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Amastris Dratwka
미국
Descendants of the Sun Episode 5
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So, I'm going to say that I feel that we all have to acknowledge that this is a show about a "IMAGINARY" location. That means we MUST suspend our real world thinking and join in the fantasy if we intend to enjoy this drama. We all should have understood that from the get-go and cut the plot a bit of slack since you knew it going in to this thing.
On the other hand, with what I said above it still does not mean we cannot criticize a poor execution of the military theme. I think, especially if you're not familiar with Special Ops the whole concept of what is going on can be confusing. [I happen to have American friends who are in Spec Ops and they all come from different branch of military, i.e. army, marine, air force, ranger, navy and consolidate as one unit. They do fly off at a moments notice, are not allowed to give out details or locations, are given a window at various "drop spots" with which they can use cellular data -- their cellphones to call, text, etc. -- and are usually gone only for a few weeks and then have "off time" but still do military training at the base they are stationed with at the time.] So, although the show is not too clear about this, I can attempt to clear it up as much as possible.
You have a worn torn country which means that it has internal civil war struggles, not necessarily wars between other nations. In these situations, you can find areas that are under siege while just a few miles away things are fine. The people in control of the local government can be wealthy and fine while those who are outside those factions can be impoverished because they aren't be supported by those same people, for whatever reason, usually it's ethnic in origin. The UN forces are in country to maintain the peace between the factions. In addition, a Korean company has decided to build a facility in this country for whatever reason. The Korean Spec Ops guys are not there for "Spec Ops", they are there to watch over the Korean investments since they are in a "worn torn" country. That's it.
Now, the bad guys or gangsters, although we see them and know them, they are not "fully" in the purview of the Korean military. They run into them here and there, but they are unclear as to what exactly is going on and the extent that they are trying to instigate and make a buck off of regional struggles, UN involvement, and foreign investment. The thing we are witnessing is the Yoo Si Jin, within is missions as a Special Ops member has previous dealings and connections with a few of the guys he is coming into contact here. It's not a connection from this location but another location, presumably Iraq or Afghanistan. He knows these guys and, as a Spec Ops member, feels the need to get information on the reason they are in the location and exactly what they are up to here. .....THE PROBLEM IN UNDERSTANDING THIS IS NOT JUST THE KOREANS BAD ENGLISH BUT, AS WELL, THE BAD ACTING AND ENGLISH FROM THE FOREIGN ACTORS. Honestly, they are the worst, and trying to act off of their bad acting when you are not native to English and it isn't even a second language you use regularly or are very good at on your own is troubling. I think what is held back in the main military theme is really this part of the story... and the bad acting of the foreign actors when they are doing their bad things in their solo scenes make it even worse and hard to follow what it is they're trying to do anyway. Just very confusing. I do wish they would have spent more money on better foreign actors. They are holding the drama back... ..but another way to look at this is for us non-native Korean speakers who are reading subs and understand the English without subs, the acting is FAR worse to us than those the citizens of Korea who are reading the English subtexts. That means that it shouldn't hinder the show on the local ratings, but may hurt it with some of the International fans who seem bothered by it all.
::::ON THE ROMANCE::::::
I'm finding Dae Yeong and Myung Ju's romance much more compelling with each episode. There story is the one that gets the most feels from me. With that said, I find the banter between Si Jin and Mo Yeon on point. They both deal with stress and intensity by using humor, whether appropriate or not. They are both extremely idealistic. I find Mo Yeon's struggle with Si Jin's occupation valid. Every Korean man goes into the military but being Spec Ops is a whole new ball of wax and completely different. Not even average Americans understand that Spec Ops are conducting operations all over the global, not only in the Middle East, at any given moment and us + the media are completely unaware of these operations. They don't understand how they operate nor that they have a VALID reason to be where they are, and most often are PRIVATELY requested by other nations for specific help. Being in Spec Ops has a demand on your life that far exceeds that of your average person and the idea or thought of "COMMITTING" yourself to that lifestyle is a arduous task. Spec Ops are known for high divorce rates because of the demand. It's worse than being a fireman or a policeman. She should be quite clear about a romantic relationship with such a man. I find her biggest discomfort comes from the thought of him up and leaving her without a word, hug, or kiss, then spending days pining over him wondering if he is alive or dead, and knowing that one day she could get a knock on the door from another man in uniform, if you get my meaning. Those are valid fears, and many military wives of Spec Ops struggle with that daily while they are raising their kids. It has to be an epic love to weather that kind of strain.
