Rarely do I come across a well-rated, oft-recommended drama that fulfills all my expectations, and this is certainly one of them. This drama had everything I typically look for in a good drama, namely: good characterization, excellent acting, well laid-out plot, well executed and entertaining. While a story based on slaves or oppressed servants/people rising up against the corrupt and the cruel people in power is a well-worn and cliche idea, yet I have come to believe that it is not what the story is, but how it is executed; journey before destination, after all.

I will first talk about my two favorite characters/actors I've completely fallen in love with: Nok Su (played by Lee Na Hui), and King Yi Yung (played by [i] Kim Ji Suk [/i] ). I'm a sucker for well-portrayed villains and characters caught in the grey area, not quite good but not entirely bad either. Nok Su's background, the motives behind her actions, her inner struggles and her determination make her an excellent character. Lee Na Hui's acting is beyond superb! Her expressions are everything! I've seen her in Come Back Mister and the film Extreme Job, and let me tell you, she becomes the character and owns it. She is the best at what she does. I was equally floored by the villainy of Yi Yung, his twisted mind, and yet he is not simply evil. Though Nok Su claimed that Yi Yung was incapable of love, yet he was capable of recognizing and valuing the loyalty and love of Nok Su and Second Eunuch Ja Won, the only two people who stayed by his side throughout. Kim Ji Suk's dialogue delivery, his expressions and his body language brought the character alive, and I could tell that he had completely owned the character.

Worth mentioning is the acting of Chae Soo Bin (I loved her acting so much! Glad she pursued her love for storywriting), and our main hero played by Yoon Gyun Sang. It was my first time watching both act, and I was extremely pleased with what I saw. I enjoyed Kim Jung Hyun's (who played Mo Ri) acting as well, though I have to admit that the character was not much fleshed out.

The plot and the episodes themselves were laid out and planned very well, and the drama did not falter nor became boring for me at any single point, which is a BIG PLUS. Usually there are one or two episodes where I just skip quickly, but not with this drama. Every single episode had meaningful, well executed scenes that added something to the story, and fleshed out even the minor characters Lady Jo, or Eom Cha Ji. There were very few scenes where I had trouble believing in what the story was trying to tell me (like the arrival of Oh Ri Ni and Ga Ryoung at court, and their close proximity to the King) , and I appreciate that.

The only reason I gave less stars to rewatch value is because I don't rewatch dramas. Period. There are too many new ones watch lol.

Overall, if you are hesitating in watching this drama, worry no more and just dive in!