I had really hard time picking between 8.5 or 9 to rate this one. It personally took for effort to get into but once the plot got rolling, I was so addicted I sacrificed sleep to keep watching, an action I have not had for a drama in a really long time.

Story: As I stated above, the story was really hard to get into at first. There is no fluff there. It dealt with themes that I am not used to in dramas (or, that I am not used to the protagonists displaying, more accurately) and the personality of certain characters, particularly the female lead, was really hard to digest. But as the drama kept going, especially around the mid-way point, I noticed just how intricately everything was placed. Things did not happen because the plot was just 'written like that' - there was a precise mechanism of action that lead to major events happening. I loved how events in later-on episodes referenced past episodes that made it come full circle.

As the plot thickened, the characters also grew depth. The story is in large part character-driven so part of the reason the plot is so seamless is because multiple characters make decisions that move the plot forward. If a single character had not made the decision they did, the plot would not have ended up in that direction. Although some characters can be frustrating and others disappointing, almost all of them have a reason for behaving they way they do. In short, active, well-written characters. At the heart of it was Go Hye Ran, who I went from unlikeable to grudging respect to full blown admiration to utmost devotion. She is one the best-written female leads I have seen recently. I like how her character goes through major development yet her essence remains unchanged through out the show. I love how though she can be ruthless, unpleasant and use unconventional means to get her way, she always plays thing straight. She lays her trap out and waits for others to get ensnared. If you did nothing wrong, you would never have gotten caught. And I also like that she (or almost all of the characters for that matter) do not get to escape from her flaws. I also had a very soft spot for Director Jang and Office Manager Jeong.

Acting/Production: The acting was top-notch from the entire cast, especially our two leads. The female lead in particular; it is very hard to pull of that kind of role but the actress did brilliantly. The production was also astounding. I'm not the best at identifying cinematography stuff but the lighting and camera angles and frame shots added so much depth to the story.

Music: Definitely added to the mood. I particularly loved "Painful Love."

Rewatch Value: Seeing as I watched this 3 years later, I had already knew the spoilers. So, going on with that knowledge, I still thoroughly enjoyed the drama. In fact, I may have enjoyed it even more since I could look at events in a different light.

I think, more than the plot itself, this drama was also about themes. Some where addressed directly, such as success vs happiness, love vs obsession, greed & corruption and internal/external locus of control. I liked how the dramas slightly glamourizes but does not glorify themes that it should not, such as corruption, greed or violence. One interesting theme I feel like the drama addresses subtly and almost lampshades is gender roles and the concept of men needing to be protectors. Several men try to do things for our female lead in the name of protecting her, but it is interesting to see the effects of that so-called protection play out.

All-in-all, this is a drama I highly recommend and hope to see a similar caliber of in the future!