This review may contain spoilers
This Review is full with SPOILERS so please be aware.Well, i've been thinking the whole day in this drama, i didn't understand my feelings.
1. Acting/cast: The casting was so on point and all the characters are so well constructed (even the bad ones), the only bad thing that i got to say is that you can tell that the scenes with David McInnis weren't filmmed at the same time, because you can see that in reality he was never in the scenes where there were other characters different than the translator, the child or Eugene, probably he was never with Ae Shin (ypu can see him in a take but that's probably fixed), sometimes it happens in the dramas but this time it was very noticeable. However 10/10
2. Story: Really a beautiful story with a sad ending. I loved how they tried to represent a very difficult time. In the middle of the drama it was a bit boring, but in general the first 8 episodes and the last 6 were excellent. 9/10
3. Music: I wasn't a big fan of this OST, some songs were really great, and some others were ok. 8/10
4. Rewatch value: Not for me, because it mistreats my emotions, i'm sorry but i won't rewatch it, my heart can't handle this. 8/10
5. Others:
The cinematography and photography was so beautiful, 10/10
The bromance between the male leads and female leads 10/10
The ending, well yes i got a problem with this ending, i didn't like the way Goo Dong Mae was killed i though that he was going to die for sure but i didn't like the way he did it. Also the way Eugene dies it reminds me a little to Titanic, couldn't he jump back? 8/10
Also loved the large number of scenes between the two leads, I loved how they focused on romanticism rather than romance. I would have loved a kiss, but that does not take away the beauty of its story. 10/10
Anyway i totally recommend you to watch this drama if you love Politic and Drama and Tragedy, it is very well written and well developed. Overall 9/10
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This review may contain spoilers
A MASTERPIECE
Now I know why they called this drama a masterpiece for a reason. I wasn’t intend to watch this drama because I know that this series end with sad ending so I tend to avoid it. But they say, masterpiece need to see at least once so, here we go and I regret not watching this drama earlier :(I don’t know about the real history of Korea and whether this drama portrays the right history or not. But I think they did a good job in producing this kind of history drama. I was reluctant to watch the lead’s chemistry because of their age gap in real life but Byung-hun and Tae-ri truly outdone themselves and I’m in love with them. I was sad watching main cast (read: characters) died one by one because they have been a supporting foundation to this drama but good characters must come to an end.
I think it’s kind of sad that Eugene has to become a foreigner for a whole life. He needs to be an American or Joseon whenever they need one. I felt pity for him the most and that was until he meets Ae-shin. These two although fights for the different cause but they protect each other and that’s what I admired the most. Although their love story is not a happy ending, I do enjoy their story.
For Dong-mae, i wish he didn’t cling to Ae-shin for his whole life but if that’s the reason he live, I accept it. It’s sad to see the backstory of Dong-mae and Eugene and how Hui-seong tangled up with them. But they make a good combo and I’m rooting for them. And I love how Hina at first just want to be a watcher but then helped Ae-shin with her cause. These characters will remain a long time in my heart.
This drama may turn you off if you’re not up to historical timeline but I assure you that this historical drama is a well-built plot with amazing casts ever. Please watch it at least once in your lifetime.
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One word to describe how this drama plays out would be bittersweet. And given the context of the story, it would be almost impossible to have it otherwise.
Essentially the story dates back to the Japanese imperialism period. It strives to portray the life of the Joeson's protestors against the Japanese colonization. The historical/political aspects of this drama are in play throughout the entire drama but are mostly emphasized in the second half. There are a lot of ups and downs, a touch of humor which really kept things lively (s/o to the drinking buddies squad).
The five main characters and their dynamics were really amusing to watch. Some of the relationship developments got me by surprise. I think anyone who decides to watch this drama will connect with at least one of them. Personally, Hina Kudo's character really resonated with me.
