The only reason I watched this show was that it was leaving Netflix. And after I got used to the pace and 'look', I was interested for the most part. Some things were questionable. Looking at you, totally inappropriate 'romance' between Yoo PD and the adopted daughter. I never was and never will be interested in an incestuous relationship, so I skipped those scenes.

But the best part about this show is the characterisation.

* The ML is a presidential candidate and he truly was a hard person to pinpoint. Forever walking the fine line between 'using any means to achieve his goals' and 'the morality of the means used'. A truly grey character. Even Yoon PD couldn't pinpoint what kind of a person the ML was. He was charismatic and handsome and made some really great speeches, but it was hard to tell how much of it was true and how much of it was for show. I greatly enjoyed that. Anytime he did a good thing, he make sure to do it with as much show and pomp as possible, making it hard to judge if he was doing the good deeds because it was right or because he wants clout. But then again what is politics without clout?

* The FL was one ambitious lady. To the point that even the ML started to fear her. I loved her tenaciousness in making her husband a President. She had zero chill and I was here for it!

* Some other characters I liked were Candidate Ko and Shin for their morality and idealism. Camp manager Ki for using every trick under the sun to win. Reporter Hong for being a first-class opportunist and excelling (until the end that is). And advisor Choi, for forever believing that the ML was evil and plotting his demise even when people called him obsessive.

*But my fav will forever be Candidate Park Eul Seop. That guy has said his name so many times in this show, I don't think I'll ever forget. His completely improper (read: sexist) and tactless 'humour', horrible character + brutal honesty were frankly fun to watch. He was crazy and he sure knew it. I still can't believe his 'playboy...playboy' song made it through editing lol

* However, a lot of the other characters fell flat or were so wishy-washy it was as if the writer wrote them as they were needed each episode without ever giving them their own voice. Those included the PR head Oh, Speech/ policy maker Yoon, the stepdaughter, the First lady (she had the potential to be a great villain but ultimately fizzled), Candidate Han, Senior/ Advisor Lee (though at least he was consistent in his ambition and his acting was great), the current President, the sniper, and Yoo PD who is apparently one of MC.

The acting was over the top but I'm chalking that to the fact that this drama is from 2010. However, even the time cannot forgive the absolutely atrocious 'acting' by the son (played by Lee Sungmin). Yoo PD and the daughter were equally bad, to the point where I couldn't even bear to watch them on screen
The ost was meh and forgettable.

The writing was decent if sometimes draggy. Some things were repeated without any real purpose other than to fill the time, but we went along for the sake of the drama. Also, some of the things were just ignored and due to the sheer length of the drama, we kinda forget about them (the bio daughter's character disappeared midway lol). The 'real' villain being someone else. The villain's end etc. I'm still iffy about how the drama dipped itself slightly into the makjang territory near the end and then how conveniently everything was wrapped up.

Just hoping that Advisor Choi has found the snipper and messed up the ML's life (not too sure he deserved to win. Especially after all the things that unfolded in ep 19-20).

But an interesting watch nonetheless. I kinda wish that someone would remake this show. It has such great potential, especially in the current political climate, I think.