Mr. Sunshine recorded the 5th highest ratings for cable television with its final episode reaching 18.129% and netting an average rating of 12.955%, which is currently the highest average rating ever recorded for cable television. The Seoul rating of 21.828% is the second-highest ever recorded for cable television.[9] It received critical acclaim for its cinematography and storytelling. Critics praised the drama for its "deep storytelling" and its ability to raise viewers' awareness of history.
The Korea Times applauded the drama for shedding light on those deemed peripheral in society, such as women and the lower classes, and for successfully laying out contradictions and hope in the fast-evolving late Joseon period; it also praised the shows strong female characters.[10]Mr. Sunshine won the Drama of the Year award at the 6th APAN Star Awards,[11] as well as Grand Prize for Lee Byung-hun.[12]
Mr. Sunshine centres on a young boy (Lee Byung-hun) who is born into slavery but escapes to the United States after a traumatic event. He becomes a United States Marine Corps officer and returns to Joseon during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea). While in Joseon, he meets and falls in love with an aristocrat's daughter (Kim Tae-ri), who is part of the Righteous Army. At the same time, he discovers a plot by foreign forces to colonize Korea and soon, he becomes embroiled in the fight for Joseon’s independence.[8]
A Joseon-born slave whose parents were killed by their landlord. He escapes to the United States with the help of a missionary and returns to Joseon as a Captain of the U.S Marine Corps and the acting consul for the United States. To his dismay, he is treated as a Korean in America but as an American in Joseon. He falls in love with a Noblewoman and gets entangled in a complicated relationship.
A son of a butcher who flees to Japan upon his parent's death and becomes a fearless samurai and member of the Musin society, which is part of a Yakuza group. As a teen, he was helped by young Go Ae-shin and for that, he is grateful and has deep affection for her.
An influential widow who runs a hotel in Joseon. She was married off to an old, rich Japanese man for money by her father. Upon her husband's mysterious death, she inherited the "Glory Hotel" and successfully operates it on her own. She is the daughter of Lee Wan-ik.
A Joseon nobleman who is considered to be the richest after the Emperor in terms of land ownership. He is emotionally tormented by his grandfather's actions and lives over a decade in Japan to avoid marrying the woman his grandfather chose for him. Once Hee-sung returns to Joseon, however, he discovers that his fiancé is Go Ae-shin and falls for her, only to realize that there is no place left for him in her heart.
A pro-Japanese Korean man who killed Go Ae-shin's parents. Born as a commoner, he becomes the minister of foreign affairs and is the father of Kudo Hina.
The drama marks film actress Kim Tae-ri's small-screen debut.[53]
The drama was first pitched by Studio Dragon to SBS, but the latter passed on the project due to financial and advertising constraints.[54]
Kim Sa-rang was originally cast in the series,[55] but backed out in February 2018 due to scheduling conflicts.[56] She was replaced by Kim Min-jung.
Filming began in September 2017 and took place in various parts of Korea including Busan, Daegu, Gokseong, Gyeongju and Hapcheon. Several sets solely devoted to the early 1900s setting of Korea was built on a 20,000 sq.m site in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, and another 6,600 a 20,000 sq.m site indoor set in Daejeon. 1000 extras were hired for a battle scene.[2][6][57]
This was originally planned in 2009 to be a sports-themed period drama set in the 1920s and 1930s, also featuring an American lead character. Shin Woo-chul, Kim Eun-sook's collaborator for the "Lovers" trilogy, was attached to be the director at the time.[58]
The series has been criticized for its inaccurate portrayal of historical facts,[59] as well as for portraying Joseon's culture as uncivilized and backwards. It has also been accused of being "pro-Japanese", of being apologia for pro-Japanese collaborators before Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and of "romanticizing" the pro-Japanese stance by portraying the character Goo Dong-mae as a member of the Black Dragon Society, a pro-Japanese organization.[60] The series has also been criticized for exactly the opposite: enforcing stereotypes of the Japanese as villains and Americans as heroes.[61]
The production house of Mr. Sunshine responded to the criticisms by stating that the organizations and characters portrayed in the series are fictional and that they will modify the character description of Goo Dong-mae accordingly.[62]
Ratings
In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).
^지승현, '미스터 션샤인' 출연확정…'태후' 이어 김은숙과 재회(공식) ["Judge Vs. Judge" Actor Ji Seung Hyun To Reunite With Writer Kim Eun Sook For Upcoming Drama]. Herald Corporation (in Korean). December 7, 2017.
^'도깨비' 윤경호, 김은숙 차기작 '미스터 선샤인' 합류 [공식입장] [Yoon Kyung Ho Joins Upcoming Drama Produced By Director And Writer Of "Goblin"]. Sports Donga (in Korean). November 23, 2017.