[Spoiler alert: If you have not seen Mr. Sunshine, the article below contains spoilers. Please stop reading now if you do not want the details to the episodes.]
I’m changing up this post by combining Episode 7 and 8. Future posts will also have two episodes. Why? As you will see, one episode builds to the last scene then resolves itself on the next episode. Let me show you what I mean.
The theme for these two episodes is holding back.
Let’s look at some of the events from these episodes.
Eugene
It is only fair to start with Eugene because the theme is based on what he says to Hui-seong. Let’s jump to the last scene of EP7 and first scene of EP8.
This is the scene where Eugene and Hui-seong are having an intense conversation and Dong-mae steps in. Hui-seong knows that both men are interested in Ae-shin, so he warns them.
“I hate to start having ill intentions, at least not yet.”
-Hui-seong
Hui-seong doesn’t know yet the sins of his parents and Eugene is barely keeping it together.
“Let me give you a piece of advice. Be the man in Room 303 and nothing more. And don’t you ever put that woman between us again. Don’t talk about endurance in front of me again. It won’t end with an advice next time.”
-Eugene
Based on what Eugene says, Hui-seong hears that Eugene is enduring. But he doesn’t know just how much Eugene is holding back.
“Your grandfather said that the parent’s sins are the sins of their children. Don’t stand in between me and your parents unless you want me to make up sins that do not exist.”
-Eugene
Eugene walks away, but stops to say –
“One may think that his own problem is bigger than anyone else’s. But when there is a man in front of you whose heart has been torn out, you shouldn’t say you’re hurt. That would be a shameful thing to do.”
-Eugene
Eugene’s hurt shows here, but he is also holding back. He could easily let his anger and hatred bleed into Hui-seong, but he is trying hard not to let that happen. Hui-seong is just an innocent like Eugene was. This shows great restraint on his part. He also holds back from telling Hui-seong the whole truth. It’s a discovery Hui-seong must make on his own.
There is a great transformation in Eugene’s response to Ae-shin in these two episodes. It starts with Eugene’s intention, to use Ae-shin in his revenge against the Kim family, but it ends with him more vulnerable to Ae-shin. As he says,
“I wanted to destroy someone, but it was a way to destroy myself.” He wonders whether it was the start of a revenge or end of jealousy. Ae-shin hears it as a confession.
The moment of truth comes when Ae-shin takes Eugene’s gun to rescue her comrade, the geisha who opened the window for her when Logan Taylor was killed.
Eugene can’t stand to see Ae-shin in trouble, so he steps forward to save the woman instead. He shoots his arm and approaches the drunk Japanese soldier.
This is a proof of love scene, which comes quite quickly considering he was planning on using her for his revenge.
When he hears Dong-mae talk about shooting someone in the leg, Eugene is beyond worried. He goes to wait for her at the apothecary.
“I thought love was easy, but it’s quite hard.” Ae-shin admits.
“We can stop if it’s hard.” Eugene offers.
“We can stop anytime, so let’s not today.” Ae-shin says.
They are no longer holding back on their feelings towards each other. This is a positive for our lovers, but this is a Korean Drama. We know better than to expect that this will last. So, we must enjoy this moment.
Dong-mae
Dong-mae has trouble holding back and enduring the insult that Lee Wan-ik throws at him. Dong-mae meets Lee Wan-ik at Hwawollu and they are discussing the whereabouts of the 100,000-yen bank certificate.
When Dong-mae doubts that it will appear, Lee Wan-ik remarks:
“Do you think it’s quietly rotting away somewhere? If Japan gets a hold of that money, it could buy them the Gyeongui Railroad, which will destroy Joseon and transport Japanese soldiers to Russia. If it falls into the hands of the Righteous Army though, it’ll fund them with dynamites that could destroy the railroads.”
“And what happens if it falls into your hands?” Dong-mae asks.
“I can make the Emperor of Joseon lose his sleep. Whether Japan flourishes or fails, I ought to be the one to pull the strings.”
Dong-mae says that the real traitor was sitting here.
“What’s it to a lowly butcher like you? Just find the damn thing.” Lee Wan-ik casually waves him off.
Big mistake! Dong-mae slams the cup on the table and says,
“That’s a poor choice of words to say to a self-critical man like me. I wonder what’ll happen if I get a hold of that certificate. Will that make you lose your sleep too?”
Dong-mae’s attitude changes completely because he’s being called a lowly butcher, a scar that runs deeply. Lee Wan-ik is taken a back by Dong-mae’s sudden change in attitude.
Dong-mae goes as far as calling off their arrangement – to look for the certificate – because of Lee Wan-ik’s insult.
Joseon
We see the Emperor of Joseon with Kyle Moore and Hayashi arguing the case for their countrymen after the Japanese soldier and Eugene are put in jail. When Hayaashi accuses the Emperor of siding with the American, the Emperor is no longer able to hold it in.
“Listen carefully, Minister Hayashi. The statements of all who witnessed the attack indicate the Japanese soldier as the attacker. You’re in our country and your man gunned down two innocent people, and instead of apologizing, you complain the wound on your hands hurts more. Do you still think I side with the Americans?”
The Emperor proceeds to tell Minister Lee that the Japanese soldier will be dealt with through Joseon’s law and he will be executed. The Emperor tells Hayashi that Japan will carry out the execution and the Joseon police will observe.
Due to the state of Joseon, the Emperor has been holding a lot in. This incident has reached a point that he needed to take an action, even at the risk of offending Japan.
The Emperor becomes curious about Eugene when he hears that Eugene is a Korean. He lets himself hope that Eugene may be able to help because there aren’t many options left for him and Joseon.
Rather than holding back, he takes action and calls Eugene to court. But he does this secretly because he needs to be careful not to offend Japan.
There is a level of frustration that the Emperor has been holding back. He has been pushed to the limit and he does something we haven’t seen him do – take action.
The Emperor will be disappointed in Eugene’s response, but there isn’t much Eugene could do even if he was sympathetic to Joseon’s plight.
We see that holding back has its advantages, but sometimes holding back is not an option. Whatever reason for holding back or not holding back, those actions will change our characters and Joseon.
That’s all for today. Join me next time for Episodes 9 and 10: Hope. Even in our darkest hour, we hope that things will be fine.