Great drama initially as a binge-watch, but it just doesn't hold up as a rewatch
So I originally watched this drama shortly after it was all released (maybe early 2017?) and adored it (I will admit it was one of my first K-dramas soooo). I binge-watched it - I, in particular, remember crying a lot and loving the emotional rollercoaster this drama sent me on. I binge-rewatched maybe a year later with my mom and loved it still. But here we are, 2021, many many MANY Asian-dramas later, and rewatched it with some other family members and just didn't love it as much? Which devastated me. HOW?! WHY?! Well, honestly, I think it's because this third time rewatching it, we watched it slow (maybe 1 or 2 episodes a night over the course of a week).DOTS is a drama you MUST binge watch. By breaking up the episodes, you lose the emotional impact needed to truly be moved by the drama between episodes as the story progresses. To ride the emotional rollercoaster I rode while watching it the first (and second time), you've got to let yourself be complete immersed without interruption to let the impact of the story hit you hard (which, as sadistic as it sounds, is what makes it so good in the end sooo ^-^').
Anyways, what I didn't like about DOTS the third time around was the pacing - I found the boring parts to be extra boring and kind of drag the overall story (it was mainly the slice-of-life moments in between the exciting action stuff). I also found that I really didn't like Dr. Kang - everything about her relationship with the Captain seemed rather self-centered, which made their romance unenjoyable for me.
BUT what I still loved about the drama is extensive:
-- The OST is great! There's one or two songs I'm not a huge fan of, but for the most part, I adore all the songs (even the instrumentals pack a punch!).
-- The romance between the Sergeant and Army Surgeon Yoon was still really sweet and I could totally relate to it.
-- The romance between Dr. Song and Nurse Ha was absolutely adorable and I loved watching it again!
-- The relationship between the Sergeant and Private Kim - I bawled at the end when Private Kim cried (*even* on the third rewatch ^^)
-- The intense action and "bigger-than-you" plot was great! The natural disaster was the perfect vehicle to grip your heart on top of all the other variables and stressors in this drama to keep me watching.
Overall, I don't think I want to rewatch this again. At least not for a really long time. And I've learned my lesson - it will need to be binged for sure. DOTS *is* a good drama, but it does have it's flaws.
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Visually appealing romance
Likes:1. The most beautiful leads in kdrama history. Sadly im probably one of the few who couldnt feel their chemistry. I was more interested in Wolf/MyeongJu and even the 2 older doctors' romance.
2. The gorgeous scenes, the costumes, the big budget production
3. The drama various dangers and challenges the soldiers and doctors face and i admire their courage and selflessness (though it felt like these were all hypothetical scenarios since no one seems to die esp the 2 leads)
4. The bromance between Big Boss and Wolf and brotherhood with Team Alpha. Fyi, SJK looks too small / lean to be called Big Boss. His team members like wolf and snoopy were bigger and hunkier than him.
5. I will repeat, SHK is gorgeous! I love her scenes when she has to be emotional more than when she is trying to be cute.
6. The plot about the NK soldier was interesting
Dislikes
1. On the other hand the entire storyline of Argus was boringggg and it took up most of the episodes. I fast forwarded some scenes. I was so relieved when the story moved to Seoul because it became exciting.
2. Poor Si Jin, writer kept giving him the cheesiest lines to say to Mo Yeon. It's cringy and didnt feel romantic. I just looked at his handsome face and imagined he said something wittier. The only real line i heard from him was on the last episode when they were looking at the stars.
3. I love Wolf but didnt really like Myeong Ju. She was stubborn and always didnt listen to what Wolf was trying to tell her. I dont know what he liked in her tbh.
4. I didnt like how the story about Chilsu and the annoying survivor went.
Rating: 8/10
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awesome drama
I really liked watching this drama back then. I liked the acting and the overall pace, as well as the plot. It was a nice mix of military life, hospital life, romance and comedy. I dont really have anything to complain about in this drama. On top of that, i also found one of my all time favorite songs in this. Though, even if i think this is an awesome drama, i dont think i would rewatch it. It was nice but the chance of doing so is a little low. This drama definitely knows how to connect the viewer with the characters's feelings. I surely felt their emotions and even cried with them.Was this review helpful to you?
It was the first k drama that i watched
Honestly speaking when i first saw it on indian tv it was mind blowing. In between all those cheesy unwanted drama it was a gem. I still do consider it as one of the best drama series. It has a really good story it os not the typical scenario and has strong characters who are guided by thier value. It is light and fun to watch because of the Cheesy lines .And the handsome and beautiful actors.
(When I re watched it in 2020 I noticed how cheesy it was for the first time. ) .
Lots of love to dots
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I Wasn’t Supposed to Cry This Much
I decided to watch Descendants of the Sun despite seeing so many reviews calling it cheesy, and honestly, I’m so glad I did.Yes, there were moments where I could understand exactly why people described it that way. But instead of taking me out of the story, I found myself completely immersed in it. I didn’t watch this drama thinking about whether something was too cheesy—I cried, I laughed, I got attached to the characters, and I genuinely felt every part of their story.
What surprised me most was how emotional it became for me. Beneath the romance and the occasional over-the-top moments, there are stories about sacrifice, duty, loss, friendship, and choosing to care for someone even when loving them means putting yourself at risk. Those themes really stayed with me.
The chemistry between Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo was incredible, and I loved watching their relationship develop alongside everything else happening around them. But the supporting characters also made the drama so much more memorable. Their friendships, struggles, and relationships added so much heart to the story.
And honestly, there was something so comforting about watching a drama that isn’t afraid to be dramatic. Sometimes I don’t want everything to be subtle and realistic—I want the big declarations, the intense emotions, the beautiful scenery, and the soundtrack that makes everything feel ten times more emotional.
