South Korean actress Song Hye Kyo already knew people would fall in love with the now megahit "Descendants of the Sun," even during the first time she read the script. "When I read the script for the first time, I found I could read it as fast as if it were a comic book. That's when I realised it would be a fun drama that many people would fall in love with." Song said.
The actress found the script, filmed in a fictional war-torn country, a page-turner when she got hold of it, The Strait Times reported. She was intrigued by the relationship between a soldier and a doctor. It emphasizes an old-fashioned war-themed drama in an action story with comic elements in between.
Reports said screenwriter Kim Eun Sook reworked the original script by screenwriter Kim Won Suk to beef up the love story. Kim penned dramas like "Lovers in Paris," "Secret Garden" and "The Heirs."
The drama is now an Asian sensation. Episodes 11 and 12 aired last week in Seoul earned more than 30 percent viewership, surpassing the 2013 global hit "My Love from the Star." In China, where the drama is on streaming site iQiyi, the first four episodes were viewed over 300 million times; and after eight episodes, it broke the one-billion viewership milestone. In Singapore and Hong Kong, "Descendants of the Sun" is the most-watched show on online service Viu with over 60 percent viewership.
Amid gunfights and romances, the cast had ample time for comedy. Song shared the characters were not serious sometimes. There were funny scenes and even she and lead actor Song Joong Ki had to stop filming because they laughed so hard. She felt sorry for the crew.
One of the factors that may have contributed to the success of DOTS is the adequate time the cast and crew had to finish the production. While a typical Korean drama goes to air while filming is ongoing, DOTS finished filming in December and the first Korean drama that is simultaneously showing in South Korea and China, premiering in February.
Most actors in dramas would complain they do not have the time to feel the fame as they are in the set every day and do not really know the reactions of the viewers.
The 34-year-old actress said being able to watch DOTS is the best thing about it, Allkpop reported. She has been known as Korea's most beautiful woman, and is not new to working with handsome actors and playing lead roles in hit dramas like "Autumn in my Heart," "Full House" and "That Winter, the Wind Blows." However, this is the first time she completed a drama before it airs. As she is done shooting, she finds it more entertaining and admitted her heart fluttered watching her character Dr. Kang Mo Yeon wooed by the lead character, Alpha Team leader Yoo Si Jin.
The following video clip is a scene from "Descendants of the Sun" episode 8.