[Drama 2016] Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예

[cutiesarjen]

I have a question. What do they mean by "my best and you glance"?

[themarchioness]

13 minutes ago, cutiesarjen said:

I have a question. What do they mean by "my best and you glance"?

It was a word play joke, starting from the camping scene.  YSJ had asked to hang out in the tent and KMY agreed provided he did not cross the line.  Once in the tent, YSJ asked her where the line ("seon") was and in response, KMY answered with his best and her glance because both "best" and "glance" have the sound "seon" in those words. 

It's similar to when YSJ asked her blood type and instead of giving him a straight answer, KMY answered with similar sounding words.  The two of them were fond of their word plays.  Another example is when KMY was telling him that she'd been invited back to her medical school to attend the ceremony as one of their shining graduates.  YSJ teased her by asking if she hadn't been asked back as one of their indebted students because "shining" and "indebted" sound similar. 

(Much appreciation to Viki for explaining all these subtleties in their subs.)

[ilwoo_aein]

Captain Yoo Sijin - 30 years old Song Joong Ki

 

 

[Chellsee]

'Descendants of the Sun' to hold an OST live concert on May 14

The production team of this year's blockbuster drama, "Descendants of the Sun," is now preparing to hold a special concert on May 14 in light of the heartwarming and chart-topping OSTs for the global hit drama.

The latest reports revealed that the team will be holding a special concert under the title of "Descendants of the Sun OST concert" on May 14 with two scheduled events, K-pop Fighting has learned. The concert will take place at Kyonggi University in Seoul, South Korea and will kick off starting 3 PM KST and is followed by another at 7 PM KST.

The concert will gather the cast members and various singers of the drama, wherein each singer is said to perform their respective OSTs. To name a few, these singers include Park Ji Yeon aka Gummy for "You Are My Everything," EXO's Chen and Punch for "Everytime" and Davichi for "This Love."

Apart from that, the shows' cast members, Jin Goo, Kim Ji Won, Seo Jung Yeon and Lee Seung Joon have confirmed their guest appearances to the special concert. The sale of tickets recently opened on April 22, Friday on Ticket link Co. Ltd.

"The actors and singers are going to create a stage together," a concert representative said, All K-pop reported. "We will be having a lot of activities including performances, collaborations, and special events that have the similarity with some scenes from the drama."

As of this writing, the production team seems to be in a bit of a pickle since they have yet to receive confirmation of attendance from the series' lead stars, Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo. To date, the on-screen couple is busy working on their respective projects.

Joong Ki, who played Captain Yoo Si Jin (aka Big Boss) in the series, has experienced an enormous growth in his popularity throughout Asia. He has recently been tapped as ambassador to boost Korean tourism and became the face of over 30 local and international brands.

While Hye Kyo, who played Dr. Kang Mo Yeon, has once again praised for her donations of Korean language brochures to the Statue of Liberty in New York. In an interview on April 21, the 34-year-old star expressed that it harms her pride as a citizen of Korea every time she travel to other countries and see brochures in Japanese and Chinese dialect at various museums and archaeological sites, but no Korean leaflets.

 

http://en.yibada.com/articles/118846/20160425/descendants-of-the-sun-cast-singers-currently-preparing-hold-ost-live-concert.htm

[cutiesarjen]

21 minutes ago, themarchioness said:

It was a word play joke, starting from the camping scene.  YSJ had asked to hang out in the tent and KMY agreed provided he did not cross the line.  Once in the tent, YSJ asked her where the line ("seon") was and in response, KMY answered with his best and her glance because both "best" and "glance" have the sound "seon" in those words. 

It's similar to when YSJ asked her blood type and instead of giving him a straight answer, KMY answered with similar sounding words.  The two of them were fond of their word plays.  Another example is when KMY was telling him that she'd been invited back to her medical school to attend the ceremony as one of their shining graduates.  YSJ teased her by asking if she hadn't been asked back as one of their indebted students because "shining" and "indebted" sound similar. 

(Much appreciation to Viki for explaining all these subtleties in their subs.)

