Descendants of the Sun (2016)

Just average

Reviews I read said this series is up there with CLOY and others as the best Korean dramas of all time. Sigh.
There is nothing best about this. At the end of the day, it is an average show with some average acting and a really not-that-believable storyline. There is sweetness to it and the somewhat believable chemistry between the leads lifts it up.
I guess for a European like myself the pretend country of XY didn't help - we all are familiar with the Greek island with the shipwreck. Overall it can be enjoyable to watch if expectations are kept on the middle of the scale. Although I should mention that this is the only series where I ended up wanting to hear the soundtrack after finishing it.

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I had problems with everything in this drama. I didn't really like the two main characters (but I was rooting for them as a couple anyway), the story, in general, was not bad, but also had things what I didn't like, I was rooting so much for the second couple I loved them more actually, but they also did some weird things, but still, they were my favorite. What I liked were the songs. Also liked Onew as an actor, I also had some problem with his character, but he definitely played him well. The places where they were shooting were also really nice. Their English skills were also not that good, so sometimes it was hard to understand what they were saying. There was an episode where I was crying really hard, but then how they continued felt really weird and unrealistic. In all, it wasn't that bad, but definitely not that good as it could be. I will never watch it again as a whole, but I can imagine watching again some scenes.

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I liked DOTS overall is it brought together military and medicine which are typically seen as polar opposites at the surface while in reality they share similar core values that save the common people. I felt that the main leads had a good connection in the beginning. They liked each other's personalities and went on a date without hesitating too much. The absence of the second main lead syndrome brought me huge relief. There were several inaccuracies and overdramatic scenes though. When Kang Mo Yeon and Yoo Si Jin fall from the cliff into the water, judging by the height of the fall, they couldn't have survived even if they fell into the water in a car with airbags. Also I wished that they showed the way Yoo Si Jin escaped from being locked up and returned to meet Kang Mo Yeon. It would have been much more interesting if they dedicated an episode to Seo Dae Young's and Yoo Si Jin's escape struggles. It felt like an originally intended sad ending was made happy to prevent backlash by fans. I believe that the end should have been better constructed to avoid this. I loved the way the earthquake brought together the military and doctors.

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I thought this drama will be in high tense from begining since I heard that DotS was extremely overrated by my friends. "It's tensing. Its actors were in action of missions. It's touching, too." But, after watch it, let me say.. it is indeed an action romance drama.. But, its action scenes were not as much as I expected. However, I would like to include medical things (surgical ops  etc) into action category. So, although its actions were not as many as expected, but I enjoyed  doctors' act. I learned something new about medical sciences from DotS.
Story: +3. It's not complicated (like Black or School 2015), doesn't have a plot goal, yet entertaining.
Containing humor: +3. I give this overrated value. Humors always came when actors came into scenes. Especially, in this drama, I love soldiers' life and humors.
I love the characters (it's not like I love to see handsomeness or beauty with glancing eyes): +2. It's like anyone has humor sense, so it's entertaining me.
It doesn't have a plot twist and plot goal. Some scenes are odd if you think realistically.
It still can make anyone feel the tense. +1

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Best Drama Ever!! Highly Recommended!!

Actually I watched this drama mainly because of my cousin. But when I started watching this I was like I HAVE TO finish it. The leading characters, second leads; all did an AMG job. I have watched it so many times. OST, Story, Casting and everything else was perfect. Overall it is the most AMG drama I've ever watched..❤️❤️Song - Song couple was my favourite. I always ship them..?? In the drama, from the beginning to the end, there wasn’t a simple change in their feelings. the drunken scene was my Most favourite one.
After her confession, his reaction was amg.??

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I have only positive things to say! This drama is and will always be one of the best i've seen! The chemistry between the main and second lead was AMAZING!..... I really loved the plot it wasn't like any other dramas i've ever seen it was unique in it's own way... OMG and the music was like hearing mother nature giving birth like you can't get the songs out of your head girl!!! HAHA you can't expect me to not talk about how DAMN HOT the guys are! Like girl it's getting hot in here! This drama is a MUST WATCH! After you have read my review you must hurry up and watch it haha.



Oh and congratulations to Song-Song couple on getting married soon! Ever since i saw this drama i've been shipping them so hard and then I found out THEY HAVE BEEN DATING SECRETLY YESSS!


But yeah overall it's a great drama.

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I Love thiss Drama very much.. I'm a huge  fan actually..
1. The Chemistry between two main leads was amazing (well they ended up marry in real life though)
2. The story line is not the usual action romance like other dramas
3. The pace of the plot is very fast, keep you wondering what next? Not typical slow pace drama with the unsolved problems/missunderstanding for several episoes
4. No crazy and jealous girl/boy
5. It's funny but also heartwarming scenes and conversation along the drama
I rewatch this several times and don't get bored of two leads chemistry and interaction
At fist I was rather hesitate to watch because the story about soldier and war never been my interest.. But ended up I was falling in love with this drama.,
If you haven't watch it.. it's highly recommended

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How my love-hate relationship for this show went.