...the only thing really that bothers me here is the ending each episode with an epic step forward by Si Jin and Mo Yeon onlly to start the next episode with a couple steps back. I don't need those kind of cliffhangers to keep me wanting to come back. They shouldn't be using this kind of canned bait. On that part, I am annoyed...
On the other hand, with what I said above it still does not mean we cannot criticize a poor execution of the military theme. I think, especially if you're not familiar with Special Ops the whole concept of what is going on can be confusing. [I happen to have American friends who are in Spec Ops and they all come from different branch of military, i.e. army, marine, air force, ranger, navy and consolidate as one unit. They do fly off at a moments notice, are not allowed to give out details or locations, are given a window at various "drop spots" with which they can use cellular data -- their cellphones to call, text, etc. -- and are usually gone only for a few weeks and then have "off time" but still do military training at the base they are stationed with at the time.] So, although the show is not too clear about this, I can attempt to clear it up as much as possible.
You have a worn torn country which means that it has internal civil war struggles, not necessarily wars between other nations. In these situations, you can find areas that are under siege while just a few miles away things are fine. The people in control of the local government can be wealthy and fine while those who are outside those factions can be impoverished because they aren't be supported by those same people, for whatever reason, usually it's ethnic in origin. The UN forces are in country to maintain the peace between the factions. In addition, a Korean company has decided to build a facility in this country for whatever reason. The Korean Spec Ops guys are not there for "Spec Ops", they are there to watch over the Korean investments since they are in a "worn torn" country. That's it.
Now, the bad guys or gangsters, although we see them and know them, they are not "fully" in the purview of the Korean military. They run into them here and there, but they are unclear as to what exactly is going on and the extent that they are trying to instigate and make a buck off of regional struggles, UN involvement, and foreign investment. The thing we are witnessing is the Yoo Si Jin, within is missions as a Special Ops member has previous dealings and connections with a few of the guys he is coming into contact here. It's not a connection from this location but another location, presumably Iraq or Afghanistan. He knows these guys and, as a Spec Ops member, feels the need to get information on the reason they are in the location and exactly what they are up to here. .....THE PROBLEM IN UNDERSTANDING THIS IS NOT JUST THE KOREANS BAD ENGLISH BUT, AS WELL, THE BAD ACTING AND ENGLISH FROM THE FOREIGN ACTORS. Honestly, they are the worst, and trying to act off of their bad acting when you are not native to English and it isn't even a second language you use regularly or are very good at on your own is troubling. I think what is held back in the main military theme is really this part of the story... and the bad acting of the foreign actors when they are doing their bad things in their solo scenes make it even worse and hard to follow what it is they're trying to do anyway. Just very confusing. I do wish they would have spent more money on better foreign actors. They are holding the drama back... ..but another way to look at this is for us non-native Korean speakers who are reading subs and understand the English without subs, the acting is FAR worse to us than those the citizens of Korea who are reading the English subtexts. That means that it shouldn't hinder the show on the local ratings, but may hurt it with some of the International fans who seem bothered by it all.
::::ON THE ROMANCE::::::
I'm finding Dae Yeong and Myung Ju's romance much more compelling with each episode. There story is the one that gets the most feels from me. With that said, I find the banter between Si Jin and Mo Yeon on point. They both deal with stress and intensity by using humor, whether appropriate or not. They are both extremely idealistic. I find Mo Yeon's struggle with Si Jin's occupation valid. Every Korean man goes into the military but being Spec Ops is a whole new ball of wax and completely different. Not even average Americans understand that Spec Ops are conducting operations all over the global, not only in the Middle East, at any given moment and us + the media are completely unaware of these operations. They don't understand how they operate nor that they have a VALID reason to be where they are, and most often are PRIVATELY requested by other nations for specific help. Being in Spec Ops has a demand on your life that far exceeds that of your average person and the idea or thought of "COMMITTING" yourself to that lifestyle is a arduous task. Spec Ops are known for high divorce rates because of the demand. It's worse than being a fireman or a policeman. She should be quite clear about a romantic relationship with such a man. I find her biggest discomfort comes from the thought of him up and leaving her without a word, hug, or kiss, then spending days pining over him wondering if he is alive or dead, and knowing that one day she could get a knock on the door from another man in uniform, if you get my meaning. Those are valid fears, and many military wives of Spec Ops struggle with that daily while they are raising their kids. It has to be an epic love to weather that kind of strain.
