What Is the Story About?
Based on the webtoon D.P Dog’s Day by Kim Bo Tong, D.P. aka Deserter Pursuit, returns with a second season after a terrific season 1 in 2021. The show takes up after the finale of season 1, and follows Jun-ho and Ho Yeol, the DP team to arrest and bring back deserters from the military. Bigger, better and more tragic, DP 2 also follows bullying, mental harassment etc that happens in the Korean Military and how the duo has to battle trauma and also do the investigation to bring the deserters back, aiming for a change in the system.
Performances?
If Jung Hae-in is the heart of D.P. season 2, Koo Kyo Hwan is the soul of the show’s sophomore season too. One cannot image any other actor acing the roles of Jung Ho and Ho Yeol. The duo is funny, and their chemistry is off-the charts. They gut your heartstrings when they tear up and their helplessness make you helpless too.
The other cast members including Son Suk-Ko and Kim Sun-kyun are fantastic. Son suk-ko being a newly introduced part of the cast, his unpredictability confuses you at first and then makes you root for him as well. To be precise, the season is impeccably cast, but not everyone gets their flowers.
Analysis
D.P aka Deserter Pursuit is a South Korean streaming television series directed by Han Jun-hee, from a screenplay by Kim Bo-tong and Han, based on the Lezhin webtoon D.P Dog’s Day by Kim. The series returns with a sophomore season, 2 years after the season 1, bigger and grittier.
D.P. follows a team of Korean military police and their mission to catch deserters, aka the pursuit of military deserters. The series sheds light on the widespread, common and less spoken about bullying, hazing and torturous mentality persisting within the South Korean Military. The show, in turn criticises the military abuse happening all over the world. The show tackles horrifying experiences of the soldiers and how private Ahn Jun-ho and Corporal Han Ho-yeol team up to find the deserters, thereby ending up on an adventurous journey that also haunts them.
D.P. Season 2 starts off exactly from where the blockbuster first season ends. A fellow soldier-deserter who shoots himself and holds Jun-ho responsible for its fate and not being someone who triggers a change. Jun-ho himself gets bullied by his seniors despite being a part of DP, his team lead is held responsible in an enquiry and his pal Ho Yeol is nowhere to be seen.
The pilot episode of DP season 2 focusses on the after-math of season 1 and by the end an armed deserter (who is again a victim of relentless bullying) shoots a group of soldiers who tried to bully him and goes missing. DP team is reassembled and beloved Ho Yeol, who one would think won’t return in the second season, returns to help his pal Jun-Ho in catching the deserter.
The second season doesn’t break grounds, but in anthology format unravels the pursuit of different deserters, their encounter with bullying, far more scary and grittier this time. Our protagonists also travel through a journey where they repeatedly witnesses bullying and traumatic incidents that follow, affecting their mental health too.
With fresher characters introduced, DP Season 2 tells the tales of some of Jun-ho’s superiors too. And how the vicious cycle of bullying in the regiments never ceased to exist since years. The fourth episode in particular is unarguably the best episode of the season, which rather enjoys a good run till then.
However, DP Season 2 climax came off a bit unsatisfying for an avid fan of the first season. The writing gets trapped in its own box of predictability and one would wonder if the world will ever change. Not all characters get the conclusions they deserve, but for the most part the sophomore season makes space for all actors.
In short, the fans of the pilot season should delve into the second season instantly. The fans of Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo Hwan chemistry will be served, and these two are still the backbone of the show. The show doesn’t surprise you like it’s predecessor, but does go bigger and better at times with its blunt and brave writing.
Music and Other Departments?
The background music and credits of DP 2 still gives the chills the first season offered. But that’s about it. The writing gets grittier and harsh this time, but also occasionally loses the heart that the first season had. The camera work is also good.
Highlights?
Story
Political Commentary
Cast
Chemistry of Jung Hae-In and Koo Kyo Hwan.
Screenplay
Drawbacks?
Loses steam by the end
Predictability
CGI
Did I Enjoy It?
Definitely.
Will You Recommend It?
Definitely. The ones who’ve watched season 1, should directly delve into season 2. Others, better binge both seasons.
D.P. Season 2 Series Review by Binged Bureau
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