Ah i get it now. Thanks for the answer @themarchioness 

[gilaswan]

26 minutes ago, themarchioness said:

It was a word play joke, starting from the camping scene.  YSJ had asked to hang out in the tent and KMY agreed provided he did not cross the line.  Once in the tent, YSJ asked her where the line ("seon") was and in response, KMY answered with his best and her glance because both "best" and "glance" have the sound "seon" in those words. 

It's similar to when YSJ asked her blood type and instead of giving him a straight answer, KMY answered with similar sounding words.  The two of them were fond of their word plays.  Another example is when KMY was telling him that she'd been invited back to her medical school to attend the ceremony as one of their shining graduates.  YSJ teased her by asking if she hadn't been asked back as one of their indebted students because "shining" and "indebted" sound similar. 

(Much appreciation to Viki for explaining all these subtleties in their subs.)

I can understand the word play based on homonyms, but what about her choice of words? Does she then mean to tease that there is no real "line" therefore because what he "crosses" will depend on his "best" reasons for getting her affection which would be determined by how she then "glances" at him? Is that right? heh...

[kristy86]

Okay now, so I misunderstood the meaning of "my best and you glance" then. Haha, can I get any dumber? 

I thought what he meant by my best is him always good at apologizing to her, like in the scene when they are bickering about RV. And you glance is MY weapon to win over SJ, she will flutter her eyelashes and act cute in front of him.  LOL, their words play really got me...

 

[Chellsee]

[This Week] KBS World TV Highlights - Best Scene (2016.04.25 – 2016.05.01)

DOST part starts from 0:49 to 4:40mins...

 

[annettegatuslao]

44 minutes ago, themarchioness said:

It was a word play joke, starting from the camping scene.  YSJ had asked to hang out in the tent and KMY agreed provided he did not cross the line.  Once in the tent, YSJ asked her where the line ("seon") was and in response, KMY answered with his best and her glance because both "best" and "glance" have the sound "seon" in those words. 

It's similar to when YSJ asked her blood type and instead of giving him a straight answer, KMY answered with similar sounding words.  The two of them were fond of their word plays.  Another example is when KMY was telling him that she'd been invited back to her medical school to attend the ceremony as one of their shining graduates.  YSJ teased her by asking if she hadn't been asked back as one of their indebted students because "shining" and "indebted" sound similar. 

(Much appreciation to Viki for explaining all these subtleties in their subs.)

Finally!!! I've always been wondering what "my best and your glance" meant  Thank you!

[mabelialong]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Zakynthos Shipwreck or Navagio Bay (GREECE)

The beach of Navagio or Shipwreck cove is the most famous beach of Zakynthos lying on the western side of the Ionian island, close to Anafotiria village. The Shipwreck is one of the most photographed landscapes in Greece. It is considered as one of the best beaches in Greece. It was initially called Agios Georgios but owes its new name to the shipwreck of a boat that transported illegal cigarettes, in 1983. The ship was washed ashore. With the years passing, the sand completely surrounded the ship which looks now as it emerges from it. The vestiges of the ship can be seen in the middle of the large white sandy beach which has amazing turquoise and crystalline waters. Huge vertical cliffs of white rocks are surrounding the sand creating a unique and enchanting image. To reach this paradise, one has to take a little boat from the small port of Porto Vromi. These taxi boats are leaving every hour and the trip is about 30 minutes

Source: www.greeka.com

[SkyKid]

13 hours ago, kristy86 said:

You may also try Deep Rooted Tree, if you like historical drama   he's also great in there as the young King Sejong  

 

I've been re-watching from ep 1, how long do I have to do this? 

Everytime I see SJ's expression when he said: Red Velvet did nothing wrong, I can't...  Cheeky captain!

 

I can already imagine how their marriage life would be, isk isk isk...

 

 me too, how long do I have to re-watch DOTS, other dramas failed me hard  

I'm watching ep 3 now. hehe 

 

[superbigcat]

2 hours ago, themarchioness said:

It was a word play joke, starting from the camping scene.  YSJ had asked to hang out in the tent and KMY agreed provided he did not cross the line.  Once in the tent, YSJ asked her where the line ("seon") was and in response, KMY answered with his best and her glance because both "best" and "glance" have the sound "seon" in those words. 

