It's been years since I've written a review on imdb, but when I saw the current average rating of 6.9 when I expected it to be higher than at least 8, I felt a strong urge to share my thoughts on this amazing series so that people don't flick past and miss out on this amazing show.
At first I was hesitant to start watching this series because I thought 100 episodes was too much, but now the I've finished watching it, I wished there was more. Brilliant storytelling, perfect cast, amazing acting and so much more! Both heartbreaking and deeply heartwarming, I loved every moment! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through and I simply couldn't stop watching it, staying up all night! I ended up watching the whole series in three and a half days! Whoever came up with this is a genius! I really liked how this series beautifully demonstrates that nothing is ever black and white, the drastic consequences of lies (even when they're well-meant) and the power of truth, and that there's always hope, no matter how dire a situation appears and that love is the greatest power of all. I'm so happy I took the time to watch this.
This series is a great example of what Korean culture is all about - I've come to love many kdramas and find it hard to watch anything else anymore. Anything Hollywood, etc, just feels utterly mediocre in comparison.