Rachel

So as I say in the headline this is two different shows mashed together - the first is about the power struggle between two families that hate each other and Cheoljong/"So Yong" (Bong Hwan) falling in love despite all the manipulations of those two families, which is mostly really really excellent; the second is the time travel gender swap which left a lot to be desired. I think a lot of the reason why I'm struggling to view this as positively as many other viewers is because Bong Hwan's interactions with women for like.... at least a solid half of the show is just so sleazy and creepy that I find it impossible to view those scenes as anything other than sexual harassment and the behavior of a guy who doesn't accept hearing "no" because he views it as a challenge. While there are glimpses of the Cheoljong/Bong Hwan romance throughout, most of the development to that thread happens in the last ~40% of the show, and for reasons I don't want to spoil, they spend 2 episodes mostly apart. Like it just really ends up giving the vibe that the writers were uncomfortable with male-male intimacy and it just makes me wonder why the Chinese novel this is based on was even adapted in the first place then.

Although I feel that there's a lot of room for improvement with the handling of gender identity & sexual identity, I totally understand why this gets so much praise. The acting, costumes, and set design are flawless. The jokes (when they aren't thinly veiled cissexism, misogyny, or homophobia) are really really funny. The Cheoljong/Bong Hwan romance is genuinely moving and it's hard not to root for them as we see how much they grow to care about each other. Also I have Cheoljong brainworms I love him soooooo much you don't understand. Anyway, I think the really avid fans are overhyping this, but it is a lot of fun and I definitely think it's worth watching.