I held off on watching this drama when it was airing b/c of the episode count (but I had it in my ptw list for JCW) - I'd look at clips on YT and was wary about starting this drama b/c of the other lead guy. I'm a person who hates "love triangles" and I especially hate "strong love triangles" and unfortunately this drama had a very strong "love triangle". Cast: JCW (Huizhong Ta Hwan - Emperor) I loved the way he sincerely loved Nyang (HJW); his character was innocent/naïve and quite a bit stupid I must say... I liked him for the most part but I had hoped his character would really mature as the drama progressed but except for a few things he never really changes the way he is - I was "ok" with it for the most part up until the last 10 episodes where well he kind of goes crazy....(he makes up for it in the very end)...He is very handsome (biased on JCW as he is a favorite actor of mine). HJW (Nyang Sungnyang Empress Ki) I liked just about everything about her character and personality except for the fact that she had the hots for the other guy for most of the drama (that really grated on my nerves and is the main reason I could never really like the guy - looks aside...) JJM (Wang Yu King of Koryo) If I had to pick a ruler I'd probably pick him - but never as a lover (he is unattractive in my eyes - my own personal opinion) I hated him for the most part ONLY b/c he never truly let go of Nyang (HJW) - it really bothered me; if he had let go and vice versa then I could have liked him more, b/c he was a good ruler (even if exiled) and leader to his people and he helped out around Yuan a LOT - I appreciated him for all of that - but that's about as far as I got with him - just appreciation nothing more... JYH (Tal Tal) I always wondered what peoples obsession with this guy was when I was watching earlier on in the show, it's not until half-way into the drama that we get more of this guy and what he is all about that makes people like him so much - I didn't care at all about him early on but later on I started to really really like him ;) I'll throw all of the bad guys together in one group - I hated each and every one of the "bad guys" which is pretty obvious - they were all horrid people - well deserving of my hatred. Story: I've seen better - much better as in: Jumong - this drama was written well but I could have done without the "love triangle" aspect. Re-watch Value: right now not happening - it was good to watch once but I can't see myself watching this again. for me the best part of the show was from episode 28ish - 40... Music: everyone raves about the ost - but it was just alright to me - I have no complaints but there weren't a whole lot of the songs that would stick in my head or that I would sing along with - the exceptions were: JCW's solo (I think it was him singing), Junsu's (JYJ) song, and 2 songs in the later episodes one by a girl and one sung by a guy (don't know the titles but I do know I started to sing with them surprisingly. Lot's of people fell in love with JCW (actor) through this drama - I on the other hand loved him since Smile Donghae (I'm glad I saw him in all his other dramas before watching this one - his acting was flawless but not his best character in my books).