"River Where the Moon Rises" Take Two

I started watching this drama with the original actor. I made it through the first episode and just felt it was too heavy for me at that time. I'm not a big fan of the blood and war scenes as it is and so I decided to just focus on other dramas.

After the big scandal the week of episode 5/6 and the recasting and reshooting news, I felt it deserved some viewers eyes and I was curious at the actor switch and how that would be handled. I went back and finished 2-6 and was on target to watch with the new male lead. Episode 7 was choppy to say the least but I saw immediately more potential in the new actor. Na In Woo was completely new to me as I had not watched Mr. Queen, but he gave off this boyish aura with a sense of maturity that I found appealing and that appeal grew so much that now I can't even believe someone else was ever cast in this role. Kim So Hyun was not one of my must see actresses but she was strong and believable in this role. She and Na In Woo were beautiful together.

I had read up on the folklore/history of On Dal and the Princess so I knew what to expect as far as endings go. With all the recent controversy over Korean history being misrepresented I really didn't think it wouldn't end but one way and besides it's a historical work, they all died young!

The love story between the Princess and On Dal was so beautifully crafted. His soul was so tender and pure and you can see the anguish and how broken he was after all those wars (modern term- PTSD). I don't begrudge or blame him for needing to be along on that mountain while his wife fulfilled her destiny and he healed. When it came time though and his wife needed him more than ever, he was there for her, willing to sacrifice himself.

Ga Jin while not originally understanding his needs, eventually did and she knew that she needed to let him be. Four years passed but the love they had for one another was as strong as ever.

In episode 15, the one thing I took away after watching it on Monday was the Master had a "trick" to pretend he was dead. That was the string I held onto. It was a new concept being shown at the end of the show and I hoped against hope it was there for a reason. In the finale, the death scene followed folklore/history almost to a "T". I was thinking there was no way he could survive all those arrows! Even the funeral cart scene and the words used were part of recorded history.

The best explanation I have is like the Master said when On Dal was first hit with a few arrows he went into a trance where essentially his body was dead, so no blood loss, no organ function so the subsequent arrows didn't mean anything. Yeah. It's magic mumbo jumbo but at least they gave a reason for it!

When On Dal came out of the door of his old house, I thought here we go again with the delusions, this time by Ga Jin's grief but it wasn't! The one string I had held onto was worth holding onto. Watching his memory return and the joy on his face and the love they had for one another was one of the most epic love stories and I'm so glad I watched it all!

There were characters I hated and characters I loved. I hated Geon and his father and all the traitors who sought to make life so difficult. The crown prince growing up to be the worst king of all was disappointing though he showed a smidge of remorse and love at the end. Geon dying was the right thing and even his death scene just didn't really move me. . Herb Lady finding new purpose was nice to see. All the villagers and the former assassin finding their place in the world, love and happiness. The little sassy girl was the best!

This drama was worth the 20 episodes. I am sad that the reason for the scandal existed and everyone involved had to go through the external drama. I am also so glad production and staff believed in this drama- the actors taking pay cuts to refilm this drama and this drama being finished is a testament to that belief. I hope it gets a lot of press when it's submitted for an international Emmy.

I give this drama a solid A.