[…] details here), would you agree that the higher prevalence of female screenwriters (from Goblin to Descendants of the Sun) has turned the tide on the male gaze in […]

Agree with all of your comments, KFG! Spot on, as usual. 
I am sorry that I’m 5-years late to this kdram-phenom, but as a newbie, I can finally add DotS to my list of completed kdramas. It was fun and engaging; grand with the potential to be magnificent. I was glued to this drama until the very end.
There are so many other articulate and insightful comments from KFG fans below, but I still wanted to share my comments:
§ I love the poster—it’s so romantic with the ML on his knees to tie her boots….
§ Jin Goo as Dae-young was smoldering hot—so masculine, swoon!—and he was so convincing in his role.
§ Song Joong-Ki really surprised me with his acting ability and this kdrama has motivated me to check out some of his other works.  I thought he was “just another pretty face” but he commanded his scenes. And that military swagger was so exciting—loved how he put his hands on his hips! I think that just being released from the military helped his ability to portray a military character.
§ Song Hye-Ko is a stunning, gorgeous, beautiful “Pretty One.” Wish she had a less dowdy wardrobe.
§ I enjoyed all the characters, villains and heroes, alike.
§ I really liked the straight-forward romance with no silly triangles or subplots. Would loved to have seen some cuddle in the tent for a little more closure.
§ I liked how the first episode clearly set up the plot and introduced the main characters. 
§ The medical vs military was so well-done—especially the comments that compared saving lives. 
§ I didn’t mind the crazy action plots, as they were just props to feature the male characters. As usual, the Western actors were underwhelming.
§ I’m not so sure about ending by breaking the 4th wall. As a viewer, I was sort of offended because it seemed like to make fun of the audience for liking the kdrama romance-action genre and suspending our sense of belief to watch it. This never seemed to be a comedy so the last scene made me feel embarrassed about enjoying it.

Interestingly, I watched DotS on Riki so there were 19 episodes. Although #16 was the end, I loved how #17 & #18 “See It Again” showed the scenes of the main characters—sort of like fast-forwarding to the best parts. #19 “Epilogue” was a compilation of clips during the shoot, interviews and some press releases.

I watched DotS AFTER seeing Crash Landing on You and D.P. (Deserter Patrol). The contrast between the gritty, D.P. and the altruist Descendants of the Sun is striking….

SO…..if you’re a Kdrama newbie like me, check this one out!

Agree with all of your comments, KFG! Spot on, as usual. 

I am sorry that I’m 5-years late to this kdram-phenom, but as a newbie, I can finally add DotS to my list of completed kdramas. It was fun and engaging; grand with the potential to be magnificent. I was glued to this drama until the very end.
There are so many other articulate and insightful comments from KFG fans below, but I still wanted to share my comments:
§ I love the poster—it’s so romantic with the ML on his knees to tie her boots….
§ Jin Goo as Dae-young was smoldering hot—so masculine, swoon!—and he was so convincing in his role.
§ Song Joong-Ki really surprised me with his acting ability and this kdrama has motivated me to check out some of his other works.  I thought he was “just another pretty face” but he commanded his scenes. And that military swagger was so exciting—loved how he put his hands on his hips! I think that just being released from the military helped his ability to portray a military character.
§ Song Hye-Ko is a stunning, gorgeous, beautiful “Pretty One.” Wish she had a less dowdy wardrobe.
§ I enjoyed all the characters, villains and heroes, alike.
§ I really liked the straight-forward romance with no silly triangles or subplots. Would loved to have seen some cuddle in the tent for a little more closure.
§ I liked how the first episode clearly set up the plot and introduced the main characters. 
§ The medical vs military was so well-done—especially the comments that compared saving lives. 
§ I didn’t mind the crazy action plots, as they were just props to feature the male characters. As usual, the Western actors were underwhelming.
§ I’m not so sure about ending by breaking the 4th wall. As a viewer, I was sort of offended because it seemed like to make fun of the audience for liking the kdrama romance-action genre and suspending our sense of belief to watch it. This never seemed to be a comedy so the last scene made me feel embarrassed about enjoying it.

Interestingly, I watched DotS on Riki so there were 19 episodes. Although #16 was the end, I loved how #17 & #18 “See It Again” showed the scenes of the main characters—sort of like fast-forwarding to the best parts. #19 “Epilogue” was a compilation of clips during the shoot, interviews and some press releases.

SO…..if you’re a Kdrama newbie like me, check this one out!

[…] Review is here. […]

This story was a bit of a let-down for me. I’ve only started watching it this year and it’s because there’s A LOT OF HYPE with the story and the (now ex) Song-Song couple. I left after 9 episodes – I felt like there’re so many parts that were cringe-y, the unrealistic dramatic situations, the weird acting of the non-Korean characters (except maybe main villain guy), and SHK’s character was just strange and annoying – she’s hot and cold towards SJK’s character most of the time. The only couple worth watching is the other one (second lead guy?) and his ex-girlfriend. At least they come across as real and consistent. As much as I adore SJK (especially in Vincenzo and Space Sweepers)…I just find him posturing too much in DotS. So another one in my “cannot proceed” list.

I pretty much agree with all your observations except the rating. For me it’s 6/10. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who didn’t see a lot of ‘chemistry’ between the leads. I started watched DOTS with my daughter because it’s one of the ‘must watch’ dramas. My daughter gave up after episode 4 but I persisted. I only endured it by fast-forwarding all the scenes involving ‘Private Ryan’. I found that plot line ridiculous and the acting – especially the non-Koreans, terrible. I agree episode 14 is beyond ridiculous.
On the plus side, I really enjoyed the relationship between Dae-Young and Myung-Ju. The acting was also very solid and believable. I also liked the role of Chi-Hoon, his relationship with the local children and his character development (although he seemed to regress when he went back to Korea). However, I couldn’t understand how his wife was still working as a doctor only 1 week from her due date…That was only one of many plot ideas that stretched my imagination to the limit.
I am glad I stuck out to the end if only to see Dae-Young finally accepted by the commander.

