I loved and hated this one at the same time.
So let's see the pros and cons.


Music: A perfect 10!A variety of music themes and songs.You never get bored.From the sweetest melody 🎶 in the romantic scenes to the beating tunes in kick-ass scenes, reflected every emotion so perfectly.

Production:
I started this not having my hopes high regarding the whole production,because i knew it was an old one.
So yes,this is old.And it looks old.But definitely is not bad.Their budget was pretty high considering alot of scenes were filmed abroad,Hungury and Japan.
I cannot judge /rate based on today's standards.But anyhow i find it in a very good level.I guess back then was excellent.

Cinematography:I liked it.Loved the sceneries.The hot springs/snowy scenery was absolutely beautiful.Also all scenes in Hungury.

Direction; One of the biggest issues here.Though iam not sure if it is 100% director's fault, as i don't have the right knowledge.
So my problem was the alteration /swapping of the camera.It was way too fast,made me really dizzy.Jumping from one scene to another faster than normal was annoying and tiring.But i had to suck it and eventually get used to it as the whole show goes this way!Maybe was under director's guidance,or it was cinematographer's fetish or just editor's fault!I don't care!I have to blame someone here,Lol!

Cast:I loved Lee Byung Hun.He was perfect for the role.I liked the rest of the cast except Kim Tae Hee.That was my first time see her in a drama but i have my reservations if i will watch any other with her starring in.

Acting: Again same as cast i liked everyone's acting except our MFL's.
The second issue for me in this drama.
In my humble opinion what makes an actor good, is his ability to use his body,facial expressions,moves and gestures to deliver emotions to the viewers.
I found no flexibility in her acting.She was rather stiff.But what annoyed me the most was her facial expressions.Or better say the non-existence of any facial expression!All the time no matter what scene she plays,her face has the exact same look.
She laughs..she cries..she loves..she hates..she is mad..she is happy..I don't know!I can't tell!I can't see any difference.
This character had all the potentials to express so many feelings but Alas!

Characters:
I will not analyze that much the chars as i usually do in my reviews.I didn't see any depth to give me many reasons to dip in the characters.
Good written but way too simple and plain.If i had to choose my favorite char tho,it would be definetely the second FL.The North Korean Agent.
She is the only character that we can see both sides of her-in depth, not just superficial -As an Agent she is strong,cold,lethal and a badass.But shes also a woman inlove.There is a sensitive side too.The actress managed to balance these 2 sides perfectly.
This char is the most complex one among all the others.Or maybe the only one.
She falls for the ML and although she knows she has no chance.alhough she is a scorned woman,she kept her dignity and pride.
She never pulled any cheap tricks on him.

Story/Plot :
I will start with the easy and light stuff and will continue with the most complicated parts.
My 2 favorite scenes/moments of the entire drama was 2nd Fl's confession to ML-a very powerful scene-and their good-bye scene.This one got me really hard.Damn brought tears in my eyes(and i asure you im not the sensitive type!)Of course no need to mention that i was rooting for then so hard but oh well Love is always Blind!
And here is a question to all the writers.Why the heck you are not more bold?You-writers-are thinking and writing the biggest and most wow plot twists,but when it comes to love,the romantic part of the story,you are cowards!!!
Just for a change,once surprise 😲 us and give the "bad" girl to the "good" guy and the opposite.
Villains deserves their Happy Endings too!(Stolen from O.U.A.T.wink 😉 wink 😜 )
Another question:Why on earth back then Kdramas had nice and real kissing scenes and today they barely touch their lips?Why????Grrrrrr!

Let's move on with the serious parts now:

This is a full packed action drama.It could easily be a scenario for the next MI movie...
Spies,conspiracies,politics,good guys chasing the bad guys and a romance to tie all.
The main frame is EXCELLENT!(for the genre of course)
It would be a perfect 10 if it was a 2hrs movie.But is a series with 20 episodesx1 hour each.So it can't be a perfect 10 because there are issues.It has flaws--alot!-It has plot-holes(Many!!!)
The most exciting part was that every single episode always ended with a cliffhanger!Good thing this is an old drama so you can binge-watch it.
The pace is fast.You have to catch up with everything, fast too!The story is speeding like a race so you have to follow.
My mistake,especially in the early episodes,was that i paid too much attention to the details.Another issue of the drama.The details are problematical.You have to pass and take it as it is,otherwise it could be really confusing and you will miss the whole fun.An example:Our main lead many times is on the edge of been killed,captured,revealed..Deus ex machina save him all the time!But ok!Iam sure just can't apply in real life,but oh well who cares?This is fictional.I just mention this for those who are really bothered from some unrealistic scenarios.Iam telling you to skip or overlook some details.Thats why i said this was my mistake.Because mostly at the beginning,i didn't pass them.I was pausing the episodes to google for historical events and facts and other infos too, because the plot(the little details)bothered me.(I even remember me searching for Muzzle velocity!!Seriously how f**up i was?Lmao!there is a scene the bad guy shoots inside a running car to another running car..Yeah don't mind!just suck it!)So this way i kept distructing myself overanalyzing things.In latter episodes i decided to stop doing this and just sit and enjoy the show.

I gave a total 8 because i really enjoyed it but i wanted to be as much objective as i could too.
There is a S2 and i will definetely watch it as the story in S1 is actually incomplete and i want to know the end of it!