This review may contain spoilers
My So Ji Sub fix while waiting for week 3 of Agent Kim Reactivated
This review is being written in July, 2026, thirteen years after The Master's Sun aired. I understand it was a hit when it aired and catipaulted the most excellent So Ji Sub's career. To be fair to the writer, neither Netflix nor Viki had great subtitles. Sometimes, I was confused about what exactly Joong Won was saying to Tae Young. Maybe my review is stunted due to the subtitles because I know the Korean language has much more depth than English with fewer words, causing cultural nuances to be missed entirely.
Before I continue, I have to stop here and say So Ji Sub has aged very gracefully ;-). I did watch this for So Ji Sub so I wouldn't go through withdrawl between episodes of Agent Kim Reactivated, and I stayed not only because of him but because I am a die-hard watcher who seldom drops a KDrama.
The story itself was good but not great (noting the subtitling issue). I have watched many dramas from the same time period that were much better in terms of character development, acting and overall storyline. Most of the characters in TMS were 1-dimentional, with the exception of KHJ whom I felt brought much more depth to Gong Shil than Ji Sub brought to Joong Won. Having said that, Kong Hyo Jin and So Ji Sub were both good in their respective roles - acting as the writer and director wanted. However, because of the stiffness of Joong Won's character, I wasn't convinced of the chemisty between SJS and KHJ. Ji Sub was stiffer than I've seen him in other dramas so I had to atribute his peformance here more to the directing than to him. I also didn't see much of a change in JW's character arc even in the last episode. Love makes people do crazy things, some that are utterly contrary to their character. I was expecting to see, at least a couple times, where he completely crumbled in her presence, casting all fear and/or pride aside. I actually didn't feel any attraction to Joong Won.
I remarked to my sister a number of times how Gong Shil was fearful but bold; (1) in her fearful reaction to the ghosts followed by her absolute need to help them in spite of JW's objections; and (2) how she touched Joong Won out of shear desparation regardless of his efforts to push her away. She even endured JW's aunt's lectures and Yi Ryung's bullying without backing down. I loved how she was comfortable with Kang Woo. To me, they were the better match. Yes, I had Second Male Syndrome. His warm, loyal, protective personality was no match for the abrassive, needy, empty Yi Ryung (Kim Roo Yi).
Gong Shil's mysterious past was mentioned enough times raising more than a little of curiosity about her - and in my mind, full anticipation that we'd find all thar out. With 17 episodes, almost no time was devoted as to why she was able to see ghosts. That would have been worth parts of 2 or 3 episodes to see flashbacks of her in the mountains, being rescued, and the ensuing recovery. In Episode 15 or 16 we should have seen flashbacks of her spirit traveling with photographer Woo Jin Woo (where is the most hansome Lee Chun Hee these days??). We needed more details to feel greater empathy for and understand of her. It would have been nice to hear Kang Woo (good early acting by Seo in Guk) or Secretary Kim (by the wonderful Choi Jung Woo) tell Joong Won what really happened to her 7 years ago and to see his reaction when he learned she spent 3 years in a coma. Scenes with these details are what would have brough greater depth to our ML's. As it was Won Jin Woo's introduction into the story felt like a weak segway into yet another delay to the final climax of them becoming a couple. WJW's character was more than just a segway, he was critical to the next part of GS's growth journey. He almost gave me Third Male Lead syndrome, BTW.
There were plenty of flashback (teasers) aboutJoong Woon and his past, and yet. not enough understanding about the deeper reason why he had no relationship with his father who appeard to be useless to the plot. The actress who played Han Na was utterly unconvincing which made the entire culmination of the main plot about Cha Hee Ju also unconvincing. The poor acting for me caused this part of the story to fall completely apart - and then we came to the immediate segway of Gong Shil leaving with WJW.
The production itself (cinematography, sets, camera angles, etc.) lacked, as the settings appeard to be actual film sets and not true offices, living rooms, or bedrooms. The costuming was also not up to par with other dramas of the same period. It appeard to me this drama was in production as it was being aired (like 3 or 4 episodes ahead of airing). The music itself was good, supporting emotions as appropriate and not distracting to the story, I can get through a mediocre production if the story and the acting are both good. However, the story had a good premice but the execution was mediocre. The acting by the cast as a whole was mixed as I didn't feel most of the actors' performances and interactions came off as natural.
