susukam
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.
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.
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