I resisted the DOTS hype for the longest time and refused to watch it even though I normally watched lots of Kdramas – partly because I’m not a big fan of Song Joong Ki or Song Hye Kyo. I finally succumbed to watching it because (1) I watched Vincenzo and I was impressed with Song Joong Ki there (2) I finished watching a C-drama You Are My Hero (YAMH) and many viewers compared it to DOTS. As I quite enjoyed YAMH, I got curious and wanted to judge it for myself.

In short, I enjoyed DOTS for all the reasons kfangurl listed. Top of my list is Song Joong Ki’s portrayal of Captain Yoo Shi Jin – the lean machine muscles (gyahhh), his honest approach in his relationship (I never seen a lead get rejected so many times), his easy-going yet mature personality, the bromance with Jin Goo (I’m happy to watch a full drama just filled with their bromance).

I was not that impressed with the story-telling and even skipped some episodes – the Onew emotional trauma arc, the turncoat Captain arc (I may rewatch it later). There are many moments that seriously require suspension of brain cells. Top of the list is Song Hye Kyo’s character during the earthquake arc – she was in shorts the whole time even when entering collapsed ruins (eye-roll). Seriously right, that is beyond any logical reasoning. The only reasoning I can think of is Song Hye Kyo is not tall enough to rock rescuer’s long baggy pants (smirk). And when Shi Jin was saving that one guy stuck in the rubble and that guy had an allergic reaction (rashes, swelling of airways) to the IV NSAID, our beautiful doctor prepared antihistamine TABLETS for the guy. Like HUH! I doubt with his swollen airways that the tablet can even be swallowed for any effect.

But I still enjoyed DOTS, maybe I went into it with zero expectations fearing the worst, so I survived it and actually enjoyed the nice bits.

This show had been strongly recommended to me by Korean colleagues, inter alia because it is filmed in Greece, but I was always reluctant to watch it, since I don’t particularly like military/medical dramas.
I’m at episode 7 now, and although it is at times fun to watch, I think I am fast approaching the moment when I will not be able to put up with this illogical and cheesy script.
I agree with your review 100%; the difference is that although I like Song Joong Ki, I’m not smitten to a point of keeping watching. I might go on for a little bit more though, for the second leads, whose love story I find so much more exciting. The OTP for me lacks chemistry – I know the leads eventually got married irl, but I for one could have never told based on their performance here.
Lastly, let me just add this: Uruk. Of course it is an imaginary country, but it is supposed to be at the tip of the Balkan peninsula (aka Greece, whose map we see several times), yet it is inhabited by every race and culture possible, from Russians to Arabs to Africans (all depicted in a somewhat racist way) and completely weird stuff is going on, like the korean military team’s barracks being situated inside a church or the bad guys smuggling diamonds as though this is the Congo. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t take offence or anything, it’s just that it reminds me of Hollywood films that we all love to torch because of their inaccuracies, and well, I cannot take it seriously. Also, who on earth did the casting for non Korean characters? Beside the fact that none is Greek, they are all seriously inadequate and their english is at times pretty difficult to understand.

I agree with you on this one, kfangirl.

I loved the first episodes in particular and ended up watching all 16 episodes pretty quick. All the characters were well drawn and engaging, and the philosophical dilemma and difficult relationship between the soldier and the doctor kept me invested. This was also my first experience of Song Joong Ki and I must say I’m impressed. He is not only duly easy on the eye but also a very charismatic actor. He really made the show so much better. Did he get any award for this? He must have… Because, as far as I’m concerned, he carried the whole thing.

I was not that impressed with Song Hye Kyo either. She’s absolutely stunning and gave some good dramatic performances here and there, but her comic timing was slightly off… I could not stop thinking that the cute of this show could have been so much cuter with a more expressive actress like Son Ye-jin or Jun ji-hyun. I have to admit I did find her a little bit cold at times.

I also agree with you about the storytelling here and that, although the setting and the characters were truly engaging, the main narrative thread was rather weak. Maybe it felt this way because I have grown used to the thoughtful unveiling of information kdramas usually offer, and that was unfortunately missing here. Saying that, there were moments in which writer Kim Eun Sook did show her talent, like after the earthquake when Mo Yun is given a pair of boots which she returns after quite a traumatic and difficult work day, a poetic detail which gives that extra layer of humanity and pathos to a very important sequence.

I admit I did find Shi Jin recovering from gunshot so easily (and in more than one occasion) rather jarring… It is quite strange that, after he protects Mo Yun from gunshot and is clearly hit by bullets, he is just talking normally in the next scene… I couldn’t get my head around what had happened… I even rewinded to check if a bulletproof vest was shown or talked about… Nothing. Very weird.

In spite of this, I must admit I did enjoy this drama. It did have interesting stuff in it, a good solid love story and great performances. Also, it had Song Joong Ki, who I feel has become my new fangirl “research topic” ;D … Any suggestions about dramas or films with him I should watch next?

