Conspiracy in the Court.

A classic drama of lasting worth and timeless quality, well-made with great acting, original soundtrack, and superb dialogue.

I recommend critically acclaimed mystery thriller “Conspiracy in the Court” wholeheartedly for its fine substance and art direction. It has a good intense story plot with a newcomer young and promising talented actor charming "everyday hero" Jin Yi Han as Police Officer Park Sang Gyu and Lee Chun Hee as the leader of merchants, also Actor Ahn Nae-sang as King Jeongjo and Actress Kim Ha-eun as Lee Na-young and other group of newcomers with their impressive acting.

Park Sang Gyu was the only son of a noble Park In Bin and a servant, he suffers the pain and discrimination growing up due to his vague social status. He meets and falls intensely in-love with Lee Na Young, the only daughter of Minister Lee Cham Pan. Lee Na Young teaches her family's servants, including Yang Man Oh, how to read. She believes in “Silhak”, a Korean Confucian social reform movement in late Joseon Dynasty. She encourages human equality and believes that society will change someday. Yang Man Oh leaves Lee Cham Pan’s noble home and becomes a wealthy merchant as well as the leader of merchants that has a painful unrequited love for Na Young. In the meantime, Na Young inspires Sang Gyu to go to China to study about “Silhak” and he comes back after 4 years. Upon his return to Korea, he cannot find Na Young. While Sang Gyu studying in China, Na Young’s father is accused of conspiracy and her mother later dies after banishment. Na Young becomes a slave, and she suffers tremendous hardship including repeated rapes and sexual assaults by her owner(s). Eventually, she meets Hwang Jip Sa, who teaches her acupuncture and how to use herbs, and ultimately, she is trained to kill using her skills in herbs and acupuncture.

Park Sang Gyu becomes a police detective. While investigating a serial homicide, awkward and clumsy detective Park Sang Gyu seizes a bunch of wild star anise herbs from a smuggler and suspects the odorless star anise herbs are the means for homicides. In the meantime, Sang Gyu receives guidance from Mentor “Hyeong-Nim” Seo Joo Pil to unlock the homicides. Under “Hyeong-Nim-Mentor” Seo Joo Pil’s guidance, Sang Gyu grows true confidence as a detective. He even gets promotion from the King Jeongjo and becomes State Tribunal Inspector after saving King Jeongjo’s life from an assassin. However, he has disagreement with his mentor regarding his father, the Noble Park In Bin. Mentor Seo Joo Pil believes Nobleman Park In Bin is involved with the smuggling activities with Merchant Yang Man Oh. Sang Gyu feels so tormented after “Hyeong-Nim” Seo Joo Pil was ambushed and killed by the smugglers led by Merchant Yang Man Oh. Then, as Park Sang Gyu begins to solve the homicides, he discovers that Lee Na Young could be involved with the homicides, and he ends up in agonized disappointment in Silhak.

I am not going to tell the story, however, I whole heartedly give a ten out of ten to “Conspiracy in the Court”, it is a beautiful mystery and love story, for its fine substance with lasting worth and timeless quality, and excellent performance by the cast and artfully directed. I really enjoy the usage of figurative language and proverbs dialogues in “Conspiracy in the Court” that is enthralling and enhancing the historical drama series charms. The Original Soundtrack “Seoul’s Sad Song” is so enchanting, it is truly a beautiful song. I would give a ten for rewatch value as well. Wish Broadcasting studios would make more historical drama series like this one.