I've watched 6 episodes so far and i feel quite bored. Plus, the FL is just not likeable to me 😪 is this drama…
The drama is famous for its couple chemistry and poetic directing. If you don't like this drama after watching 6 episodes, the drama may not be for you.
Whether a drama is good or bad, not everyone will reach to the same opinion of 'Love' or 'Hate'.
Could be, but it is your time so I guess you get to decide what to do with it
'Frequent dropping' becomes a thing for almost everyone who has a long 'Watch List'.
Whether it is asian or western , or whatever kind of genres , every media has its own tropes.
It is like taking the same bus course for every day. What awaits at the end of the stop will be the same.
So for me, if the characters in the drama can't emotionally connect with me ( either story telling or acting ), the chance of it ,being dropped becomes pretty high.
Why should I visit the same trope again with the characters I don't care about ? This is the question I ask to myself before dropping them.
Kim Nam Gil is the highlight of the show . I feel suffocated even by watching him.
After reading your review, I finally understand what was troubling my mind while watching it. I wanted something more out of it ,to love the series , but I didn't know what exactly it was ,either.
I wish to see an onscreen couple who has chemistry in their work again as a cameo. What's wrong with that? Famous Couple do 'Cameo' thing in their favorite director's next work all the time . ( Hello ! Extraordinary You . Even Junho & Lee Yubi came back as cameos in 'Uncontrollably Fond' ) Fans of Moon Lovers wish to see Season 2 even to these days.
I don't even use 'Junho' and ' Seyoung' in my phrase.
You are the one who say antagonist words to almost every one of my post since that post about his new work.
I am not the one who is obsessive with Real Life 'Junho and Seyoung' or anything.
You are the one who behave like an obsessive fan of his who is nitpicking every little thing.
Saying 'Bye', this may be the last time I come to this page. Baeksang award ceremony was over. Junho and Seyoung have chosen next projects. The novel translation has been done. Even Sandeok Fan page who was with us for the last five months said goodbye to us yesterday.
It is time for me to let go of this beautiful drama ,too. But I will love Sandeok forever.
I'll preface this by saying Jun-Ho, the male lead, knocked this one out of the park. I was thoroughly impressed…
Junho had been a Hallyu Kpop Star , but he was not at the level of 'Hallyu Actor' yet, though he does have his loyal fans since 'Just Between Lovers'. I wonder 'Has he reached the true status of Hallyu Actor even after this drama?'
( The Red Sleeve only has moderate success internationally for two reasons.) 1) It was not streamed on Netflix 2) The Content is heavy and does not appeal to broader audience like Rom-Com.
I'll preface this by saying Jun-Ho, the male lead, knocked this one out of the park. I was thoroughly impressed…
The drama itself gave me a place where I belonged and enjoyed myself when it aired, so I have an extremely soft spot for that. *** With that said, even viewers who love this drama agree with the fact it has imperfect script and it could have been done much better.
Although the drama follows Historical Outline ( How King Jeongjo met Uibin when he was young , her rejections ,etc) ,all the events that happened in the drama are not historically accurate. It is based on the novel 'The Red Sleeve'.
In my opinions, the first 6 or 7 episodes of the drama are well done . It lays out how San met Deok Im in his most vulnerable state that led to their relationship. ( It was assumed that Jeongjo met young Uibin during tragedy of Crown Prince Sado).
But parts of middle episodes ( ep 7-12) about the 'Court Lady Cult' are so unnecessary to the whole plot . Most audience ( including K netz) hated that part. These parts about 'Court Lady Cult' are scriptwriter's own creation, not included in the Original Novel.
After that arc, the scriptwriter tried to re-follow the Novel again. But, only 5 episodes were left for the drama to include about 2/3 of the remaining Original Novel.
Therefore, the whole arc about San&DI's married life was minimized once again. ( In the novel, all the fears and reasons behind DI's rejections were told in that arc).
So in conclusion,for the rushed and unsatisfactory ending of 'The Red Sleeve', part is scriptwriter's fault and part is MBC's.
