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The Red Sleeve review

옷소매 붉은 끝동

2021MBC17 ep~80 min~23h total

Checked and re-read

The ratings

8.7 on MyDramaList. Written reviews rate the story a little lower, at 8.0.

MDL rating
8.7/10
27k votes on MyDramaList
Written reviews
8.0/10 story
Rewatch value 7.0/10
Episode by episode
Steady all the way, 9.5 then 9.3

MyDramaList figures checked . See it there. How we read these.

Is it worth it

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.

The feel of it
PaceSlow
RomanceThe whole point
Emotional loadHeavy
Comfort rewatchSometimes

Slow start Episode 3, the first time she refuses him and the show reveals what it is actually about.

Recommended alongside

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Taken from our own list for The Red Sleeve, in the order we ranked it.