The OSTs are beyond what words can describe, got me emotional at all the right moments. My personal favorites are:
OST Part 7: Becoming the Wind - Hyunsang Ha
OST Part 6: My Home - Savina & Drones
OST Part 4: Sori - Lee Suhyun
I think it is a personal preference, but I would suggest if you decide to watch this drama forget what you've seen of the main cast and let them paint a new canvas for you. What I mean to say, is that each cast member really makes the character their own, and I don't think I've ever seen a more suitable cast. Not only the main actors/actresses but also all the supporting cast were just.... daebak!
Mr.sunshine, it was an unforgettable 24 episode ride, you will forever leave a lasting impression. <3 <3 <3 <3
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The drama hits you hard in every pay possible..
This is hands down the best k-drama I have seen till date.Everything from storyline, acting and OSTs are splendid. Although it has a sad ending but the actions of each character seems justified & leaves an impact in the final outcome.
Cast:
Every character has aced their role to near perfection. Conversation between all the main characters, their respective actions and following repurcussions pace the show in a very balanced way.
Eugene Choi and Go ae shin's relationship and the way of embracing each other is represented in a very beautiful manner.
OSTs:
Each of the songs hits very deep. All the songs are so beautifully composed.
Glad that I watched this masterpiece and it will have a lasting presence in my memory.
Hope to watch it again sometime...
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This review may contain spoilers
It wouldv'e been a diservice if I didn't write a review for this amazing Drama. 'Mr Sunshine' is a literal one of a kind drama in which I dont think we will see a drama like this one for a long time. I'm from england so I couldn't fully sympathize with hoe bad Koreans were treated because the drama shines light on historical events, but even I got annoyed at the Japanese soldiers for the tyranny they spread throughout Joseon.This show did something ambitious and it was to make it multi-lingual to where they have multiple languages present in the show, they were; Korean, Japanese, English and French. I can only imagine how hard it was to get a cast for this show because they needed to be multilingual. Eugene's role especially because he spoke Korean, Japanese and English fluently in this show. Also, even though I disliked the Japanese characters I have to admit their acting was very good and just made the show better.
Within this show there was a clear 5 main characters and I loved each and every one of them. I loved the dynamics between Eugene, Dong Mae and Hui Sung. They all had the same women in thier heart but they just couldn't hate eachother in which Is why I loves the relationship they had. Normally in dramas thier are obnoxious characters who fight for love but neither Dong Mae and Hui Sung were bad, Dong Mae especially.
Eugene is a very complex character because he fled to America from Joseon and then comes back with America. It's quite sad for him because Koreans call him American while Americans call him Joseon so he got forced into a middle ground. Throughout the show he insisted that his motherland was America and acted on that belief throughout the whole show saying that. He even wouldn't ditch America for his love Ae Sin which shows how loyal he is to America. His relationship with Ae Sin was complicated in the fact that she was from an Aristrocrat family which means she's high up in terms of status so just the emotion of loving her was dangerous for him. You could say he got swayed by her but not fully. Even though Joseon ditched him, he still helped Joseon in some ways and I think purely that some of his actions were done for Ae Sin so she could survive. I knew that he wasn't going to live to the end of the show, it was foreshadowed alot to us with the whole 'Sad Ending' saying. So when he finally used his last bullet to save Ae Sin I coulnd't help but support his actions as it was for her safety.
Ae Sin is a very interesting character because since birth she was very interested in foreign affairs to the point she became a gunner to fight for Joseon to get thier independence back. She was also in a sticky position loving Eugene because she was engaged and also her family didn't think nicely of her having an American lover. It was my first drama that I watched from Kim Tae Ri and I was positevly suprised and I will watch out for more of her works. Her relationship with Eugene was so fun to watch because she was able to cool down and be happy when she was with him and one thing I loved was her smile and her laugh, they were just so adorable. When she said 'Mister Sunshine' that was also a powerful scene because she's basically saying that Eugene was her light and someone that lit her up. I loved how she wasn't just some weak character but she was strong and relied on herself to the point where it made Eugene look smaller than her but when Eugene stood up to the plate and sacrificed his life for her, that was the biggest act of love anyone can give to someone.
