# The Red Sleeve (2021)

> A joseon king and a court lady who has chosen her own path fall into a romance that collides with royal duty.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/109757

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 17
- Episode runtime: 74 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, romance, history
- Created by: Jung Hae-ri
- Network: MBC
- Cast: JUNHO, Lee Se-young, Kang Hoon, Lee Duck-hwa, Park Ji-young, Jang Hee-jin, Ahn Se-min, Jang Hye-jin
- TMDB rating: 8.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14687200/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: slow
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: melancholic, restrained, sincere, wistful, contemplative

## What critics say

Audiences acclaim the period romance for its emotional pull and historical setting, though some find it long-winded and formulaic.

## Synopsis

The Red Sleeve (2021-2022) is a South Korean MBC historical romance series created by Jung Hae-ri. Set in the joseon dynasty royal palace, it follows King Jeongjo, played by JUNHO, a ruler who believes his duty to the country must come before love, and Sung Deok-im, played by Lee Se-young, a court lady determined to protect the life she has chosen inside the palace walls. Supporting principals include Kang Hoon as Hong Deok-ro, Lee Duck-hwa as King Youngjo, and Park Ji-young as Head Court Lady Jo, whose rigid hierarchy and court politics press on every private feeling. The engine of the story is the tension between a monarch's obligations and a woman's refusal to be reduced to a palace role, unfolding through formal ceremonies, whispered rivalries, and long, quiet scenes of restrained longing. Told across a single season of seventeen episodes, each running about seventy-four minutes, the series moves at a deliberate, contemplative pace in a costume-heavy, carefully composed world. Its tone is melancholic and sincere, with an emphasis on emotional restraint and the cost of devotion. Fans of Mr. Sunshine, Kingdom, and The Moon Embracing the Sun will find resonance in its blend of palace intrigue, forbidden attachment, and period melodrama.

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