The Problematic of the Unproblematic

We've come to the end of the mega-hyped, mega hit Descendants of the Sun. This last episode does a decent job of tying up most of the loose ends in a neat little bow, providing for a mindlessly easy watch.  At the last minute the writer decided to go for an all out happy ending, and while I think I would have preferred Myeong Joo to die as was originally planned, this is probably the ending that most of the DotS lovers wanted. Oh, they had a plan for her to die?  That would have worked, but I still think Mo Yeon would have been the best choice.  Nothing personal against her, just the most unexpected option. Me, while watching DotS:  Sob - this is so disappointing! Why wasn't this so much better? I don't need to waste time watching this. Song Joong Ki, I love you!

Episode 15 starts off with our two main couples doing their normal routines - With Mo Yeon and Shi Jin cutesy bickering while Dae Young and Myeong Joo are still in a stand off. We knew there would surely be sad times ahead, and before this episode comes to an end, many, many tears will be shed. Will our couples be able to find happiness or is it game over? I like our chances for someone dying, actually.  Although I would be sad, of course.  For maximum shock value I actually think it should be Mo Yeon. I give you props, girls. You had me crying, too.

We left off last episode not knowing the fate of Shi Jin after being shot multiple times and ending up at Mo Yeon's hospital. Who knew you could fix a gunshot wound to the gut with a cast on your arm? We get some background information on the gun battle that took place, along with a lot of new political intrigue, but I've decided to once again to just focus on the cute, sexy and athletic Shi Jin and friends.  Oh, don't forget to clothe yourself in your suspension of disbelief! I don't care, I don't care, it's all worth it for that slide over the car hood.  I'm watching plenty of smart shows.  Give me my amazing Shi Jin!  It's all I want! Shi Jin pulls off quite the maneuver while trying to get the bad guys. Go Shi Jin, go!

Our medical team in is back in Korea, with our special forces following soon after. It's an easy to watch episode if you can just overlook the most ridiculous use of product placement that I've ever seen. And I'm not even talking about the friendly folks at Subway. How will everyone's who's been in Urk readjust to life in Korea? Let's just say it provides a lot of laughs and lighthearted moments, and plenty of opportunities for cute gifs. Tonight we squeal and make merry, for tomorrow someone may die! Hey guys, I know rumbling furniture meant duck and cover in Urk, but that's a jackhammer, not an earthquake!

So many things were wrapped up in the episode that it makes me wonder what will happen in the next four. Finally defeating Argus, beating the virus and packing up to return to Korea all played important parts, but the main theme was Mo Yeon's coming to terms with what a relationship with Shi Jin would really be like and whether it's worth it. IT IS. As always, the pretty, including Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo, make the drama

While the hospital and military scramble to deal with the M3 outbreak, Myeong Joo is facing a life or death struggle, Chi Hoon is looking for redemption, and Argus is up to his usual antics. But episode 11 provides opportunities for Mo Yeon and Shi Jin to get a better understanding of each other. The question is, how far will Shi Jin go to be the "everything" to Mo Yeon? JoAnne: More than ever this week, it does seem that they have an eternal love  . Or at least, he does.

This episode started taking me to one of my least favorite places in kdramas, and I'm sure we all know what "ville" that is. It certainly ups the action and provides some good edge of your seat watching as long as you don't think too long or hard about the plausibility of things. There is also a lot of talk about hair washing (although her hair dirty looks ten times better than mine does clean.) More excuses not to kiss.  I DO NOT GET IT.

This episode has so many adorable scenes that I had trouble picking which ones to concentrate on. With a decidedly lighter feel to it, this episode delivers to the viewers the cute and heart-fluttering moments we've all been waiting for. Now that the rescue from the earthquake is over, things are falling back into place and love is in the air. But enjoy the lightheartedness while you can - things never stay calm in Urk! That kiss was worth waiting for.

Lafer: Once again, Shi Jin puts it all out in the open, but once again our heroine is remaining silent. This episode provides a lot of opportunities for Mo Yeon to realize how much she cares about Shi Jin, and slowly but surely Shi Jin is feeling more hopeful about Mo Yeon's true feelings, especially when a twist of fate at the end intervenes. Luckily, this episode gives us a lot of what we're here for in the form of plenty of adorable Song Joong Ki expressions. JoAnne: It's fortunate that this is all we really care about. Well... this, Dae Young smiling, and just sort of ogling Daniel. And maybe the occasional shirtless platoon run.  Those don't hurt.  We could go back to that lagoon, too. Actually that McInnis guy isn't bad either, but he should not speak or try to act.  Just stand there and look pretty and slightly menacing. Shi Jin approves of our interests

Episode 7 had a lot of action going on as everyone pulled together to do rescue and recovery. The soldiers were forced to figure out ways to search the rubble for trapped workers, while the medical team figured out how to best take care of the wounded with limited hands and supplies. All the while, our first and second leads kept an eye out for each other. And we kept our eyes on them, because almost everything else is silly but they are mostly perfect, if annoyingly resistant to each other's charms.

