The best Joseon romance of recent years
Among the current sageuk offerings, dominated by the fluffy romantic comedy fusion sageuk trend, The Red Sleeve is a drama that shares certain elements found in such sageuks, but is truly a melodrama rather than a comedy, and thus, despite some light-heartedness in the early episodes, has a predominantly serious tone. To those tiring of the fluffy trend, The Red Sleeve may prove a welcome respite that offers some of the gravitas of a more classic sageuk, yet it is also enough in the realm of the romance-focused, youth-oriented sageuk that it will likely appeal to those who are fans of the rom com in period dress genre. It is not likely, however, to satisfy fans of political sageuks, as this is a drama primarily concerned with its romance.Lee Jun Ho’s portrayal of Yi San was truly excellent. This was quite a nuanced and multifaceted character, and I found him compelling in all aspects. Though this character is certainly an idealistic, intelligent, and benevolent man, who has a strong sense of duty regarding his role as a ruler, he is not the sort of adorable, fluffy Joseon royal I have seen in many sageuks of late. There is a real edge to this character that at times borders on genuinely scary. Lee Jun Ho succeeds in both bringing some sweetness and charm to his character as a besotted lover as well as imbuing his portrayal with enough power, command, and charisma to be a convincing ruler. He made me feel this character’s pain acutely, whether that was heartbreak or the suffering of a traumatic family situation. And he had a superb intensity in some of the romantic scenes, conveying to the viewer a very palpable sense of his attraction.
I liked Lee Se Young as Seong Deok Im. I think her mannerisms and bearing are well-suited to this sort of period piece in a court setting. However, compared to the male lead, both she and her character left somewhat less of an impression. This is not to say she was bad in anyway. I definitely thought she was good, just less of a stand out. I did have some trouble getting a sense of this character at first, in part due to not immediately realizing that when Lee Se Young was initially introduced, she was playing a 15-year-old. (The male lead was also only 16, but his character was significantly more mature, thus his behavior felt less mismatched to the actor’s age.) The character does mature, though her core traits remain the same. (I think both actors did a good job and subtly aging up their characters over the course of the drama.) She is bold, principled, and strong-willed. At times her behavior is not really congruent with what I would expect from a Joseon court lady. The drama finds a balance between making these aspects completely anachronistic and unbelievable and making it seem somewhat plausible in her specific circumstances (e.g. her young age at the beginning, leeway afforded her due to Yi San’s favor).
The second male lead is an interesting character, though perhaps not a very likable one. However, I felt he was somewhat underutilized. I think they could have done more to show the viewer the bond between him and the male lead, and it seems we may have lost some of his character development in a time-skip. Although Kang Hoon’s performance did not particularly stand out to me, I have no complaints regarding his portrayal.
Along with Lee Jun Ho’s Yi San, the Lee Deok Hwa’s Yeongjo was the performance that had the most impact on me. This character had a duality, sometimes a kind, grandfatherly old man, sometimes a dangerous ruler prone to bouts of rage and suspicion. The gravitas Lee Deok Hwa brought to certain scenes and the relationship between grandfather and grandson was one of the most engaging aspects of this drama’s early episodes.
Regarding the story, it has earned a place on my list of favorite historical romances. The romance does start off with some rather standard tropes, but it’s a well-executed version with a lot of charm. As the relationship developed, I felt that it began to differentiate itself from the tropes and offered up incredible chemistry as well as some truly memorable scenes. My emotions definitely became caught up in this relationship, as it succeeded being both heart-fluttering and heart-wenching. This drama really put me through a lot, but I take that to mean that it was very successful in drawing me into the story.
That being said, this romance might not be to everyone’s taste. Firstly, despite the more light-hearted tone at the start, overall, I would describe the drama as “nearly continuously angsty.” I’m a sucker for the emotional torture, but for those looking for smooth-sailing, happy romances with minimal pain or conflict, this is not the place to look. Even the happy moments sometimes have a bittersweet tinge. A second point of potential discomfort for certain viewers is that there is a very large difference in status between the leads. Although the male lead often treats the female lead as more of an equal than their respective statuses would dictate, he does not necessarily view her as one and is not entirely above using his power over her. This is a dynamic many period romances tend to ignore, as it isn’t congruent with contemporary relationship ideals. Personally, I think the way this drama walked the line of not being too offensive for a contemporary viewer while also not entirely disregarding the power imbalance between a ruler and a court lady is one of this drama’s selling points and something fundamental to the themes it examines. Perhaps for some, though, it would cross the line. The third and final point is potentially a bit spoilerly, depending on what you consider a spoiler, so skip to the next paragraph if you’d like to avoid. Although it is up to interpretation, I think this is, to a certain extent, a story of a one-sided love, which is not to say it’s entirely unrequited, but I’m not sure the degree of feeling was equal on both ends. I think this is something interesting to explore, but it makes this relationship less idealized than the standard romance offering. If you're looking for a "perfect" couple, this isn't really it, but I think the story is better for that.
Now for the aspects of the drama that I felt were weaker … At the beginning, I thought the politics had some potential. They were not the main focus, but things were gradually developing in the background, and doing so in a way that seemed well-paced and well-conceived, if pretty standard. But at some point the plot just became something of a mess. It spices things up with intrigue that, to me, felt unnecessarily over-the-top, and yet it pretty much skips over major events that I kinda felt like we should have seen. There definitely were moments of true suspense and excitement, but also parts that completely lacked any impact, because we weren’t given proper development (or shown them at all). These aspects surely would have been better had they just followed the history. Truthfully, I think this drama was essentially using the politics to create situations of character conflict, with little regard for the merits of the plot points themselves or the overall trajectory of that story aspect. It also seemed averse to introducing any plot line where the female lead could not somehow be inserted into the political maneuverings, despite her lack of status and power (a choice which seems somewhat contradictory to the drama's larger theme of how little agency Joseon palace women were afforded). I can accept this, as I knew from the beginning that this was primarily a romance, not a political epic, but it does somewhat lessen my regard for the quality of the drama’s overall execution. I would have preferred it to simply avoid dealing with politics, rather than give them some focus, but not enough to do it right. Still, it certainly didn’t stop me from obsessing over the main couple and anxiously waiting for the next episodes. If you’re looking for a romantic drama, rest assured, this one will not bore you with lots of scenes of old men discussing tax policies. I also think there was some lack of clarity regarding the timeline. It is not always easy to tell how quickly time is going by and at one point I realized that many more years must have passed than it had felt like when watching the drama. Since this drama covered such a long period of time (pretty much the entirety of the lead characters’ lives), I think it probably could have been longer.
It was definitely a visually appealing drama with beautiful costumes and lovely cinematography. The composition of certain shots was quite striking. Although the soundtrack did not leave a profound impression on me, there were scenes I felt were very much enhanced by the music choices, and I don’t remember any point at which I felt the soundtrack didn’t fit.
