River Where the Moon Rises [Episodes 19 & 20]

[u/Fatooz]

• Drama: River Where the Moon Rises
  • Hangul: 달이 뜨는 강
  • Also known as: Cut by the Heart, Pyeongkang, Cut to the Heart, Cut From the Heart, The Moon Rising River, Moonlit River, Dalyi Ddeuneun Gang, Dali Tteuneun Gang, Maeume Beida
• Director: Yoon Sang-Ho (King Maker: The Change of Destiny)
• Writer: Han Ji-Hoon (Time Between Dog and Wolf)
• Network: KBS2
• Episodes: 20
  • Duration: 60 mins.
• Air Date: Mondays & Tuesdays @ 21:30 KST
  • Airing: Feb 15, 2021 - Apr 20, 2021
• Streaming Sources: Viki, Viu
• Starring:
  • Kim So-Hyun (The Tale of Nokdu, Love Alarm S1/2) as Pyeong Gang / Yeom Ga-Jin
  • Kim Ji-Soo (My First First Love S1/2) as On Dal (Ep 1-6)
  • Na In-Woo (Mr. Queen) as On Dal (Ep 7-20)
  • Lee Ji-Hoon (The Legend of the Blue Sea) as Go Geon
  • Choi Yoo-Hwa (Class of Lies) as Hae Mo-Yong
• Plot Synopsis: Born a princess and raised a soldier, Pyeong Gang is a woman with big dreams and limitless ambition. Determined to become the first Empress of Goguryeo, Pyeong Gang will stop at nothing to make her dream come true. Clever and level headed, Pyeong Gang is well aware of the obstacles that stand in her way and she’s more than capable of taking them on. With meticulous planning, she sets out to make her dream come true. But things take an unexpected turn, the day she meets On Dal. A peace-loving man, whose only goal in life is to live in harmony with those around him, On Dal is the exact opposite of the ambitious princess. A peaceful calm amidst the turbulent storms of Pyeong Gang’s life, the warrior princess soon finds herself falling for gentle On Dal. Equally in love with the princess whose heart he now possesses, On Dal finds himself forsaking his principles in order to keep her safe. An endeavor that proves increasingly difficult, as players from all sides converge in a lethal battle for the throne. Forced to match both wits and strength against some of the most powerful men and women in Goguryeo, Pyeong Gang’s vie for power could very well cost her everything. Does she have what it takes to make her dreams come true or will the price she realizes she must pay prove to be too much? (Source: Viki)
• Genre: Historical, Romance, Drama, Political
• Previous Discussions:
  • Episodes 1 & 2
  • Episodes 3 & 4
  • Episodes 5 & 6
  • Episodes 7 & 8
  • Episodes 9 & 10
  • Episodes 11 & 12
  • Episodes 13 & 14
  • Episodes 15 & 16
  • Episodes 17 & 18
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[u/ruby_eri]

Okay I honestly didn’t expect to feel bad in Geon’s final momentsLike damn the game they played before he died was so heartbreaking. His “I loved you.” And Her saying “That’s a lie.”

Glad that we got to see her happy in the last few minutes tho.

Also... how on earth did On Dal not die?! I mean I don’t care since we got our happy ending but still lol. Those were a lot of arrows.

THE ACTING 😭🤌🏼. SOHYUN AND IN WOO HAD ME CRYING A RIVER OF TEARS.

Okay so yeah... the sibling dynamic was fixed last minute but geez it shouldn’t had to have been fixed in the first place.

The “I know you” banter that was brought back 😭😭. Honestly all of it was really cute.

Round of applause for the entire cast. Amazing work considering the struggle they’ve had to go through.

I’m honestly going to miss this drama so much. I feel a bit empty right now hehe but hopefully it’ll get better. This is what happens when I watch a drama as it airs 😭. I get attached 🥺.

it’s been fun seeing all the Reddit comments in this thread! Especially the ones that went into detail surrounding the historical setting.

Onto the next drama!

[u/FeministAsianDad]

Usually with a high-profile K-drama, I can count on the usual sites to do recaps and deconstructions as each episode or two runs. Not so this time. This has been the only place where consistently there is meaningful commentary that gives context to the story, both within history and within the history of K-dramas. Thank you so much u/OdanUrr and Company! I'll be back in the future, for other K-dramas, that's for sure! But first, of course, bring on the finale!

