deserved more episodes
the drama was really good and interesting, but i feel like i couldve had a better ending, i feel like some questions couldve been answered, i hope there is a season 2. Because it only had 6 episodes and it really deserved more that would have been better tbh :)...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Was this review helpful to you?
Thrilling series shedding some light on dark realities of South Korea military service & deserters
This series depicts the story of a rookie within the Deserter Pursuit (D.P.) military unit. It shed some light on the dark realities behind the military mandatory service, with the hazing and brutalities some older officers inflicts on the newcomers, as well as how it is easy to reproduce and repeat same malpractices in an organization where high ranking officers are more tempted to cover up any issues rather than take corrective and progressive actions.Given the military context as well as the difficult and sordid topics discussed, I was positively surprised by the overall tone of the drama. I was expecting a painful watch almost unbearable to walk through it...but not at all. On the contrary, it is not an harsh watch but a super bingeable show with a good pacing and nice action sequences. Of course, there are some tough moments that are difficult to swallow and gut wrenching, but there are also some really inspiring and touching scenes.
Overall it is very good show that could have been even better with more episodes. There are so many things that I would have liked to see explored more regarding the characters, their relationship as well as each of the mission they were doing. Luckily enough a second season is planned: I'm really looking forward to it!
The casting is amazing! Whether it be the main actors or the secondary cast and the guests actors (playing the deserters roles in the various episodes), they all gave really good performance and it is a real pleasure too see so many familiar faces. The duo formed by Jung Hae In & Koo Kyo Hwan works incredibly well: they have a good chemistry with each other and I wanted to see so much more of it. The MVP of the cast is Kim Sung Kyun, radiating though mentor energy, and who brings a lot of humanity to his role and to the show.
The OST is nice and not overly present, it is not that memorable but I appreciated the sorrowfulness of the songs ending almost each of the episode. I found the filmmaking very good, the budget is visible on screen and there are some nice editing choices, leaving the spectator a bit out of breath given the tension.
I would recommend this to people who are looking for a thrilling series set in the context of the military mandatory service in South Korea. The storylines are quite dark but there is also a wholesome aspect to the drama with some almost slice-of-life details as well as a buddy cop vibe. If you enjoyed the movie "Midnight Runners", you will likely enjoy this too! Given the topics approached, be mindful if you have any trigger.
Was this review helpful to you?
Leaves you wanting more
It started as a masterpiece with an episode that is so tightly scripted, with such an immediacy, you just know they don't fool around. It ended with a masterpiece, with two episodes that felt like Memories of Murder's tunnel scene made into a dark, gritty drama.I am not entirely convinced about the tonal changes throughout, the humor might serve as necessary comic relief but other dramas like the immensely underrated 'The King Of Pigs' didn't have that and worked better in that aspect.
What worked very well was D.P.'s brevity. Although you could fill several seasons with material the brevity serves the urgency of the topic, rather than fizzling out in mediocrity they finish on a high note.
The acting was top notch throughout, Jung Hae In and Jo Hyun Chul in particular were phenomenal.
Was this review helpful to you?
It's not a typical kdrama
Well again Netflix recommend it to me and the only word that i can say is THANK YOU!!!◇First of all, even tho the theme of this series is the military, something that i am not really a fan, its not the type of drama that i usually watch but i loved it and i mean it .
I loved everything :
◇the story which had happy moments,sad moments, action and the combination with all these was smooth.
◇the roles that they played was an amazing . They did a excellent job
◇the ost especially the opening was very beautiful and its odd cause usually i skip it but this was so special for me
◇the topics that were included and the way the series approach them
◇I know that it has only 6 episodes but for me was enough to rated with this score
I full reccomaded :)
Was this review helpful to you?
beautiful story, great acting
I have been wanting to watch this for a long time but put it off because I thought it would be too gritty and heartbreaking. It was gritty and heartbreaking, however there was enough light and happiness in the story to make me want to continue watching. I actually watched the whole show (season one and seasons two) in one sitting!!! I do not remember the last time I was so interested in a show. The story was something that needed to be told and was done so in a very poignant manner. I loved the two main characters (so much!!) honestly all of the actors were great. I sometimes avoid military dramas because they are just so depressing, but I didn't finish this show feeling depressed at all which was good. Usually shows similar to this are just revenge plots with predictable writing and predictable endings. With this show, I truly appreciated the lack of revenge-seeking and I also really enjoyed the (sort of) unpredictable nature of the story. I also loved the length and number of episodes in the season (6 50-minute long episodes; the standard hour-long 16 episode series are just SO LONG). It seemed like at the end of the 6th episode it was cut short, luckily there was a season two lol. With both combined, it feels like a full-length drama with enough detail and explanationThe Bad Parts:
I wish we learned more about the party guy that Jun Ho beat the shit out of in the beginning, it seemed like a sort of strange plot point with not enough explanation. I also felt like the ending was rushed and predictable.