This is a drama that had some outstanding moments where all the elements came together to create a breathtaking tension that kept me completely captivated. What happened between those scenes is starting to blur together a bit for me, perhaps because some of the conflicts could be repetitive. Still overall, this is not a drama I will forget anytime soon. Despite its flaws, it was entirely successful in bringing across the emotions and making me invested in the romance. Moreover, Lee Jun Ho’s Yi San is now my standard for idealistic Joseon royal males that all future depictions of this character type will have to live up to or be somewhat of a disappointment. I definitely recommend to fans of historical melodramas.
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An unexpected take on a hauntingly beautiful historical romance
Although there are many tragic Sageuks that I have loved watching over the years, "The Red Sleeve" stands out for so many reasons. The chemistry between the leads, the fact that it's a non-idealistic look at love, and a female lead who does not fit into the expected tropes. I think this drama is extremely addictive initially as we watch the two leads fall in love, but we soon see a tragic clash of two world perspectives that is both intriguing and frustrating to watch. As frustrated as I was during a lot of this drama what I appreciated was seeing the reality that love isn't always enough. I know this was based on true events, but I had no clue before watching where the story would go since I don't really know much about Korean history. I did know enough to not expect a "cheerful" ending. I admit that the beginning of this drama was much more appealing and addictive than the later episodes, especially watching the banter betweenLee Jun Ho and Lee Se Young, but it's the overall story arc that makes the lasting power of this drama so strong.
Lee Jun Ho is amazing as Yi San. I loved feeling like I could see his evolution to becoming a great king. He also pulled off a longing and obsession for Sung Deok Im that could have easily come across as majorly creepy in a #metoo way and not romantic at all if played wrong. Yi San was strong yet vulnerable and inspired laughter, tears, or butterflies with a single look. I think this really is a breakthrough performance for him. I've seen him be great before in "Just Between Lovers" and even "Wok of Love", but this role required so much range and he knocked it out of the park. He is matched with Lee Se Young Court Lady Deok Im and as much as there were times when I couldn't stand her character I loved her performance. Some may feel like she didn't show enough emotion but what impressed me was Deok Im's commitment to wearing a poker face and having the upper hand. Usually, arrogant male characters are accepted and condoned but here we have a truly unapologetically headstrong and arrogant female lead. She's clever and stubborn. She doesn't do what viewers may want her to do. Sometimes I cheered her on and sometimes I cursed at her through the screen but it was nice to see a female character in a historical drama with this kind of nerve. I won't give all the credit to the adult actors. There are some pretty brilliant child actors that help tell this story well too but the best parts of this drama are definitely when the main leads are together. I didn't expect to get so addicted to their banter but I quickly did.
There are a lot of Allstars in this cast that makes the typical corrupt Joseon court storyline feel not so cliché. Jang Hye Jin as Court Lady Seo and Oh Dae Hwan as the bodyguard are the real MVPs of this drama, and I also really liked the bond between the Court Lady Bffs. I did eventually grow tired of one storyline in particular with Park Ji Young as Head Court Lady Jo. I felt it didn't go far enough so it just seem like filler after a while. In contrast, I loved watching Lee Deok Hwa as King Yeongjo who's unpredictably manic responses made some of the conflicts much more exciting to watch than they normally would be for me. I'm not the biggest fan of 'fight for the crown' storylines, but the characters were well done which made me care more. This is still primarily a love story, and I'm grateful for that, even if it's a messy one.
Would I watch this again? I think so. I can see myself reading up more on the actual history then revisiting this drama again. I am fascinated by reinterpretations of history but I liked the idea that they tried to give a voice to Sung Deok Im as to what was behind the choices she made in real life, making her an independent court lady struggling to establish her own life by her own rules. I also felt deeply for the story of King Jeongjo and his profound loneliness in contrast to his legacy. I'm sure a lot went over my head during the first viewing so it may even be better the second time around.
I do appreciate that this drama has 17 episodes, so they didn't have to rush through the ending at all, but there were parts that started to drag and get too repetitive for me towards the end. The mixed signals and constant rejection plot really did affect the pace and my interest, but one thing that kept me from ever being too bored is the absolutely breathtaking cinematography. They really went above and beyond with how some of the scenes were shot. I would often rewind just to have a second glance at an image on the screen. You can see the care in the direction.
Overall, "The Red Sleeve" may not be for the "does this have a happy ending?" crowd but it is a beautiful take on this historical love story that doesn't shy away from the true events or the harsh dynamics of life in the palace. The excitement and longing in this drama is palpable and I think that is its main appeal. I also never read the Novel but I get a sense of what it was adapted from through the characters' internal thoughts, without them ever abusing narration in the script too much. Dramas often explore what we would sacrifice for love but rarely what we won't. I had strong opinions about Deok Im's reasoning and Yi San's persistence but in the end, I was fully invested in their love story. The only thing stopping this from being a new favorite of mine is some repetitiveness and my lack of interest in the political plots. Jun Ho's performance alone is enough to make this a much watch Sagaek and drama overall. Seeing a female character deviate from the 'Cinderalla as goals' narrative is also refreshing in a lot of ways, even when she annoyed me. It may not be the type of escapism that many romance fans look for in a drama, and yes many tears will likely be shed, but believe the rating hype on this one. A romance without romanticizing too much. A love story that challenges whether together is the best choice. An attempt at giving a voice to a voiceless royal concubine. If you know the story and wonder "What kind of woman back then would have the nerve to reject a king?!!" this drama answers that question very well... in an intriguing, hilarious, exciting, heartbreaking, and poetic way.
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Things I loved in this drama:
- Lee Junho as Yi San/The King: The first time I took note of Lee Junho was in Good Manager where I loved how intense his character could be, yet hidden behind that mask was a kooky weirdo that just needed to find his people. In Red Sleeve, he did a solid job of portraying an emotionally layered Crown Prince who was raised by an emotionally abusive grandfather (who was responsible for his fathers death if you know the real life story). The amount of trauma that alone would instill in any kid gives you a deeper appreciation for the King he grew to became and an understanding of *why* he was so adamant in following the law and made certain choices. He is by no means a flawless character but I think he did such a great job playing out the various aspects of San's emotions and struggles.
I also think he carried the love story mostly on his back and it was through him that we really saw the depth of emotions in the OTP. We saw his pain, doubt that the FL returned his feelings, his joy when he thought she did and his sadness when she was repeatedly aloof with him. I like that he was a flawed character -- there were times when he was really possessive and that lead me to understand why, in the beginning the FL might have been wary of showing her hand when it came to her feelings for him. I also loved that while he was so very in love, he never lost sight of his larger goal as a King and what he wished for his people. All in all, a character that I walked away liking.
THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
*Writing/Plot and Pacing: I initially thought this was a love story, but after watching the show I felt it was more about following Yi San through his journey from Crown Prince to King, which also included his love for the FL. The writers spent a great deal of time during the middle/late end of the show drawing out the time period where the FL avoided committing to the King which I guess could have worked if they had written her to be a more nuanced character and had given us insight into her inner turmoil, but they pretty much had her repeating the same conversations to her friends or herself with no further insight. It's almost as if when creating her character avatar the writers highlighted "girl King loves who got away and he pines for" as one of her characteristic and forgot to flesh out what about Deok Im justified this almost decade long avoidance of committing to the King. We are given the whole "I want to make a choice in my life" front, but her personality and motivations are never as fully fleshed out the way it is for San and how he became the man he grew to be. So it ultimately felt like she was a female character written in with the express purpose of being the woman that hooked san for the amount of time she did.
I also think the pacing of the show from the midway point to the last episode was confusing and pointless. They again, maximized the period of time they were not together for a longer period than they needed to and then squashed in everything that could have happened into literally 1.5 episodes. Like, they literally timed jumped the shit out of everything that happened when she finally became his concubine and fast forwarded through everything we, as an audience who literally waited to see happen, only to end again with more solo time with San and how he processed everything emotionally. Which is why I would rate this higher if it was written specifically as a biopic that focused on San -- because then it did a pretty good job.
THINGS I'M CONFLICTED ABOUT:
*Sung Deok Im (the character and also maybe the actress? perhaps there could have an actress that could have saved Deok Im's character, I don't know) - Conflicted because in the beginning there was a fair bit of things that I loved about Deok Im's character. It's very rare that we get a FL that thinks quickly, talks back and actually does some saving of her own so I was very much here for it. However as the show progresses, you begin to realize that she herself is a very flawed character (fair, no one is looking for perfection), with a fair bit of ego and self centeredness. Some people like characters like this, so if you do, perhaps she could be your cup of tea.
She's more than comfortable subtly leveraging San's feelings for her to get what she wants, or doing something that would literally get anyone else killed but because of San's feelings for her (that she knew about) she knew she'd be safe. However, you point this out to her -- as Hong Deok Ro did when they were both outside the palace -- and she did the thing that made me start to seriously dislike her. Turned her nose up in the air and proceeded to stick her head in the clouds of self denial. And that's when you get confirmation that yes, this is a flawed character, but it's one that refuses to see her own flaws. In cases like these, I never know if the character was written this way intentionally or if the writer themselves believe what they have the characters saying. I guess we'll never know.
*the OTP: conflicted because I really loved San's half of the OTP but Deok Im was just like. Not it for me. the first half or so maybe, I could have worked with that, but as the show progressed and you got to see it's like. Man. I just feel bad for the guy. I don't think San was every fully sure if she loved him and to be honest, watching the show, you can't blame him. Given everything he went through in his life, it was kind of sad that the one person who could have offered him some sort of safety and security when it came to human connection ... kind of didn't. I mean he kept her around anyways, but it got to a point where he would cut himself off from asking her how she really felt because I think he really didn't want to hear the answer.
All in all, the OTP was lopsided and poorly written on one side. It was given the rating it has mostly because I think Lee Junho delivered on his role and carried the OTP. I'd really like to see him act in another sageuk with a better script and FL. ::crosses fingers::
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'The palace is such a dazzling prison' - Queen Dowager in Episode 17 played by Jang Hee Jin.
The story:Set in the 18th century, the story revolves around the journey of Crown Prince Yi San (future King Jeongjo) and his beloved court maid Sung Deok Im (Royal Noble Consort Uibin). The drama is of course mostly about their love story but also include politics, palace maids lives and struggles , Jeongjo’s achievements, the harsh reality of living in the Palace etc....
Deok Im is a free-spirited woman who despite being loyal and harboring feelings for the King stand by
her belief that giving her 'everything' to him would mean losing herself and the last bit of freedom she
kind of enjoy as a court maid (being with her friends, going out of the Palace...) That's why we
witnessed her countlessly rejecting his advances. She loved him but as the King of the nation, she knew
he would never be hers alone and the fact he could abandon her at any moment made her wary in
expressing her true feelings.
Yi San is the Crown Prince and future King of Joseon (Jeongjo-22nd King of Joseon). Marred by his family's
tragedy (his father, Prince Sado had been put to death by his own grandfather King Yeongjo) that greatly
affected his life and put a dent on his legitimacy as the future monarch. He dedicated his whole life in trying to clear his father’s name and to prove he’s the rightful heir of the Jeonju Yi Clan.
Being a King is a lonely position as well...he has no choice but to follow the strict rules/decorum of the palace,
listen to his ministers who most of the time were complotting to remove him from his position, most of
the decisions weren't his, discarding people (even relatives) that may threaten his throne, cannot show
his emotions/weaknesses etc...meeting Deok Im was really his salvation and for the first time in his life, he was able to make a choice by himself, he chose her as his person. After losing her (she was literally his light), he became the shadow of himself, throwing himself into work to forget her (or more like pretending to do so) and compelled himself to go on with his life and duty as Joseon's king.
Their love story is portrayed so beautifully, poetically aesthetic and in an enthralling way.
Showdowns between King Yeongjo and Yi San were also a highlight of this drama. Outstanding performance.
Acting:
Standing ovation for the whole cast. Everyone, from the main leads to the supporting cast is amazing and
fit their characters to a T. Chemistry is off the charts rewarding us with an enticing and intense production.
Junho is regal as the 22nd ruler of Joseon. His commanding voice, expressive eyes, body language,
vulnerability, intense gaze ... he exudes so much charisma. Mesmerizing.
I’m so proud of him, he’s grown to be such a talented performer. Action, romantic, comedic, emotional
scenes... this man can do everything, he's terrific. Best role and performance to date.
Seyoung offer us a moving and relatable performance. Bold and brazen as a young court maid, loyal and
resolute as the Crown Prince Court maid and full of restraint and modesty as his concubine. Her chemistry with Junho is sizzling. The best I've seen in ages.
Lee Deok Hwa as King Yeongjo was just brilliant, I’m glad that such a revered and respectable actor was part of this wonderful production.
Kang Hoon as Hong Deok Ro is a complex character, full of layers (very compelling nonetheless)..he seems loyal and genuine when it comes to Yi San but he's also a too-faced person, he has his own agenda. His greedy and condescending nature led him to his downfall. Still, I don't doubt there were some genuineness in his actions(he did care about Yi San imo)
Jang Hee Jin was perfectly cast as the poised and perceptive Queen Dowager.
As I stated above, rest of the cast is fabulous as well (special mention to Jang Hye Jin as Court Lady Seo, loved her)
Cinematography is stunning and like taken straight out of a painting.
Music: Beautiful and very poetic OST. Background music being the best.
Rewatch Value: I would love to rewatch it tbh but probably later...I need to mend my heart first (and watch everything with Junho too lol)
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This drama is so full of raw emotions that I don't know what to do with my life anymore
*SPOILERS ALERT - DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DIDN'T WATCH THE ENDING*I tend to avoid sad/bittersweet endings but I succumbed to the tentation of both actors. The story seemed also original (with so much focus on the court maids) and oh boy do I have mixed feelings now! It was certainly a roller coaster of emotions.