It's similar to when YSJ asked her blood type and instead of giving him a straight answer, KMY answered with similar sounding words.  The two of them were fond of their word plays.  Another example is when KMY was telling him that she'd been invited back to her medical school to attend the ceremony as one of their shining graduates.  YSJ teased her by asking if she hadn't been asked back as one of their indebted students because "shining" and "indebted" sound similar. 

(Much appreciation to Viki for explaining all these subtleties in their subs.)

 

OMG kudos to you! That line has been rolling in my mind since I have no idea why MY replied SJ like that, I even thought what she meant is SJ should try his best or take a glance in order to cross the line  And wow so it's not the only first time but turns out that they have been always enjoying the word play   Combine with the scene when MY saved SJ then drive the car and screamed because of excitement, then SJ said "No idea why she can go to medical school" and now, do you understand how she managed it SJ?  Seriously can't get enough of these two.  Perfect match from heaven 

[themarchioness]

3 minutes ago, superbigcat said:

OMG kudos to you! That line has been rolling in my mind since I have no idea why MY replied SJ like that, I even thought what she meant is SJ should try his best or take a glance in order to cross the line  And wow so it's not the only first time but turns out that they have been enjoying the word play for a period of time   Combine with the scene when MY saved SJ then drive the car and screamed because of excitement, then SJ said "No idea why she can go to medical school" and now, do you understand how she managed it SJ?  Seriously can't get enought of these two. 

I don't want to burst bubbles, because YSJ-KMY are very cute with all their word plays, but I also think this is something the writer just really likes.  There was another word play between KMY and the hospital director when she was trying to hand in her resignation, for example, and we know there was nothing lovey-dovey going on there!  I can't remember what it was exactly; I'd have to go back and watch this scene.

I have to once again give a shout out to the Viki subbers for explaining all these moments in their subs.  It really elevates the viewing experience.  Without the explanation, these moments are completely lost on the non-Korean spakers.

[SkyKid]

40 minutes ago, themarchioness said:

I don't want to burst bubbles, because YSJ-KMY are very cute with all their word plays, but I also think this is something the writer just really likes.  There was another word play between KMY and the hospital director when she was trying to hand in her resignation, for example, and we know there was nothing lovey-dovey going on there!  I can't remember what it was exactly; I'd have to go back and watch this scene.

I have to once again give a shout out to the Viki subbers for explaining all these moments in their subs.  It really elevates the viewing experience.  Without the explanation, these moments are completely lost on the non-Korean spakers.

the word play between KMY and hospital director is easy to understand since their family name "Kang" and "Han" are the beginning of Korean words for "stubborn" and "free" respectively, sth like that, I got that 

but YSJ and KMY, their word play drove me nuts, I have to ask you guys here, then ask my Korean friend again, then ask my teacher again, I drove them nuts because of DOTS, hahaha. Anyway, finally understand, it's cute and like unique style of them, yet I wish they never play word again, or else everybody around me will become insane  

[vu_hoa1983]

As I re-watch DOTS, I have a new-found appreciation for this scene

지나가는 중에 잠깐 부딪히나 봅니다  "I think we’re just bumping into each other as we pass each other by"

   

      

SJ found a very beautiful and special woman but he had to let her go because of wrong timing. The way he sadly tells DY this shows he doesn't have confidence that they can be together though they are destined to meet. What a sad reality: he thought about having his dream woman in front of him but could do nothing to change their fate. He knew she would be in Uruk for 15 days.

SJ  tried to stay cool and walked by her like they never even met.  Did he wear sunglasses to conceal his emotion? Yet his very brief side glance towards her and his restrained expression betrayed his emotions as both remembered the short but lasting memories they had.

The writers are really genius for writing such lines. Concise but so meaningful.

P/S: Credit on gif

[gilaswan]

^ Not just the writers and the lines they chose though - the director and how he chose to capture the emotions visually. And of course the actors and how they brilliantly portrayed those feelings so subtly. SHK's eyes! How she acts with her eyes! Indeed her "glance" is powerful! 

[Meowth07]

I'm suffering the worst withdrawal symptom ever! Couldn't watch anything else. So I thank DotS' god for Ep Special #3, which kept me from dying, for now (means next week I'll be dead for real TT_TT). This ep special is actually the reason I write this post.

