It’s odd to see the comparative lack of buzz for tvN period patriotic drama Mr. Sunshine among the international audiences when this drama could be screenwriter Kim Eun Sook‘s highest praised drama to date among South Korean viewers and critics. The ratings are exceptionally high as well even stacked up against tvN’s other behemoths Goblin and Answer Me 1988. This past week’s episode 20 broke 16% for the first time to reach 16.5% with four more episodes remaining. Other than with the sliced by half ratings blip in episode 17 due to the finals of the Asian Games soccer match at the same time, Mr. Sunshine has maintained in the mid-teen ratings for the last few episodes and could match or surpass Goblin’s single episode high ratings in the final episode of 18.680% or Answer Me 1988 best ratings in the final episode of 18.8%. The audience feedback has been incredibly high praise for the depth and breadth of the story, eliciting plenty of tears for the patriots fighting for freedom and stirring the anger towards the Japanese imperial colonizers a century ago. Maybe this drama was meant for the homegrown audiences and if so Kim Eun Sook succeeds yet again at delivering the ratings and discussion her dramas always bring. Continue reading →