...the only thing really that bothers me here is the ending each episode with an epic step forward by Si Jin and Mo Yeon onlly to start the next episode with a couple steps back. I don't need those kind of cliffhangers to keep me wanting to come back. They shouldn't be using this kind of canned bait. On that part, I am annoyed...
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Descendants of the Sun Episode 4
7 people found this review helpful
This episode was filled with such ups and downs. I still love how straight forward these two are here.
...and let's all give props to the 2nd leads love story. That one is as epic as the main's and they were the ones who had me giggling and crying throughout this episode.
Let's be honest here, other than the foreign actors, everyone is doing such a great job. But I have to say, with all the $$$ being thrown around here, couldn't they get legit quality foreign actors for these parts??? Heck, hire me and fly me over. I'd do a kickass job compared to these fools! I got an Intl Bus BS degree with a minor in Finance... but I still managed to get the part of Elvira in my University's production of the play Blithe Spirit. You don't need a full fledged actor to have someone do the job decently. Come on, folks!
Anyway....
All I can say is... THE KISS... I knew when he got back that this was were that scene was gonna come in, thanks for all those trailers, 1/8th of every episode I have little ability to predict. I'm not complaining because I like the fact that skinship happened at this point. It was truly right on cue. Mo Yeon & Si Jin are both just having an emotional crisis, but Si Jin is the first to fully lose control. It's hard to constantly rein in all this emotional energy flying about and in that lighthearted down time, and all her flirty talk, it was just the right move. I'm not even gonna blame him for it and, GOD, I hope when ep. 5 comes out she doesn't slap him for it in the end. .... I'm just gonna expect that confession scene.
Lastly, I just want to say that SJK's voice is all sorts of manly. I think it's the thing that floors me about him. Joking or serious, he just exudes manliness with that deep gutteral tone. If I ever had the opportunity to meet him, I'd hand him a book like War & Peace or Shogun and say, "just read for me, will ya?" .... that's it.... Just read. lol.... He should seriously consider doing Books on Tape for a side career. I'm sure he'd have a major fanbase.
...and let's all give props to the 2nd leads love story. That one is as epic as the main's and they were the ones who had me giggling and crying throughout this episode.
Let's be honest here, other than the foreign actors, everyone is doing such a great job. But I have to say, with all the $$$ being thrown around here, couldn't they get legit quality foreign actors for these parts??? Heck, hire me and fly me over. I'd do a kickass job compared to these fools! I got an Intl Bus BS degree with a minor in Finance... but I still managed to get the part of Elvira in my University's production of the play Blithe Spirit. You don't need a full fledged actor to have someone do the job decently. Come on, folks!
Anyway....
All I can say is... THE KISS... I knew when he got back that this was were that scene was gonna come in, thanks for all those trailers, 1/8th of every episode I have little ability to predict. I'm not complaining because I like the fact that skinship happened at this point. It was truly right on cue. Mo Yeon & Si Jin are both just having an emotional crisis, but Si Jin is the first to fully lose control. It's hard to constantly rein in all this emotional energy flying about and in that lighthearted down time, and all her flirty talk, it was just the right move. I'm not even gonna blame him for it and, GOD, I hope when ep. 5 comes out she doesn't slap him for it in the end. .... I'm just gonna expect that confession scene.
Lastly, I just want to say that SJK's voice is all sorts of manly. I think it's the thing that floors me about him. Joking or serious, he just exudes manliness with that deep gutteral tone. If I ever had the opportunity to meet him, I'd hand him a book like War & Peace or Shogun and say, "just read for me, will ya?" .... that's it.... Just read. lol.... He should seriously consider doing Books on Tape for a side career. I'm sure he'd have a major fanbase.
