Coração Escarlate (2011)

Coming of Age Time Travel Romance

One of the best Chinese dramas ever made, also has one of the flimsiest openings of all time. If you can bear through the first part of the very first episode, you will be rewarded handsomely with one of the best viewing experiences in Chinese cinema history.

This drama isn't for everyone. It's only for those with a heart, and with high tolerance for romance. We first meet our FL as a 20 something year old woman, but as soon as she goes back in time, her consciousness is transmitted into the body of a sixteen year old. Well, imagine your consciousness time-travel to the Qing dynasty, and was transplanted into the body of a wealthy 16 year old twin living in that era. I think you'd be out of your mind with happiness, at first.

The FL acts like what a modern day teenaged girl would act like, not what a 20 year old would act like, but I felt like this made sense because of the amalgamation of consciousness between our time-traveling FL and our Qing dynasty 16 year old. That's just my personal take on that characterization choice though. If she didn't act so flighty and bubbly and freely express herself, then it would be impossible for the romance to happen, as that was her hook. The Qing dynasty princes had never encountered a 21st century woman, so they were fascinated and charmed by her, which makes sense.

Probably what makes this drama work, besides the excellent original story, is that serious actors were cast as the main leads. It's almost impossible to make anyone look good in the Qing mullet in any case, and mature actors were cast to play younger characters, which I have no problems with. The handsomest charcter and actor by far in this drama doesn't fall in love with the FL, despite being the character most resembling her own, which I found interesting. The ML, is probably one of the least attractive actors in Chinese dramaland, and subsequently wouldn't be cast in leading roles under the current casting trend, but this is a 2011 drama, and acting skills are still rated higher than marketability and popularity (and looks by default, IF you are a male actor). The FL, by contrast, is more beautiful than seen in most contemporary dramas, and can actually act! An interesting duality when it comes to casting trends. I don't believe any of these actors are Chinese pop singers either, which makes the casting ideal.

Anyway, the story is, for the most part, historically accurate, no crappy CGI, no over-the-top melodrama. A really well written script that takes you back in time with the FL, as if you are following in her footsteps. Yes, it's not a perfect drama. I remember there are some really crappy, fake screen backgrounds with actors riding fake horses in the foreground, but you know what? An excellent effort all in all. I was so vested in the characters, that when the ML started to show the signs of carrying the world on his shoulders, I did skip a bunch of episodes, as I felt a mixture of dread and boredom, and the darkness was overpowering after the positivity of the "first half" of the drama, but I understood the necessity of the character development with the plot, and the happiness turning to tragedy by the end, just like it did in history.

Overall, what a journey! What a treasure of a Chinese costume drama! If you haven't seen it, please do give it a go, as long as you have an interest in historical fiction and romance together.

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Overall:
I'm a sucker for historical drama, especially when it involves time traveling! This drama totally got me hooked to the point that I didn't wanted to sleep because I needed to know what would happen next. 9/10

Plot:
The story overall is very well written. It keeps me on top of my game as there are so many plot twists. However, there are certain parts where I don't really feel the flow of the story. It could have been due to the lack of transitions that make some parts feel like things happen so suddenly and disconnected. Also, I didn't really like the fact that Ruo Xi's actions don't seem to affect the major outcomes of history, which makes the story slightly more predictable as we already know in the beginning which prince will become king. There are other historical dramas with a better plot for time traveling. But nevertheless, the political conflict for the thrones between the princes always put me in suspense. I like the humor every once in a while to help lighten up the mood so the plot doesn't feel so painful to watch. It's not that the plot is bad, but all the drama in this can makes things seem heavy to experience. 8/10

Acting:
The acting is superb I might say. The casts have performed their roles perfectly. I love the little details such all the actors/actresses did to give their characters a distinct personalities. I often found myself crying because I was so submerged into their acting. I'm going to be a little bias, but I really like Wu Nicky's acting. His portrayal of the calm and collective 4th prince has me rooting for him the entire way. 10/10

Music:
I actually started watching this drama because my friend showed me the opening song of this drama. But overall, the drama's music is the biggest factor in making me having these emotional roller coasters. Without it, some scenes won't be as intense as they should be. The main theme song is absolutely fantastic. It is simple but it definitely captures the entire meaning of the story. 10/10

Rewatch value:
I feel some scenes are a bit redundant but I guess they all help creating the intended atmosphere. There are a lot of greenscreen popping up in this drama either due to low budget or other reasons. But I won't say that the greenscreen is that horrible if you don't look closely. If you can get pass that then everything else should be fine. I wouldn't mind rewatching the drama, but the political intensity makes the entire drama seems quite long. 8/10

