Excellent cast, fast-paced, and achingly sad...yet doesn't quite know what to say

Deok Im is a high spirited, clever girl who is firm in her values. She stands up for her friends, and she wants to live a simple life full of every day joy and helping those around her.

It's Deok Im's misfortune to be born into palace intrigue, and the nail in the coffin is catching the eye of the Crown Prince. As hard as she tries to break free, she keeps on being pulled in for the sake of her country, for the sake of her friends, and ultimately for the sake of the Crown Prince himself. She tries to resent him, she tries to demonize him, but the truth is he will be a great king, and is a decent man, and who is she to deny him?

It's an excellent premise, but it's clear the show wasn't sure which way to end it or what themes it is trying to promote. In the end, the show essentially shows 'multiple endings' in a string of could be final scenes. But unfortunately, in each and every end-ish scene, Deok Im's voice is muted, her feelings ambivalent, and in the very last scene, it's almost like she doesn't exist.

Also minor points off for not really knowing what to do with Hong Deok Ro.

The cast is superb, I really cared deeply for the two main characters and thought both the two main characters and all the side characters showed distinct personalities and a range of emotion. The music was moving but rather standard, scenes from the show will definitely linger on.

Themes: 6.5
The strongest theme is basically a warning "you wouldn't actually want to be a court lady centuries ago." Also 'lonely is the head that wears the crown.' Otherwise, the show is quite lost on whether it wanted to truly go with the feminist message lurking in the background, or whether it approves of Deok Im sacrificing herself to the Crown Prince.

Complex characters/character growth: 7.0
It's hard to not confuse the excellent acting, with character growth. I wish they had grown! Deok Im essentially gets quieter and more subdued as she feels the walls are closing in. The Crown Prince doesn't really waver in temperament or character until the tacked on last episode. They show lots of range of emotion, but no real transformation.

Complex women/interactions between women: 9.0
So great! Deok Im and her three friends stick together through thick and thin, and Deok Im recognizes and values how female companionship and community has made her life worth living. She also has great female mentors in the Queen/Queen Dowager and the senior ladies. One point off for the bizarre conspiracy of court lady spies. Instead of being an intriguing take on women coming together to defend themselves from powerful men, the whole thing is treated like a bunch of bitter, ridiculous women who would of course fail.

Cinematography/Production Values: 8.5
Production values are high, costumes and scenery are extremely pretty with a marked effort to change seasons and try different color combinations. It still stuck to somewhat standard scenes in terms of what the palace looks like, how the servants follow the important people around, how fight scenes are conducted etc.

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Only loyalty kept me watching until the end . . .

With the writers taking zero risks, and turning the main female character into a 'mary sue' empty shell of her former self, there's really nothing to recommend.

Three scenes only stand out in my mind: Jang Uk storming up to the Jin Matriarch and getting the tracker taken out of Jin Bu Yeun, Seo Yul attempting to save So Yi, and any scene with Prince Go Won and his turtle.

Otherwise there was little chemistry between leads, everyone just kind of ran around for 10 episodes. The music was nothing too outstanding, and the rewatch value is nil.

It was just incredibly disappointing on all fronts, and I was grimly watching just to see whether the main couple ends up dying or not. We need more sci fi/fantasy epic romance, I'm all for it. But, to do an epic romance, you have to be willing to take risks, and this second season takes none.

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Addictive episode by episode but a bit empty overall

This action packed, forbidden romance premise is highly engaging. Every single episode ends in a cliffhanger, making you want to watch the next and then the next ....

Binge watching, however, I noticed that large chunks of episodes go by with nothing really resolved. The plot doesn't 'move' much. Also, due to the repeated use of cliffhangers, the impact of large action and rescue scenes decrease over the course of the show.

The acting was great, and I often enjoyed the secondary characters just as much if not more than the main ones. I was fond of all of them, and continued to watch just to see how it ended. As others have noted, the two main leads have little romantic chemistry when sharing screen time (but when they are apart, you deeply believe that they care for each other). The secondary romance had much more connection.

