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Much much better than the reviews say ...

I'm thinking a lot of people were in bad moods when reviewing this series. I found it to be fantastic!!!
It starts out a little creepy ... with a bloody hand that keeps appearing to crawl up Sin Yu, but later on, we completely understand it. Once we get beyond that, this really turns out to be a great story with great actors & great writing.
Bo Ah, who always shines in whatever she stars in, doesn't disappoint in this drama either. She & Ro Woon are perfect together, although you wouldn't think so at the start, but give it time.
Ha Joon also fits perfect, making a complete puzzle of an unlikely trio. When you add in a couple "evil" antagonists, and I do mean evil ... it balances out to make a perfect story. It makes you believe in past lives and how our destinies are already decided for us, whether we like it or not.
Later in the series, from episode 9 on ... What would a Korean story be without bringing in flashbacks from the Joseon Era. It works out great in explaining the entire past history of all the characters in the present time. It's extremely entertaining to watch it play out.
As you get to the final episode, I have to say, it may be one of the most satisfying finales to a series I've seen. Everything you want to see happen, it does exactly as it should. The good guys win across the board, and the bad souls that really got on your nerves since episode 1, they finally get what they deserve.
A great cast with great writing makes for great entertainment in this series!!!

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So Unique, So Brilliant!!

When I started watching this series, It seemed like it was going to be good, and that we'd see a good tale taking place during the Joseon Dynasty ... but something happened along the way as each episode got you deeper and deeper into the story. The magic that Jun Ho, Se Young & Deok Hwa created was brilliant in every way. Se Young gives us such a great role as Deok Im, and Jun Ho showed what an unbelievable talent he truly is. His powerful performance steals every scene he's in.
The series itself is really in three parts, watching Price Yi San create the relationship with Deok Im, watching the king deal with a mental break down, and then the years that followed Yi San after he becomes the new king. Each story bleeds perfectly into the next chapter as you follow it through.
One thing that made this stand out to me was the death of San's grandfather, The King. Not just witnessing him die from dementia, which was unique enough, but watching the transfer of power from one King to the next. Cleaning out all the dead King's belongings, bringing in all new stuff to suit the incoming King. Normally we never see that happen, so it seemed rather interesting to watch. Deok Hwa, who usually plays an unlikeable character, was fantastic as the elder King, the grandfather.
Episode 12 is definitely the pinnacle episode of the entire series. From that point on, you need a seatbelt to stay strapped in for the rollercoaster ride that begins. As you go from episode 12 through 16 you just can't help being mesmerized by the great writing and acting ... and just when you think you have it all figured out, episode 17 happens. As the finale began, it takes you completely by surprise, not matching up with anything you anticipated. The first few minutes into it, I started to become somewhat disappointed and annoyed, watching all these hours just to lead up to this??? but that quickly changed, and the finale really delivered a powerful conclusion. The acting in this final episode is some of the finest you'll see.
Applause to a great great series. Extremely entertaining, worth watching again!

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Brilliantly Written

To say this was a great series is an understatement. It's such an original story, which is pretty hard to come by, especially since there are so many dramas about the Josoen Dynasty. These twenty episodes flew by, not one of them were boring, each adding something special to this drama. As you watched everything unfold in the first half of the series, you couldn't imagine it getting any better, but then episodes 10-12 happened. These three were definitely the pinnacle episodes of the show. From that point on, it was so addicting to watch, wondering how on earth this was going to play out.
Eun Bin was over the top as Dam I and Ro Woon, who I'm always a fan of, gives just a fantastic performance. These two, together with a great supporting cast, especially Yoon Su, really blend so perfectly together.
To watch important characters getting killed off early in the series made this really unique, not something you see happen, especially in a 20 part series.
The antagonists were equally talented in showing the evil side of the story, always balancing out money, greed & power. The writers do a great job at giving us punishing endings to all who deserve it, while giving us happy endings to all or most of the protagonists. It doesn't seem likely that everything will end in a good way as you go through the last couple hours, but somehow it comes together to give a very satisfying ending.
Excellent series to enjoy!!

