Descendants of the Sun

I have recently learned to love Korean TV, having been wowed by Mr Sunshine and Crash Landing on You. I also loved Its Okay to Not be Okay. So I came to this wanting it to be of a similar standard. But it isn't. Not for me anyway.

I did not invest in the central relationship. The characters shed plenty of tears but never made me feel that their relationship was real. The story threw lots challenges and disasters their way, but none of it made me care what happened.

Having said all that, it is a moderately diverting drama, perhaps more likely to be enjoyed if you come at it with low expectations.

It's an inspired Korean television production, with an enjoyable romantic plot, well written dialogue, good acting and adequate budget. As of April 2016 it has been streamed more than 2.3 billion times and its Asian success is so huge that China's Ministry of Public Security posted an official (and threatening) statement to warn against the growing influence of Korean Dramas on Chinese youth.

It's obviously for kids but it can be interesting for anyone willing to know how is it to live now in South Korea, what does it mean to be pretty, young and cool there.

But besides that, the story is catching and well made, with pleasant moments, nice sceneries (a great part has been shot in Greece) and good attention for details.

Interestingly, Authors felt the need to account for the age difference between the beautiful Song Hye-kyo (born 1981) and the handsome Song Joong-ki (born 1985), even though I wonder how many of us would have noticed… I'm liking it and I think that others from Western Countries will like it too.

This drama has a little bit of everything in it: romance, action, adventure, drama, and comedy! I will definitely watch it again. Great storyline, awesome cast, beautiful soundtrack. It couldn't have been more enjoyable!!! Definitely one of my favorites and a fine example for why I love watching Korean drama! Watch it. You won't be disappointed.

A brilliant drama. War, earthquake, surgery, romance, exotic scenery.....a feast for our eyes. Nowhere to breathe. Simply excellent.

I thought it is a good idea to rewatch in 2023. But in one second, I regret. Whenever I see the main couple, I thought of their divorce. The part 2 reality show in a way ruins all the original sweetness. Life is harsh admittedly. I am not blaming anyone. Fate is the culprit. What I could do is to keep looking forward for new story, hopefully cheerful one, from writer Kim.

This sixteen part Korean romance is centred on Yoo Si-jin, a captain in the Korean Special Forces, and Dr Kang Mo-yeon, an attractive woman he meets when he and his friend Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young take an injured young thief to hospital. He is immediately attracted to her but she suspects he caused the man's injuries. That misunderstanding is resolved and they start to see each other; things look to be going well then he is transferred to the fictional Balkan country of Uruk. That might be the end of their relationship but soon afterwards Dr Kang and her team are tasked with running a field hospital in Uruk. This reunites the doctor and the soldier. They end up facing several dangers together; most notably an earthquake and confrontation with a criminal gang led by a former comrade of Yoo Si-jin. There are other romances; Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young is in an off-and-on relationship with First Lieutenant Yoon Myung-ju, whose father, a general, doesn't approve her seeing an enlisted man.

I really enjoyed this series; it provides a fun central story which includes some fairly tense scenes as well as lots of laughs. In most episodes there are moments of danger although, for the most part, one won't fear too much for the ultimate safety of our protagonists. The cast is really great; Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo have a real chemistry as Captain Yoo and Dr Kang... it wasn't a huge surprise to learn the pair later marred in real life! Others are fine too; including the more minor characters. The Greek locations, filling in for the fictional Uruk, are impressively beautiful. It is fairly light hearted and requires some suspension of disbelief; I'm sure anybody with real military experience would laugh at the casual behaviour of soldiers depicted here. Over all I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who likes a solid romance story with a decent amount of action.

These comments are based on watching the series in Korean with English subtitles.