So on episode 15...
Rave reviews and it was highly recommended by somebody on my friends list. I tried hard but this show is not making it for me. I don't dislike it but it's too heavy on politics and too light on the romance so far... For a 24 episodes show...We only get crumbs of torturous romance here and there... I understand that's the point of it but I can't with that pace...
So far I'm hesitating between a ratings of 7.5 and 8 at most... But we'll see if the remaining episodes make me change my mind.

I wish I liked it as much as everybody else but unfortunately no... Too late to drop this though, I've passed the middle mark. Well at least the show is gorgeous. I'll give it that...
But it is S-L-O-W.

EDIT: Hmm... On to episode 18. I've decided I'm going to binge the remaining episodes because I already left this drama without watching a single episode for over 15 days and given where this is going if I don't finish this NOW, it's probably gonna stay on my Watching List until January... Too much backstabbing, too much politics, not enough romance forbidden or not. That's not what I signed up for. So I'll be probably be among the minority that didn't like this drama.

Is it a bad drama? No
Am I enjoying myself? No
Probable ratings by the end: 7. Genuinely good show that I just didn't like for a variety of reasons .

I think it's important to enjoy yourself, so if the enjoyment is out of the window well better drop it... except It was so highly recommended to me that I hang on until now (ep 18) so now I feel that if I drop it, all these hours would go to waste. This being said, I'll watch "Forever and Ever" at some point. I think I'll enjoy it way more than this one. From the few bits I saw on youtube, that one is heavy on the romance as its title implies contrary to this drama which title suggests a focus on a grand love story but actually focuses a LOT MORE on politics.

I'd personally name it:

"Marriage in ancient times sucked especially if you were a woman except maybe the empress who was lucky enough to be a window and could screw all the very young, fit, six packed soldiers she fancied, but don't worry since everyone is backstabbing everyone karma's gonna get her at some point. Also, assholes survive, good people die or live their lives unhappy, so f*** escapism in your romance drama: A political journey."