D.P. (2021)

Not for anyone but definitely one of the best dramas of the year

First, D.P. is definitely not an easy drama to digest. For those who like happy endings or things well resolved in the end, D.P. will not be interesting. I believe that this show wanted to portray a more grotesque side of a reality where things will not always work out and it will take time for things to be resolved. Having said that, I really liked the plot of this drama. For me it was so interesting, different and well made. I especially liked how they showed a negative side of the SK army that although I can't say that all the things mentioned in this drama happens in real life, I honestly don't doubt that at least some are real. And was interesting as well especially because us, as viewers who are consuming content from korean artists, constantly see the SK army being put as something awesome and here we saw a different portray than usual so it was really interesting.

The cinematography was amazing and I enjoyed the OST as well. The actors was *chef kiss* AMAZING. All of them did an amazing job in their roles. The main characters had chemistry and completed each other. And the actor who was the “nerd” from the army was seriously amazing. I am extremely happy that Hae In agreed to be part of this drama because I was tired of seeing people saying that he was only a “melo/romance actor” and I think after that, he showed his good skills in acting and how he can act in different roles. I just wish they had at least closed the story about Joon Ho because I feel that the relationship with his mother was too important to be forgotten in the story especially him being the ML.

D.P. is an amazing drama which brings up sensitive issues and a different perspective of the SK army that we are not used to see. With captivating characters and an impeccable direction scene, we dive headfirst into this story and are entertained at every moment. The ending of Joon Ho maybe becoming a deserter or just showing that he's going to rebel against the army was perfect. As well as the scene of the other soldier shooting at others to show that "something needed to be done", because yes, there comes a time when they start to think that they can no longer count on anyone but themselves.

I really hope there is a sequel to at least tie up some things that were left open, but I’ll understand If this is the really end because as i said above, in reality, things are not resolved easily and many end up not really being. Recommend this 100%!

Leia Mais

Had the most enjoyable miserable time watching this

Let me just start by saying that I went into this expecting it to be an action-comedy that takes place in the military, but as soon as the first episode opened.....boy was I in for a rude awakening. The show was gripping from the start and as each episode passed by it became more disturbing, heart-wrenching, and frustrating. I found myself feeling the pain and anger that our main character was feeling as well as the hopelessness that continued to loom over most of the episodes.

The performances were incredible and it was nice to see Jung Hae-in play a role that was different from the usual sweet, reserved, and mellow character that he has been taking on in a lot of his recent works. Even the least important characters were great to watch and it was hard to peel my eyes away from the screen as no one bored me. No matter how much I disliked a character, I found them interesting and wanted to desperately know their motives, goals, and ambitions(which I will say is the only flaw with the show in my own personal opinion. I wish we knew more about our characters but I will cut them some slack since it was only 6 episodes).

Despite how dark and emotional the content of the show was, I absolutely adored how they were able to not only add comedic bits to it but that they were able to cleverly pick the best times to add in a joke rather than tossing it in at any given moment(this is especially important when it is a show that deals with such heavy topics like abuse, sexual harassment, bullying and so on). I loved Koo Kyo-hwan's performance and was delighted when I saw that he was not only able to create a lighter tone when needed but that he was able to act out serious moments and not have them feel awkward. His character felt complex and real and I loved whenever he came on to my screen.

I thought the pacing was perfect for a 6 episode season and not once did it feel rushed. Every scene went smoothly on to the next and because of that, I felt that watching in one sitting was anything but a chore. I am hoping that we get a second season because I've grown so attached to the characters, but I do wonder if there would be anything to add? Other than that, I recommend that anyone who is able to handle such dark subjects should give D.P. a watch because you will not be disappointed at all.

Leia Mais

Training for mental toughness vs Abuse/Bullying - Amazing Acting

9/9/2021

I see Jung Hae In, and I am there! He's the main reason why I watch D.P., as such drama is usually not my cup of tea. Jung Hae In does not disappoint. His acting here might be his best yet. As much as I love seeing his adorable smile and his soft/romantic roles, I am happy that he's taking on more serious roles like this. I hate for such a talented actor to be typecasted only in romance dramas. We have seen a glimpse of him in a military uniform in "Prison Playbook" (I strongly recommend!) and our favorite second-lead syndrome police officer in "While You Were Sleeping". This role is more serious, more gritty, and raw. He did an amazing job, esp. in Ep 6.

