Descendants
of the Sun (2016)
Grade:
B+
16 Episodes
Viewing Platform: Netflix
Viewing Platform: Netflix
Yoo Si-jin is a special forces captain
who has a run-in with a pretty doctor after stopping a motorcycle
thief and breaking up a street fight, all on his off-duty time along
with his best friend Seo Dae-young, a sergeant in the special forces
unit with him. Despite the punk's thieving, Si-jin takes pity on the
struggling young man who was just trying to leave behind the gang
life. Dr. Kang Mo-yeon is suspicious of Si-jin's identity, thinking
he's also a thug, but a mutual frenemy – who happens to be
Dae-young's on-again, off-again girlfriend – confirms Si-jin is
relatively harmless. It's difficult to accept Si-jin's career,
however, and Mo-yeon decides to not see the captain anymore. Then,
after Mo-yeon abruptly shuts down her hospital chairman's egotistical
(and very inappropriate) advances, she is sent to a country in the
Middle East for a month on a goodwill service mission. It just so
happens that Si-jin and Dae-young are dispatched in the same area.
What happens when a natural disaster strikes, trapping Korean workers
in a half-finished, collapsed plant with the military and medical
teams having to work together? Will Mo-yeon be able to accept what it
takes to be in a relationship with a soldier, or will she continue to
resist her feelings, opting for emotional certainty and safety?
*For
a show about soldiers, it was not based on a central political
conflict or war, which I found intriguing. However, it is mostly
action and drama, with plenty of violence in the mix, and that
combination doesn't hold my interest very well. There was some humor,
but it was subtle and only sprinkled in for flavor, and while some
characters struggled with romantic feelings, it was not central to
the plot. This did lead to dynamic characters that go through some
development over the course of the show, including those in
supporting roles, which does make for good writing.There
is a definite sense of patriotism in this drama as well, which I can
appreciate. Then there is
Si-jin, who positively drips with charisma (Song Joong-ki from “A
Werewolf Boy,” [2012], “Penny Pinchers,” [2011], and
“Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” [2010]). I did NOT
like how one of the characters broke the 4th
wall at the end of the show, though;
it didn't fit the serious, realistic feel of the rest of the drama.
And I'm still not sure how the title relates to the show. Overall, it
is a quality production, and I might watch it again.*
