Wow, I finished this when it first came out but I couldn't put my thoughts into words; I just kept thinking about it.

Such a gritty and real show, so disturbing at times (the last scene had me sick for a while, and I'm usually alright with violence). So many times I had to close my eyes or look away, it really became so painfully real. The cast was phenomenal, which probably made it even more heart-wrenching because all their experiences felt so real. But, I have to mention Jung Haein. Wow. I've always loved his roles, acting, and his choice in projects but I feel like he outdid himself here. A character like Junho, so reserved and stoic yet, you could always see an unbridled anger underneath him, like it would erupt any moment. There are no sappy overdone emotional backstories, yet short but impactful glimpses of what Junho has experienced and what he is experiencing. His brief smiles and slow warming up to Hoyeol was so genuine, definitely one of my favourite duos ever. Koo Kyo‑hwan as Han Hoyeol was amazing as well,; a charismatic and eccentric character, yet would absolutely kill those emotional scenes. There is not one weak member of the cast: from the bullies, the victims, to the superiors, everyone nailed their roles.

The story itself was amazing, the opening credits really setting the question meant to explore in DP: if we all seem to have these human emotions, these universal experiences of growing up, why are we so cruel to one another? Why do we turn the blind eye to one another? The descending of Jo Sukbong into madness was so gradual yet so understandable, by the last episode it was shocking that it was the same person we had seen in the beginning.

Overall, I have nothing but praise. A difficult, yet rewarding watch. One of the best of 2021, if not the best.