The Red Sleeve

Intense

An intense drama with interesting characters and well-written dialogue. I watched it week to week but for those who intend to watch it all in one go watch out for the end of episode cliffhangers. The risk of spending sleepless nights is very high. The whole series is well acted and the different intrigues keep you glued to the screen. And the love story between the main characters, always on the verge of taking off, is really engaging. The chemistry between ML and FL is explosive, they always seem ready of jumping each other, but sometimes they can't sometimes they don't want to and you're there tearing your hair out in a wonderful frustration. Ah, ML is super hot.
I also loved how the series manages to make you feel in your soul the constriction of palace women, locked forever in the shackling rules of a society that sees them as mere objects at the disposal of men. This aspect is central to the series and explored with different stories and situations.

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON

The series was such a success that at the last minute the episodes went from 16 to 17. Result: the 16th and 17th episodes are super slow!!! Boring. Morevover, I didn't know that the drama was based on a true story. And well... I didn't like the ending. Reality sucks. And they even dragged it out for two whole episodes, the second of which was 1h40! One episode was enough and it would have lost absolutely nothing.
But the whole experience was awesome anyway. I now just need a bit of alcohol and an episode of Friends to be happy again.

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This show will leave you feeling something you've never felt before

I watched this show by accident. It was recommended to me online and I was honestly kind of apprehensive because I usually don't like historical dramas. But let me tell you, this show had me sucked in. It took me about three days of binge watching to finish and I just couldn't put my laptop down. I genuinely didn't even want to go sleep because I kept thinking about watching this show. The romance honestly wasn't the main thing that kept me hooked. It was the interesting story, mysteries, and conflict that kept me eagerly waiting for the next scene. The romance was complex and honestly quite one-sided. During the 16th episode, I just got this terrible feeling that this show would not have a happy ending, and I was right. For the first half of the last episode I wasn't really that sad, but then the emotions hit me like a truck and the tears just wouldn't stop. This show beautifully portrayed a complex relationship and its tragic end. I put the rewatch value at one star because I don't think I could handle the depression that this show put me through ever again.

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Will I ever be over this show?

I’m not over this show. It’s 2023 and I still remember the plot and scenes like I watched it yesterday. It’s hard to find a show this well written and acted. The actors embodied the characters and the story was believable. The characters were far from perfect but in a way that I could see really playing out in reality. I could feel their feelings and worries right through the screen. There were rarely filler scenes and no unnecessary comedy. This show sold me on Lee Jun Ho for life especially. It’s a crazy ride but it’s a show for people who like stories. It’s a sad one this one so watch it when you have the heart for such. I remember it from time to time and wish I could watch it like it was the first time.

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A Beautifully Executed Story

I will keep this short and sweet because I dont want to talk too much about it, instead, I will say that The Red Sleeve elevates the standard for historical dramas. Truly, from the director and to the cast everyone did a wonderful job at conveying the story. The red sleeve has amazing cinematography and the chemistry of Junho and Seyoung is truly fun to watch unfold, the sad story of Yi San and Sung Deokim was executed beautifully and I don't think we could have gotten a better cast for this drama.

It got extended by one episode and ended on January 1st, because of that, I will say that The Red Sleeve is on both my 2021 favorite dramas list and 2022!

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totally enjoyable drama

This was a totally enjoyable drama.
Everyone involved did a sterling job, The acting was superb and the story was told beautifully.
I was drawn to this drama because of 2pm Junho but fell in love with a lot of the other actors.


**Spoiler Alert**
I struggled to understand why Deok Im never professed her love for the King, especially after his numerous confessions and even when she was dying. The king went over and above for her and it would have been nice to see her acknowledge it, even on her death bed.
Had they been mutually in love, I would have enjoyed their romantic scenes more. I didn't like that it seemed like she was with him because he had commanded her to be.

It would be difficult to invest the same amount of time to re-watch this but i will definitely re-watch my favourite scenes and episodes.

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For the love of a nation, a court, a people....and for the love of a woman

King Jeongjo starts off as a prince of a kingdom in peril and is the wrathful recipient of a grandfather's love through punishment. During it all, there is Deok Im, the court lady who loves at a distance and protects the prince with every moment she can.