With both Eugene and Ae Sin, their relationship was amazing to watch as they had great chemisry, they wasn't the kind of couple in which kissed and showed their affection that way, all they wanted was to be with eachother and the way their relationship grew into something big was very fun to watch.
Now in my opinion, the dark horse character in this was Gu Dong Mae, I loved everysing part of his character. He portrayed a samurai amazinly and everytime he was on the screen it wasn't boring to watch. The way he was ruthless to everyone and didn't hesitate was a personality trait which defies him because of his harsh past. His relationship with Eugene was a wierd one because they both loved Ae Sin but they couldn't hate eachother as they grew fond of eachother. With Ae Sin, he was just fine seeing her and that was all it took to satify his love for her, with the whole debt thing in which Ae Sin met him every month on the 15th, that was just to see her. Personally he was my favourite character in the show and it was painful to see how pitiful he was as he faced death doors multiple times and couldn't get his love recipricated.
With Hui Sung, he was an MVP in this show as he was the one in which recorded all the events in history for people in the future to recognise the efforts and pain that Joseon went through. The sacrifices he made for Ae Sin and Eugene were very thoughtful and I truly believe that he is sincerly sorry to Eugene about what happened to his parents.
Hina was also a very good character due to how she did things and also her indescreet love for Dong Mae in which she probably realised too late before she died. I liked how independent she was and she could fend her own.
The relationship of Eugen, Dong Mae and Hui Song was very sad because Hina kept saying which out of the three would face sorrow but in the end they all died but in my opinion they did not feel sorrow because they all died for the cause of Ae Sin being alive and well and thats just what they wanted.
Even though the show does not have a 'Happy' ending per say, since the events on this drama are portraying what happened in the 1900s between Japan and Korea we know that eventually Joseon get thier indepence and become the Republic of Korea so Ae Sin acheived her goal of protecting Joseon even though we didn't see it we know it happens and we saw the hope at the very end of the show with her standing tall next to a Korean flag.
The OST in this show was very good as it created the mood and atmosphere for the show. Noticeable OST were from Sejeong, Ben and Kim Yuna which were all honestly amazing now that I'm listening to an OST right now and it makes me quite sad that I can't watch this anymore.
Overally if your looking for a very different kind of drama in which shows politics and love at the forefront then watch this show. This show also opes your eyes to some of the things that Korea had to endure against Japan.
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Eugene Choi's character is so dreamy. I love men like him. He is decisive, knows what's wrong and right and looks so good!
And Kim Tae Ri is so amazing. I love her rebellious character.
I love how the drama is not overly tragic despite the ending where I bawled my eyes out. It has it's cute moments where you yourself can sense the romance brewing between Eugene Choi and Go Ae Shin. There are also funny bromance moments all of which balance the drama so well, it's amazing. The cinematography is so beautiful too.
The love story, I would say is hauntingly beautiful. You know the futility of their situation and can understand that a future where both of them are together is next to impossible. But even then you can't help but cheer and root for them.
I even loved the characters of Kudo Hina, Go Dong Mae and basically everyone else that there was in the drama.
This drama is just all kinds of amazing
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This review may contain spoilers
Working together for the third time, Writer Kim Eun-sook and Director Lee Eung-bok forged yet again another drama into a landmark. Masterfully melded with realism and romanticism, Mr. Sunshine offers an indelible image of the waning age of the Korean Empire. By far the most ambitious K-drama ever mounted, it's a legendary saga of romance and war told in an unforgettably cinematic style.Every episode is like a mini-movie offering hardened yet vibrant characters, panoramic views, and emotionally-gripping action, climaxes, and plot twists. Further enhanced by heart-rousing OSTs, it's one of those black pearl-rare dramas that keep the viewer entranced right from the episode's very beginning and wired up to its last scene only to re-watch the whole episode again to fully savour and comprehend its magnificent scale and dramatic mystique.