The music, especially the end credits song, was a bit more haunting and creative than average. One or two action scenes where thrilling enough that I may rewatch selectively . . I grade on other criteria:

Complex Themes: 5
Simplistic: If you do right by your country and your people, all the rest will fall into place. Never be too prideful to lose sight of the bigger picture and learn from others. Self-sacrifice is a mark of good character.

Character Growth: 7
Each character has a standard trajectory, from pride, ego, or blind obedience, to doing what is best for your people. They all get a bit more grounded and thoughtful, less brash and impetuous.

Relationships/Depictions of women: 7
There are a lot of female friendships in the show, as well as a bit of focus on mother daughter relationships as well. I wouldn't say any of the depictions are complex: and the women are often separated from each other.

Production values/cinematography: 8
The show made a strange choice to switch to illustrations instead of live action whenever a scene would be too complex or expensive to shoot. Besides that odd choice, a few of the action scenes were truly thrilling and creative, and production values were generally high.

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Excellent romance, great production, completely let down by mediocre plot . . .

Frustratingly, the political plot is full of flaws: tedious, goes around in circles, cartoon villains, and full of nonsensical story. Just lots of evil, greedy one note characters that pop up again and again. But, the romance plot is so good, that I finished this drama anyways. In some ways, the political plot is so clearly bad that it's easy to skip through the political parts and just watch the romantic scenes.

This has everything you could want in a romance: a Romeo and Juliet forbidden romance, a man head over heals for a woman who is his equal, tons of rescuing and protectiveness, and putting each other first. It will go down as one of my favorite romantic couples, and this drama reminded me of Xu Kai's excellent acting and romance in Story of Yanxi Palace.

The production values and direction are also extremely good. The costumes are very original and beautifully designed. There's a lot of excellent choices with camera angles, and music. The action scenes are thrilling and don't use much CGI.

This drama is so uneven it's hard to recommend. But, I must say I was deeply touched, and the romance will stick with me. It may be worth a try to see if this love story sticks with you.

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The most toxic of romances . . .

This drama's addictive qualities, and thrilling action scenes, do not matter, because the main romance is unbelievably toxic and romanticizes the most dangerous of red flags. It's as if the script writers went down the list of 'high risk factors' for murder suicide relationships :

1) Suicide threats and knives: Xie Wie takes a knife puts it into Ning'er-'s hand and invites her to stab him. This you, or I , or both of us attitude where the abuser takes a knife and points it at the other person, then at themselves, then starts screaming 'fine just do it, kill me, kill us' is usually the last step before the end. The show portrays this as showing intense love instead of an intense nihilism.

2) Strangulation and grabbing by the throat: Xie Wie repeatedly grabs Ning'er by the throat in order to force her to do something she doesn't want to do - including grabbing her by the throat and then kissing her. Strangulation and choking threats are huge red flags, mainly because it is a very vulnerable area to attack and often leads to brain injury. Strangulation/choking/non consensual breath play to initiate or coerce sex is often a sign of the same intense nihilism.

3) Drug use: Xie Wie has been using a highly damaging performance enhancing drug to make up for health issues stemming from his trauma. His friends have been trying to get him to stop, but they and Xie Wie insist that only Ning'er's love can and will get him to stop. Usually drug addiction/misuse cannot be 'solved' through a romance, and this belief causes many people to stay in toxic relationships enabled by the drug users family and friends who want someone else to bear the responsibility.

4) Untreated mental health: Xie Wie has episodes of extreme violence and paranoia due to past trauma. Ning'er and other innocent people are exposed to this dangerous behaviour repeatedly. Yet, there is no explanation on how this could be miraculously cured.

5) Romeo and Juliet sense of 'no one understands us': Xie Wie repeatedly claims to Ning'er that only they can understand each other - no one else can. That they are both meant to be forged through trauma and hardship, willing to go to lengths that other people cannot understand. Xie Wie repeatedly snears at Ning'er s love for Zhang Zhe - claiming that he's too simplistic and good for one such as her.

6) Obsessed with revenge, excellent at power games, petty to a fault: If Xie Wie only had this capacity of revenge for political wrongs, this wouldn't be such a red flag, but Xie Wie also shows a pettiness and jealousy towards the other family and friends in Ning'er's life and an inappropriate level of condescension towards Ning'er 's father.