However, the rest of the cast shines as well. Dare I say, at times, they outshine Jung Hae In. Every single actor/actress did an amazing job, no matter how big or small their role is. The acting in Ep 5 and 6 will stay with me for a while.

I don't know anything about Korean military service, and my knowledge all comes from watching K-drama. But it seems like issues depicted here are quite similar to what the US military deals with as well (knowledge from American shows/movies as well). What is the necessary training for soldiers to be mentally tough, so that they could fight in a war? What is going overboard with inhumane treatment and bullying? This drama tries to convey a more human side of the deserters stories. Aside from one deserter who left because of his grandmother, all others left due to mistreatment in the military. As they say in towards the end of the drama, someone got to do something about it.

One criticism - how could these guys be so beaten up and yet they don't die, and can get back up time and time again to run and chase? Isn't that a little too unrealistic? I guess they need to show all the violence and can't kill off anyone.

This drama is not for everyone. There is no romance. It's full of blood and hitting and abuse. But it's a great drama.

p.s. Oh.. don't miss out on the little epilogue in Ep 6, after the first song was played at the end.

Leia Mais

So good! Maybe not for everyone

D.P. centers around the daily life of men during their mandatory military service. Our male lead was recruited into the D.P. division of the military due to his innate critical thinking ability. It is there that he joins up with a few different seniors as they track down deserters.

Disclaimer: I am not familiar with official military titles, so I won't touch on that in this review.
If you're like me and all you ever really knew about this series was that it depicted systemic harassment and bullying in a gut-wrenching way, I'm here to tell you that, yes, those elements are there, but they're presented very well. This is not just harassment for harassment's sake. There's a message and as the viewer, I am getting the messages that are intended.

It has great characters, really beautiful writing, and a story that is about the human condition. Every character is given a surprising amount of depth, and even our antagonists are treated in the end as real people with their own internal struggles and demons. I find it comparable to "My Mister" and "Misaeng", those are all shows that I feel strongly represent the human condition, and so does "D.P." with as much seriousness and respect for the viewer as these ones did. Go into D.P. with caution. Do be prepared for those hard-to-watch, gory scenes. If the scenes are too much, you can always skip ahead. I'm not saying to put aside your own mental health and personal well-being just to watch a TV show.

The action are done well: From chase scenes to hand-to-hand combat, everything has the right type of tension, and the stakes are there. The soundtrack perfectly represents the feelings of the characters and the overall vibe of the show, too. The show has an episodic nature, like, "Let's catch the deserter of the episode," this might be a con to some, but it helps to understand the world and how things work. If episodic storytelling is not your thing, no worries as It transitions into the main climactic arc.

Leia Mais

Ask not what your country can do for you!

The main plot revolves around Ahn Joon Ho, a high school graduate who decided to join the military after being fired from a food delivery job. During his service, he discovered his talent while tracking down a deserter within a military department called D.P. with his sidekick, Han Ho Yul. It's similar to Sherlock-Watson stories in that each series features a new deserter to apprehend using detective skills. The difficulty level rises with each series, reaching a climax in the fifth and sixth episodes.
I enjoy character development as a delivery worker, a fresh-faced soldier, the recruitment process to the D.P. Department, finding a partner, and honing the skill to be a good yet the best hunting wolf.

As I live in Singapore, a republic that requires adult men to serve in the National Military Service, I found this story to be relatable. I did not serve in the military, but this culture is dear to my heart. You must understand how it feels to prepare yourself to give up two years of your youth for your country; it is an honorable but daunting responsibility to forego the opportunity to get a job, meet your girlfriend, or do anything else. It is both good and bad, but I hope the government will take full responsibility to ensure that bad incidents do not occur. Yes, we must recognize that it is impossible to control everything in order to achieve perfection, and that sh** happens in Singapore as well.

This series does an excellent job of elaborating on military service culture, particularly bullying culture, which is understandably a gray area in the military command system; it is yes sir culture. There are a thousand reasons to avoid military service, but imagine how desperate the situation is for the young man who did it regardless of the severe punishment he may face.

All of the main characters are fantastic, as are the actors who play them! I don't see any filler characters who are present but provide no support to the story. Jung Hae In is outstanding in this drama, and while I don't usually like his dramas, I decided to give it a shot because of its high rating. His performance as a nobody delivery part-timer to a private officer hero fits the character well.

Koo Kyo Hwan is a new face for me in my drama land universe, but I must commend him on his performance as a sidekick joker. Kim Sung Kyun and Son Seok Koo, who play supporting roles, add cohesive dynamics to the main duo.