Hello kfangurl!!! I had a niggling feeling something was OFF about this drama, despite the worldwide craze for it, & visited your article to find out why! I absolutely agreed with ALL your points here! By the closing moments of the show, I came up with a few points myself as well! 🙂
1. Binge-watching the show reduced some of its intended ‘epic-quality’. The anticipation of a fresh trouble cropping up in the way of our OTP romance would probably be more enthralling for fans watching 2 episodes a week on TV. For a binge-watcher like me, it seemed like there were just random new curve-balls being thrown at them (& me) in every episode, and it got tiring very fast. The fact that each of them got resolved serially before a new problem came up, was quite laughable! [secret dispatch, the earthquake, the virus, the villain, the sex-trafficking, the NK soldier, another mission…… The more things that went wrong, the more plot armor had to be built for our leads to escape unscathed, after all]
2. The OTP milestones were out of order, and weren’t gradual or evenly spaced out. The comic-timing was off, and most of it was lame. Also, not a fan of the weird milky, de-saturated filter and the skin-blurring!
3. The horrible ‘romance-framing’ shots & the directing style: the OTP is ALWAYS framed face-to-face, even in their most heartfelt moments/ conversations!!!! [The coffee-shop confrontation scene, the multiple rejection scenes in Urk, the date-like scenes where they eat, the romantic date-scenes at the beach, the clock-tower, etc.] Maybe, it is to show they are on different pages, but even after talking it out and reconciling their differences, the scenes are shot THE SAME WAY! :/
And (like you said) since Moyun/ SHK is incapable of giving the ‘I’m so in love with you’ look constantly; Si Jin feels overly aggressive and she looks overly defensive whenever the camera points at their respective faces during these shots. Si Jin constantly gives her the heart-eyes and she looks mostly dumb/ unmoved throughout it, while spacing out! Instead, heartfelt conversations, with the OTP SIDE-BY-SIDE, stealing loving glances at each other, works out more effectively. [There is a reason why there are so many side-by-side car-conversation or ‘strolling in the evening’ scenes, the indirect stare through the mirror/ reflection scenes, the side-by-side camping or restaurant scenes, etc. in dramas. Think HPL, CLOY, etc.] It translates to more ‘romantic’ & less….’confrontational’? (because the couple isn’t stuck in a weird stare-off!)
4. They are ALWAYS on duty, and most of the time in their uniforms! As a result we get very little interaction between them as a couple against a normal setting (& thus not enough contrast). There is a scene in epi.1 where the screen splits to show the parallels between their professional lives; i.e. the battles they face daily. If the entire drama continued in that split-screen mode, I don’t think we’d be missing much, plot-wise! (except the swoony stares from SJK). As viewers, our hearts are supposed to go out to them with every failed attempt at a (an incomplete) date; the ‘tragedy’ that they can’t be like a normal couple who doesn’t get to frolic around in amusement parks! But somehow, I didn’t feel sorry for them. At all…..because:
5. The conflicts are all self-imposed and not external, like a situation or circumstances. [Society won’t frown on their relationship, neither would colleagues or parents.] She won’t be the first or the last ‘military-wife’. The conflict Moyun has put herself into, feels incredibly selfish on her part, and also quite resolve-able.
6. There is entirely too much ‘dialogue’ and too less nuanced acting accompanying it. The ‘elephant in the room’ ceases to exist when you talk about it ALL the time! Funnily, the talks do not even resolve the OTP conflict, and reinforce a new stalemate in their relationship! There is no silent angst or an unspoken understanding from Moyun because she ALWAYS speaks out her mind and acts on her feelings. Hence, her ‘forbidden attraction to a man on the verge of losing his life any moment and her refusal to be with him’…..’I want to, but I shouldn’t’ kind of a dilemma isn’t very visible on screen. (yes I love angst) Verbalizing her conflict reduced its intensity. At this point, DOTS could have been a radio drama/ audio-book recited by Siri.
7. Both couples gave me severe whiplash. The 2nd couple despite having more chemistry (how is that possible considering the main leads ended up falling in love & getting married even!)…..kept going 2 steps forward & 3 steps back. What a shame!
8. Although I am lukewarm about my feelings for this drama, I do wish it gets a remake in the C-dramaland despite the hallyu ban, because the story has SO much potential, if only directed/ acted better! I would KILL for Yang Yang (military & gaming drama expert) to lead this as the charming and suave Captain, although he can be a bit wooden at times. There is a very DOTS-like drama coming up with Johnny Huang & Li Qin as the leads, with VERY similar sets, styling & character dynamics, but it isn’t an official remake! :/

Sorry for the extremely long rant, and sorry to everybody who absolutely loved this one! 😛

It took me and my wife almost 3 months to finish this drama. It was poorly written with no flow.
There were always fires to be extinguished that didn’t seem to drive home what the show is about or build our characters or make us empathize or love them more. It was so hard to watch, that me and my wife had to take an extended break at around episode 7 because we couldn’t take it anymore. We finish all the dramas we watch and this one was a real struggle. Coming in I thought this was all about the electric song-song couple but in the end the second leads were the better pairing and better actors by a mile. In fact the song song couple was the least interesting thing in this series. I get that they tried to make it an over the top, comedic, otp driven drama but it didn’t work for me unlike crash landing which is also an over the top, comedic, otp driven drama.
I haven’t watched a lot of dramas (just over 10) but I have to say this one so far is in last place for me.

I just finished watching Descendants of the Sun, and I must say I quite agree with you on a lot of points. The illogical, inconsistent, and overly soapy melodramatic moments would have made me stop watching any other series, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Song Joong Ki. (That’s his name, right? It’s my first time seeing any of his shows.)

At first glance, he looked a bit too much of a girly pretty boy but then he spoke and OMG, that deep voice! And that swag – the way he carried himself was all man! I can still feel my heart fluttering. 😍😆

Really… I miss the #SongSongCouple 💛.
Thanks to you, I found my fingers dragging to your #DOTS review all of a sudden. 😭😁😂

Your blogs are awesome, detailed and well-crafted! Keep it up!

Meanwhile, I gotta re-watch this one! 😍
* comment edited to remove download link, to stay on the safe side of the DMCA bots. ~kfangurl

I love this drama, it’s like my all-time favorite. DOTS actually got me started on K-drama because it was the first one that I watched on my cellphone and I binge-watched it, then watched it over and over. After DOTS, I would feel like no other drama gave me the same feelings I got when I was watching it that’s why it will always have a place in my heart. However, I still get it that others may not perceive things I as I do or feel as I do about stuff. I like your thorough and informative reviews, by the way. Keep them coming!

