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Decendants of the Sun marks Song Joong Ki's highly anticipated K-Drama comeback since his military discharge. The actor, loved for his roles in dramas Sungkyungkwan Scandal and Innocent Man, amps up his flower boy charm and couples it with a cool, manly image. He plays the role of Korean Army Special Forces Captain Yoo Si Jin. Partnering with him as Doctor Kang Mo Yeon is K-Drama darling Song Hye Kyo of Full House and That Winter the Wind Blows fame.

The pre-produced drama attracted a lot of media and netizen attention even before it started airing because of its huge production budget (13 billion won according to KBS!), powerhouse cast, and overseas filming. News of hitmaker Kim Eun Sook (The Heirs, A Gentleman's Dignity, and Secret Garden) tag-teaming with co-writer Kim Won Suk (The Queen's Classroom) added to the anticipation and elevated everyone's expectations.

Described as a melodrama about soldiers and medical volunteers who find themselves away from home in a country plagued by conflict and poverty, Descendants of the Sun raises the K-Drama bar with its beautiful cinematography, action-packed scenes, and heartstrings-tugging story line. As of press time, it has been translated into more than 30 languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish. Not to mention songs from the drama's original soundtrack have climbed the global music charts and news exported to Asia, Europe, even the United States. My personal favorite, K-Will's Talk Love from the drama's OST, was on-repeat!

The explosive response to the drama has created a global "Song Joong Ki Effect", boosting the actor's A-list status off the roof and making him the number 1 Korean celebrity in China. Descendants of the Sun has found its place in the hearts of fans worldwide, and the overwhelming interest in it has even led to package tours to Greak Ionian Island Zakynthos, where scenes from Urk, the drama's fictional country, take place.

Since it's premiere, the drama has ushered in a new chapter of Hallyu. It even gained special mention from South Korean President Park Geun Hye, who has high hopes in the drama's ability to further promote Korean culture and spark international interest in Korean tourism.

Captain Yoo Si Jin leads the Alpha Team of the Korean Army's Special Forces Unit. His patriotism finds root in his personal thrust of protecting the elderly, women and children. While off duty enjoying games at an arcade, Si Jin and his loyal seargent major, Seo Dae Young (Jin Goo), witness a thief stealing from a nearby shop. They stop him with pellet guns and render first-aid when the misfit falls off a stolen motorbike, only to discover the theft of Dae Young's phone later on. Tracking him down to retrieve the phone brings them to Haesung Hospital, where they meet doctor Kang Mo Yeon.

All signs lead to love at first sight when SI Jin lays eyes on Mo Yeon, whose suspicion of him only fades after seeinghim rescue her patient, injured thief, from being beaten up by a gang on the hospital's CCTV. Using a wound he gets as an excuse to see her again, Si Jin asks Mo Yeon to be his doctor and comes back for a treatment. What starts off as a promising relationship with mutual attraction is served a premature halt due to conflicting schedules and Si Jin's inability to disclose information on what he really does.

Months pass with work duties keeping Si Jin and Mo YEon busy,. The captain and his team are transferred to a war-plagued country Urk, while Doctor Kang parks her operating time room as a surgeon to promote Haesung Hospital as its official spokesperson. Her charm catches the attention of the hospital chairman, who takes revenge on her for rejecting his affection by making her team leader of the hospital's group of medical volunteers bound for Urk. Mo Yeon and Si Jin reunite by pure serendipity and finds themselves in situations that challenge their values and lead them to confront their true feelings for each other.

It's been quite a while since a K-Drama earned the title "The Nation's Drama". Descendants of the Sun is worthy of all the praise because it has a lot of heart. Its characters are endearing, not just because of their style and looks, but because of the values they embody. Si Jin's empathy, patriotism, bravery and sense of humor are qualities any woman would look for in a man, while Mo Yeon's dedication to her beliefs, skills as a doctor, beauty and compassion easuly fit into what guys see as ideal. The chemistry between the lead characters is epic and has launched a thousand ships with fans hoping these lead actors hit it off in real life.

Viewers also have a lot to look forward to in terms of the drama's second love angle involving Seargent Major Seo Dae Young and Lieutenant Yoon Myung Joo. Their forbidden romance-slash-love-hate-relationship is also one for the books. There has been rumors there will be part 2 to this drama, focusing more on the second leads' relationship.

But in the meantime, Kim Ji Won, the actress who portrayed Yoon Myung Joo, has an upcoming drama titled Fight For My Way. Go check it out as well.