Even not knowing the history or novel behind the drama, I thought the "meet-cute" from the beginning of the drama was inevitably meant to falter and be replaced by the cruel reality of a doomed love between a king and a court maid. The director really didn't shy away from showing the viewers the very different personnalities of our 2 main characters. For exemple, the king's possevive behavior first shown in the library scene when he nearly chokes her was the start of a relationship based on a power imbalance that's not often represented in other historical kdramas (well at least it wasn't the case for the few i have seen).
The actors were all amazing, I think it's the first time I even cried for the more "villainous" characters (the king/San's grandfather, his aunt and her stepson, the head court lady who only wanted to protect the court ladies...). Moreover I wasn't bored at all and it's quite exceptionnal for me, I even wished the drama was longer (20 episodes).
I saw a few comments saying that Sung Deok Im didn't love the king and I dare to disagree. Her actions showed well enough that she had very strong feelings for him but she knew very well that the price of her love would cost her everything (her freedom, friends, daily activities...). Even if San didn't hesitate to show his affection toward her, she knew that his nation would always come first (he even refused to save her a few times because that would be against the rules). So can we really blame her knowing that ? It's not a fairytale story, their love can be considered beautiful but is mainly sad and cruel. Like she said in the drama: she would lose "everything" if she agreed to become his concubine and in a way she really did (it depends on how the viewer interprets the ending but even so, it's the truth that her freedom is entirely taken away from her = "gilded prison").
Saying that, it doesn't mean I didn't cry my heart out during ep 17. I was a literal mess when I finished the drama at 3 in the morning. I think the characters and their stories will haunt me for many days to come… Concerning the final minutes, I will say that all of it was a bad dream (no need to prove me wrong, I know that the final dialogue tend to prove the contrary but I will die on this hill. My mental health definitely needs it lol) The thing that « comforts » me in this regard is the fact that Deok Im doesn’t say « I love you » back to the king : if it was all in his head as a last dream before death, I think San (well his subconscious) would have « forced » her to say it because this is the thing he wanted to hear the most. So the fact that she didn’t say it makes me think that it was really her and not a mere figment of his imagination. I also found it weird that when we encountered the « first » dream scene, the director didn’t show us what made San seemed so lost and afraid. He doesn’t even explain his reaction to Deok Im. So (and excuse me for the maybe cheesy comparison) I will say that it was like the scene in the last Twilight movie when the whole final battle is in fact just a vision of a possible future. San chose to stay with Deok Im because he remembered the pain he endured in this dream. Maybe he will succeed in changing the future, or at least some events, or maybe not. But he will clearly try to « protect the woman he loves until the end », unlike his grandfather.
The only think that I regret was the quick succession of events in the last ep, I wish we could have more scenes of them « happy » or at least officially together between all the heaviness and sadness. The death of the crown prince was so cruel, even more so because the flashback of his birth was shown after the scene in which he passed away… Well I suppose that if we assume all of this was mainly a dream, then the desire to see them happy isn’t really needed, because the viewer can imagine the rest as they wish starting from San waking up from his dream/nightmare.
To conclude, I really hope our 2 actors can work again together in the future. A drama with the reincarnation trope based on Deok Im’s line « If you see me in the next like, I hope you will pass me by/pretend not to know me » would be perfect (with a clear happy ending this time pretty please).
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Didn’t Love It
SpoilersPerhaps I am an anomaly, but I’m not in love with this.
Like Lee Joon Gi’s masterful acting job in Moon Lovers, this is certainly a tour de force performance by Lee Junho, who is incredibly impressive in this role. However, like ML, I don’t like this show.
(Side note: It’s rather mind boggling that Korea continues to turn out fabulous actors who were K-poppers! ?)
With all that said, I wasn’t in love with the actress. She was good but not on par with Junho and the script made me want to spit nails, at times.
Yes, it did have some pretty humorous, laugh out loud moments and had a well paced beginning, but in the middle it began to get bogged down. Around Episodes 9-14, I fast forwarded a lot of running around, fighting etc. with no dialogue, just to get through it.
Disclosure: I hate stories with multiple wives.
That the ML would go to another woman BEFORE going to the woman he has just discovered is carrying his child, the very woman he so desperately loves and has pursued for YEARS, whom he has FINALLY won was unfathomable and quite frankly disgusting to me.
Knowing of her reservations to marry him and WHY, which she had clearly stated several times including right before she agreed to become his wife, that was simply irreconcilable in my mind.
I started watching this because so many people were chattering about it online and talking about what “a great show” it was, “wonderful, wonderful, wonderful” - and not one single person mentioned that it did not have a HEA.
I realize it’s a true story. However, I choose not to watch stories with sad endings, ie the death of one of the main characters, so I was very unhappy when I put in 16+ hours only to discover not too far into episode 17 that she dies. Yes, it did end on a somewhat more positive note than Moon Lovers in that it implies an eternity together, but that didn’t minimize the sourness of it including the FL’s death.
I am just not a person who wants a “good cry“ or wants to watch something tragic. There’s enough tragedy in the world that I want to put my watching time in watching something that gives your heart and mind a boost and leaves the end of the show feeling uplifted, not depressed.
This wasn’t it.
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Highly recommended historical drama! MUST WATCHED!!
Highly recommended historical drama! MUST watched! The plot is very interesting and unique from the past historical dramas I've watched, overflowing chemistry of junho and Lee se young getting stronger in each episode.I enjoy watching and waiting for more romantic moments of the two. Hoping they will have a happy ending. ❤️Highly recommended historical drama! MUST watched! The plot is very interesting and unique from the past historical dramas I've watched, overflowing chemistry of junho and Lee se young getting stronger in each episode.I enjoy watching and waiting for more romantic moments of the two. Hoping they will have a happy ending. ❤️
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Good acting gone waste!
Had picked this one up to cure the heart ache Mr queen had given, owing to such high rating on MDL. Now revisiting the reviews, iam worried, Did we see the same drama?This was one was a 'meh' for me.
The leads were good, jun ho was commendable.
But the story, was a total waste of time. 20hrs spent in hope of finding a glimpse of what was promised.
Yes it was poetic, some dialogues were worthy but the entire plot was like a pot which was simmering for nothing.
Charachters were not curated well enough, the king who was portrayed as one of the best of Joseon, didnt come through as some one with sympathy or empathy. He repeatedly tells the FL that she is his property!!!! But not vice versa
The FL was more confusing. Even though shown as an epitome of feminism, never had goals. She had to reject the king because she knew she will lose her identity if she becomes a concubine. But after a while she agrees to become one! Never understood why was she having the "eccentric korean ML syndrome!
The supporting charachters had no story, the light comedy scenes felt forced.
Yes I did shed tears but when it was all done I was left with the question, what was the point of it all...
Was he a good king? No achievements were shown! Was there a decent villian to bring it all together? No!