7) Power imbalance in the relationship: Xie Wie is Ning'er's teacher and mentor at various points, and Ning'er s father and others treat him as one generation senior to Ning'er. Xie Wie often orders Ning'er around whether or not she is 'officially' his teacher at various points. Ning'er for various reasons begs him or kneels to him about various things throughout the show, but Xie Wie never puts himself in the humble position. Even when he's backed into a corner, he dramatically and violently seizes the power back.

There's probably a lot more. This is all to say in this modern age, there's no reason to teach people that these red flags are evidence of intense love - they are not. If you ever encounter anyone like this in real life - beware. That intensity is often simply a stalker like obsession and a strong desire for power and control over you.

It's one thing to portray a toxic individual who is NOT toxic towards the main love interest and is inspired by her to change (as unrealistic and problematic as that storyline is), but it's a whole 'nother thing to be directly harmful and toxic towards the main love interest.

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Yet another Joseon drama, that adds nothing. .

The plot is ridiculously standard and the court intrigues half baked. There are no interesting themes or unexpected twists in characterization. I did enjoy the 'fish out of water' first half. It was a great illustration of how unattractive your standard cold arrogant lead is when he has no money or power. If you like 'rescuing' romantic scenes, and protectiveness/jealousy there are tons of them.

I found the secondary romance much more intriguing and the brother's storyline much more compelling than the other plot points.

The acting is mediocre, the music is fine, the action scenes are fairly thrilling so maybe there is a vague rewatch potential.

I grade on other criteria as well:

Complex Themes: 7
I enjoyed the point made over and over that wealthy and powerful people without their wealth and power are fairly useless. I did NOT enjoy the theme of the second half of 'heavy is the head that wears the crown.' The villagers are bumbling up until the end, and the female lead is in constant need of rescuing all the way through. There is no subversion of power.

Character Growth: 3
Despite losses of memory, and drastic changes of scene. The characters remain basically exactly the same.

Complex Women/Relationships Between Women: 3
There is a female friendship, but it's almost fully about discussing men or the lack thereof. The female lead is 'plucky' in the way they usually are.

Production Values: 8
Costumes, sets, are all above average, and the action scenes are excellent for a K drama.

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Spectacular Cinematography, Some Amazing Scenes and Star Power Ruined by Heavy Handed Moralistic Treatment . .

Can we talk about this ending? I want my hours back.

The first half of part 2 gets more violent and cinematic more Godfather or Infernal Affairs or Oldboy than a romantic drama. There's highly interesting framed scenes, and you often feel the visceral thrill of violence and revenge as Ling Bu Yi pursues his goals.

Where is Shao Shang in all this? Struggling. Realizing that she may be living her worst nightmare and desperately trying to stop it. This completely undermines the whole premise of Shao Shang as some sort of equal partner to Ling Bu Yi and robs her of her charisma. It does, however, create adrenaline and drama and compulsive watching, and there are some excellent plot twists.

Then the drama completely flips for last half . . . just a terrible horrible last ending

All the strategy, all the planning, all the intelligence drops out of the plot. Rescue scenes are repeated - Shao Shang is under threat in the exact same way as she has before. She always stumbles into a situation, bravely tries and fails to get out of it on her own, and then gets rescued. The rescue scenes just get more unhinged, and unrealistic and flat out nonsense each time. Just the browbeating lesson that Shao Shang is VERY SILLY TO THINK SHE CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT LING BU YI.

And then it just . . . . ends. With them all just staring at the sky - no last words of poetry, or aching love, or triumphant end nothing. . . Some might say the implication is they are all stars in the galaxy together now - all the family including Ling Bu Yi - no longer one moon or sun pulling the focus - but that is not said - or illustrated in any real way - I'm just making that up.

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Leo Wu was allowed to show more acting range in the second half but it really feels like he has only a few switches, bad ass killer, face twisted in remorse/sadness, and eager puppy. Zaho Lu Si was given very little to work with in the second half. Their kiss at the end was one of the worst chemistry kisses I've ever seen.

ALSO huge credit to Li Yun Rui as Yuan Shen | Yuan Shan Jian. He absolutely stole the show and the producers kept cutting his plot lines and not knowing what to do with him. He was highly charismatic and just kind of left to hang around and show how he couldn't do rescues like Ling Bu Yi (indeed he had to endure being rescued by Ling Bu Yi himself).