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Descendants of the Sun Episode 3
10 people found this review helpful
I am enjoying the pacing and the expanding on all the characters stories. There are so many different personalities and they all fit well as an overall cast.
I like how Mo Yeon is being portrayed here. She's gotten cynical with losing out because she doesn't have the clout of family and wealth. She's decided that since she cannot beat them she'll join them by playing along with the politics but she still has that raw independence that made her start down this path of hard work. She wants to win despite it all.
Si Jin is the same as ever. He's still infatuated with her and unable to handle her gruff exterior. He seems torn because he can see deep within her the true person she is and she is much like him in personality. It hurts him to see her give in and seeming to give up but he's not fully given up on her either way.
Interesting Love Quadrangle explained in this episode. Not sure I like the dynamic here. Funny how the 2 main couples are similar in opposing ways: i.e. Mo Yeon is poor/Si Jin is rich; Myung Ju is rich/Dae Yeong is poor. Sad that the dad want Si Jin since he's not the type to beg and curtsy... He fits with Mo Yeon because I see how similarly they process their emotions.
I enjoy how Mo Yeon and Si Jin are very human in this episode. If I was Mo Yeon, I'd have told him to move over so I can get a good view of the studs as well. His reaction is right on point as well. They haven't seen each other in 9 months, yet the attraction is still there. They've already tried this and she felt as if he didn't fit her lifestyle and he feels like she didn't give him a chance considering how she's not saving lives like before and merely a Camera Princess now. They're still feeling each other out but you can see that the attraction is pretty strong to make it difficult to set it aside.
The ending is pretty overly dramatic. Makes me uneasy as to the direction the next episode will take. The previews don't help either. I don't see how they get back to normal from here on out, so it feels like the romance stuff might be set aside for a while. Which is fine. It's a military drama anyway so the context is more serious even if there are lighthearted and comedic moments. At least up until now, there is a healthy balance between it all... including when he teases her about landmines, which is comedic... but she takes it serious and cries, which, in all honesty, is the appropriate reaction to that kind of cruel joke. What I'm saying is, for now, it all works well.
I like how Mo Yeon is being portrayed here. She's gotten cynical with losing out because she doesn't have the clout of family and wealth. She's decided that since she cannot beat them she'll join them by playing along with the politics but she still has that raw independence that made her start down this path of hard work. She wants to win despite it all.
Si Jin is the same as ever. He's still infatuated with her and unable to handle her gruff exterior. He seems torn because he can see deep within her the true person she is and she is much like him in personality. It hurts him to see her give in and seeming to give up but he's not fully given up on her either way.
Interesting Love Quadrangle explained in this episode. Not sure I like the dynamic here. Funny how the 2 main couples are similar in opposing ways: i.e. Mo Yeon is poor/Si Jin is rich; Myung Ju is rich/Dae Yeong is poor. Sad that the dad want Si Jin since he's not the type to beg and curtsy... He fits with Mo Yeon because I see how similarly they process their emotions.
I enjoy how Mo Yeon and Si Jin are very human in this episode. If I was Mo Yeon, I'd have told him to move over so I can get a good view of the studs as well. His reaction is right on point as well. They haven't seen each other in 9 months, yet the attraction is still there. They've already tried this and she felt as if he didn't fit her lifestyle and he feels like she didn't give him a chance considering how she's not saving lives like before and merely a Camera Princess now. They're still feeling each other out but you can see that the attraction is pretty strong to make it difficult to set it aside.
The ending is pretty overly dramatic. Makes me uneasy as to the direction the next episode will take. The previews don't help either. I don't see how they get back to normal from here on out, so it feels like the romance stuff might be set aside for a while. Which is fine. It's a military drama anyway so the context is more serious even if there are lighthearted and comedic moments. At least up until now, there is a healthy balance between it all... including when he teases her about landmines, which is comedic... but she takes it serious and cries, which, in all honesty, is the appropriate reaction to that kind of cruel joke. What I'm saying is, for now, it all works well.
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Descendants of the Sun Episode 2
4 people found this review helpful
Okay, I absolutely love the dynamic between the OTP. He loves to tease her because it's so easy to do since she's not high maintenance but she still wants to impress in front of a guy she finds attractive. Their personalities not only match but are very similar in a unique way. The get each other right from the start.