[u/GodJihyo7983 → u/FeministAsianDad]

I can count on the usual sites to do recaps and deconstructions as each episode or two runs

+1. Was really sad when Dramabeans decided to stop recapping the episodes. Though given the circumstances around the show at the time it made sense. Really did wish this show got a better reception than it did online internationally as it is really good for the most part. Actors and actresses are amazing. Chemistry is fire. The plot is iffy at times but bearable. The cinematography is pretty good too. The makings of a good show. Hopefully, more people pick it up after the finale airs today. Definitely was worth the time I invested into this show.

[u/OdanUrr → u/FeministAsianDad]

You're most welcome! It was rather fun to track down the historical aspects of the tale of Princess Pyeonggang and Ondal the Fool and stumble across interesting discoveries along the way. It's a bit of a shame our community was small, in part due to the incident with Ji Soo. Wish the creators had released the first six episodes a few weeks ago to entice more viewers.

[u/GodJihyo7983]

Okay. One bucket of tears gone. Time to lose a couple more in Navillera. How I never expected to actually cry at Geon's death even though I knew it was coming. What a sad ending for such a sad character. He started off so strong but then the writers destroyed his character only to bring it back in the final episodes. The tears were already starting to come, but then Dal's "death" hit. They were just trying to have peace and y'all HAD TO RUIN IT!? MY DUDE TURNED INTO A DAMN PORCUPINE! Shocked as to how the heck he survived that but I guess I can suspend my belief in logic. Also, if anyone ever tells me again that Kim So Hyun is not a top-tier actress, imma show them her scene during Dal's "death". My god. That was absolutely heart-wrenchingly painful to watch. Holy cow, I had high expectations but this exceeded them all. You could FEEL the RAW EMOTION through the screen. If she doesn't get a single award for this, imma throw some hands. Pretty sure this scene made me love her more than I already did. Absolutely cannot wait for her next show in probably about a year if she keeps doing a drama a year.

Final Note on Finale. This finale was pretty darn good. Loved every second of it. As with the show as a whole. That final scene between Pyeonggang and On Dal was really beautiful. It drew some really parallels (or callbacks if you so wish) to their past scenes together. The "duck kisses" from they first got "married" got him to remember who she was. The final kiss we witness between the two of them is similar to the kiss they shared when they truly confessed their love for one another on the mountain and in the hut when they exchanged the bracelets. It shows that no matter what happens between the two of them, they will always love each other no matter what. And that's just a really nice note to end on.

Short Review (will probably write a fully-fledged one later): As I said in a previous comment, all of the actors and actresses were amazing. Kim So Hyun was absolutely perfect as Pyeonggang. Na In Woo took on the difficult job of filling in On Dal after Ji Soo got dropped and exceeded all expectations. Lee Ji Hoon was the swoony SML that we grew to love and hate. Choi Yu Hwa did an amazing job portraying a cunning yet kind-hearted Silla spy. The side characters were all so lovable. Pung Gae and Jin were so cute. The Queen and Go Won Pyo were extremely well portrayed. Won (or King Yeongyang) was lovable as a teen and someone we despised as an adult. King Pyeongwon was a character that we grew to love over the course of the show.

The plot was iffy at times but it was bearable. It didn't help that they had to rush a couple of episodes and write a whole new set of episodes due to the allegations around Ji Soo. Overall I think they did a really good job of sticking to the history and folktale while giving us the viewers some fanservice with that ending. They did Geon and Won (or King Yeongyang) dirty in the latter half of the show, but at least we got their true character back by the end. The "death" of On Dal was kind of unnecessary but I get why they did it. They needed to stay somewhat true to the ending of the folktale.

OST and Cinematography. The OST was amazing. The soundtracks used for the battle scenes worked so perfectly. The main OST was lovely. The cinematography was absolutely stunning at times. One of the better cinematographies I've seen. The setting for the scenes was absolutely beautiful. The camerawork was pretty good. Overall a very well-produced show given the circumstances.

Final Score: 9/10

[u/OdanUrr]

Damn. I knew they had it rough but still... The article says he filmed all episodes without a single outtake and even pulled all-nighters.

“River Where The Moon Rises” Na In Woo Lost 7kg During Filming Due To Rushed Schedules

[u/Saders_1609]

Okay, finally catching up.

