Phenomenal
Mr Sunshine has gone well beyond a drama to a masterpiece in its own right. I just finished watching it and I have to say it is easily one of the most stunning dramas that I have ever seen. The performances of every actor involved were so evolved that every character came to life in a gripping and heart wrenching manner and yet there were so many times when I found myself smiling and falling in love with even the secondary characters at the way they could still manage to find humour in such difficult times.All in all this was a story of epic proportions and a true epitaph to all those who fought so hard to keep their own national identity and independence. Thank you to all those involved in the making of this wonderful piece and to the fallen and those who continued the fight I salute you. You brought a story that needed to be told not just to the generations of those who followed but to the entire world. Well done.
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The setting of the drama is what initially attracted me. At the turn of the century, it is an important time for Joseon, where their fate for the next few decades, even up to our day and age, would be determined during that time. One of the themes that were emphasized in this drama is the injustices some Koreans went through at the hands of their people, especially due to hierarchy. This resulted in many people with a grudge against their own country, especially against the nobles.
Another very strong point about this drama is the character development. Other than the Japanese antagonistic, and the depiction of some traitors, many of the characters were given layers and layers, that you can't help but feel for. Of course, it all bloomed thanks to the talented actors behind it. Starting with Kim Tae Ri playing the character with a mission Go Ae Shin. This character could've easily become overbearing (think Gaksital FL), yet here she remains constant. As the story goes on, you can't help but be driven by her plight. And that is what happened with all 4 other leads. Eugene Choi on the other hand is the character I connected with the most. The feeling of not belonging to neither country can be lonely. You see him struggle daily trying to understand where he stands. I admired how he never felt ashamed of his origin and felt for his pain and grudge against those who caused it. Then you see his grudge falter as he is met with people that kept challenging the preconceived notion of his birthplace. Lee Byung Hun really gave his all for this character, especially towards the end.
Watching Yoo Yeon Seok after seeing him in "Hospital playlist" it is difficult to accept that is the same person. Looks aside, his character is the most pitiful and toxic. He has no problem slicing anyone in half if they got on his wrong side, yet he won't hesitate to protect them if he sees anyone being unfairly treated. The most tragic character is Kudo Hina / Lee Yang Hwa played by Kim Min Jung. Having been sold off previously like some commodity really shaped her personality. She is all about being in control, however, the one thing she could never control is the action of her parents. This breaks her time and again throughout the drama. You can also sense the sadness in her eyes. Finally, Kim Hui Sung played by Byun Yo Han was the main reason for me for starting this drama. He was the actual sunshine here. His smile lightened my day, even when you could feel the heavy burden behind it.
Of course, what made this drama memorable is a large number of supporting characters. Gunner Jang was a character I followed and rooted throughout. This story was as much his story, as it was Go Ae Sin's story of a man who rejected the leaders of his country but chose its people. He was the forever rebellious Jang. Another character that stood out is the king. He was frustrating for most of the drama, but as the story went on, you realize how helpless he felt, and how carefully he chose his actions to protect his people. Being in his place is the most crumbling experience. There were many more, too many interesting characters.
The horror of colonialism is really well exposed here. The actions the Japanese did makes you wonder if it was possible to lose one's humanity to this point. Now, I do not know if what was portrayed was exaggerated. Some instances couldn've been, while others not. However, I do know the dangers of collective brainwash. When being constantly fed on how those "other" people are less than you, your brain accepts it and you become desensitized. Seeing what my beloved Japanese people did was really conflicting. But that is the truth of becoming a colonizer. Though they suffer a lot later due to losing the war, I think that was a blessing in disguise. It helped them reflect on what they have become and change. That opportunity was never offered to those that never lost a war.
Action scenes were great overall, but especially the sword fights with Gu Dong Mae. The scenery was beautiful, and some scenes were haunting. The train scene will probably go down as one of the most beautiful scenes in my memory.
