Early Access: River Where The Moon Rises E2

E2. Compared to our pilot episode, this episode feels more down-to-earth, in the sense that we see things in a more close-up, personal sort of fashion. Last episode was all about a macro view of things, and getting a sense of how everything and everyone is connected. This episode, it feels like we're getting to know our key characters a bit more, and I find that I'm much more comfortable in this personal space.

I must say, the character of On Dal suits Ji Soo well. He's got the earnest, pure and untainted, slightly dim vibe down pat, and I kinda love On Dal's smile; he looks so kind.

Also, I was wrong. Apparently, On Dal doesn't remember Pyeonggang, even though she's the spitting image of her mother. I guess that goes with his slightly dim image..? I wonder if he's pretending, though. Either way, it still makes narrative sense for Pyeonggang to look just like her mother, like we see from the way the king reacts to the sight of her.

It seems that On Dal is drawn to Pyeonggang - or rather, Ga Jin, since that's her current name - even though he might not be fully cognizant of it yet. Also, on closer examination, from the way On Dal side-eyes the sword that Ga Jin tries to hide behind her back, but chooses not to ask her about it, it does appear that On Dal is aware that Ga Jin isn't telling the truth, but is choosing to play along.

This episode, I'm pretty struck by how much pathos On Dal has, in his backstory. The way his father refused to be rescued; the way his father was executed before his eyes; the way he wasn't allowed to retrieve his father's body; the way Lady Sa blinded herself and proclaimed him her son, so that he would not be able to run off recklessly. Oof. That's a lot, to be sure. And he's learned to fold it all away in his mind and in his heart, while living like a fool, just like his father instructed him to do. It makes me think that there's a lot more to On Dal than he lets on, and now I'm really curious to learn more about him, beyond his foolish trappings.

On Dal's relationship with his adoptive mother is really sweet, though. She grumbles at him and is stern with him, but he's endlessly gentle and sweet to her. I found it so heartwarming, the way he lay down on the table with her, so that she could "look" at the sky with him. And how precious, that he'd tell her that the sky's beautiful and blue, even though in reality it's gray and overcast. Aw. Sweet.

I feel sorry for Ga Jin, because even though she doesn't remember her past, and should therefore be spared the painful memories, she's haunted by nightmares and plagued by headaches, and the fragments of memories torment her all the time.

I found it weird that Lady Gong doesn't actually recognize her face when Ga Jin goes to Magnolia Hall - I mean, Show took the trouble to make sure Ga Jin's the spitting image of the Queen, and doesn't use it? - but I appreciate the callback to how Princess Pyeonggang had always arranged the painting and wooden sword just so, in her quarters, and how that's used to trigger Lady Gong's realization that the maid is, in fact, Princess Pyeonggang.

The flashback, where we're shown that the king realizes that he'd made a mistake in assuming Queen Yeon was having an affair with Wol Gwang, is kinda sad. To be clear, I'm not sad for the king, who hadn't hesitated to have his queen assassinated over circumstantial evidence. The king deserves to feel guilty and tormented because of it. I'm sad for Queen Yeon, who'd lost her life because of it.

Now that Ga Jin's learned that her father isn't actually her real father, and that it isn't safe for her to go back - in fact, Dad says to never go back, ever - I kinda hope that she'll live in the mountains with On Dal and his mom, and enjoy a simple, happy life with them. I mean, she does like him enough to consider seducing him, after all - even if it's momentarily, heh.

But, given that this is only the beginning of our story, and that Ga Jin still needs to reclaim her forgotten identity, I can see that that's not the direction Show is taking. Either way, I'm pretty pleased with the burgeoning connection between Ga Jin and On Dal, and I'm duly curious to see what happens next.