Discover The Best Movies and TV Shows Like Scarlet Heart: Ryeo

When a total eclipse occurs in modern-day Seoul, twenty-first-century cosmetics salesperson Go Ha-jin drowns in a lake and mysteriously awakens in the body of sixteen-year-old Hae Soo during the early Goryeo Dynasty. Trapped in a complex royal household, she finds herself under the care of Lady Hae, her cousin and the devoted wife of the 8th Prince, Wang Wook. Initially overwhelmed, Hae Soo must adapt to the rigid palace hierarchy while navigating the political ambitions, simmering rivalries, and dangerous secrets of the ruling Wang family, who are vying for the throne of King Taejo.Hae Soo soon captures the attention of the enigmatic and feared 4th Prince, Wang So. Shunred since childhood and bearing a prominent facial scar, Wang So wears a fierce, ruthless mask to hide his profound emotional trauma and longing for maternal affection. Despite his dangerous reputation, Hae Soo sees past his intimidating exterior, fostering a deep, protective bond that gradually transforms into passionate romance. However, her heart is continually torn as she also grows close to the gentle, poetic Wang Wook, whose initial kindness masks a growing ambition that threatens to corrupt him as the bitter fight for the crown intensifies.As King Taejo’s health deteriorates, the palace devolves into a treacherous battleground of assassinations, betrayals, and political marriages. The ruthless 3rd Prince, Wang Yo, driven by his power-hungry mother Queen Yoo, stops at nothing to seize the throne, forcing his brothers to choose sides. Wang Wook eventually compromises his morals for power, alienating Hae Soo, whereas Wang So consistently proves his unwavering loyalty and love, ultimately claiming the throne as King Gwangjong to protect the realm and those he holds dear.Tragedy strikes when the scheming dowager queen and court factions target Hae Soo, utilizing her as a pawn to destabilize the new king. Exhausted by the endless cycle of palace bloodshed, the poisoning of beloved friends, and the profound grief of losing her trusted companion, 10th Prince Wang Eun, Hae Soo becomes emotionally broken. Disillusioned by Gwangjong’s increasingly tyrannical methods to secure his reign, she flees the palace, finding sanctuary and love with the kind-hearted 14th Prince, Wang Jung. Hae Soo ultimately dies of a broken heart, leaving behind an inconsolable Gwangjong. In the modern era, Go Ha-jin finally awakens, weeping from vivid memories of a past life, and experiences a heartbreaking epiphany when she visits a Goryeo art exhibition, realizing her tragic romance was entirely real.