Escaping the conflict, our resourceful urchin stows away on a Manhattan-bound ship and eventually joins the United States Marines, returning to Joseon (as the grown-up Lee). Once there, all manner of conflicts, betrayals and serendipitous coincidences prove to be enjoyable, long-winded plot devices bolstering the inexorable but initially secret romance between Eugene and Kim Tae-ri (big, supporting box-office draw) as the delicate but determined patriot Go Ae-sin.

With five season-one episodes to go, the narrative strands of political and personal import are approaching crunch time. The dastardly Japanese – the real enemy, epitomised by fanatical colonel Takashi Mori – covet the country and will no doubt stage some big-bang finale especially for instalment 24. Eugene’s and Ae-sin’s romantic cover is now blown and the latter’s probable rebellious heritage has been sniffed out by her conniving compatriots.

Mr. Sunshine is the sort of high-quality soap that, thankfully, rewards the patience required to find out what happens. And perhaps who the eponymous and enigmatic Mr. Sunshine is. If you’re just starting the early episodes, it can be confusing working out who is who (clue: the Joseon baddies, especially the malicious government officials, wear the most extravagant hats) and whether this peasant or that is virtuous freedom fighter or mendacious traitor.

There’s plenty to enjoy while you’re puzzling it all out, though. You can practically taste the dirt flying through the battle scenes between “homeland security” and the better-equipped US Marines, then there are the big skies, divine sunsets and lovingly crafted period detail.

There’s also the occasional chuckle. Intones the Marine officer releasing Joseon prisoners: “The United States of America is a righteous country.”

Oh, the irony.

If, to put you in the mood for dealing with your colleagues, you fancy a quick dose of zombie with your breakfast (and have never had the stomach for Brad Pitt vanity project World War Z [2013], what a witty title), then why not enjoy a blast of Hollywood Horrorfest,on Amazon Prime?

Season one features the delights of gore-sodden selfies, dangling eyeballs and party guests you cannot get rid of (because, try as you might, you cannot even kill them). Elsewhere, a saucy, lingerie-sporting housemaid finds her disabled millionaire boss butchered, and an astronaut is overwhelmed by the ineffable terror of being ejected from an exploding rocket ship into silent, eternal space.

At only five to 15 minutes each for the full, six-film roster, Hollywood Horrorfest provides the perfect start to your professional day, every day.