3.10 - Episodes 15 and 16 of Mr. Sunshine

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 15 and 16 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Kudo Hina, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung. We discuss:

How Ae-shin and Eugene are spending a lot of time together at the start of episode 15 but by the end of episode 16, Ae-shin was asked to kill Eugene and then they’re forbidden from seeing each other.
How Ae-shin and Eugene’s relationship has suddenly become very public.
Eugene’s decision to stay in Joseon because he’s being pulled deeper into Joseon’s affairs and he wants to protect Eun-san and Ae-shin.
How Lee Jeong-moon and Eun-san order Eugene killed, and then Lee Jeon-moon asks Eugene to become the Drill Instructor for the Imperial Army.
How Eugene goes through Joseph’s affairs and discovers a box from Song Yeong, which further proves that Joseph was deeply involved in Joseon affairs and was likely running letters for the King for some time.
Dong-mae’s release, how he kills Diplomat Suzuki, and how he warns Ae-shin’s grandfather that someone destroyed his letters to the nobles.
How Hui-seung finally learns Eugene’s story, he decides to cancel his engagement to Ae-shin, and his decision to start a Korean language newspaper.
How this whole show is about forbidden, unrequited love.
The continuing bromance between Eugene, Dong-mae and Hui-seung, who are united in their desire to protect Ae-shin.
Of all the K Drama elements, the most important is the plum blossom flower, which means resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The Korean Empire and the Gwangmu Reform enacted by the King.

References:

Korean Empire on Wikipedia
Timeline of the Gwangmu Reform

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K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.

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