As a person who is incredibly picky about period dramas, I have to admit that the original premise threw me off completely. I went into this thinking that I was going to be bombarded with terrible acting, predictable plots, and ridiculous characters. I mean hey, these days, I hear the word 'time travel' and I automatically think, 'writer-without-an-original-idea-borrows-loosely-from-history' ie. crap. And I was completely wrong, thankfully. Story: Tong Hua's genius lies not in her premise (which a teenager could come up with) but with her ability to subtly weave in twists and turns that the audience doesn't quite expect. She keeps us guessing, despite the fact that we already know what's going to happen (because it's a period drama), and that is no easy feat. The characters, with Maertai Ruoxi and YinZheng leading the crew are filled with wonderful, loveable and believable personalities. Maertai does not, according to typical tropes, run around insisting on forcing her modern ideas onto her new found friends and surroundings. Instead we see an intelligent, warm young woman who struggles to fit into her new world, which is a far more realistic plot development than the former, and much rarer. The realism is refreshing, and makes the fantasy so much more believable. Acting/Cast: I have not watched a drama where every single member of the cast has been so amazingly talented or believable in their roles. You forget they are actors, and you come to love them as the characters they portray. Music: Originally a 10, but strangely enough there's a track in there that screams 'Lord of the Rings' which takes aware from the rest of the Soundtrack, simply because it renders the scene a little ridiculous. Aside from that, the title tracks and insert tracks, which include songs by Hu Ge, and leading lady Liu ShiShi herself, are beautiful, memorable and fitting to the story. The remaining instrumentals are a lovely mix between traditional and modern; capturing the very essence of the show. Rewatch Value: There are parts I can't bear to watch again, but not because they weren't good, but because they awaken too many emotions. That in itself, is a remarkable achievement. You WILL rewatch it, because it's hard to let these characters go, and you will find yourself watching it all over again, just to be close to them. It sounds insane, but it'll happen! This is one show that leaves a very drastic impression on its watchers. Overall: AMAZING. There will be very few dramas to ever top your list after this one. It is riveting, emotional, and beautiful. Thrilling, ingenius, and unforgettable. The costumes and props alone make this show stand out from its peers. FYI, their costume designs were simple and very accurate to actual Qing fashion (contrary to say, Gong), and some of the artifacts were actual antiques, borrowed from collectors (worth millions of dollars). History buffs will enjoy the beautiful loyalty to Qing fashion and artifacts, and romantics will be entranced by the beautiful love story between Maertai Ruoxi and her one true love.