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Complete Perfection

Once in a while a series is so great, it's difficult to put into words the magnitude of its greatness. This is one of those series.
From the very beginning, episode 1, it grabs onto you and just doesn't let go. Drama, comedy, romance, suspense, it's all intertwined throughout every single episode. Hye Soo is so fantastic as the queen, giving us a rare look at how Her Majesty worries and protects her children inside and outside the palace walls, showing how motherhood takes center stage over being the Queen. The four rambunctious teenage children, her Princes of the palace are wonderfully fit into so many different story lines, you really get to appreciate the bond these four brothers have toward each other, along with the love they have toward their mother.
Each Prince has their own personal problem to deal with throughout the series, and the actors that play them are matched spot on. Without a doubt, the most emotional story comes from Grand Prince Gye Sung. Sun Ho gives such a touching performance, with several tear-jerking scenes between a mother and her son ... beautifully written.
There are so many good antagonists in this drama, but non better than Hae Sook. She is brilliant being the evil Queen Dowager, self centered and so wicked. You can't help but despise her and her sinister laugh. She brings out the worst in everyone, making you wish her a horrible death as you move deeper and deeper into the episodes.
Another major plus in this series was the pacing of the different plots ... nothing dragged on and nothing was rushed either. So many times you see a plot get boring, carrying over too many episodes, only to get rushed at the very end to find completion. That doesn't happen here. Nothing ever gets boring, with a final episode that delivers complete satisfaction to each and every plot of the story.
There's a line delivered early on in the series that really spells out the two sides of this drama ... "When a cow drinks water it becomes milk. When a snake drinks water it becomes poison."
Extremely enjoyable, wonderful entertainment!!!!

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Whatever part of the world you're in ... Lawyers are all the same!

Harsh Harsh reviews for this series. Why I'm not too sure. Maybe some of the cases didn't end happily???
Whatever the reason, I found this drama very entertaining.
I think the one negative, It was apparent to me that it lacked in chemistry between Jong Suk & Ka Young. I found Ju Hyeong and Hui Ji a much more believable couple in the flashbacks from 10 years earlier. Present time was kind of difficult to watch their relationship play out. There didn't seem to be too much enjoyment or playfulness between them. As for the rest of the cast, I always enjoy watching You Seok in whatever role he's performing, he didn't disappoint with the character of Chang Won. Funny, witty & dramatic, all rolled into one. The remaining cast blended perfectly, showing the bonds of friendship they had built together over the years. That was the strongest part of this series, showing the strength of their friendship in the cut throat world of the legal system.
Oh, and the food. Wow, do they love their food!!! It's definitely the kind of show you should watch on an empty stomach, you will get hungry in a hurry.
A thumbs up!!

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Jung Hyun never disappoints

I'm still waiting for a bad acting performance from Jung Hyun, because I have never seen one yet. He truly is an amazing actor, he can make you laugh & he can make you cry, this drama is no exception. Reading some of the reviews ahead of time I was going into this series ready for a disappointment. That never happened. This series was great from start to finish. Besides Jung Hyun & Soo Hyang playing perfectly together, the entire cast really brought this fairytale to a great completion.
I have to admit that some of the characters in the beginning of this series were really annoying, especially Han Chul & Jung Wan, but the transformation that takes place over 16 episodes, you really find a soft spot for them. They definitely become part of the family. Woo Yeon & Da Som become extremely likable.
Chung Hwa & In Kwon were also fantastic as the flirtatious couple throughout ... they were the laugh relief this drama needed at times. They both did a great job doing it.
I think the only thing that fell a little short for me was the main antagonist in this story, Pil Su. He was portrayed in a great way by Kwang II, you really despised him throughout each episode, but we really never got to see his true punishment after his trial. It would have been nice to see his retribution for all his evil doings. beyond that, a wonderful and truly entertaining series!
One line given by Kokdu early on really applies to this drama ... "What's real is what you see, and what's fake is what you want to see"

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Great Acting with a Great Story

This was truly such an enjoyable drama to watch. It was depressing at times seeing what Geu Roo was going through in his life, but Jun Sang was simply amazing at portraying such an involved character. Seeing him in several other dramas over the past few years, you really appreciate his performance acting as Geu Roo. The supporting cast, plus the several new stories introduced in each episode, they were a great fit as well. Some of them extremely powerful stories.
Je Hoon, while not giving us a likable character as Sang Gu early on in the series, he performs a great transformation, showing us his good and caring personality toward the end.
The only thing I was a bit disappointed about was the very ending of the series, literally the last sixty seconds. Maybe I missed something, but I was hoping for some other kind of finish. That being said, it ended up for me being a great great series overall.
Definitely a winner!

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Absolutely A Brilliant Series!!!

