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After the tragic death of her father, Kang Ro Seo has worked hard, taking odd jobs to support herself and her scholarly brother, who spends all of his time with his nose in a book, but has no practical knowledge.  When Ro Seo was young, her father taught her how to make alcohol.  But with a strict prohibition in place, that skill has gone unused.  Out of desperation, she decides to get involved in the illegal selling of her alcohol to make ends meet.  Nam Young is an honest, hard-working young man who has become a royal investigator.  When he finds out that Ro Seo has been selling her wares illegally, he is torn between his sense of justice and his growing attachment to the fiesty woman.  

Lee Hye Ri as Kang Ro Seo

Kang Ro Seo has struggled to support her family since the sudden death of her father.  Turning to the greatest skill her father left her, Ro Seo decides to make and sell alcohol, even though it is illegal.  She also decides to take in a renter to pay off her brother’s debt.  But when that renter turns out to be the newest Royal Investigator, Ro Seo is forced to make a choice about how much she can trust him.  And when she finds out that she and Nam Young share a connection related to the death of her father, Ro Seo decides to take a chance and trust him.  Especially once her heart also becomes involved in the decision.  

Kang Ro So is brave and determined.  She is willing to do whatever it takes to support herself and her brother, even if it tears at her pride in private.  Even though she knows that making and selling alcohol is illegal, she doesn’t agree with the reasons why, which makes it easier for her to ignore them.  Lee Hye Ri plays this rough girl with a sassy edge well.  And I liked that she got a chance to show a more gentle and feminine side from time to time as well.  It was her performance as Kang Ro Seo that really carried this drama, and I enjoyed watching her.

Kang Min Ah as Han Yae Jin

Han Yae Jin is a noble’s daughter who also meets Pyo while he is in disguise.  But she falls for him at first sight and spends the rest of the drama trying to win his attentions from Ro Seo.  Eventually, she goes through official channels to become the crown princess.  She is honest and outspoken, and is the perfect partner for Pyo, even if it takes him awhille to figure that out.  

 ♥ Prohibition Theme

I enjoyed the unique twist that the prohibition gave this story.  And it did a nice job of showing how a political decision can affect the people outside of the palace in such profound ways.  While pretending that the law was made to benefit the people, by protecting their resources, prohibition was really just a way for the King to flex his authority.   I have seen a couple other dramas at least mention periods of prohibition, but I liked how they used it to create a powerful message and theme in this drama.  

♥ San Mok’s Amnesia

I liked how they allowed San Mok to have almost a duel character.  He started as the greedy, selfish thug out to make a buck at all costs, but when he ends up with amnesia, he becomes Ro Seo’s devoted supporter.  Suddenly his bristly attitude is replaced with a sweet kind of innocence.  And then, in the final moments we see him get his memory back and appear to go back to his original self.  It was a funny way to deal with his character and I liked the unique concept.  

 Kang Heo Soo

This show really dropped the ball with some of their side characters, and Kang Heo Soo is a perfect example of this. As Ro Seo’s brother, you would think he would be integral to the story, but instead we go through multiple episodes without seeing anything about him at all.  In truth, I often forgot his character even existed.  Heo Soo was trapped down in that mine for a pretty long time with no update on him or his story.   

Woon Shim

Woon Shim was a chaotic and unpredictable character that I didn’t understand at all.  It was never really clear whose side she was on.  While she said she loved Shim Heon, she helped Ro Seo take over his alcohol sales and never seemed to feel guilty about betraying him.  But then, in the end, she randomly kills herself after he is killed by Lee Shi Heum.  None of it made any sense.  Her character had the potential to be another powerful, independent woman, but they just didn’t give her any character strength for the audience to get behind.  And I selfishly would have liked a happy ending for her and Shim Heon.

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“Moonshine” ends with most of our characters getting what they deserve and things wrapping up quite nicely.  The exception, of course, is the tragic murder/suicide of Woon Shim and Shim Heon.  I would have liked to see a happy ending for them too, but it wasn’t to be.  Lee Shi Heum is executed for his many crimes.  The King is, not only alive, but seemingly on the mend.  He pardons Ro Seo and ends prohibition, so she is not only innocent but has a future career making “moonshine”.  And Pyo marries Yae Jin, and as promised, she seems to have won his heart after all.  A year later, Cheon Geum is living happily as a free woman and dating Chun Gae, who she bought a nobility title for.  Yae Jin is finally getting to see the world in the company of her handsome husband.  And Young and Ro Seo are still doing well together, although Young’s resistance to finding a new job doesn’t sit well with Ro Seo.  In the final scene, Young finally gives Ro Seo the ring he bought her long before and proposes.  Ro Seo pretends to consider turning him down, but in the end she accepts, of course!