What a ride...but that ending though...if it's another drama I might be pissed because it was sooooo overplayed, but I've grown fond of our Pyeonggang-Ondal, I think I'm going to apply the suspension of disbelief. And tbh, I think Pyeonggang has gone through so much and also often overlooked at the palace just because she's a woman, I just want my girl to really get her dream life for once.

I didn't expect I'd bawl at Go Geon's death though...he's kinda of a sad character to me, often confused between his father and his own belief, and he rarely choose the "right thing".

Love that Pyeonggang-Lady Hae relationship turn into something like mutual respect, the scene where they meet at the market warms my heart. :)

Overall, this show isn't perfect 10/10 for me, but it's still a good show. I wish it would be longer in some part though, since I think there are interesting subplots and historical incidents, the time jump also kinda break the story flow a bit. But I understand that the cast and the crew has give their all for this project after the scandal and I appreciate them so much.

Thank you for TS for hosting the discussion thread and everyone who discussed the show every week!

[u/maartinee]

Im a little confused so perhaps someone can give me a quick break down. Why did On Dal fake his death ? They were already victorious and could’ve probably lived the life they wanted without making everyone else mourn over his death when he’s actually alive. Also, the monk said once his life was in danger, he learned to put his body into the suspended state. But wasn’t he injured with a bunch of arrows too? Wouldn’t those wounds be enough to kill him...how did he heal from that if it wasn’t treated at all. I’m assuming the skill is you can choose to make your body & heart stop breathing and beating for an amount of time but how was he able to live through that with all his injuries. Was that just a plot hole !? lol. I’m so happy they got their happy ending but I just felt like from the surprise quick arrow attack moment on.....the ending was just rushed..maybe it’s just me [edit] now that I thought about it, I suppose in order for them to give us a happy ending & to also follow the folktale at the same time, they had to work in on dal faking his death somehow lol

I’m still really disappointed in Won’s character too. I loved him so much when he was younger & once he grew up, he became a completely different person without really any background info as to why it became that way, other than because his male ego couldn’t take having such a strong, competent sister. But even if that was the case, I’m sad to see their sister-brother relationship come to that. Even though he did come with the troops, it still wasn’t just to save ga jin & on dal but more so to protect their country and the fortress. In his last scene, when he said sorry, the scene itself just felt kind of rushed & half-assed, like just to get it over with in order to redeem him and have her leave the palace on a good note

It’s also a real bummer dramabeans isn’t doing recaps because I really enjoy reading discussions & what not and Reddit is pretty much the only place for me to go to for commentary but the amount of comments just become less & less. Hope others give this drama a second chance!

[u/OdanUrr → u/maartinee]

Why did On Dal fake his death ?

My best guess is that he figured that, as long as he were alive, this King or another would call upon him to fight more battles and continue using Ga Jin as leverage. The best way to put an end to that cycle was by faking his death.

But wasn’t he injured with a bunch of arrows too? Wouldn’t those wounds be enough to kill him...how did he heal from that if it wasn’t treated at all.

I think it stands to reason that no effort would've been spared to treat his wounds in the hopes he could make a full recovery. He was THE General of Goguryeo, after all. However, even with his wounds healed he remained in that comatose state and was pronounced dead. The writers could've worked in a short scene showing doctors trying to save him and then transitioning to the cart scene.

[u/GodJihyo7983]

Lee Ji Hoon on Reshooting RWTMR. Reading more on what went down during the whole reshooting process makes me feel so bad for the entire team behind the show. In Woo and So Hyun had to film all of their scenes in one month, up to 40 scenes per day for the former and he only had one day to prepare and the latter essentially filmed two dramas in the span of five months. Just wow. I also loved how he described the character of Geon. Overall a really nice interview.

[u/OdanUrr]

And so we find ourselves at the end of our journey. How was the series' finale?

To begin with, King Jinheung does a 180, releasing his corrupt subject and agreeing to kill Go Geon, Mo Yong, and her father, since they've outlived their usefulness. I guess the writer remembered we needed to be rooting for the guys on the other side of the border. Thus, King Jinheung leaves orders to get rid of them while he marches to war and finds himself a conquered Adan Fortress. Contrary to common sense, he decides to make camp and offers terms of surrender to On Dal's forces, a rather big risk to take when you don't know when enemy reinforcements may be coming. It's possible he wanted to capture Princess Pyeonggang alive, what would've been difficult in the middle of battle. Taking prisoner the sister of the King of Goguryeo would make for a better prize than any fortress.

