Descendant Of The Sun Review

Title: Descendants of the Sun
AKA: Taeyangui Huye
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Comedy
Episodes: 16 + 3 SP
Broadcast Period: Feb-2016 to Apr-2016
Cast: Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji Won, Kang Shin Il, Kim Byung Chul, Park Hoon, Lee Seung Joon,

Yoo Si Jin (Song Joong Ki) is the captain of a South Korean Special Force unit. He catches a motorcycle thief Kim Gi Beom (Kim Min Seok) with Sergeant Major Seo Dae Young (Jin Goo). The thief is injured during his capture and is sent to the hospital. Dae Young realizes his cellphone was stolen by the thief and goes to the hospital along with Si Jin to retrieve his cellphone. In the emergency room, Si Jin meets Dr. Kang Mo Yeon (Song Hye Kyo) for the first time. He falls in love with her immediately. Mo Yeon mistakenly assumes Si Jin is part of the thief's criminal gang due to his nickname "Big Boss", which is actually his callsign. He proves to her that he is a soldier with the help of army doctor Yoon Myeong Joo (Kim Ji-won).

It’s been nearly three weeks since the finale of Descendants of the Sun, one of the reasons I enjoyed it, among the various lures, was the visual glory of the cast and location shoots. Descendants of the Sun might not be the best or most romantic or most exciting drama ever made, but it touches upon subjects that most asian dramas don't touch upon, and I really loved that. People who say this drama has no story, are obviously missing the point. Just because it doesn't deal with evil in-laws, revenge plots, star-crossed lovers, amnesia, or noble sacrifice, doesn't mean there is no story. The lovely supporting cast, the amazing chemistry between the four leads, the suspense and tragic disasters, the heartbreak and comedic moments, that even though you just shed a river of tears will still make you laugh. And, lastly, can I just say, the adorableness that is Song Joong Ki!!!!  I've loved him ever since Sungkyunkwan Scandal, and I am SO HAPPY he got this role! I whole-heartedly recommend this drama, and I assure you, if you appreciate the little and sincere moments and thoughts brought onto screen, you will love this.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

That Winter, The Wind Blows Review

Title: That Winter, The Wind Blows

AKA: Wind blows in the Winter

Genre: Melodrama, Romance

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2013-Feb to 2013-Apr

Cast: Jo In Sung, Song Hye Kyo, Kim Bum and Jung Eun Ji.

Having been abandoned as a child Oh Soo (Jo In Sung) has learned not to trust anyone, and also does not believe in love or commitment. Together with his best friend or right hand man Park Jin Sung (Kim Bum) they earn money and live by swindling and gambling from the rich and powerful.

When their fellow roommate, who shares the same name as Oh Soo, tells them about his past, being the long lost son of the chairman of the PL Group, the two just laugh it off. But when a blind woman named Oh Young (Song Hye Kyo) seeks out her brother, Oh Soo reluctantly reads a letter written from her brother.

Shortly after their encounter, Oh Soo is hunted down by the police and by fate runs into his roommate Oh Soo. While running, the friend gets hit by a car, and Oh Soo is arrested.

A year later, Oh Soo finds out about his 7.8mio debt, and the fact that his roommate has passed. Now with no money, no one (except Jin Sung) to trust, he tries to come up with 7.8mio, but without any luck. That is until the attorney of the PL Group comes to find the long lost son of the chairman, called Oh Soo…

This was one of the Korean dramas that without starting I knew I would have a harsh time getting it done. It is draggy and stuffy, and you really just wonder sometimes why on earth you started in the first place, but to tell you the truth, it is so well acted that everything is kind of not important. The cast does an amazing job, and even though the script and screenplay suck pretty much all the time - and not to mention the mean AND ridiculous climax - you sort of enjoy the drama. You get worried, you get sad and you get hyped, though by the end you actually are mostly glad for it to end, or I was at least.

It is a classic, or has become a classic, meaning very Korean, and all that Korean dramas stand for - stuffiness, dragginess, melodrama and occasionally theatrical? Anyways, if Korean dramas are your thing, this is a good watch.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

World Within Review

Title: World Within
AKA: The World That They Live In
Genre: Romance, Movie Making
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2008-Oct to 2008-Dec
Cast: Hyun Bin, Song Hye Kyo, Uhm Ki Joon and Seo Hyo Rim.

This drama follows the people behind the camera: directors, producers, actors, screenwriters, assistance etc. Jung Ji Oh (Hyun Bin) is a director who is loved by all this co-workers for his easy-going personality and care for others, even named the stations back-up. Even though he is highly appreciated, he hasn’t been able to have his breakthrough, and keeps getting low ratings. Joo Joon Young (Song Hye Kyo) is also a director, different from Ji Oh she is seen cold and thoughtless by her co-workers, but as far as work she is even more succesfull than her idol/mentor of a sunbae Ji Oh.
The two of them had a relationship at some point where Ji Oh had broken up with his girlfriend. After Ji Oh breaks up with Joon Young he returns to his girlfriends side, and Joon Young becomes Ji Ohs assistant director. The two of them maintain a friendship, but as years pass, so the does Ji Ohs too serious girlfriend. When he finally ends things with her, and as Joon Young breaks up with her boyfriend, the two of them decide to give it a shot again.

I wanted to watch this drama for a long time now, but kept putting it off because of my expectations being low (mainly because of the low rating). And I have to say, stupid! Like I’m so in love with this drama! You those dramas where you want to know what happens after ’the couple’ becomes a couple, this is exactly what is shown, with their work as a twist. Yes, it’s VERY adult like, a lot of serious talk, break-up and not to mention endless fights. But I swear, everything is perfect here, every single character, screen, dialogue, you name it, it’s as if it’s the real world. Hyun Bin and Song Hye Kyo aren’t just perfect together, but their characters are amazingly tailored for them. Now you ask, why didn’t I give them 5/5? Hmm, the answer is simple, I was satisfied at the end. Yes, that’s rare, but I was too satisfied. I just wish that there was this small portion left for us to imagine further. I mean, EVERYTHING ended… Well, peacefully. As if they hurried to wrap the ending up. Oh well…

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts