Duty After School

Presentation

For more…

Dramas about the apocalypse:
– Happiness
– All of Us Are Dead

Preview

Synopsis

In the midst of an alien invasion, high school students are recruited to become the reserve force in the military. The drama revolves around a group of students and their platoon commander, as they try to survive the apocalypse.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

Duty After School is a must-watch drama if you like intense and action-packed stories. There’s so much tension and stress in each episode! And there are only 6 episodes in Part 1. I liked how every character – and there’s a lot of them – had a real role to play in the drama. Though students have very different personalities, they compensate each other and form a solid platoon. The values displayed (solidarity, companionship, camaraderie, friendship) and messages conveyed are beautiful. Duty After School is also about growing up and has that coming-of-age touch typical of school dramas, though here the transition from one world to another is way more brutal. Still, I highly recommend you watch it! It’s a gem!

Analysis

• Characters
  Girls – lead characters
  Girls – supporting characters
  Boys – lead characters
  Boys – supporting characters
  Adults
• Values and criticisms
  Individual vs. group
  Immature vs. grown up
  Naive vs. responsible
  Fear vs. bravery
  Ordinary vs. military
• Who’s the real danger?
• Ambiance

Characters: Characters in Duty After School can be split into 3 groups: the girls, the boys and the adults. Considering the great amount of students in the drama, and the various personalities that co-exist, it’s only normal that some would be leaders while others only supporters. So, let’s dive into each character’s specific traits and how they are incorporated in the overall plot.

Girls – lead characters:

Kim Yoo Jung, the president: You won’t find better class president than Kim Yoo Jung (Yeo Joo Ha). Though she appears shy and weak, Yoo Jung is actually the brain of the group without which the body can’t perform. She’s fair, upright, and never lets other people down even when her decisions are questionable (still they prove to be good ones). It’s clear that she also has her fears and insecurities about the future, but she never shares them with anyone. She’s a cool-headed leader, who assumes the greatest responsibilities, among which blowing up the building in which the commander is as aliens attack. She’s soft, yet so strong; afraid, yet so brave.

Yeon Bo Ra, the bully: Yeon Bo Ra (Kwon Eun Bin) is the female equivalent of Kwon Il Ha. She is considered a bully at school, but turns out to be quite a softie when the war starts. Indeed, she can’t help criticizing No Ae Sol for being weak, but always comes to her rescue out of fear of losing her friends. Bo Ra is an independent, strong-minded teenager who is not afraid of saying what she thinks whenever she sees fit, even if it means hurting others. Still, her honesty pays off as it pushes Ae Sol to prove her wrong.

Lee Na Ra, the sniper: Lee Na Ra (Choi Moon Hee) is objectively – or maybe that’s just my opinion! – one of the best characters of the drama. Similar to Chi Yeol, she doesn’t change her behavior because of war. She’s badass, strong, and skilled. However, she’s never once looked down on anyone or been mean. She’s a lone she-wolf, who learns how to collaborate with team members. Her name (Na Ra) means ‘butterfly’ in Korean which I think is quite appropriate when you see how much she thrives as a soldier (like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly) as if she was meant to be in the army.

Park So Yoon, the driver: Park So Yoon (Kim Jung Ran) doesn’t have a big role in the drama, but happens to miraculously save the day by revealing her driving skills. She also doesn’t hold back, and frankly says what she thinks in a brutal, yet straightforward way.

Cha So Yeon, the girl in love: In the first season of the drama, Cha So Yeon (Shin Soo Hyun) embodies the lightheartedness that goes with being a teenager. From the get-go, she has a crush on the commanding officer Lee Choon Ho (Shin Hyun Soo). And she will keep on trying to seduce him until the very end of season 1. Even if she’s in the middle of the apocalypse, So Yeon doesn’t want to let go of her childish feelings, as if this were a way to keep her past teenage days alive. In my opinion, it is a way to keep the connection with how it was before the war. Unfortunately, she darkens in season 2 after the loss of the commander. She lost her crush, but also her innocent adolescence to war. From a bright and carefree girl, she becomes a dark and taciturn woman.

Girls – supporting characters:

No Ae Sol, the ‘loser’: No Ae Sol (Lee Yeon) has the best character evolution of the story. From the bottom she rises to the top, forged by war and death. At the beginning, Ae Sol is being bullied and seems incapable of fending for herself. Her fate at war seems clear: She won’t last long. Indeed, she’s always lagging behind, and putting her teammates in danger (even in season 2 with the prisoners). Yet, she toughens up episode after episode, proving to herself and others that she’s worth the shot. At the end, she is the one who puts an end to the bloodbath caused by Kook Young Soo (Ahn Do Kyu). Despite her acquired strength, she doesn’t bear any resentment towards her bullies like Bo Ra. On the contrary, she develops a special bond with her. The war for Ae Sol is an awakening that teaches her how to manage with people and on her own.

Lee Soon Yi, the crybaby: Lee Soon Yi is no Na Ra or Bo Ra. Compared to some of her female peers, she is not strong and tends to panic and cry. Her reactions often act as a reminder of characters’ young age and inexperience of the world (especially at war). Alone and practically defenseless, Soon Yi usually sheds tears and hopes to be reunited with her parents (aka the adults who are the ones with solutions and comfort).

Hong Joon Hee, the ramyun girl: What would you do if you were starving and had found food (at last)? Would you share it? Probably not (sorry to disappoint!). That’s exactly the survival instinct that Hong Joon Hee (Oh Se Eun) displays in the drama. In severals occasions, Joon Hee behaves as a survivor who has at heart her well-being and not that of the group. Thankfully, her classmates are different and value solidarity over individuality.

Choi Yeon Joo, the nurse: When selfish is key to Joon Hee, teamwork is the of the essence for Choi Yeon Joo (Shin Hye Ji). Throughout the drama, she constantly directs her energy towards saving her friends and curing their wounds. She becomes the nurse, an indispensable element when at war. Her role only emphasizes the fact that the class is indeed a real platoon of the army with a commander, snipers, a nurse, etc…

Yoo Ha Na, the coward: I believe that Ha Na (Hwang Se In) would have surely died had she been part of another class. She’s a coward who lets fear get the best out of her. She would impulsively run away and leave her friends to die if it meant saving her own life what she does in season 1. The interesting part of this character is that it represents people’s general reactions in the face of danger. We may believe we would fight, but most of us would certainly flee in those situations (I mean I would, I’m not that brave). Her cowardice is also what saves her life at the end of season 2.

Boys – lead characters:

Kwon Il Ha, the angry man: Kwon Il Ha (Kim Su Gyeom) first appears as the bully of the school before the apocalypse starts. He’s impulsive, violent and resentful towards those he doesn’t like such as Jang Young Hoon (Ro Jong Hyun). Despite that, his behavior changes after the war against aliens breaks out. Instead of hating his peers, he redirects his violent energy towards the destruction of the spheres. He becomes one of the leading members of the group protecting his friends with his life. Kwon Il Ha goes through a real transformation throughout the drama. From an angry and untrustworthy loner he turns into a leader who loses his life to protect So Yeon.

Jo Jang Soo, the commander: Jo Jang Soo (Yoon Jong Bin) is one of my favorite male characters of the drama. He’s a natural leader thanks to his more mature mindset and sacrificial spirit. He cares for the group, and so naturally takes matters into his hands to protect it. Hence, his choice to volunteer as bait for the alien, when the group is surrounded by creatures. However, leadership comes with responsibilities – such as never showing your weakness to others and concealing damaging information – and Jang Soo know it way too well.

Jo Young Shin, the rational man: In all battles you need a tactician. In Duty After School that would be Jo Young Shin (Ji Min Hyuk). The student is rational, uses logic and strategy as its greatest weapons. That being said, Young Shin often bears the weight of announcing bad news, or at least saying out loud what everybody thinks. For example, he’s the only one who suggests to leave a wounded So Yeon behind, when aliens strike. Young Shin is fair, weighs the pros and cons of every situation and always try to come up with the best solution.

