River Where The Moon Rises kept its flame burning on its second week!
Its fast pace but clear storytelling is also worth applauding! The series follows back-to-back episodes, with the second half of both episodes 3 & 4 notching significant increase in numbers.
We finally met Wol Gwang and our main heroes confront revelations that challenge decisions involving their families and principles. Kim So Hyun, Ji Soo, Lee Ji Hoon and Choi Yu Hwa carry the bulk of emotions and story this week. With ample reliable support from the seasoned actors, my excitement is as the same level as its opening chapters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX2d4WynoP0
abbyinhallyuland watches River Where The Moon Rises on Viu
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 |
*Note that the series counts the weekly episodes as two back-to-back episodes
River Where The Moon Rises Episodes 3 & 4 Key Moments
“Many people deliberately bury their past.”
Upon learning from Wolyi about what happened to Ga-jin’s father’s, On Dal sets forth to find Cheonjubang’s lair. Ga-jin who was forced by her leader to execute their initial goal refuses to do so until she gets to the bottom of her real identity.
She was then imprisoned and was later rescued by Jin, San and On Dal. Her Cheonjubang friends also misled their team members and promised to take care of Ga-jin’s adopted father. Together with On Dal, she is resigned to unravel her birth secret against his encouragement not to proceed with it. He tells her that there’s no guarantee she will be happy anyway once she learns the truth.
Opening up about her fear of sleeping, Ga-jin opens up about how she wonders if her nightmares are part of her lost memories. She has been struggling to live so despite an enormous plight ahead, she’s willing to find out her mysterious past. Decided to go to the capital, she tells him to go back to his mother. However, the next day, On Dal is still seen tagging along with her.
“By any chance, do you know who I am?”
Ga-jin’s plan is to meet the court lady at Magnolia palace so Ondal told her that they should go to the town’s herb store owner with great connections – Lady Hae Mo-yong (Choi Su Hwa). At the palace, Go Won Pyo’s plan to worsen the delusions of King Pyeongwon takes place. Concubine Jin Bi also caught up on the palace gossip of Princess Pyeonggang haunting not just the King, but also her nanny, Lady Gongson.
Looping in her lover to the strange gossip in the palace, Go Won Pyo surmises on the uncanny resemblance of Queen Yeon to the picture of the King’s assassin his son Go Geon showed him.
After delivering her herbs to the palace, Mo-yong meets Go Geon who handed her the picture of the assassin and ordered to look for her. Before agreeing to his command, she asks him why his tribe took Lady Gongson which surprised him. But their conversation was interrupted because outside the herb store, Ondal and Ga-jin are attracting onlookers for selling the herbal pills they gathered from the mountains.
The two were brought in to Lady Mo-yong who recognized Ga-jin right away as the assassin Go Geon is looking for. Refusing to beat around the bush, she tells Ga-jin of her existing bounty and was surprised to learn that she does not have recollection of her past.
At night, Ga-jin subdued the men guarding the hostaged Lady Gongson and asks if she knows her. Recognizing the princess she took care of with utmost care, she tells her to leave the place because she will be in danger. Ga-jin learns of her identity as the King’s daughter, Princess Pyeonggang.
“Why did you do it? Why did you abandon me?”
Ga-jin escapes Go Geon and his men chasing after her. Meanwhile, On Dal was wounded by Mo-yong and tells him that he is the collateral promised by Ga-jin. In order to protect Princess Pyeonggang, Lady Gongson agrees to the evil plans of Go Won Pyo to spy on the Crown Prince.
Through her familiarity to Magnolia palace, Ga-jin finds a secret passage to the King’s study. At that same moment, the bewildered King also entered the room and senses someone inside. Ordering the person to come out, he faces Ga-jin who questions why he abandoned her.
Ga-jin didn’t get the answer to her question and was baffled to her father’s strange behavior of thinking he stumbled on a ghost. She goes back to Magnolia hall and finds Lady Gongson who warmly opened her arms for an embrace. Getting a quick update on the worsening derangement of her father, Ga-jin tells her nanny that she has to leave.
