To sum up this drama in one word, extraordinary! This is far and away the absolute best Chinese drama I have ever seen. I'll go a step further and say that this drama ranks among the best I have ever seen from any country. First, let me say that I don't watch period dramas and only made this exception after reading the glowing reviews. My tastes run more to romantic dramas, both light hearted and the more serious types. I am so glad that I decided to give this drama a chance to expand into the period/historical drama realm.
The story is riveting! The multitude of characters in this drama are so well written. The acting is phenomenal! It's rare to see such high quality cinematography, along with countless elaborate settings. This is no doubt a high budget production. By all means, treat yourself to this emotion and action packed gem.