This was the first k-drama I watched and was effectively my gateway drug into this universe. It's a totally audacious historical re-imagination, and I think it deserves to be seen for that -- if fusion sageuks are about infusing classic historical settings with modern atmosphere and attitudes, then this is absolutely the way for them to go!

Plus points include a great female lead (and an actor who really stepped up to the role, I thought); strong supporting characters in the other historians -- both rookie and established -- and a really interesting character in the crown prince, played with flourish by Park Ki-woong. But the best thing about the show is that it is above all a sweet and persuasive political plea for equality and fairness, and it completely succeeds in making you care about that.

The romance was the least convincing aspect of the show, but it was also never meant to be its focus; its family intrigues were similarly milquetoast. In keeping with the spirit of the show I think what you end up enjoying and thinking about after it's done are the friendships and intellectual comradeships that it leaves intact. How lovely is that? I'm so pleased with how it developed, and more importantly with its vision of what constitutes a happy ending. So thank you, Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung; thank you, Shin Se Kyung; and thank you, Korean entertainment. :)