So overall it was a waste of my time! Give me back my 20 hrs... Even few glimpses of the swooning jun ho couldnt pacify my utter disappointment with the show!
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the machinations of a gilded cage
TLDR-You may expect the normal melodramatic saquek, but this drama will surprise you.
Gorgeous OST, beautifully shot cinematography with layers of deeper meaning that'll break your heart when you're paying attention; a strong plot that doesn't meander, and very strong acting throughout to keep it all seamlessly tied together. Even saquek-tired viewers will be pleasantly surprised by this fresh, even modern take on a real-life story.
Thoughts on the main leads:
Lee Jun Ho: I've been a devoted Lee Jun Ho fan since watching his first main role in Just Between Lovers. I first watched that series because I really liked the premise and the cover photo, and quickly became utterly enamored by Jun Ho's character. He was charismatic, deeply troubled, and full of old physical and emotional scars that drew me in throughout the entirety of the series. The arc between him and his grandma crushed me and I thought his emotional scenes were masterfully done (including his public breakdown in the street when he received his diagnosis). I had no clue he was an IDOL until I looked him up afterward and saw that his real-life persona couldn't be more different from his character in the series, which impressed me even more. From then on, I was a huge fan and looked forward to his other roles. His charisma certainly knows no bounds and is not limited to 1 genre. He portrayed his role as the crown prince (and later as the king) masterfully and I can't help but replay his emotional scenes over and over. His relationship with his grandfather, the king, was troubled and full of complications that I enjoyed watching play out on screen. It teetered so often on domestic abuse with the emotional and sometimes physical warfare the king inflicted on him, despite how often he claimed to love him. The dynamic was interesting and effective and I found myself both angry at the king and full of pity. In the end, I could sense the raw loneliness, grief, love, and pain Yi San felt for him.
Lee Se Young: Although I'd only seen Lee Se Young in another saguek, The Crowned Clown, that series also happens to be one of my all-time favorite KDRAMAS so I had high hopes for her. Her role in The Crowned Clown was much meeker in character, and I actually thought her character took away from the overall plot and pacing of the drama because I thought the most interesting aspect of that drama was Yeo Jin Goo's Clown Ha Sun and King Yi Heon and when the romantic melodrama aspect started taking the forefront of the drama and pushing the suspenseful dynamic of the twin brothers to the background, it changed my overall interest in the show (although I still loved it for different reasons). Her role in The Red Sleeve is much more prominent and gives her a lot of room to stretch her acting skills, both emotionally and physically and in different genres, so I especially loved watching her this time. Her facial expressions are so emotive and I found myself laughing and crying with and at her on several occasions.
OST: Gorgeous. Emotive. Enhanced every scene without overwhelming it.
Plot: Surprising and fresh with subverted tropes, strong and empowered female characters, broken stereotypes (female saves male MULTIPLE times, female with strong willpower, sensitive man, etc). I loved Deok Im's strength as a woman in her determination to live for herself, regardless of the pain she'd feel by not going the easy route. I loved that she saved Yi San and was able to protect him on multiple occasions. I loved Yi San's consideration for Deok Im later on in his conviction to treat her as a woman and not as an inferior subject. I loved Yi San's royal guard and his adorable gullibility and fierce loyalty. He brought on moments of much-warranted levity which brightened both the scene and Yi San's countenance. I loved the friendship between the court ladies and the moral greyness of some of the other women. I loved that the "antagonists" in this drama wasn't the true villain; it was the palace and its rules that entrapped our main characters and the "heroes" were the very people that were pillars keeping the palace living and breathing.
Episode 14 Update:
I've grown very frustrated with the relationship between Yi San and Deok Im.
I understand there are many complexities, and I empathize and understand Deok Im's fears and insecurities toward accepting the role as a concubine so I can't fault her for refusing the role and putting herself first; however, Yi San has only ever been fully honest with her regarding his feelings and his desire to keep her safe whilst she's *brutally* turned him down so many times, I've lost count. She disregards his feelings to intentionally hurt him and push him away despite her true feelings, and she only ever treats him for his title and not as a man. Yi San frustrates me as well because he's so painfully aware of his title, that his desperation to be treated as a man by Deok Im understates how serious and challenging that request would be for a normal person to hear. All physical skinship, excluding the reuniting hug, after she saved him from the ambush, has been physically forced and one-sided, including the kiss at the end of Episode 14. If I'm being told to believe she wanted that kiss because she submits into it at the end, no thank you k-drama world, that's not how reality works. I'm frustrated he did that, and I'm frustrated that it was *once again* a one-sided show of affection (that she didn't even ask for). I want to see HER fight for him *as a man* just 1 time and she hasn't. It has only ever been for her king and highness (excluding the time when they were children), and I pity him for that (despite disapproving of his behavior toward her physically).
Episode 15:
"I have deceived his Majesty. His Majesty may deceive the court ladies at his will, but a court lady may not deceive the King."
UGH. Still pretty frustrated with their relationship. They're both in very difficult positions, both on the level as a man and a woman and as King and court lady. I selfishly really just want her to hug him and tell him she cares about him too and he's not so painfully alone in the world.
Epsiode 16 & 17:
Oh. My. Tears. What a heart-breaking, gorgeous, beautiful, punch in the gut.
I love the ending so much. I love the subtle and nuanced cinematography that captured so elegantly the "prison walls" that framed so many of our characters throughout. I loved that Yi San stripped away and laid himself bare for Deok Im and that she *finally* openly acknowledged her love (and without saying it still) for him. I loved that they ended up together and both willingly chose the other in the end. If I'm not making much sense atm, it's because I'm still typing through my tears.
Can't recommend this drama enough, and I'm so happy our beloved cast and crew received the proper attention and accolades that were well deserved.
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The king loved the court lady, but did the court lady love the king?
This is gonna be a lengthy review because it will also summarize what other viewers disliked and liked, and i'll express my opinion about those. Don't worry because ill put a ( SPOILER ) and ( END OF SPOILER ) notice at every part that contains one.The Red Sleeve is a sageuk that will remain in your heart for an eternity, truly an unforgettable one. The fact that it's based on a true romance in history makes it a lot more impactful. If you're a sucker for true to life stories, then this is the one for you.
This is not the typical and most ideal romance, especially considering their differences in character such as their social class, beliefs and priorities. No matter how much we want everything to go smoothly, that will never happen especially in that era. This is not the lovey dovey story you might have in prospect for- and it was never supposed to be. From the start- the director and cast emphasized it as a "mournful court romance", and it stayed true to its elucidation.
The story and characters are a immeasurably more complex than it seems. It was challenging to analyze the scenarios because it does not portray and give details in a straightforward way. You need a vast effort to consider the context of the story and put yourself in their shoes to fully understand the character, in which a lot of people seemed to have conflicted in.
Now I'm gonna talk about the elements I saw some people didn't like to state my counterarguments because a lot watched this impetously without rumination over what kind of narrative it intended to be. But I'm also gonna address those I didn't like as well.
