This review may contain spoilers
Before I begin my review, I do have to mention that I basically watched this drama thanks to SHINee's Onew. I first tried watching it in 2018 or so, and it didn't appeal to me at all back then, partly because I expected a fully medical drama, and partly because I was younger. Now that I'm older and a Shawol, I decided to give it another try because I realized Jinki starred in it. Man am I thankful that I did, because I would've missed out on an absolute gem!The absolute biggest strength of this drama is its wonderful cast of characters. I found myself feeling so much love towards all four of the leads, each and every member of the medical team, the military squad, even Ye Hwa and Daniel. When they laughed, I laughed, when they cried, I cried. I have to say, I've never felt this attached to a cast before. I really wished for all of them to have a happy ending.
As for the flaws of this drama, I would like to mention the last few episodes. I feel like episode 15 could've been cut out and the storyline wouldn't have changed much. The disappearance of Si Jin and Dae Young felt very unnecessary, I found myself skipping forward through basically the entire episode.
Other than what I mentioned above, this was a pretty enjoyable drama. I wouldn't say it's the best drama I've watched, but it's a very solid drama. I would recommend this, especially to someone who is just starting to watch kdramas!
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Typical Cliche Drama
I'd love the drama if there weren't too much romantic scenes.The main leads did not have romantic chemistry. Not realistic either
The SL couple tho I liked them
The supported cast was so so, some actors were bad so I skipped whenever they're on screen
The plot is rather cliche and overdramatic
I cringed when they Engrisk
Other than that the OST was good and memorable
Cinematography was pleasant although some scenes were too draggy
Might not watch it again bcs of Song-Song couple
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But it did surprise me in many ways! It was a little cringe at times, but only because both the main and support actors were all soo pretty and handsome, it made up for the it! LOL..
But I do have a addicting kind of personality and sometimes when I do start something, I get super into it! So I really felt like I was part of it when I was sitting on the plane, watching it on my tiny handphone screen with my earphones one!
I remember just watching this on a flight home from somewhere, and just trying not to cry on the plane in some of the sad bits! - But, I love the four actors; Song Joong-Ki, Song Hye-kyo, Kim Ji-won and Jin Goo!
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What is wrong with Descendants of the Sun?
This main question is what I asked myself many many times throughout watching this title. I really don't know. Even after finishing it, I still don't know the answer to it. The acting is really good, especially from the two main actors - the *prior to 2 days ago* popular SongSong couple. They are both very charismatic and do a good job. The story is interesting and unique. It plays at many different locations and never uses one for too long. Yet I somehow didn't get emotionally attached to this show as I would with many other shows. So why? I think the answer lies somewhere in the script writing and directing department. Even though the story is good and suspenseful and the actors are doing a good job "playing the story" they somehow fail to connect to the viewer on a deeper level. It's like they are playing the script for themselves and are playing emotional for themselves - not to appeal to the viewer aswell. It's a weird scenario I've never been in with a show, period. Not even on the american market.Descendants of the Sun is a show with a very large potential but sub-par result at the end. Mainly due to just overdramatizing many scenes at the start and building up a "fake hype/drama" around the main couple. It was fine that the "I don't want you to leave me and how can I handle this" type of scenario was used once or twice, but they re-used it so much, that it actually got too obvious that it's just for the sake of drama. It kinda got unrealistic or unbelievable from the point of view of the viewer at that point. From that point on you would just not care about the effort the show would make to make it up to you as a viewer because you already were so frustrated that you couldn't care less. This is really sad in my opinion, because especially the main actors but also Kim Ji Won and Jin Goo did a wonderful job and it all got thrown overboard for the sake of an unrealistically high drama dose.
In the end, Descendants of the Sun re-uses this scenario once again and just makes you suffer one more time. So there isn't even an ending which would make up for this. There are slight glimmers of hope here and there, where you can feel happiness from watching this show, but it's really just for small things and not the two main couples, where the focus is mainly on and where it should have been done more right. I just can't give this show a 8/10 with the way it evolved.
