Historical (Fact or Fiction)

Best.

As binge-worthy as Empress Ki. 

This is the queen of dramas for intrigue, but didn't hit me emotionally like a ton of bricks like Jewel in the Palace did. Also - and sadly this is too prevalent in C-drama - the dubbing is at times incongruous. It lowers the ceiling for immersion and affect.

I've not come across many shows that had meticulously synchronised and synergised dubbing. Love Between Fairy and Devil would be one of them, and Empresses in the Palace (aka Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan) also generally does a great job.

It surpasses just about all other dramas on the list though for villainy and character transformations. It's bold in this regard, though don't expect high reason or believability, even compared to most other dramatised "true" historicals.

It's an unfinished story, otherwise it might garner even more favour.

Also, this is an interesting twist on the concept of a period drama, which I'm guessing will be grotesquely neutered in the slated 2nd and 3rd seasons due to newer Chinese rules and guidelines.

Possibly the most turbulent drama I've watched, sageuk or otherwise. No show has filled me with so much hatred or fighting spirit, rooting interest, for its characters. 

Ha Ji Won vibes with her role well enough. Her performance is solid, but her character is so fitting for all the absolute bullshit which constantly befalls her and others, with all her anger, contempt, will and determination, on her long road from Seung Nyang to Empress.

The slowly building moral dilemma and ambition of Baekan and Tal Tal plays out to one of the most satisfying plot climaxes for non-leads one could see. Yuan Emperor Huizhong's/ Ta-Hwan's (Ji Chang Wook) character is so at odds with logic and reason in a way that makes him one of the most interesting leads to watch in sageuk works. 

Impressive on many levels, whether it be the sheer scope of its story, its thrilling dynamics, its spectacular character transformations, or its inspirational characters. Sambong is just it, always compelling and brimming with charisma. Yi Bang Won is such a complex and tremendously written character, overacted somewhat by Yoo Ah In, but a fearsome anchor to this wild epoch-shifting phase of Korean history, in the passing of the Goryeo era into that of Joseon.

Quick side point...

Have come across two versions of this with slightly different soundtracks. They use the same music but different edits and pairings on rare occasions. Not really sure why this ended up being the case and I haven't come across this before with any other K-drama.

Awww yiss.

It's good and fun.

Ongoing... but pretty dank.

Only 1/3rd through...

In some ways this has the best intrigue of all the sageuks I've watched, but grew tired of this and didn't appreciate the extended runtime beyond episode 50 or so for 12(?) more episodes.

Lady Mishil (the villain) is simply immense but I never really felt like Lee Yo Won quite carried the role of Queen Seondeok — she was unconvincing in carrying the aura and vibe of a brilliant and quick-witted woman who'd eventually become a mastermind Queen and an ultimate authority. Why 6 with such high immersion and writing? I must have been harsh in light of the extended runtime. Will give this a second viewing soon.

The first half was a delight, finishing was a chore. The finale is one of the most boring and self-indulgent denouements in Kdrama. In its finale of season 1, Vinland Saga achieved more impact, evocation and emotion in a few seconds of a dagger falling to the floor from a distraught soul than The Red Sleeve managed to achieve in 10s of minutes of drawn out and bloated flashbacks. There's a problem with stagnant character developments and circular dilemmas between the leads which mires this show somewhat, despite circumstantial justification and rationale.

Patronising and nonsense script but Ga Ram and Kim Myeong kept me entertained.

Dubious and often aimless writing. Cinema is picturesque but often doesn't contribute to actual storytelling.

Shoddy acting from the MLs. Kinda fun and cool for a while but it just has no steam.