SOG was one of the few romance costume dramas with an actual love and romance story and chemistry between the ML and FL actors. The ML and FL started off, not on the same page, but the romance kicked in quickly, and maintained the momentum.

The writer and director should have kept the number of villains at two, and cut the drama length by 20%. Grand Consort stayed too long in the story line, backstabbing and front-stabbing Yi Kang, and stabbing herself in the process. Given the attention to detail and filler throughout the drama, the writer and director should have done a better job wrapping up the story. Instead, they gave us yet another ambiguous costume drama ending.

Cons: Too many villains, fillers and flashbacks, MV scenes, disruptive singing, editing, drama length
Pros: Acting and costumes

Favorite characters:
Shen Li Ge
Peng Cheng Yi Kang
San Bao
Shen Ting Zhang
Shen Zhi
Shen Feng
Xie Yun Zhi
Huo Yun
Wang Zi Jin
Chen Shao Xun

Least favorite characters:
Grand Consort Sun - villain
Wan Er - villain
Xiao Xin - Li Ge's maid
Madam Shen
Xue Qiu - villain
Lu Yuan - villain
Shen Le Qing - villain
Wang Mi An - villain