On her way back to do her affairs, she was confronted by Go Geon. Hence, she finally revealed her identity to her old master. She tells about her plan of what led her to be instructed to kill the King.
“Does a monk called Wol-gwang live here?”
Finally coming face to face with the man she intended to meet with On Dal before she lost her memories, Wol-gwang welcomed Ga-jin as Princess Pyeonggang in his humble mountain lair. Unknown to her, Go Won Pyo has already ordered his son Go Geon to kill her so as not to derail his dark plan of gaining control over Goguryeo.
Tired from her long journey, Ga-jin goes back to the herb store to get On Dal back and they both promise to pay the agreed bounty. He brings Ga-jin to Ghost Valley, a village where outcast members of Goguryeo thrive.
Ga-jin mulls over her conversation with Wol Gwang who narrated what happened to her mom and the Sunno tribe. He also clarified that the rumor about him and Queen Yeon is baseless. That the King won’t be able to accept his past mistake. Blaming herself as part of the reason why her father was misled, she hated herself for almost killing her father.
Understanding her predicament, Wol Gwang advises her to find a reason for her to live as a princess.
“I must be crazy to think I can live an ordinary life.”
Together with the villagers, On Dal fixes Ga-jin’s new house. Later, she learns about a memorial service honoring On Dal’s father On Hyeop. The weight of all the revelations hit Ga-jin that she wanders in the village aimlessly. On Dal thinking she’s lost somewhere was helped by the villagers to search for her.
At that same moment, Go Geon and his men reach Ghost Village but On Dal’s trap managed to subdue him. However, On Dal was not prepared to the onslaught of realities thrown by Go Geon related to the past he has decided to forget. He finally learned that Ga-jin is the very Princess Pyeonggang his father tasked him to protect years ago.
Devoid of emotions without nowhere to go, Ga-jin heads to a cliff. From almost killing her father, she also accounts herself to the demise of Sunno tribe.
Taking steps to end her life, On Dal halts her plan and they confront about their intertwining lives. He tells her that his father, and the whole tribe risked their lives to save her. Thus, she has no right to end her life without their permission because her life is theirs.
In the cusp of Go Geon’s men thwarting the “ghost attack” from the villagers, Go Geon pacified his troop. They head back to the capital and Ga-jin apologizes for the trouble she caused to the village people. Just as she was about to reveal her identity who caused the tribe’s annihilation, On Dal reverts it to her identity as an assassin.
River Where The Moon Rises Episodes 3 & 4 Musings
Ironically, at some point, Ga-jin and Ondal’s past have met. But they have different perspectives to its value. While Ga-jin diligently wants to retrieve it, Ondal has long buried his harrowing past. I can only empathize on the troubled heart of Princess Pyeonggang who really needs emotional strength to sustain her unfortunate fate.
Amidst the group of people wanting to have her, the weight of knowing her real identity would really push anyone to choose the easier route. How she will turn her desperate situation to redeem Sunno tribe and her mother’s death certainly will be highlighted in the series.
For a historical drama, I like the pacing and the lucidity of the series’ storytelling. It does not incorporate unnecessary side stories and the trademark bands of villains are also easy to identify. Banking on its narrative that is character driven, the pressure is definitely on Kim So Hyun – and so far she is delivering well a variety of dimensions to her character.
Whether romance will be incorporated is just a bonus. I personally think the vibe of River Where The Moon Rises will take the trademark elements of period dramas. It will highlight more the outwitting games and conspiracies associated in the power struggle. Of which heroes and villains are taking turns to outmaneuver each other.
Its envisioned path directs to Ga-jin’s return as Princess Pyeonggang. Such a herculean task given the long line of adversaries aiming for her goal not to proceed. At the very least she has two capable men by her side.
Will Ga-jin find a way to claim her title as Princess Pyeonggang? Will Go Geon defy his father?
River Where The Moon Rises airs on KBS 2TV every Monday and Tuesday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O025OPLWCA4
Photos: Screencaps from Viu
[wpedon id=”3227″ align=”center”]