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To be honest this drama has traumatised me, it took me a week to try to forget about it. The struggle between all princes to get the throne is so intense at some point that you can't help being taken into it. And of course, Ruoxi can't help being in the middle of it, knowing perfectly what would go on which will motivate her choices and decision to leave 8th Prince and favour 4th Prince who is kind of cold hearted guy at first but is madly in love with her until the end but denies it, until he realizes he ends up alone, all his brothers gone or put in jail. I also watched the sequel which is quite interesting as it takes place in the modern world and the love between both Ruoxi and 4th Prince (now Yizheng) never ended. It goes together with the message written on the ring he is wearing in both dramas, saying that he will find her into her world as he could not in his! so enjoyable dramas which haunted me for a few days after viewing them!

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Synopsis: After a car accident, Zhang Xiao time travels from modern-day China back to the 18th century as 16-year-old Maertai Rouxi, the daughter of a Manchu general, during the Qing Dynasty. She forms deep bonds with the 8th Prince, 4th Prince, and 13th prince resulting in complex relationships.
IMO, the 2016 K-drama version (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Goryeo) doesn't hold a candle to this Chinese original. Scarlet Heart (aka Startling by Each Step and Bu Bu Jing Xin) was The Untamed before The Untamed. This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching, completely engrossing drama with great acting. The 35 episodes were over before I knew it. I loved it.

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This is an absolutely breathtakingly beautiful drama and it totally took me by surprise of how good it was.

Story:
Not the most original story but, the execution was perfect. This was my first Chinese historical drama but the amazing thing was that, I got sucked into it from the first episode. Somehow, it didn't feel foreign at all. Scarlet Heart deals with a throne succession and the complex political factions within the royal family. However, this drama is more about the people and their relationships. I think this was the reason why it was so addictive and compelling.

Acting/Cast:
Most of the cast portrayed their characters brilliantly. I've never cried as much as I did watching this drama. The actors were so good that whenever they cried, I cried with them. I know that often dramas use many tactics to make the audience cry but at no point did I feel like I was being manipulated into crying.

Writing:
Gosh, this is one drama I wished that I could understand Chinese. Even though I watched it with subtitles, the dialogues were simply beautiful. I can only imagine how much was lost in translation. I often teared up just from the things that the characters said. The characters were developed really well and so none of them were just good or bad. They were more like people who made bad choices sometimes due to circumstances or misunderstandings.

I found this drama to be incredible moving, because I could actually feel the love and the warm friendships between the characters.

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Time Travel Romance Classic

SCARLET HEART (Bu Bu Jing Xin / Startling by Each Step) was such a great show. Once I got sucked in, I could not stop. I really liked the concept of traveling back in time from modern day times to the historical Qing Dynasty era via an accident. Such a great plot and I'm now dying to read the novel which inspired it. There was some truly brilliant acting in this series. Everyone was so interesting and extremely well-casted. Unforgettable.

Actress Lui Shi Shi a.k.a. Cecilia Liu was really great as the spunky modern heroine Ma'ertai Ruo Xi (Zhang Xiao) and her wit, charm and personality really brings her character to life. Even when I disagreed with some of her choices, I couldn't help but love her and admire her strength and heart. She is just a character that one can relate with and feel for. Imperfect and sometimes reckless but lovable and well-meaning.

4th Prince (Yinzhen) fascinated me from the very beginning, because he's just that kinda guy, but I did not expect to LOVE LOVE him so much by the end. 4th Prince was so dynamic a character, cold and aloof yet somehow so very expressive; cunning and pragmatic, yet loyal and sincere. Such an intense character. Yes, 4th Prince slayed me. Nicky Wu is such an amazing actor. He rocks and was totally awesome in this role, completely captivating and compelling.

The onscreen chemistry between Ruo Xi and 4th Prince was electric and yet so very tragic. (So sweet to learn the two actors married in real life. The love was visibly real. <3 ) An unforgettable pair, and a truly haunting tragic love...

TEAM 4th PRINCE!! 😎

Among my other favorite characters were 13th Prince (Yinxiang), 14th Prince (Yinti), 10th Prince (Yin'e), Emperor Kangxi and Eunuch Li. Many of the female characters were outstanding as well, such as Ma'ertai Ruolan, Lüwu, Gogoro Minghui, Gororo Mingyu, Princess Suwan Guwalgiya-Minmin, Qiao Hui and even Yutan.

