D.P.

A Darker Role For Jung Hae In Ends In Success

I waited for this drama, excited for a new role for Jung Hae In, a darker role that isn't his usual melancholic nice guy that he is already so good at. Jung Hae In's acting in D.P. was superb and I'm so proud of him for challenging himself, I hope he keeps it up. Everyone else's acting was really something as well, they all really immersed you into the drama and it all felt so really. The topics that it dealt with are really important and can be sensitive to others so be careful before you watch it. It's obvious things like this have happened before and I'd bet they are still happening which upsets me, hopefully the drama will bring light to it. Every episode is very watchable and despite the bullying you actually find yourself enjoying it and can't wait to move onto the next episode. There are comedic moments that are a breathe of fresh air during the serious scenes. I really recommend you watch it because it's impressive and informative.

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Warning: Don’t watch this if you’re depressed!

Kim Bo Tong, writer of D.P. was quoted as saying: “DP was created to fight the oblivious notion that the military is better now. I wish to help those fighting in the dark. I hope to make a better tomorrow for someone who might be crying alone even at this time.” What a praiseworthy and noble objective! I sincerely hope that the miniseries gets to achieve writer Bo Tong’s aspirations.

It is an action packed 6 episodes laden with heavy scenes that are shocking to see and difficult to digest if you are the overly sensitive and emotional type. Apparently, this is the grim reality that pervades the life of unfortunate junior personnel in the South Korean military, hence the deserters or runaways, and consequently, the need for DPs - those tasked to pursue and bring the deserters back to the barracks. The show resembles a social commentary on how a strict hierarchical society perpetuates and tolerates abuses then hides cowardly under the guise that it is intrinsically part of their culture’s DNA. It is what it is. Take it or leave it.

I appreciate how this show is raw, dark and honest as opposed to glossy, fanciful and pretentious. Director Han Jun Hee was not ashamed to show the dirty surroundings and the faulty system. He did not hesitate to show imperfections down to the minutest details such as the actors’ blemished complexion and rough skin texture.

The unlikely duo of an intensely serious Jung Hae In and an extremely goofy Koo Kyo Hwan was a match made in comedic heaven. Their solid partnership and suspenseful exploits were the victorious part of the story. What amazed me about their acting was how natural and spontaneous they delivered their lines as if there was no script to follow nor any cameras rolling in front of them.

My “D.P.” review in one sentence: Prolific acting, casting, directing, screenplay, production design and cinematography showcased in 6 episodes.

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Heavy Drama, Not Lighthearted Comedy

D.P Dog Day is freaking heavy. I watched all 6 episodes today and it was not the happy-go-lucky buddy cop drama from the trailer. There were some comedic moments, but overall, not a light drama. If you’re watching it, warning for bullying, verbal and physical assault, and suicide.

It’s overall a good drama. It explored some serious issues within S.Korea military and was not afraid to get into the dark details nor does the drama sugarcoat it, which I guess why the tragic and sad ending makes sense.

I love the OST. Jung Hae In does an amazing job again and still looks good in a uniform; my whole reason for watching drama in the first place.

I would definitely recommend it, just be aware of how heavy the drama actually is.

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Well written, well directed, well acted

First of all im a bit picky when giving ratings, but this drama is an easy 10/10 FOR ME

First of all i cant lie the reason why i watched this is because it has jung hae in and son sukku in it and i have a bug fat crush on them, but im glad i watch this because this is one of the best drama i have ever watched in my whole life.

The story: the story is about a ordinary military men who became a deserter pursuit (dp), they tell a story about how military life in the eyes of deserter. To be honest i dont find the first four eps as heavy, i mean they show bullying left and right but they have a lot of comical scenes too. The last two eps is indeed heavy and dark, it might even triggering to some people so please be mindful if you arent comfortable with bullying topic. The story is nothing extraordinary and kinda predictable too imo, but its very well written so i dont mind about it being predictable

Acting: the acting is brilliant. I love all the actors, i love how the actors portrayed the characters, from the main cast, supporting cast to the cameo. All the acting is solid, although i can say koo kyo hwan is the scene stealer throughout the series

Music: i love the ost!

Another thing that i love: i love the intro! I feel like the intro is trying to show us that everyone in the military is loved outside the military so they should be kind to them

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An Insight of the military life!