While the drama had all those great things going for it, it still took me so long to finish. I lost my motivation to watch due to the lack of direction for the story to take. Each episode was between 75 - 80 minutes, with much of it had the characters walking around and eating dessert. The actual story starts at around episodes 19-20. Yes, it took THAT long for the story to take off. That is too much fat needed to shed. There is also the mix of history and myths that bothered me, and no reasoning given for actions that took so long to be taken. For example, the Mori character made no sense. They used it to turn the Japanese colonization of Korea to be some family centuries-old conspiracy when this had nothing to do with the truth, nor the overall story. Just added drama that didn't amount to anything. The portrayal of America is also in the same vein. On one hand, it's treated like this paradise, only to be brought down to reality by our Korea-American hero. One line said really stood out:
"America & Britain lent Japan a total of $410 million dollars, and 40% of it is being spent on the war. The two countries basically forced Japan into the war. Hence, America will never help Joseon. The Russo-Japanese war will result in a great deal of profit for America”
The music was overall negligible, but there was some sweet background that brought peace to the scenes.
It was overall a good drama to watch if it wasn't for the dragginess. I do recommend it to all.
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The Best Korean Drama. PERIOD.
It's my favorite korean drama EVER. Nothing can beat this one ever. It's perfect in many ways. It's a crime not to watch and even greater crime to not like it. It's SO PERFECT! It was so captivating that after 2 years I still haven't rewatched it yet. I dwelled so many emotions and energy while watching it. Just thinking about it makes me happy and bitter at the same time. I made it my routine to listen its AMAZING soundtracks. THEY ARE MAGNIFICENT! I still listen to them every other day. Which is also the reason why the drama still feels so fresh to me. It's a top tier korean drama in every way possible. Watch it and love it. It will leave a big impact on your life and mind.Was this review helpful to you?
I've waited long enough for this drama to air last year. The moment they released its trailer, I knew that I should definitely watch it. So there came the month of July. I initially planned on watching this while it was on-going but the pacing from episodes one to nine was too slow for me. But good thing I picked it up again.
The element of getting yourselves on the edges of your seats was there, the element of anger, grievance, love, friendship, just... everything. I loved how well-rounded the characters were especially the five leads; they never tilted, they went forward to the paths where they knew they belonged.
Go Ae Sin had only one goal in her life and that was to save her motherland. Eugene Choi, a foreigner on the land of his roots, ended up saving the country who abandoned him. Gu Dong Mae loved only one woman and went on taking the road that would lead to her safety. Kina Hudo, a Japanese woman by name, yet a patriotic Joseon by soul. And lastly, Kim Hui Seong, the man who just wanted to know what his heart really desired.
This drama was like a movie extended to twenty-four episodes. The cinematograhy, the music, the costumes, the production design... everything was perfect. It was perfectly executed. The story-telling made you feel the feels, so is the topnotch acting of everyone--the support roles were really something, too. This drama was really deserving to bag the "Drama of the Year" award.
Thank you for lighting up the flaming desire in our hearts. Let us not say goodbye, rather, see you again.
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The most stunning piece of art and cinematography I've ever seen...
I cannot express enough my applause and love for this drama. It is just so full and so profound in many ways that captivated my heart and soul. The story was so well written that bound every single character in the drama, no matter how small their role was. The scriptwriter really succeeded in retelling a wartime story in such a new and passionate way. Usually, when I watch historical or wartime dramas and movies, I just consider myself as an audience and watch them because they are entertaining, informative, or dramatic. But with Mr. Sunshine, I really felt that the drama touched my heart and soul, leaving me feeling the same way with every character in the drama, and made me feel like I was just right there in the drama, standing beside these characters. The love lines between the characters are well developed, too, with portrayals of different ways of loving and caring for others. There's one thing that's interesting about the chemistry between the two main characters: even though there were almost no intimate acts (kiss or something more than that, the best they did was hugging, and I wish there was even one kiss scene), the love that both characters have for each other is very existent, it's like their affections for each other were oozing out of their eyes and body movements, it's just something that you can feel it even without having to look at it with your eyes. Really great acting and chemistry!Everything else than that, the cinematography, the OST, the scene set-up, the acting, were all top-notch. The drama gives the audience all kinds of emotions: heartbroken, happy, comical, angry, frustrated, disappointed, excited, and so on. As I said, this is a profound and fulfilling piece of artwork that deserves applause and appreciation.
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Fancy watching this during a pandemic. It's so beautiful; it took me by surprise.
Mr. Sunshine. This awe-inspiring one-season series and its many moments shined in every possible way. From its deep storytelling to its intricate cinematography. I loved it. I have watched several Korean dramas before, but this one was unlike any I had ever seen in every aspect. It was my first time to even cry while watching a K-Drama. Speaking volumes and truly setting the bar high.Story: The show takes place in late 19th/early 20th-century Korea, a time period not often depicted in Korean dramas. Yet, Mr. Sunshine fluidly combines history, action, drama, melodrama, romance, and even occasional humor. Never overbearing or overshadowing one genre over the other. Though the historical fiction aspect of Mr. Sunshine is based loosely on historical events and figures, they are well covered and bring more cohesiveness in the story. After having watched the first episode, I was hesitant to continue; it really dragged out the plot and I wondered if rest of the show would continue similarly. One episode later...I was so glad I stuck with it. There continued to be a multitude of slow-paced scenes and flashbacks in the following episodes, but they helped fill in the gaps or emphasize a foreshadowing. While mostly maintaining accuracy in the language used for the time period, the script was meaningful and witty and contained an abundance of memorable quotes. The overall story was a passionate and meticulous masterpiece writhed with metaphors and life lessons.
Acting / Cast: BRAVO! My hat's off to the main cast. Each main cast member exhibits great dedication to his or her roles, enveloping the character's personality and characteristics in each emotion. The characters are written to be three-dimensional and evolving, and the main actors follow through beautifully with that. The script includes several lines in English and Japanese (even some French). Even with these linguistic barriers, the main actors and actresses pull it off amazingly. I was especially impressed with Lee Byung-hun (Eugene Choi). It is one thing to speak English and another to act in English. Lee did both so well that I occasionally thought he was a native English speaker, as his diction and accompanying acting were clear and fluid. In terms of the Japanese spoken, I thought several of the actors were fluent in Japanese. I learned later on from a talk show, featuring Yoo Yeon-seok (Goo Dong-mae), that he and many of the actors didn't know Japanese. Instead, they had someone who was fluent in Japanese on set to critique their accents. The Korean supporting cast professionally starred in their own right. Some being familiar faces on other popular K-dramas. Continuing on with the supporting Western cast...well, they were written to be one-dimensional for the most part, more on the sidelines, more just to be there and speak English. I didn't have many expectations for them in acting and it could've been worse.
Production / Visual FX: The high quality production matches with the expensive budget. It goes all out to ensure each scene looks realistic, yet artistic. A multitude of visual effects are used, but they don't detract from the story. Several scenes are also shot in slow motion. With this in mind, the choice camera angles really contribute to the cinematography masterpiece that is Mr. Sunshine. Each shot had a meaning and if I didn't know the meaning while watching the particular episode, it would become much clearer in a future one.
Music: The soundtrack and score are top notch! The soundtrack evokes the melancholy, passion, and determination of the characters, befitting the scenes they are placed with. Not only with their tone and rhythm but their lyrics too. Another plus: the music never emanates the tackiness I occasionally hear from other romance OSTs. The majority of the OST is in Korean and, interestingly enough, some in straight English. I assume the English songs are meant to follow the current K-drama trend of including a handful of English-only songs, to allude to the "amicable" relationship that Korea had with the United States then and now, or to symbolize Eugene Choi and his existence as a forever foreigner in the show. Maybe even all. The score is very fitting to the time period and aligns well with each of the scenes' moods. I loved it all and still listen to the OST and score weeks after having finished the series.
Rewatch Value: I have rewatched the majority of Mr. Sunshine and was never disappointed. Each time I rewatched a whole episode or a few scenes from a prior one, I noticed new nuances, whether it was in character development or a metaphor relating to the culture, time period, and juxtaposition of characters. It felt like strolling through an art museum that I could never get tired of. Art that could never grow out of taste and style.
Overall: STANDING OVATION *slow clapping with tears. That was my reaction after having finished Mr. Sunshine. I would recommend this drama even to those who dislike K-dramas or who have never considered trying it out. It was that amazing.
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Finally watched it
I knew it was going to be good but having watched a lot of Joseon set dramas, I was a bit reluctant to watch yet one more. But Mr. Sunshine is one of a kind and that's what makes it powerful. We usually see period dramas with the same setting. The palace, the king, the court etc... we know the setting we know the costumes.But this drama is set in at the end of the XIXth century beginning of the XXth and the mix of costumes, cultures and languages is a feast for the eye. The actors are mixing English, Korean and Japanese (and a bit of French too!) and I loved it. Seeing this page of Korean history was really interesting.
