 was amazing! I will return tomorrow for more!
Kalimera! Here are my thoughts on the sageuk and political kdrama after watching Episodes 1-4. Minor spoilers!
😵🥴
Bloody Heart will proceed as a Go game. We can say that it is equivalent to chess for the West. Strategy is essential to understand the series. So far, it is evident that King Lee Tae is planning his revenge for years towards Left Counselor Park Gye-Won.
After all, 7 years ago, Park made LT’s mother the Queen to commit suicide and poison her son the Crown Prince, in order to save him. At the same time, Park killed all the Yoo clan because they were targeted as traitors.
The Crown Princess Yoo Jung was saved by the Crown Prince as his mother told him a husband should do for his wife, but Jung herself didn’t know it was actually him. She was meeting him for all those years, without having knowledge WHO he really was.
Lee Tae repeatedly saves Jung.
From an unfortunate incident, Park will find out that Lee has a weakness. Counselor Park doesn’t know of course that in front of him, he has the Crown Princess in flesh and blood, alive and kicking.
So, he is using her for his own reasons to enter the Palace.
Queen Dowager is Park’s ally and does whatever he wants. At the same time, Lee wants Minister of War Jo Won-Pyo to become his ally. So, the King LT planned Jo’s daughter to become his Queen.
Themes on the Show:
Strategy, heavy Politics in the Palace, lots of Spies against the King, Love and Hate along with Revenge.
I am not confident that this will be light or have a happy ending. So, embrace yourselves and let’s enjoy the ride…!
One of most gloriously shot series, ever.
I am genuinely pleased by this series 🙂
I just watched Episodes 5-6.
Although the actors and actresses are doing a terrific job. I have to mention that at times, the directing is lacking. I have noticed this from the beginning, but I was holding back my tongue to see how it will proceed later on.
Lee Joon in Episode 5 was all the time with wet eyes in every sequence. I didn’t like it. It is exhausted not only for us, but also the actor.
Episode 6 was definitely better and the cinematography helped. The photography director did a great job. We got some amazing shots.
The only thing that is certain is that this show is heavy, with lots of political battles and I don’t think it will end well.
BTW, Kang HanNa is mesmerizing…
We shall see how this will proceed!
Dear Queen @Packmule3, can you make this an open thread? As it seems very few of us is watching this show!
P.S. New Song from the Soundtrack:
It’s Red by ID Earth ft. Park Da Wool
I also wonder why the director decided to have Lee Tae to have frequent teary eyes… It’s understandable he’s a depressed (albeit determined) character.
However, I still think she is doing a good job. And yes, the director of photography deserves all the praises.
Kang Hanna really is mesmerizing. I’m glad to see such a strong female character with zero annoying traits in a period drama.
@qqq,
I cannot say she is doing a good job yet. So far, I see that the actors are not giving us their full potential.
I am extremely picky about this, especially when it is known that Lee Joon was sceptical to do a sageuk.
If her directing, backfires to him because the viewers think he didn’t do his best, that means LJ won’t do another historical drama.
So, I am waiting patiently to decide on the script, on directing, on acting, etc…
@Cleopatra
I see.
As to why I think she’s doing a good job:
– The narrative pacing of the drama is neither fast nor slow. This is great in my book.
– Pillow shots are taken effectively, not prolonging time duration (unlike some ‘acclaimed’ series that are so unnecessarily long).
– Editing is executed finely.
The only thing that I cannot understand is those tears in LT’s eyes. I wonder if she wanted him look desperate/helpless in the literal sense.
So far, Korean media has been praising Lee Joon’s performance.
@qqq,
Thank you for your answer. Let me explain my thoughts about why I cannot say more about the directing at the moment.
First of all, we are entering in technical matters at the moment that has to do with cinema and its rules.
– The narrative pacing of the drama is neither fast nor slow. This is great in my book.
The narrative pacing of the drama has also to do with the script.
The script can help the director to say the story in the best way he / she has in her mind. So in this stage, I have to say that the jakkanim is doing a good job with the script and he helps the director in her job.
– Pillow shots are taken effectively, not prolonging time duration (unlike some ‘acclaimed’ series that are so unnecessarily long).
There are many techniques you can use while filming. Some auteurs have shots that are like a trademark. For instance Theo Angelopoulos’s famous one-take films.
Yes. this a a very good point. I am glad her pillow shots are good. That means she is indeed capable. She also has good help from the photography director who is doing his / her magic.
Although, those pillow shots are needed, I am more interested in the actors & actresses’ perfomances.
Not only the production is pretty good, but also the cast is talented.
