24 over-one-hour-long episodes flew by. This I the first drama I've watched where I never skipped a scene once. I admit I was more interested in the romantic subplot(s) than in the general historical plot – also because I already knew what sad and terrible history Korea was about to go into so I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat – but the political scheming was never boring, and the villains and the antagonists were never flat or too stereotyped.
Also, this drama had zero drama clichés, or at least they were very sparse. No stupid misunderstandings or jealous rivals; no clueless female protagonists or jerk male heroes; no situations that make you cringe or roll your eyes. It had more of a movie feeling than a TV drama's.
Every character, especially the main 5 (Eugene, Ae-sin, Hina, Dong-mae and Hui-Seong) was interesting and well-rounded and I really empathised with them all.
The funny bits were actually very funny, and the product placement was sparse.
The music and the cinematography were outstanding – though regarding the latter I think they put all their effort in the first half and the second half doesn't have as many gorgeous or iconic shots. If I have to think of the shots of this drama that are iconic for me, they're all in the first 15 episodes.
The acting was really good, with Kim Tae Ri and Byun Yo Han shining the most in my opinion.
I only gave 8.5 to the story because, just like with the cinematography, I had the impression it wasn't as strong in the second half. It got slower around episodes 15-20, then it got a bit more predictable and sometimes it felt like they didn't have a clear idea where they were going with some storylines. I also wish the ending was different in a couple of aspects. But overall it was a very solid story and they managed to juggle well the personal stories with the political/historical background.
I'm keeping this review spoiler free but in the next paragraph I will go into more detail about things I didn't like so if you want to stay 100% spoiler-free please stop reading.
I've already said that Mr. Sunshine is amazing and listed the good things, but I have a few small complaints I'd like to mention as well.
First of all, I'm a little disappointed that the romance subplot became less and less relevant as the episodes progressed, especially towards the end. While this won't matter to those who watch this drama mainly for the overall story, I'm a sucker for the romance and I wish the relationships had progressed a bit more. I think there were things that could have been done but sadly were never explored.
Second, towards the end they introduced interesting new characters and situations that were left as loose threads and never brought to a closure. That was also a bit disappointing.
I'm also a bit bitter about how a particular character's arc (my favorite character, actually) ended, and I think that, again, there was still a lot of unexplored potential there.
In the end, I'd give 10/10 to the first half of Mr. Sunshine and 8/10 to the second half, so my overall vote is 9. If I'm ever gonna rewatch this drama, I'll probably only rewatch the first half.
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I have watched over a 100 dramas and this is the best one
The acting, music, writing, scenery, characters, storyline. Everything is absolutely perfect in this drama. After watching 100+ dramas, I have only rated 1 other show a 10. It is that good.It does take like 3 episodes to get into it, because they're starting slow with the background story, but after that you'll be hooked!
I also never rewatch dramas, but this one and Reply 1988 were the ones I watched two times and would recommend to everyone. The characters are very fleshed out and likeable and compared to other dramas that get worse in the second part, this one only gets better. So if you're considering watching thisn I would absolutely recommend it!
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The Best of The Best
This historical drama exceeded my expectations: it was such a masterpiece.How come I neglected this through the years of rummaging all the high-rated k-dramas and just decided to check it out this day? I couldn't believe I had never given this a chance for years.
The intro was great — their backstories entangled with true-to-life scenarios during the pre-colonial period of Joseon. The portrayal of each character was so well done, especially the leads - they were exceptional. Some characters also stole the show - that I never got bored watching each scene as it shifted with every story and role they portrayed. One of the most striking ones is Kudo Hina (what an amazing actress). She really nailed it from the beginning till the end.
This is just pretty heart wrenching and made me breakdown down a couple of times. It was traumatizing at times, but I commend this series for being such eye-opening to us viewers that this story was also based on true events in history. There were lots of symbolism shown throughout the show (whether some objects emphasized or the characters themselves), which made it more interesting, especially when everything was already topnotch - from the editing, cinematography, to the setting.