More in-depth review: https://youtu.be/BgzK2_g82Rw
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This review may contain spoilers
In India when we like a movie we say that the movie is total ‘paisa vasool’ which means it was totally ‘worth the money’. That’s exactly what I felt after watching Descendants of the Sun. This show is total paisa or shall I say ‘time’ vasool. The show is a perfect blend of action, romance, suspense, humor, and grief. This was one show where I not only liked the protagonist’s love story but also enjoyed parallel storylines of the all the supporting characters.Let’s weigh Descendants of the Sun on our show beam balance and see what makes the show worth watching.
Good Weights
Good-Looking Cast – What? Did I promise not to mention this point as a good weight? Gah!!
Remarkable Plot – I still can’t believe Korean TV channels were sceptical of taking up this show only because it dealt with a controversial topic (by which I mean the military). I was hooked on from the first episode itself. And the episode cliffhangers made me so impatient I would often find myself binge-watching the show. This medical-military drama was so hatke(unique and different) that I am totally impressed by the writers who wrote it. The love story between people belonging to two completely different fields of work seems so unlikely but the story has been woven so beautifully that the scenarios and their growing fondness for each other seem plausible and convincing.
Well Defined Characters – Every character is well written and the actors have done full justice to their roles. Each character contributes in its own way to the development of the story. Another point I want to add here is that this is the first Korean drama (for me) where the central female character doesn’t have multiple suitors vying for her attention. And the guy is not a total jerk ill-treating his girl. Mo Yeon is intelligent, responsible, and ambitious. Si Jin is chivalrous (a rare quality in most K-Heroes), handsome (couldn’t help adding it here), committed, and brave. The characters in the show seem real and relatable.
Chemistry – Be it lead couple Yoo Si Jin and Dr. Kang Mo Yeon’s chemistry or supporting cast Ha Ja-ae and Sang-Hyun’s all the couples on the show are simply cute and interesting.
Acting – I loved Song Hye Kyo (Dr. Kang Mo Yeon) in Full House and after this show, I have officially added my name to her never-ending fan list. She was phenomenal. Her look in the show was plain and natural but she still looked breathtakingly gorgeous. Her acting is so effortless that you almost believe that she is a doctor in real life. Her comic timing is also perfect. Somehow I do not like her in romantic scenes as I fail to see any love in her eyes (I know that sounds strange). She always has this tight-lipped smile, even during romantic scenes, which looks a little fake. Other than that I do not see anything lacking in her acting.
Song Joong Ki (Yoon Si Jin), Dude! Where have you been all this while? This is the first show I saw of his and mahn! What a performance. He looks perfect as the charismatic and valiant captain. He is swift in the action scenes, soft in the romantic scenes and serious in the comic scenes. The stupendous rise in popularity of this actor, following this show is totally justified.
And not just the central characters but the supporting cast has also acted superbly well. There was not a single dull or boring moment in the entire show for me. And that I guess says a lot about the supporting cast and the sub-plots.
Bad Weights
Absurd Situations – Si Jin is a soldier with, what appears like, superhuman qualities. ((Spoiler Alert)) There is a scene where he is shot by terrorists with AK-47, he arrives at the hospital as a critical patient, suffers a cardiac arrest, receives shock treatment and boom he is back on his feet ready to take on the antagonist. Yeah right! But this is a K-drama yaha sab chalta hain (anything is accepted).
Now, that’s a landslide verdict. The show excels in cinematography and direction. The show has been shot in South Korea and Greece which makes it a visual delight.
Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in
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The series tells the story of a South Korean special forces officer, Yoo Shi-Jin (wonderfully portrayed by Joong-ki Song) and the civilian medical doctor, Kang Mo-Yeon (Hye-Kyo Song), whom he develops feelings for. So, how does a man, whose job is to take lives in order to protect others, makes a relationship work with a woman who is sworn to save lives, no matter who they are or what they've done? That is one of the central themes of the series as well as Dr. Mo-Yeon's constant grappling with her heart over a man who is always putting his life on the line.
Joong-ki Song brings a wit and charm to the very likable Yoo Shi-Jin. He never takes things too seriously except when the people he cares about are in danger. He has a wonderful sense of humor. He, and best friend, Sergeant Seo Dae-Young, seem to get into trouble a fair amount, leading to some fairly humorous situations.