The actors are sensational. I discovered (finally) Kim Tae Ri when watching her new drama 25/21. I tend to like feisty actresses and she's one of them. She has soul, determination and is perfect in the role of this noblewoman who will do anything for Love and Country.
Lee Byung Hun is also a discovery (late as well) and I loved his way of playing this man in quest of his identity, vengeance and ultimately, love.
The impressive supportive cast was also a fantastic addition on this period piece about love, pride, loyalty and survival.
No wonder it was one of Netflix's top series before Squid Game arrived.
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Like a combination of a museum painting and a 24 hour long masterpiece of a movie
9.5/10Writing a review for Mr.Sunshine is so hard because i don't know how to describe how it made me feel or how to articulate how good it is. Definitely the greatest historical drama or tv show i have ever watched. I''ll keep this review short in order to try to convey what i loved and why it feels like a painting + a masterpiece of a movie.
Maybe some of the best character driven shows? I know it sounds weird since is a show that is mostly moved by its plot points an historical events. But this plots and events would be nothing without how the characters are written and loved by the people that wrote this show. When i say that the people that wrote this show love the characters is obviously not because of their fates or happy things (if you watched the show you know this people go through hell and beyond), when i say it i mean that each character is given such depth and layers that made them feel beyond human.
One of the best love stories ever written hands down. Its the power of their dialogue, touches, glances and the overall chemistry between the leads that convey some of the most painful yet beautiful romances i have seen.
Some of the most interesting depictions of historical events, how they build up to a climax and how they affect everyone's life no matter how much involvement they had. There is not plot hole or moment you go "that comes out of nowhere" or "that doesn't make sense". HOWEVER, here comes the reason why i gave this show a 9.5 and not a 10. The pacing was so well done BUT in some middle episodes, specially between episode 10 - 15. I struggled a bit to get through does episodes and i think it has to do with the idea of "building" towards something. Now, its not the shows fault entirely. Those plot points in those episodes are important, but they are more of the part that builds towards the third act of the show, one of the best acts of the show. I think the pacing could have been done better in those episodes cause it were a little difficult to get into. STILL, the payoff was beyond excellent.
NOW, here is what i mean by a combination of a museum painting and a 24 hour long masterpiece of a movie. If you take all the things i mentioned prior and give them one of the key ingredients, the cinematography and direction in general, this show is unmatched. Just as a museum painting, it is a whole finished picture that can de studied and looked at forever and you will still find new things and beauty about it. And because of the direction of the show in general, and by that i mean the work of the director and how they decided to tell each shot, scene, arc, etc, is that this show feels like a masterpiece of a movie. This show feels like a love letter to Korea, but even if you don't know anything about Korea or have never been there, you can still feel the message of be proud of where you come from and be proud that you are part of what makes history exist.
Hope everyone gives this show a shot even if a lot of people are scared or put off by historical dramas. This show is what every kdrama or piece of media in general should be: stories that from start to finish were given 100% of effort, love, creativity and importance.
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Music- There were so many sad OST’s and I loved them all. There were especially two that would catch my attention and I'm not sure of the names, I would have to check it later.
Rewatch Value- It's definitely going to be lower for me. It was an emotional drama, I rarely cry when watching any dramas labeled as tragedy or sad, but this drama hit you in the feels in the very end. I can't bear to re-watch those scenes that made me cry again, but at the same time I would still want to rewatch most of it since I enjoyed it just as much as it made me cry.
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A truly Breathtaking drama.
If you are still wondering whether or not you should spend 24 hours or so of your life watching this drama, wonder no more. Those hours you spend will give you an amazing experience. If my heart had the strength I would rewatch it again already, I would rewatch all the scenes that had taken my breath away. But it seems I have to let my heart rest a bit or I might just have a breakdown haha :DThey had their moments.
And In those moments they loved
harder each and every time
So that when he’s gone
the love will last for a lifetime
As he took a step back
she took a step forward
and She did so with as much passion as his life meant to her
so she went further than he could ever imagine.
Now, she looks back and reminisces
To when they used to walk side by side
And she smiles,
Goodbye...
Surely they will reunite In better times.
Because that is love.
and see you again.