You might like it better than me. because, well..., So Ji Sub is still So Ji Sub.
7/10
Before I continue, I have to stop here and say So Ji Sub has aged very gracefully ;-). I did watch this for So Ji Sub so I wouldn't go through withdrawl between episodes of Agent Kim Reactivated, and I stayed not only because of him but because I am a die-hard watcher who seldom drops a KDrama.
The story itself was good but not great (noting the subtitling issue). I have watched many dramas from the same time period that were much better in terms of character development, acting and overall storyline. Most of the characters in TMS were 1-dimentional, with the exception of KHJ whom I felt brought much more depth to Gong Shil than Ji Sub brought to Joong Won. Having said that, Kong Hyo Jin and So Ji Sub were both good in their respective roles - acting as the writer and director wanted. However, because of the stiffness of Joong Won's character, I wasn't convinced of the chemisty between SJS and KHJ. Ji Sub was stiffer than I've seen him in other dramas so I had to atribute his peformance here more to the directing than to him. I also didn't see much of a change in JW's character arc even in the last episode. Love makes people do crazy things, some that are utterly contrary to their character. I was expecting to see, at least a couple times, where he completely crumbled in her presence, casting all fear and/or pride aside. I actually didn't feel any attraction to Joong Won.
I remarked to my sister a number of times how Gong Shil was fearful but bold; (1) in her fearful reaction to the ghosts followed by her absolute need to help them in spite of JW's objections; and (2) how she touched Joong Won out of shear desparation regardless of his efforts to push her away. She even endured JW's aunt's lectures and Yi Ryung's bullying without backing down. I loved how she was comfortable with Kang Woo. To me, they were the better match. Yes, I had Second Male Syndrome. His warm, loyal, protective personality was no match for the abrassive, needy, empty Yi Ryung (Kim Roo Yi).
Gong Shil's mysterious past was mentioned enough times raising more than a little of curiosity about her - and in my mind, full anticipation that we'd find all thar out. With 17 episodes, almost no time was devoted as to why she was able to see ghosts. That would have been worth parts of 2 or 3 episodes to see flashbacks of her in the mountains, being rescued, and the ensuing recovery. In Episode 15 or 16 we should have seen flashbacks of her spirit traveling with photographer Woo Jin Woo (where is the most hansome Lee Chun Hee these days??). We needed more details to feel greater empathy for and understand of her. It would have been nice to hear Kang Woo (good early acting by Seo in Guk) or Secretary Kim (by the wonderful Choi Jung Woo) tell Joong Won what really happened to her 7 years ago and to see his reaction when he learned she spent 3 years in a coma. Scenes with these details are what would have brough greater depth to our ML's. As it was Won Jin Woo's introduction into the story felt like a weak segway into yet another delay to the final climax of them becoming a couple. WJW's character was more than just a segway, he was critical to the next part of GS's growth journey. He almost gave me Third Male Lead syndrome, BTW.
There were plenty of flashback (teasers) aboutJoong Woon and his past, and yet. not enough understanding about the deeper reason why he had no relationship with his father who appeard to be useless to the plot. The actress who played Han Na was utterly unconvincing which made the entire culmination of the main plot about Cha Hee Ju also unconvincing. The poor acting for me caused this part of the story to fall completely apart - and then we came to the immediate segway of Gong Shil leaving with WJW.
The production itself (cinematography, sets, camera angles, etc.) lacked, as the settings appeard to be actual film sets and not true offices, living rooms, or bedrooms. The costuming was also not up to par with other dramas of the same period. It appeard to me this drama was in production as it was being aired (like 3 or 4 episodes ahead of airing). The music itself was good, supporting emotions as appropriate and not distracting to the story, I can get through a mediocre production if the story and the acting are both good. However, the story had a good premice but the execution was mediocre. The acting by the cast as a whole was mixed as I didn't feel most of the actors' performances and interactions came off as natural.
You might like it better than me. because, well..., So Ji Sub is still So Ji Sub.
7/10
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