Just months after a lot of dating rumors floating around, they are reportedly engaged! Representatives from both of their respective companies confirmed the news.

THIS IS A FAN GIRL'S DREAM COME TRUE. 

But seriously, if you're looking for a more mature drama that veers away from the typical rich-boy-meets-poor-girl formula, then Descendants of the Sun could be right up your alley. In a nutshell, it beautifully reminds us of the value of life and how love is worth fighting for.

Craving for Korean cuisine? Get your K-Food fix without having to travel to Seoul by visiting these Korean barbecue restaurants and cafes in Manila!

  

 Today's topic: BINGE-WATCHING.

Source from Google Images

So recently, despite being busy and stressed with academic work, I still found some excuse to squeeze in some time to binge-watch American TV series but at the same time, still manage to go out with my family. It's been a while since the last time I binge-watched. Although school only began three weeks ago, I feel like I've been studying for half a term now. That's how bad school work is, or maybe because it's just now that I'm starting to feel the pressure from my major subjects.

BUT this entry isn't about me ranting about school work. I've come to realize how much this superhero franchise has become this big! Not only dominating the box office charts, but also prime time TV. These superhero movies has generated so much buzz and talks around town and creating a big hype even more when production companies announced superhero movie line-ups good for the next five years! 

And while enjoying these movies on-screen, as mentioned, franchise companies has decided that it would be a great idea to penetrate cable TV. Honestly, I'm not a comic die-hard fan so being any other movie-goer, I was satisfied and pleased with just watching my fave heroes in cinemas. When The Arrow, the TV series came out, I thought I felt indifferent towards the show - well, more of "since when did superheroes had their own TV shows?" kind of feeling. I was already contented seeing them on the big screen or watching their animated series (yes, I admit to this one because my family is a big fan of superheroes and the reason why I grew fond of watching them). At first, I was convinced not to watch Arrow or any other live super hero series at that matter because I thought it would be too convoluted and even more, because crossovers are inevitable, but eventually, I ate my words and ended up even binge-watching the first season! But I kinda dropped it half-way because of Laurel Lance AKA Black Canary. I hate her character - it felt like the whole story was revolving around her because Oliver Green was too concerned, though I still managed to be kept updated through my dad (he practically spoiled the whole thing without me even asking). 

Netflix's Daredevil and CW's The Flash, on the other hand, is a whole different story. My friends kept on recommending me to watch The Flash, that it's really good and no doubt I would enjoy binge-watching it, but I kept on making excuses that the series is still ongoing and I would wait for the whole series to be completed. Same goes for Daredevil, though I heard that the build up was too slow and it took him the whole season before he got his suit and established his name. But eventually, I gave in and here I am now, just finished watching Daredevil and The Flash in more or less three weekends and still not over with what happened.

Would you believe me when I say I was rooting for Wilson Fisk - the Kingpin - while watching Daredevil? I loved how Vincent D'Onofrio portrayed his own version of Fisk as a character. I really felt like I understood Fisk's intentions, how his actions justify his purpose of the protecting the city, and even more when Vanessa, his love interest, came into the scene. 

Fisk's character interaction with Vanessa made me more sympathetic towards him and eventually, root for him, but of course, I don't agree with his methods of "having his own way" - the means don't justify the ends. This isn't the first time I'm rooting for the "bad" guy to win. Most of the anime I watch, I tend to like more of the bad characters (I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing but rest assured, I'm not into bad guys in real life HAHAHA). Nevertheless, it is inevitable for Fisk to be defeated by Daredevil but still, it was a good watch. 

Unlike The Arrow and Daredevil, The Flash is lighthearted and enjoyable with not so much convoluted plot twists but the season ender was really a cliff-hanger. You just have to wait for the next season. Definitely, I felt the suspense and his "name" was established early in the first few episodes which I think is a good point. Crossovers with The Arrow wasn't surprising since they introduced Barry Allen's character through the series. Felicity with Atom and Oliver Queen at different occasions, cameo-ed in three or four episodes and inevitably, Dr. Caitlin Snow and Barry Allen in The Arrow.

One point I want to share though is that I'm not fond of the love line between Barry Allen and Iris West. I don't exactly know if they did end up together in the comics but I prefer they date someone else or just not end up with anyone in the series. Now that I think of it, every superhero has to have a leading lady. Well, can't take that away from them, can we?

So to keep me from writing anything else that might spoil you, I'll end it here! I hope this entry can somehow motivate you from watching them (or maybe if you're just as hesitant as me in the beginning, a little push would just do the trick). :)