Leia Mais

Not an Easy Watch but Executed Incredibly Well

This was a a brutal watch. They pull no punches on this one and expect to get body slammed in the last few episodes. It wasn't easy to sit through, it exposes issues that makes you flinch and squirm. Bullying, incompetence at all levels of leadership, feeling trapped, mental health issues that aren't addressed nor does anyone care to address it, violence, hierarchy, and the dark side of human behavior. There are some light hearted moments but plenty of heavy ones that dominate. The acting was incredible. The SML did a phenomenal job as a partner to the ML and it was truly worth watching every minute with him on the screen. While he probably isn't considered mainstream S. Korean actor good looking, he should get more main parts because of how well he executes his craft.

My favorite episode is the boxing fight scene, supposedly it was done by the actors with no stunt doubles and they had to learn how to box good enough to convince the viewers.

Wow. Tough to watch but leaves an impression.

Leia Mais

Is there Justice in the Cycle of Violence?

This drama impressed me far more than I could have imagined. Aligning with my expectations about military settings, I witnessed an abundance of male hierarchy and power plays. It is beyond unfortunate that such abuse/lateral violence occurred and, sadly, were sanctioned on some level through complacency and indifference. What I appreciated about this drama was that it was short (but not sweet!) as the portrayed violence can only be digested so much by the viewer before vicarious trauma becomes debilitating.

We see how the need to survive such intense environments results in the degradation of others. This is not new but once in awhile a drama like this comes along to remind us that every soldier has a story that warrants understanding and compassion. Even the bullies have their own stories that shaped them into perpetrators of violence. Violence begets violence. It has a beginning somewhere. At the same time, we are also reminded that aggression/violence is still a choice, as the ML, having witnessed domestic violence his whole life, chose a different way to cope.

The various stories were shared in a simple, linear fashion, culminating in one explosive ending. The OST was inserted at heartbreaking moments to amplify the stories. And, when kindness was shown, it was a triumph for the human spirit and gave hope to the dark moments.

Lastly, for the grandma in episode four, I want to hug her and tell her that somewhere flowers are blooming. With enough love and nurturance, we all can do our parts to keep the flowers blooming… Let’s remember to be kind to others. Be kind to ourselves. Thank you for this great drama.

Leia Mais

Not what i expected

I watched this drama about 2 hours ago so it is still freah in my memory. I also found out about it today and thought it would be a fun watch and i was so wrong. From the first 3 minutes of the first episode i knew this was gonna be a heavy, gruelling, realistic show that will be stuck in my memory for a long time. I am gonna break down my review into parts.

Plot: 10/10
At first i was a little distant because this was only 6 episode with less than an hour for each but when i started i swear it felt like 10 hours when it took me 3-4 hours. I can count on my fingers the amount of shows that did this to me. It wasn't dragged out in the slightest. Infact everything that needed to be said was said.So i am gonna move on

Actors/Cast: 100/10
This is what carried of the drama. Each actor either made me hate or love them. It was that simple. I dont know alot about any of these actors but imma need to do some research. I fell in love with everyone, everyone.

Music: 10/10
There want much of it infact i dont remember it clearly but for somd reason i had to give this 10/10. Music might have ruined this masterpiece of how tragic tge story was.

Overall:10000000/10
This drama didn't make me skip one second not even the bloody or fighting parts. I replayed those scences over and over. Loved the bromance 100%. I knew the last scence of this entire drama was gonna turn out like that but i really wished that jerk died. Oh well. I beg of you with light hearts dont watch this unless you thicken your skin because this is not a fairy tale. I shed tears at the end and i rarely cry over a show. Watch it when you can chill out and just relax. I watched this from 10:00pm to 1:00am. Finally finished crying so i could write this long ass review. So better thank me and watch it! Ill go now Adiós.

Leia Mais

Violence begets violence. Bullying begets bullying. And inflict enough torment, you can make a murderer out of a saint.

That theme is integral to D.P., which - unlike what the synopsis led me to believe - is critical of the inner workings of the military, a system of hierarchy that nurtures power imbalance inherent to abuse. It doesn't shy away from the subtle to the more explicit forms of harassment that every rank experiences. And that, most of the time, pushes the enlisted into deserting.