Deok Im turns down the prince's multiple attempts at making her his concubine because she values freedom from the court and dislikes the thought of sharing a husband with a nation. Ultimately, she chooses to become his and lives a life that is far from the sparkling princess narrative. Her trepidation to share the love of a husband is human and all too well understood; from the historical point of view, the King lamented her passing and recorded a pained narrative about missing the only woman he loved.

This drama is based on an extremely rich historical story but the drama's narration, directing and acting are flawless. I didn't understand Lee Se Young's portrayal of Deok Im in the first couple of episodes and I'm not sure if she was slowly embodying the character or if it was me getting used to her in the part, but by episode 3, I could not imagine another actress's portrayal. Lee Jun Ho in the role of King Jeongjo, allowed him to display a kaleidoscope of emotions as the prince who endures, as the man and king who must put a nation before any one person. The entire main cast is riveting onscreen but a special shout-out to the secondary character portrayals by Lee Deok Hwa (King Yeongjo) and Kang Hoon (Hong Deok Ro). I felt as if I visually accompanied lives unfolding and cried like a three year old at the end.

This has to be one of the best historical dramas I've witnessed and definitely will be re-watched multiple times. It's just that good and the story is that hard to let go of.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this drama.

Wow! That ending though.
I thoroughly enjoyed this drama.
The last episode has left me in tears. Although we'll never know if the ending was the reality or just a nightmare, I was satisfied with it. It left room for interpretation for the viewers.
This is probably one of the best historical dramas I've seen and I loved San's (Lee Jun-ho) acting, he made me cry and smile.
I can understand why Duk-Im would want to choose freedom over San and why she said to him "Even if you encounter me in the next life, please pass by, I want to live the way I want in the next life". This really haunted San but he still tried to carry out his duties as a King.

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This drama feels like something fragile in the hand, much like the relationship of the main couple

I just finished watching this show and I am blown away. I love the way it explores the different ways people deal with grief and trauma, as well as the complicated aspect of loving a king who you can never have.

I'll get the first part out of the way; the different manifestations of trauma. Trauma is a huge part of the show, it shaped the people's personalities, it's the root of their goals and ambitions. An important thing that wasn't shown much in the show was Crown Prince Sado, whose death is the reason why most of these people came to be. Crown Prince Sado was someone who was severely mentally troubled due to the pressures on him by his father, Yeongjo. This anxiety caused him to lash out often, making him unstable. This is why he raped and murdered much of the palace staff. And this is why King Yeongjo ultimately executes him.

This trauma is what shaped San as a person and as a king. His father was killed so easily by his grandfather, and his grandfather routinely abused him as he was growing up.

San decided that he had to be the perfect prince and be the person his country needed to be, to not be like Sado and to also escape the wrath of Yeongjo. This is why he acts the way he does, he obeyed much of the rules of the palace, and he became a person who is strict and a little pompous about rules. Because he knows what happens when you don't follow them.

Palace life is difficult for a prince whose life is easily taken away by the ultimate decision of one man.

Deokim becomes his saviour, both physically and emotionally. She is a breath of fresh air, smart, kind and someone San has never known in the palace because of the fragility of close relationships. Deokim has suffered trauma too; her father was executed because she was the late Crown Prince Sado's guard. Her life was also ruined by Yeongjo, and yet she doesn't bear any resentments towards him because of that.

With San, she is someone who is brave enough to argue with him, and to tell him that while his life is important, hers is too. Which is why she rejects him, time and time again, but not because she doesn't love him; but because she does.

Being in love with the King means that you will have to share him. He will never be yours even if you are his. The life of the palace is unfair and Deokim knows that. But when given the choice of becoming his concubine or never seeing him again (at the palace), she chooses the former. It's because she does love him dearly, despite what many viewers might think, and what San himself might think. Everything she did was by her own choice. And that's what made Deokim such a powerful person.

I enjoyed this so much because I've been waiting for a sageuk that's a little more serious than what we've been getting lately. I love how complicated the story was, about a court lady who loved a king, but it was also simple. It was about a man and a woman who loved each other dearly, even if they couldn't or wouldn't show it.

