Lee Shin-young's 'Moon Flows By My Love' Performance Surges as He Takes Decisive Action

MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Moon Flows By My Love' has amplified viewer engagement by accelerating its depiction of court power struggles in episodes 11 and 12. The 11th episode, aired on the 12th, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 5.6%, while the 12th episode on the 13th continued the upward trend, reaching 5.7% nationwide and a peak of 6% momentarily.

Lee Shin-young, portraying Prince Je-un Lee Un, has firmly established himself as the central figure of the narrative. In episodes 11 and 12, he sharply conveyed the emotional spectrum of ‘wavering’ and ‘resolve,’ showcasing a character caught between fraternal bonds with Crown Prince Lee Kang (played by Kang Tae-oh), the tragic fate of the royal family, political responsibilities, and his feelings for Kim Woo-hee (played by Hong Soo-joo).

Episode 11 saw Lee Shin-young solidify the collaborative efforts of Lee Kang, Park Dal-yi, and Lee Un as they reunited to take down Left State Minister Kim Han-cheol (played by Jin Goo). This significantly heightened the dramatic tension. The scene where Lee Un confronts Kim Han-cheol head-on with a drawn sword quickly went viral as a highlight clip, driving reactions like, ‘Lee Un has started to move,’ and was lauded for elevating the revenge narrative.

In episode 12, Lee Un's ‘choices’ translated into concrete actions, expanding the scope of the drama. Amidst the escalating crisis following the revelation of Park Dal-yi's (played by Kim Se-jeong) true identity, Lee Un participates in an escape plan with Woo-hee, playing a pivotal role. The development where ‘Lee Un buys time while Woo-hee switches clothes with the imprisoned Park Dal-yi to aid her escape’ exploded with suspense. Lee Shin-young's controlled intensity and skillful scene command acted as the core driving force for this episode.

Lee Shin-young’s performance, imbuing even a single line with the character’s determination, became even more pronounced in episode 12. Official videos released emphasize Lee Un's stance to protect Woo-hee with the firm declaration, ‘She is my woman,’ completing the character's persuasiveness through Lee Shin-young's signature ‘calm resolve.’ The scene in episode 12 where Lee Kang and Lee Un move together towards the Myeong-eumdan mountain stronghold reportedly pushed the moment-by-moment viewership rating to its peak, demonstrating how the Lee Un storyline substantially drives the drama's momentum.

Meanwhile, Lee Shin-young has been building a wide acting spectrum through the youthful energy and growth narrative in the film 'Rushing Out' and his intense transformation in director Park Hoon-jung's global action project 'The Accidental Narco.' In 'Moon Flows By My Love,' he is expanding his presence through ‘inner-focused acting,’ carrying the weight of the narrative within the historical drama format without emotional excess.

As power, destiny, love, and betrayal intersect, keen attention is focused on the repercussions of Prince Je-un Lee Un's choices. 'Moon Flows By My Love' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:40 PM.

Netizens lauded Lee Shin-young's performance, commenting, "Finally, the character Lee Un has awakened!", "Let's take down Kim Han-cheol!", and "Actor Lee Shin-young's acting is insane... highest immersion." His line, 'She is my woman,' also became a hot topic, raising anticipation for his romantic acting.