I find it really hard to review this drama without giving any spoiler at all. I’ve tried my best but am afraid that it may contain minor spoilers. The reason I started this drama was because of my favorite actor Lee Seung Ki. I watched 'Myung Wol the Spy' and that alone was sufficient to make me turn away from similar plot-lines in the future. However, I have loved all the previous works of Lee Seung Ki and decided to put my confidence in his choice of dramas once again. The story was very addictive and intense. It was not flawless though. There were a few sub-plots incorporated into the main story and a few characteristics attributed to some minor characters not with the purpose of making it richer rather with the purpose of making the main characters cooler which I couldn’t appreciate. I know it’s a drama but the reason we feel emotionally attached to the events and characters despite knowing it’s only a drama because the credibility of the story has attained a certain level. The writers are commendable for focusing on the international politics and issues but there were also times when I became a bit skeptical as to the drastic actions taken by some characters and events happening in some places. Again, I also hate it when additional characters are inserted and significant ones are disposed of for the sole purpose of giving an emotional blow to the audience, which happened in this particular drama. One particular tragedy can be interpreted in favor of the writers but for me it was very much avoidable and thus unacceptable. I loved the positive characters, all of them- Lee Jae Ha being the most favorite one of course. Although the soft-hearted and kind Kim Hang Ah, who gets in tears in every single episodes wasn’t very convincing for me as a soldier with special assassination training, I loved her nonetheless as a strong-willed North-Korean-soon-to-South-Korean-queen girl. Her contribution and support in the ‘journey to become the ideal king’ of Lee Jae Ha was certainly memorable. I didn’t care for the negative characters. I know I’m not supposed to either but Kim Bong Goo and his magic tricks were so surprisingly ridiculous that I couldn’t even hate him, let alone finding him scary. The only times I watched him seriously and attentively were at his confrontations with Jae Ha. Although his character was supposed to act as a huge stimulator in the main story, for me, he was the most insignificant one. The cast didn't look very impressive to me at first. I was a bit worried about the age gap between the main leads and wondered how they would look together. However, the chemistry between Lee Seung Ki and Ha Ji Won was excellent. I have never been a fan of ‘hate-turned-love’ relationship in Kdramas but I enjoyed their sweet bickering here. The performance by the entire cast(again Lee Seung Ki being the most magnificent one for me)was outstanding.The Jae Ha-Jae Gang brotherly love, the Jae Ha- Eun Kyung cute bromance and the Queen-Hang Ah emotional bonding were epic. The direction and editing of the drama were not very satisfying. There were moments very poorly executed and even an amateur like me could see that. It’s a drama and serious-life-altering moments are supposed and expected to be dramatic with the help of music and camera work…at least that’s how it goes for me. My most favorite episode would be the very last one. Although the main character had to go through the pain of several separations, I never felt for them so much as I did in the last episode. The North-South reconciliation meeting (or should I say marriage meeting?! :P) was one of my most favorite moments in a drama. Overall, I am glad that I watched this drama.