Thank you for such a great review! I’m currently on a summer kdrama marathon, so I have been reading your blog for quite a while!! I love that it’s completely biased, probably because the directions of our biases are actually very similar, hehe.

I’m on ep 11 of DOTS now, and I totally agree that Song Hye Kyo’s delivery of Mo Yeun is bothering me a whole lot. I can’t connect with her, probably because I don’t find her vulnerability moments believable. Yes, that time when she cries after the earthquake is quite good, but oftentimes I find her stiff and unreasonably calm, as if she doesn’t actually care. Like that time when SJK is trapped in the factory after the earthquake, Mo Yeun’s worrying face is totally unconvincing and carelessly rendered. I’m at the point when Myung Joo caught the M3 virus, and there seems to be no hint of fear or worry on Mo Yun’s face. I get that she is supposed to be composed and calm, which is a good thing for a doctor, but I prefer a more nuanced delivery that can show both the calm doctor and the human Mo Yeun.

As you said, the writing also plays a big part. I personally don’t like the way the leads go on tangents about what it means to be a doctor and a soldier in times of distress or danger; these dialogues just feel preachy and meh to me. I get that it is a central conflict for their relationship (Shi Jin’s being a soldier bothers Mo Yun a lot, at least in these initial eps) but that kind of talk really reduces the effect of an emotional climax. The way the OTP joke around also doesn’t sound like fun to me, what with the ‘you’re so pretty’ and ‘i’m pretty too’ talk that is repeated SO many times. To be honest, so far they still don’t look comfortable around each other, and their scenes just don’t look truly intimate. To be even more honest, I see more chemistry between Captain Yoo and Myung Joo!! (No offense to the secondary couple, I love them!!)

I didn’t plan to finish this series, but somehow I’ve come too far and have to finish it now! SJK saves everything of course, except when he’s forced to say terribly written lines. Srsly though, who talks like that?? It’s romantic sometimes to say cheesy things, but why does it have to be every single time they talk about anything??

Ok, rant done! Will update more when I finish this !!!

I agree with this review! Although I think I found the show funnier than you did, I also think that most of me thinking I liked the main romance was actually just me liking Song Joong Ki! I was surprised when it turned out he and Hye Kyo are getting married.

A quick note about the moment when their two characters are reunited after she has believed Shi Jin to be dead: I found her honestly painful to watch in this scene. They tried to make this reunion (which should have been heartfelt and purely emotional) into a sort of comedic mish mash. The way they had quick shots of all her different reactions (I love you! I don’t need you! I missed you! I’m an independant woman! etc…) felt really cheap to me, and undermined the scene. Maybe the writers/director were scared to go full-on sentimental in case viewers didn’t buy it or people thought it was cheesy? I don’t know, but either way I think the way they handled that scene really didn’t do justice to the characters or the story.

We’ve just watched her mourn the loss of her boyfriend for a few episodes. Seen her hallucinate him, cry over him, feel depressed, miss him like crazy… we as the viewer are supposed to feel pain for her. I actually thought the actress was good in these moments (as did you!), but then we’re finally given release and it rang so hollow. After that the show just felt really weird and off-kilter, which was a shame.

I am an Indian viewer who watches a lot of kdrama. I love that this show was pretty simple and sweet. there were no villains in particular that needed handling throughout the show.( except private ryan , he wasn’t shown to be big deal anyway so let it go). It was a refresher and something i can keep coming back to for a dose of romance. joongki was absolutely amazing. i loved song hye kyo also . Writers made her be very uncertain about what she is saying quite a lot of times but that is ok and so was pulled off perfectly by hye kyo. altogether it was a show with a story i wish i was a part of….

I keep on saying now that I am a KDrama noob because these are some of the shows I watched while exploring KDrama. I watched this show without much expectation but with acceptance that since I am venturing in the KDrama world, I should just drop any expectations and accept it as it is.

I did not know any of the actors when I watched DoTS. But Joong-ki, awesome as he is, easily captured my attention. Friends kept on telling me that DoTS is an easy to watch, feel good drama and I guess they were right. For me it was epic (by my noob standards) when I finished it. It was unexpected for me to watch this kind of Korean drama when from what I know so far, KDrama’s are mostly cutesy and lovey dovey. Lucky for me, there was Joong-Ki in military garb.

I was laughing so much reading yet another awesome review from you. I do agree at times the story line was illogical and corny. And yes, the OTP chemistry was just ok. Mo-yeon showed more passion in her work rather than with Shin-ji while Shin-ji was equally passionate to Mo-yeon as with his work.

DoTS was fun to watch. I enjoyed the character’s adventures and the soldier’s camaraderie more than the OTP I must say. Overall it was just over rated. I think W was better and its not even comparable to Moonlight. But unfortunately, this is not the popular opinion. I am curious though who will take the Best Couple Award in the Year end Drama awards. I know Song-Song is the most popular OTP but for me the OTPs from W and Moonlight are more stronger contenders.

When I first read your review (I was mid-way through finishing the show), I was a little confused because as my first k-drama, it came across as so great and wonderful. And then when I finished the show and thought about it, I have to say, I agree with everything you’ve said here. The show looks good and the premise is cool, but I don’t think it completely lives up to its potential. The medical logic had me scratching my head a lot and I also didn’t find the main couple that alluring. Like you said, the bromance and Song Joong-Ki made the show (he was just so COOL in the role!!). It was definitely a solid B. Great review! Really enjoyed reading!

I’m so late to the party but whatevs.

I finished DOTS just last weekend and I enjoyed it. I laughed out loud, cried and was completely mesmerised my that demigod Song Joong-ki.