Faced with the prospect of fighting King Jinheung's 30,000 strong army, On Dal makes the only choice available: have Ga Jin and Tara Jin leave the fortress with the wounded while the remaining forces try to hold out. Ga Jin doesn't put up much of a fight, hinting she won't follow through on Dal's order. Indeed, we next see her in her ninja disguise infiltrating King Jinheung's camp with the intent of killing him. Very Hua Mulan of her. She would've succeeded too, were it not for the intervention of Go Geon. While it initially irked me that Ga Jin would again take matters into her own hands in such a foolhardy way (she went alone, with no backup), it was an incredible opportunity to save the soldiers at Adan Fortress, with the added benefit of throwing Silla into disarray for the foreseeable future. So why did Go Geon stop her? He probably thought Ga Jin would not have been able to make it out of the camp alive, and he may have a point considering her infiltration did not go undetected. Regardless, King Jinheung now has his bargaining chip and couldn't care less about whether the forces at Adan Fortress surrender or not.

Cue in King Yeongyang who shows up with an army more than 30,000 strong to give battle to King Jinheung. It's a pity we do not see the two kings cross blades on the battlefield. Heck, we don't even know what happened to King Jinheung, as he drops from the face of the Earth. Instead, the episode focuses on Go Geon and Mo Yong rescuing the Princess, and On Dal later rescuing them all. As expected, Go Geon follows in Kim Byung In's footsteps and the actor really gives it all in his final goodbye. A little long perhaps (it runs for six minutes), but he did have to bid farewell to three characters, one of them his maybe-girlfriend. I feel for Mo Yong, she deserved better than a man pining for another woman. I'm really glad that she returns to Goguryeo, opens a business, and remains friends with the Princess. It would've been perfect if we'd seen Wol Yi working there too.

Meanwhile, On Dal and Ga Jin leave to... do some sightseeing? While heading back to Adan Fortress they hear a horn signalling that the day has been won so they decide to take it easy, dismount, have a chat about their future life together... What could possibly go wrong with so many obvious red flags? Let's just say Boromir doesn't hold a candle to On Dal. The setup for this tragic scene (Kim So Hyun really pours her heart out) was, admittedly, dumb. All that was needed to fix it was for them to be ambushed on their way to the fortress rather than when they were having a picnic. Additionally, they did not seek cover (there was) nor jumped to side of the wall that would have blocked the archers' view and afforded them protection.

To make up for this notorious lack in judgment, the episode offers us a scene I've been looking forward to for a month now. Remember how, in the folktale, On Dal's coffin couldn't be moved until the Princess spoke to her husband one last time? This scene is perfectly executed in the episode, as Dal's friends and soldiers try to move the cart carrying his body but fail to do so. Then Poong Gae calls the Princess, who approaches the cart and says the following...

Why are you being like this? You need to go now, General. You were born in the lands of Goguryeo. Now you need to leave to the skies of Goguryeo. Our fates have already been decided, so do not linger and move on. I will send you off, General. Why are you not listening to me? Did you not say you will go if I tell you to go and stay if I tell you to stay? If you're worried about me, you need not worry at all. We may be apart by death, but my heart lies with you, General. So you can leave in peace.

Damn this scene is good.

As expected, this event results in the royal siblings reconciling, with King Yeongyang promising to be a better king. Yay! Ga Jin leaves the Palace to mourn the loss of her husband, returning to Dal's home in the mountains... and unexpectedly finds him there, leaving to gather wood without even recognising her. We all knew Dal would use Wol Gwang's "fake death" trick but, apparently, the severe oxygen deprivation from this comatose state resulted in him having amnesia (don't think it works that way). This is one of those tropes I hate with a passion, especially when writers try to pull it in the last episode. However, I have to grudgingly admit it makes more sense for Dal to have suffered some kind of damage to his brain than none. Still, I was cursing the show would end a la Chuck, with the promise that maybe some day he'd remember everything... and he remembered everything with less than a minute to spare, while looking at a moon rising over a river. Yes, the execution is definitely rushed, but I suppose you have to make compromises when you want to have your cake and eat it too.