The scriptwriter should have left 'Court lady Cult' to cut unnecessary episodes.
For MBC, the director had planned 20 episodes for the project. But MBC didn't agree to it because of production costs. So there was another reason for the rushed ending.
I'm confused about the endingWas it all the a dream?
My comment to a fellow commentor before I recopy and paste it. ***
As per novel and also what the actors said in BTS and Special episode ( Holding onto Red Sleeve ), the last scene is when San is on the verge of death.
When he is on the verge of death, his mind remembers and wanders to the time when he is the happiest .
If he opens that door, he will wake up in real life. ( He will continue his life as the King ).
But this time , he chooses to stay with Deok Im , knowing this is a choice he can make .
Like San's dialogue , this may be the dream he has on his verge of death or the afterlife after his death, but whatever it is, he chooses his Beloved Deok Im this time ,like Deok Im did for him when she was alive.
(We dream when we sleep, sometimes we get a dream too good that we don't wanna wake up from that dream . It may be that kind of feeling )
This is a lot coming from San, because he wants to be a king in next life too , per his discussions with his lecturers in episode 1 and also confirmed in ep 16 .
But this time , he gives it up for Deok Im .
This means there is no social patriachy ( the biggest villain of their love story ) between them anymore, so Deok Im can love him as a man starting from that moment.
***** Some audience want the happy ending , so the director make it seem like a premonition dream San gets in his sleep ,too. Rather than being busy, San gives more time to be with Deok Im before her death .
≤≥≤≥≤≥≤≥
But as my fav blogger said on her blog , is there really a happy or sad ending for the Red Sleeve? It's based on Real History and the tragic events will eventually happen anyway. Both of them died 300 years ago and this was their love story .
So I prefer the Sappy ( Sad and Happy ) ending described above. It is more aligned with what actors said ,too. ****** San and Deok Im can never understand their love for each other because they never see eye to eye due to their social patriachy.
[As the audience, we see how much King Jeongjo loved Lady Uibin Seong ( the Park in which he grew trees as a rememberance of her name , the letters of how much he missed her. Mostly , he personally wrote 'I love You ' on her epitaph which was never done by a King before.)
But for Uibin Seong, he was not only her husband but also her master . As a woman who was intelligent and read a lot, she knew the fate of the Kings' women before her . As much as she wanted it to be, she would never be a normal wife to San. She would be cautious around him all the time. She would be afraid of being abandoned like a low concubine when San became tired of her because San had the power to do so ( remember the 10 days after their first night ) ; her son couldn't even call her as mother ( because her son CP Munhyo was the first born of King and adopted by the queen per Royal customs .)]
San, too , will never understand the full picture of Deok Im's love either because her sacrifices will be invisible to him .
( For example , DI makes money by transcribing books but as a concubine, she doesn't need to worry about money anymore ,so in the eyes of San's and most people, it is better for her anyway. But 'Transcribing books' is her hobby and her pride though it does make little money, and she can't do that anymore in her concubine position.)
I'll preface this by saying Jun-Ho, the male lead, knocked this one out of the park. I was thoroughly impressed…
I will reply as I always said before. It is neither to disrespect your opinion nor to defend the drama. I am simply stating the facts.
The sageuks are divided into two categories, traditional and fusion. TRS is a traditional sageuk based on real life love story of King Jeongjo and his beloved Lady Uibin Seong.
The drama needs to cover the whole life of King Jeongjo in the given episodes , so it may not properly introduce all characters involved .
The reason is as it is a traditional sageuk, the main audience are still ' The Koreans' who know their beloved King Jeongjo's history well. ( Also there was long classic drama version of Yisan who was made by the same station a decade ago. Who dares to remake that?)
Before the drama aired, both 'Junho' and 'Lee Seyoung' were less well known than they are today( they are not Hallyu stars) ,meaning the drama's main directed audience have never been the International viewers.
If I have to give an example, the drama itself is like a local beloved food. For International viewers, some will love it while others may not. The score is formed according to that. That's all.
My Personal opinion about the score is that the drama does well on 3 fronts, Acting Directing and Music Scores .