Personally, SJK has always been that too cute, too pretty and too small (no pun intended!) guy for me. But dayum, what two years MS can do to a man! A man he did become! This must be the first time I am thankful for Korean compulsory MS.

I agree with almost everything you say. But I’m more forgiving towards the funny than you😉

One thing that stood out very big for me was how it felt like it could be the ending on every episode after ep 12 (i think – after returning to Korea). The story was so inconsistent it drove me bonkers. Like that time Si Jin came back and went straight to drink with Dae Young without contacting Mo Yon. Like, WTF?! I find that so hard to believe considering how he’s absolutely crazy abt her. I won’t go into others because that would be quite a list.

I find it surprising that you did not mention SJK’s acting. Hot damn can he act! I love love love his confession while she tended his wounds. That face! That voice! So unapologetic and honest.

SKJ as YSJ has got to be the most charming character I’ve ever come across. I believe that that has a LOT to do with SJK himself because no matter the charm on paper, the actor has to bring to life. And boy did he bring to life! He was charming incarnate without effort nor consciouness about it.

As for the writer, let’s just be thankful that this hero is not as domineering with little to no sense of boundary as her previous heroes (binnie in secret garden, woo bin in heirs,etc.).
It’s so ironic that the writer who created the inconsistent Kim Tan is the same writer who gave me my love Yoo Si Jin.

I love your honest thoughts and your constructive criticisms.

Thank you for this post.

Hi there!!^^
I really enjoy your review and agree with you at some points 😀 But i have my own opinion also:
1. About Kang Moyeon. Her character is like a ‘real’ person who has flaw but likeable. I mean, you can find that kind of character everywhere in real life and i think song hyekyo did a great job. And i think the writer make that kind of character because YSJ is a perfect man, so the writer wanted to make it ballance.

2. SHK’s blank face. Yeah, she showed a lot of blank yet mysterious face, make us wondering what’s inside her mind or feeling. And that suit a ‘real character’ of Kang Moyeon because in real life, you don’t know what’s inside people’s mind. Well, there are reasons why they casted Song Hyekyo. It’s hard to portrayed a real yet likeable character.

3. The chemistry. I agree the chemistry of the first lead couple is pretty awkward. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because YSJ and KMY is a new born couple (?) Or maybe because they’re a a real couple. I mean, they’re a kind of couple that you can find in real life. They’re in love to each other, fight to each other just like real couple. While GooWon couple is the dramatic couple.

Okay, that’s all opinion from DOTS’s fans 😀 However, i agree that this drama has some flaw points but at the same time it has more interesting points 😀

Amazing review!!
Even with its massive flaws I really liked the drama. In unrealistic scenes I just kept telling my self that this is a movie so they have to show stuff that will get them their money back too.
In the romance department I found my self more interested in Myung joo and Dae young story than they main couple. I was excited Kim ji won played Myung joo girl was amazing in Heirs and I completely fell for Dae young distinct yet catchy humor. Another couple that really got my attention were Daniel and Ye Hwa and I was really disappointed they didn’t really show us much of their love story and relationship. And since this drama tried to be different it was disappionting that the couples were so stiff with ‘skinship’ I expected the Adults to be more Adult in DOTS.

Nice review with some interesting points there, especially about SHK. I personally think she is pretty, but the wardrobe and hairstyle are not doing her any favors in this show. What’s the look they’re aiming for, dowdy? If so, they’ve succeeded. She does cry very prettily, though… As for he sometimes blank eyes, I think it’s the real her showing through. In the behind-the-scenes special, one of the cast members said she’s kind but cold. I’ve seen her last in Autumn In My Heart, and I feel that her acting was so much more heartfelt back then. Or maybe like you said, she does better in sad scenes.

SJK really did make this show. This was the first SJK show/movie I’ve seen, and he hooked me right from the start. If SHK is cold, SJK is the exact opposite… he exudes warmth and sincerity. Idk what Descendants of the Sun is supposed to signify, but to me it was about how SJK’s face and personality shine bright like the sun 🙂

This is the most objective and sensible review I’ve ever read abt DOTS! Well, I’ve been searching through the internet, and I only found that this drama was overrated. It’s true that the the plot was not strong, no twist, nothing to be revealed till the end (that’s why I didn’t mind looking thru for spoiler back then), and of course bad ending. (Its popularity was just about media hype and thank the promotional team for bringing up good ambience&sentiment around viewers and media — apart from its pre-produced process)
Thank you for the review. There should be more ppl write from this angle. lol.
P.S: I think I find your reviews trustworthy. 🙂 Keep writing!

Hi kfangurl! I’m new to your blog, but I’m loving your reviews, even though we don’t always agree 🙂 It’s always interesting to see different opinions about things one liked and didn’t like 😀 Thanks for continuing to do these reviews! They’re really well done 🙂

Just wanted to comment on the thumping on the chest part of the medical side of things 😛 I totally agree that the medicine wasn’t the most accurate (made me roll my eyes more than once), but there is something called the pre cordial thump, which is where a trained professional thumps on the chest when there isn’t a defibrillator around fast enough 😀 The way they did it in the show was definitely NOT the way you’re supposed to do it, but nonetheless, the technique does technically exist 😛

Thanks again for such a comprehensive review!

Thanks for the review! I actually started watching this drama solely for Onew, but the first episode got me bored so I dropped it. I think I probably should consider watching it to the end.

You put the words straight into my mouth, kfangurl.