I would also like to point out the romance of the two leads as it was such a rare sight to witness a pure love story without having skinships and unnecessary cheesy scenes. It was pretty realistic and a breath of fresh air for us. The actors have done a great job with their characters. The chemistry was there, and the way they delivered their lines to each other was so emotionally convincing. One foreshadowing line I can't forget from Eugene is that "Eventually, no one's ending will be a happy one."
This show reminded me how our ancestors also protected our homeland and fought for the future of the country that was victimized by colonization, as well. We can't attain the freedom we enjoy today if they didn't risk their lives to achieve it. This was like an inspiring tribute to all who fought for independence during the colonial era. I would love to watch this again, but with some companions to know what they think of this series.
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It was something that stayed on my watchlist because I wasn't sure if I wanted to potentially waste my time on a too-serious historical drama, but... it took my by surprise.
It was like a gift had fallen into my hands. :)
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Mr Sunshine kdrama as your Gun, Glory, and Sad Ending
If you are a kdrama addict, you would know what kdrama the title is all about or maybe, it’s a familiar phrase you heard to someone. The title itself basically summarizes the entire concept of a hit South Korean Drama of 2018 – Mr. Sunshine.I am writing this article after finishing the series, the feeling of pain, and how I cried a bucket of tears – emotions rushes throughout my body. I’ll tell you that Mr. Sunshine is the most heart wrenching and satisfying ending for me out of all kdramas I’ve watched. This is a kdrama that you shouldn’t miss.
This is not the first time I cried watching kdramas but this is the first time I felt that it needs to be broadcasted (posted here) – kdramas may be fictional, but you can’t deny the fact that it influences you mentally. How you view things may differ from one another but it teaches you to understand them in any way you can.
So before it goes south in what I am supposed to talk about (lol), let me introduce to you the main casts, what I love about them, their characters and how it makes me realize many things. I’ll try my best not to make a slight mistake. ( NO SPOILER)
• Eugene Choi‘s character in the story is a commendable, serious, and courageous man. He is the epitome of a great and noble man who was born in Joseon, left in Joseon with a broken heart, then returned to his homeland to fight for what is supposedly for Joseon. He is a man with a heart, action, and dedication to save his homeland that was once abandoned. This man made me realize that at the end of the day, we go through different routes but one thing remains, the affection we feel towards someone or something. It’s just there, always there, it may not be so blooming, and bright right now, but it will, someday.
• Go Ae Shin‘s character is so impactful that it made me think about the situation of women during the war of every nation. To wield a sword is a hard task, and a woman. However, she debunks that culture in the story. Who would’ve thought that a noble woman can kill an enemy, and can change the future of Joseon? She protects the people of Joseon, especially those people who can’t voice their opinions, as she thought that no one in her homeland can protect them against Japanese and Americans but only their fellow citizens. Her character and her story is a reminder for us that women can also lead, women can also be the future of something a country should be proud of, women can also do what men can do. Women can be dangerous too, always remember that.
• Gu Dong Mae is a powerful, skillful, and fearless one. He doesn’t want anyone to go on his way. He doesn’t hesitate to kill – either a Joseon man, or a Japanese man, a soldier or a highborn man as long as they did something wrong. I didn’t know that I would fall in love with Gu Dong Mae’s charisma. A coldhearted beast yet a protective man to people he loves. He doesn’t usually show his emotions, but once you’ll see it, it will strike you directly to your heart – happiness, distress, and sufferings. He realized that no matter how evil a person is, there was once a ‘good’ heart there. It is just buried deep through time, and it also takes time to burst it out in the chest.
• Hina Kudo‘s character is an independent woman and a remarkable one. She suffered a lot but she stood without the help of anyone and that’s what makes her great. She was born in Japan, but both of her parents are Joseon people. She used her amazing skills in calculating, deducting clues, and even one of the people who are the most trusted by the king. At first sight, she seems coldhearted but never judges her just because of that – in the back of that name, fancy clothes and accessories, there’s ‘her’ that can be a huge help for a great cause. She made me realize that don’t allow everyone to spit you in the ground, stand, know your track, and get back on them if the opportunity allows you.
• Kim Hui Seong‘s character development in the story is a really good one. From a man who always has flowers in his hand, to a pen, turned into a gun. From a noble family and yet he chose to live independently far from his parents. He suffers from what happened in the past and yet he also shows his killer smile to everyone. He’s a happy-go-lucky man but he knows where and when to be serious. What I realized from his character is that you may have everything physically but there’s always that emptiness mentally. Do what makes you happy and influence others to be filled with happiness also.
Mr. Sunshine has a lot of characters from American Legation, Japanese Legation, the people of Joseon, the Righteous Armies, and their families. Each one of the characters aren’t there just to give exposure to the main characters, they are designed to achieve a greater cause in the future of Joseon.
Each character has a story to tell and it makes Mr. Sunshine exquisite and a classic kdrama you should not miss.
Gun, Glory, and Sad Ending is not just a word, not just a phrase, not just about a kdrama. This whole thing is all about the freedom they want to achieve in their homeland. These three are the weapon, the fulfillment, and mostly the ending of every nation that were colonized. (Joseon in Mr. Sunshine)
Guns as weapons to fight for what is yours. A great fight for the future. A weapon that could be the death of your enemy or your death.
Glory as a sense of fulfillment. The fact that you are fighting for your country’s liberation means you are a hero. Fulfillment is not about indulging yourself for something, alone. It’s all about the great camaraderie you have with people.
Sad Ending as an ending we ought to be in that kind of story. In a war, there’s always the one who wins, and the one who loses. The sad part is hundredths or thousandths of lives are at stake every time. Either you will die fighting for your own people or you will die in the hands of your enemy without even using the GUN as a weapon and the sense of GLORY you’d bring in the future for your country.
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Overall, this is definitely a gem and one of the best-produced Korean dramas out there. If you enjoy beautiful shots, historical shows and good quality dramas in general, please pick this one up and watch it. It will forever be remembered and quoted by me anyways!
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A beautiful romance that always find its way home in tragedy and sadness. Mr. Sunshine shows how far one can go to protect the thing you love, your country, your people, and the one you truly love. It depicts love that forgets its social status, work position and birth right, but every choice they made to pursue such love reminds them of all the things they tried to neglect.
Mr. Sunshine achieved its high caliber quality through its great cinematography, good story and right casting. I can never wished for more to its casting especially the five main leads. All those artist except Yoo Yeon Seok, are not familiar with me. I’ve seen Lee Byung Hun but never got a chance to watch his dramas, but because of Mr. Sunshine I will. I think his comeback on the small screen, really means that he really trusted this project. At first look, I really don’t find any chemistry with the main couple, or to any main leads. But after I watched it, I can never wished for anyone who will act for those main lead characters. The support characters are worth mentioning for they take the whole drama to next level. I really love Gunner Jang.
The drama runs on 24 episodes for 70-80 minutes long. It is longer compares to other drama. I think it can have less scenes to lessen the number of episodes but it will spoil the sincerity of each scenes. The background view, the stare, the silence, the flashbacks and every second of this drama is truly breathtaking.
One of the most tragic ending for all the characters but a happy ending for Joseon. As much as how heartbreaking main leads’ fate have been, it still such a great finale.
P.S. And I of Nuest, one of drama’s OST brought me here.. And I will be forever thankful for that. Every OST in this drama is such a good tracks.
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read my full review here: https://drammmajjigae.com/2018/11/23/mr-sunshine/
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CANNOT begin to describe how beautiful this show was. Extraordinary is an ordinary word for this show. A masterpiece, so unique and so so beautiful in each and every aspect of the willingness of this show to be beyond its imaginary reach.This drama has so much potential and great cast. I watched the lead's movie sometime back, "I saw the Devil" and instantly liked him. In this show, he looks much more mature and is paired up with a fairly young actress, but they make a striking pair. I was rooting for them all along.
The story is a massive hit. Other characters play their parts almost brilliantly, there is nothing I dislike about this show.
Must watch, it is beautiful!
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Utterly Glorious, Must-Watch Brilliant Masterpiece full of Historical Importance - PURE GOLD
"The first English words she learned were gun, glory, and sad endings."I'm not even sure where to start talking. EVERYTHING about this drama is excellent. It's got it all: Beautiful cinematography (the COLORS, the SETTINGS, the COSTUMES - ALL stunning), a perfect cast, intricate and complex plot/s (absolutely zero fillers - the intensity and suspense is Off The Charts), diverse characters with amazing dynamics, all the while immersing you in the historical setting and times of (the end of) Joseon Korea.
It's a time of shifting allegiances and complex politics and the inevitable shift from the ancient, dynastic/aristocratic society to the brave new modern world of electricity, trains, and guns. Not to mention the shift of power from the Joseon royals to colonialist, imperialistic Japan.
Love the fact that there are so many various nations and languages presented here in their original languages and cultures. The cultural crossroads being presented is flawlessly done. Not to mention the fact that characters from essentially all walks of life/all classes/backgrounds you can imagine are represented in their own right. All of which make for some extremely interesting and fantastic relations on-screen.
Probably the most beautiful and rewatchable historical kdrama ever. I love it so much that I want to imprint it in my mind and relive ALL the moments (actually I had rewatched many episodes twice already). Absolutely wrecked me with how solid it is. I love each and every one of the main characters: all very relatable and all very heartbreakingly REAL and ICONIC in their respective ways. There's family, friendship, bromance, companionship, brotherhood, (slow-burn and honestly THE MOST romantic) romance/s, and heartwarming and funny banter to balance out the seriousness of it all: it doesn't pull any punches in its intensity and realism.
Some may complain a bit about the pacing: I actually like it for what it is because the slower, more drawn-out scenes allow me to reflect back on previous, more fast-paced scenes and information. And also I think it's a great opportunity to ponder about what the characters are thinking (but which they're not saying aloud). No minute feels wasted here.
I've seen the other two Kim Eun Sook and Lee Eung Bok team-ups - GOBLIN as well as DESCENDANTS OF THE SUN - and those are great. Yet this is a Whole New Level in yet another completely different genre.
The more I think and reflect on this show the more I love it and appreciate its brilliancy and exceptionalism. I feel honored to be able to journey alongside these beautiful people.
Definitely the gold standard for historical dramas. I will never get over it.
"The steps we took resembled who we are.
The article one wrote instead of a will. Opium that burned through one's broken body in the amount of the life he had left. The Korean flag that was given to a man who was forever a foreigner.
Will our final destination be somewhere between glory and a sad ending?
Maybe we just didn't know how to stop. Or perhaps, we had no reason to stop. Maybe it was love of our own country."
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This series cinematography and visuals was what got me hooked. It felt like I was watching a high budget Hollywood production, each episode felt like a movie in itself. Casting was on-point maybe except for Ae-sin who I think have very soft features to be a gun slinging sniper. At times she looks like a teenager who seems out of place in that chaotic Joseon era. The main characters deep and tragic history and development was superb. However, the main fault for me was that having the 3 male leads with such powerful characters go after Ae-sin.
I mean, I get their deep history with her but I feel like a more interesting storylines could have been explored if the plot did not stick to this "love quadrangle" until the very end.
Ae-sin's passiveness and poker face acting just didnt do it for me. There was Hina who was a unique lovable character but Dong-Mae failed to even realize her love for him because he just had to get Ae-sin. I cried so hard when Hina died in Dong-Mae's back while confessing her feelings to him. They were not even given a single day to spend together after she waited for him for 3 years ?.