I need to confess this first, I love DotS not because of its love story, of SongSong couple's skinship and kissing scenes, which seems everyone is so drawn into. I like the loveline, like all the lovey dovey stuff, but I don't go crazy over it. Strange huh. Perhaps as it's clear to me that DotS plotline is a compromise. 

 

Writer Kim Won Seok's original script was about doctors and war. It's apparently a great story, proven by winning first place in a national contest. But years after winning, it was still left on papers, not made into a movie/drama. Because clearly, that story wouldn't sell. Kdrama viewers want loveline, couples, shipping etc... not a "boring" slice-of-life story, no matter how meaningful. It's a fact. It's the charm and also the downfall of Kdramas all these years anyway. So what to do? The production team invited KES to turn it into a love story - that would definitely sell. Simply speaking, they wanted to tell a deeper story, they got to spend more than half of screen time telling a love one first. (I'm not criticizing, it's a very good love story anw). Still it resulted in much less time for the original one. So people who complaint about the "shallow" plotline of DotS, see that it's the audiences' "fault", not the writers' they had to compromise it this way. If anything, the writers did a daebak job conveying tons of meaningful stuff with less than 8 episode screen time (less than half of 16eps). The way they did it with so little time (and more importantly to not shift the focus from the love scenes which was for ratings) was leaving underlying hidden messages, under-telling those stories, behind every line, every scene and every character. It was brilliant imo as who's interested will be able to think more about it and have their own interpretation.

 

The four main characters' lines conveyed a lot of messages: soldiers-doctors, their oaths, idealism and sacrifices. I think it's clear enough. Yet the under-told stories of minor characters is another layer. They all got one behind some very few lines.

 

- The soldiers.

 

Sgt. Choi: "Why would a pretty and well-paid woman go out with a soldier?... You never know when she'll change her mind. Thinks of when she finds out what we do. Isn't it obvious she'll tell him to transfer or to leave the army?"

Wasn't that what he was told by his wife or her family? As if being a soldier wasn't hard enough, they have to deal with their family's opposition too. Or wasn't that what he felt towards his wife, felt sorry for her for marrying a mere soldier?

 

That leads to Si Jin's dad's line that I found so true: "You should have become a judge or a doctor. No one appreciates a soldier these days". Who to fully understand that rather than the man who reached his career's retirement day, lived all and heard all.

 

Private Kim Ki Bum: "I tried getting beat up, even paying them. How did you... get out?"

He's not the first nor just in a few the army has "saved" that way. It's a fact many men with a broken life go into military. It mostly depends on them of course as the army isn't God almighty. But it gives them a chance to turn their life over, and sometimes that means everything. "It turns out the army is perfect for me." Beautiful isn't it?

 

Col. Park: "I'm saying we should avoid what we can. ... Hand in a detailed report."

Col.Park isn't an easy one to love, and I see lots of people aren't fond of him. When in fact he's the type of "good" soldiers, more, a good commanding officer. He did what needed to be done, not what he wanted to, he obeyed the army's important rule: "follow commands and don't create troubles". He didn't ignore problems, no, he just knew to collect info and wait for a better time. He kicked his men's butts all the time, yet protected them from outsiders (when Mr.Jin threatened to sue them). The army consists of C.Os like him, not the "arrogant" type like Si Jin. And that's a good thing.

I just love his scene with Mo Yeon after Si Jin's death. His replies to her were everything a C.O could say, could feel under those circumstances.

"I ask for your cooperation."

"Was his death for our country?"

"Yes. It was."

"Even then his country makes me sign this document?"

"I apologise."

Few words said, with sincerity, with proud, and with regret. Acknowledging something unfair is hard, acknowledging that unfairness and having to accept it, to work with it, more than one time (probably not the first time one of his subordinates died right), is just beyond difficult. People could think being a commander is easier than being a field soldier, working on a desk, giving orders.. But the responsibilites and burdens they carry are the heaviest, cause it can't be worded, can't be showed. 

 

Gen. Yoon: "I know, that you did a right thing as my guys. I appreciate it. But the order remains unchanged."

He said this re the Arab VIP ops. Since the beginning he's a good general who knows what's right and what's for politics. Same as Col.Park, his core isn't often showed, but disguided by the rigidity. The two of them made me think hard about what under the surface of some "scary", "hateful" in-charge people, and what they'd have to lose if their subordinates did something wrong. Not easy at all isn't it.

