Descendants of the Sun (2016)

The acting carried this drama!

Now, I am whipped for dramas with a sassy yet beautiful female lead and a handsome soldier who find his way to her in the most weirdest way, or vise versa (*cough* Crash Landing On You *cough*). So don't get me wrong, but this review is definitely biased in that direction!

When the main couple first met in episode 1, I practically fell for Yoo Shi Jin because of his flirtatious attitude towards Kang Mo Yeon. Besides the point, I'm still fallen! Getting to the second couple, Kim Ji Won acted her part to the point I was gravitated towards the character Yoon Myung Ju just cause I related to the pain and confusion she felt throughout the whole plot. I'm not just talking about her relationship with Seo Dae Yeong either. I haven't even began about the rest of the cast!! Without them, the show wouldn't be as lighthearted as it needed. During serious times, they made me laugh either with their sarcastic remarks or just normal indirective jokes.

All the actors played their parts way too well that it felt like I was in the story the whole time. The emotional rebound this show brought me is undeniable, along with the tears I shed throughout it!

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What can I Say about this drama, obviously that most recommended drama , but gave me just an average experience. If it wasn't for the high expectation and rating, I would've like it more but really , I felt disappointed. This is a high budget drama and it might have collected triple their expenses by now. Action were Recommendable and romance is cheesy and sometimes cringeworthy. This is the first time I'm watching a Joon Ki work and I'm impressed and might watch some of his works later. We couldn't blame if someone say that they like the supporting actors more that the leads because they were really adorable.

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Action/Medical/Romance???

Not the best Drama I've seen, but I've not seen too many. I thought it was going to be an action Drama the way it started out. Great knife fight scene at the beginning. Felt like a bait and switch for guy audiences. I enjoyed the humor. And didn't even mind the romance stuff. I rooted the second couple and third couple more than the first.

Still, I liked how it broke the wall at the end, and acknowledged its own brand of storytelling. The actors pulled it off, but was looking for more than I got.

I liked it enough for one time, but will probably not do a re-watch on this one.

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Why you may want to watch this drama?

+ the OST is AMAZING!
+ the second leads' love story is the highlight of my life. I love them.
+ the first leads' also have a very cute love story. Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo are OTP.
+ amazing plot line. I was literally very impressed.
+ love. love everywhere!
+ Onew of SHINee is the most adorable little kitten to walk on this planet.
+ not a single episode that's boring.
+ no jealous second female leads
+ big boss' love rival was hilarious.
+ great English skills by the cast!
What should you be cautious of?
+ I loved the second leads' love much more tbh~ I lived for their love throughout the 16 episodes.
+ be ready to see a very sexy, yet evil villain.
+ subtle/ intentional/ unintentional racism on some parts.

MAYBE SPOILER:
+ A happy ending.

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Mixed emotions on this one. Watched it because it's so highly rated and raved about but I was skeptical (high ratings are sometimes a warning sign that it just features a popular actor/actress and isn't necessarily a good show).

I liked:
No distracting love triangles. Just straight "I like you and only you"
The emotional story of the Onew as Lee Chi-hoon (so good!!!)
Chemistry between all the couples
Beautiful scenery
Bromance between male leads
It was well acted and well directed (mostly)
"Happy" ending (I hope that's not a spoiler)

However, I felt the story was actually a little weak creatively, a bit repetitive, and forced. I am not sure if I actually liked it or just enjoyed it. It wasn't a knockout or particularly memorable but wasn't a total waste of time either.

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Descendants of the Sun is one of those shows that are difficult to forget. If there is a canon of Korean dramas that everyone should watch, than DoTS belongs there. However, I can't give it a 10 due to several reasons.

The story is very unique, but messy. It deals with different type of setting and conflicts than usual in kdramas. There are no love triangles and rich chaebols. Usual signs of being successful, such as money and a position, are somewhat meaningless in this story. It does deal with very popular high brow topics like honor, duty, death, love, friendship and connections, though. It is also very non-linear in the sense that it could be divided into several different episodes pulled together by the same characters.

The Korean actors gave a flawless performance. I can't even express how in love I was with Son Joon Ki's acting. However, I was deeply disappointed by the usage of the non-professional actors in this show. The Korean actors plus Argus were spectacular, but I couldn't help but cringe when I saw and heard the non-Korean characters in this show. I tried to get over it, but it honestly ruined a bunch of scenes for me. This show takes the cake for the worst acting by the non-Korean individuals up to date.

Some people say that the story was cheesy. I could agree with that; however, it was cheesy in the way that it makes you swoon, not in a way that makes you cringe. I honestly liked that about this show.

