Guns, Glory and Sad Ending

To summarize this K-drama in 10 words or less, it'll be - 
Captivating narrative, top class cinematography, and best line-up of soundtrack.

A highly recommended drama for those who are into traditional drama back in the Joseon era. This is the least that you can expect from the writer Kim Eun-Sook and director Lee Eung-Bok's third collaboration together as of 2018. Their previous works were 2016's all hit drama - Descendants of the Sun and Goblin.

While keeping in mind that this is entirely fictional, it is still a good series to watch regardless of whether you are well versed in the Korean culture or history where Korea gained independence in 1945 after being under Japanese rule fr 35 years. This series could be a chance to educate people of the history that they weren't aware of or forgotten about. 

For those who aren't familiar, just take it as a drama that focuses on the relationship and sacrifices made namely by the Rightous Army and many others who were willing to risk their lives for a better Korea (they knew Ae-Shin had to survive to help Korea gain independence), and with the love story as its core - to witness if the American-Korean soldier choose between his country and love. 

As this is not your typical love story nor K-drama, I'll have to warn you that you should be prepared to cry your hearts out (prepare boxes of tissues ahead of time, okay?). You may find the story a bit slow-moving but I promise it'll be worth it. Here we go!

Mr Sunshine (미스터 션샤인)

The casts of Mr. Sunshine (left to right)
Go Ae-Shin (played by Kim Tae-Ri), Eugene Choi (played by Lee Byung-Hoon), Kim Hee-Sung (played by Byun Yo-Han), Hina Kudo (played by Kim Min-Jung) and Gu Dong-Mae (played by Yoo Yeon-Seok)

Rating: 8.8 (for its cinematography and the compelling narrative)
Genre: Sageuk, movies or series that mine the history and/or mythology of Korea.
Release Date: September to November 2019

Synopsis 

A drama that centers about Eugene Choi who was born into slavery in Joseon but escaped to the United States after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea). He later returns to Joseon as a U.S marine officer and falls in love with an aristocrat's daughter, Go Ae-Shin. While he's in Joseon, he discovers a plot by foreign forces to colonize Korea and soon, he becomes embroiled in the fight for Joseon’s sovereignty.

#SaraaAfterthoughts 

The Power of One's Love for Their Country

Our current state of living and our generations will never know how hard our predecessors or ancestors fought for our country's independence and freedom. What a time to be alive as we live in a peaceful country that is free of war and no blood shed. 

From a viewer's perspective, I would say that the scenes in this drama emphasized greatly on the duties and responsibilities as a citizen who may seemed powerless at first. In the first episode itself, you see Joseon men desperately fights back with broken spears and swords, throwing stones and soil (as narrated) towards the American troops while the king is seen to enjoy a luxurious meal. 

Even at the verge of losing at the battlefield, a father refused to run away even when his son urged, saying "Who will guard this place if we run away?". That's patriotism right there; the fact that these people had no fear in risking all they had to protect what is left of their homeland. Same goes for Ae-Shin who's parents who died with no fear in their eyes and are convinced that the Rightout Army will get back at the traitor.

My personal favourite highlight has to be the women in this series who are not only beautiful but strong and badass from Kim Ji-Won's cameo as Ae-Shin's mother, to Ae Shin and Hina themselves. Transforming herself from the porcelain noblewoman Ae-Shin in the day to her true personality as a freedom fighter by night, I love how determined and unwavering she is even in the face of love for her country and her man. As the role of the supporting actress, Hina (or Lee Yang-Hwa) remains a force not to be meddled with despite her elegant outlook. Her quiet strength and the power she has in pulling strings and connections (even with the king itself) just proves how influential she is as a Korean women surviving on her own during the Japanese occupation. 

All the more, this theme brings about the importance to remember the lives that were sacrificed in achieving what we have today. Even when the traitors far outnumbered the fighters, I love how the Rightous Army remained a positive outlook with this line from Hwang Eun-San when he sat with Eugene. 