Not wanna talk about his opposition towards MJ-DY relationship though, cause if one thing I know for sure, is that army dads are always overprotective of their daughters, even controlling. It's hard to blame him since it comes from love.

 

Argus: Aww, the biggest "plothole" lots of people complaint about, as they need more details about his changing side. But what's so surprising about it really? Si Jin said: "It's just another one of those stories of a man following money after leaving Special Forces. Either being a mercenary or a villain." Yea, being a soldier is difficult, quitting it is not easy either. And war is cruel enough to change anyone. The fact that Argus wasn't that special of a story, he was only special to Si Jin, because he was Si Jin's idol from his earlier military days. So sad wasn't it. Argus represented the group of soldiers who lost their beliefs, for various reasons. There were sadly a number of them.

 

- The doctors.

 

Chi Hoon: "You've become a real doctor, Lee Chi Hoon". This line was said to him more than once, it's his character's story - becoming a true doctor. I think it's kind of familiar to people who have watched medical shows such as Grey's Anatomy, House M.D. ... Easy to say, but not easy to get, that's why it needed abnormal circumstances like an earthquake for him to truly comprehend.

 

Dr. Song: well many things to say about him. A "normal" guy by all standards, yet dependable, trustworthy, at the same time easygoing and not trying hard to be on top of anything. Life often strucks him down, as it to nice people. Yet he stays stable, decent. He's the type of sunbae, of colleague, that Mo Yeon's very lucky to have.

 

- The Doctors Without Borders characters.

 

They are probably the core characters from the original script. Perhaps that's why they got the most tale-telling fragments with their scenes. Such a shame their stories couldn't be told with more details, still it's so touching.

 

Chen Kang: He's a peripheral character, yet his one scene was worth thousands words. His coffin was next to a soldier's, they got the same type of funeral. A doctor in warzone was no less than a soldier, as he fought the war, protected the people too. Has anyone ever thought of what kind of brave soul to become a DWB? Medical training, promising career, easy lifepath, yet they chose to go to some godforsaken land. Soldiers do it due to their job and training, DWBs do it due to their choice and their heart. And just like soldiers, they passed away to keep their beliefs alive.

 

Ye Hwa: Realizing Chen Kang's dead, she didn't go hysterical, didn't cry asking "what? how? why?", just silently accepted. That scene spoke volumes. Their acknowledgement. They know they'll probably die doing this job.

Ye Hwa's background is another touching story. She's half-blooded, doesn't really think she's Korean. "All people who speak Korean are Koreans?". She lost her family, had no where to go, not Russia, not Korea, she had to go to Canada where they rejected her too. Sadly, it's a common story of many people born in warzone.  

 

Daniel: Somehow I think Si Jin character was adapted from the original script's Daniel, as they're both the image of an ideal hero (I'll write about Si Jin the hero below). Daniel is like Schweitzer, like Nelson Mandela, the role model of all DWBs. Hence his role and his lines are actually to convey their messages: about medicines, producing and patents, about pharmaceutical companies, the thousands of people who die everyday due to those issues. It's just something we normal people are often ignorant of.

 

Daniel's airport interview, parallel with Mo Yeon's lines in ep15, was the ultimate message from the doctors' side in this story: "Life over profit. No profit is greater than a person's life." It sounded so simple. Yet not everyone truly got it.

 

- The workers.

 

Manager Ko: "I've worked hard to send my children to college, so they can live the life they want now. And my wife... There isn't much to say really. We spent more times looking at pictures than being with each other."

Isn't that the story of many manual labourers? Working long hours, far away from home, almost all their lives in order to give their family a better chance. It's not just Manager Ko, I believe many workers at that construction site shared the same story.

 

Kang Min Jae: "Ahh I can't be bothered. I'll just die". I laughed at that scene.  He's an immature kid apparently. Just that he didn't have many good things to look forward to. He had no family, and he's Korean but never been to Korea. Probably his parents were oversea workers like Manager Ko. He didn't get an easy life for sure. Another story of some normal people which we can easily overlook.

 

- The Urk people.

 

Valentine: "We sell everything here, but women and information."

