American Perspectives: "Scarlet Heart 려" Ep. 1-6 Response

Scarlet Heart Fan Art found here!

I've watched this show more times than I can remember, and it's most certainly one of my favorites.  The first time I watched it, I was still a newbie to learning about Korean History and Culture (who am I kidding, I'm still a newbie, there's so much to learn), I could not understand why it was so unpopular in 한국.  However, I just kind of let it go.

Later on, as I watched this show more often, and studied more Korean history, I got the feeling that just like with 화랑 (and they are both created in a similar style), the target market was never intended to be Korean.  The intended target market would have the more broad title of "International," but if we're being honest, I'm pretty positive it was Western, specifically American.  From what I've learned, prior to 2013, the Korean Entertainment industry has been trying to reach the American Market for YEARS, as the American market has people who may not necessarily have more disposable income, but we are more likely to spend it very mindlessly.  As I currently watch "Scarlet Heart," I am definitely seeing a very strong Western/American filter, especially after I've been exposed to such dramas as "Queen 선덕," "기황후," "주몽," "광개토," "대조영," and the differences could not be more obvious.  It isn't necessarily bad, as Korean history can be intimidating for an American who's country has at most 500 years worth of history, while Korea has at least 5000.  Not to mention some very pronounced cultural differences that would be really challenging for your average American to process with an open mind.  Plus, you have the issue of many Western K-Pop/K-Drama fans who are probably not going to proactively pick up any Korean history books.  They will go to online forums that will confirm what they want to hear, and I consider that a highly dangerous and unreliable path.  I especially see that demonstrated when many Americans believe that the 조선 gender issues covered the entire Korean history, when that most certainly isn't the case.  But, they speak of it with 100% authority, while being only 1% informed, and as a non-Korean, it gives me a headache and a sick feeling reading it.  I cannot even imagine how it feels for Koreans who are well versed in their own history.  As an American, I can say, yes, we're horribly self centered when it comes to history, and we presume that our history, culture, and issues are globally universal.  But I'll talk a little more about the Western filter in a minute.

When I finally did decide to read about why "Scarlet Heart" wasn't popular in Korea, some answers I found were: excessive product placement, and seeming like the 고려 edition of "Boys Over Flowers". It's also a remake of the Chinese version of "Scarlet Heart," which is said to be much more intense than "Scarlet Heart: 려."

Because "Scarlet Heart: 려" seemed to be targeted at the Western audience, of course there was going to be covert similarity to "Boys Over Flowers" at the very least.  It was a globally popular show that every K-Pop/K-Drama fan has familiarity with.  The similarity was the hook.  (Aside from the hot guys, of course).  As for product placement, I remember reading that this show was one of the most expensive to make (which also explains the 20 episodes instead of what used to be the 사극 standard of having at least 50).  So, of course, they are going to go hard on product placement.  Keep in mind, NBC Universal, a very American company was also a partner in this.  So, yeah, excessive product placement is a given, it's a huge cultural staple in American television.  Which leaves me wondering, why, years later, is it harder to get this show legally in the US, while it is so easy to access from Fillipino channels?  Is NBC Universal doing the old style Disney thing, by locking it away in the vault, and then bringing it back out when people are willing to spend a lot of $$$ on it (which is a totally American thing to do if that were indeed the case.  However, don't take my word as gospel, I'm only speculating).

Ugh, this outfit.  It looks like someone picked up a Halloween costume from Party City and then altered it.  This is one of the worst wardrobe choices on this show.

So, back to the Western filter.  What am I noticing? 해수 really going hard on the individualism.  That's a biggie.  Before I was banned from Facebook, I had many friends from across the globe, including 한국.  A very distinctive and uniquely cultural difference I noticed coming from the United States, regardless of skin color: our profound love and expression of individualism.  해수's sense of individualism may not be as loud and proud as your average American's, but it is very distinctly, intentionally present.  It's especially noticeable if you decide to watch 기황후 before or after you watch this show.  Because of 기황후, I am able to, without judgement, understand Queen 유, 연화, 왕요 a whole lot better than I did before.  기황후 focused on familial and cultural survival through political power and networking. Coincidentally, the woman who plays Queen 황보 on Scarlet Heart was the script writer for 기황후. (And she did an amazing job at showing the most hated woman in Korea from the perspective of a vulnerable 고려 woman that was a major hit in Korea and abroad, but I digress).  Scarlet Heart downplays the logical reason for political power and networking (it touches on it slightly), in favor of the individualism issue.  Specifically, how it affects 해수's sense of self, which is an extremely American thing.  No worries, I still love this show, but when you watch as many of these as I do, you begin to tell who the target markets were. Granted, 해수 is coming into 10th century 고려 with a 21st century experience, and Korean culture has changed a lot since then. However, from what I've read, 고려 women had an impressive degree of independence, and I wish that was touched on a bit more, instead of playing to the Western idea that all non-Western women were subservient.  Heck, just read about the Mongols, and that will smash that idea to smithereens!

Another way I can tell this was made for a Western audience? We see both Queen 유 and 해수 getting dressed, and we see every single layer used.  In the older 사극 that I've seen, aside from the universally popular 기황후, I never see such painstacking attention to detail in the female characters getting dressed.

With that being said, I don't think "Scarlet Heart: 려" was ever intended for the Korean Market.  Showing it on Korean television was a necessary formality in getting it aired globally.