It ties neatly into Jun-Ho's life. Through each case of a deserter, he becomes more disillusioned with himself, and, finally, the military he's serving. And his last decision makes the story come full circle - how? I will leave that for the viewer. Then there's Ho-Yeol, who drew attention to himself as soon as he was introduced - his eccentricities made him a good D.P. officer (and a comic relief). However, the story was not theirs for long; the last deserter made it his, whose case was the consequence of continuous abuse, an impending tragedy borne of the deliberate ignorance of bystanders. His case was a warning, a question mark to the inaction of the spectating system which never countered the root of most desertions, a mishandling of a situation that could have been prevented.

The drama would not have been half as impactful if the acting was lukewarm. Hae In understands characters such as Jun-Ho, outwardly passive but drowning in emotion. Kyo Hwan brought Ho-Yeol to life without the crutch of a solid background story. And the supporting cast was remarkable, particularly the last deserter.

My one complaint would be the OST / music choice when the heavier scenes occurred in episode 6 (and one or two earlier episodes). It made the scenes rather self-indulgent and overdid the emotion which was already prominent, and better off, without it. However, I did enjoy the OST intro, mellow compared to the action, but a good way to break out of and into the topic of the episode.

Overall, the storytelling was pleasing, though the story itself was heavy (and disturbing at some points). It is one of the stronger productions in 2021. Watch it.

Leia Mais

Classic case of people in power misusing it.

The series tackles the hardships of men going through mandatory military service and why some of them decide to run away. The show is filled with horror of bullying, abuse, rough language and dark themes of suicide yet the show never crosses the limit to show something to an extent where you just can't stomach it.

The humor is the show is subtle and effective making you feel a bit better otherwise you are just walking in a dark tunnel with endless fears.

The duo between Kyo Hwan and Jung Hae In was perfect and had great chemistry as collegues. The ensemble cast also is perfect in their roles.

Music, cinematography, action and thrill all were well done and keeps you hooked. Honestly, after watching this I want to see Jung Hae In a negative role, cuz he really can pull it off.

Lastly take a shot everytime Hae In says "Private Ahn Jun Ho" xd.

Leia Mais

We need to "sacrifice" to bring changes !!

We have seen many Kdramas delivering school bullies. But DP brings us about the Korean Military bully.

The series is gritty, dark and violent. The first three episodes does have a comic relief (comedy within tragedy). But the last two episodes will make you go through a lot (sad/negative) emotions.

Cast/Acting — Perfect.

We have seen Jung Hae In as an military officer in Prison Playbook. Remember how he was falsely accused of beating up his fellows?? But here we will actually see what goes on inside the military. How the seniors harasses their juniors and how they got away because it is so called "normal" thing.

Just think how much of a person can change after getting into military. It went from "Gandhi" to "terrorist". That much it can change you.

Will you feel at ease after the show ends? NO.
You will boil with anger.

The main characters will try to bring changes in this corrupted system. To bring a change you need to sacrifice. But how many?

DP is filled with both physical and emotional abuse. Some viewers may find it disturbing because the camera focuses a lot to the "beaten up faces".

Overall one of the best short dramas of 2021.

Leia Mais

ON POINT

I always loved Jung Hae In, he's one of those that don't need to exert too much effort to show his emotions. You know he's happy even without him being giddy, or sad, without crying, mad without needing to shout or kick you. And this is what you get from him in DP.

As Joon Ho, his acting is contained but very emotional. Even without saying a word, you can feel that he's burning up inside. I guess his partner Corporal Ho Yul knows this. He knows how he feels, what he thinks and as quirky as he is, he has this caring aspect in him, that enabled Joon Ho to finally talk to his mom. This also showed in one of the episodes when Ho Yul let go of one the deserters to enable him to bring his grandma to a sanitarium, You will love Ho Yul character here.

The story is on point. Didn't hide or sugar coat what's happening inside. It all boils down to mental torture. What else could it be when you know it will only be 24 month inside? Physical torture? They can't do that 24/7, but it will eventually damage your mental health. When you're out there, alone, with no family to turn to, you will always find yourself thinking why is this happening. I also appreciate that they showed how the higher ups have turned a blind eye to these situations and would only think of what is beneficial to them. Bum Go, who is DP's immediate supervisor, seems to be also sucked by the system, but eventually stood up for his soldiers.

The series is only 6 episodes. I wanted more and see what happens to Joon Ho, but I know the series is not about him. It's about doing the mandatory military service and why you have deserters. And that what the series will give you.

Leia Mais