It's kind of difficult to put into words the magical perfection this series brings. It's unbelievably brilliant in every way.
Sometimes it was difficult to figure out what direction the story was heading. Each episode left you guessing, left you asking yourself "how can this work out well for the characters?" At times it seemed like doom and despair, but that shows the brilliance of the writing in this drama. You just sat back and enjoyed the ride, not knowing what was coming next.
From their first meeting, you can feel Jeong Hyeok & Se Ri being a complete couple, you just know it's going to happen.
Hyun Bin & Ye Jin have instant chemistry that gets strong with each passing episode.
The supporting cast is fantastic as well. Jung Hyun delivers the perfect character of Seung Jun. He goes through such a great transformation from bad guy to really liked and lovable later in the series. As usual, Jung Hyun does not disappoint. He's fantastic.
Another great part of this story are the four North Korean military men. Watching Se Ri turn these guys into little boys at times, it so great, particularly when they find themselves in South Korea and learning to adjust, seeing what life is like outside of their home country. It's so entertaining to watch, hilarious at times.
When they all appear to be retuning back to the North, you get to wondering again how things could possible end for the best. Once again, the writing proves to be marvelous, showing us many happy endings for many of the characters.
Truly one of the most enjoyable and marvelous series I've seen. Complete perfection from start to finish.
The line given early on in this drama by Se Ri, shows up again at the very end of episode 16, to make us realize what this series was all about .... "Sometimes the wrong train takes you to the right station"

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Perfection from start to finish!!!

I can't say enough positive things about this series. It was absolutely fantastic in every way imaginable ... comedy, drama, romance. It had it all, and it was all brilliant.
The supporting cast is spectacular, each adding something special to the story, but without a doubt, the two protagonists in this drama are truly amazing.
Jung Hyun & Hye Sun are not only the perfect match for each other, but they individually shine in every scene they are in. You really saw the talent these two have inside them. Two great roles played by two great actors!!
I wasn't sure this series would stay interesting over 20 episodes, but it not only kept you watching every minute, it got better with deeper story lines, plot twists and so much growth in the characters as you moved along.
The Head Chef & Court Lady Choi definitely were the comic relief in this. In Kwon & Chung Hwa were over the top funny, alone or with each other, they were hilarious.
The final episode was just the icing on the cake. So many times a great series gets ruined with the last episode, but not this time. Nothing was rushed in the end, and everything you wanted to happen actually did play out to great satisfaction. The antagonists all got what they deserved, and all our main characters had the best outcomes with many happy & funny endings for each.
At the very end, Bong Hwan says a line that really applies to this drama and I guess to life itself "If you keep trying to change your life, the world will get changed someday"
Applause & standing ovation to a great great series!!!

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Sometimes lies are necessary ...

I'm kind of surprised at some of the harsh reviews with this series. I found this drama to be so fantastic from start to finish. Not only was it a great story to watch and travel along with, but the actors seem to be perfectly cast, whether being a protagonist or antagonist.
Min Hyun delivers such a great role as Do Ha, somewhat mysterious early on, but eventually opens the character up so we know him completely inside and out at the very end. His counterpart, Sol Hee fits together with him like a perfect puzzle, somewhat mysterious as well, but she too becomes completely transparent to us as things move along. So Hyun matures her into the perfect match for Do Ha, something that didn't seem likely when they first met.
The supporting cast were all great, each adding something in their own special way. You can't help but feel empathy toward several of them, particularly Kang Min and Deuk Chan, each for different reasons. Ji Hoon's character, while you knew he wouldn't win back Sol Hee, you really wanted something good to go his way, which eventually he seemed to be in a happy place at the end. Ji On's role, on the other hand, was the surprise of the series. He did such a great job shaping this character, so when things take a major turn, you can't help but be shocked. I think episode 14 was definitely the pinnacle hour of the entire drama. From that point on, the last two episodes are like a rollercoaster ride, giving us all the answers we needed for a very satisfying ending. The way the final scene ends, it brought us 360 degrees back to where it began in episode 1.
I think what Sol Hee says at the very end of the last episode sums up this series ... "People's hearts are as deep and mysterious as the ocean .... you can't tell what's inside just by saying true or false"

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Such a great feel good series!!

As I started to watch this, you can kind of tell this was going to be a all around good series ... I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it eventually became. The only actor I was familiar with was Fumiya Takahashi, who has been great in several other dramas. He was wonderful in this as well, showing several different sides of a character you rooted for and wanted to succeed. The rest of the cast I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised how great they all were, especially together, clicking as one strong group.
Asuka & Dan had a special chemistry between them. I'm glad the writers kept it as they did, having a special bond without having a physical relationship. The tone was there for it to happen at any moment, but they never passed the line.
As the series progressed, you really got to see the talent of actors come out strong with some pretty emotional scenes. You can fell how they helped each other achieve these powerful moments together. The one negative thing I started to feel, was a bit of despair as the group had it's friction toward each other, particularly Dan & Daijiro. The disbandment seemed somewhat against the theme of the strong "family" feeling you got with these characters. Having said that, I'm glad the writers brought the story around in a complete circle in episode 10. The way they concluded this series was just fantastic. It made you feel like you could watch it all over again knowing the great ending that was coming.
There was a line in this series that was said early on and it definitely applies to what this drama was all about ...
"If you can't count on people, no one can count on you"