This 6 episode journey was too short, but perfectly delivered, with a long lasting impact. Too many contents were thoroughly discussed in here. And ofcourse the glorious Jung HaeIn delivered his role with as perfection as his previous projects, but this time with the alliance of Koo KyoHwan, Kim Sungkyun and a cameo appearance by Lee Junyoung and Ko KyungPyo. Worth the hype and worth-watching.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
To be honest, as a Post-D.P-Viewer, this made me lowkey worry about all my favs who are enlisted/and soon enlisting, but I hope the people they interact with, are nice and kind and serve well!!

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To be quite honest, I don't know why I even started watching this. My love for Jung Hae In? Not quite enough. I guess I just expected good humour in a dark setting, but not too much darkness, because the trailer made it seem like that. I definitely should have taken the "dark" tag more seriously. But once I started I couldn't stop. It's on the shorter side, so there are no fillings, or places for boredom, yet nothing seemed rushed.
The story is awful, dark, graphic, honest and nothing is sugar coated. You'd usually expect an ending on a somewhat hopeful note. There is nothing like that here. The ending was awful. (and I am still pondering about what it meant, when An Jun Ho began running... did he run away too?).
They showed us a system that is prone to harassment, abuse of all sorts and with seemingly no escape at all. There are the victims, that might become the perpetrator, hurt pride on which they act with aggression. It is truly awful.
You can still tell that the creators wanted to get a message across, wishing for a change. At the end it even felt like the characters were talking to the audience directly.
The first few episodes were fun, like really fun, even though the comedy is not in your face, but I had a blast, even with the dark moments, but towards the last two episodes. Like wow. I'll repeat ... it's awful. Also how they sneakily build up on to the last two eps makes my heart ache even more.
I don't know what I am writing, my thoughts are messy and so are my words.

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Crying Through Inhumanity...if you laughed during this drama, just straight uninstall your brain.

The acting in this drama was very well done on all counts, especially the lead and his eventual partner. Whoever titled their drama review "laughing through the misery",,,or something similar to that....is a legit barbarian. This show was immensely depressing and raw, there might have been a few mildly funny moments from the lead's partner, but for the most part it just piles depressing circumstances upon depressing circumstances. I legit hate the things men do to each other in this drama. It's worse than a prison drama. The intense bullying, abuse, and violent depravity made me angry and disappointed, yet again, with the depths to which humanity will sink if allowed. Joy, humor, comradery...these were all dim candles ruthlessly snuffed out by the writer as the events unfolded.

The storytelling was very good, even if the subject was miserable. The pace of the episodes is perfect, the stories have sufficient detail and background to be meaningful even in such a short format by KDrama standards. The overarching theme, apart from commentary on the S.Korean military system, was essentially about the battle to retain some semblance of humanity in the middle of inhumane torment. In the end, the system they were stuck in gave them little opportunity to achieve that goal, and instead they were continuously losing battles in which honor and dignity were weak cards in a doomed hand that stood no chance against opportunistic torment.

I wouldn't watch this again. It was horrible to see the extent of the bullying and I'd rather just pretend people don't actually treat each other that way. I hope Kdramas like this, and all the ones about school bullying, eventually drive change so that people don't have to ever face situations like these. In watching the drama, I hope in some small way I add my one tiny voice to the litany of people screaming in outrage at a system that would allow even a fraction of this inhumanity. I think it's important for these stories to be told, and I think it's important that people are brave enough to tell them.

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One of the most profound kdramas out there

D.P. is one of the most praised dramas out there. I've always seen people say positive things about it, so naturally I became curious. The plot caught my attention immediately and since it had only 6 episodes, I decided to give it a try.

Needless to say that all of you who praised it were so, so right.

I was familiar with the series' premise before I watched it. I knew it had to do with military and the abuse that happens there. I am aware of the fact that South Korea takes pride in their military and how important its service is for them so it was interesting to see a drama that did not shy away from showing what is going on behind-the-scenes.

From the very first episode, D.P. had my undivided attention. I am the type of person who pays attention to details and from the very start, I could tell that D.P.'s cinematography was stellar. The moody colors added to the grim and heavy atmosphere and the editing added more tension, especially during the most dramatic scenes. The scenes where Seok-Bong snapped highlighted his delirious and desperate state of mind, I felt like I was the one going crazy after all the torment and abuse he had to endure.

The structure of D. P. was very interesting and quite unusual for your typical kdrama. While the show has a clear goal (to raise awareness about the abuse that takes place in the military), there isn't a specific plot. The drama follows an episodic format and each episode focused on a different deserter. I am a big fan of this type of series so I was very excited to see this approach. This format was very suitable for a series like D.P. By focusing on different cases of deserted soldiers, we are allowed to witness different point of views and place ourselves in the soldiers' shoes. I was so eager to continue watching once I was done with each case and I never felt bored.