Wang Tae Man, the ‘idiot’: Wang Tae Man is the clown of the class. He’s totally nonchalant about his studies, and only cares about sleeping. Though immature and childish, he gets along with everyone. Like for the others, the war changes him. He grows up faster than others, leaving behind his irresponsible behavior and becoming a valuable asset for the class. He may be a bit goofy, but he’s honest and loyal, especially towards class president Kim Yoo Jung.

Boys – supporting characters:

Kim Chi Yeol, the nice guy: Kim Chi Yeol (Kim Ki Hae), also known as ‘Kimchi’, is the red thread of the drama for 3 reasons. First, he is the narrator of the drama. By recording every event that happens to the class, he leaves behind a certain legacy of those dark days. Second, he’s the hero. He’s there from the very beginning of the war until the bitter end, when authorities finally find a a way to kill aliens. Third, he’s the only characters who remains unchanged by the war. His innocence, kindness and endless love for Na Ra are never swayed once in the drama. He appreciates and values everyone equally. By the end, his status as a survivor and experiences of the war leave him with a bittersweet taste. Entering adulthood for Chi Yeol is synonymous with losing everyone and everything he held dear. He may be alive, but paid a heavy price.

Kim Deok Joong, Won Bin’s little brother: Funny, entertaining and carefree. These are the adjectives that would best qualify Chi Yeol’s best friend Kim Deok Joong (Woo Min Kyu). Like many others, Deok Joong’s chances of survival seemed slim at first. Yet, his training and luck – not going to lie – allow him to play his part in the platoon. Plus, his knowledge of games and stories always prove to be true, though no one believes them in the first place. I would also add that he found in Won Bin his ‘almost real’ brother thanks to the war.

Woo Hee Rak, the unexpected man of the hour: Woo Hee Rak (Hong Sa Bin) is the male version of Yoo Ha Na. He’s a coward and a real chicken. Nevertheless, he has too much of a guilty conscience to abandons his friends. He may be chaotic, and his reactions immature; but he proves to be loyal to the group.

Do Soo Cheol, the show-off: From the get-go, Soo Cheol (Kim Min Chul) wants to prove that he can be a reliable partner (for the group and for his crush Na Ra). He’s a bit of a show-off, but never despicable or scornful. But in season 2, aliens and the war get the best of him. He has so much hatred towards the creatures, that he’s willing to lie to the group to continue the mission. This event, combined with his tragic death creates tension and distrust between classmates.

Kook Young Soo, the grade-obsessed student: The most despicable character of the drama. Kook Young Soo (Ahn Do Kyu) is already not much appreciated by his classmates in season 1. Indeed, he values his education and studies more than his friends and their lives, as it turns out in season 2. War is the trigger to his madness, when he was already walking a fine line between sanity and craziness. Of course, his past (coming from a poor background) explains his obsession with top grades, so he can get himself out of his misery. But it certainly doesn’t justify his actions, and the killings of all his friends. Kook Young Soo spent so much time competing against others that he forgot that you sometimes need to fight with them (not against) to survive.

Adults:

Lee Choon Ho, the best leader: Best commander of all time! Lee Choon Ho (Shin Hyun Soo) is the epitome of the perfect soldier and leader. He’s a brilliant strategist, allowing him to get rid of hundreds of aliens in one shot. On top of that, he’s brave and devoted to his young soldiers, respected by them and appreciated by his bosses. Though loyal to the army, Choon Ho is willing to disregard orders if it means protecting his platoon. His death is the second greatest tragedy of the drama, and the saddest twist of season 1.

Kim Won Bin, the right-hand man: Won Bin is the perfect second in command. Though older than Choon Ho he trusts his orders blindly, and it pays off. He and the commander share the same values, meaning protecting the kids’ innocence as much as possible in the midst of a devastating war. Won Bin is a also great mood-lifter and older brother, making fun sometimes of the rigid commander.

