A nice start to the lunar year of the ox so far with no big bad news around the world and for the first K-drama to premiere in this metal ox year KBS sageuk River Where the Moon Rises is also off to a promising start. The premiere episode this Monday brought in 6.5%, 9.4% ratings in the two part calculation, with the storyline moving swiftly through the adult backstory setting phase and right into the young leads Kim So Hyun‘s Ga Jin and Ji Soo‘s Ondal meeting yet again. This drama hits all the right Gorguyeo era sageuk notes, action-packed with stirring lush imagery and plenty of badassery from strong female characters. Kang Ha Neul’s guest starring role is, of course, super amazing but I am glad he and Son Ye Jin passed on the drama leads and the production aged down one whole decade because now we get the cutest pairing of assassin princess with amnesia and wholesome lunkhead who still remembers her.