But I do agree with you on one thing. The drama's weakest link is the script , but it is not the poorest out of all. I will say it's average.
K-Drama 
2 
He looks good with a gun in 'With Me again' MV
I wanna know how many episodes they gonna upload per week .
Story is not bad and interesting.
But FL has one note of country bumpkin facial expression .
ML's acting is just okay.
Both of their acting become dull & boring over the episodes .
For viewers who know their tragedy in history, it is kind of an afterlife scenario.
If you don't like this drama after watching 6 episodes, the drama may not be for you.
Whether a drama is good or bad, not everyone will reach to the same opinion of 'Love' or 'Hate'.
If it is not for you, you should drop it.
Whether it is asian or western , or whatever kind of genres , every media has its own tropes.
It is like taking the same bus course for every day.
What awaits at the end of the stop will be the same.
So for me, if the characters in the drama can't emotionally connect with me ( either story telling or acting ), the chance of it ,being dropped becomes pretty high.
Why should I visit the same trope again with the characters I don't care about ?
This is the question I ask to myself before dropping them.
I completed 218 titles while I dropped 88 on my list.
(As you said , I may have Drop disease)
But the thing is I add shows to 'Drop List' only after I have watched 2 episodes at least.
About half of 'my drop lists' are dropped in the middle.
So I may be the picky type of viewer who easily get bored in the middle.
I feel suffocated even by watching him.
After reading your review, I finally understand what was troubling my mind while watching it.
I wanted something more out of it ,to love the series , but I didn't know what exactly it was ,either.
I wish to see an onscreen couple who has chemistry in their work again as a cameo. What's wrong with that?
Famous Couple do 'Cameo' thing in their favorite director's next work all the time .
( Hello ! Extraordinary You .
Even Junho & Lee Yubi came back as cameos in 'Uncontrollably Fond' )
Fans of Moon Lovers wish to see Season 2 even to these days.
I don't even use 'Junho' and ' Seyoung' in my phrase.
You are the one who say antagonist words to almost every one of my post since that post about his new work.
I am not the one who is obsessive with Real Life 'Junho and Seyoung' or anything.
You are the one who behave like an obsessive fan of his who is nitpicking every little thing.
A simple video of San & DI meeting again in modern day with Junho's self composed 'Kimi no Koe' will be so perfect.
Baeksang award ceremony was over.
Junho and Seyoung have chosen next projects.
The novel translation has been done.
Even Sandeok Fan page who was with us for the last five months said goodbye to us yesterday.
It is time for me to let go of this beautiful drama ,too.
But I will love Sandeok forever.
I wonder 'Has he reached the true status of Hallyu Actor even after this drama?'
( The Red Sleeve only has moderate success internationally for two reasons.)
1) It was not streamed on Netflix
2) The Content is heavy and does not appeal to broader audience like Rom-Com.
***
With that said, even viewers who love this drama agree with the fact it has imperfect script and it could have been done much better.
Although the drama follows Historical Outline ( How King Jeongjo met Uibin when he was young , her rejections ,etc) ,all the events that happened in the drama are not historically accurate.
It is based on the novel 'The Red Sleeve'.
In my opinions, the first 6 or 7 episodes of the drama are well done .
It lays out how San met Deok Im in his most vulnerable state that led to their relationship.
( It was assumed that Jeongjo met young Uibin during tragedy of Crown Prince Sado).
But parts of middle episodes ( ep 7-12) about the 'Court Lady Cult' are so unnecessary to the whole plot .
Most audience ( including K netz) hated that part.
These parts about 'Court Lady Cult' are scriptwriter's own creation, not included in the Original Novel.
After that arc, the scriptwriter tried to re-follow the Novel again.
But, only 5 episodes were left for the drama to include about 2/3 of the remaining Original Novel.
Therefore, the whole arc about San&DI's married life was minimized once again.
( In the novel, all the fears and reasons behind DI's rejections were told in that arc).
So in conclusion,for the rushed and unsatisfactory ending of 'The Red Sleeve', part is scriptwriter's fault
and part is MBC's.
