Descendants of the Sun ends with highest ratings yet

Wildly popular Korean drama Descendants of the Sun ended its 16-episode run yesterday (April 14) on a high note, finishing strongly with 38.8 percent (AGB Nielsen) viewership ratings – the highest of the series.

Its unconventional setting – the majority of the drama took place in Korea and a fictional war-torn country, Urk – with two of its leads as part of the army’s Special Forces intrigued viewers. That, coupled with the absence of the ever-present, yet frustrating, love triangle, is believed to have played a part in catapulting this drama into massive popularity.

The drama hit its highest ratings for its penultimate episode and once again broke its own records for its finale. The stellar cast, which includes Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Jin Goo and Kim Ji Won, was praised for their acting chops and dedication to the series.

While the scriptwriting has gotten its fair share of criticism for its overuse of product placement and obvious plot loopholes, writer Kim Eun Seok wrapped up the series in a satisfactory manner, which has been jokingly dubbed by netizens as an Avengers ending, likening it to the Marvel franchise which sees its heroes make it through every difficulty to live happily ever after.

Observers previously declared that Descendants would be able to break 2012 drama Moon Embracing the Sun’s (Kim Soo Hyun, Han Ga In) ratings, but ultimately fell short of the series’s high of 42.2 percent for its finale.

Now that the series has wrapped, fans are anticipating the next project the leads will pick. Kim Ji Won was previously mentioned as a front-runner to headline period drama Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, which later confirmed Kim Yoo Jung for the role.

Photos: KBS

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