As the relationship hangs in the balance, we're left waiting to hear Mo Yeon's answer to whether she wants a confession or an apology for Shi Jin's kiss. But just when we think the die is cast, Episode 6 gives us a natural disaster to facilitate second chances that our leads didn't expect to get.  Lots of dramatic earthquake footage, rescue efforts and bad-manager antics take place, but it's the relationship of our leads that drives this story forward and keeps me hanging on their every word and expression. In case I miss the whole storyline due to having blinders on for the Song Song couple, Joanne, the woman of 1,000 dramas, has agreed to continuing commenting. I'm excited to have her input! JoAnne: I know, I never shut up, do I? Thank you for inviting me :) While Mo Yeon is indeed charmed by Shi Jin, she also realizes he is dangerous - too dangerous for her to become involved with. In fact, she just doesn't like him now. OUCH. Shi Jin apologizes and l...

Episode 5 is a perfect example of how everything happens just to give our OTP an opportunity to come together and separate again, only to come back together and discuss their relationship once more. I'm OK with that as that's why I'm watching. Something about these two make me feel every emotion as if it was happening to me. Wishful thinking I guess. JoAnne:  I'm so happy, I get to squee with you!  I'm glad this is the screen cap you put at the top, too - I vividly remember that slow movement of his hand down her side, almost-but-not-quite touching her.  We know what that feels like, and it's good, good, good. But it makes me wonder who's the lucky lady in real life that our baby boy has been able to develop such moves?

Descendants of the Sun - some love it, some not so much.  I do feel the writer was out of her element in picking this subject matter for DotS, but also believe that most kdrama watchers know what they are in for, which is usually inconsistent writing, unrealistic scenarios, and lots of tropes. I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying DotS because of my obsession with Song Joong Ki, and the only way I would have been disappointed is if he had a face transplant during his military service or got knocked out during bootcamp and lost his acting ability, which neither, luckily, have happened. Here are episodes 3 + 4 as told by the OTP's story. Those who predicted Shi Jin would stop and pick up the scarf from the end of Episode 2 were right! Although no words were spoken between them.

At the request of Jaraket and seconded by Breeze, I have decided to feature Song Hye Kyo for the second episode of Descendants of the Sun. As it turns out, this is very much her episode, and her acting and beauty are spot on. Here, then, is a recap of DotS episode 2, as told in Song Hye Kyo gifs.

KLnoona/ Lafer: Mr. Song Joong Ki is back! And so am I, focusing on the lead of the most hyped drama of the year, Descendants of the Sun. It has been well worth the two year military wait, as we see a more toned, more mature actor. I'm loving how he's actually getting cheekbone definition and some forehead wrinkles in that baby face! Love is the operative word here, as in me and many others falling in love with SJK and his acting all over again .

OH THANK GOD IT'S OVER! (So ... these women, you know how they're supposed to be unkind? But it's one big happy kind family in the end. I'd say: FAIL. Only Rim isn't there in the end. I think he went to America. And never came back). I don't see the not-quite mistress. Did she die?  (no, I think she was miraculously cured) I'll save my kind/unkind thoughts for the end of this. We know these women aren't real because no woman would look that happy if Rim left.

Have you ever fallen asleep sitting up? It happens to me all the time now! It's scary. I fell asleep once in the position of Parade Rest, holding an M16. More recently... while sitting down. In the bathroom. I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS (you are? I have no idea who these people are)

This is now officially the drama that never ends. JoAnne, we will be stuck with it until the day we die. Sawry. It helps that it's Rim's face.  Rim wonders when it became his face we watched for, and not the apple butt

I think it's about time to ask: what wrong with that teacher-woman who also happens to be Rim's mother? She's acting completely insane. I am pretty sure I would hate this drama if I watched it. I haven't watched this in weeks - it was interfering with my ability to believe in the story WE are creating, which is much, much better.  I do keep forgetting there are other people in this drama, though. Does she look more pale than normal?  Is she going to die in the drama?

Oh great, it's that time of the month. I mean year. Elections. Also, there's close to no Rim in 20 and that's why we're combining the two episodes. Do they have elections every year? How do they get anything done? Next season, on The Bachelor...