Final thoughts:
I loved the acting and the bromance so much and this show is a fantastic way of getting a heavy story across without making the watchers literally miserable. I loved it so much and I have actually been thinking about this show after I finished it!!!! wow!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
How our actions affect other people
I binge watched the entire series; it was fast paced, superb acting, great story and heart wrenching back stories.This drama showed the cause and effect of our actions. How it will affect other people, may it be physically or mentally. That no matter what you're experiencing (bad situations, bitterness in life), it is not correct, acceptable and good to bully or make other people suffer just because you're in pain or suffering.
That it is not cool and correct to bully other people just because you thought it was okay.
That if you have a choice, always choose to be good and be a better person. It will change life.
And that because you're not participating with the bullying, when you choose to be blind and not do something about it to prevent things to happen, doesn't mean you're not guilty.
I'm really upset with the actions of the people there, I wanted to shake and smack their faces. Jeez!
Was this review helpful to you?
Compelling
If anyone watches this gritty and hard hitting drama without feeling some kind of emotion, they are not human. Mainly because its core lies in the realities (for possibly a few, but that's still too many) of military life (not just in S.Korea).Fear, powerlessness, helplessness, abuse, bullying, trauma and cover ups, are all presented in a tight, excellently paced and acted drama.
I feel this series is quite brave, as it doesn't pussy-foot around so many of the wrongs Koreans know exist in both their national service and culture.
Excellently written and produced, with an OST that never did anything but compliment what I was watching.
All the darkness and hurt is tempered by sublimely introduced sarcasm, wit and affection.
So many characters are pit against one another, through no fault of their own and with no choice, in an environment where seniority holds all the power and with no easily accessible recourse. Cascading down from the top of command, all the main characters are subject to being humiliated and mistreated by their immediate superior.
The closing 2 episodes are shocking and heartbreaking, as that helplessness and despair bursts out in an explosive finale.
The dialogue and story of the Series 1 closing scenes, should really make the real-life powers that be wake up, feel ashamed and strive to clean up their house.
I am so needing S2. A must watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Bitter truth in a searing drama
The impact of the reality depicted in D.P was so much that the Ministry of Defense had to make a statement that the drama exaggerates the haunting living reality of military enlistment in South Korea. Watching D.P is not an easy task, it triggers and taps into an inner emotion of rage, guilt, and even shame in some ways.As the youth in South Korea live these horrific truths shown in the series, it is a reminder of what human nature is and how punitive justice and often retributive human behavior can be. The lead cast is a terrific bunch and as always depicts their characters with a fervor that sends a chill down your spine. Jung Jae-In is a perfect fit for this show with the amount of action, horror, gore, and also the wide range of emotions it needs to be used and depicted. The side characters no matter how small their role plays a crucial role in taking the drama forward.
With just 6 episodes and more to come in a slated season 2, D.P is easily among the best social dramas that I have seen. It serves you the truth as it is, no glitter is added to it, not even the slightest bit. It is cut-throat and gore filled but it is the living reality of many.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Jung Hae-in, the Actor You Are
I have been watching Love Next Door and wanted more Jung Hae-in in my life while I waited for new episodes. Weird choice, I know, but now I want to watch even more of his work. His performance in DP was truly fantastic.The main character, Jun-ho, had me interested from the beginning because even though he comes off as very restrained, it was clear that he was suppressing so much anger and hurt, which you see explode out of him several times. The partnership that he had with the other DP soldier was kind of a classic buddy cop dynamic and it really saved the show from just being completely bleak. The humor that the DP team dynamic brought kept me watching because it allowed for some balance to the very tragic and horrifying elements of the story.
I didn't expect this show to take such an empathetic approach to telling the stories of deserters, so that was such a pleasant surprise. Knowing nothing about the South Korean military, the show made it so clear how systemic issues could cause people to desert.
The depictions of bullying and violence were pretty severe, but it did show how far a lot of these characters have been pushed past their breaking point. I did not expect that the show would take one of the nicest characters and have them take such a turn, but it worked so well. The last few episodes had my anxiety through the roof because I had to know what happened and I had no idea how things were going to go. Jung Hae-in's performance in the final episode gave me chills with the raw emotion that he portrayed.
Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful, hurtful message
I don't know if the purpose of this drama was to put the light on the bullying and corruption in korean army, but it's what I saw in this.Through the eyes of Junho, we learn how this army thing is working, and the dynamics there are. One thing prevail every other. You must respect your seniors. And there is a harsh bullying on the juniors.
