This makjang melodrama is good and quite thrilling and darkly comic in parts but way too long. 26 episodes would have been enough. Many frustrating moments and times where there almost was a reveal could have been cut out. The hanbok competitions are a little boring. But for such a long show there is quite a lot of excitement especially the second half. And the convoluted plot actually does come together and makes sense. The way Min Jung is so evil is laugh out loud funny and it's so fun to see people especially Moon Ji Sang getting back at her but then she manages to wriggle her way out of things and blackmail everyone until her luck runs out. The ending is well thought out too and complete with every one getting their just desserts and some nice forgiveness.
The cast is good especially the younger cast is attractive. Lee Yoo Ri as an evil woman with 9 lives is a terrific villain who acts so well. Pretty too. Oh Yeon So does a good job as the main character Jang Bo Ri - she is quite likeable even if the character can be frustrating at times. The child actress who plays Bi Dan is good. Lot of lines for her. Kim Ji Hoon as Bo Ri's love interest is charming and Oh Chang Seok is ultimately sympathetic as the duped brother.
If you liked the 2020 Penthouse, it's worth checking out this earlier work by the same writer.