Music still has that one excellent piece of instrumental that is wistful and sad. Could potentially watch some individual scenes, but the rest I want to burn. I want my hours back.

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I grade on other criteria:

Themes: 5.0
Be honest with your partner and trust them to support you in supporting the state. In times of turmoil, devoting your life to the state and the people is the most rewarding thing you can do. Who wants some foppish thinker, or kind obedient boy, when you could marry a highly intense, compulsive liar, military man who can rescue you?

Character Growth: 7.5
Ling Bu Yi suffers the humiliation of realizing and despair of making a life changing error and it makes him become a bit more flexible and human. Shao Shang becomes almost frozen - the vibrancy gone.

The most touching character growth (more in the next bit) was Shao Shang's mother.

Complex women: 9.0 (A highlight!)
Shao Shang, her mother and her cousin have a really interesting well explored relationship on the dangers of favoritism and rewarding obedience. The only time I was touched to tears was when Shao Shang's mother realizes that the very things she was trying to suppress and beat out of Shao Shang, were what made Shao Shang special - and she wishes she could take months of undermining her. Also the frank exploration of difficult relationships between the grandmother (mother in law) and the other women in the family and how difficult the grandmother could be in her worship of her sons was excellent to see as well.
There was also Shao Shang's healing relationship with the Empress. How both Shao Shang and the Empress got to attempt the mother daughter relationship anew and how it healed them both.
Shao Shang also starts relating to her cousin better and makes strong female friendships.

I'd really like to give a 10 except the amount of jealous, delusional, back-stabby minor characters was really abnormally high and started to detract from the rest.

Cinematography and Production Values: 8.0
Cinematography was extremely strong, especially in fight scenes, certain wide and tracking shots. Some of the best larger battle scenes/fight scenes I've seen in dramas. Lots of production value was put into the fight scenes generally. Costuming and other sets were a bit subpar in comparis.

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What makes family?
*This show has trigger warnings for anyone who has experienced abuse or struggles with suicidal ideation*

There are two mysteries to the plot focusing around blood ties v care/happiness ties. The second mystery led me to give a 1.0 for plot.

One, will the younger generation reunite in adulthood and be able to carry on a healthy lifestyle and relationships despite their struggles growing up (*yes* and resolved easily).

Two, what about the adults who traumatized and abused them growing up and to the 'bystander' parents who didn't fully intervene? (resolved horribly and rushed at the end).

This drama perpetuates the myth of 'rock bottom' that someone can have a magical realisation that they have become someone who hurts the people who love them and magically turn around and be safe to take care of a teenager.

It is well established that Ling Xiao's mother has always priortized her dramas and her issues over the well-being of anyone else for decades (perhaps even before the trauma of losing a child - given the story about the card game, and the 'aunt's' own commentary that Ling Xiao's mother has always been this way).

What's worse, is that she aggressively harms and lashes out at people, wanting them to be as miserable as she is, including her own child. Not only does she do this spontaneously, but she premeditates and coldly seeks revenge when Ling Xiao tries to seek independence repeatedly. Even in the end she attempts suicide after thinking about it all night again switching the focus on to her.

This is not a safe person to parent a teenager, and I can't believe they all just waive off Ling Xiao's little sister back to Singapore with her mother and admonish her to study hard.

I just couldn't get over that this was the BIG MYSTERY and the last issue to be resolved - what to do about Ling Xiao's mother, and then it was all just chalked up to PTSD (for what it's worth- PTSD does not at all appear to be what this woman has) and lessons learned and sending her back to Singapore.

I did like that the show insinuated subtly that the younger generation was very clear on who were there 'true' care/love family and who had earned that and who didn't. BUT I can't get over the explicit message: to tolerate, tolerate, tolerate, and maybe one day they will come to a magical realisation.

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An over-the-top melodrama with moments of pure magic . . .

On one hand, this drama goes too far with too much - too many fated 'coincidences,' too many rescues, too many escapes from death, too many jokes at the expense of N Korea. Yet, every once in awhile, it just turns into pure magic - the story will pause, get quiet-er, the camera work turns cinematic, the insights thoughtful. It would unexpectedly become a different drama all together - one very much worth watching and with themes that are incredibly touching given the current state of the world.

