Tag Archives: Lee Ji Hoon

Lee Ji Hoon Shines in a Memorable Performance of a Problematic Second Male Lead Role in Sageuk Drama River Where the Moon Rises

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I’m so happy that KBS drama River Where the Moon Rises had a happy ending in the story for the OTP and a happy ending for the production. It was like watching a tightrope walker performing live, I was holding my breath hoping for no editing mistakes in trying to splice in replacement male lead Na In Woo and to hurriedly re-film the majority of the second half in record pace. Second male lead Lee Ji Hoon was my performance bae in the series, and was my preferred fictional choice in the first half of the drama, but alas he went the way of the melo dodo spinning in circles later on. That I still really enjoy watching him onscreen despite playing three consecutive douches (that I’ve watched) with this and earlier on in Dinner Mate and Legend of the Blue Sea means he’s got that It factor. I hope this is the last time he pays the second male lead dues and gets a solid series to impress and win the girl in the end.

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KBS Sageuk Drama River Where the Moon Rises Ends with 6.8%, 8.3% Ratings, a Sweet Ending, and a Lot of What Could Have Beens

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I feel like I just watched half a drama, but considering all the behind the scenes trials and tribulations that befell this production, I’ll give it as a glass half full scenario. KBS Mon-Tues sageuk River Where the Moon Rises … Continue reading →

River Where the Moon Rises Releases New Stills Gearing Up for Final Two Episodes This Coming Mon-Tues

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I started my K-drama journey on a sageuk, years and years ago. A good and proper sageuk, all 55-episodes that was Seodongyo full of slow and meaningful developments interspersed with cliffhanger episode endings and plenty of meat to keep me … Continue reading →

The Attempted Coup in Episode 17 of River Where the Moon Rises Deflates Like a Souffle as Both Male Leads Hie Off to Angst Afterwards

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Remember when what happened to KBS drama River Where the Moon Rises was like the biggest news in K-ent? Oh what a month does to keep one upping another in terms of wild news and crazy scandals. River has now … Continue reading →

Episode 16 of River Where the Moon Rises Stays at 6.0%, 7.8% Ratings as the Plot Barrels Ahead into Fighting, Deaths, and a Thwarted Coup

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I’ve stopped digging too deeply into the why, where, how, whats of River Where the Moon Rises, the early episodes I was super excited about and tried to analyze only to realize stuff just sorta happened and the foundations were … Continue reading →

Fractures Appear in the OTP as Episode 15 of River Where the Moon Rises Shows the Price of Playing the Political Game with Ratings of 6.7%, 7.8%

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It’s the final stretch for KBS Mon-Tues sageuk River Where the Moon Rises, and that hubbub of the earlier real world distractions have abated and now it’s back to the same old shallow drawing board in terms of telling a … Continue reading →

A Smartly Won Battle Gets Ga Jin and Ondal Back to the Palace in Episode 13 of River Where the Moon Rises as Ratings Stay at 6.8%, 8.7%

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It’s wild to think that a week ago the worst thing to befall K-dramas in 2021 was the male lead swap in River Where the Moon Rises, and then Joseon Exorcist came along and went “Hold my beer.”. Mon-Tues remains … Continue reading →

The OTP Consummate Their Marriage But War is Looming in Episode 12 of River Where the Moon Rises as Ratings Stay at 6.8%, 8.1%

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The verdict has to be in now with River Where the Moon Rises, as a sageuk it’s just not compelling but for weathering the real life craziness its come out stronger than before. The previews for episode 13 next week … Continue reading →

Na In Woo’s First Full Appearance in Episodes 9-10 of River Where the Moon Rises is Surprisingly Better than Ji Soo in Bringing More Mature Presence to the Role

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Man, now I wish I never watched Queen Cheorin because seeing Na In Woo suck six-ways to Sunday in his second male lead role there really was the worst introduction to this actor that could have happened. I say this … Continue reading →

Kim Soo Hyun, Song Joong Ki Among Selection of Male Actors in First Release From the KOFIC Korean Actors 200 List

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The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is assembling a list call the Korean Actors 200 (includes both actors and actresses) to represent the top acting talent from the industry with an express aim to raise further international recognition of the breadth … Continue reading →

K-netizens Come Up with Dream Sageuk Pairings that Will Break 10% Ratings and Milk the Tears

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The Ji Soo debacle in River Where the Moon Rises has rekindled the gripe K-netz has with younger actor/actress casting in sageuk, which is held to a much higher standard thanks to the record breaking ratings in the early Hallyu … Continue reading →

Ga Jin Thwarts a Baddie Conspiracy and Gets Rewarded with a Royal Betrothal in Episode 8 of River Where the Moon Rises Getting 6.1%, 8.3% Ratings

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It’s episode 8 of River Where the Moon Rises and it’s now clear that the whole male lead swap debacle is merely one of the many problems this drama cannot seem to catch a break with. The writing is simplistic … Continue reading →