1. Palace politics
A lot claimed the palace politics to be boring and unnecessary. I beg to differ. It wouldn't be plausible if Yi San had it easy taking the throne because he's the son of one of the most controversial crown princes. The palace politics also effectuated us to go in depth to Yisan and King Yeongjo's character and relationship. More importantly, it showed how Deokim was solely the one who cared for yi san without pretense during those times (maybe alongside taeho), thus contributing immensely to how she earned a special place in his heart.
( SPOILER ) What I found unnecessary though was that it had to be a cult of court ladies. the details of any scene related to it that would happen later on could be replaced with ease. The court ladies being the assassins was essential, but having a whole hideout underneath Court Lady Cho's room was just ridiculous. ( END OF SPOILER )
The politics could've been better, but it wasn't necessarily something I disliked.
2. Pacing
Not that it's something i hated, but I do agree that the pacing was undoubtedly the one that is responsible for most of the drama's shortcomings, fortunately everything else managed to compensate for it. The mid part should've been a bit faster, while the last 6 episodes should've been slower. It's as if they were taking their time then they suddenly realize there are only a few episodes left. The drama should've had no less than 20 episodes. They should've wisely pondered how many and which subplots of the novel would fit in those 16 episodes. It would've been hard to immerse in the scenes if the acting wasn't out of this world. If it had a few more episodes, the latter part would've been perfect. This also would've gave way to more scenes that would complete the drama and make it more impactful.
( SPOILER ) I particularly wanted a happy scene of Yisan, Deokim and Crown Prince Munhyo. Yisan has always wanted to create a family with Deokim, but only their son's death was shown. This would've also made his death more griefful. Second is I also wanted Deokim's funeral to be shown, that way it will contrast how Deokim, like Yeongbin in the first episode and unlike Court Lady Cho, died in the palace in an honored way. I also wish that when King Jeongjo was grieving for Deokim, the very famous epitaph he wrote about her was narrated. ( END OF SPOILER ) Due to the limited number of episodes, these scenes couldn't fit in the story but I feel like they were really necessary. An extension to 20 episodes would've done the trick and MBC really should've extended it, considering it's their most successful drama after years.
4. Yisan and Deokim's character
I have a lot to say about this because it appears to me that some people didn't fully go tactfully understand their temperament.
Yisan - was disliked due to a few of his actions towards deokim. On the drama's defense, Yisan in the novel was portrayed as an arrogant asshole. Drama Yisan was actually a very polished form of novel yisan. I don't blame them for disfavoring him, he did a few actions that would turn you off especially if you're envisioning him to fit the 21st century standards, but his character was never supposed to be ideal. I also think that those actions were able to emphasize the power disparity between the two and Yisan's burning desire for Deokim. Even Junho himself highlighted Yisan's "dangerous love". I still appreciate Yisan for never coercing deokim to be his concubine even if it wouldn't be a problem for him to do so, and that the grounds of his anger was never because of her rejection. In fact, it's a very rare case for a court lady to be able to reject a crown prince or a king (and multiple times at that) because it would mean death for them. This just proves he isn't really the red flag some label him to be, particularly in the era they were in. Because i thoroughly understood the circumstances, he didn't trouble me much (I don't blame those who were though). I guess Yisan's romantic side overpowered his flaws for me, and he's such a simp for deokim lmao. Nonetheless, this does not mean he is worship worthy (assuredly the drama did not portray him as such).
Deokim - was disliked for her constant rejections. They could've reduced the rejections a bit, but it didn't matter to me much because her reasoning was understandable. If you ask me, her constant rejection is the core of the story. It gave weightage to her character being firm to her beliefs and priorities. It is true that the real life Deokim rejected Yisan multiple times and yisan actually had to wait for 15 years for her (which was already condensed in the drama). At any rate, there is no doubt that those who hated on Deokim for this reason straightway regretted it after finishing the drama. The last 2 episodes were definitely a slap to their face.
Now onto the things that we all liked <3
// Acting
Every single one of the actors should be considered top tier, even those whose names you've never heard of. Despite the drama's flaws, the acting managed to make up for it. It's been a while since I've seen a sageuk with such praiseworthy actors- even the supporting cast will astonish you. The drama really made a lot of actors' acting skills shine in the dark. Lee Junho utterly embodied Yisan, his character was complex and difficult to portray without looking awkward, but he did it perfectly. While of course our Lee Seyoung, deserves to be applaud for her subtle yet deep facial expressions converying the fathomless emotions of Sung Deokim.
// Cinematography
Second to Mr Sunshine, this undoubtedly has the best cinematography of all time for me. The hues and shots are beyond words. I think it's because the director is a woman, she managed to get us exactly what we wanted in the most beautiful way possible specially because the drama extensively portrays women's struggles.
// Complex characters
I absolutely adore how none of the characters are plain, their personalities are well made and very inticrate. Everyone shows a new side after some time, even the villains will prompt you to sympathize with them (that hwabitch is an exception tho). This makes it challenging to observe each of the characters and how they develop overtime. Additionally, I'm a sucker for characters whose personalities aren't typical.
// Amazing chemistry
As we all say, the drama is a heavy melodrama, whilst the behind the scenes is a whole romcom. THEIR CHEMISTRY IS DREAMY. the combinations were something we didn't expect, but it was absolutely perfect. It fascinates me they thought of putting together such a cast and especially the two leads.
It is crystal clear how the drama won 8 awards out of 13 nominations while it was still ongoing. The quality is out of this world. The writing is not perfect, but to be honest I don't remember what the flaws exactly were because the rest was too magnificent and impactful! It's hard to describe the writing, but let's just say it was imperfect, yet perfectly beautiful. It's impossible to think rationally after ending the drama, there were a lot lines that will forever be engraved in my heart, as well as lines that stabbed a knife in it perennially. Even if the writing had flaws, I couldn't be more gratified with the script.
The beauty of this drama is that everything is very complex. It allows the viewers to have varying opinions and interpretations about the characters and scenes. The drama also doesn't gloss over the obvious power gap between the two main leads, it displays the reality of a king and a "lowly" court lady's story in that era. I liked that the story didn't limit itself to what the viewers will fancy, it's really only for those who want emotional tension. The drama is distant from a tender romance, nothing will ever go as you want here. The two main leads really went through a lot, as much as it was draining, it made their sunny moments a whole lot special. This is the first time I've come across a kdrama wherein 3 still cuts of them smiling at each other made me cry a lot. The joy and relief you'll feel because they're finally happy together (at least in that scene) is out of this world. The Red Sleeve made me experience a lot of emotions I've never went through even if I've watched over a hundred kdramas, especially the angst.
