I have to give this a 10 rating, I am also a mother of 3 sons... I will also protect them with my life no matter how old they are. I can understand the story behind the Queen who is protecting her sons. She protected one of her sons who is a homophile. Homophobia runs deep in Korea. There are no protections in their laws to protect the LGBTQ communities in the present day. This Historical drama brought another side of history. It didn't show how brothers in killing each other for the thrown. It only shows how Queen Dowager is a danger to everyone who is part of the court. But like the historical part of Korea is similar to those in England, Rome, etc. I applaud Kim Hye Soo (Queen Im Hwa Ryung) for bringing a mother's pain, worry, protection, love, and support to her sons (grand princes) in this story, her acting was very believable. Kim Hae Sook (Queen Dowager Cho) was very believable that I threw my shoe at the TV. Choi Won Young (King Lee Ho) became a puppet for his mother but resisted in the end. He played a hard part to play. Moon Sang Min (Grand Prince Sung Nam) The things he had to do and go through to become Crown Prince that I cried for him. I thank all the other actors and actresses for an awesome job.

NOTE: Suicide ratings were very high in the historical era as well as it is in the present day in South Korea which is #4 in the world ratings. If you know someone who is having a problem... the worldwide number to prevent suicide is 988. Children are raised with honorifics and what is formal and informal. Suicide is none of them... we need to start protecting family members, friends, or those we don't know. The suicide cycle needs to be broken. Recognize the signs! Talk to your children, and teach in schools that bullying is not allowed on the world wide web. Don't become a Netizen who bullies others online.