The Burning Question i have to ask all IE Fans .

[MTR]

Is what would you have rather seen with this drama ?
(1)Hunae as Warrior Queen type who loves her country and people and sacrifices all
or
(2)The real Hunae being a self centered murderous despot the would have made some of Shakespear's characters seem like nice people .

[ginnycat5]

Would we still have to put up with that king, her husband, and that second king, her brother, and their crazy overbearing ways? If she didn't have to obey those guys, well, I still can't decide. One of each?

[mikey]

I was just thinking about this earlier today.

Just imagine how great this show could be if we were seeing the historically accurate "evil" Hunae instead of this made-up fictional "heroic" Hunae. And with the lead role being played by the same actress who impressed us as the evil Madame Jami in EOTS, no less!

Just dreaming, of course - but even though people have already mentioned this any number of times, it dumbfounds me that KBS would take such a great, REAL historical tale and twist it into fictional nonsense that isn't even as interesting as the real history!

[puppy]

I read somewhere on this board that the real IE was a driven, murderous woman who sacrificed everyone and everything to gain the throne. But, once she got there, she did a lot of good for her people. I think that would have made a better, more realistic story. Many leaders are like that; they believe they are "chosen" to rule, do whatever it takes to get to the top, then end up in the record books as saints.

[MTR]

Actually she did nothing for her peeps save take what little they had and lavish herself with extravagance .
On the walls of her palace she actually had painted her personal slogan which stated "The Way To Nirvana was through Eating ,Drinking and Pleasure ,she actually had a sect of Religious Hedonists who supported her Manifesto .

She was so far gone with power ,drink ,drugs and sex that she was totally unaware when the Khitan's rolled right up on her Capitol City .
This little tidbit was found in Hulberts History Of Korea ,Hulbert was an English Teacher and Liason to the last Joseon Monarchs as such he had access to all kinds of Historical Records .

Hunae is compared to Wu and The Khitan Empress but they were smart Women while Hunae only cared for herself in short she was pretty much a female Caligula .So you see what this series could have been .

[door60]

Wow, I would have definately preferred to see something historically accurate!

[tinkerbell]

I don't know what to believe on this show. Was the King really that heartless and suspicious of his sister? What was the real reason he took her infant son away from her? Was it as portrayed or did she not want to raise her own child? Whenever there is narration, the King seemed to be a decent and caring ruler. It's so confusing.

[truth]

98% of this drama is all fake.

[puppy]

Wow, DomYoungChun! She was a witch! how can they make such a whitewashed drama from her life? Savvy Koereans have to know the truth. It's like a movie that turns Vampira into Mother Theresa! Who'd believe it? Who'd even watch?

[jojo]

I’d go with #2: the real Hunae. And the real King Sungjong.

I don’t sense a strong lead character in the way Hunae is written for the drama. Maybe the writers, knowing the true history, are conflicted about making her supposed ‘good’ character too strong.

If Hunae had been portrayed accurately, then Sungjong could also have been so. I agree with tinkerbell that it’s confusing that he’s portrayed in a negative way, yet the narration is the opposite.

True history would have made a better drama.