Even though they were not together as couples for most part of the story, but whatever amount of togetherness we witnessed, it sufficed my heart bcs I had been savoring myself with the bonding throughout. To me, it felt like an amazing chemistry buildup, growth of mutual understanding and blooming of untold emotions. Both the characters are stupendous in their own places and their arcs are beautifully drawn by the writer couldn't help but fall for them. Deok Im is a quick-witted, strong-willed and free-spirited girl who has progressive mindset and believes in living an independent life she's a medieval feminist. Yisan is the Crown Prince of Joseon, very intelligent and aware of his duties and responsibilities, he strives to be a better ruler than his grandfather, the King. Although they're in love with each other, circumstances stand in their way to unison and this what the story is about.
The basic story is about Yisan (Lee Jun Ho), the Crown Prince of the kingdom trying to persue his handmaiden, court lady Sung Deok Im (Lee Se Young) to become his royal concubine. To simply put the plotline, the drama is set in the Joseon premise of history from mid to late 1700s (18th century), with only 1st episode taking place in 1764 and the rest after a couple of decades, with flash backs from both 17. Some historical facts about major events found later is also included in the drama to maintain the most possible accuracy. With a fictional script, the drama is the true love story of King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of Joseon dynasty and his royal concubine Sung Ui Bin.
"The Sleeve's Red Cuff" (옷소매 붉은 끝동) is a live-action adaption of the famous Korean novel with the same title, by Kang Mi Kang (강미강). So the drama is based the love story of a King and his court lady turned royal concubine and it truly lives upto it's title throughout. This red sleeve was more like a handcuff to hold back them from leaving the palace as well to remind them of their limitations. Bound to stay single until death, once chosen, they had to wear clothes with crimson red coloured sleeves. In Joseon era, the court ladies chosen for the palace to serve the King, his family as well as to carry out different matters, were more like slaves. This drama, too, is based on the story of a woman who, till the very end, did her best not to fall into the patriarchal system's confinement. A quote from Oscar Wilde goes like, "Women have a much better time than men in this world there are far more things forbidden to them." Indeed the women of the world have been chained with rules created by bigoted individuals, for which they're made to sacrifice their wills, rights and aspirations. ~~ Adapted from the novel "The Sleeve's Red Cuff" (옷소매 붉은 끝동) by Kang Mi Kang (강미강). But Yi San’s love for Sung Deok Im is true, and she starts to understand that forming a union with him could ultimately benefit his troubled realm.
She is also intelligent enough to understand that becoming a royal consort to the future king is a prestigious role, but one that would restrict her freedom and likely bring her little in the way of joy. But Sung Deok Im is strong-willed and free-spirited. Yi San falls in love with her and tries to convince her to become his official concubine. He has resolved to become a benevolent monarch who will reform the law when he eventually takes the throne, but the way his father was killed has scarred him emotionally.Īt court, he meets a young woman named Sung Deok Im. His father’s killing haunts him, although it leaves him in the position to take the throne once his grandfather – the cruel and ruthless current king responsible for Yi San’s father’s death – dies. In Korea during the second half of the 1700s, Yi San is an aloof and perfection-loving young prince.