First off, I loved Song Joong Ki since I first laid eye on him in episode 1 of Running Man. Yes, he has to leave but loved him nonetheless! 😉 Now unto the hype that is Descendants of the Sun, I felt that it was a bit overrated and I know my opinion conflicts that of the majority. Case in point, I disliked the constant appearance of product ads in almost every cut. You can say I’m frustrated on that aspect. I find it unnecessary. Heh. BUT despite its flaws and inconsistencies, Show’s got this irresistible charm that compels you to simply enjoy the ride. Just like you, I also rooted more for our 2nd OTP and I wholeheartedly agree that Kim Ji Won and Jin Goo brought their A Game to the table. If its true that a second season is in the talks I would love to have it focused on our 2nd OTP. Winks*

Overall, it was not the romance of from the main OTP but the interaction and relationship of every character, from the leads down to the supporting casts, that made me go through some sleepless nights for this show. I did not finish it in a heartbeat because honestly I’ve watched better, well written dramas than this. I guess those years of kdramathon taught me to relax and not focus too much on the logic and plot. Nevertheless, DOTS is an entertaining watch and would definitely look forward if indeed a second season is to be produced. 🙂

Thanks again, kfangurl! Brilliant review as always! <3

I watched it b/c I was on dramabeans and they were saying how popular how much they already made from selling it to over to what 50 something countries when it barely even finish airing? So I knew I wanted to give it a shot on a few episodes. Beginning fight scene was the best for me since I am more of a action film kind of gal than the romance stuff. I am more of a fan of the full house girl than the girly main male lead but I actually find Full House girl a bit boring to watch here and like i said above I didn’t find her particularly BEAUTIFUL/SO PRETTY as the plot keeps on stressing about her character all thru the episodes. I actually find her much much cuter and prettier during her full house days not that b/c she’s aged alot more now. It’s just she really doesn’t look at that attractive in DOTS but it’s just me I am sure as I guess 9 out of 10 people probably find her and the whole drama to be great or it wouldn’t have been such a big hit but for me it was just an average hit but it did have a refreshing plot and some parts were pretty nicely done since it’s a tv drama but the dramatic earthquake and the special effects were actually pretty well done.
Like kfangurl’s review, most of the scenes she pointed out are some of the ones I find ridiculous as well.
I especially hated the part where this ONEW they call him I think doctor backed out from saving this guy and felt guilt more than anything else was totally weird to me. First, they are doctor so what if he got scared and when you couldn’t are you suppose to kill yourself as well if danger hit and you knew you couldn’t save him and that guy is ungrateful too just cuz he left him. The stupid guilt and that ungrateful dude was totally ridiculous to me and would a newlywed wife let him go volunteer in the middle of nowhere??? Of course, this is just a drama so whatever they like to put in is what we will watch. Lol
I don’t find the stupid jealousy scenes of exes that funny either. My favorite characters are actually that HOT villain guy who speaks almost fluent English. Daniel also is pretty HOT and I don’t even know who he is as I have never seen him in anything else. After Ojakgyo Brothers, I watched Heartless City, City Hunter & Fated to love you that’s about it so never seen this Daniel person anywhere else.
Another thing is dislike was the kissing scenes hahha lol.. Oh lord, really Other than Fated to love you w/o some really good kissing scenes and Heartless City one good kissing I have never really seem good kissing scenes in a korean drama????? Seriously, I feel none of the kissing in DOTS were good, none from the main or 2nd leads?? Aww…and not that we wanted to see sex scenes but it’s like they have no intimate in dramas either. Too freaking chaste if you ask me hahaha LOL…I felt like it was really good after the disaster hit after epi 6 and it was still going strong thru epi 14 but after that the last 2 episodes I found it to be extremely boring so the ending was even worse for me. I didn’t feel w/that kind of nice beginning and ending it so disappointingly. Not that i wanted to see happily married and 2 kids at the end that’s never my thing but i was expecting that kind of lame ending. If you guys watch some TVB Hong Kong dramas, sometimes most of the times they do have that kind of lame endings as well and I don’t know I found it disappointing….like starts w/a bag and ends with a awwwww? haha LOL….

I have been away for a long time….you never disappoint. I had to read fast and skip the SPOILERS!!! thank you. I have to ask….what’s schmexy?? i’m missing out on something-right? I love both main characters and will watch them whenever I can.

Reblogged this on Confessions of a Korean Rock Fan and commented:
can’t wait to see this…..schmexy!!! bring it on.

No chemistry? Yeah right! Then all those people who were SOOO affected, including me, are blind? Something must be wrong with our eyes. When will I ever read an unbiased review here, I wonder? Honestly I’m not a fan of SHK. But your review about her performance is not really that accurate. You’re obviously one of her anti-fans, like with so many others, who agreed with what you said.

Hi Kfangurl 🙂

Thank you for yet again a very incisive review. I agree with you. The story was flat for me. Yes, the cinematography and SJK were very appealing. But as I sat through every episode, it just didn’t move me except occasionally my heart would flutter at the sight of SJK and I would feel sad for Dae-Young and Myeong-Joo. Now I wish that the story had revolved more around them (DY and MJ). 🙂

Anyway, SHK was unfortunately disappointing. She did have this blank stare, almost as blank as in That Winter, the wind blows. But unlike in that show, in DOTS she isn’t blind. I found the cute-acting cringe worthy. I thought it was inappropriate for the character and the story.

Every after episode, I find myself longing for more contention. I was expecting more drama to put it simply since the situation included a war stricken place, military, elite forces, doctors, UN mission and North Korea. But the show just didn’t deliver. I had so much hope and very high expectations considering that people were raving so much about the show and it was even mentioned in MSNBC here in the States. Actually, I thought the introduction of Agus was going to be the game changer specially when he mentioned about the Captain’s “secret”. I was hoping that it was that “secret” that will turn the story into an engrossing one. I actually got very excited all of a sudden. But then episode after episode nothing gripping happened. And out of the blue, the “secret” was mentioned again as Dr. Kang was going through memory lane (I believe in episode 15 after Captain was proclaimed dead). I thought “Hmmm maybe there is something about this secret”. Maybe this secret is the one that will bring Captain back to life or had kept him alive. Unfortunately, it was actually NOTHING. There were no “secrets”.

