K-drama River Where the Moon Rises: period action-romance has too many moving parts and too few sparks

Kim So-hyun and Ji Soo reunite five years after youth drama Page Turner to play the protagonists of a classic Goguryeo folktale

There’s plenty going on in this period drama, and a refreshingly strong woman character, but the series is hampered with clunky scripting and uneven casting

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Kim So-hyun in a still from River Where the Moon Rises. There’s plenty going on in this period drama, but it is hampered by clunky scripting and uneven casting. Photo: Viu

Published: 3:15pm, 25 Feb 2021Updated: 3:15pm, 25 Feb 2021

River Where the Moon Rises, a sweeping tale of bloodshed and romance set in the Goguryeo era (37BC – 668AD) on the Korean peninsula, starts at the point where it wants to lead us – the hero dying in his lover’s arms on the battlefield. Or does he?

Kim So-hyun and Ji Soo reunite five years after the youth drama Page Turner, playing Princess Pyeonggang and On Dal, the protagonists of a classic Goguryeo folktale. This modern spin on the tale is based on the 2010 novel Princess Pyeonggang, penned by Choi Sa-gyu.

The new period drama from Korean broadcaster KBS2 features plenty of action, in addition to the usual quotient of romance and political intrigue. There’s also a refreshingly strong female character leading the charge, but along with these encouraging and progressive elements, the series is also hampered by old-fashioned and clunky scripting and uneven casting.

Kicking off in grand fashion, River Where the Moon Rises introduces us to Princess Pyeonggang (Kim) as she rides into the thick of battle, sword at the ready. This fierce warrior cuts through her opponents on the battlefield, but though the day is eventually won, among the fallen is On Dal (Ji Soo), her beloved. She holds the bloodied soldier close as he breathes what may be his last.

Following this highly dramatic opening, the series travels back in time to when the princess was but a young girl (played by Heo Jung-eun) living in the royal palace. In the midst of political troubles, her father, King Pyeongwon (Kim Pub-lae), allows Go Won-pyo (Lee Hae-young) of the Gyeru tribe to gain exclusive rights to the lucrative salt trade. Soon after, Queen Yeon (also played by Kim So-hyun) brings her daughter on a patrol and meets Oh Hyeop (a cameo appearance by Kang Ha-neul) of the Sunny tribe.