-was stated by one of the main characters of the series and I couldn't agree more.
What a series!
The story: simply witty, brilliant, almost flawless. Provided it was fictional, yet the writer exhibited their good knowledge of a period of Korean history full of intrigue and merciless fight for authority and power. The dialogues and twist and turns of the story were absolutely of my liking. It kept my interest up till the last episode.
The scenography, photography and settings: I've seen the same palace over a dozen times at various historical series; it was the first time I noticed them, though, thanks to the angles of takes.
The costumes: simply amazing! I loved the suits of the guards, so elegant. The elaborate costumes of the court, King, Queen Dowager and royal Concubines. Congrats to the designer and the people that made them.
The music: besides a piece or two I didn't like (but then, again, that's a personal opinion) it served quite well the purpose of the scenario and direction.
The direction: Absolutely great. The director had studied the scenes meticulously and executed them wisely, and you could tell.
The actors: They were simply amazing, all of them.
I graded for rewatch value 9,5 for a simple reason: Bloody heart was so intense, that it will take me some time before I decide to watch it again.