As one of Korea's most loved dramas - I'm aware that I'm risking an angry mob of villagers coming after me with torches and pitchforks if I would ever DARE to give this drama anything but full marks... But, MDLers, I implore you: Hear me out! I can see why people love this. It's a powerful tale about a woman using her brain and talent to overcome great adversity (among other things; gender- and class discrimination) on her way to becoming a trail blazing legend and feminist role model. This is a great premise! It's handsomely filmed, has a catchy soundtrack and is, for the most part, well acted out. Too bad then that the overwhelming majority of the show consists of people in hanbok sitting around in cramped palace rooms, plotting and scheming their way to power. And when they don't do that; they cook. Now... as a foodie with a special love for Korean food - I didn't mind the amount of time that was spent on cooking. For around 20 episodes, in fact, that kept my spirits up. (While I was being forced to sit through more drab palace committee meetings than the queen of England.) Somewhere around episode 20 though, was when I started fast forwarding. By my own standards, that barely qualifies me to write a review for the whole drama. I speed-watched through most of episode 20 through to 45. That was when things started to pick up and get exciting again. But I'm gonna. (Write a review anyway.) Why? Because MDL needs a bad(ish) review to balance out the raves it's been getting so far. In addition to all the mind-numbingly tedious conspiratorial meetings; one of the reasons I lost hope with this drama was the incessant look of surprise or despair on Jang Geums face. Both marked by a doe-eyed stare, while she wordlessly opens and shuts her mouth. It became increasingly difficult to root for what seemed like a cardboard place holder for a larger than life personality, rather than someone who had the actual range to express this. I could also knit-pick over a number of annoyances with the script. Repetitive and weak plot devices, designed to needlessly heighten the feeling of life and death peril. However, these points are counterweighted by some truly wonderful portrayals of bonds of friendship and adopted family. So I'll let them slide. Lastly, I see a lot of people praise the romance... Lovers of romance; be warned! Out of 54 episodes (around 1h each) the sum total of the time that was spent on the romance in this whole series was around a couple of minutes. Those few precious moments, often sprinkled half a dozen episodes apart, WERE sweet and memorable. Quantity doesn't always spell quality, after all... I did expect more though. And so would probably you after reading other reviews. In conclusion, I must say this: I was moved to tears while watching this drama. It was, however, mostly because I was bored to tears by all the politics. THE GOOD + Feminist role model + Foodporn + Pretty cinematography + Lovely side characters + Utterly charming soundtrack THE BAD - Limited range of the main actress - Very little time spent on the romance - Endless meetings filled with scheming and palace intrigue - No really... there's precious little else going on THE SKINNY You should watch this if politics and endless struggle for power gets your blood pumping. You should avoid this at all cost if those exact things make you lose your will to live.