She's really cool. In war-torn countries, where there's lack of men, it's often a woman has to step up being the community leader. A fierce and strong one like her is to protect their other women. She reminds me of Melanie Hamilton in Gone With The Wind, the way they're mentally strong dealing with the aftermath of war.

 

Fatima: "You want me to trust soldiers? Have you experienced a war? Have you seen a soldier in a war?"

Yes, soldiers are heroes to their country, and they're monsters to the other side, especially to civillians, to kids. It's not pretty, it's the ugly truth. People said DotS propagandizing army and patriotism, with this one line I say it just told the truth, from both points of view. How often do we have that?

Mo Yeon said a kid like Fatima should have been able to learn the right thing, like cheap medicines are the ones that could save lives, not to know the narcotics are good for making money. That plus what Fatima said, is the image of kids in war-torn countries. They've seen, 've known the things no kids should have seen and known. 

 

The other Urk little kids supplement to the picture. They were hungry, uneducated, played around dangerous sites, they just didn't know better. Not an uncommon story you could hear in some war-torn countries, when children found an old mine or grenade, they played with it, they died or crippled. It's heartbreaking indeed. If there weren't enough reasons to be against war, the children alone would suffice. 

 

- Last but not least, the "divided nation" with Sr.Lt.Ahn.

 

I put this alone in one category because I believe it's the deepest point the original script wanted to touch. DotS started with this North-South plot at the very beginning, and one of Si Jin's line which I found amusing: "... yet I don't want to meet you once every year". The nuance was that NK and SK have one day every year that family members living in the two sides can meet each other. Well... The final ep16 repeated it: "The man I love is a soldier of the ROK, the only divided nation in the whole world." It's kind of strange-placed in a love confession line, but makes perfect sense to the other meaning. My country was divided once, enough for me to be moved deeply by this subplot. I can only imagine what it meant to Korean viewers. The comradeship between Si Yin and Sr.Lt.Ahn on screen absolutely carried a deeper longing on their hearts.

 

 

... Wow... How many life stories were there? All in less than 8 ep screen time... If I could have one wish about DotS, I'd wish to read Kim Won Seok's original script. I really want to get everything about those stories. In reality, I couldn't ask for more, seeing it as a compromise with limited screen time like I said. Surely to me, DotS plotline is far from being shallow. People who say it's shallow actually are the ones who don't, or can't, see deep enough.

 

I've always wondered why I was more drawn into those "side stories" (let's temporarily call it that) than into the loveline unlike most ppl. After watching ep special #3 I got my answer. It's because that was not only what the writers really wanted to tell, but also what the actors really wanted to act out, under the "mask" of a love story. It unbelievably warmed my heart knowing SHK's favourite scene was when Col.Park came to her after Si Jin's death, and SJK's was his crying scene after killing Argus. They - SHK and SJK - got that too, the deeper stories of DotS. They were not just here for a romance, no matter how lovely. They are great actors who truly understood the script and their characters. No wonder why their portrayal of all the "side stories" always crushed my heart, and left the strongest mark on me. I think I'll have to respect the hell out of them after this:)) They are not the type of "mere actors", they are the type of Leo DiCaprio actors who'd want a truly meaningful story to work on. If it wasn't for SHK and SJK, wasn't for their understanding of the story, but other actors who only got and were only good at the loveline, I don't think I'd love DotS this much.

 

**

 

By no means I'm undervaluing the love story of DotS. As said, it's a very good one, as expected from KES. Say what you want about her but until now she's still the queen of romance in Kdramaland. Ok, first, Heirs wasn't her fault, or at least not solely. SBS asked KES for it: a romance between and chaebol teenage guy and a poor teenage girl. So what did viewers expect really:)) SBS favors the chaebol-theme so much, cause it means adorsements, PPLs, high ratings, guaranteed success; don't forget they rejected DotS due to the lack of those. KES managed to make Heirs watchable, even enjoyable, so point to her. Second, KES really loves her characters, always stays true to this, never "betrays" one character for the sake of another - which sadly can't be said for other Kwriters, esp for the arrogant tvN with their game of indulging/provoking ships war (that is just beyond disrespectful to viewers). Anw, what I mean is KES's a good writer and deserves her reputation. She created a beautiful love story in DotS. I can't really complaint even when it's too beautiful it pretty much overshadowed my favourite "side stories".