I suppose that was how I interpreted the beautiful love story between the AeSin and Eugene :) With the bittersweet love, it's a definite given that this drama is mesmerizing. For me, I have to say it's the most beautiful drama I've seen. This is something I would watch every year and still cry the same way I did the first time I watched it. The cinematography was worthy of an Oscar-nominated movie, the soundtrack was incredibly befitting, the course of the show was paced nicely, not too slow and not too fast. It was at a pace where you could soak in the warmth and meaning of the show.
All of that combined makes for a stunning drama. Every episode pulls you deeper and deeper into their world. Although many would first see it as a solemn drama, the humor is definitely alive. I often find myself laughing from all the silly shenanigans between the characters which made me quite sad later on as it makes me smile or laugh in the midst of tears.
I found myself falling in love with all the characters, especially the two leads. The characters were truly portrayed as human beings. They were layered and complex, just like us. With that and the amazing acting done by all the cast, it definitely compels you to dive deeper into their characters. The actors brought their characters into life beautifully, they all fit the role so well I can't quite see any other actors or actresses playing these characters.
This drama makes you understand and bond to the characters so much so that At the end you would feel empty without them. You'll find yourself occasionally missing the humor, the bromance between the three male leads, the badassery between the two female leads, and of course the sweet smiles shared between AeSin and Eugene.
The couple was really the sweetest. I don't really know how to describe it with justice but the romance was beautiful. It was enchanting how pure the love was, it's a different kind of love that we see in today's dramas. It was slow and warm, It was a kind of love that didn't demand, it was just giving. but it was also the kind of love that struggled between ideals, nevertheless, It was the kind of love that took pride in the little things. It was the kind of love that would stay for a lifetime. I didn't know love could be filled with so much longing and beauty. It wasn't a love story...it was more like a story of love.?
The show was also quite meaningful, portraying the pains and struggles of the past for a better and freer future in such a raw and true form. I come from a country whose past is filled with stories of struggling like this, I never really cared because you know the past is in the past but because of this drama, I learned to show a little more respect, because of their efforts and their sacrifice I can live a life with privileges.
"Thank you and Goodbye Mr. sunshine, in our independent country, see you again."
This really hit me man, it's like the team was thanking all the characters and the people those characters represented that had gone through so much pain and struggle in the past.
Thank you, director, writers, actors and actresses, the production team and everybody involved in making such a stunning drama, all of you really made me experience a roller coaster of emotions. Thank you.
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AMAZING DRAMA
At first, I hesitate to watch this drama because of the era. But when my korean friend recommend me this drama & i watch the first episode,it hooked me right away that i dont want to stop watching. As i get deeper into the story i was fascinated of what the lead are portraying. Im really not into cheesy drama so this is probably for me. It leave me sleepless night coz i can't stop myself. Im so impressed that there are not much hidden secrets from the past. I probably hate throwback on dramas, it only consume time.LOLIm definitely amazed how the lead carry on their role despite of huge age gap. Great work guys!!!
I always thank you for bringing such a wonderful drama to us audience.
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I love that one of the messages in this drama was that the next generation should not have to bear the sins of their ancestors. I have read so many cruel comments that states we should not visit Japan but please remember the message this drama was trying to convey.
I also really enjoyed the underlying tones of Karmic debt. It showed how every action taken by the leads had a sort of rebound effect that needed to be paid off in one way or another. It reminded us that every word and act of violence only added weight to your Karmic debt regardless of the reason. And that Karma would come for you...sooner or later.
Romance was one of those "blink and you'll miss it" type but it was vastly deep and heartbreaking. I think there was actually more Bromance than Romance in this drama and it added the humor that was needed to make this a well rounded piece of work. Physical intimacy was very limited but so well executed that I didn't feel ripped off. Acting was...sooo beautiful to the point it was agonizing. Every single cast member was mesmerizing.
The two female leads stole the show and it was spectacular. My all time favorite character will always be Hina Kudo/Lee Yang-Hwa. She was intelligent, loyal, fierce, brave and beautifully righteous. She is literally the epitome of what a feminist is. I could honestly go on for hours about how well written this character was as she out shined the main female lead in soo many aspects. I would love to see a spin off of her earlier life and how her and Gu Dong Mae met in Japan #praying.
As for re-watch value...I would definitely re-watch it but it is quite heavy and emotionally draining so maybe not in the near future. I'm usually into fantasy romances like TMOPB (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) but this drama really did leave me speechless. Highly, highly recommend.
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