Suzanne Atkinson

I am puzzled by the negativity this drama received . People seem to want chemistry , romance , plot , pace .
It is a different drama . It is not a romantic drama , when one understands that the main characters play a dangerous game and do not show outwardly any emotions , there is no need for chemistry , because all is fake . The pace is slower because ladies of a certain rank , in the Joseon era , were captives of their status , thrown into arranged marriages all was asked of them was to do was to be supportive of their husbands careers and produce an heir . There was not much else for them to do but smoke , or play games or gossip . The plot develops from a mere bet into a sad , tragic story where the characters are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning . Their entertainment was to destroy a woman's life , as a means of regaining some control over their lives , and love life . It all goes wrong , because in the end their own tangled emotions blur the outcome . it is a drama visually beautiful ( some scenes are framed like in a painting ) , to look at , great script and original OST , but these main actors , at the top of their game , gave flesh and blood to very dislikable characters , gave them feelings and at the end you feel so sorry for them . At least I did . I loved this challenging drama which took us out of our comfort zone . Congratulations to the cast and director . A drama difficult to forget or surpass.