Full of intrigue and court politics

This drama is full of intrigue and court politics. While watching it, I had to adjust my expectations a bit. Firstly, it is a slow-paced story, with very little romance, and it has a narrow focus on court politics. As a result, characters spend most of their time dialoguing, developing all kinds of complicated schemes, and fighting to seize or shift power. The story is solid, but there are a few inconsistencies along the way that defy logic and make the viewing experience frustrating at times. This type of drama cannot be watched mindlessly, as you have to pay attention to every detail, which is a plus, in my view.

Regarding the actors, Cheng Yi's acting is subtle but still very good and nuanced, although his character is quite static and emotionally flat. Xuan Lu's multifaceted performance as Yanzhi and Mickey He's quirky interpretation of the villainous, power-hungry eunuch (Qiu Ziliang) were both impressive. Zhang Yuxi has a nice presence overall and is quite expressive, but her character is a bit difficult to like, reinforcing a long-standing tradition in Chinese dramas to portray the female lead as unintelligent and naive.

While I generally prefer the Xianxia genre, I do enjoy a good, intriguing political drama from time to time, especially one that doesn't simplify the plot for the viewers. Overall, I would recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys a complex, thought-provoking storyline.

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Great drama overall, but anticlimactic, unsatisfactory ending

I loved the premise of this drama, and it was a no brainer I would watch it religiously, considering the amazingly talented cast. As a big Seo In Guk fan, I can say his performance here was perfect (He just excels at playing darker characters!). BUT the star of this show is undoubtedly Park Bo Young. I mean, what a phenomenal, versatile actress! I was blown away by her delivery in many scenes, and this is coming from someone who wasn’t too fond of her most famous drama (Strong Woman Do Bong Soon). Her chemistry with SIG is very palpable and even electric at times! I really enjoyed seeing their characters’ dynamic from start to finish.

However, I do think the drama has some shortcomings. First, I was a little disappointed that it didn’t deliver a cohesive narrative. My pet peeve when watching fantasy / supernatural dramas is writers conveniently forgetting elements of the story just to push for a specific ending. Doom’s role in the universe and his relationship with God are treated more as an afterthought (so this part of the story lacks depth, IMO).

Secondly, the ending is slightly anticlimactic, forced, and predictable. It's quite unsatisfactory, mostly because it leaves many questions unanswered. And finally, I thought the story places way too much emphasis on the romantic triangle. Na Ji Na’s back-and-forths with the two SMLs are often given more screen time than ML and FL. I admit fast forwarding through some of their scenes because they were so repetitive.

Dawon's performance as Dong Kyung's little brother was perfection!

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NOT THE TYPICAL C-DRAMA FEMALE LEAD

This drama really flips the script on the typical toxic relationship dynamic. Yes, the male lead is pretty unbearable at times, but some of his insults are so over the top that they're almost comical. And after all, this kind of dysfunctional dynamic is par for the course in c-dramas.

But what's different here is the female lead. She's not having any of it. She's strong, vocal, and independent, and she doesn't let the male lead walk all over her. It's like the writers made him the perfect foil to show off her strength and determination.

That's what hooked me on this drama—the female lead's journey to success and autonomy. It's refreshing to see a female character who doesn't just take the abuse but stands up for herself. I’d say "Master of My Own" is definitely worth a watch if you're tired of the same old passive female leads.

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SURPRISINGLY GOOD - Worth watching!

I didn’t expect to enjoy this drama as much as I did. While it is entertaining and fluffy/light for the most part, it also has parts that reveal deeper themes. The entire cast is quite nice. I am not Dylan Wang’s biggest fan, but he definitely shined in this drama; it was surprising to see he can show a bit more depth and acting versatility than his previous roles. The only criticism I have is that as a viewer, I needed some time to get used to the female lead, as she is whiny, childish, and the quintessential damsel in distress. The actors had great chemistry, however, and played their roles really well (including the secondary characters).

The setting and costumes are great, and so is the soundtrack. Worth watching!

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Great chemistry and cast!

This drama really surprised me! I started watching it after reading glowing recommendations on Reddit and because I wanted to see what the fuss is about. Phenomenal performances and chemistry between the leads! Park Bo Gum is simply wow! He can really emote with his eyes and his character is both funny and intense. In fact, the entire cast in this drama is quite impressive!

Bo Gum's dynamic with the female lead (Kim Yoo Jung) is so beautiful and moving. I'm a sucker for gender bender dramas, though I admit I had to suspend my disbelief A LOT while watching because the female lead DOES NOT pass as a male in any shape or form. She's very feminine in speech and mannerisms, so it's silly that the other characters in the drama are fooled by her disguise. It bothered me at first, but the actress is so expressive that I simply stopped thinking of the gender bender as an important element of the plot.

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By far one of the best sageuks!

This is by far one the best sageuks ever made! I was intimidated by its length at first, and I expected the story to drag, but I was very impressed with how tight the writing is and how well all narrative threads are developed and come together by the end.

The entire cast is phenomenal, but most importantly, this is a drama that avoids most clichees. Its female characters are not the typical wimpy, submissive women we often see in historical dramas. Yang (brialliantly played by Ji-Won) is self-sufficient and outshines almost every male character in the story! I was also pleasantly surprised by Chang Wook's versatility; he plays the weak-willed (but also possessive) emperor amazingly! And finally, Joo Jin-Mo was born to play the King of Goryeo!

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A drama you do not want to miss!

I loved Flower of Evil, and as a Joon Gi fan, I can say this is the best role he’s ever played (His versatility is so impressive; his eye acting is superb here). This is a very suspenseful drama with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The writing is exceptional, without irritating loopholes or contrived moments.

One thing I will say, however, is that I wasn't too fond of the ending; I found the amnesia sub-plot to be unnecessary, not to mention it invalidates the main characters' journey and development. Regardless, Joon Gi and Chae Won have such wonderful chemistry and worked so well together, especially in the gut-wrenching scenes.

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