Genre: Action, Medical Drama, Romantic Comedy
Release: 2016
Starring (Main Cast):
Song Joong Ki as Yoo Shi Jin (Big Boss)
Song Hye Kyo as Kang Mo Yeon
Jin Goo as Seo Dae Young
Kim Ji Won as Yoon Myeong Ju
Director: Lee Eung Bok, Baek Sang Hoon
Writer: Kim Eun Sook, Kim Won Seok
Rakuten Viki Rating: 9.7/10
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Audience Rating: 4.9/5
MyDramaList Rating: 8.7/10
Rakuten Viki Synopsis: Click Here
Watch Free on Kocowa: Descendants of the Sun
Watch Free on Rakuten Viki: Descendants of the Sun
Episodes: 16 (1 hour each)
Content Rating: PG-13
Violence: War scenes, blood, shooting, stabbings, hitting, yelling, also surgery scenes (blood)
Sexual Content: Low - mild verbal references, kissing
Language: Some occasional swearing (a-, sh- and f-) - some translated with asterisks and some spoken in English.
Ending: Happy, satisfying
My Synopsis
Yoo Shi Jin (Song Joong Ki) leader of special forces team Alpha is thrown into the path of Surgeon Kang Mo Yeon (Song Hye Kyo) following a run in with a local gang member. Their relationship quickly develops but is cut short because interference from Shi Jin's dangerous job and his secretive life causes Mo Yeon to question their relationship. Months later, fate intervenes and they are once more brought together in the far away country of Urk. Forced into a volunteer position by her rejected superior, she finds herself facing a multitude of conflicts alongside Shi Jin as they both battle with a love that still lingers and the secrets that keep them apart.
Seo Dae Young (Jin Goo), Shi Jin's closest comrade is also in a battle of his own. The woman he loves, Yoon Myeong Ju (Kim Ji Won), happens to be the daughter of a high up military official who has forbidden his relationship with her. He is torn between her pursuit of him and his duty to her father. Can he change her father's mind?
Trailer
My Review: 10/10
This drama has earned a place as one of my all time favorites. Unlike most of the K-drama's I have watched, this one does not have a real strong underlying plot. Which, strangely doesn't take away from the drama at all. Instead, it is more character driven. This drama takes you into the personal lives of a group of people, who together face multiple conflicts that grow them and bring them together. So many faces and stories that you come to love. They almost become like family.
This was the first drama I have seen Song Joong Ki in (and at the time of this writing I have not yet seen him in another work). I found him a very likable actor. The teasing that comes from him seems so natural that I would almost guess this is his normal personality. Yet, he also was able to switch into a serious role and even shows us a little of the pain his job actually would entail. I found him very believable in his role as "Big Boss". As a personal side note... this guy has a killer smile.
This was the second drama I have seen with Song Hye Kyo. I have loved her both times. She is a great actress. Her role as Doctor Kang was very believable. And I felt the chemistry between her and Joong Ki was very real. One of my favorite things about Hye Kyo is when she acts out frustration. She does such a great job with it! Makes me laugh! :)
I won't go into to much detail on the secondary couple for the sake of length but they both were well cast and I felt drawn into their story almost as much as our first couple. Theirs, in a way, was almost more complicated. Both wanted to be with each other, but both were hindered by the societal expectations of rank and birth that still seems to have a lot of pull in South Korea (if I can tell anything from their dramas). They add a push to the direction of the story, but also add some needed conflict.
In addition, I felt the crew did a great job at training their acting medical staff in procedures. As a nurse myself, I found it refreshing to not be distracted by poor medical technique. But, with that said... there was one unbelievable medical scene...
SPOILER ALERT...
To keep the spoil to a minimum I will avoid details. One character suffers a cardiac arrest (paddles are used) and then proceeds to get up immediately following. I did find that a little hard to believe.
Negatives:
I have only a couple negative critiques. this first one is forgivable and understandable so, for me, it does not take away from the charm of the drama. I actually find this particular issue a common one. And that is... when the actors/actresses switch into English the vocal acting becomes very flat, emotionless and choppy. This, I completely understand is due to it just not being their first language. With that said, however, they really did do a great job with their pronunciation and it was kind of cool hearing their voices in my own language.
The second critique was just that some of the non-Korean actors were not very good. But... again... not bad enough to take away.