For once, there was an exciting second half instead of running out of steam at the 10 episode mark.

The main leads and all the supporting actors create distinct personalities and characters that linger on. Hyun Bin as Ri Jeong-hyuk can WALK, every time he strode into a room, it was mesmerising. Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri was a great mix of steely and silly. While they were both great in this drama individually - they do less well when they share a frame. I liked it better when they were fighting for each other, thinking about each other, talking about each other more than when they were actually in the same camera shot. When they were actually together on screen, their interactions got a bit stilted and there was no physicality to the relationship. They were both quite awkward in kissing scenes.

The music was competent, and like I mentioned about the story generally, the music would have some unexpectedly great moments - especially with some of the folk/childrens songs and lingering bits of classical music.

Rewatch value is mixed. I could watch Ri Jeong-Hyuk stride into a room anytime but a lot of the draw to the show was suspense on how it would all resolve.

I grade on other criteria:

Themes - 10.0
In a world that can be cruel and unforgiving, a sense of community, kindness, generosity and sacrifice are qualities to be treasured. Even in the most trying and difficult of circumstances, moments of joy, peace and connection with our fellow humans can occur. Seize life and happiness however it comes along - even if its imperfect.
Character Growth - 9.0
All the characters are marked by the experiences they shared together. They are changed people and there's no going back. Yoon Se-ri especially becomes less jaded, snobby and closed off.
Complex Women and Relationships between Women - 7.0
Seo Dan was an interesting character, as was Yoon Se-ri's mom - but that was all it was a sketch. They were defined by their relationships to the other characters especially other male characters. All the women, were overwhelmingly focused on the men in the show. Even when in solidarity with each other, it was often over a man or due to a man.
Cinematography/Production Values - 8.0
Mostly competent. The fight scenes were thrilling. A bit higher score than normal due to the unexpected cinematic moments, and a lot of shooting outdoors.

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This drama is mainly about the connections between men: familial, friendship and more romantic (though not explicit). The acting/characters in this are superb! Esp. Xiao Zhan (Wei Wu Xian) who is an excellent mix of snarky rebelliousness with a heart of gold.

The show begins on a literal cliff hanger, so I binge watched the first 30 episodes. After that, the plot itself slowed down a lot for me, and I felt that it limped towards the end. The exploitation of power elements were much more interesting than the ghost stories which started to blend together. The ghost/zombie 'action' scenes also got boring : there's not many ways to look cool while playing the flute.

I grade on other criteria as well:

Complex Themes - 8
Lots! Obedience is not the mark of true character; it's helping and advocating for the less fortunate. Be loyal for a lifetime to those who deserve it. Many look rotten on the outside but are good on the inside and vice-versa. Almost everyone can be corrupted by power.
Character Growth -5
There are complex characters, but once the initial reveals happened, there wasn't a lot of growth after episode 10 or so.
Nuanced Women - 3
The characters were fairly static on this show, and the women even more so. Used as plot points instead of active characters of their own.
Cinematography/Production Values - 7
The outdoor/scenery shots are plentiful and add a realistic feel. The CGI and green screen work is better than most C Dramas but still looks cartoon. Most of the production budget seems to be spent on the CGI - costumes/color palettes are the same over many many episodes.

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A very retro drama with an identity crisis . . .

I don't mind an old Cinderella trope, as I am a big fan of rescue scenes and protectiveness from heros. This drama, however, sucks out any impact in favor of going light and absurd everytime. Just as there might be a touching moment, or a seething jaw clenching, hands fisting scene . . . it turns out there's no danger at all! The secondary romances are not the most inspiring.

Another reason to watch an old school Chaebol romance is for the clothes, style, cars etc. but we are robbed of that as well. The costumes and set design are all mediocre, and the choice of our main male lead characters suits and shirts can lean into the bizarre. Also the product placement at times was over the top.

I was really disappointed by this, but did keep watching hoping for a last minute dramatic moment, but it's featherlight all the way through. By the end, I was wondering if this was a really bad parody of a drama instead of just a bad drama. Skip!