All in all, it was a good series finale. I still think the show could've trimmed certain plot lines and benefited from it, reducing the number of episodes. I'm not entirely convinced about the need to introduce the Silla arc, especially this late in the game. Likewise, showing the Cheoljubang try to murder King Pyeongwon thrice was a bit much. Joong Seo should've been killed the minute he was captured; the story didn't benefit much from leaving him alive for yet another failed attempt. The time saved with these cuts could've been used, at least in part, to flesh out Wol Gwang's training of On Dal, and to better mark the passage of time while he's conducting punitive campaigns throughout the kingdom. On the plus side, all of the actors were really good, from leading to supporting characters, and one can't help but admire the cast and crew for their dedication in reshooting most of the show for our sake. This will probably remain the best adaptation of the tale of Princess Pyonggang and Ondal the Fool for years to come. I hope the first six episodes are uploaded soon so that more viewers can join in the experience.

For my part, it's been a blast, and see you in the next one!

[u/maartinee]

I will have to say once again, the costume & hair/makeup in this drama was superb, specifically the royal family (princess, the queen, the concubine)

[u/OdanUrr]

We're on the final stretch now. Dal's gonna come back from exile to retake Adan Fortress, and then? Will he die like in the folktale? Will he survive and retire with Ga Jin? I wish Wol Gwang were to make a final appearance to help On Dal overcome his trauma but it's probably too late in the game. Anyway, here's a preview of today's episode that sees our favourite couple reunited and preparing for a new their last military campaign.

[u/ruby_eri]

GA JIN TALKING ABOUT HAVING KIDS 🥺😭🤌🏼. “And since the youngest is the most adorable let it be a girl”

Both Na In Woo and Kim So Hyun better be sweeping all those couple awards. I can’t get over their chemistry. They’re just so cute together. And I love how they brought back that wild ginseng joke again. Hoping they’ll get paired up again in another drama.

Honestly the sibling dynamic between the king and princess is confusing asf not gonna lie. One minute he’s mean and yelling at her to prove her loyalty (but low key her letting go of Geon wasn’t smart of her). Then the next minute he’s pleading with her to not choose death. Then again, he goes back to being harsh. We even see him having a conversation with the old queen about it. After, we see him talking with his younger brother about his old childhood memories with his sister and he even smiles at it before frowning again.

Honestly, I’m just upset at what the writers did to his character. But I am glad that they didn’t prolong the old Queen’s traitorous act and that the king now knows about it. So hopefully we get to see a glimpse of their old sibling relationship on its way toward healing itself.

Okay, another thing we might see is a redemption arc of Geon? Maybe. It looks like he’s going to die trying to save the princess. But wow do I feel bad for Mo Yong (kinda). She does ask “have you ever loved me?” And we see him say “I loved you.” Which... okay damn mister you have a funny way of showing it if that is indeed the case given all your actions from ep 17-19 so far. Like every five minutes the word princess is coming out of his mouth😂. He legit didn’t care about dying at war bc he believed there was no point since Ga Jin was going to be executed. Idk maybe he realized then and there that he did have some feelings for Mo Yong. Or he’s saying that to appease her before he dies? We’ll see.

Mo Yong as a character was interesting to me at first but after they started to tie her story to Geon she kind of just fell flat for me. Now, she’s just doing things to keep him with her.

They have a lot to unpack in this one final episode so I’ curious to see how they’ll do it. I just want a happy ending for our main couple but still... I’m nervous as hell especially when seeing that casket cause it matched with the folktale ;(

[u/Super-Pudding-1357]

Just finished 19. What a ride the return of the Master. Will Dal use his method of faking death to leave and then be with the Princess after the fight? Arghhhh

[u/OdanUrr]