I usually watch dramas based on my favorite writers or actors. This show definitely falls on the second category since I am not really a fan of Kim Eun-sook (I watched Heirs because of the abundance of pretty). I am a Song Joong Ki fan ever since his Innocent Man days and I really do anticipate for this show because this is his come back drama after getting discharged. And so, off I go and watch this drama.

The Story
Story-wise, I believe that Descendants did a good job on maximizing all the angles of the setting it was on. There is definitely enough suspense, thrill and action when your hero is a soldier, specifically in a special unit for that matter. I believe that the highlight of the drama was really when they were in Urk. Because that is where the story developed and got deeper. After their return to South Korea, I am always wondering what will happen and that there is not much material left to work on. So the writer need to do THAT by the last week of the drama. I think the last episode is all fan service and nothing much is really happening any more. Well, as compared to the writer's other projects (I only watched Secret Garden and Heirs), I like this better.

The Cast
I can watch this forever because of Joong Ki and I think I need not say much about him. I adore him! I read some reactions saying that it feels that Song Hye Kyo lacks emotions in her acting. In my opinion, Song Hye Kyo did well with her role delivering intense longing, conflicting, and even sometimes funny emotions on her scenes.

But really, the gem for me here is Kim Ji Won and Jin Goo. I actually loved their love line than the main couple. I watched Kim Ji Won in Heirs only and have not watched her since so I am not sure how she did on others but her performance here is really improved compared to that in Heirs. I haven't watched any of Jin Goo's shows but I know that he is in the industry for quite a while now and finally, he gets his recognition. I am really happy that their careers are both enjoying the popularity of this show.

Every one was awesome but then I cringe every now and then when there's a cheesy line. My goodness, I can't believe that they were able to deliver those cheesy lines!

The Soundtrack
I think we all had fair share of Last Song Syndrome because of this show's soundtrack.

Also, I want to acknowledge that the drama really has good editing. I think the fact that it was pre-produced gave the production more time to smooth the flow of the scenes. Somehow I also felt that their location is already so pretty, it required less effort. Ha ha. The scenes really delivered a lot of feels.

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Overrated drama.

Joong-ki doesn't fit as a "cynical" military.
Scriptwriter doesn't seem to have decided if it's supposed to be a serious drama or a comedy. Don't know why it's so popular.

I find non christian (/muslim) people tend to over adapt to try to show they are open minded and "educated" when instead it only show their lack of independent thinking.
2+2 doesn't become five just because the majority want's it to be.
Christian people touting their religion as a human religion does not take away the Fact that the idea of an almighty, good, g#d is world history's Biggest FRAUD, considering All the injustices and problems on this planet, despite thousands of years of praying to this imaginary g#d.
Jesus was a low educated megalomaniac, who couldn't handle having been born out of wedlock.

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Let me tell you ONE thing about this drama.
It is absolutely worth the watch.

I've heard about this drama numerous of times on tumblr and from the popularity it had in Korea but I never bothered to watch it when it aired. I finally sat down and found some free time to watch it and I finished the entire 16 episodes in a day and half, which is an all-time record for me. Although, I probably would've finished it in one day if I had the ability to, unfortunately I am still human.

I was very skeptical about this drama when I first heard about it because I'm not one that is too into war-themed dramas, I prefer more modern day/city-like/relateable dramas. But I managed to watch it and it exceeded my expectations which I am extremely glad it did.

The story was great. It really gives you a look into the world of those who a) work to protect their countries and b) work to protect those that are in need. This was a great drama that mixed action and medicine all into one, which I find that most medical dramas lack: a sense of excitement, which is what DOTS provided throughout all 16 episodes. With the ending of each episode, I just kept wanting more and more. This drama has such a way to tug at your heart and the inner do-gooder inside of everyone. A+++++

The cast is absolutely phenomenal, what with Song Joong-ki and Song Hye Kyo as your leads, what more could you want? The characters were characters you also fell in love with too. Every character had a story and it just made you seem even more connected to them. SHK was a wonder actress as usual, she looks just as she did back in her Full House days and played the role of a doctor very well indeed. Joong-ki was what really surprised me though. All of the roles I've seen him in he played a sort of boyish character, one that was innocent and had a flowerboy like aura to him. It's very much a different experience to see him play a soldier, one who's personality is completely the opposite of the other roles he's had. In a way he seemed more like a man through this drama rather than the young boy I've always seen him as. I guess his time in the military before this drama was also another supporting factor but still, it's a wonderful change.

The music to this drama was wonderful and I'd be lying if I said I didn't subscribe to a DOTS playlist I found on Spotify of all the songs in the drama lolol.

Overall I would definitely rewatch it, if I ever found the time to. And this is a drama I would recommend to anybody.

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