This is my first Lee Min Ho drama - not too impressed by him! I found this drama really tragic. The story of the children of Korea's wealthy class is so very sad. These children are the victims of their parents ambition and greed. I found the situation of the two brothers particularly sad. All the wealthy fathers are perfectly dreadful and the mothers are pretty awful too. The lead actress was mediocre and the reformation of the bad guy did not impress me as initially he was such a horrible character though he had his heart wrenching moments too! All in all, an interesting drama. Would give it a 7.
Finally finished all 51 episodes and am feeling totally drained. They are all dead - the good, the bad and the ugly - only the empress is left at the end. Those who loved her passionately and those who hated her equally passionately are all gone.
Great performances from all the actors. I must especially mention the actors who played the wicked roles - each of them was perfect for his/her role - the fiery vengeful Tangqishi, the slimy Yom, the powerful ruthless El Temur, the jealous deadly empres Tanasiri and the sly wicked empress Bayan - every one of them added to the power of this drama.
But for me the poignant portrayal was the one of the emperor - sad, lonely, weak, used and manipulated by everyone to gain their own ends. And through it all he remains faithful to KI, initially knowing that she did not love him and then sadly not know that she grows to love him, racked by jealousy but refusing to listen to anything said against her and finally dying in her arms betrayed by the eunuch whom he trusted so much and loved so dearly. Would also like to mention Tal tal here. Here is an unspoken love and a very fine man. Thank God they killed him off screen! If they had shown his dying too, I swear I would never have survived this drama!! Now I need to take a break till my heart settles down and I stop having nightmares!!
Great performances from all the actors. I must especially mention the actors who played the wicked roles - each of them was perfect for his/her role - the fiery vengeful Tangqishi, the slimy Yom, the powerful ruthless El Temur, the jealous deadly empres Tanasiri and the sly wicked empress Bayan - every one of them added to the power of this drama.
But for me the poignant portrayal was the one of the emperor - sad, lonely, weak, used and manipulated by everyone to gain their own ends. And through it all he remains faithful to KI, initially knowing that she did not love him and then sadly not know that she grows to love him, racked by jealousy but refusing to listen to anything said against her and finally dying in her arms betrayed by the eunuch whom he trusted so much and loved so dearly. Would also like to mention Tal tal here. Here is an unspoken love and a very fine man. Thank God they killed him off screen! If they had shown his dying too, I swear I would never have survived this drama!! Now I need to take a break till my heart settles down and I stop having nightmares!!