Aforesaid praises aside, this drama is worth watching for the intelligent and memorable characterisations by a constellation of the brightest acting talents ever assembled. Protagonist or foe, adult or child, in main, supporting, or cameo roles - we've grown to either hate them or adore. It stars Lee Byung-hun as the righteous, enigmatic, and romantic USMC Capt. Eugene Choi; Kim Tae-ri as the sharp-shootin' spunky noblelady Go Ae-sin; Yoo Yeon-seok as the hapless romantic gang boss Gu Dong-mae; Kim Min-jung as the enchanting hotelier/fencing femme fatale Kudo Hina; Byun Yo-han as the noble-hearted dashing nobleman Kim Hui-seong; Choi Moo-sung as the hardy yet hearty gunner Jang Seung-gu; Kim Kap-soo as the famed potter/RA's revered leader Hwang Eung-san; Kim Eui-sung as the uber-wicked Lee Wan-ik; Lee Ho-jae as the venerable Lord Go; and many more.
In watching Mr. Sunshine, we've witnessed how noble, self-abnegating love works; how character is built; how unlikely friendships are formed; how loyalty is won; how cultural stereotypy of femininity is 'lunged' at and/or 'sniped'; how grace and equanimity can be maintained under surmounting pressure; and above all, how to make a difference esp. in a period of constant change and great tumult.
Two and a half hand-spans and back, we circumspectly yet excitedly nagivated the intricate terrains of Eugene's and Ae-sin's hearts as we concurrently entered into a world of history. At the end of our long journey, some of us have been left intrigued and wondering thus warranting a peer-back with critical eyes through the fog of time to re-examine important world events at the dawn of the 20th century. It is without a doubt that Mr. Sunshine not only left us overwhelmingly entertained but also edified.
Kudos to Kim Eun-sook for her astute and dynamic story-telling; to Lee Eung-bok for his meticulous and gorgeous camera work; to all the actors for their topnotch performances; to the crew for their diligent and painstaking efforts; and last but certainly not least, to fellow fans of Mr. Sunshine for helping make the drama an immensely enjoyable watch down to the last minute through your percipient comments, clever reviews, and delightful artworks.
Until next time.
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Maybe not your typical kdrama
To quote a line I heard somewhere before: This is not a love story, this is a story about love. There are no kissing scenes, there is no PDA, very little flirting. But there is more meaning in the way the characters talk to each other, look at each other, act for each other.One of the reasons I really like this show is the character interactions. You don't just care for the 5 main characters, you learn to love everyone around them as well. The first few episodes are focused mainly on the development of the character backgrounds and understanding the role of each character (because there are SO MANY). Many people got bored around the middle part which I agree I felt too. But stick to the story and it won't disappoint. Or maybe it will? Hehehe. Starting episode 14, the story really kicks off and the plot moves a lot quicker.
Maybe not everyone will like how it ends but I think it's what makes it so meaningful for me. (I still don't think I'm over this story)
If you're looking for a story with a good plot, loveable characters and great cinematography, I suggest you give this a try. You will both love and hate this drama.
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This is a drama I will watch countless times. Absolutely sure about it.I'm completely satisfied with the male lead's charming, exquisite performance. If he did not already have an fairly decent ability in English language, then he sure learned it quite perfectly for this drama.
The way Choi Yoo Jin mesmerized me with his manners, his looks, his perfect devotion to the female lead. I think it's one of the best performances from a male actor I've seen in Korean dramas. Any woman would love him, any King would honor him. And surely anyone would want to be defended and protected by him.
I haven't seen Kim Tae Ri play in dramas. It surely is something to regret, I'll fix that mistake quickly.
She plays with this fervent fire and dedication, that you might see in other actors, but at first notice, I can't think, who would fit more perfectly into this role. The gentle yet unbending nature of the role is perfectly acted out by this female lead. When I looked her play Go Ae Sin's role out, it made me want to be her. The courage emerging from fear and doubt, with such victorious indignation. It takes me a step farther, to look at women of that society more closely and to ardently admire of the nature of women in all the times of the world.
Not as a feminist, but just as a fair judge of character, I wonder, how many people with this kind of nature have there ever been in this world and will there ever be...