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A beautiful but fast-paced exploration of trauma and the struggle towards everyday joy . . .

*My thoughts on the portrayals of trauma/abuse and 'red-flags' in a postnote at the end of this review*

The plot builds in layers. There is something for everyone:
1) murder mystery with serial killer/sociopathic type elements
2) romantic suspense, ‘ill-fated’ love, childhood love, lots of protectiveness and rescuing from both genders
3) gothic fairytale/stylistic elements each ‘chapter’ or ‘episode’ features a fairytale moral or theme
4) Patient of the week storylines

A minor complaint is that there were some 'excess' storylines with little impact/point, but I did not feel for one minute that there was any true wasted time.

What keeps you on the edge of your seat, is the excellent fast, pacing. This is not a ‘quiet’ drama with lots of pauses, and long lingering glances. For those who find character development and inner self progression boring, the second half of the drama may feel less exciting – but for me it was actually the opposite. I got more excited/addicted as the episodes went on.

Many of the actors appear regularly in other popular dramas, but I was able to 'buy in' to their roles instantly from the three main leads to the patients in the hospital. I will also add the main couple had amazing romantic chemistry, naturalistic acting and physical ease with each other. I think this drama had some of the best romantic scenes I’ve seen.

The music sets a great tone, though half point off for the opening credits being a bit bland. I've already re-watched certain scenes numerous times.

I grade on other criteria as well:

Complex Themes - 10
Finally! A drama that acknowledges nightmarish side of human nature and that the road to a good life does not necessarily lie with reconciliation but recognising you deserve and are capable of joy. Expressing emotions, especially vulnerable ones from traumatic life experiences, is the key to finding joy and meaning to live in a world that can be cruel.

Character Growth - 10
While all three main leads are very different on the outside, they all start the drama lost on the inside. Watching the journey, and struggle for something different was meaningful. These are not at all the same characters at the beginning as the end.

Complex roles for women and relationships - 8
Ko Moon-Young is a beautifully complex character: brash and loud and vulnerable all at once, and I liked the very complex feelings she had for her mother. Beyond that complicated relationship, however, the women do not have much overlapping plots or interactions, The rest of the women are caricatures from the loving, always cooking mother figure, to the quiet/shy but jealous friend.

Production design/cinematography - 10
The show deserves a 10 just for the creative way it portrays mental states and trauma. But on top of that, the cinematography is beautiful and the sets have high production values. You can hit pause at almost any point and each frame looks like a painting. Ko Moon-Young has a wonderful makeup/clothing/style concept as well which is just an added bonus.

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Some thoughts on trauma and abuse portrayed in the show:

One big warning label with this show is that it normalises a lot of 'red flags' for romantic relationships. The truth is that if you were starting to date someone who displays the behaviours of any of the three main leads (aggressive anger, not taking no for an answer, inability to express emotion, inability to cope with day to day reality etc.) it would be best to just walk away. In real life, most people do not come to the realizations the 3 main leads do so late in life. It's what makes a good drama, but it's important to not live your own life by this.

In terms of realism, this drama uses a more stage play/stylized format to get to a deeper truth than many more 'gritty' realistic tv and movies. While the pace is not ‘realistic’, the pacing allows for many traumatic stories and many ways to overcome trauma in a way that sitting working through trauma quietly for hours of screen-time just can’t capture.

Many fictional portrayals of trauma and abuse function as exploitative, trauma porn - just endless hours of suffering and grief and no way out. Often those who inflict trauma/abuse are portrayed as either sociopathic serial killers or abusers who are actually good at heart and that you should forgive/reconcile.

This show does an excellent job of showing a huge spectrum of abuse and trauma situations from unintentional inflicted trauma to deliberate, vindictive harm. It does an excellent job of explaining that many of the worst traits in humans stem from the refusal to feel 'warmth' or simple, everyday joys. It shows how life experiences can lead a person to believe that they are undeserving of joy, incapable of feeling joy, or perhaps worst of all that you are too superior, too special to care about such silly things as joy.

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Is revenge worth it? (or … You call this love?)

Warning: This show will linger in your brain for a long time.

