BsAsUn

The series was too ambitious. It tried to cover too much, if it was spread over a year or more and more episode the flow would have been better. The story was good but it needed more to bring it out. Some casting choices were off, the lighting at times was a mess, and the editing threw me off. If more resources were spent on the production it would have been much better. The script could have also done with some improving. There were many powerful scenes and some that really didn't hit the mark. [E.g., Li Ming and Uncle Jim's conversations/interactions didn't make sense. They were both calm when dealing with everyone else but they argue about petty things with no reason and in the last episode somehow began to get along perfectly]

I think I forgot how much I didn't miss the exposition-by-gossip. This reminded me why I dislike it.

I have watched a number of Korean period dramas and something has always irked me. While watching this I realized what it was. The pacing is too rushed. I am in episode 18 and the events that have transpired have taken about a month.

How can the queen to be be almost killed sleep for two days and get married on the third? Won't they have first resolved who tried to kill her. Found an auspicious day for the wedding that would probably be months away before the wedding could continue. The king was injured in an explosion and recovered in 1 day. They went from the queen having her period to sex and pregnancy in about 1 week. You don't need to understand human reproductive systems to know that isn't possible. Hwa Jin moved from innocent, I only want my love, to plotting and trying to harm the queen to giving up on her love and leaving in a month. What person can have such deep character change? Byung In went from random noble guy to minister of justice to minister of war. What government system allows such nonsense to happen in a month.

These are just a few examples. Each event on its own is possible (in drama land) but the lack of time passing and lack of resolution of one issue before the other begins makes it unrealistic. That is why Scarlet Heart Ryeo stands out. It didn't force the whole story into 6 weeks.

The "forced sexual interlude" felt so out of character. CY was so protective of LZM and they were all shy and could barely look each other each other in the eye. So how?

kisstvshow . to has most of the episodes subbed.

I think that was deliberate. Life doesn't end with "…and they lived happily ever after" but they were still able to find joy in the little things in life.

Not too old for the job, but she will not be able to achieve much success because of how late she is starting.