Korean Drama: Mr Sunshine Review

Mr Sunshine now has the second-highest ratings of a Korean drama on cable TV after The World of the Married. In this Mr Sunshine review, I’ll get into my thoughts on the overall story and the influence of viewers on the drama.

I was keen to watch such a popular, not to mention glossy and expensive, drama. And of course there’s the star power of actor Lee Byung-hun. 

Needless to say, the setting is very dramatic as the action takes place during the turbulent period of the Korean Empire (1897-1910).

And we join the story at the height of the action.

The hermit country has been forced to open its doors to foreign countries from neighbouring Japan to America and Europe.

And the 500 years of the Joseon period is about to come to a humiliating and tragic end thanks to foreign interference, local traitors, international apathy, and a weak monarch. 

HISTORICAL ROMANCE 

And in the middle of all this is a love story with a couple fighting their own battle. The barrier for the lovers is that they are from opposite ends of the Joseon class system.

Eugene Choi (played by Lee Byung-hon) was born into the lowest slave class. Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri) is an aristocrat whose grandfather was the emperor’s teacher!

So under normal circumstances, there is NO WAY that they would EVER be able to marry or even talk on equal terms.

But these are not ordinary times. Eugene Choi is now an American military man after escaping to the USA as a child. Ae-shin has joined the Righteous Army (patriotic freedom fighters) and spends her time practising her sniper skills rather than doing embroidery.

And so their paths cross. Class is still important, but the country’s class system is about to be turned upside down.

related posts:

Read more about Emperor Gojong and this time period.

Historically, buddhist monks also joined the Righteous Army to fight against the Japanese invasions. See calligraphy from the warrior monk Great Master Samyeong

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IDENTITY

The drama gets off to a great and intense start.

It’s also visually very appealing. So it’s no wonder that there’s an adult colouring book out (which looks rather nice.)

I was drawn in to the story and binge-watched the first 5 or 6 episodes. And I liked the mix of capable and troubled leading characters all trying to find their own way to deal with the difficult situation in Joseon.

In particular, I found the angle on the theme of identity quite refreshing:

Eugene feels that he is not accepted as Korean or American. Others refer to him as an American who ‘looks Korean’. I think feeling different or an outsider is something that many viewers regardless of nationality can relate to in their own personal ways.

At the beginning of the drama, I was also very into the character Koo Dong-mae (played by Yoo Yeon-seok), another troubled soul from the slave class.

His parents are butchers (the lowest profession in Joseon hierarchy) and after a difficult childhood he ends up going to Japan. There he joins an infamous ultranationalist group and becomes the leader of this Japanese organisation in Korea. 

BUT…

…his character suddenly changes from moody and angst-ridden to more affable with a comic side. 

So what happened? I found out that the writers had to change his character because of complaints from viewers. 

Clearly, this period of history is very sensitive. And viewers, it seems, were worried about how it would look if a Korean character joined a Japanese gang. 

“It seems like the drama is saying that there was a reason why the Black Dragon Society was so merciless against Koreans,” wrote one netizen on broadcaster tvN’s website.

Perhaps the issue was even more sensitive since this was in fact an actual group suspected of being involved in the assassination of Empress Myeongseong’.

On top of this, there was criticism about the historical accuracy of the drama too.

So the drama changed. But not for the better, in my opinion.  

THE PACE 

Also, I struggled with the pace. Perhaps because of the complaints, the shift in mood makes the drama less intense and serious. But some viewers might prefer the more light-hearted approach. Although there are still some very serious parts of course.

But in general, it’s too slow for my taste. The two leads gaze at each other (or point guns, or cry) for what feels like an eternity.

I admit the locations are impressively beautiful: on the frozen river, in the snowy street, at the luxurious hotel. And the wardrobe department is a triumph. The drama showcases the equal fabulousness of hanbok and early 20th century western fashion. The aerial camera shots are just lovely. 

So there is a lot to enjoy, but there’s too much wallowing for grumpy me. 

I think if the episodes were edited into a one hour slot the problem would be improved. (I prefer shorter episodes in general and this has been an issue with other Korean dramas on Netflix too).

After all, these episodes are around 1 hour 15 mins. So it starts to feel like the footage is being dragged out to fill the time. To be honest, I started to fast forward over those bits.

Anyway, all in all, I did enjoy parts of the drama. Visually it is very appealing. And the finale doesn’t disappoint. But I think I’d have liked it a lot more if they had stuck to the original storyline.

However, it’s one of the most popular dramas on cable TV, so what do I know?!

see more from dramasrok about life in Korea on Facebook Pinterest and Instagram 

Read more about Emperor Gojong and this time period.

Historically, buddhist monks also joined the Righteous Army to fight against the Japanese invasions. See calligraphy from the warrior monk Great Master Samyeong