Diamond

i don't think it was a budget problem, it was a time limit problem. They focused more on the story between San and Deok Im, coupled with King Yeoungjo and the court ladies with Hong. If they had to introduce the queen as well, that's at least one or two more episodes worth of story that was not told... and seeing how they skipped over so many things in the last episode... they just did not have time. Honestly with the pacing of the drama up until ep 16, they would have wanted to aim somewhere at 22-24 episodes in total to portray everything in a timely manner. They just skipped over her giving birth, raising the prince and went straight to his death. that's at least two episodes worth of story that we were robbed...

She loved him, and from the continuous little hints, she clearly loved him a lot. However she did not like the life she had to live to be his. She just did not like being a concubine. That's the whole point. She never confessed directly to Yi San because she felt like that was the only thing left for her to decide. You see how she confessed to lady Seo that she loved him, but she considered her freedom as more precious. However when she was given the choice to be with San or to never see him again, she chose to be with him. She chose to sacrifice her freedom in order to love.

I think the big hint of her liking the king was Deok Im asking him if she ever sees himself as a regular man because she is sometimes dreaming of a life where they could be together as a regular couple. And him saying that he never thought about that and that he fits as a king. Mirrorred with her last words where she asks him to pass by her in their next life. Why? Because in this life she sacrificed herself, however in the next life if he will still be a king, she prefers not to go through it again. If his answer was that he would have loved to be just a regular couple, i don't think she would have told him to just pass by...

I mean, people can still dislike how the story goes but still love the interpretation of it. It was frustrating to see deok im sacrifice her life and freedom for a bit of love. But it’s just so realistic according to the era. It’s just something different, in drmas it’s always romanticized, you always see court ladies be excited to be chosen as concubines. When in reality they were just neglected by the king, even if they were loved, cause he was busy with the country and his duties.
I really loved the atmosphere, the acting and i appreciated the story for what it was and what they wanted to portray and they did it right if it managed to make people feel bad about how the story evolved.

Nooo… I’m crying again… San was angry that Deok Im promised her friends to meet in the afterlife and not him. But they have been promising eachother for so long already… the more you watch this drama the deeper it is. Like an onion, every shell discovered and you cry more…

I mean i don’t want to give you big hopes, but the last scene of deok im and san together was one of the reasons deok im actress chose this drama. And they explain that it just portrays their reunion in the afterlife. I found it interesting how the director said that San dies the moment he and deok im kiss. And his soul remains with her for eternity. Just as deok im said, that moment became eternity

Please watch the behind the scenes for the ep 16-17 below, i think you’ll understand the last scene better

I think watching the behind the scenes actually made this drama better for me. Even in the saddest moments. Seyoung and Junho were just so playful, and the directions of the director made me understand better the scenes in the drama. I advise people who watched the drama to also watch the behind the scenes, it will make you feel better!

It was the after life. I actually watched now the behind the scenes of ep 16-17 and the director says that when Yi San and Deok Im kiss at the end, that signifies Yi San's death. So the last part of the drama is basically him at the end of his life, in that passage between life and death he sees Deok Im waiting for him, she urges him to go back to life 3 times, however he realises that as soon as he opens the door, he'll go back to life and decides to stay with Deok Im. As soon as he kisses her, he is basically dead, his soul is now with Deok Im.

There are other amazing dramas out there and i hope there will be more if not as good then maybe better than the red sleeve. I want to keep watching quality dramas

Yes, your interpretation could be right too! Someone pointed out that Deok Im had taken that small pouch out after Yi San was informed that she was pregnant and she was waiting for him. Suggesting that she might have wanted to give that yellow pouch to him. Only that, he did not visit her that night... and the pouch remained in the box between her belongings... a much more sad interpretation T-T

Yes, that’s why i meant to inform you that it’s not going to remain like that… when you have the heart to watch angst, you can continue it lol

It was a small satchel she made along with the princess at her house outside the palace. The princess then told her to give that to the king and ask for his forgiveness in order to go back to the palace. I remember the princess gave the pink one she made to her own husband, it was so cute. Interesting how both Yi san and her friends did not know what the purpose that had… only Deok im, it was her little secret. I am thinking that signifies her feelings for Yi San, just as nobody knew about it, it was her little secret

Yeah, if you expect romantic comedy, then this is not what that is. I think the first tag of this drama should be melodrama, cause this is what it is through and through

That scene of Deokim saying that and shedding tears and The Grandma Queen contemplating on the palace being just a dazzling prison... These are the true highlights of the drama. I just imagine how difficult it must have been for the Grandma Queen, becoming a Queen at only 15 years old. Her husband being old already and her having to walk on egg shells to please him and his children. Then being left alone in the palace without being allowed to get out, still so young and yet so alone...
I need to confess that i saw the historical dramas with Kings and Queens so dazzling, with court ladies being pleasingly surprised to be chosen as concubines and be loved by the King. But that is just a glamorized depiction... How lonely they must have felt...

I cried like a baby watching the last two episodes. Honestly watching it in a way it reminded me of "The Hymn of death" another drama you know how the end will be like, you know you are going to cry, but you still watch cause it is just so good. I don't regret crying on the 1st day of the year, we need to cry to wash away our sadness. After crying you get a refreshed feeling and you know that decision after wiping away your tears that it's going to better afterwards. So let's not cry too much, i am glad i watched it. Hope everyone has a happy new year! <3

It was already mentioned before the extention was announced that the ending will be sad. Se young also said that she chose the drama because of the last words the character said, which is when deok im died. So the sad ending was already decided

I think the extension was just to include more cute moments between them. The ending would have stayed the same

Not yet, it will start airing on MBC in about half an hour

Since the drama is ending today, Mydramalist already has it listed as completed. that's why the timer is gone and now it appears for everyone as completed

The new episodes will start airing at 9:30 PM KST, it's still 5 PM in Korea at the moment. So a few hours left