But anyway, I’m just glad that I’m not the only one who wasn’t crazy about the show. I tried to re-watched it hoping to have a change of heart and mind. But it just didn’t work for me. So disappointing. 🙁

P.S. We’re still waiting for your Healer review. 🙂

ONLY because of Song Joong Ki, Jin Woo, and Kim Ji Won did I continue to watch this drama…the writing was blah, but mostly, I couldn’t stand Song Hye Kyo’s acting and the character, or lack of, Dr. Kang. Couldn’t stand her from start to finish. Blech! She certainly did not appreciate our hero; furthermore, she had the libido of a rock. Come on, this is Song Joong Ki and she couldn’t been less interested in him as a man or even as a soldier. She was haughty, mercenary, and totally into herself…how many times did she go on about how pretty she is…she wasn’t even all that pretty. Jin Woo and Kim Ji Won, however, you could feel the solidness of their relationship and the love and desire they had for each other.

I’m glad my major expectation in seeing this drama is Song Joong Ki 2.0. And because of that I enjoyed the drama a lot. Okay, so I was also looking forward to Song Hye Kyo as I also enjoyed Full House back then. Sad to say, the only times that I found her effective were, as you’ve pointed out, during moments of grief. Overall, SHK as Mo Yoon felt detached. With Heirs in mind, I wasn’t expecting any solid plot but I enjoyed the cheesy lines. Heh. I don’t know why but after this show I’ve been shying away from Kdrama save joining the kdrama discussion group I joined in a Healer rewatch. I jumped over to Japan for now updating myself on movies and my favorite J actor. Luckily, I’ve seen a couple of well written ones. 🙂

Spot on what I was feeling, particularly about Kang Mo Yeon. For whatever reason, I was feeling SHK’s portrayal, and until you said it, I hadn’t realized it was that intermittent vacuity.
I popped in around ep 8, when Dramabeans said “oh, this is a pretty good episode”, and I did enjoy it. I really did. So I backed up to ep 4 to see if I’d like that too…. and the other shoe dropped. The plotline was exactly.the.same. I would have completely stopped watching, if not for the 2OTP. There was a Youtube channel that only showed their clips, and that’s where I lived for the rest of the DoTS run.
Again, like you, I was BOUGHT IN to their relationship so hard, and JIN GOO omergash where has he been my entire drama-watching life, and KIM JI WON was such a milquetoast in One Fine Day with SJS, but in as Yoon Myung Joo she was spunky, funny, fierce and cute. To the point I am fanficcing about them, casually, but happily. 😀
I also continued to indulge in my JinGoo crush, and I watched “Sensitive Couple” with Park Bo Young. Seriously, new guy crush with old girl crush – MUST watch for me. The ending was a bit shaky, but the premise was interesting, and we have Jin Goo, in glasses, being dorky, and geeky and just so CUTE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTCmv8_AnhM

allow me to add this song from Kim Junsu…my favorite OST from DotS…i am just sharing…hope you enjoy! <3

…So i needed to be on-line and re-type everything!…last night i was using my mobile to jot down my comments….unfortunately, as i was sending the comments the wifi i am using suddenly went off-line….so here i am again typing…….!

First of all thank you very much Kfg for bringing in your views regarding this drama. 🙂 As we knew already , DotS has been globally phenomenon that brought Song Joong ki to fame!…..sorry LMH and KSH because it’s Song Joong Ki’s time ;).

I should say that i am one of the fangirls that made head over heels over Song Joong Ki for his portrayal as Capt. Yoo Si Jin….so that #songjoongkisyndrome is a surreal to me.

I am with you that this drama is not well written and in fact has a lot of illogical funny issues. First, this isn’t the genre i love and i find military and medical stuff boring sometimes, i know nothing about military and medical shenanigan so i leave it to those who have more better understanding on these parts.

What made me love this drama over the lacking?….It’s Song joong Ki as Capt. Yoo Si Jin of course, while there are other adorable characters like Jin Goo as Seo Dae Young, but i i firmly believe that the biggest carrier of this drama is SJK!..

Watching DotS reminded me of another Kim Eun Sook’s drama “The Heirs”….both drama represents a good character presentation on both major leads. The only difference is that Kim Woo Bin as Young Do is the second lead and Song Joong Ki as Si Jin is the 1st lead. The good thing about DotS is you don’t have to feel sorry for the leads because it doesn’t have a second lead syndrome and you’ll enjoy both characters in a different level. I remember finishing “The Heirs” not only for the eye candies but honestly it’s because of Kim Woo Bin as Young Do, for me of all the characters that The Heirs had, Young Do stand out. I guess same reason applies in DotS….Song Joong Ki’s portrayal as Capt. Yoo Si Jin excel in the highest level. I am really awed with SJK transformation from pretty boy to manly type. How could he be so pretty and at the same time so manly?..;) <3 <3 <3 i did dropped my jaw girl!!! 😉 ….I guess Kim Eun Sook did good in character presentations in both dramas but failed to give us a solid plot.

But i think DotS has more depths than "The Heirs". I love the first half of DotS but it turns just mediocre on the other half…though i admittedly love some scenes from the second half randomly especially with the 1st couple behind those cinematic background!…..oh my! they both look marvelously pretty in HD screen!..<3 <3 <3.

Like what i have ranting over FB posts about this drama, I am a Song-Song couple all the way!and i love them both, i do also love the the 2nd couple but nothing as intense as the first!…I guess, as a viewer and as a fangirl, i already adjusted my lense and taste over the heroine, Mo Yeon, others might not agree with me and i knew as well that you don't like SHK here as Mo Yeon. For me, Song Hye Kyo's portrayal as a doctor and as lover of Si Jin is okay with me. She's a bit restraint and calm oftentimes but i guess it's because she wants to keep being proper because of her profession as doctor. What annoyed me is why KES made her character like a seesaw when it comes to Si Jin?…her being a push and pull many times over Si Jin made the viewers infuriated. I guess KES could have chosen another technique on this.

