6.0/10

Prince Dowon is so enchanted with Goo Hae Ryung! Ha-ha!!! So adorbs. It was very interesting seeing the Prince Dowon's fear of the treatment. I loved the way he learned and changed his mind. It's a very interesting idea how it's okay to believe i the heavens, but not other "absurd" things. Reminds me a lot of Claire from Outlander (a TV show from a series of books) that has her medical stuff was so crazy and it seems so practical and smart to us. I'm convinced that Officer Min Woo Won's hate of Historian's mucking with things is because of his father. The job he singed up for isn't to mess with affairs and be self serving. However, I think he should see as historians they can see the history of actions. Help the people in their own way. It broke my heart the way he talked to Goo Hae Ryung! I hope he has an arc that helps him out of that negative mindset. I really feel like this drama can go places. It's just needs a little push. Though clearly we'll be introduced with secret pasts for both out main leads. Oh, it's coming.

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6.0/10

All right we got into things a bit more. So proud of the Prince! Going from not even knowing to tell the officials to sits to finding out the truth about the epidemic and making them go to ground zero. Also, Goo Hae Ryung is smart. Phew! He is doing what he can to work his position. Instead of telling Min Ik Pyung [Second state Councillor] where Mo Hwa [Female physician] truly lives. He doesn't lie, but says she's in the province that the epidemic is. Which she is. What an ending! Not to mention that Song Sa Hee, the spy historian, might actually be in A REAL SIDE STORY ROMANCE! With Crown Prince Yi Jin! It was so creepy before with this hand thing she did, but now I might be ready to by it. If it's her redemption story. Clearly we're up for the obligatory sick episodes were all the leads are gonna get small pox. Prince Dowon, Goo Hae Ryung, and Officer Min Woo Won. The writers made it clear they all have not had small pox. Even cleverly making a joke about Officer Min Woo Won not having it yet. Good one. Overall I feel like this drama is on the cusp of being really good. It's just pacing and the fact that it wants to be more, but clearly is only reaching for pretty to look at and cute.

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6.0/10 - Very cute, but no depth.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung is visually stunning, and adorable. It throws in dashes of serious topics and intrigue, but lacks any depth. The slow pace and basic trope is not where I thought the first 8 episodes were taking us (first 4 episodes if you're lumping them in hours like I think Netflix does) . Which is beyond disappointing. I thought this drama was gonna bring in some serious conversations about IMPORTANT topics. And give us a female lead we the viewers deserve. Yet again she's watered down to make her . . . the same. Just enough "what a woman shouldn't be" flavored by drama writing that takes it all away so she's . . . subservient . . . or at least cowed and put in her place when she needs her proper reminders. This episode does well better to show that she understands what the men in her life expect of her. Though she's clueless about the Prince's feelings. Who knew we'd get some beach frolicking and hand holding. Still bored though.

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8.0/10 - still typical but so good!

OK, it's all still very typical. Still. Yet, I'm eating it up like the candy addict I am. This was such a cute episode. It was hilarious and adorable. I also think Goo Hae Ryung's maid wanted something a little extra to go on too. I mean her hand gestures weren't just saying pumpkin to me! Her disappointment in their modesty and even the blankets being folded was perfection! I laughed so hard. More is being hinted at between Goo Hae Ryung's brother and his past with our mysterious surgeon. Yi Rim and Goo Hae Ryung are realizing they might be crushing on eachother. The second lead is being slightly pushed as a love interest and I'm just not buying it at all. Min Moo Won is nice and all, but it's too late. And I'm always a sucker for second leads. The cliffhanger ending was a bold choice and I'm wondering where this is gonna take the story. The ban on books being lifted seemed so odd and out if no where so I'm worried about what the writer is gonna do!

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7.0/10 - Right on the cusp of drama greatness for me!

I love that Goo Hae Ryung picked up that piece of wood like that would protect them. At least she grabbed a weapon. I love that Yi Rim was the one to faint! What an amazing fight! That whole arrow grab scene is perfection!   Darn it! They really are using the female historians as spies. I wasn't sure what I wanted from Goo Hae Ryung when she was confronted with YI Rim being the Prince. However, her saying she was hoping he wasn't the Prince felt perfect.   Oh my goodness! I love that Goo Hae Ryung kept just writing that Yi Rim turned another page and another page and another page and another page.  It was great that she stood up for the Prince Yi Rim as well. Only getting a minor dig in about his ill temper! That said I love the other female historians.  I hope we get more and more of them. Also, I thought it was a joke that Sam Bo had a wife! But she'sthe kick booty arrow lady! Wow! Not to mention Goo Hae Ryung's brother totally recognizes her!

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7.0/10 - Great world building.

Goo Hae Ryung and Yi Rim are going through the obligatory getting to know you. In which the female lead gets to clean for the male lead. Why is this such a K-drama trope? I blame Full House. The cleaning scenes. They were trying to brainwash female viewers. That said this episode was a solid followup. It was very interesting to see how the government works. Not to mention how all the advisors can bully the Crown Prince! It's clear these rich and powerful men are looking out for themselves. I mean. Just look how heartless they are about the poor paying the bills.That said I enjoyed the training that the Female Historians are finally getting! I like all the setup here as we get a feel for our characters, and as new ones are introduced. I am beyond intrigued about this whole secret plot and how women are right in the think of it. Not to mention this tie in of the western healing practice to save one of the men connected to the book.

