The Red Sleeve
옷소매 붉은 끝동Checked and re-read
The rare palace romance where the woman's refusal is the plot. A court lady wants to remain her own person, the crown prince wants her, and the drama takes the power gap between them seriously instead of finding it romantic. Lee Junho is very good and the historical detail is unusually careful. It sags in the middle, the court scheming is thin next to the central relationship, and it holds itself to the historical record throughout. Watch it if you want a sageuk romance that argues with itself.
Based on a novel of the same name, it tells the record of a royal court romance between the King of Joseon who believes his duty is to his country first above love, and a court lady who wants to protect the life she has chosen.
Slow start Episode 3, the first time she refuses him and the show reveals what it is actually about.
Where we recommend it
On 12 lists- Dramas like Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart RyeoClosest
- Dramas like Moonlight Drawn by CloudsClosest
- Dramas like Captivating the KingClosest
- Dramas like My DearestStrong thread
- Dramas like Dear HongrangStrong thread
- Dramas like Youth of MayStrong thread
- Dramas like Mr. SunshineSame feeling
- Dramas like Alchemy of SoulsSame feeling
- Dramas like Jeongnyeon: The Star Is BornSame feeling
- Dramas like The Tale of Lady OkSame feeling
- Dramas like Bon Appetit, Your MajestySame feeling
- Dramas like To My Beloved ThiefSame feeling
Recommended alongside
All dramas →Taken from our own list for The Red Sleeve, in the order we ranked it.
