I usually don't watch on-going dramas for the simple reason that I know I will like them and I don't want to wait every week. But for some reason I started this, and while the wait is excruciating, I have the best time watching this gem of a drama. So much so that I finished another show with Namkoong Min to shorten the waiting time (also, he is a great actor!).

This show has everything: a great story, amazing characters with depth, action, intrigue and a (bitter)sweet romance. The latter blossoms very slowly but makes your heart flutter like crazy, trust me! I love Gil Chae as a female lead a lot. She may be bratty and spoiled and maybe a little narcissistic but you can't really blame her. Imagine a whole village thinking you're pretty... let's not pretend like it wouldn't get to you head! (Also, she is still young) But to have her confidence... uff I would do a lot. Like she is her own hyper-person: she feels sad? she'll just look in the mirror! BAM, happy again. What I love about her as well is her bravery and the responsibility she took to protect her friend and the maids. She takes leadership, she uses her brain, she is able to make smart decisions very quickly and she listens to Jang Hyun despite bickering with him. And I love the consistency of her smart leadership. Every episode, she continues to be strong when she needs to, be it physically or mentally; she is a great female lead in my opinion! She continued to be resilient and selfless until the last episode, and the despite heartbreak it caused, I still understood her decision!

Jang Hyun... ahhh. He is an amazing lead. Namkoong Min manages to make his character charming and witty. His chemistry with Ahn Eun Jin is great and I love his longing gazes a lot. He is a very expressive actor that can use his face very very well (which I could see in >One Dollar Lawyer< that I just finished). Subtle acting is not easy but he does it perfectly. You can see the love his character feels for Gil Chae in his eyes and his whole body. I wish he would give those longing stares directly to Gil Chae so that she could SEE them as well and stop thinking that he's just playing with her (and finally forget that loser Yeon Jun lmao). The last episodes were a masterclass, he made me cry so much with his expressive eyes, what an actor!

I don't want to talk about Yeon Jun to be honest because he annoys me haha, same with the king. The man is more concerned about his chickens and palace than his subjects that die for and because of him. His son, the crown prince, is not any better. The scholars are all so useless because all they do is talktalktalk but they don't actually DO anything. It's terrible, but I guess that's the reality. The poor and defenseless will always suffer while the rich and powerful survive on their backs.

The cinematography is absolutely mesmerizing and astounding, I love it so much. The music as well. I may not be the biggest ballad fan, but the show has such a great OST I could cry! The only other costume/historical drama that I have seen was >Alchemy of Souls< (PT.1&2) and the catch was that it had fantasy. For some reason, costume dramas intimidate me to be honest but I just had to watch this one and I dot not regret it. The balance between action, politics, characters and romance is so nice that I hardly realize it's not a modern drama. And to be honest the historical aspect makes it a bit more romantic because of the elevated language and because the actions sometimes speak so much louder.

Overall, I have nothing but praises. The show got me screaming and bawling and giggling and kicking my feet and I adore it. After finishing the show, I can say it's a new favorite. I bawled my eyes out, laughed and got all excited watching this masterpiece. I understand if the characters frustrate you in the beginning, but overtime you will love them for their resilience, strength and bravery. Gil Chae is such an amazing female lead, I adore her, and my heart broke for her in the last episode, what a dilemma. In the end, she gave up what she loved most, I can't blame her but I cannot wait to see how Pt. 2 will wrap things up. How it'll develop and how our couple will meet again. I don't want to brace myself for a sad ending, but I don't want to get my hopes too high either haha. I am so happy I started this because it gives me so much happiness (despite the uncontrollable crying lmao) and I hope many more people will watch it because it is simply amazing and I am sure you will love as much as I do. ?