Rossie

How the hell do these actresses maintain their looks, she's so gorgeous I can't even!

Dunno about the others but I clicked on this article because Nadech xD

A lot of good things can be said about this drama. The premise was absolutely intriguing, the acting impeccable, but for a drama of this calibre I can't say I enjoyed how the focus gradually shifted to lesser things. There were a lot of things that needed to be shed more light on, lines that didn't add up, bad plot devices etc. A drama like this needed a grander finale not an elusive one. The start takes you by storm, I'd expected it to at least end on a somewhat similar note. Who here started on this for the love arch for example? I personally dived in expecting to get thoroughly angered and beaten up emotionally by the palace politics (which I did, don't get me wrong). I just can't help but feel a little lukewarm about the way they decided to wrap things up. Well, anyways, just needed a place to rant. Gonna watch the movie now.
8/5

I really wouldn't go as far as to say that the above was the interpretation they intentionally went for. I wouldn't read that much into it. Let's just leave it at this being a rushed, generic, let's-not-anger-the-general-audience type of ending.

Np at all! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did whenever you decide to watch it, I'm a big Jang Hyuk fan myself :)

And for the record, this is not a romance drama despite it saying otherwise. So many real things happen that you end up not caring about who ends up with who and so on. There was not much chemistry between JH and the love interest (Park Se Young) anyway. Her acting was bland at best.

*edit: I noticed someone below wrote that JH's revenge was so satisfying and thought I'd attest to that - the ending is SO satisfying.

I'm gonna be honest with you, this is 24 episodes of pure political games and revenge, but don't let that scare you. If you're here for Jang Hyuk, he'll blow your mind away. I was awestruck by Lee Mi Suk as well. Didn't think I could watch a show like this either but there's just something about it that keeps you at the edge of your seat. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend watching this on a hot summer day. This was aired in winter and fit perfectly to a cold setting since the content is on the darker side.

For this to have been rated anything below 9, more than a dozen of people must have given it a subpar rating. What gives? I've never watched anything more brilliant, thought-provoking, gut-wrenching, convicting and harrowing, yet ultimately empowering than this.

It made perfect sense. The take-home message: most power struggles (of any kind) can be avoided if people find contentment in their placements. Neither the king nor the queen wanted to fight for what they were fighting for. They were merely doing it out of a sense of expectation. Even the vice minister admitted to the fact that he was doing what he was doing to fill out a void he had. We often play out the roles we're given without questioning where our hearts lie. Breaking free is a choice (just as staying in a role you didn't sign up for is) and can be as simple as literally turning a new leaf - or in the king & the queen's case, just focusing on each other and to hell with everything else.

S. Korea needs to realize that they've got a heavy drinking problem that needs to be addressed. They plaster on idols on every soju bottle and have them promote alcoholic beverages on TV and on the street as if it were a brand or a must-have. Which other country does this? In any other country this scum wouldn't have seen the light of day. He would have been raped and killed by other inmates.

"couple months/years later" sounds accurate xD been waiting for two years I think, gave up all hope of ever completing this lakorn. and yet, here I am, checking up on it lol

That is such a lukewarm ending. I mean I'd read all the comments about it so I was prepared, but bro, I thought they were highly exaggerated comments xD
Not going to spoil anything for anyone, just had to throw a little rant somewhere. I have to say, I'm still left mesmerized by the whole production and how this was brought to life. Very captivating story with a lot of moral and social realistic messages that could as well be applied to the modern world. I'm not disappointed by the ending, at most it's just feels a bit incoherent and confusing. Go back one episode (Viki) and I think that there would have been a cleaner ending, if it stopped an episode earlier it would definitely have made for more dramatic impact. Guess the author and the film makers just wanted to go the least troublesome route and provide an ending that'd satisfy most groups of viewers, which is also okay, but that does add a little bit of avoidable meh-factor to it all, sadly...
8/10

I came here from The Legends too. can't lie, he's a real spotlight stealer. Very nice and versatile acting! his character as well as the life he brings to his character in The Legends is honestly a bit more refreshing than Xu Kai's.

Wow, sounds right up my alley! Thank you for sharing! do let me know how you like the series as it comes to a finish.

I just looked it up. Judging by the synopsis, I'm definitely going to enjoy this. Put c dramas on-hold for a while, the games of intrigue and betrayal was getting too much for my heart T^T so I definitely appreciate this recommendation!

Here is a rare gem: Heart to Heart

Go check it out.

Hot damn, people are praising Shin Se Kyung's acting. did I die and warp into another reality, or could this drama really be THAT good?

This is so refreshing to watch after a week-long marathon of Chinese historicals with conniving backstabbing characters, it's like a breath of fresh air - I'm rofling so hard over the shenanigans of the fl! Her chemistry with the ml is somehow so natural and their interactions so effortless. Loving it!

Btw if you're gonna watch it, watch the uncut version on viki.

It's a matter of perspective. For some people tragedies are enjoyable and don't necessarily represent bad endings and for some it's absolutely gut wrenching to watch the main characters of the drama die. The tragedy tag though almost always signifies that one or two important characters -will- die. So if you're okay with that, you're probably gonna like it. I personally fall into the first category, I don't mind a tragedy as long as the plot is well-woven, the characters got depth and things make sense. I quite enjoyed the first half, the premise of an anti-hero as the hero was an interesting concept. Sadly, you never get to like the ml, he's not even the kind of character you'd love to hate, he just plain sucks - and this comes from a person who enjoys watching dramas with jerk male leads. His actions made no sense to me and his motives couldn't redeem him, execution-wise the drama halted as well, the pacing was bad and the romance felt unconvincing. So if you ask me it wasn't so much the ending but the drama as a whole. It is, however, a hit-or-miss. Lots of people seem to have liked it, and it does have its merits truth be spoken, so check it out, watch a few eps and see if it's your cup of tea.