Dress Sleeved Red (2021)

I'll Even Say It in Spanish: NO

"The Red Sleeve" starts out as a sweet romance between a prince and a court lady. This isn't an untold story, but the execution kept me watching as its very first episode cuts through the heart with powerful acting and compelling narrative.

This drama gives awareness of the situation court ladies were in during the Joseon period and their little rights. Where much of the show was not as engaging to me in the latter half, the social situations continue to be most compelling and evocative.

What You Need to Know:
The romance here is toxic. So so toxic. I should only have to say this once: No? It means NO. The drama continues to push this, but then there is also some faltering in the end that made my skin crawl for the sake of either history and/or romance. If you are sensitive to sexual abuse or relationship abuse, this could be triggering for you. I myself had to skip many parts as I felt very uncomfortable.

Overall:
I think the things this drama deals with are very important, and it was worth watching for me. I wish I had known beforehand about the toxic relationships—I would have chosen not to watch it. Still, for educational purposes I can see why many have been amazed by this show and how it speaks out for women. I am disappointed that the moral themes did not stand true to the end or were at least not quite fully fleshed out to their potential. This is not a show I would recommend to people for the most part because so much of it was emotionally harmful, but it is certainly worth discussing. The music was beautiful! As always, my rewatch value is actually my entertainment value as well. I am grateful for those who put their hard work into telling this story.

Cheers,

Kenzie

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How did they win the Best Couple Award ??? Just felt like they rushed everything to finish the drama

At first, the love part of the story starts a little bit like a comedy with a strong personality and an "independent" woman. (depending on her position on the palace)

I could cut the drama into two different parts :
- Episode 1 to 12 - the rhythm of the story is pretty good suspense, love story, tension,… (I Liked this part)
- Episode 13 to 17 - I just felt like they rushed everything to finish the drama in 4 episodes. The love story part felt repetitive ("I love you and you" "I don't want to love you"…)

In just 2 last episodes they :
- sleep together
- had a son
- lost their son from illness after 4 years
- a friend of Deok-Im died
- Deok-Im was pregnant from another child
- King Jeongjo had been sick
- Deok-Im had been sick
- Deok-Im died
- King Jeongjo keep being the king
- King Jeongjo refuse another concubine
- King Jeongjo forget about Deok-Im
- King Jeongjo recruit the son of Deok-Im's brother in his guard
- ………
That's why I feel like they rushed everything to finish the drama.


That doesn't mean I didn't cry as fck at the end or didn't like the drama but I was left hungry.

Sung Deok-Im, was supposed to be a strong-minded character so why did she not express ANYTHING ???
How did they win the Best Couple Award ??? I was crying so much just because I feel like Sung Deok-Im is unhappy in this relationship… it feels like she is just a beautiful bird that King Jeongjo but in a golden cage ???
Doesn't he care about how she feels? Saying "You're mine… you're mine" all the time ? Yes, she's yours but you're not hers… that's killing me…

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Intense

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

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON

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

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

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

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Will I ever be over this show?

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

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Best historical drama I’ve seen

No, it’s not over yet…still has 2 more episodes to air, (see edit). But, even if it ended at episode 15, I would still give this a 10! The acting ML and FL are so believable in their roles, the story is so complete, the writing and directing couldn’t be better. In these 15 episodes, they couldn’t have added or deleted anything, it is perfect. Lee Jun-Ho is perfectly cast in his lead role. With his looks, acting, smoldering eyes, grin, and emotions showing all over his face, he is so believable in his role. He makes this drama as great as it is. I couldn’t picture anyone else playing Yi-San. I experienced a lot of emotions watching this. Two more episodes to go, but like I said, even if it ended right now, I would still give it a 10.

Edit: I just completed the last episode, and yes, it’s a 10 right to the end! I cried the entire last episode. It is by far the best drama I’ve ever watched. If I could give it higher than a 10. I would.

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A Beautifully Executed Story

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

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

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totally enjoyable drama

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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I thoroughly enjoyed this drama.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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