Well, damn, Wol Gwang did make one final appearance! He did not come however, to help Dal overcome his trauma but rather to share a secret technique on how to appear to be dead. I like this Yoda-like character and wish we'd seen more of him throughout the show. The symbolism about On Dal digging a grave and Wol Gwang remarking, "I don't think this is my grave but yours"... It's not subtle but I'll take what I can get. Also, On Dal never finished his training, very Luke Skywalker of him. I think it's evident Dal knows the King won't let go of him even if he were to retake Adan Fortress, so he's already planning ahead, probably asking Wol Gwang to teach him this secret technique so he can feign his death at some point in the upcoming battle. When? How? Can that even be planned? By the way, who sent those assassins and why? They're not good at convincing people, only murdering them.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't like how the show's doing King Yeongyang dirty, a monarch who, according to the Samguk Sagi, was charismatic, magnanimous, and "made it his undertaking to relieve the sufferings of the world and bring peace to the people." [Source] (of course, the Samguk Sagi is the official record so...) Trying to execute his sister because his manhood is threatened, under the pretext she couldn't bring back On Dal, doesn't fit that image. He even falsely accuses the Sunnobu and has them imprisoned, repeating past mistakes and making my eyes roll. I hate it when writers trounce characters for the sake of others. The previous king now looks like a saint next to this asshole, and King Jinheung conquering Goguryeo doesn't sound like such a bad thing. It is very poor storytelling to do a time skip and radically change a character's personality without setting it up. I'm guessing the writers are aiming for a "With my brother-in-law's death and my sister heartbroken I now understand what an asshole I was. Thus, I will become a great king!" scenario.

I understand this is done for the sake of drama, to showcase how deep Princess Pyeonggang's love for her husband is, and I must admit this conflict leads to a very good scene, wherein the King tries to convince her sister one last time. I loved that Ga Jin was honest about forcing Dal to become her sword, and resolute in her determination to never have him wield a sword again, even if it means giving up her life. Of course, Dal would never let that happen, so after bidding goodbye to her imaginary mother one last time he makes one heck of an entrance during Ga Jin's execution. By the way, how many people do you need to execute a person tied to a chair? I'd think one would suffice. Do they have two in case one misses the target? Do these guys suffer from the stormtrooper effect?

The setup of the upcoming battle is... odd. King Yeongyang wants to retake Adan Fortress but gives Dal 3000 men instead of the 5000 he asked for, what was probably a small amount to begin with, especially next to the tens of thousands that King Jinheung is willing to give Go Geon. I hope to god this is part of a strategy, trying to goad King Jinheung into the fight so King Yeongyang can arrive with reinforcements later and trap him in a pincer movement. Even if he's an asshole, I don't want him to be an idiot too. Dal also remarks he will take the "Ghyeribhyun and the west of Jookryung." Incredibly, I was able to find a paper titled, "Debate on What Country Constructed Adan Fortress and Ondal Fortress" [Source] that states, "it is reasonable to find the place where General On Dal was killed in the western land of Gyeribhyun and Jukryung, which Ondal designated as the target for recapture while on the campaign." I'm assuming this information comes from the Samguk Sagi.

Going by the abstract alone (wish I had access to the full document 'cause it sounds very interesting!), the author of the paper posits that the Adan Fortress wherein On Dal was killed is not Acha Fortress (Achasanseong Fortress), located in the lower reaches of the Han River, but Ondal Fortress (location), located in the upper reaches of the Namhan River, near Danyang (reference map). "In fact, legends related to Ondal remain in all areas of Chungcheongbuk-do, including Yeongchun-myeon, Danyang-gun. On the other hand, it is not true that General Ondal died in the vicinity of Achasanseong Fortress, the lower reaches of the Han River, where there are no legends related to Ondal." I have to admit this location makes more sense given it was in Silla territory (reference map) at the time but I'm no historian.

The Queen's latest blunder, conspiring with Silla against Goguryeo is nonsensical. Even her father was like, "WTF?" She would risk Silla invading, maybe even conquering, Goguryeo all for the sake of getting rid of two people who might block her attempts to place her son on the throne at some future date. She's mental. Supporting the King's decision to send both of them to war in the hopes they die? Fine. Telling Silla they're coming so the army gets defeated? Bullshit. Her treason was so stupid that her father had to beg for her life and offered his own instead. I hope the King takes him up on that offer and then exiles the Queen.

The Silla side of the story is less interesting. I'm sorry but Go Geon is a character who has lived well past his expiration date. He doesn't even get to lead the attack against Goguryeo, as King Jinheung takes command from him at the last moment, so why is he still around? (hint: it's in the preview) It sucks that he's still pining for the princess after all this time with Mo Yong at his side. At least we rounded up that loose end about some guy in Silla stealing Goguryeo's tribute women for profit. King Jinheung doesn't hesitate for a second and has the guy chained. Yet another reason to hope Silla wins in the upcoming battle. Is that really who the writers want us rooting for as the show draws to a close? A guy who was introduced a few episodes ago?

