[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 5

Despite its lack of action, the romantic play of "Descendants of the Sun" has earned it another record-breaking rating: 27.4%. I find this rating rather incredible, but Song Joong-ki is a strong lead with the skills and the looks to carry the show along with Song Hye-kyo. The show also knows just how to pull the romantic strings to keep the interest going.

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New faces were added this episode and older, lesser known faces got a few backstories of their own. Villain Argus is unsurprisingly linked with tragic hero Si-jin. They are two sides of the same coin with Si-jin acting as the undeniably noble and patriotic soldier. Argus blazanly threw away all that Si-jin preaches about to Mo-yeon: honor, valor, patriotism. Si-jin doesn't have Mo-yeon convinced despite his charms, heroics, and romantic kitchen kisses. Truth be told, the back and forth between them is wearisome. They keep having the same fight over and over after every obstacle they encounter. I want more than that out of this show.

And let's jump to those obstacles. The car accident was just as funny as the doctors goofing off with the walkie talkies and Mo-yeon listening to Si-jin and Myeong-joo's conversation through the door with her stethoscope. It was action for the sake of action rather than actually integral to the plot and character development. I do have to say that the scenic shots during that sequence of events was breathtaking. Orion, your country is beautiful!

The Myeong-joo/Dae-yeong couple is just so woe-is-me. I'm waiting for some real action between them rather than pouting and longing. Myeong-joo is much more interesting when bantering with Si-jin. I could watch them all day. They're hysterical.

We meet Daniel who is played by newcomer Jasper Cho. I'll leave my comments on him for later save to say he's adorable and doing a good job so far.

What we do really learn about this drama besides the fact that it loves its romance is that there are some bad guys afoot who aren't afraid to kill or betray comrades for money. That is both scary and intriguing. The goodies that could come from that are endless. Let's hope "Descendants of the Sun" gives that to us!

Orion's trivium: The tavern where Si-jin meets his former captain is located in Arachova and called "Το Αγνάντιο" (To Agnandio), which means "The Overlook".

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

Trivium by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

"Descendants‬ of the Sun" is directed by Lee Eung-bok, Baek Sang-hoon, written by Kim Eun-sook and Kim Won-seok-II, and features Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won.

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