There aren't enough words to describe how utterly beautiful and wonderful and heart wrenching this drama is. It makes you laugh and cry in the span of minutes. This is undoubtedly the best drama I have watched of 2021, and by far the best sageuk drama I have watched ever.
The acting in my opinion was perfect. Lee Seyoung and lee Junho outdid themselves here they absolutely nailed their roles I cannot imagine anyone else playing Deokim and San as well as they did. Their chemistry and scenes together were so great that you wished for more as soon as they leave the screen.
The characters were all developed and understandable. Deokim loved San, but she also loved her freedom and her life. San loved Deokim and wanted her to be happy, but he also wanted to keep the one woman he had ever loved by his side. Even Deokro wasn't a complete monster, he had his humanity when losing some of the most important people in his life. They all had their own reasons and interests which clashed with others. Everyone was understandable in some way.

The messages given about women's struggles in this period of time is very clear and strong, but they aren't shoved in your face. You feel for the main character and your heart breaks seeing everything that she had to let go of. The last episode, if it doesn't leave you crying your eyes out, will stick with you for a while. I have never cried so much watching an episode than I did with episode 17.

Prepare yourself for a lot of pain if watching this.