I went into this expecting to understand why everyone called it cheesy, and I came out having cried my way through the story and absolutely loving it.
Maybe it is cheesy sometimes. But sometimes cheesy is exactly what you need. And Descendants of the Sun completely won me over.
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This review may contain spoilers
A good combination of emotion and action
This series was one I had seen airing in hindi on a channel in India. I wanted to know what is it so intriguing, so I looked up online and found that it was one of the most famous dramas. And so I binge watched all the episodes. Believe me.. it has everything. The most exciting and flirtatious romance between a doctor and a soldier. The second lead couple... though they have their own problems, still it does not make their love any less satisfying. Some of the scenes are really very well executed. My favourite is the one in Episode 7 ... the earthquake scene. I just loved the cinematography. And not to forget the bromance between the two soldiers. Overall, it is one of my favourite series.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Before I begin my review, I do have to mention that I basically watched this drama thanks to SHINee's Onew. I first tried watching it in 2018 or so, and it didn't appeal to me at all back then, partly because I expected a fully medical drama, and partly because I was younger. Now that I'm older and a Shawol, I decided to give it another try because I realized Jinki starred in it. Man am I thankful that I did, because I would've missed out on an absolute gem!The absolute biggest strength of this drama is its wonderful cast of characters. I found myself feeling so much love towards all four of the leads, each and every member of the medical team, the military squad, even Ye Hwa and Daniel. When they laughed, I laughed, when they cried, I cried. I have to say, I've never felt this attached to a cast before. I really wished for all of them to have a happy ending.
As for the flaws of this drama, I would like to mention the last few episodes. I feel like episode 15 could've been cut out and the storyline wouldn't have changed much. The disappearance of Si Jin and Dae Young felt very unnecessary, I found myself skipping forward through basically the entire episode.
Other than what I mentioned above, this was a pretty enjoyable drama. I wouldn't say it's the best drama I've watched, but it's a very solid drama. I would recommend this, especially to someone who is just starting to watch kdramas!
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Still Worth the Hype, Even on Rewind
Rewatching Descendants of the Sun years later felt like catching up with an old friend—familiar, a little over-the-top, but still full of charm. I didn’t remember much from my first watch, but the second lead couple stood out again just as strongly. Myung-Ju and Dae-Young's arc had this grounded pull that made me root for them all over again. Their chemistry just hits differently—less fluff, more depth.Myung-Ju’s father definitely frustrated me at times, especially with how much he got in the way of their relationship. But I respected his principles—he genuinely believed in putting the safety of the nation and its soldiers above political moves, which made him feel like a real, layered character by the end.
And of course, the show still delivers on its technical side: iconic OSTs, stunning sets, smooth editing, and movie-like CGI that made every episode feel like a blockbuster. Despite how jam-packed each episode was, the whole thing flew by faster than I expected. A solid rewatch, especially if you're in the mood for action, romance, and some good old second lead syndrome.
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Typical Cliche Drama
I'd love the drama if there weren't too much romantic scenes.The main leads did not have romantic chemistry. Not realistic either
The SL couple tho I liked them
The supported cast was so so, some actors were bad so I skipped whenever they're on screen
The plot is rather cliche and overdramatic
I cringed when they Engrisk
Other than that the OST was good and memorable
Cinematography was pleasant although some scenes were too draggy
Might not watch it again bcs of Song-Song couple
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But it did surprise me in many ways! It was a little cringe at times, but only because both the main and support actors were all soo pretty and handsome, it made up for the it! LOL..
But I do have a addicting kind of personality and sometimes when I do start something, I get super into it! So I really felt like I was part of it when I was sitting on the plane, watching it on my tiny handphone screen with my earphones one!
I remember just watching this on a flight home from somewhere, and just trying not to cry on the plane in some of the sad bits! - But, I love the four actors; Song Joong-Ki, Song Hye-kyo, Kim Ji-won and Jin Goo!
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What is wrong with Descendants of the Sun?
This main question is what I asked myself many many times throughout watching this title. I really don't know. Even after finishing it, I still don't know the answer to it. The acting is really good, especially from the two main actors - the *prior to 2 days ago* popular SongSong couple. They are both very charismatic and do a good job. The story is interesting and unique. It plays at many different locations and never uses one for too long. Yet I somehow didn't get emotionally attached to this show as I would with many other shows. So why? I think the answer lies somewhere in the script writing and directing department. Even though the story is good and suspenseful and the actors are doing a good job "playing the story" they somehow fail to connect to the viewer on a deeper level. It's like they are playing the script for themselves and are playing emotional for themselves - not to appeal to the viewer aswell. It's a weird scenario I've never been in with a show, period. Not even on the american market.Descendants of the Sun is a show with a very large potential but sub-par result at the end. Mainly due to just overdramatizing many scenes at the start and building up a "fake hype/drama" around the main couple. It was fine that the "I don't want you to leave me and how can I handle this" type of scenario was used once or twice, but they re-used it so much, that it actually got too obvious that it's just for the sake of drama. It kinda got unrealistic or unbelievable from the point of view of the viewer at that point. From that point on you would just not care about the effort the show would make to make it up to you as a viewer because you already were so frustrated that you couldn't care less. This is really sad in my opinion, because especially the main actors but also Kim Ji Won and Jin Goo did a wonderful job and it all got thrown overboard for the sake of an unrealistically high drama dose.
In the end, Descendants of the Sun re-uses this scenario once again and just makes you suffer one more time. So there isn't even an ending which would make up for this. There are slight glimmers of hope here and there, where you can feel happiness from watching this show, but it's really just for small things and not the two main couples, where the focus is mainly on and where it should have been done more right. I just can't give this show a 8/10 with the way it evolved.
More in-depth review: https://youtu.be/BgzK2_g82Rw
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