Actor Kang Tae-oh painted a 'breath-stopping ending' that sent heart rates soaring and firmly captured viewers' hearts.
In the third episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama "The Moon Flows in Lee Gang" aired on the 14th, Kang Tae-oh played the devoted and sincere crown prince Lee Gang, maximizing the character's charm with a diverse performance that included a direct emotional line that does not hide his true feelings, flashy action, and delicate eye acting, aiming straight for women's hearts as the 'ultimate heartthrob'.
In that broadcast, although Lee Gang harbored worry and tenderness for Park Dal-i (played by Kim Se-jeong), he tried to hide his feelings by hurting Dal-i with harsh words on the outside. However, in moments when he revealed his true feelings toward Dal-i with direct comments, he shifted between seemingly indifferent prickliness and sweetness, conveying careful emotions that offered viewers both excitement and immersion at the same time.
Later, after being embroiled in a plot by Left State Councillor's daughter Kim Woo-hee (played by Hong Soo-ju) and driven to the brink of death, Lee Gang barely saved his life with Dal-i's help, deepening the feelings between the two. While still not fully recovered and heading to the palace, Lee Gang saw Dal-i fall as she hurriedly ran to stop him, and along with concern he unleashed the emotions he had restrained until then. Leaving the words "You ran to me. Honey, save me. Do your best to protect me. It's an order," Lee Gang collapsed into Dal-i's arms, and his last appearance, as if falling into her embrace, left a deep aftertaste and decorated the episode with a poignant ending.
Kang Tae-oh adjusts his emotions finely according to Lee Gang's situation and opponent, delivering convincing performances. When facing Park Dal-i, he uses eyes filled with tenderness; when confronting the left state councillor, he expresses solid resolve burning with resentment and desire for revenge toward the opponent; in front of Kim Woo-hee, he conveys caution and coldness through subtle facial changes, richly bringing out the character's emotional textures. From his eyes to his line delivery, his flawlessly completed acting shows 'perfection itself,' making viewers concentrate even more on Lee Gang's narrative.
He vividly captured heightened emotions that change depending on the situation, from the scene where he shoots a fire arrow to instantly overpower an assassin, to tense sword-fighting action, to the moments of suffering from a gunshot. On top of that, the heart-fluttering romance toward Dal-i puts the finishing touch on and makes the character Lee Gang even more three-dimensional and attractive.
Having delivered a performance that filled the episode, Kang Tae-oh powerfully led the flow of the drama through to the final ending, raising immersion. With his commanding presence, Kang Tae-oh has built Lee Gang's narrative even more solidly, and attention is focused on how he will continue to portray Lee Gang's story.
Meanwhile, the drama "The Moon Flows in Lee Gang," which showcases Kang Tae-oh's diverse performances, airs every Friday and Saturday night.
[Photo] Broadcast screen capture
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