D.P. stands for Dumb People
Pretty good show, a little on the slower side at times, but with intriguing characters and situations. The two leads in the show do an excellent job playing their roles, and their chemistry together was one of the best parts of the show in my opinion.Acting is great, story is good. This show will definitely make you angry, keep that in mind. There are so many characters who deserve severe punishment for how they treat others during service, but unfortunately not too many of them get what they deserve. Plenty of gruesome, humiliating, and downright infuriating bullying scenes with little payoff at the end in terms of change in behaviors or punishment for their actions. One of the things I hate the most in this world is when people think too highly of themselves and treat others poorly, and this show has a lot of that. This show is mostly just scenes of individuals who think they're better than others and abuse their power, only for the victim of the abuse to turn around and abuse the next person down the ladder. Almost like a domino effect.
Overall, a good show with a decent story and great acting. Just prepare to be very angry.
Was this review helpful to you?
Refreshing
If I had to describe this show in one word, it would be refreshing. I had recently gotten tired of watching most kdramas, and when I saw the reviews on this and the length, I decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did.This show really made me pause and think after each episode. I usually binge my shows, but this was well-paced and makes you reach for the pause button so you can truly process what happened. I would not recommend it for people with triggers of violence, depression, bullying, etc, but this show was point-blank in the issues it wanted to tackle.
It really made me think about the military draft in Korea. We often forget because most kdramas are focused on romances or families, but the draft is part of every Korean man's life, and I'm really glad we got one of the few shows that focuses on that, but on the other side. We've seen shows like Search and Descendants of the Sun, where it seems like the military is just a passive experience with a lot of action, but to see the fundamental problems that no one talks about, DP does it better than any I have yet to see.
If you want a poignant fast-paced drama unlike any others out there that really makes you reflect, look no further and press play on DP.
Was this review helpful to you?
Toxic masculinity and accountability
D.P. mixes a cocktail of abuse, desperation and isolation. It's an extremely heavy subject and the production spares nothing to lighten the impact.It's dark. Not just a portrayal of a dark side of human nature, but almost every scene is shot in some degree of darkness.
There's an extreme amount of violence, blood, blunt objects, knives and guns.
Jung Hae In is a private from a dysfunctional family that finds kindred souls in the deserters that he's been charged with bringing back to the military. Koo Kyo Hwan plays the reluctant but clever senior soldier that provides the little bit of warmth and lightness to the show. Both play their roles very well. Jung Hae In, despite his youthful appearance, is far more natural as an actor in this role than his filmography would suggest. There isn't a weak performance in the show although when a lot of the dialogue is reciting a soldier's rank and name over and over again, maybe it's not the most challenging material. One performance, albeit brief, however that is scintillating is Go Pyung Po in a guest role in the first episode.
The storyline is somewhat disconnected as each of the first few episodes are self-contained around the pursuit of a particular deserter. Each deserter is a victim. The soldiers of their units are the villains. The D.P. are out to bring back the deserter to help that soldier before he irreparably harms himself. Each story has its own twist but the fact that all fit the same profile does lessen the impact as the series wears on.
Rather than generate a novel backstory for a deserter, the storyline coalesces around a single soldier over the final two episodes that builds to a climactic showdown. The downside to the buildup is that it adds this element of action to what had, up to that point, been a raw and fairly powerful view of emotional scarring. It's a context that begs for less moving parts and more quiet. Instead, it's a series of unreasonably unlikely events (cops that inconceivably don't call for backup, characters surprised that their cell phones don't work when they're deep in a cave, three characters in a car accident and it's the one without a seatbelt that walks away unscathed, etc.) that lead to the final confrontation which ends in a manner that is entirely unsurprising. The quality of the dialogue and the acting dip here too as the characters become more cliche. It absolutely dampens the impact that the show had been building. Instead of humanity, we get spectacle.
Certainly it's an ambitious concept and points should be awarded for making a show that won't make friends with anyone that looks unkindly at any criticism of the military. It gets a recommendation but D.P. should have been better.
Was this review helpful to you?
An Average Drama for me
Honestly i expected little different type of a drama. Dp was may be not my kind of a drama, Overall it was a pretty average dramatic experience for me. I saw so many people were praising this drama a lot, but i felt a different opinion apart from them. They started the drama really well and my expectations was on the highest level but after a few minutes from there, it going really dragging and was a repeated stuff which we seen so many time before. I mean the emotional connection didn't get.Not a single excitement but i desperate to finish for jung hae in he was one my favourite hero. You can read from the plot that D.P people finding run away soldiers. Its really hard to see people who came to serve for the country has to go through all the bad bullying situations. The making was really amazing and its slow paced. But I can't connect so emotionally to so many scenes, emotional scenes were not that refreshing.. the story narration doesn't has anything to offer to you, to stay thrilled or interested.
They just showing that Korean Military experience was horrible.
The positive thing i find was the last episode looks very decent. I have to skip some scenes in the middle because i felt very bored. Even the comedy scenes doesn't look funny to me.. These all were my thoughts.. But its only has 6 Episode so its a feel free watchable drama.
Overall Average only for me
Was this review helpful to you?
Those feelings are deep and overwhelming and maybe one day I'll come back here and fill in this review properly with coherence. For now I'll just say - this is a dark and disturbing but powerful and compelling piece of television that you should absolutely watch. It's extraordinarily well crafted: the script, production and acting working together to create a grim tapestry that examines the hierarchical bullying and endemic violence of Korean society and how it has been given brutal form in its nation's military.
As young men are fed into the machine like grist to an unnecessarily violent mill, they do their best to survive in whatever way they can. Whether perpetrators, victims, or bystanders, no one is innocent and no one comes through unscathed.
D.P. is an unflinching look at the perpetuation and normalisation of violence and about what happens when people think they have no way out.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
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%!
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
Training for mental toughness vs Abuse/Bullying - Amazing Acting
9/9/2021I 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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
