anopinion

What do you mean? It's a spinoff set in Tang with roughly the same plot and cast.

I like this drama, but I love the ending theme. Fantastic soundtrack!

EDIT: It's all over Weibo that it's Shawn Dou D:

I disagree that AB is the reason why the drama is so bad though. The bigger issue is the script and the special effects. Viewers like to see pretty faces on screen anyway. The novel did describe Bai Pingting as "plain-looking", but no production in their right mind will find a truly average-looking actor. The writer explicitly said in the novel that even though Bai Pingting is plain, she has a sort of attractiveness that made her more charming than a ravishing beauty. Riiiiiight. It works well in words, but good luck finding a person like that in real life. I'd admit that the casting is bad - someone like Janine Chang fits the vibe of BPT more - but it's not just AB who is a miscast but Wallace as well. He's twice the age he's supposed to be! Even in the drama he and AB are supposed to be of similar age. That's just too far-fetched. I really hope that Wallace can stop taking up such roles... If he's going to play someone much younger than his age, he should choose a better production too.

You may be better off just watching cuts. Their relationship is officially a mentor-tutee one but in actual fact borders on "romantic" (thanks to deliberate efforts from the production itself to push this notion). The Lee Yo-won x UEE CP is extremely popular among international fans, but that's the only saving grace of the drama. The story itself is just not engaging at all. I'm saying this even though I'm a Lee Yo-won fan and I don't even dislike dramas based on business politics (Empire of Gold is one of my all-time favs).

She may be lying about that. I can't remember the plot from the novel so I can't say for sure though.

I read the novel and it's definitely a happy ending (main OTP).

I don't think it's possible to find a translation because of all the technical terms (the Feng Shui stuff and all) which will make it a difficult job for amateurs.

They've done a huge travesty by changing the best parts in the novel.

In history, Gwangjong (Wang So) didn't have family issues. He is described in Goryeosa as being intellectually gifted from young and hence was much doted on by his father. There is also no historical evidence that he had a scar on his face. Indeed, there are records of cosmetics being used in the Goryeo era, but they were by no means "advanced". If you watch the ending of Moon Lovers, they showed facial masks in the Goryeo exhibition. That's just absolute bullshit.

A short comment on the "political intrigues". They were very poorly contrived that I don't think they can be consider political intrigues. But it's not a strong suit of Kdramas anyway so I'm not complaining.

I honestly don't expect my review to be well-received. I accept that there are differing opinions especially because a lot of people here are fans, but I think it's a stretch to think that the writing is good.