This has almost nothing to do with Korean history or politics at all. It is honestly a melodrama set in an important historical background to sucker anyone looking for something intellectual to watch. However, the plot ultimately revolves around the female lead for no reason other than the two male leads stereotypically loving her. Does she possess any amazing qualities? None whatsoever, she has a faux strength about her in the beginning but spends most of the drama being captured and rescued. She then unsurprisingly falls for Joo Won's character because he is the male lead and such is the way of the Korean drama. There are numerous stupid plot holes like the mindless gun usage. Bullets never hit anyone unless it's convenient. Furthermore, people actually engage in hand to hand command despite having guns. However, ultimately this plot dies at about episode 8 for me when it becomes a matter of gritting my teeth through the repetitive plot and fast forwarding. Japanese imperialism is so down played it is shocking. It starts out political to some extent but then politics simply becomes wall paper. This is most definitely not the drama to learn anything about Japanese Imperialism which is what suckered me to watch this melodrama disguised as a political drama. Seriously, this is a melodrama. Let's not sugarcoat it. It's a melodrama. What makes me rage is IT HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL. I had these same feelings when I watched Warrior Baek Dong Soo where as I participated through discussions every week after episodes, it became rants about how to fix the drama verses me actually watching. To the point people started joking I should do a remake because it would be better.