These two are the most straightforward couple I've seen in a Korean Drama. It's totally refreshing. They aren't mincing words, either when they're in the positive zone or the negative zone. They speak what is on their minds from the start. No coyness about them. They admit they are attracted to each other and the approach each other to date. But just like in real life, things don't always work out according to expectations. They are both living extremely busy lives and they both have a major commitment to their work and lifestyle. If that doesn't match, the attraction in and of itself is not enough to sustain the relationship. They are well aware of that. He's more willing to give it a go. She's not risking her heart pining away waiting for a phone call that isn't gonna happen. He's obviously been through this before, because he accepts her feelings and they both let it go. It's such a mature approach to a first meeting and departing. I really like how this played out. Very realistic from my point of view.
There are a lot of adorable moments in this episode but my favorite is when they are at the movie theater flirting with each other. In the process he queries about her not using honorifics and asks if it's because she's older than him. Finally she sees her opportunity to tease him back and calls him "Oppa". SJK's expression on hearing this is absolutely priceless. He loves the idea of her calling him "Oppa". Then she crushes him by saying, "I'm just joking. I'm your Noona." LMAO! He is so heartbroken at the thought of calling her, "Noona" and never hearing "Oppa" again that he refuses to believe she's older than him. It's just the cutest, and simplest adorable exchange that captures both their personalities. They really are all kinds of compatible in this drama. Sorry folks, I'm not seeing her being anything but as adorable and flirty as he is... I mean when she's talking about the "back lighting" and all. How much more flirty and adorable can you get. Yet, before that when he first walks into her house he and she show this little bit of awkwardness that's so appropriate for coming over to the home of someone you want to date for the first time. All of it is just so on point.
These two are the most straightforward couple I've seen in a Korean Drama. It's totally refreshing. They aren't mincing words, either when they're in the positive zone or the negative zone. They speak what is on their minds from the start. No coyness about them. They admit they are attracted to each other and the approach each other to date. But just like in real life, things don't always work out according to expectations. They are both living extremely busy lives and they both have a major commitment to their work and lifestyle. If that doesn't match, the attraction in and of itself is not enough to sustain the relationship. They are well aware of that. He's more willing to give it a go. She's not risking her heart pining away waiting for a phone call that isn't gonna happen. He's obviously been through this before, because he accepts her feelings and they both let it go. It's such a mature approach to a first meeting and departing. I really like how this played out. Very realistic from my point of view.
There are a lot of adorable moments in this episode but my favorite is when they are at the movie theater flirting with each other. In the process he queries about her not using honorifics and asks if it's because she's older than him. Finally she sees her opportunity to tease him back and calls him "Oppa". SJK's expression on hearing this is absolutely priceless. He loves the idea of her calling him "Oppa". Then she crushes him by saying, "I'm just joking. I'm your Noona." LMAO! He is so heartbroken at the thought of calling her, "Noona" and never hearing "Oppa" again that he refuses to believe she's older than him. It's just the cutest, and simplest adorable exchange that captures both their personalities. They really are all kinds of compatible in this drama. Sorry folks, I'm not seeing her being anything but as adorable and flirty as he is... I mean when she's talking about the "back lighting" and all. How much more flirty and adorable can you get. Yet, before that when he first walks into her house he and she show this little bit of awkwardness that's so appropriate for coming over to the home of someone you want to date for the first time. All of it is just so on point.
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This is the first version where I feel like King's character can be a real threat to TenTen. In any other versions there is never a question of Taliw's character caring for anyone but TenTen. ...and the fight... Shocking emotions between these 2 that I've not seen either. It wasn't a bad representation but I did start to get the feeling that we have possibly Jumped the Shark at this point and there is clearly no perfect delineation between this and Itazura na Kiss.
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I don't know what it is about these 2 when they are together just alone on camera. The feeling is like a quiet, peaceful, meditative state. He gets quiet and she has a mellow calming demeanor. The vibe they give off and the way they look at each other is quite soothing as well. Frankly, when I watch these two, even though I know its reel, it feels the way a couple should feel when they are alone together, even when they argue. It's never too intense, but still passionate in its way. Yet, they are so comfortable together it's so relaxing to watch.
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