This had a strong start. The set up we get before the time jump was actually very interesting (and I know is based on a true story). Once we get to said time jump… the only interesting characters are ones we already knew- Bok Soon & the King primarily. Their son, wonderfully played by Yeo Jin Goo, is the only semi interesting new addition to our centered cast.
Lee In Jwa is the most irritatingly boring sageuk villain I have ever seen. He’s certainly hateable (as all villains should be) but not because he’s well written. He’s simply just annoying.
Our lead/heroine, Baek Dae Gil, has nothing going for him. The female lead, Dam Seo, is also useless. There is certainly potential for good story in both these characters but the writing, casting, (and possibly direction of these actors), fails them miserably.
The story itself- pointless. It’s literally just them going in circles trying to take down Lee In Jwa. Incredibly repetitive and plain boring.
If I don’t care about the leads, or the villain, or the story, why am I watching?
Minor characters Seo Lim & Cutter were nice only because the actors themselves I know and like.
Actors Yoon Jin Seo and Yeo Jin Goo are truthfully the stars of this show for me. Absolutely great performances (when they are given the chance to shine). Actor Choi Min Soo was good too. Apart from that, I have no other positives to list. This is 24 episodes total, and honestly nothing warrants that runtime (especially when the only good part of the story was the set up). By episode 17 I had to stop myself. I tried to push through hoping it would loop back in quality, but unfortunately it looped back only in it’s tedious plot.

I think it reminds me of Gu Family Book. I absolutely loved the set up of that series as well. We again meet the parents of our eventual lead characters in a very intriguing set up, then time jump to uninteresting everything.

I don’t recommend- even if you like some of the cast, it’s not worth it.