This drama was a lot more than your average k-drama full of fluff gorgeous male main lead and a trying to fight hard female lead. It was more than just romance & banter. It's the story of how two kids fight for their father, the right & the betterment of their country. It involved mystery, drama, comedy, romance all in equal amounts. It was never about getting the throne, like every other historic drama. It showed how powerful a historian can be. Just by being just and doing right, a historian can change the fate of a kingdom. It's about how a boy isolated from the world his whole life comes to know of his right and fights for the wrong done to him.

I have read a lot of reviews about the story being about the introduction of Christianity to old Joseon, but it's actually about how a people's king wanted to adapt the machine modernization to be able to make Joseon a progressive countr. by educating and teaching people from all classes. It was to make sure Joseon is able to stand amongst other countries in the modern machine revolutionization. But was manipulated into him trying to spread a new religion, to their advantage by the new king and min minister to seize the throne.

Although the story might have been around the male lead, most of the scenes were based around the fl. It was an empowering storyline.The Female lead is not just a damsel in distress in this one but is fighting headstrong. Unlike the usual titsy bitsy FL, she helped actually make progress in their search.

Cha Eun Woo's acting can really be seen here, unlike his usual tsundere roles. I love the chemistry that the brothers shared. Jin was a just king and I loved that he was able to get the throne. Yi Rim in spite of being the legal heir was never interested in the throne. He always wanted to explore the world, as he mentions during their trip to Pyongyang. I love how he was able to finally do that at the end.

Though it might have certain plotholes, I loved a k-drama a lot after a really long time. I'm not much of a re-watcher so its ratings are low. But it has managed to cover lots of bits. some confusing plots at the beginning like Minister Min secret meeting with the king, the banning of the book becoming a big issue, Prince Dowon being isolated, the Queen's secretive propaganda, French guy's brother all seemed like not a necessary part of the storyline but all make so much sense by the end.

I usually don't go for this kind of genre. But this was a refreshing one, and I'm going to be looking more at other drama of this kind.