I finished the drama in two days, and there wasn’t one bad episode. Each episode has such a smooth flow and satisfying arc that it makes it hard for me to stop watching.

I was skeptical at first, especially when most political dramas are usually heavy, slow-paced and draggy. But I was wrong. Although this drama revolves around dirty politics, corrupted people, and revenge, which is not far from other political dramas, it’s centered on how public relations plays its role in crisis management, narrative control, and image shaping.

Kim Hee-ae, as Hwang Do-hee, is unquestionably the best character. She, being the mastermind, had carried the story brilliantly, with great emotional effect in each episode.

This drama has well-crafted main plots and subplots that weave all characters into a nicely woven storyline, including the revenge plot. I’ve watched many revenge dramas, but sometimes the revenge plotting gets dull towards the end. This drama, however, keeps evoking exciting and unexpected retaliation from both sides.

The villains – there’s none of them that you don’t hate, which means the actors did a good job portraying them. Even the least hated or evil one (in my opinion, it’s Seo-jin) is also good. You hate every single one of them to bits, but at the same time, you can’t help but anticipate the wicked things they'll do next and how they’re going to get burned. Watching the revenge games between the protagonists and the antagonists is like watching a Grand Slam match. One side hit a big serve, another side returned it with a strong smash, and the game continues with suspense about who and how they are going to win.

This drama’s only shortcoming was that some plots involving certain characters were left unresolved. The ending was ambiguous, as if hinting at a second season. But overall, it’s one of the most satisfying revenge dramas I’ve ever watched. Even with no romance whatsoever in this drama (well, there’s an affair, but it didn’t count as romance), it managed to make you hooked.