There are senior actors like Heo Sung-Tae, who has caliber and it is known for his metamorphoses, see “Beyond Evil” and from what I have heard in the “Squid Game”. In the same category applies Jang Hyuk who is very powerful with his facial expressions.
Now, I want to see interactions and I want to see perfomances.
There times some sequences are breathing and there are times where are not. If an actor /actress doesn’t get instructions from his / her director, her acting is wooden or static. There were moments that I felt that I couldn’t feel the emotion coming through.
For instance, in Episode 4 of “the Red Sleeve Cuff”, everyone who was watching Lee JunHo’s perfomance was crying with him. I can say many more episodes that this has happened.
Let’s go back to Bloody Heart. This hasn’t happened here with Lee Joon, although there were times that his scenes were heavy with emotion.
It is the so called “catharsis” the ancient greeks were saying about tragedy in anciet greek theather.
I really like Lee Joon, I have spotted him on “The Silent Sea” and “Bulgasal”. One of the reasons I am watching this is for him, the other is Kang HanNa.
Especially in the first two episodes, while LJ was trying to find his way to become Lee Tae, it was like I was listening to “Dark Hole’s outbursts”.
After episode 4, Lee Joon is more comfortable with Lee Tae and I see that he is understanding more of who Lee Tae really is and how he feels.
I continue not to like, those wet eyes though.
I get that the King is exhausted, but a King shouldn’t show emotion in every single shot.
Imagine a person who has tears in his eyes every time you meet him.
His background is sad indeed. Would you think that he is desperate / helpless?
What will cross your mind after a while?
I want to see Lee Tae do a ministration that shows me that he is helpless, not only cry. Because crying is a very powerful thing to do and the director is self erasing Lee Tae’s impact with emotions when he has wet eyes all the time!
Hence, I cannot link with Lee Tae. I feel for him, but I cannot truly connect with his emotions.
Lee Joon is not responsible for this. This is a directional advice / approach. The director has this idea of how Lee Joon should portray Lee Tae. It is not something an actor would do by himself for so many episodes in a row. It kills the hype!
That’s why I wrote it in my previous answer about the episodes. I feel that this approach is a bad call from the director and I am worried about it, because it affects LJ’s performance.
– Editing is executed finely.
Editing is executed finely. Let’s agree on that.
As far as I know, editing or montage has a person who is responsible for that. Since, I don’t know who is responsible for the montage – since asianwiki or mydramalist doesn’t say the whole team, I cannot give full credit to the director.
We need to give credit, where credit is due.
So far, I can say that the director has her good moments, but there are mistakes she needs to pay attention to, in order to fix them, while the show is airing.
Since, this a work in progress, I am waiting for the next episodes to be aired.
In the meantime, I am waiting patiently and notice everything is going on, that shape my opinion, until the show is concluded.
@Cleopatra
Yes, I agree that it’s the director’s decision to have LT teary-eyed. I suppose this is to avoid LT’s disposition to be overtly brooding… Arguably, LT is a deeply depressed and *very* complex character. He’s like a combination of Macbeth and Hamlet! I imagine him having (unfallen) tears is to let the viewers know what sort of situation he’s in. When the tears do fall, it is only for Yoo Jung to see. I suppose the execution of the scene kind of fails because the King seems pathetic in the viewers’ eyes. I don’t mind this, because I like my protagonist to be as flawed as possible, even if he’s a King.
Yes, all technical parts of the series have been brilliant. I like to think they are all part of her ‘decision-making’ – since she is still the ‘director’ of this series. What I mean by that is it’s still her artistic vision that allow this series to shine. To me, her direction is uniquely focused for a drama series.
The acting itself is also fine, in my book. This is perhaps the most efficient/talented cast I’ve seen in whole of Kdramaland (Disclaimer: I’m a very picky viewer who doesn’t watch a lot of K-dramas, not even Mr. Sunshine – but pls don’t ask me to watch it because I tried and totally not impressed by the direction). Maybe it’s because I’ve always preferred restraint acting and dialogue-heavy/character-heavy type of films like Harakiri, Amadeus and A Man for All Seasons.
Occurrences of the ‘mistakes’ are, perhaps, due to the script itself. I do understand your complaints, at least you’re willing to be patient with the drama and judge it again later 😀
I’m currently really ‘enjoying’ it, lols (I will probably find faults ‘after’ finishing this drama). To be honest, I really don’t have lotsa complaints at the moment.
@Cleopatra
Btw, if I’m not mistaken, Lee Joon shot Bloody Heart (first 4 episodes) and Bulgasal simultaneously. No wonder you imagined Dark Hole’s outbursts in first two episodes 😀
Yes, I agree Lee Joon’s a talent. My sister has been a huge fan of his even during the MBLAQ days. Part of the reason why I’m watching Bloody Heart is because I’m watching with her, haha.
