First thoughts on Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예.

Star writer Kim Eun Seok has certainly picked her favorite top leads for her new work- Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예 . The two big names- Song Hae Gyo and Song Joong Ki in her new drama has definitely taken the ratings for Weds-Thurs slot on a new hike. Ratings were straightaway 2 digits for first 2 episodes aired on TV. Though the drama was a pre-production meaning it was shot last year but still it gained much attention from viewers.

Joong Ki plays the haughty soldier Yoo Shi Jin whose main job is to protect the borders and rescue innocent people. His close buddy Dae Young (played by Jin Goo) is also part of the team Alpha as they named it. Their work is rather serious and dangerous as well. They risked their lives and could easily die in their operation without any identification. The two soldiers met a doctor Kang Mu Yeon at Haesung Hospital after Dae Young's phone was stolen by a street punk-gangster. Mu Yeon mistook the two as triads and thinks they are bullying beating up the younger punk. 

To Mu Yeon's surprise, she meets her enemy friend Yoon Myeong Ju (played by Kim Ji Won) who is also a doctor in the Korea National Army Academy. Her father is a Lieutenant and she basically comes from a well to do family. She is rather pissed off when Dae Young broke up with her. Things didn't go too well however it was a start of Shi Jin to pursue on Mu Yeon. But before their first date could take off, Shi Jin is immediately called off for after 2 UN people were kidnapped. Alpha Team are instructed and later dispatched to Afghanistan. 

Viewers were treated to some special cameo appearance by Lee Kwang Soo who is Joong Ki's best pal in real life. Kwang Soo is just dorky as ever owning a gaming stand with rifles. I practically laughed when Joong Ki told him to sell him the teddy bears and when he refused he was told that he will win all the stuffed bears he owned at the stand. No one could be better in shooting games than these trained soldiers...ha ha!

Joong Ki pulled out well for his role as Shi Jin- his eyes expression and cheeky looks is an extra plus. And of course fans were swooning over when he revealed his buffed and fit body (that was he was out from military too!) Jin Goo was pleasant as usual but he sure fits the ex-punk look. Kim Ji Won was stiffer than ever in acting...she'd be better off sitting as a spoil brat Rachel heiress in The Heirs. No good in casting her in...bleh. Song Hae Gyo is about the similar in her acting...she's pretty as usual and I can't comment much on her except the chemistry she had with Joong Ki was a good start. 

As for the fighting and shooting scenes- that was a bonus- that shows it wasn't just a simple love story from a soldier-doctor's perspective. I don't know will it be a happy or sad drama but it's definitely a melodrama. OST songs for the drama were already released- sung by Yoon Mi Rae and Chen (EXO-K). 

Let's just say I am happy for the start of the drama- it hasn't failed me or the audience. As what we expected... let's keep our fingers crossed for more action and romance on its way for the next coming episodes.