Let me preface this by stating that I don't like war dramas/movies. I don't watch dramas that are based on events that actually happened like war. I am trying to escape reality not live it vicariously through dramas and movies. Now the story is more than just about the war. It is love, camaraderie, hate and anguish. I'm not squeamish and I like a good action show that is based in fiction. It is hard to get past the blood/gore, and the pain that war obviously brings to all involved. WARNING: There is a lot of death in this drama and it isn't pleasant. It took me a while to get through all 20 episodes because I had to stop for days and then come back to it, because it is emotionally draining. It has a love story between the male lead and female lead, but I think that the love between the men that were in action together was a far better love story. I won't tell you how it ends. I will just state that I understand that the writers were trying to remind the current and future generations of what occurred during the Korean War. However, they could have found a better way to do it. It drove me crazy. Plus, once again the last two episodes had tons of filler like the audience is too stupid to understand what the characters were thinking about at that time. Whatever. On to the acting...So Ji Sub as Lee Jang Woo and Yoon Kye Sang as Shin Tae Ho were outstanding!!! Their happiness, pain, laughter, and tears are easily felt. I was fully invested in their characters and that is why I made it through 20 episodes of this heart-wrenching drama. I just couldn't leave their stories behind. Kim Ha Neul also played her part well. However, the writers made a doctor into an idiot so she really didn't have much to work with. I had a hard time feeling sorry for her character even through the emotions of the male leads. Mostly I just wanted to slap her. ALL of the men that played the parts of the Second Company were great. I loved everything about their friendships. It was beautiful. If I could have just seen that part and not the war, then I would have liked this drama a lot more. The music is appropriate. Thank whatever deity you prefer that I never have to watch this again. If I need a heavy dose of So Ji Sub, then I have plenty of other projects of his from which to pick. Honestly, the only reason why I watched this was for So Ji Sub. If you are a fan, then you won't be disappointed in his acting for sure. If you like war movies, then this is definitely one for you. Just realize that the directors make it REAL.