This is one of the dramas that I hold as a benchmark for all-around perfection. There are not many Chinese dramas- or any really- that meet the sheer scope and mastery of this.
1. The acting is just beyond; mind-blowing veteran actors that make you feel so many conflicting emotions that it just becomes a journey you feel you took part in yourself. Nie Yuan as the quintessential brilliant and dictatorial emperor. There are very few that can so perfectly capture the chilling absolute power of imperialism like he does. YingLuo draws you in with her canny intelligence, and absolute refusal to back down against seemingly overwhelming odds.
The supporting cast would have completely stolen the show if there had been weaker leads, they were that strong. You fall in love with all of them.
2. It is very bittersweet at the ending, I was sobbing, and it is really hard to get me to do that. I can think of maybe 5 that have, and I have seen hundreds. Seriously.
3. The entire production, from the OST (which I have on my youtube playlist), to the costumes and sets, the spectacular writing and cinematography, all of it was so perfect for the show. Nothing was jarring.
4. This is one where you might not even like the main characters, but you deeply respect them. I found myself interested in the historicity of this and researched how it fits along with other shows I have seen in a similar time frame. (Scarlet Heart and Empresses in the Palace- two other favorites of mine- are about the father of this emperor, and both would be a great series to watch in conjunction with this one, preferably before and in that order.)
5. I would watch this again. And again. And probably until I got to the point where I could recite the lines myself. It will probably become a yearly thing for me. A definite can’t miss series.