Fans of the Disney+ fantasy romance series “The Remarried Empress” found themselves surprised on November 11, when a high-altitude shouting scene between Lee Jong-suk and Shin Min-a turned into an accidental musical number, according to Chosun.
Episodes 5 and 6 of the original series dropped on November 11, advancing the romance between Navier, played by Shin Min-a, and Heinrey, played by Lee Jong-suk. The emotional turning point arrived during a hot air balloon escape arranged by Heinrey to comfort Navier after she was left behind at the palace by Sovieshu, played by Ju Ji-hoon.
As the pair ascended into the open sky against a backdrop of blue skies and clouds, Heinrey stood behind Navier in his dark uniform and encouraged her to release her pent-up frustration. “It’s okay to scream, no one can hear you,” he told her, according to The Korea Daily.
Instead of a standard shout, Navier let out a cry that matched the background music, prompting immediate comparisons to a Disney animation.
“Wait, why is she singing?” one viewer asked online, while another commented, “He told her just to scream, why is she performing with her mouth?” Other fans noted, “Her pitch is surprisingly good,” and “The harmony matches so strangely well.”
The sequence drew widespread comparisons to traditional musical theater, with comments praising the platform fit. Viewers described the moment as feeling “like a musical drama,” noting that it carried a “certified Disney vocal range” and made it feel “like a song is about to start.”
Others said that “It really fits the Disney+ vibe,” while fans praised Shin Min-a’s appearance, calling her a natural fit for a Disney princess role. While some viewers focused entirely on the actors’ expressions and missed the audio overlap on a first watch, others welcomed the scene as a liberating moment, though a few expressed regret that the musical portion ended too quickly.
The series itself is a romance fantasy based on the popular web novel of the same name. Following the release of four episodes on November 3, the production continued its rollout with episodes 5 and 6 on November 11, with new episodes scheduled to release every Wednesday on Disney+.
In the narrative leading up to the hot air balloon ride, Sovieshu attempts to make amends with Navier on her birthday by inviting her to a detached palace. However, he accidentally refers to her by Rashta’s name.
When he hears Rashta has fallen ill, he abruptly abandons Navier. This leaves an opening for Heinrey to step in and comfort the distressed Navier. He guides her away from the imperial palace into the sky.
Online reactions also captured viewers responding to the visual pairing. Comments such as “She has Disney princess vibes” and “Shin Min-a, Disney queen, let’s go” circulated alongside praise for Navier’s demeanor as she smiled with her back to Heinrey while he gazed back at her affectionately.
Some viewers said that they were so focused on the faces of the two leads that they did not initially notice the musical overlay.
The musical balloon sequence follows another demanding behind-the-scenes moment for the lead actors on set. Lee Jong-suk’s YouTube channel released a making-of video titled “Kim Doo-han appears in a romance fantasy! Why is she so pretty? | The Remarried Empress making-of,” detailing the physical preparation behind the drama’s lavish waltz scenes.
Lee revealed that he had practiced dancing for roughly two months to prepare for the sequence, balancing the choreography alongside fan meeting preparations. On set, the actors performed the waltz in full royal costume—featuring a tiara and sparkling dress for Shin Min-a and a gold-trimmed uniform for Lee—despite the complete absence of actual music during filming.
Additional footage from the behind-the-scenes release highlighted interactions among the wider cast. The video captured Shin Min-a and Ju Ji-hoon rehearsing and exchanging suggestions prior to filming. Lee Jong-suk was also featured performing an action sequence, while Lee Se-young showcased her character’s extravagant styling. In another lighthearted moment with a stand-in prop bird, Shin Min-a joked that the bird was her “bed scene partner,” cuddling up to it on set.
During preparations for a party sequence, Shin Min-a discussed her wardrobe, holding up her tiara and remarking on the heavy nature of her dress. She explained that wearing the outfit felt comparable to dragging three grown people along.
Meanwhile, Lee Jong-suk debated flower options for Navier, presenting both a white rose and a blue rose to the camera. He said that the white flower symbolized a new beginning, while the blue flower represented overcoming the impossible, ultimately selecting the blue rose for the scene.
Other cast members also shared lighter moments regarding the production’s physical demands. Following a dance sequence shared between Ju Ji-hoon and Lee Se-young, Lee Se-young praised her co-star’s performance, expressing admiration despite his self-deprecating remarks about having two left feet.