The scriptwriter should have left 'Court lady Cult' to cut unnecessary episodes.
For MBC, the director had planned 20 episodes for the project. But MBC didn't agree to it because of production costs. So there was another reason for the rushed ending.
I recopy and paste it.
***
As per novel and also what the actors said in BTS and Special episode ( Holding onto Red Sleeve ), the last scene is when San is on the verge of death.
When he is on the verge of death, his mind remembers and wanders to the time when he is the happiest .
If he opens that door, he will wake up in real life. ( He will continue his life as the King ).
But this time , he chooses to stay with Deok Im , knowing this is a choice he can make .
Like San's dialogue , this may be the dream he has on his verge of death or the afterlife after his death, but whatever it is, he chooses his Beloved Deok Im this time ,like Deok Im did for him when she was alive.
(We dream when we sleep, sometimes we get a dream too good that we don't wanna wake up from that dream . It may be that kind of feeling )
This is a lot coming from San, because he wants to be a king in next life too , per his discussions with his lecturers in episode 1 and also confirmed in ep 16 .
But this time , he gives it up for Deok Im .
This means there is no social patriachy ( the biggest villain of their love story ) between them anymore, so Deok Im can love him as a man starting from that moment.
*****
Some audience want the happy ending , so the director make it seem like a premonition dream San gets in his sleep ,too.
Rather than being busy, San gives more time to be with Deok Im before her death .
≤≥≤≥≤≥≤≥
But as my fav blogger said on her blog , is there really a happy or sad ending for the Red Sleeve?
It's based on Real History and the tragic events will eventually happen anyway. Both of them died 300 years ago and this was their love story .
So I prefer the Sappy ( Sad and Happy ) ending described above.
It is more aligned with what actors said ,too.
******
San and Deok Im can never understand their love for each other because they never see eye to eye due to their social patriachy.
[As the audience, we see how much King Jeongjo loved Lady Uibin Seong ( the Park in which he grew trees as a rememberance of her name , the letters of how much he missed her. Mostly , he personally wrote 'I love You ' on her epitaph which was never done by a King before.)
But for Uibin Seong, he was not only her husband but also her master . As a woman who was intelligent and read a lot, she knew the fate of the Kings' women before her . As much as she wanted it to be, she would never be a normal wife to San.
She would be cautious around him all the time.
She would be afraid of being abandoned like a low concubine when San became tired of her because San had the power to do so ( remember the 10 days after their first night ) ; her son couldn't even call her as mother ( because her son CP Munhyo was the first born of King and adopted by the queen per Royal customs .)]
San, too , will never understand the full picture of Deok Im's love either because her sacrifices will be invisible to him .
( For example , DI makes money by transcribing books but as a concubine, she doesn't need to worry about money anymore ,so in the eyes of San's and most people, it is better for her anyway.
But 'Transcribing books' is her hobby and her pride though it does make little money, and she can't do that anymore in her concubine position.)
It is neither to disrespect your opinion nor to defend the drama.
I am simply stating the facts.
The sageuks are divided into two categories, traditional and fusion.
TRS is a traditional sageuk based on real life love story of King Jeongjo and his beloved Lady Uibin Seong.
The drama needs to cover the whole life of King Jeongjo in the given episodes , so it may not properly introduce all characters involved .
The reason is as it is a traditional sageuk, the main audience are still ' The Koreans' who know their beloved King Jeongjo's history well.
( Also there was long classic drama version of Yisan who was made by the same station a decade ago. Who dares to remake that?)
Before the drama aired, both 'Junho' and 'Lee Seyoung' were less well known than they are today( they are not Hallyu stars) ,meaning the drama's main directed audience have never been the International viewers.
If I have to give an example, the drama itself is like a local beloved food. For International viewers, some will love it while others may not.
The score is formed according to that. That's all.
My Personal opinion about the score is that the drama does well on 3 fronts, Acting Directing and Music Scores .
But I do agree with you on one thing.
The drama's weakest link is the script , but it is not the poorest out of all. I will say it's average.
The plot is just... Stares
😂😂😂