Seondeok yeowang

It is one of most intelligent movies. Delicate, profound, labyrinth with walls from Borges world, lush, silky, sharp, hidden, full of light, wise, nuances of good and evil, map for power force, seductive, mixture of romance and fight, hope and crumbs of desire.Dictionary of strange definitions for common words. Sea of gold and night. Scene for gorgeous Hyun-jung Go in the role of Misil.She is the axis, heart and soul of entire movie. As picture of evil and its masks. As ambiguous limit between victim and killer. As a kind of haiku. A unique film for its beauty and subtle recipes of life as shadow collection. A parable about present in skin of past facts. A play in which the public is just actor. A smoke column in a late autumn evening.

I've seen so many movies, and recently some cool K-dramas, but never has a couple or story stayed in my mind this way. Proibably because this drama is so complex as it transmits so many feelings and gives you reasons to think about....about destiny, circumstances, love, life and death. About how the story begins and how it ends. After I've seen the ending I thought about it again and again...

I don't regret having spent my time watching this masterpiece for 60 hours: The actors were beyond great. The lines, the action scenes, the villains especially Mishil, the bit of wisdom and slight romance, and that tragic ending... Everything was done right. I did not skip a single scene considering that it was a really long series. Every single episode was perfection.

It is more realistic, about the great power of evil like Coup d'etat, declaring martial law, justification of bad action done, deception and etc.

This is more mind battle than any other dramas. A battle in everyday real life struggle.

The actors have better and more realistic performance of acting

It is also not about politics, government and military but also I see some portion of battle on economy in the market crises. Which is real happening around the world about those hoarding of goods, abuse of less intellect people and slavery because cannot pay of the taxes.

The military battle has better performance not only in tactical combat but also in planning and strategy

There is also battle between Knowledge of Science that was used in politics during Eclipse and Mandate of Heaven mystery

You learn a lot like values, military, political tactics, governance, laws, science and etc.

It is a very deep context of stories and the characters are deep and complex in nature which is a more realistic.

You may feel that my heading is hype, however just take my word on this one. I know that viewing is subjective - but if you like Korean (or Chinese) Period pieces this is for you. The story is kinda familiar, with various factions and rivals to The Throne doing everything they can to get The Crown; but to date I've yet to see a more amazing (and evil) 'villain' as Lady Mishil (played by Ho Hyun-Jung.)

She is in part Psycho, but as things go along, you can understand why, that by a quirk of birth, she can never get what she really wants - and (frankly) is the most qualified to get. Her permanent 'strategic smile' seems always to be in place, even when she's giving out orders for mayhem and murder.

I liked her artwork and music (she plays 'Crystal Glasses') at a most interesting time. This series was SO successful (at one point reaching a '40' TV rating) that the producers actually tacked on a further 12 or so episodes with another story.

Because of this show Ho Hyun-Jung became Korea's most sought after (and highest paid) actress. Go see why for yourselves. Highly recommended.

This story focuses more on Deokman's struggle to become queen and fight against Mishil. And it's spiced up with a little bit of romance where the female lead ends up falling in love with the second male lead. Very rare. I love Bidam, he's the most complex character I've ever seen in a drama and he makes this story more interesting, he's my all time favorite character. Overall, this story is awesome and really unforgettable with great casts.