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River Where the Moon Rises korean drama review
Completed
River Where the Moon Rises
5 people found this review helpful
by danabob
Apr 30, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 10.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Amazing chemistry!

I was really looking forward to this drama when I found out it was Jisoo and So Hyun as the main characters. However, since they changed the main lead to Na In Woo, I wasn't sure how the chemistry between them would be. However, they really exceeded my expectations and the chemistry between the two is great! I personally like these two better than Jisoo. Na In Woo is such an underrated actor but I think this was his breakout role big time. I'm also very impressed how So Hyun took on a different character role than what she usually gets in historical dramas. Taking on a dominant character role was refreshing and impressive to see how much she's grown throughout the years to be able to now take on different types of roles. She pulled it off very well. The storyline was a slow development and a bit of a drag at some points, but it all eventually leads to something.

Anyway, the chemistry between Ga Jin (so hyun) and On Dal (in woo) was spot on. Their love for each other was so pure and would really do anything and risk their lives for each other. They sacrificed a lot for each other. On Dal moved to the palace just to be with her despite not being happy there bc of the guilt of killing many people. He even killed people himself bc he didn't want Ga Jin to get her hands in blood and getting himself "killed" by taking the arrows instead of her. For Ga Jin, she was blinded and focused on her revenge that she didn't really think much of On Dal's feelings which caused a bit of a drift. Leaving the palace was the best thing for On Dal for him, even if it means separating from her. Despite her mission for revenge, she would sacrifice anything just to be with On Dall, even if it means stepping down from the palace or even sacrificing herself for him which she showed.

I felt bad for Geon but at the same time didn't? He was a semi-antagonist but eventually redeemed himself. I sorta wished they dragged out the love triangle longer between ga jin/on dal/geon cause it was getting interesting. Idk after the 4 year time skip if he and mo yong were technically together it was hard to tell seeing how he's focused on other things. Even though he did say he loved Mo Yong, but I think there's still a part of him that is still in love with Ga Jin, which is why Mo Yong questioned his feelings since all he thought about was Ga Jin's safety.

I was a little bit thrown off with the ending because I thought they would actually show the actual war once ON Dal and Ga Jin came back for the war. But it ended pretty quick and no one seemed hurt which is quite odd. But it caught me off guard and I cried when On Dal died right in front of her. I thought it was going to be a good ending -__- Ga Jin decided to leave the palace and go back to the mountain where On Dal stayed. Even though she succeeded in her revenge and was suppose to achieve her goal of becoming king/queen, but she gave that up bc she wasn't happy in the palace anymore without Dal. THENN tables have turned and it turns out he faked his death since he was taught by the monk of a way to feign his death, which resulted in him losing his memory. I was quite shocked and thought I was hallucinating when he appeared again. I loved how they made the ending. I thought they were gonna level it as an open ending where he'll eventually get his memories back overtime after the drama is over. But they showed he regained his memory, they kissed, and lived happily ever after,. I CRIED SO MUCH. I did feel like the ending was quite rushed which was a bit of a con in this drama. But overall, it was a drama I genuinely enjoyed. I would watch it again for the chemistry between the two main leads.
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