If there was a quote in the drama that would summarize the whole story, it would be queen dowager's line- "The palace is such a dazzling prison". The Red Sleeve beautifully portrayed the reality of Joseon era. The harsh reality and struggles of the people who lived in the palace, particularly women. I don't think i've ever seen a kdrama portray the agony of various types of people living in joseon as exquisitely as the red sleeve does- from the lowest to the highest class, you'll see everyone's story. Of course, the narrative itself centers around our dearest Deokim. The angst of this drama is just different from all other kdramas with tragedies, mayhap it's because there are not a lot of happy elements.
If you read my whole review, you should've perceived whether or not what you're looking for is in the drama. If your conclusion is to watch it, I'm gonna relay to you this exact question that was rendered to us before the drama aired. It's your turn to find out the answer whilst you watch the drama.
"The king loved the court lady, but did the court lady love the king?"
Your answer may change multiple times just like mine did. But as you reach the end, you'll eventually find the answer. Good luck to you and have fun watching !! Oh and prepare a box of tissues because this is emotionally draining. Make sure to read about the real story of King Jeongjo and Uibin Seong after watching or maybe while watching, it hits different when you know which parts are true to life.
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Extremely overated
This is a hard No for me..The storyline was very weak.
I was extremely bored by 6th episode.
Goodness the pace was sooooooo sloww!! They took forever to finish a sentence. I watched it at 2x speed most of the time.
The Male lead Prince then king is the only saving grace in this drama in my opinion he sort of carried the show.
The FL (face palm) so cringey . From the synopsis o expected a tough admirable girl yet the gave this sheepish girlish sulky character.
Why are there so many good reviews. What did people watch, I doubt it's the same thing I watched.
The only okayish parts were some parts between ep13-16.
Then behold we have the Trainwreck that was episode 17. They should have left this out. It was pointlessly sad. Like did everyone have to die. The deaths don't even look like part of the story.
Oh well.
Yours faithfully,
Disappointed fan
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The End shouldn't define the story, but the Beginning that started the beautiful journey.
We, as viewers often or rather frequently tend to overlook and miss out on all the good stuff when it comes to genres that are angst, sappy or simply tragic, in other words, ones that we know that have a bittersweet, sappy or heartbreaking end. Because why go through all those painful emotions when the sole purpose of watching, be it drama or movie, is to take a break from the reality that we are all living in, and thus, we seek the ever so famous 'happy endings'. We want to be happy watchers not ones who turned dimmed with both our reality and this escape of ours eating us up to dwell in sadness. So, we dare not watch something, like this. I used to have views like that before. The moment I see a tragedy tag on a drama or movie, I would not watch it, but through the years of being a kdrama and cdrama fan, after being able to watch a lot of very good and memorable dramas or movies which mostly had a happy ending, I tried giving sad endings a chance. The first sad ending I ever watched was 'uncontrollably fond', then afterwards, I watched a few more, like 'scarlet heart ryeo', 'youth of may' or c-dramas like 'goodbye my princess', I even got to venture into j-dramas like 'I give my first love to you' or 'Koizora'. Then, as time passed and the more I watched such type of ending, they grew in me, that regardless of the fact if I knew it wasn't a happy ending, I found the value of learning to accept all those kinds of emotions even if I cried dozens over them, because I know for a fact that not all stories are meant to always have that 'happiness' in their endings, and that such an 'end' doesn't make the quality or the beauty of the stories any lesser, because if we keep looking at the 'end' or 'how it ends', we forget the most important part in a drama or movie, it is none other than 'The Beginning' that started all the wonderful and beautiful journey. Just as to how we placed importance to every 'end', the same importance should be placed to every 'beginning' that held the entire journey of the story.The beginning of 'The Red Sleeve' for me was like a fairytale, how Deok Im and San met when they were younger, walking through the lamps and how the young Deok Im even back then was a brave and sweet person who wiped little San's tears, then the first time they ever met as an adult, Deok Im came rolling in to San's life. They had always been meant to be, since the very start. Their fate had always led them to each other. I won't say much or reminisce through every moments they had together. I had finished watching this 3 days ago, and only managed to write a review now because I had a hard time facing reality that such a great saeguk drama as TRS had officially ended (not to be overreacting). All that I will ever write in this review of mine is regarding their love, their heart-wrenching yet touching love for one another.
For me, King Jeongjo and Consort Uibin's love story is a beautiful, heart-burning and touching one (both in reality and drama)....
'The Red Sleeve' is a drama that proved that one should not lose themselves in the process of falling inlove, and Deok Im completely held onto that until her last breath. She was a female lead who knew how important self-worth is, she loved herself and placed value on herself more, which is refreshing to see because there are not many female leads like her. In the drama, she didn't easily give in to love despite how Yi San had already grown a special place in her heart, she stood her ground and turned him down quite a number of times. The only time she ever gave in to him was finally at the latter part, after going through a lot of events throughout the years she had spent in the palace as a court maid, there were also times that she nearly lost her life. I guess we could say, she grew and Yi San had grown in her heart deeply. From the very beginning, she did a lot of things for him, in order to protect him, it was thanks to her that Yi San got to live to adulthood, if she had not torn the forbidden page on the banned book or had she not talked and asked for help from others (mostly from Queen Jungsoon) to help Yi San etc. There would be no story to tell. It was her courageousness, kindness and her loyalty not just as a court maid but as a person, and maybe at some point her blossoming feelings for Yi San developed there too in the process of those actions of hers. She already knew she loved him, and Court Lady Seo knew of her feelings, but Deok Im never wanted to be a royal concubine, she doesn't want to go through the pain, she said it herself during their conversation that "the king is dear, but myself is dearer" and "if I can't have it to myself, i'd rather not have it at all", she clearly knew what she will lose and go through when she said those words to Court Lady Seo. Despite that, in the latter part, she held onto his sleeves, then onto his hand, she knew that she can't live a life not seeing Yi San. They subtly showed Deok Im's real feelings for Yi San during the time she was freed from the palace, what i'm referring to is when she made a pouch for Yi San. Her feelings were so evident there. The other time was when she returned to the palace as a court maid for Princess Hwabin, when she saw how San was with Princess Hwabin, her expression and the emotions painted in her eyes were so evident. She kept tucking her feelings in and pushing him aside, but only for her to give in at the end, she knew her love for Yi San was great but at the same time she loves herself too. She sacrificed a lot, herself, her freedom, her happiness etc. All she ever got to do as a royal concubine, was wait for him to come to her, and the only happiness she ever gained was his love and their times together alone plus when Prince Munhyo was born. She had nothing else. She lost most of herself as she became the royal concubine, the only thing that she held onto were Yi San's love and her love for him which she had kept until her very last breath, her "I Love You" that Yi San never got to hear when they were both still alive. It was shown in those episodes, how her life was like, how it became when she became a royal concubine, she wasn't completely happy but she chose it because she loved. She chose to be Royal Noble Consort Uibin, because she loves Yi San and she chose to seal her love for him, even from him, because she loves herself too. She may seem selfish, but she was actually self-less. It's quite ironic but at the same time that was the only choice she ever had as the man she loved is the most powerful person in Joseon. She loved him, but she didn't give all of herself to him in order not to lose her whole self, that was how much she valued her self-worth and I admire her for that.
