Four Stars

After this chapter, my favorite character is Queen Shim (King's mother). Her vision about power and family, her speach about how those aspects of life collide and destroy each other ... killed me. Usually in historical dramas we hate Queen Dowager's figure because her authority sometimes seams disproportional. Obviously, she is playing a political game with her best cards; but also represents a mother assuming the most difficult position. She is not just protecting herself, o defending her greed: damn it, the woman sacrificed her three children for a safe nation.

Even if show is going very fast (goodness, they are deep in love in just six chapters), I like a lot the marked route. I see the female characters as strongest point in drama, to me this is working for them. I adore the funnies and warm moments with Ggeut-Dan and Ja Hyeon's mom; almost as I love Yoon Na-Gyeom's fierce and Cho Yo-Kyung's sensuality.

Ja Hyeons, following her own path, has childish motivations (love can not justify everything), but also has impressive determination and sincere hearth. It's interenting when she says or does whateverer she wants in spontaneous way (I will remember for ever when she jumped into the river in fourth chapter). I hope she does not become an ornament or an obstacle.

Before, I commented about Lee Kang like a solid character ... now I'm not sure. His interactions with Ja Hyeon (and everyone?) are forced. He has a big resentment for his family, what makes his desire for the throne a stupid game sweetened with violence and bad manners. It's easy to hate him, because in fact he only wants to take all from his brothers; who, on the other hand, show us chapter by chapter what it means to suffer for the good of the royal family.

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