Soso

Oh yes, she was absolutely beautiful in that drama!

Okay so obviously the actors are all good-looking, hence why they're casted, but I have to say - KYJ seriously looks exceptionally pretty in this show. I know she's a beauty, but I'm sort of just staring at her smiling face instead of the other actors lol

All controversies aside, that fight scene in the first episode had me dying from laughter

This really had so much potential to be great.. was rooting for this so hard - and yet it simply amounted to "Eternal Frustration"

(silver lining: LMH and WDH were a beautiful sight to see in HD on TV)

This ended up being even worse than the mess that was Black Knight. What a waste of LSH's talents AHHHHHH this was such a bad decision

Visually, this show is just stunning. All the colors and the small little nuances ... I applaud that. But it could have been executed sooo much better to give justice to the visuals and ost.

looking back so much that they focused on, could have been replaced with more important bits (like the important character-relationship developments.... not just seeing Lee rim paint in slow-mo for the first 5 episodes) in order to really make the story stick and the viewers follow the plot and believe everything

I concur! 100%. Maybe if there were more episodes and the relations were shown more (instead of having us assume bits) and maybe things were explained as it went it would have lived up to the insane hype it had from the announcement. I too, was looking so so forward to it since it had been a while since LMH was on screen. Here's hoping that the ending isn't frustrating and a cliff-hanger :/

So after finishing ep 14... at this point, I think I'll only be able to actually grasp all the plot lines (and holes) and enjoy this drama after it's entirely over and then I rewatch it. But at least LMH is doing the best he can with this script (and I won't complain seeing him on my screen)

After watching ep 12(24)... I realize that this is the kind of show that has you so hyped from the promos and now, while watching it you're simply wondering why you're watching this because it just keeps flip-flopping on you... but because you're already invested in it, you just don't stop. Lee Soo Hyuk's acting is the only reason I keep coming back at this point

I feel you! :( It's going to be hard this time.. especially not seeing Hyun Bin on my screen weekly

10/10!!!!!
Amaaaazing!
Such a rollercoaster episode. From crying of sadness over Seung Jun and Seo Dan (I'll never get over that - especially because she kept wearing the ring 3 YEARS LATER) to crying of happiness over seeing Jeong Hyeok and SeRi holding hands in Switzerland and their little cottage.... this was such a wholesome last episode. All the side characters got their fair share of screen time and the antagonists were punished ^^ What perfect OST to go with all the scenes too!!
I feel a major drama slump after this, I don't know what will manage to match the cinematography, music, and acting of this show so soon

2-hour finale episode and I wish it was longer!

Sakurada Dori was worth the exasperation from the extremely cringey dialogue. Though it wasn't the intent, I laughed throughout the whole show. It's a quick extremely cheesy drama that you can literally knock out in a night for some giggles and fun if you have not much else to watch on your plate.

I may be just one of the many with the same sentiment but I need to say - Kim Soo Hyun's cameo was perfect!! I was not only so pleasantly happy to see him on the screen but also his *ahem cough cough* ? character

I agree!! I listen to the OSTs as well for a good while after finishing a drama that I've enjoyed.

I love your breakdown of the characters and the dynamics with XF. And I definitely have to agree with it all. Especially the bit about Gu Jian vs LCY in regards to XF. Thanks for that! :)

First off, thank you!! For the links and the detailed reply!
And WOW what a difference in the bgm! Yeah the uncut one fits so much better. I do think bgm plays an important part in scenes and eliciting the proper emotions in the viewer.. soyes now I feel like the uncut would be much better overall... Ahhh I'm pretty sure I'll end up watching the uncut one (before this year ends!) once it's all subbed (hopefully watch a fluffy happy-ending one before that) (and maybe fast forward through some of the political parts now that I know what the story is.. hehe).
Especially with the male lead's beginning...I'd like to see more of that..because maybe I'd actually feel bad for him in the end then. That should definitely help for later episodes that were a little odd with the scene sequences.

I honestly fell in love with it right away. The costumes and the landscape and the fighting scenes and the bgm/ost... it was just instant love. When it comes to Chinese Dramas...these types are always my favorite haha!
Definitely a top drama of the year!
And as similar comments have stated, it's definitely similar to The King's Woman, but the angst and the love is just portrayed better here. I don't know if that makes sense, but I felt the pain so much more with GMP. I cried more in GMP and even adored the negative side characters more. The major difference though was being that in TKW the male lead was just absolutely heartless and selfish with no redeeming qualities whereas here, our ML was still trying to redeem himself and help those around him (so not always selfish) and he did only show his manipulative jealous side towards the end. While I understood in the beginning why he did all that he did, I am glad he couldn't get a happy ending with our 9th princess because no matter the powerful love they had ... he did end up doing some unforgivable things and I feel that had she been able to happily stay with him then it would have made flaws in her. Which would have been soooo unfair to build her character up in a certain strong way to only make her weak at the end. So I'm glad they kept her true to her principles until the very end (even though it was sooooo sad and heartbreaking T__T how badly I wanted her to just be happy)
In this sense, although the second lead had his faults and flaws I did hope for possibly the happy ending with them (that I so desperately wanted with TKW as well!) Gu Jian was a pitiful character but he genuinely did everything he could to make up his mistakes to Xiaofang and he did put her happiness first. :(

Overall a heavy heavy drama that was just heart wrenchingly lovely!
my only qualm is that I waited this long to finally see it! :)

I finally got around to watching this magnificent show! I had GMP lined up, just never had time all year (but I avoided all spoilers - hence not realizing anything about cut/uncut version)
so I finally binged it on VIKI during the weekend.. only to realize right after that there was an uncut version.
-_-
But the angst and agony is so fresh and strong after finishing it.. I'm so torn about watching the uncut version now

yeah, I don't know any.. but if I find any I'll post here

oh?! thanks for letting me know! :)

Yes, I am!