Best things about the show:
+ non-typical story
+ amazing male leads
+ good supporting role stories
+ no love triangle in the typical sense
+ great acting
+ very romantic moments
+ good mix of comedy, drama and romance
+ choices that are difficult to make
+ very limited usage of Kdrama cliches
+ another great bromance
+ eye candy

Weak spots:
- amateur actors (foreigners apart from the main bad guy)
- messy story
- stereotypical hero
- kind of old-fashioned idea of honor and duty

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I have always admired kdramas but have stopped watching new kdrama for a long time. DOTS awaken the interest in me to see new Kdramas again. I find it hard watching a new kdrama esp if I have not seen the actors before, I gave DOTS a try because of Song Hye Kyo, but it was bec of Song Joong Ki that made me love this drama so bad, well their chemistry has a lot to do with it as well. This is a well thought drama, the scenes, lines, characters all make sense. I got hooked after watching the first 10 minutes of the 1st episode and I cant get enough of the ending scene. People in their late 20s or early 30s would appreciate this kind of love story more. It takes a lot of focus, talent,discipline, maturity ,courage and true love, to enter and maintain a Doctor-Soldier Relationship. The main leads were honest, vocal and open to each other, it feels good to see these character being shown in a drama played by beautiful actors. Just awesome! I watched this 3 times and I can watch it again still :))

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Rhyming review of DOTS!
Hi guys wanted to do something different and special for this extra special show!

Here goes...

I clicked on a new show called Descendants of the Sun,
What I got was lots of action, lots of romance and lots of fun.

It took the world by storm, with ratings that were so high,
If you haven’t watched it stop reading this and go and give it a try.

Because no matter how high your expectations are it will still blow you away,
And once you start you won’t be able too stop and finish it in a day.

It shows us an epic love story that’ll really touch your heart,
You’ll feel the joy, you’ll feel the fear, you’ll feel the pain when they’re apart.

Our sexy sexy soldier will definitely be your new crush,
Whether he’s shirtless or in his uniform he’ll surely make you blush.

Our leading lady Kang Mo Yeon is really sassy and smart,
But she’s also dorky on the inside and really good at heart.

You’ll be very jealous when you see their chemistry,
Many times you’ll be left wondering where’s a Yoo Si Jin for me?

Their journey isn’t easy, at first they try to deny their love,
But its tough to escape from something written in the stars above.

The road isn’t at all easy, many obstacles come in their way,
No matter how tough the situation is, in the end its always okay.

The writing is well paced, keeps you on the edge of your seat,
But in between the action there are many moments that are sweet.

The side love story of Myung Joo and Dae young if filled with longing and desire,
We witness a pure love which also sizzles like burning fire.

The bromance is real and makes you go awww.
They have their backs when it comes relationships, missions and war.

We learn many lessons and our respect for soldiers grows,
The sacrifice they make for our countries this drama really shows.

The doctors aren’t much less and are inspiring in their own way,
They also live a difficult life saving people everyday.

All in all i’d give a 10/10 rating there really was nothing missing,
Just sit back enjoy the action, the drama the love and all the kissing.


Hope you enjoyed it

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soapy melodrama that doesn't reinvent any wheels. if you like this genre, you'll like this drama.

TLDR: mixed feelings all around. It's soapy. It's cheesy. Nothing new. If you're going into it as a fan of this specific subgenre (military/medical patriotic drama w/melodrama romance), you'll be fine. It was too cheese and unrealistic for me.

- The music is tonally heavy-handed, which I guess is expected for this genre (military/medical melodrama). The main OST for our CP: You Are My Everything - by Gummy is unbearably corny and overbearing. I hate it with a fiery passion. It cheapens every scene our CP is in and comes in loud and over the top every time. I like the song that plays between Dae Young and Myung Joo. It's uber pretty and reflects the yearning they feel for each other. That song is called "Once Again" - by Mad Clown & Kim Na Young.

- Chemistry between Shi-jin and Dae Young is more fun to watch than that between Shin Jin with Mo Yeon.

- I was invested in the relationship between Dae Young and Myung Joo from the very first moment. Talk about sizzling chemistry, yearning, and a n g s t.

- Foreign dramas constantly hiring non-American/poor English speaking actors to play "dumb Americans" always gives me the b i g g e s t eye roll. Beyond cringe. More cringe points for hiring awful F-list foreign actors for all of the American and Arab English-speaking parts. It's hard to watch; thank god for fast-forward.

- Despite the cringe English speaking portions and the Superhero music whenever Song Joon Ki blinks, I've been warming up to the drama more and more. Her dumping him (she had a valid reason that neither I nor Joon-Ki's character could fault her for) and the time skip helped greatly.

- Ep 6 note: Why TF would a doctor travel to a solar plant site collapse post-Earthquake in heels? Only to make a dramatic show of smacking those heels on a metal structure, so they fall off. D R A m A. *eye roll*
How many goodbyes and slow-walking away scenes will we need to watch? For the umpteenth time. Loses its effect.

-Ep 14: Hi, when you're shot MULTIPLE times and just suffered cardiac arrest, you're not strong enough to SIT UP and WALK moments later. Come on.

TLDR: People who like this genre will likely eat it up. I think I had higher hopes for it because of the high rating and because I'm a Song Joon Ki fan, but it was too sappy and unrealistic to appreciate. I liked the secondary couple storyline and the camaraderie between the soldiers more than the CP, by a long shot. There's nothing special about this drama; I feel my time could have been better spent elsewhere.

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