Great Idea, Poor Execution
Before diving into the movie, I placed high expectations considering the great lineup of casts and the released synopsis. However, I was utterly disappointed. Halfway through it, I was genuinely confused about its central theme. By the end, there were a lot of questions left unanswered. I honestly think the writers/director had a great idea/vision about the plot but they failed to execute it properly. I also had an issue with its pacing, majority of the scenes was going slowly but the events suddenly quickened at the end. There were also some scenes which I found unnecessary to the plot, leaving a bad impression to me. I do appreciate the good acting delivered by the actors as well as the visual FX.If you're planning to watch this movie, you can try it out. But if you're a deep fan of thrillers, it may disappoint you to some extent. So, I suggest reducing your expectations.
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"Every male of the Republic of Korea shall faithfully perform mandatory military service..."
This quote is from Article 3 of the Military Service Act, a national law that sets the background for this series. This law was established to maintain South Korea's military force, in case of future threats posed by other states. However, there are vital flaws existing in their system. Yet, it would be difficult to entirely change or even revise their current system due to the fact that it has been deeply implemented for almost a century now—which this series clearly emphasized. In its entirety, D.P. provides an insider perspective of the brutal and almost unbelievable experiences that enlistees have gone through, and are going through as we speak. Out of the military dramas/series I've watched, this captures the most accurate representation of the truth that is normally hidden from the public/citizens.More specifically, I have two main takeaways from D.P. that explains the problems that are deeply rooted in their system. First, their strict adherence to military HEIRARCHY and their ways of maintaining it gives way to various forms of discrimination and abuse. As shown in several scenes from the series, those belonging to the higher ranks are given absolute authority to act and make decisions that inflict harm (mostly) to those in the lower ranks. They would go through extreme measures yet they do not fear of consequences since their system will always side with and protect the higher ranks. Second, the higher ranks' duty to DISCIPLINE the lower ranks/juniors provides an excuse for them to misuse their authority and privileges in the military. This was demonstrated in different scenes where senior/high ranks would harass and beat up their junior/low ranks in the name of "teaching" them regarding discipline and respect.
It is also important to note that the malpractices and injustices presented in the series are nothing new. In fact, they are widely present in most, if not all, military systems from different countries. Hence, "solving" or making changes to this system would be nearly impossible, except if all states utilizing it would be willing to change. To prove this point, I have come across stories from different regions where family members and even past victims themselves tried to raise awareness about their brutal experiences—but their military government would perform various measures to silence them and keep the truth hidden. In the perspective of the victims, their experiences are truly sad and heartbreaking, more so that obtaining justice and holding the military responsible are close to impossible.
On a more positive note, this series was executed properly. The story-telling and acting were very effective, conveying the message in a convincing and comprehensive manner. Although there were some scenes that slightly lacked depth, majority of the episodes managed to sway my feelings and teach me of the truth regarding military service. The sound tracks were also enjoyable and suitable for the scenes; I still listen to them (after watching D.P.) and they have never failed to make me feel melancholic.
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Wasted Potential
As someone who's watched various thrillers, I already predicted who the culprit was given the hints provided in the early episodes, but the reason/motivation for the crimes did come out as a surprise. However, just as what the other reviews state, this show had such a great potential but it lacked on various areas in terms of execution. It failed to deliver the "thriller" part and focused more on the mystery genre. There were also some scenes that lacked depth or emotion, making them somehow boring. Despite this, I was able to enjoy it due to the great acting. I would recommend others to watch it but do not place too much expectations.Was this review helpful to you?
