Red Cuff of the Sleeve (2021)

A let down in many areas!

This review is a hard one to write. I wanted this series to be good so bad! But I felt like it missed the mark for me in many areas. I know some others have watched it and think it is brilliant...but I'm sorry, It will only get a 7 for me because of it's one saving grace: the acting.

Let's start with that. The acting was by far the best thing about the series. Everyone portrayed their different roles beautifully, especially the ML...and I might have a preference for him. I love me some Junho...and it isn't even because of his singing career. I thought he did such a great job in Just Between Lovers... That was my introduction to him and he took my breath away there so I had to find out more about him and I also saw in in Wok of Love. What I love about him is that he totally embodies his characters and you see a different person in each drama he stars in. This is huge for me...though I appreciate it might not be the same for others. Whatever feeling he was portraying, I was right there along with him, being upset, sad, angry...I felt it. Kudos to all of the actors on this series.

Now...let's get into the not-so-good things that I disliked about the series. The storyline....what was that? I think the biggest disappointment for me was the pacing, the mood, as well as some of the major story elements. For example, the general mood, in the beginning, was a good balance between serious and light-hearted, with some hilarious moments between. Halfway through it was just serious...and sad..and depressing. I do not like that the tone of the series changed so dramatically.

The other thing was the pacing...some things moved SO SLOW and others were rushed. For example, all of the encounters in the library felt like such a slow burn and then all of a sudden, they love each other? Did I miss something? When did that happen? Also, why does she never admit that she loves him...to anyone...even herself?

The first couple of scenes with the tiger killing people was kinda ridiculous...I'm not gonna lie. Like, what was that? It made the show seem like it was pretending to be serious but it really wasn't.

Overall it felt like the writers changed halfway and it because a whole different beast. Also, I feel like they missed showing a few pivotal stuff to progress the storyline. Why did we never see the queen? What? When did the king marry again? We kept hearing about characters that we never saw once!

I'm feeling very let down about this. I can't watch it again and I wouldn't recommend it. I've seen that it's based on a particular story...not interested, more could have been done to make this something great.

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Typical Saeguk Romance

Started up with the usual troupe of mistaken identity of the Crown Prince. I actually liked the former King and felt much tension dropped following his death - whereby the drama was warped mostly around the love story and less on politics, even more so following HDR's death/end of the Court Ladies Faction arc. The drop in dynamics actually made the later half much less enthralling to me (yes I was interested in them getting together but not dragged out over 5-6 eps). I think the writer tried to create this complex love between the main leads - whereby the female is not the typical "swoon for the king" which is interesting and all BUT that's where it ends for me. To me, there was never any character growth for SDI, in fact I felt that she regressed into more of a "damsel in distress" - while in the earlier episodes she was portrayed with more intelligence and poise. I also felt the main dilemma between losing her freedom vs her love(?) for the king wasn't adequately explained. I mean why did she become a court lady if freedom was so important to her in the first place? It would have worked better if she had a more believable backstory such as mother/family being abandoned by the King in the past etc. The ending was totally rushed. After creating love tension for 15 ep, they decided to put them together and kill them off within 1.5 ep?? And was it only me who saw some comparisons to Scarlet Heart (chinese ver.)? Especially the part after the female lead dies. Absolute tear jerker yes but just felt we could have done a bit more with the happy moments. I liked that in the end it was slightly dubious whether she regretted loving him anot...

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SEVERELEY OVERRATED

I don’t think anything is wrong with me when i say that this drama was not the tear jerker everyone said it would be. I’m not saying there weren’t any impactful moments but the emotional parts didn't do as much for me as I thought they would. Although the last two episodes were terribly sad, my opinion of this show is that it wasn’t memorable. I do find the historical story behind it fascinating.

The situation in which Deok Im found herself in wasn’t necessarily the fault of others. I do think that as a young girl she was advised to grow up into a woman that would someday catch the eyes of the prince and basically be a glorified concubine. And given the time period, doing so wouldn’t be a bad idea from a financial standpoint. However, nobody forced Deok Im to make the decision to give up her will, leave her home, and become the property of the King. As an adult she was obviously too adventurous and free-spirited to be kept behind the walls of a Palace, and for a good chunk of the show she was very reluctant to succumb to the wishes of Yi San. I do see that her new life in the Palace was a major adjustment but even after that she was almost in a way blaming Yi San for imprisoning her when she chose this? And what's more, my Yi San got very controlling and possessive once his feelings for Deok Im deepened. A little bit toxic if you ask me but most people took it as being romantic but there were instances where he was practically threatening her life. The bath scene was steamy but nonsensical at the same time. The way Deok Im fell into the bath was unbelievable.

My attention span was wavering because of how slow and repetitive things got. The first 3 eps and the last 2 eps are easily the best of the show. Everything in between is filler and palace intrigue that wasn’t interesting enough; I didn’t care about any of the side characters or sub-plots except for the one with Deok Im’s friend being put to death. Ngl that was pretty sad.

I think the strongest part of the show was Yi San’s love for Deok Im. At times I did question her affections for him but not once did I have to wonder if Yi San loved Deok Im. Not sure if the real Deok Im loved him as much as the drama entails but eh. I usually avoid historical dramas and this one still had much of the bore I associate with the genre, but the last 3 eps were written so well that I can’t entirely dismiss this show. When their son died it was truly heartbreaking, and the last scene with His Majesty and Deok Im in the afterlife made me teary eyed for sure.

Was this show terrible? No. Was it some work of art? No, although there was a poetic script, great acting from LJ, LDH, and bits from LSY. The King’s Affection was airing around the same time as this and I ended up enjoying that one way more. I got more invested in the story, the mains, the side characters, and the palace drama. TKA had 20 eps and def dragged too, but I think that show was able to do a better job of balancing the fun stuff and the depressing stuff. Each to their own. If you ask me tho, watch The King’s Affection instead.

`” If you see me in the next life please just pass by…as if you do not know me. I do not blame you. I do not hate you. I just want to live the way I want in my next life.” ~ most memorable quote

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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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Why 'The Red Sleeves' is an Unforgettable Masterpiece: A Fan's Heartfelt Review

I've been hesitant to write a review for "The Red Sleeves" because I fear my words won't do justice to this epic historical drama. I've lost count of how many times I've rewatched it. This show not only turned me into a fan of Junho but also introduced me to 2PM. To this day, it remains my all-time favorite K-drama, unmatched by any other.

The primary reason this drama is so cherished is its exceptional writing. The script is masterfully crafted, keeping viewers captivated from start to finish. While the story is based on a real, tragic tale, it skillfully incorporates light-hearted moments in the beginning to balance the overall narrative. And that ending—what a brilliant way to transform a tragic conclusion into something so poetic.

Additionally, the production quality is outstanding. It is beautifully filmed, capturing every detail not only with artistic finesse but also with meaningful precision. The music and original soundtrack perfectly match the mood and storyline.

Lastly, the acting from both leads is simply phenomenal. Lee Junho and Lee Se Young fully embodied their characters, delivering every emotion in a deeply believable way. Especially Junho—his quiet tears were not only beautiful but also conveyed the pain and internal turmoil his character was experiencing. No wonder he became the first idol to bag the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards.

It would probably take forever for me to cover all the things I love about this drama, but these highlights capture why "The Red Sleeves" holds a special place in my heart. If you haven't watched it yet, you're missing out on a masterpiece.

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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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