As an avid Ruby Lin fan (from her days as Princess Jianning NOT 'Princess Pearl'), I was first drawn to this drama by her involvement. Then they rolled out the publicity for the elaborate costumes and red carpet list of high profile actors, and my heart was lost completely. Romanticism aside, the drama itself turned out to be a little less than I expected, but still very, very good. The twists are not necessarily riveting, but they're complicated enough to keep you interested. STORY: The backstory for Dou Yi Fang is actually a little ridiculous and features (as usual) Ruby playing first, the mother of the protagonist, and then the protagonist herself. It's your typical tragic orphan story, turned cinderella. It isn't until Dou Yi Fang enters the palace as a maid, reuinited with her childhood friend Shen'er, does the story get interesting as palace politics and intrigues take over. Her intelligence is a little exaggerated here, with the extent of her intelligence being displayed by little tricks, and convenient politics. (Watch and you'll know what I mean). It's is Shen'er's story that ends up being far more interesting, which is strange, considering the actress, Wang Li Kun, is far less well known. ACTORS: Ruby and Sammul are well known for their acting prowess, but it is Yang Mi, Wang Li Kun, Luo Jin and Mickey He that take the screen by storm. Wang Li Kun as Shen'er is the epitome of a scheming beauty, while Luo Jin strikes us as the tragic Emperor, caught in a web of lies and murder. Yang Mi proves to the world that she can be a wonderful femme fatale (literally in this case), with a heart of pure gold, while Mickey He is perfect as the hot-headed, well-meaning General of Liu Heng's empire. Dai Chunrong and Bai Shan, both veterans of the acting world, are stunning as Emperess Dowagers. I could rave on and on, but if you've heard of them, expect nothing less than their best. If you haven't, then you haven't quite experienced life yet and you need to watch them. As good as the leads are, I think in this case, their supporting actors totally stole the show. MUSIC: Typical, nothing outstanding. REWATCH VALUE: I see no reason to really re-watch it or otherwise. It tends to be somewhat overwhelming, personally. OVERALL: A good drama to watch and definitely above average compared to its peers. If you enjoy historical dramas, a bit of eye candy, and a dash of romance; then this is definitely for you.