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A Fantastic Epic Series

This was such an enjoyable series from start to finish. We're taken on an epic journey of the Kang family, past & present. It's just a marvelously well written & well acted ... extraordinarily well acted drama!!
To me, the tone of the series changes from a comedic/drama in the early episodes to a more serious tone later on, especially from episode 11 through the end of 16.
The three protagonists give such a great performance throughout. Do Hwan is over the top brilliant in every scene as Han Su. He really can do it all, make you laugh, make you cry & scream with rage. He & Bo Na have such a perfect chemistry together, no matter what the outcome looked like, you knew they would end up together at the very end. There is just no way around it.
Hak Yeon changes his character as the series progresses, and definitely for the better. He shows us several different sides of Ji Sun and does a great job at it. It was another great acting performance in this trio. I was not a fan of this character early on, but that changes a good way through the series.
Kyu Sung is brilliant as Han Su's side kick. He added so much to whatever situation, whether it was dramatic or comedic, he was perfectly placed.
I think the only negative thing I can say about the series was the anticlimactic way Yoo Je Se was dealt with toward the end. He was without a doubt the biggest antagonist thought the story, causing so much pain and suffering to others. You really wanted to see this character suffer a bit more than he actually did. It was satisfying to a degree on his outcome, but I think it could have been so much more.
The way this eventually ends up is pretty much a happy ending for all. It shows a real positive future for the people in 1485.
Extremely enjoyable & definitely a must watch!!!

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A Horror Winner!

Once I started watching this series, I must admit I haven't been hooked on a horror show like this since Squid Game season 1. At times it is extremely disturbing to watch, but you can't help being drawn into it. Every episode ends fantastically, leaving you wanting more. The characters are set in a way in which you really don't know who to root for, who you want to survive. With the exception of Kyung Jun, everyone else is relatively of good natured. Woo Min always seems to play someone you hate, so it was no shocker his character was the biggest antagonist of the cast. Seeing Ji Ho in other past roles, it was not expected for his character of Da Beom to end up the way he did, but he did a great job at playing it up toward the end.
Before seeing the last episode (12), I was completely planning on giving 10's across the board as a rating. I try not to give out 10's so easily, but I was set to ... but like I said, that was before episode 12. I was a little disappointed on the ending. It was definitely original, so you gotta give credit for that, I was just hoping for something a little better, a little different.
Overall, it was a great series, originality was front and center for a horror/drama. It had a great story line and a great cast to play it out. Definitely a winner!!!

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Absolutely Adorable!!

As this series continued threw the early episodes, I tried to find fault with it, waiting for something to take a turn in the wrong direction, ... it never happened. This was such a well written, well performed drama, it was a real joy to watch. It's definitely the best BL series I've seen in quite some time. The two protagonists fit together like a perfect puzzle. Jae Hyeok takes control of every scene he's in with such charm and tenderness toward Min Hyeok. I think the love scene between them in episode 8 is done with such gentleness. The director, Eun Hye deserves such credit for such a lengthy scene without ever straying from the innocence and pure affection these two characters had toward each other.
The supporting cast of two, Seung Jin & Eun O played two great backup characters. They clicked right in to make a great foursome of friends. They definitely added depth to the storyline, It was also a refreshing change not to have any antagonists in the story. I know they sometimes make for a good drama, but this series worked great without one. It kept the focus on the two main characters, along with the struggles they were dealing with being famous athletes having a relationship.
When Ji Won asks Jeong U toward the end "Were you always this childish?" ... and he answers back "Yes, when you fall in love, you become childish." This series showed how you can be romantically involved, yet show that childish innocence that is usually lost in these kind of dramas. Definitely a winner!

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Fate ... What things could be like in the afterlife

This series was all around a great drama. It had everything you want, great storylines, great acting & great characters.
The four protagonists are fantastic. Each of them suffering from events of the past, but not knowing what it is or how to correct for it. The way this series sets up is brilliant, because it sort of delivers many individual stories that eventually all intertwine with the same meaning, all life is important, you must cherish it!!!
Each protagonist has at least one episode that shows us what brought them to becoming a reaper. I must say, every one of the actors were just marvelous at showing us the past life of that character. Ji On easily became my favorite by portraying Ryung Goo. His emotional scenes were so heart wrenching and believable. I found that character so great with a bit of mystery until we eventually found out his complete past.
Although not original in a lot of the story, it was taken a bit further to show us what we all wonder about, what happens when we die??
I think the ending says it best, "Everyone that fate brings together must part at least once, whether they like it or not"
Great ending to a great series.

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