On the other hand, some might say that Deok Im or Consort Uibin deserved to be loved by a better man who can give his whole self to her and only her. As much as I agree with such opinion, I also disagree with it too. I don't think there is any other man better than Yi San for Deok Im. Yi San had shown us countless of times how much he had loved Deok Im regardless of her status as a court maid, he loved her for who she is as a person. Like Deok Im, Yi San was also courageous and kind, but what stood out for me the most is his perseverance and patience. He loved her so much despite how many times he got rejected. He didn't force his feelings or himself onto her, he respected her as a woman and still gave her a choice and confessed his love to her a number of times which became chances for their love. He was willing enough to let her go, if that was what she had wanted. He waited and even put her first before his own feelings, specifically the time when he purposely lost the game to Deok Im when they were playing stone-skipping as that time they had a bet with each other, that whoever wins will grant the wish of the other. He loved her dearly, for him she was precious and the only person he had ever loved in his life. Deok Im was his pillar in the harsh life he had to go through as a crown prince and as a king. After their hug at the first part of episode 16, Yi San asked Deok Im if she would be his if he commanded her and Deok Im told him that she would if it was his command, then Yi San asked her if that would be what she wished (what she wanted), to that Deok Im said perhaps it is what she desired (wanted) but she wants to remain at her place meaning she wants to remain as a court maid. From those questions Yi San had asked Deok Im during that scene, we could see how much he truly cared about her, as much as he had valued Deok Im's feelings, he valued her thoughts as a person as well. He must have wanted to respect her decision to remain as a court maid then, but due to the incident which almost caused Deok Im to lose her life, if Court Lady Seo had not seeked help from Lady Hyebin. Although Yi San had trust in Deok Im and knew that she wasn't such a person, the fact that Deok Im had almost lost her life played a huge role in his decision to make her his concubine. Though he did such, he still gave her a choice to run away then, he was willing to let her go if he can't keep her but Deok Im held onto his hand. They both loved each other greatly. Yi San or King Jeongjo might not have been able to give his whole self completely to Deok Im but we cannot overlook the fact that he gave his complete genuine love to Deok Im, only her, no one else, and how he had never truly forgotten her even during the last moments of his life.
In their last moments together, as Deok Im tells him to pass by her if they ever meet each other in their next life, I believe that what she told him wasn't meant to hurt him as she only wanted to be with the man she loved and whom she can have completely as a whole for herself and be able to live the way she wanted to. Although she had said those hurtful words, I take it that in the end which showed them in the afterlife, she chose to wait for him there, because she truly loved him and he chose to stay and join her because he truly loved her as well. The ending of their story is really bittersweet or sappy. The time that they had finally fallen in love into the arms of each other, the time when they finally got to be a family was so short lived. What hurts more is that none of their children had ever survived. Yi San lived devoting the rest of his life to being a good king who completed his responsibilities to his people but he became an empty shell after losing Deok Im. He lived as a great king and died as a great king when he could have lived as both a great king and husband with a happy family. He also never got to hear the words "I love you" from Deok Im, the only time he ever got to know of Deok Im's feelings must have been perhaps when Deok Im told him before she had died that it's not that she didn't like or hate him, she could have ran away but she stayed or the time when he saw the belongings that Deok Im had left behind, the yellow pouch she made that she never got to give but he put that aside because he didn't know, so maybe it was the apology letters which she had wrote the first time they met and which he had constantly rejected and marked wrong. That was the proof of her love but he never affirmed it as what he had always been longing to hear is for Deok Im to say the words he had wanted to hear but never got to hear ever, so maybe he never truly knew, not until the time they reunited in the afterlife.
The fate of their love was so sad and unfortunate, if they were just ordinary people, if they hadn't been born as a king or a court maid trapped in the palace maybe things would have been different. Deok Im went through a lot as she had to share Yi San to others including Joseon itself, all her children died and even her beloved friends, she wasn't truly able to be happy at the same time Yi San went through a lot as well too, ever since he was young he had been scarred because of what had happened to his father, Prince Sado. He had been deemed unworthy of the throne and called as a son of a traitor, many people had wished for him to fail and plotted to kill him. Even his grandfather at some point had emotionally and physically hurted him for he fears that San might become like his son, Prince Sado. Deok Im was the only person who eased Yi San's ache and the only one whom he could truly open up his true self and heart to. He carried a lot on his shoulders ever since he was young up to when he grew up, most especially during the time when he lost Deok Im forever. He was still a good king and she was a good person. During their early years together, Deok Im as a court maid had long knew that Yi San would be a good king one day, and he did became one. Regardless of all that happened, there was still beauty and something touching about their love for one another. I can't imagine Yi San or Deok Im as an ordinary person, being a king and court maid suited them more. Aside from all the sad and tragic stuff they had gone through in the palace, they still had their happy moments and they did gain something along the process too. They gained that one great genuine love which they have for each other. If they were ordinary people, I doubt their love would be that great. Yes, they would have been much happier but they wouldn't have been able to experience the hurdles that enabled not only their love to be strong but also themselves. All in all, i'm glad they stuck with reality because the love of the real king jeongjo and consort uibin is very touching.
Before I end my review, i'd like to commend all the actors especially Lee Seyoung and Lee Junho who gave so much life to this drama. I don't know what else to say but both of them are such brilliant actors, they are a true talent. The fact that some of the scenes from TRS were brought to life by them through their adlibs. I would never forget how amazing they are for being able to immerse fully into their character as if they were really Yi San and Deok Im, plus how they were able to connect the audience through the emotions they had portrayed throughout the drama, making us all feel the roller coaster of emotions and shed tons of tears especially at the end. This is the first time I witnessed Junho as an Actor and I could say that he indeed is a very bright actor and he deserves every bit of recognition, as for Seyoung, I was able to watch her past projects before so i've always knew she was a good actress but her role here as Deok Im really stood out for me out of all the roles she had played before, Deok Im was her best and she deserves tons of praises for that. Ofcourse, I love the rest of the cast too plus writernim for the wonderful storyline. I'm proud of TRS team, they are truly talented people who captured many peoples hearts. I will never forget this drama, 'The Red Sleeve' is the best saeguk drama to have ever come to existence for me. If only I could give them a higher rating, I would have done so but it is sadly only up to 10/10 here in mdl. I don't think i'll ever find such a wonderful drama as TRS. The plot not only revolved about romance but also the realities faced by women during those times which we never really saw in majority of the Saeguk dramas or movies that existed as they had only and always highlighted the kings struggles or the power struggles. I guess, it is also one of the many reasons that made TRS so unique. Also, this is honestly the only drama that made me cry even more and where I felt immense pain like I was the one going through it all. This might not be the best of the best for some but it is definitely worthy of every time and emotions spent. TRS will always have a special place in my heart, even if there will be other great new dramas coming this year or the next next years to come.
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