The equally charismatic Dr. Mo-Yeon is a woman dedicated to her work. She has dreams of becoming a professor but quickly finds herself in a situation that sends her and her medical team to volunteer in the war- torn fictional country of Uruk.
What makes Descendants of the Sun special is that it never gets bogged down in melodrama. It never takes itself too seriously, but delves just deep enough to care about the characters and what might become of them. While there are a few tense situations, the series is equally light-hearted and, most of all, sweet.
I can see why so many people around the world have quickly become enamored with the series as well as with its characters. There are enough moments to make you laugh, make you cry, as well as make you wonder and hope if it is possible for two characters in seemingly opposing professions to be together. It's a fascinating character study into this dynamic.
I have only recently gotten into some Japanese and Korean shows, and for me, Descendants of the Sun is easily my favorite. In fact, after over 40 years of watching TV shows, I put this one up among the very best that I've ever seen.
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Guilty Pleasure at its best !!
Now I understand all the hype towards this show...having read a lot of negative things I was reluctant to start this thinking what if it turns out like one of those shows that is loved by the masses but is actually lame...fortunately that was not the case..though far from perfect, the show is extremely entertaining thanks to its brilliant production values, the wonderful OST and the overall great performances ( though not all of them were that good )...the biggest strength of the show comes from its highly likeable characters whom you can easily root for...all the 4 leads have done an incredible job ( though I find Song Hye Kyo a bit stiff in some scenes ) in making the characters so relatable that you can't help crying and laughing along with the them...the biggest flaw of the show is its uneven pace and writing...there were episodes were so much was packed in just one while there were a few where hardly anything happened ..but these are just minor nitpicks in an otherwise engaging and satisfying drama...if you are hesitant about this one like me, please don't be and give this one a try..ul end up liking it if not loving it!!!Was this review helpful to you?
(1) THE OST (Original Soundtrack): Breathtaking. That is all I can say about the music in this show. It elevates the drama to another level & I became emotionally-attached to the characters.
(2) The Actors - Song Joong-ki: This guy commands the screen every time he is on it; Song Hye Kyo &
Kim Ji Won were amazing as well. I love their sassiness. I will pretty much be watching anything with these 3.
(3) The Chemistry. The dynamic between the four main leads with the secondary characters is one of the best I have seen in a K-Drama… whether it was romance, friendships/bromance or frenemies… it came together flawlessly
(4) Secondary Characters: I know sometimes the secondary characters can be there to just fill space, but these characters added more to the story & helped to develop the main characters.
CONS: This dramas was pretty much perfect with the exception of the kiss scenes. I was not feeling to those, but luckily their chemistry made up for that. Other than that... I had no problem.
I recommend to all romance drama lovers !!
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Song Joong Ki's (Yoo Shi Jin) acting was really commendable especially since he is not like the character he potrayed, he is actually alot more mellow in real life (this is what I've gathered from various interviews and behind the scenes ). The chemistry between him and Song Hye Kyo was perfect (Well, duh, they got married in real life) also the supporting characters especially Kim Ji won totally rocked the sassy general role (omg I love her!)
Sound track was nice and made me check out the artists later, and Chen from exo did one of their songs which was a total bonus (All the EXO-L's put your hands in the air ;))
I highly recommend it to all the viewers wanting to watch a drama that is a perfect blend of emotions.
Seriously, you should watch it...
GO WATCH IT!! YOU WON"T REGRET IT!! :)
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Pure and Mindless Fun
After the disaster that was The Heirs, I watch this drama with very low expectations. It's Kim Eun-Sook, I won't expect accurate portrayal of the life of Korean soldier from her nor I expect her to weave a story around complex issues like war. I expect pure and mindless love story perfect after a hard day's work and that was exactly what I got. I initially watch Descendants of The Sun solely for Song Joong-Ki and Kim Ji Won but I think everyone did their job well here. I was feeling a bit "mehhh" with Song Hye Gyo after I watched her last in That Winter The Wind Blows but her sunny and funny character in Descendant suited her well. She need to stick to this kind of role.This drama was stylish, light-hearted, with a dash of swag making it an easy to watch drama. Don't take it seriously and you will have a great time. It also has a beautiful soundtrack and couples with great chemistry. I recommend it for days when you need a light and entertaining drama to watch.
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