Story - whinny poor street yearns for credentials of real chef. Thus enters the rich handsome credentialed chef. Add the Pygmalion effect and BAM, drama. Did I read in comments this drama had 3 writers? You can tell
Actors - Chris & Ivy had chemistry yet the entire time was wasted on weak story-line devaluing their acting. Cast of SL wins most annoying human. Cast acting was mediocre.
Music - on point not anything memorable
RW - NO! NO! even a blistering hot as hades or snows of epic keeping me in will NOT entice me to do this again.
Overall - Easy 16eps show made into 22eps. All the while pissing off the viewers with weakest ending and gaping story holes.. Notice they have a special... DANG just put a fork in it... Chris W deserved better.

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Story: not new, politicians shown as THUGS and gangs (clubs) screwing over anyone & org to get more power to then rule the world and bankrupt. Kinda like our present situation in US.
Acting: this cast was amazingly cast. MaleLead (ML)_ slick-smart-badasser; FL_smooth-savvy/smart-badasser = perfect pairing; FVillian: dang she is amazing an ice queen-ruthless-narcissistic. She's kicked it up several levels from her BOF evilness_ DANG!; MVillian: this thug grows on you. He is a street thug who's kicking with power, thug/gang style. Evil, ruthless and well portrayed.
Music: it all FIT- well done!
Re-Watch: yes
Overall: Thugs - politicians portrayed as seamless puzzles pieces completing the picture, much like our global present day "power-thug" political landscape. The transition from politician to thug or visa versa, we the common citizen are simple fodder. Lots of lessons taught in this drama,if considering career changes. Final note: one of the better Kdramas in a LONG time!

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From the description and pictures you think this is Cdrama - modernized Cinderella. WELL, it is and isn't - especially the ending.
Story: Center piece is a woman 40+ who is dumped by ex's at least 4x's, 20 somethings, 30 somethings and 60+. Yes, the full spectrum of humans going through life and all the angst of finding love. The story starts off like a silly antic Cinderella C- iteration, then about eps 12 you realize all the eps before are backstories and the story-line begins to flush out in a classic Cdrama way. Then eps19-20 happens and cinderella/glitter gets explained - and the story moves ahead.

Actors/Cast: Love the centerpiece actors - mature yet NOT. All cast were good, no-one stood out.

Music: typical Cdrama sounds some not necessary, silly and more important so cliche.

RW: eps 20 especially Richmond's talk during the movie screening.

Overall: If you are looking for a drama, done well and with REALITY worked into the Cinderella story-line you might enjoy this one. Could have been 15eps for my taste however I loved the ending. It offered the twists - that life does not offer glitter endings. In life, we are gifted glitter moments to be cherished cause glitter 24/7 life is pure fairytale!

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16 eps of "not sure." Potential was there for a 10 rating...

What made me watch - the main two leads, who are stunning actors in their own right and did a fantastic job on the story they were given. Where we get lost is somewhere in eps 10,or 11, or 12 the story-line couldn't decide what to do with this outstanding female detective "lady". The drama is set up like individual scenarios of heinous to bad stories that never got linked until eps ???
As for endings, this will rank as one of the most ill-prepared ending and should be entered as an example of "how to murder a drama".
S2? cannot see these actors coming back to this mess.
What lacked? Character backstory, development, and excessive time spent on silly antics of non essential characters& stories, bad writing, cliches and poor direction giving an overall sense of LOST.
ReW?: Why? poor direction, writing is not going to improve with time.
Overall: watch at own risk, watch for the main leads ONLY, have LOW expectations for any resolution that makes sense. Hope there is no S2 with this caliber of actors who were wasted.
Major drama-lords FAIL - maybe that's what they wanted - a poorly rated show to prove intelligent mature females dramas do not sell or work in drama world. Sorry fellas, we know better. It sells if done well!

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This is a long movie about the pain of breaking-up, betrayal and loss of faith in oneself. This movie illustrates the haunting pain accompanying those who lose the love of their life with out looking at the mirror realizing the might have been the source of the cause. Story not new. Acting - for a Chinese movie done OK with hints of cheesiness laced throughout. What made the movie for me was the well placed piano solo's adding to the dark, painful story.
Caution: if you have recently broken-up, this might NOT be the best on the other hand, if you are in a place to see yourself in these characters - go for it.
About mid-point, I wanted to kick her in the pants and say, get over it girlie. Go to work, clean-up and move on - glad to know others in the film agreed.

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Well done Cdrama! Another story of an amazing STRONG woman in the history books. The lead actor chemistry was heartfelt with each supporting cast member doing an FAB job in their roles. Hands down this MIL-Empress Dowager is an evil beast that devours power and no one is exempt from her feasting or killing spree. This is a long series yet it has so many twists, turns, and interesting storyline each episode moves quick. Bottom-line: Story of a smart, savvy, naive young girl tossed out into the wilds of world by a greedy family only to placed in to Palatial - Political hell, fall is love and ascends to high ranks based on her intelligence, resilience and tenacity. Music: was OK, appropriate for movie YET nothing memorable. While watching this JANG OK JUNG kept running around in my head, so if you liked JokJ, give this a try. Well done filming, and just enough wuxia to remind you you're watching good Cdrama.

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Just finished and loved all the episode EXCEPT #20 -finale. The lush scenery, skilled artists,painstaking sacrifices and most of all conniving royals that only Kdrama can deliver. The lead actor was my reason for viewing since seeing him in Lovers in Paris, and he delivered another highly restrained and rather blank role - which he is good at.
The finale episode is a BIG mess of 'lets hurry up & finish,' thus leaving you with a question mark on why did I watch this for 19 episodes and the end is a messy,rushed and does not flow with the carefully woven pace & story in all the other episodes.
Why watch: If you like-appreciate art history this movie will entertain and offer another glimpse into Korean art & form. Just don't be mad when you see ep20 - just reminisce the art drawing & discussions by masters on the form.

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