After being seperated from her parents and losing all her memories, a young girl is raised and trained in a band of assassins. Now, years later, a dangerous assignment brings her face to face with her memories and long-lost family members.  But reconciling her past with the warrior life-style she has been living will not be easy.  When she meets a young farmer from a ghost village in the mountains, she finds love and family for the first time, but his peace loving ways are a stark contrast to her goals and ambitions.  

Na In Woo as  On Dal

On Dal is the son of General On Hyeop.  His father ruled and protected the Sunno Region until he was falsely accused of treason and killed.  Since then, Dal has lived with his nanny in the "ghost village" in the mountains, where people come to hide from the rest their true identities.  He is happy with his simple life until a beautiful stranger stumbles into his world and turns everything upside-now.  Now his life's goal is keeping her safe at all costs.  Even if her violent lifestyle eats away at his own peace of mind.  

On Dal is a beautiful character.  He is innocent and loving.  The tranformation from simple country boy to trained military leader, and the pain that caused him emotionally, was very well-done.   Na In Woo was a great choice for this role, even if he was their second choice.  There was a depth to his character's development that felt very natural and his motivations always made sense.  

Choi Yoo Hwa as Hae Mo Yong

Hae Mo Yong is the adopted daughter of one of the most powerful politicians.  She is a influential merchant and herbalist but she is

also a spy for the Silla Tribe.  She falls in love with Go Geon and will do whatever it takes to win his heart away from the princess.

♥ Dal's Inner-Struggle

Too often kdramas romanticize the idea of changing or sacrificing for the person you love, and it's true that can be a positive thing.  But I loved how this drama explored the idea of going against your own human nature and the emotional turmoil and trauma that can result.  Dal's transformation from a soft-hearted farmer who couldn't watch any animal suffer in pain to a blood-thirsty warrior who killed anyone who crossed his path on the battlefield was so well portrayed, and you could feel his pain and struggle.  

♥ Romance

I enjoyed the simple romances between Dal and Ga Jin and between Poong Gae and Jin.  They didn't need a lot of drama or to be the main focus of the story.  There was a natural realism to them that wasn't overplayed.  Geon and Mo Yong had a much more fiery passion but I loved the easiness of the other couples.  In my opinion, they struck the perfect balance between true love and undying devotion.  

Crown Prince Won

We meet the Crown Prince Won at the very beginning of the drama, when he is just a young boy, and then watch him grow up throughout.  But I never felt like I had an understanding for who he was.  His character seemed vague and inconsistant, which might have been fine if he hadn't become such a prominent role at the end, once he became king.  If he was going to play such an important role, it would have been nice to have a feeling for what kind of man and king he was.  There seemed to be plenty of screen time but no clear character development.

Confusing Politics

This drama has some lofty goals when painting the landscape of the political climate of  the time.  With so many factions, both around the country and under the roof of the royal palace itself, it could get confusing at times.  Especially, when those factions tended to change sides at the drop of a hat.  It was sometimes hard to keep track of who each factions members, allies, and enemies were.

The final episodes of "River Where the Moon Rises" give us plenty of tearful moments.  Geon returns from Silla and dies saving Pyeong Gang, just as he always vowed.  Mo Yong stays with him during his final moments and he finally admits that he did love her.  Dal and Ga Jin get delayed and miss most of the fight at the fortress but the King's army still manages to win the day.  And then, as Dal and Ga Jin arrive and share a sweet moment together, reflecting on what will be their final battle, Dal is shot and "killed".  Moving a head a bit, we find Ga Jin and the King saying their goodbyes.  Ga Jin is leaving the palace to go back to a quiet life in the mountains alone.  The King apologizes for distrusting her and they make peace.  On her way out of the city, she runs into Mo Yong who is back running her own business again.  When Ga Jin finally gets back to the home she had shared with Dal and his mother, she finds him there, but he doesn't know who she is.  Joong Seo is there too and he explains that he taught Dal how to enter into an unconscious state to seem dead.  While Dal had succeeded, the process left him with no memories.  Ga Jin vows to wait for him and help him remember.  And after a few failed attempts at they sit talking, Dal slowly begins to recognize her.  The drama ends with him kissing her and Ga Jin is thrilled that he finally remembers.  This last bit was kind of rushed for me, and I wish they had taken time to have Dal slowly regain his memory, but I'm glad they are together and have a happy future ahead of them.