This was my introduction to Korean drama, and a welcome relief to my frustration with contemporary American film and television. I really appreciated the ensemble work as well as the performances of the leads, and it was refreshing to watch a love story (no matter how unrealistic) that focused on admiration, intimacy (in the real sense), trust, attraction, etc., instead of sex. In that sense, it was truly romantic. I also enjoyed the sense of brotherhood among the soldiers because it did not rely on the insanity of battle and violence.

Also, who was able to walk away from this drama without wanting more Hyun Bin in their life? Definitely not me.

Im giving this ten stars, not because it was perfect (there were definitely things that could have been better - particularly in the writing), but because it piqued my interest in a way that very little entertainment has and it inspired me to see what Korean drama had to offer. Not going to lie, Hyun Bin certainly added to the score ;)