As a still fairly new K-Drama watcher, I started this series after seeing more than a few good reviews, plus reading how popular the show was during it's airing. The plot is predictable in that a commoner is selected to marry the prince, while a power struggle is going on in the palace. While the plot seems like one you may have heard before, the series is definitely worth watching. Of course your natural instinct is to root for Chae-kyeong and her budding romance with Prince Shin, the actors and writers did a wonderful job of giving them as well as Prince Yul and Hyo Rin personality and charisma. As a viewer, I understood how crappy the hand dealt to these characters. Hyo Rin and Prince Yul had me question their sincerity on quite a few scenes. In the end, I had a big case of the second lead sympathies. Chae Kyeong at times angered me, but it was mostly due to my own personality. She, like many other main female leads, made me just a bit angry with how easily she forgave Prince Shin in different situations. The pair as a couple however, work well with one another. The supporting cast adds to the series in a very positive light. The monarch flutters about worried about different scandals common people find frivolous, while the commoners are wrapped up in finances and graduation problems. Through it all Shin and Chae-kyong's family and friends bring a bit of lightheartedness to the show. Every K-Drama fan is familiar with the power hunger mother who would walk through hell twice to ensure their child is on top. Prince Yul's mother, Lady Hwa-Young, is exactly that. Her past is a tortured one, which pushes her to the extremes for her son's future. The question for the viewer is, does Prince Yul agree with her methods? This series lived up to the praise it received. While you may feel the story is one of Cinderella, and you may know the outcome, let's all face it, most romantic dramas are a bit predictable, but the interpretation and road to the finale are what make the trip worth it.