rockjinrj

The best drama watching experience I've had this year so far. Good consistent writing (except for that one tiny thing), beautiful cinematography, plot that flowed so well that even a time jump didn't feel jarring at all, layered multifaceted characters, complex female characters who were allowed to be deeply messy, #girlfailures, allowed to learn from their mistakes and do better, a drama where the ML started out a poor orphan and by the end did not turn out to be some young master of a noble family *gasp*, a drama that said "power corrupts so if you have it you have to be careful with it" and meant it, a drama that did not sell the message that working for the emperor and getting his favour is the best career choice, a drama that said love prevails and being in cahoots and communicating with your loved ones will save you.

It also nailed the ending by wrapping up every character's part and plot line beautifully. The last cdrama that stuck the landing this year was How Dare You which was months ago. Clearly, well written endings are not usual in cdramaland, so this drama gets extra extra points for being able to do that. It is so praiseworthy that it didn't descend in quality at all in the last arc. So rare.