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7.0/10 - Darn this is getting good!!!!!

Oh, boy! I just new Yi Rim was gonna be petty. Which oddly enough was hilarious to watch, even though it usually annoys me to know end when a male lead gets to make a slave of the female lead. Maybe I'm growing soft, because even Hae Ryung covering Yi Rim's lips and his stunned reaction to her touching him so intimately *gasp* I am growing soft, cause I ate that up with a spoon! Someone else pointed out to me how sweet Yi Rim and his Eunuch are together. I feel mean always referring to him as Yi Rim's Eunuch. Heo Sam Bo is a great name for him! There's just something super fun about saying Eunuch! Back to how sweet they are. I love that Sam Bo kind of encourages the prince to be naughty. Sure he reigns it in because of some of the past events. HOWEVER. He's the master mind behind the plot for Yi Rim to get his revenge!!!! Commence revenge on Hae Ryung! Song Sa Hee (The girl who approached The Second State Councilor) seems to have strange goals. She pushes to have the girls be initiated—which I've never gotten why society thinks this is a thing we need to do to each other—together. Then is upset when Hae Ryung helps. She clearly has plans. I really want them to be for her benefit! Come on feminists make your own paths! Though the hand lingering with the Crown Prince . . . was off. Man I am so glad Oh Eun Im [Female historian] was the one to give those guys a verbal slap!! Just the fact that their actions are what caused them all this strife and abuse is their fault.Things just got real with the murder of the guys publishing the "Ho Dam". I like the balance this drama is striking.

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5.0/10 - Average

Yet again an immediate police case. Honestly I thought the writer was going to use this episode to explore the firemen and paramedics more. They did try to make them more apart of the case. Even trying to show in a crime scene that the paramedics can ruin evidence. The case is a bit different, bit in the end it's still an average cop show. The BIG BAD over our underDOG cop is introduced. A secret mystabout a little girl whom I'm assuming is his daughter. So very standard Korean cop show. Honestly I'm super disappointed. I'm holding out hope. I wish that the characters at least were interesting. There's more time to develop them. So maybe it will happen.

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5.0/10 - Average.

I am a huge Firefighter show junkie!!!! I've been there from the start of Chicago Fire and whole heartedly jumped into the 911 shows from Fox. (Station 19 is garbage, but I tried it too.) Even Fire Country. So when I realized that Korea had The First Responders and it has a FIRE ENGINE on the poster I was all in. With this first episode I was left very disappointed. Because this is a cop show. *sighs* The paramedics and firefighters were there. There and used super stupidly. *eyeroll* So basically I'll have to just shut my brain off. The problem is I didn't want another cop show. I wanted Firefighters and paramedics Korean style!!!! They at least tried to make the kidnapping interesting, but I was so bored. I like police shows. So I expect a bit more from the cases and mysteries. Overall the acting is crap, the story is basic and ironically very tropey. I am so disappointed. I'll keep going cause there's already a season 2 slated. So maybe things get better.

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8/10 - Awesome

Wow! This is visually stunning. The story is truly stunning and it's quite surprisingly turning into a bit of a feminist anthem. I'm very surprised by how much of a critique Mr. Sunshine is. Of Americans, Joseon, Japan, China, all people of nationalities, and the time period. Caste systems are openly ridiculed. Mr. Sunshine is really doing overtime on connecting all the characters and stories! So far I love the characters and their development as we learn about them and their pasts. Not to mention how they're all connected to eachother and the country of Joseon. Normally age doesn't bother me so much, but it kind of does this time. The ML is waaaaaaay to young for all these dudes. I don't know what it is, but everytime I see her having romantic moments with any of the men it icks me. Maybe that's the piont. If so, well done. I feel like her innocence of life and men, but awareness and ability to kill are also a strategic choice. So far I'm all in!

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8.0/10 Awesome.

This was such a treat! I was so worried how the writers were going to move forward with Oh Han Byul and Gong Tae Sung relationship after the press conference. Instead of dragging it out Tae Sung found out all the information and was able to forgive everyone. To mend fences and get his relationships in order. Which is such a huge relief. And something I wish more and more dramas would show and deal with. It just made me smile so much. Many relationships took some hits or scary turns in the last episode. While Yu Na and her man are still suffering a lot of other ones are taking huge steps or at least growing in wonderful directions. The main message is listening to the people in your life. And forgiveness. More importantly we're finally getting information on what happened with Oh Han Byul and Gong Tae Sung 's friend. It's been such a expertly teased secret and build up. Not to mention that final reveal in the last bits of the show. Especially since it tied into such a huge reveal last episode!!!! Well done! The best part is how every couple has me beyond invested. I'm cheering all my couples on. I love being able to love the main couple, but to love all the second, third, and fourth and so on couples. It's so magical!!! I am beyond obsessed with Jo Ki Peum and Do Soo Hyuk!!!! I am so happy that my second lead syndrome was soothed by Do Soo Hyuk being able to have a even better pairing than he could have had with Oh Han Byul. AMAZING!!!

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