8th Prince (Yinsi) was well acted but I could not bring myself to really like his character, or accept his relationship with Rou Xi. His "love" for Rou Xi felt creepy and superficial. 9th Prince (Yintang) was just plain unlikeable. Even still, I enjoyed how diverse and unique each prince and character was. Not a single character felt 2D. In my book, that is great writing and character development. And although the plot is a bit slow at the start it really picks up. Scarlet Heart is so addictive. <3

The whole series was very well done, beautiful sets, intriguing plot, gorgeous costumes, interesting historical portrayals, and amazing , heart-wrenching music. While there is comedy and heavy elements of romance, it is never as heavy as the drama, political intrigue and the ultimate tragedy. This show ripped out my my heart, and then fed it to me, multiple times. The ending, although haunting and moving was very painful. I sincerely loved it though... <3 ((BEWARE: PARTIAL HEA...))

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This is the first historical Chinese drama that I've ever seen. It was amazing! I love the story and the romance that developed throughout the story. I felt very connected to the characters and the story and I like that it's based on true characters but there are elements of fiction.

I would recommend that you watch this show because it is very well done and has a beautiful story.
Story
The story is about a girl that travels back in time and ends up in her past life. This is a story that is not terribly original but the way the story plays out is unlike any show I've ever seen before. Even now a few weeks after I finished it it is still fresh in my mind.
Acting
The acting was very good. I truly felt like the main girl Riuxi really had these genuine relationships with the princes and her sister. All the actors/actresses did great.
Music
The music was good
Rewatch
I would definitely rewatch this show. In fact, I'm thinking about re-watching it with my mom and sister.

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Let me tell you why this drama is a masterpiece

This is one the few C-dramas that left a strong impression on me. The other one is Nirvana in Fire.

Certain drama next door reminds me why this one is a masterpiece.

Let me tell you what would happen if this drama is filmed in 2023 by capitalist company:
- The princes would be 35 at most.
- The princes wouldn't have any wife.
- The girl only gave her feelings for 1 man. Likely 8th, and stick with him till the end.

Basically, ruin everything that made this story so good because they don't have balls, because they want to use this to promote actors, because they are afraid to be criticized by moral police. Just like Tong Hua's self-produced drama...

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Worth a watch

Watched this series some time back. It caught my interest because of Damian Lau, Kevin Cheng and Nicky Wu. Initially, I was expecting it to be in Cantonese, so I was mildly surprise to hear it in Mandarin. Have never watched any series with Damian Lau and Kevin Cheng in Mandarin - seen them mostly in TVB. Was a first. But I still love the series. The storyline is, in my opinion, very interesting and intriguing and in certain episodes teeth gritting and frustrating. The entire cast of this series did an extremely great job filming this series - definitely great job! The songs are very beautifully paired with the series.

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The visual effects and the costumes were great. I'm glad that the women's hair was not out there, I mean OUT THERE! Thank you for that! A lot of sons for sure and most fell in love with (Cecilia Liu) Ma'ertai Ruo Xi . She only loved one but I think she teased a few! I feel that all the cast did great telling this story. I'm just glad there was not any catfighting concubines in this story. If me being born back in that time, I would be more scared of the concubines, consorts, Empress and so forth then the men! Those women were d a n g e r o u s! Overall, it was okay!

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Terminei meu primeiro dorama chines. Decidi começar por ele, por causa da versão koreana Moon Love (2016). Sobre o dorama, a história é realmente a mesma, com as diferenças de história da China/Coreia. Os príncipes são os mesmos números. O 4° como imperador, o 8° como rival amoroso, o 9° como traidor, o 10° como fofo e inocente, o 13° o fiel amigo e o 14° o que foi usado o tempo todo...sobre as diferenças. Na versão chinesa, senti falta das emoções dos personagens, a história passava rápido demais e há havia ligação com o telespectador, ou as vezes se apaixonavam rápido demais. Os finais do 10° e 13° foram um pouco diferentes (no koreano o 10° quebrou meu coração), o 8° não conseguiu meu ódio mortal por ele na versão chinesa, na koreana a traição dele foi mais doida, sem perdão. O 9° é uma bosta sempre. e o príncipe herdeiro do chinês era um FDP (na coreana era um cara decente e justo) e por fim o 4° ele foi o que mais me incomodou nas interpretações, ele não sabe passar todo o drama e sentimentos que o 4° koreano mostrou, chorei no final por causa da Ruo Xi e não por ele, na koreana eu chorei litros pelo 4°. Já a Ruo Xi, ela foi meio boba, mas mais esperta que a a koreana. Gostei que no final da chinesa mostra eles no futuro, e agora quero ver a continuação na próxima temporada que se passa nos dias atuais

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