As i read somewhere the original character for Song Joong Ki is a doctor also, but KES change it and made him a soldier instead…I guess it's a good choice. …i am thinking tho' this could have been more exciting and intense if KES made a twist on the leads character over their love story…….Jin Goo could could have been a good candidate for second lead syndrome if that is the case……:) <3

Your review pretty much matches my feelings. I am a sucker for a romance, especially one with no love triangle so I found the first episodes cheesy and flawed but somewhat addictive. However, by the mid-way point, I was committed to finishing it up but realized it was full of pretty but not much there there.

The Pros: It’s full of pretty (though I saw that SJK has admitted that bod is a thing of the past already), no love triangles, lead male is not a jerk and in k-drama that is no small thing. Acting overall is solid though SHK while stunningly beautiful has a certain blank look in her eyes when she does dramatic scenes. In That Winter the Wind Blows I thought it was because she played a blind person…who knew! I do appreciate that they did something different career wise…for a country that has mandatory military service for all able bodied men, you don’t see the military portrayed in their dramas.

The Cons: The slow mo camera work early on, the overbearing music, the contrived conflicts that led many fans to get annoyed at the lead female character because they involve her getting her head on straight and the guy just gets to be charming and flirty. Two writers and it showed, especially with the Argus story line…they could have skipped it. These are the main ones and one more….At the end of the drama I don’t really think these character changed. They went through stuff, found love but I never really felt either had gone on much of an emotional journey. That’s okay but it was going for some epic love story and many people took it as such and that’s fine. It’s great when people love a drama but SPOILER: when SJK is crying over a picture it didn’t work for me because the back story was so scant. REALLY BIG SPOILER And when late in the drama we are led to believe something really bad has happened, I sat dry eyed thinking, it’s episode 15….nothing bad has happened or there wouldn’t be episode 16. So that is a total failure in pacing in an entirely pre-produced drama. The real failure for me is it gets to the last two episodes and when it’s a cracktastic drama, I’m waiting on pins and needles and I had a choice to finish up this drama or finish binge watching The Walking Dead….no contest TWD won hands down and I shed more tears watching that than this drama. (This drama really could have ended around episode 12.)

It sounds like I hated it and I didn’t but there was just so much potential and I feel it was kind of wasted. I will say – full disclosure – I married someone in the military and I really tried to suspend reality because you basically have to regardless of career field. However, some things that drove me crazy…. I liked the secondary couple eventually but officer/enlistment relationships are a no go in most military services and will get you kicked out if found out. When an officer slaps an non-com (even one she loves), it ruins your career…you can’t do that!!! Special Forces are not UN peace keepers, they’re just not. Oh and when your guy is leaving on a long mission, you friggin kiss him good-bye. Geesh!

So long story, not so short if I want to watch a doctor fall in love with a warrior with no love triangle, I’ll go rewatch Kim Hee Sun and Lee Min Ho in Faith/The Great Doctor which though flawed (because time travel always is a bit wackadoo), is a much more satisfying drama for me (and oddly has a great secondarily love story as well).

PS: Yes to the actor who portrayed the No. Korean soldier. To me he shined more than anyone else in this drama with a relatively small part and there was an article about the choco pie he ate…there’s a total thing about why that was a big deal so I’m glad that it got publicized or I would have totally missed it. Sorry to go on so long !

Another absolutely brilliant review, thank you so much for your incredibly incisive writing. You’re the best!

Heh, I skipped this one alltogether. I can’t with KES’s writing any more so it’s better to leave be. I’m also one of approximately two people whom SJK does nothing visually. Jin Goo on the other hand… XD

ahahaha!!! I have typed so many only to find out that i lost it!😂 wae???

I got to episode 7 before I rolled my eyes one too many times and stopped watching. Though I may return and do a skip-watch where I can fast forward any cringe or laggy parts and freeze frame on nekkid Joong Ki.:D

Following the amazing hype around this drama, I had been waiting for your thoughts on this, to see if they matched mine (which they always do). And yes, you felt the same! I found the drama a bit ‘duff’; far-fetched, often implausible and written very disjointedly (inspite of the ‘drama glasses’ always being worn for all K-dramas), but Song Joong Ki and Jin Goo’s characters, plus Dae Young’s relationship arc kept me watching each week. I, too, really liked the North Korean agent thread and how it tied up with the ending, and the cameraderie between the different soldiers, especially Dae Young and Bum Ki’s relationship. I liked the depiction of the different ranks showing complete trust and deference to their commanding officers; I found it very believable for Korean soldiers. And I liked the bit where Dae Young was so angry that Myung Ju had begged her father to accept their relationship on her death bed, when he wanted to earn that acceptance himself, not have it bestowed as a trade-off for Myung Ju’s recovery. It felt very believable for his noble character and I enjoyed watching how this worked out.
Song Hye Kyo was mainly frustrating to watch (although I loved the part where she kissed SJK in the back of the truck, she did a great job! 😍), and as with all K-dramas, the English-speaking actors were mainly cringe-worthy and difficult to watch.

Thank you for your reviews, I always love them and if I am not sure whether to watch something, I’ll check your verdict and watch accordingly (I was ready to give up Healer after 2 episodes, but then read your review… 😊). I can’t convince anyone to try K-drama so reading your thoughts is my equivalent fan-girling with a friend when a series ends 🙃.
Looking forward to seeing what Song Joong Ki and Jin Goo do next…

Awesome review as always!!

Thank you, Fangurl for your thoughtful analysis; I did watch the Show and I completely agree with you-worth it if you can turn off the brain and enjoy Song Joong Ki!!