"For every addition to the Righteous Army, their enemies add ten, but those ten will easily crumble. Traitors don’t risk their lives to sell their country while we risk our lives to protect" - Hwang Eun-San, the leader of the Rightous Army

While it may seem like a story of a woman's determination to protect her country with three men who were willing to risk everything they had to protect her - another way to interpret this would be how important it is to save the ones you know will have the power to 

The Old-Fashioned Love Story

It is no easy feat to maintain romantic tension across 24 episodes but I think it is established that Eugene and Ae-Shin's chemistry are portrayed since the moment they locked eyes in the first episode. You don't expect modern day flirting to happen in this drama as this is the nineteenth century, where the romance and courtship took time, long silences, and distance to develop with time. 

Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi and Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-sin in Mr. Sunshine (Photo Courtesy of Hwa&Dam/Netflix)

Not only that, there is a significant amount of acting that lies in the eyes or the expression of one's face called 'nun-chi', which directly translates to 'eye measure' (Reference). This is a unique form of communication in the Eastern culture that makes it distinguishes it from the Western culture who often speaks their mind without hesitation. You should get a hint of what nun-chi is from their poster below. The kind of acting that needs no words and involves a lot of reading between the lines. 

While all of fine actors in this series acted their characters really well, I have to say that Eugene's character (played by Lee Byung-Hoon) executed this really well as he transitions between the American and Korean sides. The subtlety in flashing a smile whenever he's with Ae-Shin and speaking his mind like an American when he needed to. 

Bromance at its Best 

As I raved about the feminine power at the very beginning of this post, I had to share the highlight about the love rivalries that turned into friendship for the three male leads - Eugene, Hee-Sung and Dong-Mae. While each of them has a certain infatuation or the idea of love towards Ae-Shin, I'm glad to see how they ended up together at the same bar as friends. 

Though I do admit that I've already missed seeing them bantering each other especially Dong Mae's line as he considers who to kill first and if he should cut them horizontally or vertically. It was hearwarming to see how their cold interactions as strangers evolve to finally clink their glasses in this moment. 

This moment is definitely one to remember about what they are 

"An American-Joseon man, a Japanese-Joseon man, and a handsome Joseon man. 

Eugene's narration that came after this scene was a beautiful summary of their journey in walking their own paths, heading towards the same destination.

“Our paths resembled us: a newspaper written in place of a will, a broken body burning through its remaining life like opium, and a foreigner who carries the Joseon flag. Between glory and sad ending, where will our destination lie? Perhaps we didn’t know how to stop, didn’t have a reason to stop, or maybe it was patriotism because the hot summer night allowed a previously nonexistent friendship to blossom.”

Cinematography and Architecture Details 

For a drama that was filmed over four seasons, it's no surprise that the production team spent more than 1.5 billion KRW per episode recreating the early 1900s outdoor set in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam province that includes buildings and transportation such as streetcars, bridges, and city walls. There's also an expansive studio involved for the Hotel Glory set and the office of the American legation. Source (1)

As for the cinematography, I'll let the photos do the justice since 'A picture paints a thousand words'. Just leaving them here because it's just too beautiful not to include.

Best Soundtracks 

Part 4: 이수현 (Lee Suhyun of AKMU) - 소리 (Sori) 

The song reminds me of every scene where Eugene is seen walking next to Ae-Shin (disguised or not). One step at a time, together towards a destination. Also, maybe the times when Eugene and Ae-Shin longs for each other. 

If I walk every day following the clouds and wind, will I see you?

That beautiful smile of yours 

Part 5: 멜로망스 (MeloMance) - 좋은 날 (Good Day) 

The heartbreaking song that always plays in the background when Eugene and Ae-Shin walked past each other 

Am I in a deep sleep or dreaming? My whole world is you

A falling light, do you know the reason why I was in pain?

Part 11: Baek Ji Young - See You Again

One of the queens of OST singing this as if it's singing Hee-Sung's one-sided relationship with Ae-Shin 

In a world I live in 

I can't call your name anywhere

Our love that was so painful 

Part 10: 뉴이스트 W (NU'EST W) - AND I 

I love how soft this song sounds and accurately sings the story of Eugene with Ae-Shin

Because I'm afraid that we'll reach a place that we can't turn back from,

Because I'm afraid that we'll end up feeling regret

Once again I hold back my tears for you

And I'll end up walking a different path

As we reach the end of this post, I just want to say that I miss them already. So adorable. 

Don't smile at me. Smile at the camera. 

As always, ending the post with my favourite quote 

"If life is a flower destined to wither, I wish for mine to bloom like fireworks"

Go Ae-Shin

Love, Sara