Also I would like to point out that, when in a hurry to get to the plot's important moments and as usually a person with busy life, there was not a moment in this drama, that I had the heart to skip. Everything fitted so perfectly. There was not a moment that would have left a question mark, as why would they add this or that scene here/there. And this is one of the most important points of any drama. How well does the story flow and how much does it make you want to skip to the important parts. This, for me, had not a second of it.
Also, one extremely important point. The side characters, everyone was important for the story. They added coulor's to the story, that will make it possible to remember them as much as the male/female lead.
Not just the lead actors, but also every other actor was perfect for their position in this drama.
Hope you like the review :) This is just how I feel :)
#BTW! Music is over the top. You can just drown into the emotions and the deep feelings in the drama's OST!
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What makes this show perfect?
The historical significance and symbolic.
The dialogues and the keenness of details. The balance of fast and slow pacing.
Stunning and talented cast. Even the minor roles are significant.
The epic cinematography.
A classic beautiful romance.
Classy and intellectual comedic.
The production quality is no joke.
Patriotism. Comradely. Friendship.
Mr.Sunshine is a true piece of art. It would always be in my heart. HAIL to all of those who fought and died for freedom!
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This review may contain spoilers
For the first 10 episodes or so, I was a little lukewarm toward the series, mainly because I found the pacing to be a bit slow, and I wasn't on board with the main ship yet. However, my decision to persist was the best decision yet. I grew to love not only Gu Dong Mae (I'm obsessed!), but also Kim Hui-Seong, Eugene Choi, Lady Ae-Sin, Kudo Hina, and all those side characters as well. This drama is so heavy, and at times so light and uplifting. It has left me with so many feelings with my heart. I'm overwhelmed and utterly impressed by this experience. Others have said so much about this drama, but I just have to say this:
Humor is 10/10, and this is coming from a person who is very skeptical of humor in k-dramas. But this was so well-done, everything from Interpreter Im and Do-Mi, to the bromance between Eugene, Dong Mae and Hui Seong, to Ae-Sin's struggle to learn English. I'm left wanting a special episode for each of the main characters that I wanted to learn more about; namely Gu Dong Mae and Kudo Hina. I really, really wanted to learn how Kudo Hina came to be who she is when the drama begins. If you're looking for complex characters, this is the series to watch.
Acting 10/10: All characters, main or secondary, completely owned their roles and became them.
Cinematography 10/10 ... need I say more? Every shot was breathtaking.
Plot 10/10 I freaking love historical narratives.
Romance 9/10 I didn't buy Hui Seong's love for Ae Sin (that was too abrupt and I don't believe in love at first sight), but the Ae Sin - Dong Mae interactions were full of tension, and the Ae Sin Eugene interactions always made me smile. It was adorable and heartbreaking.
Pacing 8/10 If you're like me, you'll get impatient with the drawn out scenes where a character just stares into the distant with a pretty background and a melodic OST blaring in all its glory. I just zoomed past those, but there were too many of such scenes and I hungered for more action ... which I got after episode 12 (so hang on!).
I really liked how the drama portrays class conflict between characters entangled with political/military conflict and nationality. Eugene Choi is a Korean-born American captain who seems to struggle with how he should approach his feelings toward Joseon, a country that failed to protect him and his family. Ae-Sin is a noblewoman who is deeply loyal to her country, but is stuck between the patriarchal restraints on women, the need to pick up a weapon and fight, and a complex relationship with lower class like Gu Dong Mae. "The hierarchical system is destroyed, but we can't change our roots. Once a slave, always a slave." The series doesn't merely portray the unfailing courage of Joseon in the face of Japanese imperialism, it also highlights some key problems of the Joseon society. In Joseon there are the lower class butchers and slaves who are so oppressed they can't even protect their own children, there are traitors who are keen to sell Joseon to Japan, there are those who turn against their own parents and choose to be loyal to their country, and there are those who leave their country to survive, only to come back and take revenge against those who oppressed them.
This drama truly deserves the high ratings and accolades it's gotten.
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