 

Everyone has already said what's so great about the relationship between Si Jin and Mo Yeon, mature, respectful, no bs push-and-pull or misunderstandings... Some people said it was not so great due to the lack of character development of Si Yin. But to me it's fine. Actually in most books and movies, it's a common formula, when one of the two main characters staying the same while the other developing; cause two character development could be confusing. The one staying the same is the moral compass, the touchstone of the story; every story needs one to maintain its unification. It's difficult for Si Jin to develop, as he's kind of ideal since the beginning - a soldier who puts his patriotism first, above himself, above his personal life. I don't mean he's an ideal soldier, as someone said he's selfish to do what he thinks is right, not what the army needs him to do. No, he's an ideal hero,  the selfless one goes above the rules, above the greater good to save the little people. Doesn't everyone dream to be a hero like that? So it's ok for him to stay the same, to always appear to save the day. After all, without a bit of fantasy and idealism, human life can't be bigger than its mundaneness. Si Jin character serves this purpose. On the other hand, Mo Yeon is the human part of the story. She had some unstable moral issue, she fell, she overcame it and became a better doctor. She had reasons for rejecting him, understandable reasons, then after witnessing everything, she put her common sense all aside to accept that man, even if it crushed her heart every day. Eventually, she's the one I saw as the most beautiful character of DotS, more than Si Jin, because of those two development. A great real human being is better than a great fictional hero. Hence it's all fine by me. I don't need her to become a heroine to save him instead, since it'd just make her be similar to him, not different, not better. For all, he was the one who said he must have done something great in his previous life to deserve her now. With that, the writers made it clear that Mo Yeon character is "the sun" of DotS after all.

 

( @gilaswan @smiletall  @happyfruit @... This is my overdue discussion re the character development in ep14. Sorry I had to abort it cause of the absurb amount of ending speculating posts at that time. I love all your posts very much )

 

**

 

I wrote too much... Thanks anyone who read till this line! I agree with you all that DotS is by no means flawless. Yet I hope everyone could consider it under the light of all its obstacles: the first big pre-produced Kdrama, about soldiers (how absurb! lol), almost everyone against the idea since the start; and under the light of a compromise: the real stories that the original script wanted to tell. They managed to make it through, financial problems, personnel problems, to create two very deep layers of stories in only 16 episodes. It's just applause-worthy. So for "all of DotS, all its curves and all its edges, all its perfect imperfections" I just love and appreciate every one bit.

[mariekantalla]

On 4/22/2016 at 7:52 PM, Chellsee said:

Tonight is the final finale...Ottoke!? 

Two of my favorite photo of Big Boss and Beauty together!

 

[mariekantalla]

@Meowth07 Reading your deeper analysis of DOTS made me do this   . You're one of those who have " great minds that discuss ideas".

I just hope that those who said DOTS has a shallow plot will read your post to be enlightened.

 

[kristy86]

@Meowth07 Wow, thanks so much for your long and insightful post  

I really love the part with MY and Col. Park. He answered MY first three questions with so much proud in his voice. He's so proud of SJ and DY. But the last question makes him lower his head and I can feel his regret that she have to sign the non-disclosure agreement to cover SJ's death. 

Kang Min Jae's line is also so memorable to me, with his tone and facial expression it's so cute but also sad.

10 hours ago, SkyKid said:

 me too, how long do I have to re-watch DOTS, other dramas failed me hard  

I'm watching ep 3 now. hehe 

 

I was just re-watching ep 6 last night, and I cried like a baby during Mr. Ko's scene again, MY cried while remembering his warm smile. SHK is right, Mr. Ko had a big smile but it looked so sad. I will forever remember this scene. 

 

In the last special during the interview, I think SJK said he is amazed by the script for this scene. When SJ arrived with the heli, he first looked for MY but he didn't show it. They only stared at each other. And during the shoelaces scene, after he said "be careful" he just walked away. SJK said something like: "It's insane." 

I don't know but I guess he's just like most people who would probably think SJ will hug MY or whatever to show how relieved he is finding she is not hurt. But then after saying those word he just walked away. I really thought he's going to hug her, but they have more important thing to do at that moment, just knowing she's fine is enough for him. This scene touched me deeply