Despite its short length, D.P. is one of the few kdramas out there that can brag about offering a fleshed out story in just 6 episodes. Although I am sure that the writers could have told even more had they increased the length, the number of the episodes was more than suitable. The story didn't feel repetitive and I never felt like it was dragged. The pacing was perfect, fast enough to keep my interest alive but not fast to point the story and character development felt too rushed and messy. I was constantly at the edge of my sit, waiting to see what would happen next and how Jun-Ho and Ho-Yeol would deal with each situation.

One thing that surprised me and I personally didn't expect was the comedic aspect of D.P. Although the series tackles plenty of dark themes, there were still various funny and light-hearted moments, especially between Jun-Ho and Ho-Yeol. While someone might had expected the comedy to undermine the value and importance of the drama, that never happened. The writers handled the funnier parts with outmost care and responsibility. The comedy never outweighed the serious tone. It certainly helped in lighting up the mood but not at the expense of the series' core point. The contrast between the comedy and drama is almost misleading. The first episodes have some lighter moments

The soundtrack was simple and yet so fitting. The moment I heard the first notes of the intro, I immediately knew that the same composer was involved in Weak Hero Class - and I was right! D.P. soundtrack is mostly calm yet melancholic, with some nice intense moments. It adds to the grim atmosphere and contributed to the emotional impact of the heavier scenes.

I could talk for hours and hours about the acting. Every single cast member gave a stellar performance, especially the main ones. Jung Hae-In was amazing as An Jun-Ho. He perfectly portrayed the calm and empathetic personality of Jun-Ho and he quickly made me connect with the character. His micro-expressions and his body language perfectly captured Jun-Ho's subtle emotions such as fear and anger and his delivery was always flawless. The way he looked was both haunting and captivating, his gaze conveyed Jun-Ho's pent-up sadness and guilt so convincingly to the point I felt he talked to my soul.

Koo Kyo-Hwan was absolutely charming as Han Ho-Yeol. I can totally see why he won the Baeksang Award. He made me fall in love with the character from the get-go and I always looked forward to his scenes. Ho-Yeol was like a breath of fresh air in a drama like D.P. Playful, outgoing, confident, he couldn't be more different compared to the calm and introverted Jun-Ho and yet these two clicked immediately. Although Ho-Yeol worked mostly as the comedic relief character, his role wasn't reduced to just that. There were clearly more layers underneath his carefree facade and sometimes, the mask of a carefree soldier managed to crack.

Jun-Ho and Ho-Yeol's relationship is one of the defining elements of D.P. Hae-In and Kyo-Hwan's chemistry was just excellent. They effortlessly portrayed the friendship between the two D.P.s and they made a dynamic duo. The striking differences between Jun-Ho and Ho-Yeol added more depth to their bond. It was so heartwarming to see how Ho-Yeol became Jun-Ho's first genuine friend and that also applies to Jun-Ho. Both boys were shown to be lonely, each one in a different way. Jun-Ho came from an abusive household. Although his mother and sister cared about him, he was suffocated by the abuse from his father and he felt trapped. Of course he had good relationships with some other soldiers, especially Seok-Bong but no one had managed to break the walls he had built around himself. On the other hand, while Ho-Yeol had a more outgoing persona and he clearly could get along with many people, he didn't form any actual meaningful relationships. It is also implied that his parents do not care a lot about him, which would make him even more lonely.

Jun-Ho and Ho-Yeol influenced each other with one way or another. Ho-Yeol made Jun-Ho have more fun and he contributed to him making amends with his mother. Jun-Ho made Ho-Yeol show his more empathetic side and sympathize more with the deserted soldiers. Both of them felt comfortable around each other and they even found a form of security in their friendship. I really like how the series explored their relationship and they have become one of my favourite kdrama duos of all time.

As for the other characters, they were equally interesting and fleshed out. Kim Sung-Kyun and Son Suk-Ku gave equally exciting performances as Park Beom-Gu and Im Ji-Seop respectively. Watching them bickering was really fun but eventually they managed to understand each other and get their development. Jo Hyun-Chul was excellent as Seok-Bong, the way he portrayed him made me both scared and so sad and angry.

If you can't stomach violence and abuse, D.P. is not the ideal kdrama for you. Violence is presented in every form. Verbal, physical, sexual...It doesn't always gets to be too graphic but it's still there. And it makes you feel disgusted. Disgusted with people who believe they can belittle those who consider weak. Disgusted at the actions themselves. And disgusted at the way nobody did anything to stop this.

