I marathoned the novel after hearing about the drama, and boy is it painful in the last third lol. I love the leads (haven't seen Junho in a sageuk though, so we'll see) and there's been a drought of serious sageuks, but I'm leery about the writer and it'll be hard to not think of the 2007 Yi San. I know the novel goes on a different angle but Lee Seo Jin and Han Ji Min had insane chemistry in one of the best written sageuk romances (in a drama that was actually not mainly about the romance), all without even a kiss scene. Lee Se Young fits the role like a glove though, so I'll keep my eyes peeled even though the ending will inevitably be a heartbreaker. (why, history, why??)

I really like both Jun-ho and Lee Se-young but why does it have to be a sageuk??? Sigh.

Written by Jung Hae-ri (Ruler—Master of the Mask) Hum... I don't trust this writer. Th PD did Radiant Office and I loved it.

Lee Se-Young cut her hair for Kairos, I wonder how they will do with that. But I really like her, she was great as Queen in The Crowned Clow.

I haven't seen Lee Se Young in a sageuk since Dae Jang Geum it seems like...will probably check the premier out for her and Junho is supposed to be pretty good of a actor...

The writer of RULER is doing what with Yisan?

Good casting with a very questionable writer. *sigh*

@eazal, where art thou? I immediately thought of you when I read the news yesterday, right after I screamed Junhoooooo. lol

I just said the other day that I miss Junho but that I hope that when he gets cast it's in a role that will draw on his slighlty unhinged energy...

... So they cast him in a melo Sageuk...

*cries*

Why does Dramaland hate me so much? Is it because I hate Subway? Is it because I don't drink instant coffee? What sacrifice do you require?

That writer... noooooooo. Dramaland must hate me.

Love the idea of a Junho and Lee Se-young pairing though. The director isn’t terrible either. Still, idk if I can be entirely optimistic after how badly Ruler burned me.

I am very pleased with the casting of Junho and Lee Se-young in RED SLEEVE CUFF.

I was intrigued with the early talk of Kim Kyung-nam as main lead. KKN is one of my favorites and he made a great impression in THE KING.
I checked his work in AsianWiki thinking he had no sageuk experience but discovered he appeared in SBS’s FAITH (2012). Hopefully in the future will see him in a sageuk.

Han Aeri ssi travelled further back in time and landed in sageukland 😂.

Yay Lee Se Young! ½ my Kairos and Trot Lovers pair has a new drama 🥳.

First...YESSSS JUNHO! ❤

I just watched Doctor John not too long ago and I despised Lee Se Young's character with such passion. So whenever an actor's last project leaves a bad taste in my mouth it tends to reflect on their next project for me. So not super excited about LSY but hopefully she'll have a good character in this. I really liked her in TBH.

Also, production team also said this:
"We will greet viewers with a proper traditional romance sageuk (Korean historical drama) that is aimed precisely at the viewers’ hearts in the second half of 2021, so please look forward to it.” Um is this your failed attempt at being subtle that this drama won't be historically controversial? Lol what even is the definition of proper traditional romance sageuk? Do you need any more adjectives?

But back to Junho!! I'm excited but have a feeling this might be a disaster. 🙃

Loved Lee Se Young in The Crowned Clown! So this is a good casting choice for FL. I would have preferred that they kept Kim Kyung Nam as the ML. But I will watch anything with Lee Se Young.

Oh, I think I have read about Yi San on Wikipedia! On there, it said that he fell in love with a maid, but was turned down by her two times. Before trying a third time, he punished her friend/servant as a warning, and she accepted his third proposal. I think that woman was who the FL in "Yi San" was based on.

To be honest, when I first read this story, assuming it is even "correct" (as correct as one CAN be, at least), I was curious about the idea of Yi San being portrayed as an antagonist of the maid and her main love, something akin to how the Emperor acts in the Chinese drama "Story of Yanxi Palace" (SPOILERS for that drama!). By "antagonist", I do not mean an evil person or bad guy, just someone who is on opposite side of the protagonist, ie the female lead and her possible love. And perhaps, when the FL does become his concubine to protect her loved ones, they find common ground, hopefully followed by him realizing his douchebag ways of hurting others to get his way.

In some ways, I can see the writer for "Ruler" be good at this, since "Ruler" did include an asshole who wanted the FL for himself and cheated to get his way. Hopefully they have learned from their mistakes and will do better, mainly with the FL, but also a lot of other things. It has been so long, I no longer remember much about Ruler.

Ooh, I really like Lee Se Young. She's so underrated, she's one of the best actresses of her generation. She's also naturally beautiful, and feels like a warm presence whenever she's on screen.

MBC has had a bad year (ratings wise), so I do hope this does semi-ok, esp. since historical dramas are pricer to make than normal/realistic settings.