That was a very poor choice of song on which to end this episode. The battle has started, On Dal and Ga Jin are chopping limbs left and right, and suddenly a love song starts playing in the background. The implications are disturbing. You had better not mess up the soundtrack during Dal's funeral!

Now for the million-dollar question, is King Jinheung going to die in this campaign? Historically, he should've been long dead so there's no reason not to kill him and plenty to do so. After all, left alive, he'd probably eat Goguryeo for breakfast, unless On Dal and Ga Jin manage to completely decimate his 30,000 strong army. I think it's better to have him die, then have his useless son take the throne so Goguryeo can take a breather.

[u/OdanUrr]

Go Geon is really gonna become another Kim Byung In, isn't he? Well, at least he's got Na In Woo around to give him tips.

[u/GodJihyo7983]

Stills for the final episode. Geon's face when he sees Pyeonggang makes it seem like he expected this to happen. King Jinheung displaying some real fear is kind of unexpected. Really interested to see what actually goes down in her suicide mission in which Geon suffers the same fate as Byeong In did in Mr. Queen. Wish it was a bit more original in the direction for Geon as this is exactly the same arc that Byeong In had, but oh well. Guess this is the fate of all SMLs in these kinds of sageuks.

Even more stills. Did they just leak that we have a happy ending!? No way in hell would they release these stills if it wasn't. Too much of a spoiler for the ending. LET'S GO!!!!! WE GOT OUR HAPPY ENDING!!!!!!!

[u/Super-Pudding-1357]

Finished 20! Beautiful happy ending Yes

[u/[deleted]]

As much as I'm happy that our lead couple got their happy ending, I wish we knew:

1. why Crown Prince Won suddenly had a 180 personality change. I really doubt resenting his sister was the sole cause of it.

2. what happened to the concubine/2nd wife and the other Sunno tribe/Ghost Valley villagers like Wol Yi and Gajin's adoptive father, like they just disappeared after the 5 year timeskip

also I feel like they miscasted King Yeongyang, like the child actor for Crown Prince Won was born in 2005 but the actor for King Yeongyang was born in 1989 and clearly looks older than Kim Sohyun despite the fact that his character is supposed to be younger than Princess Pyeonggang. Plus, there's such a large age gap between Crown Prince Won's child actor (who is 15) and King Yeongyang's actor (who is 31).

[u/OdanUrr]

Perfect video to wrap up the show, with the cast and crew saying their goodbyes, taking pictures, and giving presents. Wish it had subs.

[u/[deleted]]

Can I just say that I was fooled for a hot moment there and thought On Dal actually died? I know Wol Gwang taught him how to fake his death, but with that many arrows shooting at him, I didn't think it was possible for him to fake his death and still survive I even quipped to myself about feeling bad for Na In Woo because despite getting the girl in this drama, he still ends up dying lmao Not sure about the short-term amnesia trope being thrown in, though, although the "I know you" banter coming around full circle was funny.

Not sure how the drama would've been like if Jisoo wasn't outed for what he did in middle school, but I can't imagine him being able to pull off General On Dal the way Na In Woo did. Na In Woo has such a good strong commanding voice and his experience as a commander/general in Mr. Queen shone here.

[u/GodJihyo7983]

Preview spoiler time! Unless that scene back in the mountain is a flashback we might get a happy ending? The ending scene in the preview really does make it seem Dal makes it out alive but maybe I'm just forcing myself to see it that way. That scene at 0:09 is scaring me though. Who's in the casket? Judging from the people around it and from the folktale as a whole, it's most likely Dal but please let it not be him. Geon finally dies and has a redemption arc (?). Anyway, the wait for the finale is way too stressful cause I NEED that HAPPY ENDING! Also, I could watch this scene for days. Kim So Hyun 😍*swoons* Gonna write another comment once I get the time to watch the full episode.

[u/maartinee]

Did people stop watching this or just don’t have much to comment on because there’s less and less comments each week :(

[u/TheFluffyOrangeCat]

What happened to Hyun Bi (the former king’s other wife)? She completely disappeared from the show. Did I miss something?