Some people might say that the extent of the abuse depicted in D.P. is exaggerating and that these type of actions do not occurr that often in the military. I am happy to see that there are many people who didn't get to experience that in their service but unfortunately, bullying is very common in this field. There are many stories out there which will make you speechless. D.P. itself is based on real events. And this is the most tragic part: we want to believe that this is overdramatized because we don't want to believe it try happens.

One of the key points regarding the bullying in military is the cycle of abuse. D.P. shows that those who get bullied can become the perpetrators themselves. Obviously this is not an excuse. Bullying is wrong, period. Just because you get mistreated, that doesn't mean it's ethically correct to do the same in order to release your pent-up feelings and find a form of salvation. But this is not always possible. People react differently to abuse and some of them will end up becoming the abusers themselves. Jang-Su got mistreated in his work and he abused Seok-Bong in return. Seok-Bong endured the abuse and then he belittled other soldiers. It's an on-going circle that cannot be broken easily.

D.P. calls out toxic masculinity and the abuse of power in military. Whether it's from the perspective of the soldiers (like Jun-Ho and Ho-Yeol) or the generals (like Beom-Gu and Ji-Seop), the series portrays how those who are in higher positions will go to great lengths in order to establish order and power. Ranks play a fundamental role in military and more often than not, they become the cause of violence. Those in higher positions let this go over their heads and those in lower positions feel jealous of the others.

The only minor "complaints" I have is that I would have liked to see more og Ho-Yeol's character being explored. There was potential to showcase his complexity more, especially his relationship with his absent parents. Of course he remained a well-written character, I just would have liked to see more aspects of him. I also think that the writers could have given more insight into Jun-Ho's relationship with his family but overall, I have no bad feelings about the story.

D.P. is one of the most profound series out there. Not only does it expose the abuse that takes place in the military instead of glorifying the military itself but it urges the viewers to take action against bullying in general. "I should do something" Ji-Seop said in the last episodes. And this is what we should tell ourselves to do once we witness abuse. Don't be a mere observer. Do something.

I'm very thankful for watching D.P. It's a drama I'll keep thinking about and never get tired of it. No matter if you watch kdramas or not, everyone should give it a try. I can confidently say it has become one of my most favourite series and I want to rewatch it because I think it's the type of show that will make you learn something new every time you revisit it.

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captivating

i wasn’t expecting much of an military based kdrama but holy shit this one catches your attention.

the only complaint i have is that its too fuckin short. whose idea was it just to give 6 episodes?? I mean i’ve watched a lot of short kdramas before, like weak hero class. And isn’t it usually the standard to make short shows atleast 8 episodes but when i saw it end so suddenly…i’m mad. but atleast there’s going to be a s2!

i can’t give the show much criticism because like i said it doesn’t even feel like i watched the show properly and just gave up mid show. but its good, i promise it’s a good kdrama.

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Hit my expectations out of the park

Again another gold series that does not get enough love.
When I saw the trailer I was excited. the roles that Jung Hae In take up are interesting, to say the least. Every performance of his has always left me with a lasting impression. I entered having high hopes and I was not disappointed.

The story itself is so risky. The plotline is not something you can pull off easily. As I sat watching this series I was surprised by how many issues they tackled. Honestly, I never thought much about the military system in SK but after this series it got me questioning it seriously. And not SK in particular but the military system as a whole.

There are people that willingly sign up for this but what about the ones who do not want to? What about the ones that cannot afford to? What about the ones who get away because of their connections? Just the absurd unfairness of it all is revolting.

I was aghast at the heights of cruelty humans can reach when given a little power. How humans can push each other to the brink until they break and still have no conscience about it.

This is an absolutely revelating and relevant series. Something that will knock the breath out of you, will make you want to shut your eyes yet you can't help but look on.

And the acting. OH MY GOD, THE CAST IS JUST RIGHT. I am not even kidding they absolutely nailed their roles. Ko Kyo Hwan was refreshing and comically adorable. Shin Seung Ho managed to bring out so much from his role. I won't even bother praising Jung Hae In because please boi we all know he was 101% freaking mad amazing.

I mad adored the cast of this series. I have no doubt that you will too.

I do not care much for the OSTs..were there any?? hehe...if there were, I didn't notice because I was enraptured with the scenes.

I would absolutely rewatch it. Maybe give it a few months but I will definitely revisit some scenes just to fully appreciate the gravity and intensity of it all.

CANNOT WAIT FOR S2.

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