“Moon River” is fully embracing its rom-com identity. Even as the plot grows more serious, this K-drama never forgets to lift the mood with its comedy. The humor can be over-the-top at times, but it always fits naturally within the story. From Dal I’s (Kim Se Jeong) frantic attempts to reverse her gender swap to the prince (Kang Tae Oh) finally opening up about his feelings, here are two funny and two emotional moments from the latest episodes of “Moon River.”
Warning: spoilers ahead!
Funny: reversing the gender on her own
There is funny, and there is whatever Kim Se Jeong and Kang Tae Oh delivered after waking up from their soul swap.
Episode 4 ends on a deeply emotional note when Crown Prince Lee Gang and Dal I fall into the water. Dal I saves the drowning prince by giving him an underwater kiss, which triggers the soul swap. It is dramatic and heartfelt. But when episode 5 begins, the tone shifts into complete and unforgettable chaos.
The prince wakes up in Dal I’s body feeling confused, panicked, and horrified, although he manages to adapt faster than expected. Dal I, meanwhile, reacts in the most Dal I way possible. She picks up a huge pair of pruning shears and tries to force the universe to reverse whatever just happened.
The moment is one step away from becoming a full horror scene. If a suspenseful soundtrack had played in the background, this could have been the most unexpected thriller moment in a historical drama this year. Even the prince’s eunuch faints instantly. It is the type of scene that is funny in the way a chaotic accident is fascinating. It is alarming, ridiculous, and absolutely impossible to look away from.
Emotional: the prince finally opens up about his feelings
“Moon River” excels in many areas, from strong performances and beautiful cinematography to a script that balances humor and heart. One of its most underrated strengths is how effortlessly the story shifts from lighthearted comedy to emotional sincerity within seconds.
After the long sequence of the prince and Dal I panicking over their body swap and attempting every ridiculous method they can think of to reverse it, including kissing each other which is essentially kissing themselves, the tone changes completely. The chaos settles, and the plot moves into one of the most heartfelt moments of the latest episodes.
In a quiet scene at the end of a difficult day, the prince finally apologizes to Dal I and admits that he truly likes her. He explains that when he gifted her the beautiful clothes and accessories, they were meant for her and not an attempt to remake her into a copy of his late wife. It is a sincere and raw confession that hits especially hard because Dal I had previously been hurt by the thought that she was nothing more than a stand-in for someone he lost.
It is tender, honest, and absolutely a tearjerker, marking a turning point in their relationship and giving viewers a moment of emotional clarity after all the comedic confusion.
Funny: is this an invitation for a kiss?
The claim about “Moon River” being able to switch from emotional to comedic in an instant is proven once again in this scene. Because how is this possible that in one moment Lee Gang is speaking with complete honesty about his feelings, and in the very next, Dal I is preparing for what she believes is a kiss with what might be the most exaggerated pout in K-drama history?
After several failed attempts to return to their original bodies, which involves kissing more times than either of them wants to admit, you would think they would know how a kiss works by now. Yet here we are. The prince takes Dal I to a hidden cherry blossom garden, and in true rom-com fashion, a bee starts hovering around her. When Lee Gang tries to shoo it away, Dal I misreads the moment entirely and leans forward with a dramatic pout, convinced he is leaning in for another kiss.
The scene is already funny, but what elevates it is how perfectly Kang Tae Oh mimics Kim Se Jeong’s trademark expressions while playing Dal I in his body. For a split second, viewers could swear that the actors themselves had swapped souls because the performance is that accurate. It is comedy gold.
Emotional: what makes love love?
What proves that two people are truly in love? Is it the butterflies that flutter in their stomach whenever the other person is near? Is it the urge to brush their hand against their beloved’s hand every chance they get? Or is it the simple desire to keep seeing the other person smile? While all of these are lovely signs, the clearest proof of love is the selflessness that grows when you start caring for someone for who they are rather than what they can offer. This selflessness is already blossoming in both Dal I and Lee Gang.
Dal I has lost all of her memories and believes that she was a runaway slave. Even without remembering the experience, she understands how frightening and dehumanizing a life like that must have been. Yet she is willing to become a slave of the state again if it means protecting the prince’s life. On the other hand, the prince is fully prepared to give up everything he has ever known so that Dal I can one day have the family she dreams of. Their quiet sacrifices speak louder than any confession and show just how deeply these two already care for one another.
What makes episodes 5 and 6 truly stand out is how effortlessly both Kim Se Jeong and Kang Tae Oh capture each other’s essence. Their performances go beyond simple body-swap antics. Every expression, gesture, and reaction feels authentic, convincing the audience that their souls have truly switched.
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Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of clichés are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently Watching: “Moon River“ and “Typhoon Family”
