You know when you have watched a handful of sageuks, you can't really make sweeping statements like 'This is the best sageuk ever' or, to go a step further, 'This is the best Korean drama ever'. And yet I am forced to utter a banality like 'It will be hard to find a historical drama as stylistically perfect, emotionally riveting and heart-wrenching as QSD'.
From the beginning till the harrowing end (which I agree could not have been done any better), you are experiencing an edge-of-the-seat suspense and the feeling never really goes away. The political machinations all the characters indulge in - from the deliciously evil Mishil and her gang to Princess Cheonmyeong and later on Queen Seon Deok and Bidam - are all par excellence and it's a pleasure to watch this drama of epic proportions unfold onscreen. There are mesmerizing sword fight scenes (which thanks to the genius of Kim Nam Gil look absolutely real-life) in which Bidam and Yushin will monopolize your attention.
And Ko Hyun Jung is beyond brilliant. A worthy villain - beautiful, conniving and yet regal in her own way. The only somewhat weak part of the drama is Lee Yo Won as QSD, who should have done a little better. But Kim Nam Gil and the rest of the cast have delivered a performance of a life time.
And the OST is gorgeous - Lee So Jung's 'Come, People of God' will give you goosebumps (it is Queen Seon Deok's theme mainly).
If you are still hesitating because of the 62-episode thing, trust all the reviews and the mad ravings all over the internet regarding QSD, and hop along for the ride of a life time.
You will not forget QSD once you are done with it. It will leave its indelible mark on your memory. And so will the angst-ridden, dark anti-hero Bidam.
Watch this for Kim Nam Gil if not for anything else.
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