Great Potential

After the first episode I was really excited, because i really like the actors, the main ones AND the secondary ones, but I don't know why, I felt like it was trying too hard. I never felt the connection between our leads and found their romance forced -- which is sad because I know both of them are capable of sizzling chemistry. The story fell pretty flat, and I found myself frequently sleepy and continuing to watch in 2 or 3 sittings, which is rare for me -- I'm a binge watcher normally.
This isn't a fast moving drama...there isn't much moving the plot most of the time. Instead, he moments are supposed to be found in the deeper mysteries and philosophy. What is life? What is loss? What is the end of something and what is the beginning? What does it mean to be human? What is love? Even though I don't mind dramas like this usually, this one just didn't resonate well for me.
It was entertaining enough to watch, but I don't think I'll watch it again.

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Light, Romantic, Super Entertaining

This whole series cannot be taken too seriously, but it is immensely, immensely watchable. In a world of stressful dramas, intense life situations, sometimes we just want to watch two people fall in love and make us laugh and make us happy. That is exactly what this did. This drama has likeable characters, an engaging storyline, just enough eye-candy to make you stay interested, and is one of the few clean and wholesome dramas out there. It brings joy and is everything a person looking for a fun escape to joy-romance land can go-to. I have already rewatched both seasons and favorite scenes multiple times. Great job!

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Stayed up 5 nights to finish this

I had heard of this drama but had put it off because you have to be in a certain mood to watch 70 episodes of anything. But i was so caught off guard by the strength of female lead. I’m typically a romance drama watcher but this one sucked me in. The relationships of the cast with each other were so well developed. The development of each of the harem’s motivations was deep. The lines are beautiful and i just loved Wei Ying Luo. I loved her strength of character, her intelligence, her resoluteness, and i loved watching her and the Emperor’s relationship. I wish i had gotten just a few more moments with her and Fuca Fuheng. :)

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I have watched hundreds of dramas, no joke. And although this one isn't new, there was a sweetness to it that I really enjoyed.
There were things I didn't like of course...the female lead's acting was meh...nothing to write home about. She had some scenes that I could imagine a more seasoned or nuanced actress handling with much more conviction. But the story was so well-written that it didn't even bother me that much.
Ji Soo was wonderful. He was able to take a character as simple and at first sort of annoying and by the second season, bring depth and maturity while not compromising his sweetness and authenticity. I have watched him other things and he really was able to embody this character well.
Jin-Young was also very very good. His character was really well-written. Usually second leads are so clearly non-contenders for the affection of the main female lead. The whole time, I started rooting for him, but when the pivot in the story happened, i could feel how he felt. I could understand the tensions he faced. I could understand so clearly why he and the female lead didn't choose him. I could feel his care, but I also appreciated his maturity.
I apprecitated the way the characters talked about their feelings and were clear and direct -- well, except the female lead....

The only thing I wasn't too crazy about was the pacing of the end...i wish they would have spent a little more time on some of the main couple and in flushing out the main female lead's character and feelings for the main lead.

But I still found my self very engaged and I definitely think i'll watch this again.

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If you like Rom Coms You'll like this

If you like Rom Coms, you'll like this. What this is, is an old fashioned, lighthearted but very believable love story. The leads really seem like they love each other deeply. It is not meant to be a sci-fi thriller, even with small elements in there. There are no big social commentaries. It is a pure, wholesome love story of two people who save each other and fall in love no matter what circumstance. The chemistry between the leads is what makes this drama special. I really just fell in love with Ryu Sun Jae and Im Sol. Ånd the other characters like Tae Sung and Baek In Hyunk were also just so heart warming too. I watched this drama not knowing what to expect. And I think that is the mindset you have to go in with. It was an underdog drama that no one knew would blow up like it did. That's part of what made it so beautiful, the surprise, the discovery. I loved the story, the acting, the cast, the music...and I have already watched this drama multiple times. It's beauty is in it's simplicity not its sophistication. It's got some of the best rewatch value of any drama I've seen. When I'm sad, this is my go-to drama. There are other dramas that are tighter knit, deeper in it's messages, but in the category of a rom-com...this drama be rom-comming like no other. I have not found a drama that has stolen my heart like this one and that I became as attached to in a long time. I am charmed. But the story, the music, the characters, and the actors. I legit loved this. I only wish I could erase this in my brain and watch it again for the first time again.

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