Alejandro

Has anyone else noticed that the song 'OST' for this series is the exact same one from Empresses in the Palace, only sped up a bit? I'm listening to the song now and I'm like...Holy Crap!

Lee Je-hoon has become my favourite actor ever since his role in Move To Heaven. He is such an incredible actor. I love his expressions and his micro expressions even more. He lets you know what he is feeling and thinking even when the other characters don't know. And not in that obviously diabolical Beethoven's Fifth piano point sort of way. But much more subtly. Which is what makes him exceptional.

The beginning was difficult for me as well. It's worth watching even in and of itself, despite and not just because of the upcoming 2nd season.

Has anyone else ever tried to figure out the opening song to this drama? My research leads me to believe that it was written specifically for this series even though it sounds like it should have been written almost 30 years ago, which would make sense. But if the latter is true, I am more in love with this drama than even ever before! 🥰

Well I have just completed this and am surprised at the somewhat lukewarm reactions from some of you. I thought it was phenomenal! I expected there to be another Season, just as I did when I watched the first season for the first time. I'm not as connected to the C-drama zeitgeist as many of you, so I never get informed about upcoming seasons or whether or not something is filming or has been filmed. I just go on faith and hope I'm right. I'm convinced I am right this time as well. There will be a Season 3.

I love the way those two interacted with one another... hilarious! Especially after the parley with Luo Si, when ZX fell into Lu Di's arms saying 'I was so frightened!' and Lu Di was patting his head in sympathy. I couldn't stop laughing at that. 🤣

I just finished watching episode 29 and I was fascinated by the blatant comparison between the relationship of Boss Yu and Executive Zhan with that of Dong Xian and Emperor Ai. The clearest allusion to a romantic relationship between the two of them which obviously would not have been portrayed in a censored Chinese drama, but is still confirmed by Yu's purposeful comparison of himself with Dong Xian. Of course Zhan discounts this at once by claiming to be motivated by power and not love, but the damage was already done by this point, as far as I am concerned. ☺️

I've only just finished watching episode 10 and, whilst I have read many, though by no means all, of the comments people have criticising this drama series and I have to say that, whilst it does have some issues, it's still a pretty solid drama. Mainly because of the two main leads...and I like Mond in sinister mode. There's something slightly sexy about it...but that's another story. The only thing that drove me completely nuts was that EVERY SINGLE TIME this idiot Tong is given the option of staying safe after every sacrifice Mark has made to keep him safe, he still insists on wasting Mark (and this time Nakan's) efforts and runs right back into danger again. It's gotten to where it really just isn't worth saving him anymore. My response at this point would be 'The boy wants to die, let him go die already. I'm tired. I'm going home to watch Netflix and order a pizza!'

I actually had to stop watching this after the episode with the father. First the boy is kicked out of school for protecting his friend from a predator, for which he's told that he should have 'found evidence', which I found infuriating and ridiculous enough. But then he tells his own father some guy tried to shoot him and he was trying to defend himself and the father calls it an excuse and then unbelievably blames the son for flirting with the guy's girlfriend. That, in your mind, justifies someone trying to kill your own son? I'm confused. Then they spend the next several minutes looking for ways to kiss up to the psychopath and his father. Not one word of comfort for their own son who had to have been traumatised by getting shot at like that. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't watch it anymore after that. This was just flat out stupid.

Wish there had been a spoiler alert on this, but otherwise, thanks for the review.

Last week I wrote a comment and it has since been deleted by some unreasonable person. So I will state again that this man is an incredible actor and person. I will only believe that he has done something wrong when someone provides actual proof. Not some AI garbage, but actual proof. I believe the family of that girl are just looking for money and that the YouTuber is looking for fame, reputation and money as well. They are all vultures. And all of you morons who don't believe in innocent until proven guilty are vultures as well.

I just rated this a 10 after watching episode 10. The acting in this episode is phenomenal! I had no idea Boom was such an incredible actor because I hadn't really watched any of his work since Bad Romance (which I loved him in...he does crazy villain rather well 😂).I'm curious about something though. Is the head of Sigma on a personal vendetta against Akin simply because he turned down their offer in an earlier episode? I remember someone saying that turning them down was equal to declaring war on them. Because that stunt he pulled with Akin's grandmother's stage play rights was quite low and dirty. And it felt rather personal. This guy is petty and spiteful.

'...a whole woman clinging to his arm like a koala'!!!! 😂😂😂😂 I am DEAD!

I've just finished watching episode 4 and I have to say that Sorn is suffocating ME, and I'm not poor Jun. Everywhere he goes, Sorn has to appear, everything he does, Sorn has an opinion, everyone he meets with, Sorn has a harsh judgement... honestly it's really too much. Why doesn't this guy stand up for himself? I really don't get it. But if next week's episode is this annoying, I'll have to set this series aside for a bit, because it really is stifling to watch.

I'm on episode 21 right now, and the tangled and twisted web of lies and half-truths which I originally found comical are starting to grate on my nerves. I don't understand why Shu Yi can't simply let Shi Yan know that her mother and Yu You's mother are friends and they have been going on blind dates together just to satisfy their mothers. I don't understand how in the world Shi Yue has managed to go all this time without once mentioning that her uncle is Shi Yan, knowing that her 'Leader' as she likes calling her, works with him frequently. Neither do I understand why she doesn't mention it to Shi Yan, even though I do understand why he hasn't mentioned it to her. And Yu You's constant ambiguity with regard to Shi Yue is driving me up a wall as well. This is the problem with dramas with too many episodes. They drag out issues that could and should be resolved pretty quickly and easily until they just become ridiculous. I still like this series, though, and so will continue watching it for now.

I'm only on episode 7 at the moment, and so far enjoying it for the most part. But I am reading some of these comments and reviews and can't help wondering whether some of you aren't just a tad bit too emotionally invested in a fictional drama. I get that there are some dramas that do affect us emotionally on a certain level. But to the extent that there are multi-thread outright arguments going on in what feel like endless tangents just seems a bit much to me. But maybe once I've watched a few more episodes, I'll want to scream at someone too...it could happen! 😂

I disagree with your assessment of Xiao Zhan's acting skills. I think he is phenomenal!

I sort of adored Guo Bakun because he was silly more than sinister. He reminded me of that fellow in Young Blood who was the son of the Chief of the Imperial Guard. He wasn't evil, but rather just arrogant and stupid.

Anyway those are my opinions...

To the person Chomsky8 who replied to this message, but for some reason it is not appearing here, I wish to say...

Firstly: The brands that abandoned him are companies seeking to protect their bottom line. They don't care about the truth. They only care about appearances and perceptions. They will find in their lawsuits that, unless they can prove wrongdoing on his part, that they will have a difficult time collecting any monies from him.

Secondly: You are full of 💩 if you say you care about the personal life of the person who delivers your food to you. No one does. We take our package and close the door... sometimes without even looking the poor guy in the face. Don't lie just to make a point. It's beneath you.

This nonsense is the same thing as that ridiculous #metoo movement. People make insane accusations without any evidence and women all over the world jump on the bandwagon assuming it must be true without even caring whether it is true or not. You people would rather destroy a man's reputation and career than assume he is innocent until proven guilty. What pieces of crap you people are!

One of the greatest actors ever! I don't care what the haters say about him. To me it is convenient that all of these things are coming out just because that actress died. Someone needs someone to blame. So it has to be him? I don't accept that! He continues to be an incredible actor, so I accept him on his merits. Whatever his personal life is doesn't matter to me. Do you care about the personal life of the guy who delivers your food every day? No, right? It's the exact same thing. He is a man who is doing his job, and doing it well. Stop messing with him please!