I really enjoyed how the drama mostly focused on the women within the palace, shedding light on the fact that the women in the palace are essentially trapped there, without much say in their own decisions. I believe this aspect often goes overlooked in historical series, where being in the palace and close to the King is usually portrayed as the ultimate goal for women. At least that seemed to be the case in the ones I've watched.

So, it was refreshing to see the female lead, Deok Im, challenging these conventional norms for women. Despite her feelings for the king, she consistently put herself first and strived to have choices of her own. And, the finale of the show proved just how right she was in this insistence. As Queen Dowager said "The palace is a dazzling prison" especially for women...

Another aspect that I enjoyed so much was the bond between Deok Im and her friends. Their support and love for each other were truly moving.

Even though there were a few moments where the plot seemed to drag on, like the former king's constant suspicion of Yi San's loyalty, the drama was impactful both for its message and the top-notch acting from all the actors-especially Junho and Lee Se Young were impressive.

Last but not least, the OSTs by Wheein and Lee Sun Hee fit the show so well and complemented the storyline for me. Even after the show had ended, I found myself still humming them.