The finale made up of the last 2 episodes were just dang good! I mean I have never been satisfied with a kdrama ending like this for a loonggg time. As expected in a war death came and a piece of my heart died with each characters passing. Each death may seem rushed at the end but it was artistic and meaningful and heart wrenching to the core. Ae-sin as the last man standing was as it should be. All in all this is a series definitely worth watching! ❤
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Beautiful but ultimately hollow symbolism
I have finished watching MR SUNSHINE, and there was so much that I loved about this prestige kdrama. The writing of the heroine was SO good in how it discussed and defied some of the worse kdrama-heroine tropes. There was amazingly trenchant and deeply nuanced social criticism, gorgeous cinematography, lots of fascinating history, the warmest and most positive depiction of Christianity I've ever seen in a kdrama, men who drink respect women juice, the beautiful and angsty Gu Dong-Mae, FABULOUS period clothing, and rivals in love learning to put aside their differences in favour of shooting imperialists.But the show has a major flaw - a flaw that was particularly interesting to me, because it's the precise sort of flaw that I would be most prone to. The screenwriter, who does such brilliant work in so many other ways, is clearly most fascinated by the themes and symbolism she keeps bubbling away in the story's subtext. The problem is that these themes and symbolism - which delightfully clever - are not actually supported by the storytelling, and particularly by the characterisation.
And it's a really fun, rich, resonant bit of symbolism: Ae-Sin is not just a character in the story, she's the living embodiment of Joseon Korea. She's beautiful, desirable, noble, privileged, gradually awakening to a life of hardship and struggle and resistance. Each of the three male leads in the story has a different complicated relationship with her. Eugene has run away from Korea, but returning as an adult cannot help falling in love with the land and the people in defiance of the nobility who mistreated him as a boy. Gu Dong-mae was horribly oppressed by his homeland but cannot help loving it anyway; the Korea which oppressed both men also saved their lives through small acts of kindness. And finally, Hee-Sung, Korea's richest son, is her approved betrothed, but past injustices committed by his family against the people Ae-Sin cares about stand between them. The three men fall in love, not with Ae-Sin, but with their homeland. They express their love for the woman by sacrificing themselves for the homeland; in dedicating themselves to her, they cannot help dedicating themselves to the fight for freedom.
This is why the story had to have a sad ending. None of these men can espouse the whole country; they can only die for her, while Ae-Sin - Korea itself - lives on, alone and victorious, even in exile.
This symbolism is itself delightfully rich, deftly painted, and rewarding to think back upon once you see it. There's only one problem: it doesn't. make. sense.
From the very start of the show, I felt a little impatient with the writing because the relationships between the heroine and her three suitors are so poorly developed. The feelings come out of nowhere. Take Gu Dong-Mae, for instance: he last met this woman when she saved his life as children. Now, it just takes a brush of her dress across his fingers to get him pining madly for her. Hee-Sung, after avoiding her for the best part of a decade, gets one glimpse of Ae-Sin at the washing-line and just like that conceives an undying passion for her. The central relationship, between Ae-Sin and Eugene, doesn't fare much better. The problem is that the story demands each of the male leads to sacrifice himself for Ae-Sin by the end of the show, and I simply couldn't understand why they should. They all have multiple other women pining for them, and Ae-Sin doesn't give two of them the slightest encouragement to hope. I wanted them so badly to find happiness with one of the other women, and they never did.
What MR SUNSHINE needed was not primarily rich and complex symbolism - it was believable characterisation and relationship development. As it was, the lack of substance to the relationships cheapened the grand historical tragedy which was being told. When at the climactic moment the last of the three leads sacrifices himself for the heroine, it felt cheesy and unintentionally funny, rather than tragic.
I loved so much about this story, but the heart of it never clicked for me, and it's a crying shame that with all that budget and talent, it wasn't better written. And that, for me, will be the central tragedy of MR SUNSHINE.
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