Summary and additional notes:
Overall, I place this in the top dramas I have watched. It kept me glued throughout and I loved the side stories and characters just as much as the main cast. It makes me want to volunteer and find my own team to be a part of! :D And, it also gave me an appreciation for the people in the world who put their lives on the line daily for people they haven't even met. A must watch for any Korean Drama lover!!
Bonus!
As a bonus... making a cameo appearance as the beloved character Doctor Lee Chi Yeon, was the singer Onew. As far as I can tell this was his first and, so far, only acting role. He did a fabulous job and was one of my daughter and my favorite characters. I do hope he takes up acting again. This is him doing a cover of the Descendants of the Sun song "You Are My Everything".
Awards Won:
This may be, by far, the most awarded drama I will ever review! Keep in mind this does not include the 39 nominations that were not won. 😳Drama/production Awards:
Descendants of the Sun - 2016 - Grand Prize (52nd Baeksang Arts Awards); Best Drama (43rd Korean Broadcasting Grand Prize); Excellent Korean Drama (11th Seoul International Drama Awards); Drama of the Year (5th APAN Star Wards); Best Drama (9th Korea Drama Awards); Best Drama Series (21st Asian Television Awards) - 2017 - Grand Prize for Excellence in Production (Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards); Special Jury Award [TV series] (50th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
Kim Eun Sook (Screenwriter) - 2016 - Presidential Award (Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards)
Kim Eun Soo, Kim Won Seok (Screenwriters) - 2016 - Best Screenwriter (30th KBS Drama Awards)
Kim Si Hyung, Uhm Jun Sung (Cinematography) - 2016 - Grand Prize [Daesang] (29th Grimae Awards)
Actor/Actress Awards:
Song Joong Ki - 2016 - Most Popular Actor [TV] (52nd Baeksang Arts Awards); iQiyi Global Star Award (52nd Baeksang Arts Awards); Outstanding Korean Actor (11th Seoul International Drama Awards); Grand Prize [Daesang] (5th APAN Star Awards); Best APAN Star Award (5th APAN Star Awards); Presidential Award (Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards); Grand Prize [Daesang] (30th KBS Drama Awards) - 2017 - Best Performer Award (29th Korean Producer Awards)
Song Hye Kyo - 2016 - Most Popular Actress (52nd Baeksang Arts Awards); iQiyi Global Star Award (52nd Baeksang Arts Awards); Presidential Award (Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards); Grand Prize [Daesang] (30th KBS Drama Awards)
Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo - 2016 - Best Couple Award (5th APAN Star Awards); Best Couple Award (30th KBS Drama Awards); Asia Best Couple Award (30th KBS Drama Awards)
Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo - 2016 - Best Couple Award (5th APAN Star Awards); Best Couple Award (30th KBS Drama Awards); Asia Best Couple Award (30th KBS Drama Awards)
Jin Goo - 2016 - Special Award (1st Indonesian Television Awards); Best Supporting Actor (5th APAN Star Awards); Best Celebrity Award, Actor (1st Asia Artist Awards)
Kim Ji Won - 2016 - Best Supporting Actress (5th APAN Star Awards); Best Celebrity Award, Actress (1st Asia Artist Awards); Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries (30th KBS Drama Awards); Best New Actress (30th KBS Drama Awards)
Jin Goo and Kim Ji Won - 2016 - Best Couple Award (30th KBS Drama Awards)
Jo Jae Yoon - 2016 - Scene Stealer Award [male] (2nd Scene Stealer Festival); Excellence Award, Actor (9th Korea Drama Awards)
Choi Woong - 2016 - Male Rookie of the Year (2016 Rookie Asia Awards)
Lee Seung Joon - 2016 - Scene Stealer Award [male] (2nd Scene Stealer Festival)
Onew - 2016 - Newcomer Scene Stealer Award [male] (2nd Scene Stealer Festival)
OST Awards:
Gummy (You Are My Everything) - 2016 - Outstanding Korean Drama OST (11th Seoul International Drama Awards); Best OST Award (1st Asia Artist Awards) - 2017 - Best OST (31st Golden Disk Awards); OST Award (26th Seoul Music Awards)
Yoon Mi Rae (Always) - 2016 - Best OST (8th Melon Music Awards)
안녕! - 줄스
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