From the first episode, the questions are grim: You’ve committed to acquiring power and seeking revenge at any cost. Will you let your loved ones go? Or will you selfishly exploit them and see them crushed by your ambitions?

For 25 episodes, Goodbye My Princess is non-stop action and romance. It’s incredibly addicting and consuming. As things spiral, however, the dread sets in…how is this all going to resolve? Will Xiaofeng have any peace? I found it incredibly transfixing to watch.

But, I can see for those who wanted a romance romance, how the second-half would be disappointing.

Small points off for the story wasting time and then dropping a bunch of characters and plot lines at the end. Also there were some strange cuts and ambiguous scenes suggesting that the directors/producers/writers etc. were not on the same page.

The acting is top notch, Xiaofeng is not at all a frustrating, wishy-washy character – the actress creates deep sympathy for how she’s gotten trapped in this mess. The other actors also do a good job though the range is smaller – playful to furious to sad.

The opening credits are awful, but the music and end credits are well done. Plenty of scenes to rewatch.

I have other criteria I score by:

Complex Themes - 10
(So many themes!: kind, generous love v. selfish, possessive obsession, the perils of avoiding consequences, what is family, power corrupting the soul etc.)
Character Growth - 8
(Xiaofeng undergoes the most change. She goes from a carefree, kind but entitled person to ever increasingly generous, self-less and community centered. The other characters have much more mild transformations).
Nuanced Women -8
(50-50 male female characters. There were lots of different female family and friend relationships. Xiaofeng is the only one with significant screentime and development. The female relationships are more on the sidelines whilst their relationship with men is more front and center). 
Cinematography/Production Values - 9
(There was a large budget, so everything was done well, from exterior, outdoor shots and battle scenes, to set design, to costumes. There were some lovely uses of light as well. But, nothing really led to me thinking I’ve never seen that before)

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Power, sex and romance in a playful and joyful relationship . . .

First of all, what a wonderfully fresh take on relationships between consenting adults. The attitude of 'Sure, why not? Could be a lot of fun' that infuses the whole movie is a welcome change. Instead of dragging on for hours and hours whether or not they should be in a relationship, they actually date.... and try things out. I also like that there is an exploration of the consequences in the realm of the everyday (no serial killers!).

Second, the acting here is great. The main characters and side characters are distinctive, and the male and female leads have a great mix of comedic timing and more serious feelings. They also treat the material with respect - people who engage in BDSM are people just like anyone else, and you truly believe the characters are enjoying themselves.

The music didn't register, some scenes will stick in my head for a long time. Highly recommend if you'd like a more mature exploration of dating and relationships. The 2 hrs flew by.

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A slow but touching nod to the publishing industry . . .

First off, these slow, poetic K-dramas are generally not my cup of tea, and this one suffered like the others. After the initial well-done aesthetics, and 'cozy' feel are established nothing ... happens. Plus, the romance was very immature for one woman divorced and one man with an established dating history. If you are familiar with the U.S. show Younger that this is based on, this doesn't have the crazy hijinks and cliffhangers, it is quiet and not much happens.

What kept me watching, was the ideal of work that you love, doing it with integrity, and adding value and well-being in the world. If only we could all work like that! It seems like an ideal from another time, and it moved me a lot. Also, the care the show put in to actually portraying the publishing industry with detail.

Acting was competent, music matched the mood, I absolutely will not be rewatching. I grade on other criteria:

Complex Themes - 7.5
Putting in the time and work to create and bring art into the world is a responsibility and a lifelong passion. Behaving with integrity may cause pain in the short run, but pays off in the long-run. A minor theme on how hard modern capitalism is on mothers.
Character Growth - 4
No one meaningfully changes or grows, they are the same as of episode 2 as the end. Perhaps, the most disappointing part of the show.
Complex women and relationships between women- 7
There's plenty of screen time between the women in the publishing house, them interacting, mentoring, helping and hurting each other. They are all a bit of a stereotype. Dani, it must be said, is a bit of a blank slate - apparently has no friends or family besides what goes on in the publishing house.
Production/Cinematography - 8
I loved all the different outerwear/coats. The clothing and settings really fit the characters. There was a soft, warm feel to the cinematography that suited the show, and I liked how they shot bookstores and books, but it did not attempt to be very creative cinematically.

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