It starts somehow slowly, with "just" humiliations and physical punishment, but the way it ends... There are no words to describe it.
I liked how pretty much each episode was focused on a different deserter, with each a different story. It shows not only the ones that couldn't stand the bullying, but also the ones that were on the other side.
The story itself was breathtaking, and the script was really well written.
Now, for the characters, I really liked Junho. Yeah, he was somehow emotionless, and impassive, but gosh his eyes were talking for him. Jung Haein did a freaking great job, and that's one thing I really like with his acting. His eyes, and the emotions we can see in him.
Hoyul was somehow showed as the funny, quirky guy, but I think there is more to his character, and I can't wait to see more of him. It was my first time seeing Koo Kyohwan act, and I really loved him.
Im Jisup and Park Bumgoo were, for me, somehow equivalents characters. Both ranked, both seeking for a promotion, but both with a moral and a duty sense. They really brought something to the story.
The supporting cast really did great. But one actor got my eyes more than the others. Lee Junyoung, as Jung Hyunmin, showed a great character, some great skills, and a freaking great acting. I'd love to see him in more roles like this.
The musics were insane too, the sceneries and camera work were amazing.
For me this was a huge hit. At first I regretted that it wasn't longer but it would've been repetitive through more episodes. I just wait for the second season now.
A must watch, but not if you want a light watch. Heavy emotions incoming.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Amazing Show, Took me by Surpise with the Tone shift--Highly Recommend
Wow I just finished this show and it was very well done, I'm quite surprised I haven't heard of this show before. If you're someone who hates slow-paced dramas and instead wants action, friendship, and deep topics then this show is perfect. With only 6 episodes, it gets right to the point and develops the characters so well, making the story gripping with each episode.As we know, Korea has a severe issue with bullying, with scales of bullying that aren't really seen here in the West (bullying becoming torture) and it always shocks me to my core when I see how severe bullying can get, this drama sheds light on bullying in the mandatory military enlistment. So many of the deserters, the Koreans who run away from their military service but are forced to come back, are victims of severe bullying. However, they are treated like predators, when in reality they are the victims running away to save themselves from the torture they face in the military. The drama shines a light on how, especially in Korean society, the bullies are put at an advantage and the victims are villainized. What change can happen, when the system itself ignores and favours bullies? If bullies are seen as 'strong' and the victims are blamed for being too 'weak' to deal with their issues, then change can't occur. It's a sad truth, but the cycle of oppression for bullying victims is too true of a reality.
I loved the ending, despite how sad it was, because it really enhances the theme and struggles that victims face. Their lives are ruined to the point that death is a better option for them, how can they live when they now have to deal with this trauma while also watching their bullies live their lives without any care or consequences? It's a hard drama to watch, but one that gives such an important message to viewers. Unfortunately, change never occurs until someone loses their life, and even then it's sometimes not enough.
What I liked about the show was the writing and how the writers were able to shift tones so smoothly, it would go from serious to lighthearted naturally and it made the show more digestible. The bromance between the main characters was perfect, and both Jun-ho and Ho-yol were perfect to be D.P. soldiers because of their humanity and empathy.
Overall this is a hard show to stomach, with its graphic and violent bullying, but the message is very well executed and overall the show was wonderfully done.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Bullies like this need to be put in jail for life honestly !!
One of the best drama in 2022, and I'm not even talking about K-drama, but one of the best drama I've watched overall in 2022. The story is just perfect, music is good, and most importantly, the cinematography and the acting are just outstanding.The casting is perfect for this drama. Jung Hae in, Koo Kyo Hwan, Shin Seung Ho, and Jo Hyun Chul, I mean what more can I say, they're just too good! It's been a while since I'm this immersed in a drama, if I can rate the acting/cast to 12, I would, especially in the half to end of episode 6. I got goosebumps and cried in the end because I feel bad for Cho Seok Bong, he needs help and no one literally can help him. You know what, I just don't feel bad for Hwang Jang Soo, he deserves it, and hope he remembers that he's the one who make Chu Seok Bong like that, he's the one that pulled the trigger, and all of his minion bullies too.
What I like about this drama is that they tell a story about bullying and that bullying can affect other people's life. Cho Seok Bong is what most people call "Buddha" because he never gets mad and always laugh. However, because he was constantly being bullied and nobody cared, he became mentally unstable. Just want to let the bullies know, if you bullied a person and that person ended up like Cho Seok Bong in the movie, that's your fault.
Can't wait for D.P. Season 2. They really have put that scene in the end lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
