I wanted to like this show. I really did. I was looking for something light and fun, and from a technical standpoint, it looked promising; the cinematography, stunts and music are polished and the cast has some solid actors. But for some reason, I just couldn't get into it. I'm a k-drama veteran so I know that the first 2-3 episodes of a show can be a bit bumpy, and I also dislike giving negative reviews, so I hung in there, hoping it would grow on me. But after 5 episodes I finally gave up. The characters just felt so half-hearted and I didn't buy the romance at all (which is the core of the show).
To be fair, I was just coming off of watching Mr. Sunshine and A Korean Odyssey/Hwayugi (both fantastic productions with epic love stories), so I suppose anything would pale in comparison. Still, I can't help but feel something critical is missing. I hesitate to blame the acting, since Min-Jung Kim (female lead) delivered such a stunning performance as Hina in Mr. Sunshine.
Speaking of her, I have to say the stylist did her no favors in this show. She was so beautiful and elegant in Mr. Sunshine, it was a pity to let her looks be downgraded by a poorly chosen hair style.
ROMANCE RATING: 6/10. I only saw 1 kiss, but that was enough for me. The kiss itself wasn't badly acted, the leads just had zero chemistry, so to me it felt awkward.
Sorry, I can't really recommend this show. I will revisit it at a later date to see if I should revise my opinion.