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First Real Historical K-Drama

So I randomly decided to watch this drama because I liked the summary, but I wasn't sure how I would like a historical K-drama. The closest thing I've watched was Kingdom and obviously that had more of a fantasy aspect.

But I am so happy I decided to watch it. I was hooked with the first couple of episodes. The main leads acting was amazing. I could feel their emotions. I loved how the FL was loyal to her friends right to the end. It was just as refreshing to see that each one of her friends were just as loyal and there wasn't one that became jealous or petty.

I was so conflicted about how I felt about how they end up. I reaallly wanted them to have a happy ending, but a little glad that they didn't because it was a bit more realistic. Back in those days, King's affections were fickle and they had multiple concubines etc. Its nice to think that a King can have his one true love and live happily after but it doesn't always work that way. Honestly, though I did like the King , he was definitely selfish and just dumb to think she didn't truly love him at all. He wanted her and got her, but at the cost of everything she had -as she mentioned in the drama. She made that sacrifice because she really loved him and unfortunately she did have to shoulder things that came along with being a concubine/ having the kings love. Its sad because if you really think about it, this all stemmed from the Senior Court Lady's Plans. If she didn't purposely have the FL meet up with the Prince who knows. She may have not have fallen in love with him and just continued to live her life happily as a normal maid (but then this wouldn't have been a drama lol). I think that's the saddest part of it all-that she didn't want any of that in the first place.

This drama was truly a great story and to have it done within 17 episodes is great lol. Usually with Kdramas I find the emotional connection slightly lacking because I wish there were a bit more episodes to really delve into the characters/stories more but this was not the case with this drama for me (like cdramas-although cdramas sometimes have wayy too many episodes lol buutt you know when you see a c-drama have 40+ episodes and its a wuxia drama you know your emotions are going to be all over the place).

The only thing I didn't like too much was the character of Hong Deok Ro. It could be because I wanted a little more of a love triangle (i'm guilty-I love them, when done right), but I just didn't get his character. like was he bad? not bad? did he like her? not like her? it was a bit weird to me. Like the things he said to her were mad harsh but he never gave any positive comments to clear the air or anything. His character threw me off a bit. He kind of reminded me of a watered down Tuo Ba Yu from Princess Wei Young. But Tuo Ba Yu's character you knew he grew to love the princess in his own way.

All in all, I literally just finished this drama and had to come here and write a review because it was just that good. In my opinion, if you are like me , thinking of watching your first historical drama definitely watch this one. You will fall in love with the stories and main characters without feeling too depressed afterwards because its still a light 17 episodes lol.

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Some sad endings can be happy.

This is a traditional love story similar to Moon Embracing the Sun, which means that the gender dynamic might be a turn off for some. It doesn’t try to add a modern slant like Mr. Queen or or anything like that and the power imbalance between the leads is even greater here because the female lead is a lowly court maid, while the male lead is the crown prince.

However, it does a good job in showing how someone in such a menial position tries to find agency. It doesn’t shy away from showing the restraints that women (or even men like the crown prince) had to face during those times; it also shows the interesting ways they tried to survive and maneuver their way through this setting.

The female lead, Deok Im, tries to protect those she loves (the male lead mostly) in many creative, resourceful ways, is able to speak up for herself even if her life hangs in the balance and also tries to help and rescue others in spite of not having any fighting abilities or a high status.

Through the male lead, we see how being a crown prince doesn’t matter when there’s a king around and you are in constant peril until you actually become king. If one of the themes of the drama is Deok Im’s desire for freedom, the other is Prince Yi San’s high capacity for endurance. He goes through a lot before he becoming king; slurs against his background (being the son of a prince that was put to death), attempts at dethronement and even grand scale assassination. He manages to survive with the help of allies (number one being the female lead, but who doesn’t need allies when it comes to palace politics?) and becomes, as Deok Im puts it, a ’sage king.’ His capacity for endurance is a trait which also extends to his love for her. He loves Deok Im persistently and unconditionally, not wishing for anything in return. He is also expressive about it, even if she isn’t, which hurts his pride as both a man and a king, but he still loves her anyway and isn't ashamed about it. Deok Im loves him in return and you can see it in her actions, but hers is a more painful, restrained type of love and something she fears. As she puts it, “she can be entirely his, but he can never be hers.”

