I’m sure you’ve probably heard of this drama. “Descendants of the Sun” is what we call a “blockbuster Korean drama.” This highly anticipated series is one of the most popular Korean dramas released recently.
“Descendants of the Sun” is a love story between a captain of the army special forces (Song Joong-Ki) and a doctor (Song Hye Kyo).
The story begins with Shi-Jin, a captain of the special forces, who catches a motorcycle thief. The thief is injured during the chase and is sent to the hospital emergency room. In the emergency room, Shi-Jin meets Mo-Yeon for the first time, and he falls in love with her immediately.
The story gets interesting when Mo-Yeon mistakenly assumes Shi-Jin is part of the thief’s criminal gang, and he has to prove to her that he is not a thief but an army captain who is there to work with her. Eventually, Shi-Jin convinces Mo-Yeon, and they start their relationship. Now the challenge is for them to merge their careers and lifestyles together and make the relationship work.
The story takes place in Seoul, Korea, and an imaginary demilitarized zone called Uruk, which is monitored by the South Korean government.
The Review
The title “Descendants of the Sun” is actually a Korean idiom for truly selfless and kind people—those who go out of their way to do nice things for others. I believe this drama is called “Descendants of the Sun” because Shi Jin and Mo Yeon are both passionate about their jobs and each other. They selflessly sacrifice so much to make their relationship work. Through their actions, they inspire the next generation of soldiers and doctors to balance their work and relationships.
What really stands out about this drama is the strong relationship between the two main characters, Shi Jin and Mo Yeon. You’ll quickly notice that these characters are very relatable to the audience. They are down-to-earth, and viewers can connect with their struggles and dreams. I appreciate how the drama handles real-life problems and struggles realistically. In real life, things don’t always work out the way we want, and the drama portrays these challenges as authentically as possible.
I also enjoy the romantic story between the second couple, played by Jin Goo and Kim Ji-Won. I felt like they struggled a lot more than the main couple. The main couple primarily drives the plot, but the second couple’s story is driven more by romance. Perhaps this is why I find myself rooting for the second couple just as much as the main couple.
Many Korean dramas either focus on the overall plot or the romantic aspect of the story. I really appreciate that “Descendants of the Sun” does a good job balancing both.
In terms of the overall philosophy of the drama, “Descendants of the Sun” tries to answer important questions such as how soldiers should act in certain situations, how doctors should act in certain situations, what patriotism is, and what the most important values of human beings are. The drama explores these deep questions through the relationship between Shi-Jin and Mo-Yeon.
I’ve noticed that many people compare this drama to “My Love From the Star.” While both are very popular Korean dramas, I don’t think they are alike at all. They have completely different stories. “My Love From the Star” has a supernatural element, whereas “Descendants of the Sun” has a realistic element. Audiences can easily relate to the characters in “Descendants of the Sun,” whereas “My Love From the Star” has too much of a fantasy element.
The Mascot Dolls
I also enjoyed the mascot characters in the drama– an adorable raccoon and matching bunny mascot. I was surprised to see that they are recurring characters throughout the drama. In the beginning of the drama, when the army captain, Shi-Jin and his second commander, Dae-Young were single, they went on a date with these mascot dolls. By the way, there is cute story behind how they go these mascot doll. But I won’t give it away.
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The Screenplay
“Descendants of the Sun” is directed by Lee Eung-Bok and Baek Sang-Hoon and written by Kim Eun-Sook and Kim Won-Suk. Kim Eun-Sook is known for her work on popular dramas such as “Heirs” and “Secret Garden.” One thing I appreciate about Kim Eun-Sook is her attention to detail. She includes many small details about the characters that make them more lovable.
Kim Eun-Sook is a very popular writer, but she is also known for giving her characters incomplete endings. So, I was a bit uneasy about the ending of “Descendants of the Sun.” However, I was pleasantly surprised that it had a very satisfying conclusion.
In the Nutshell
In a nutshell, this is a drama you can’t miss. There’s a reason why “Descendants of the Sun” is one of the most popular and talked-about dramas. It could easily be one of the best dramas of 2016.
I really enjoyed this drama. I felt that the way it as was filmed really added so much to the storyline Unbelievable scenic shots! Well developed storyline that I felt was very unique! You gave a great review.