@qqq,
Kalimera. Please not that this is a short answer and I will answer to you fully later on.
I like theather very very very much, so an actor’s gravitas and caliber is important to me.
Theather and cinenas are two different worlds that entertain you and make you feel things.
Their huge difference is that while watching a play you – as the audience – are actually inside the theather and you are watching the actor performing live in real time.
While in cinema you are watching the movie or show in a cinema in a huge screen.
You are watching a happening that was filmed some unknown time ago and the actors’ perfomances.
These past months, I am very interesting in how an actor / actress is expressing his / her feelings via the character is portraying. So, I am noticing various things from facial expressions, ministrations and other movements that give me tidbits here and there.
Hence, I want to feel the perfomance and not just watch a scene while actor A is doing something with actress B. I want to get moved by their story and I want to feel that their feelings are genuine.
For instance if you are watching “Tomorrow” you can check episodes 11-12 + 13-14. The jakkanim is working with a theme per two episodes and those last four made me very sad. Especially episode 14 has hit home with me.
No, I won’t tell you to watch Mr. Sunshine, because I haven’t watched it myself so far. I will but not now. I don’t want more angst that I can handle at the moment.
*to be continued…
Correction: Note*
I finished watching Episode 7…
Seriously Lady Yoo, should I say this? You have some huge b@lls!
I am curious to see what it will happen tomorrow…🤯🤯🤯🤯
I just finished watching episode 8.
Lady Yoo’s character, as well as Kang Hanna’s acting, continues to amaze me. Woo!
@Cleopatra
I’m curious about your thoughts on Episode 7 and 8 🙂
Kalimera @qqq,
You were waiting for my thoughts on episodes 7-8. I am a bit late. I know you have been waiting for my thoughts on episodes 7-8. I was wanted some things to cool down before I was going to write anything. Keep in mind that my objections will be justified technically speaking, what I feel it was lacking on the script.
Episode 7 was for the most time a filler episode. Nothing important was happening for the plot / action to move forward. The firework of the episode was the last minutes where Lady Yoo revealed to Park that she was the ex Crowned Princess.
Of course, the jakkanim made that decision and I prefered that Lady Yoo acted like that, instead of finding out from that ahjumma’s betrayal from the Bamboo Village.
Did I like it? No. In my opinion it was too soon for such a revelation. Stragetically speaking, it was not a wise move. The momentum should be built for later on.
Episode 8 was the episode that we were showed that Lady Yoo is more capable to rule than Lee Tae and Park himself.
I also don’t like that character Park has become “grey” and from the baddie he really is they give us hints here and there that he is an idealist that wants the best for Joseon.
Park fantasizes about the wise ruler he has in his mind, while he slaughtered people and annihilated clans that were on his way. So, for me, this is big no no. I don’t like this “grey” portrayal of Park at all. I don’t like whitewashing baddies and make people sympathize with them. It gives a wrong message to the audience!
Also, after 8 episodes, Lee Tae the character is nothing more than a King who is a lamentable ruler who is mostly a pupper and cannot have his priorities straight.
He will accept Lady Yoo’s sacrifice that will also bring down Park’s clan, but at the same time, he will kill the love of his life.
That’s why we were being showed Lee Joon crying for all these past episodes.
For the Jakkanim and the Director, Lee Tae is a weak character with some bold moments. They showed us this way, in order not to have the audience’s respect.
Hence, I am also not okay with this portrayal.
The only moments I really enjoyed Lee Joon’s performance was in the last minutes of Episode 8 where he was wearing his ceremonial (consumation) red robes.
I continue to say that is NOT Lee Joon’s fault!
The only character that has some interest is Lady Yoo / Lady Park.
She is wise and cunning and can do what others cannot. She should be the Queen but at the same time, I don’t think that Lee Tae truly deserves such a woman by his side. If he doesn’t changed his attitude, I don’t think how this will work in the long run.
So, after watching those 8 episodes, I don’t like how the characters are unfolding. I haven’t seen any character development, except Lady Yoo’s and that shows me that the script has issues.
One of the three will definitely die by the end of the series and the most reasonable scenario is:
Lee Tae will die. Lady Yoo then the Queen, will take the throne and yes she will be a great ruler, after she gives birth to the Crown Prince.
Also, Lady Jo Yeon-Hee would try to kill Lady Yoo by all means and she will do whatever she can to jeopardise anything they will try to think of.
I will continue to watch Bloody Heart, but I am not thrilled by how the story progresses, the second part will be more brutal than the first.