The good thing is that she is never forced to be with him and makes an active choice to, even if it causes her unhappiness in the end. Another theme of the story is about choices and how we stand by them even if there are consequences.

Both actor and actress delivered here. I have to give it to the actor playing Yi San though; while I can see other actresses playing Deok Im well, I feel like Lee Jun Ho was born to play Yi San. He did a great job in shifting from vulnerable to powerful, from boyish/playful to kingly and authoritative. I think his performance reminds me a lot of Kim So Yeon’s from Moon Embracing the Sun. He is also good at emoting, playing with his voice and saying a lot with just his eyes.

The Red Sleeve had a very good supporting cast. There was not one character who did not act their part. The actor playing the old king, his young queen, the prince’s bodyguard, Deok I’m court maid friends…all did very well with what they were given.

I particularly hated Lady Jo, but she made an excellent villainess. She took something (the mistreatment of court maids and how they should always fight back against a system that is unfair to them- which is very much valid) and twisted it into something bad for personal, selfish reasons. She also managed to brainwash a whole school of impressionable young women. Now that I think about it, she was actually sympathetic. She couldn’t take how the king abandoned her when she supported him most and was a good example of how pain and resentment could harden into unreasonable hatred.

If there’s anything that I didn’t like in this drama it’s that I felt a bit cynical about Deok Im’s loss of freedom. It’s not that the theme isn’t efficiently explored, its that- given how resourceful she was, I felt that even as a noble consort, she would still have found some way to do what she liked. It wouldn’t be a perfect situation and there would be some freedoms she would have to give up, but given what I saw of her, I couldn’t help but feel that this type of girl would still be able to rise above the situation, somehow.

I also normally don’t like sad endings, but this was an exception because it wasn’t an ambiguous, scratch-your-head wallbanger, but one that was sad, touching and gave closure. Some interpret the last scene with Deok Im and San as a dream, but I saw it as something that actually happened.

Yi San’s capacity for endurance came into play again after Deok Im died. As king, he couldn’t just do what he wanted, which was to grieve her loss, so, he had to make this supreme sacrifice and ‘forget her’ so he could function as a king and serve his country. It would be easier if actually succeeded and stopped loving her…but he didn't. He just bottled it up inside for a long time. When he finally succeeded, he was able to put himself first and do what he liked, which was to be with her. The sadness and happiness of that ending made perfect sense.

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Lonely Prince and Smart Lady

Who doesn't love plot about a lonely prince. Lee Jun Ho's acting is fenomenal. I cried so much that my eyes became puffy because of his acting.

Not to forget how good Lee Se Young bring her acting to this drama. Her eyes acting is very powerful, it doesn't need much words.

This drama production is also quite fresh. The way the events unfold is different from any historical dramas I've watched. They didn't complicated plot by adding small details that need to much concentration.

I already watched the drama twice this year lol.

10/10 very recommended.

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One of the best

I’m just deeply in love with this drama. The cast & picture was just so powerful and beautiful. This drama felt so sincere and filled with love just like a masterpiece. Every detail seemed to have been fully thought out. Im always awed by how much the writers and directors can extract so much life and beauty in mundane daily events. If you observe carefully or click ‘pause’ for a while, you will be amazed how delicate each scene is - they can literally pass as postcards!

When I think about it, this drama actually has a simple storyline, and without the actors, I think it would have been just a typical passing drama. But I became so connected to Yisan and Deok im’s relationship, that whenever I replay their scenes together, I still felt exactly the same emotions when I first watched it. They were exploding with chemistry, I came to a point doubting if are they still just acting or are they already in love for real haha.

Lee Junho’s performance was outstanding. I actually initially clicked on this show because of him. I first saw his work in Good Manager and his character was very memorable. He just seems so dedicated as if he becomes the character he portrays, from his gestures to reactions, you can tell he’s very intellectual and a sensitive actor - im so impressed, for me he’s one of the best actors out there.


Im still trying to move on from this drama, don’t know how and when..but fure sure it will take some time :)

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