Park Eun Young, the sacrificial teacher: We may not see Teacher Park (Im Se Mi) for long, but it’s clear that she’s 100% devoted to her students. She only cares about protecting them like she would do this her own kids. And that’s what she does by heroically giving them time to flee when aliens attack.

Values and criticisms: The drama obviously displays the clash between different (if not opposite) worlds: Childhood vs. adulthood; peace vs. war; school vs. military. Each of them brings its own set of values, and potential criticisms of society.

Individual vs. group: School is a competitive and harsh environment. Students are fighting against one another for grades (like top student Jong Hyun and Young Soo, second in the ranking), and for other matters (Bo Ra and Ae Sol). The individual prevails over the group, as personal success is key to a bright future. Friends and the group in general don’t matter for some, who put the CSAT and college before anything else (like Kook Young Soo). The army is the perfect opposite of that world. Students need to learn how to work with each other, trust one another, and move as a solid group if they want to survive. As solidarity is the not main value taught to these teenagers, they struggle to become one in the first season. However, things change in season 2. It’s clear that the platoon has mastered the art of teamwork, as they are able to manage even without their leading commander. Unfortunately, Kook Young Soo’s selfish desires and individualistic behavior destroys everything, and thus the tragedy unfolds with the murder of almost every one of his peers.

Immature vs. grown up: Before aliens start attacking humans, Sungjin High School students live in their own bubble. Many of them – like Tae Man, Ha Na, Soon Yi or Hee Rak – are childish and immature in their behavior. They only wish to enjoy their time as clueless and innocent adolescents. The last scene of the drama showing everyone preparing for the class photo is a reminder of those blessed and blissful days, but also of what survivors have lost because of the war. The worldwide disaster caused by alien invasion forces these high school seniors to grow up rapidly and in a brutal way (through violence and pain). From season 1 to season 2, there is a clear transition between immature adolescents to mature grown-ups, though they still display a lighthearted and cheerful part of their past in some scenes. Kim Chi Yeol’s reaction during his CSAT at the end of the drama is the epitome of that shift. While surrounded by stressed students wanting to succeed the test and enter college, he’s lost focus. Instead, he’s grown distant to that mindset because war made him relativize on what’s important in life. And spoiler alert, it’s not grades; but rather the people that walk the same journey as you. Chi Yeol is one of the sole survivors of the massacre, and has lost purpose and meaning in what seemed to make his school world before. Taking a step back, and judging your past self is also what makes you a real adult.

Naive vs. responsible: Complementary to the clash between immature and grown up, you also have the opposition between being naive and being responsible. Characters blindly believe that participating in the war will get them extra points for the CSAT. That’s also the only element that links them to their happy school days. Hence, their reluctance to letting go of that belief. However, they still naively trust adults and the army until the very end. It’s actually the moment when trust is broken (the promise of having the CSAT after the war, and extra points) that leads the group astray. Abandoned by adults, students need to assume the responsibilities and consequences of the war. For some, this is too hard to handle like Young Soo. Once the illusion of a good future vanishes, he implodes under the pressure (and lashes out onto his friends).

Fear vs. bravery: Clearly, all the characters have managed to overcome their own fears in order to survive. They became braver, stronger, more tactical and killed many aliens thanks to that. In season 1, all the students would scream and run away when faced with danger. But the first scenes of season 2 show otherwise. They are almost enjoying killing spheres and confront their enemies rather than running away from them. This kind of bravery is what you need every day. Courage becomes your greatest weapon in this harsh world.

Ordinary vs. military: In the end, school and the army are not so different. In both cases, you have a strong hierarchy, clans amongst its members, strong ones and weak ones, but more importantly lying adults. Teachers as much as officers deceive, lie to and use students as soldiers in this war promising them compensation. Yet, none of this actually comes to realization and extra points are even being disputed by the younger generation of students. Still, the military world teaches indispensable values and skills to our team: teamwork, collaboration, determination, never giving up, how to rely on others… Though they learn it the hard way, these are valuable lessons to take away and prepare for life.

Who is the real danger? The drama stands at the crossroad of 3 threats to beware of. It makes you wonder in the end who is the real danger in life: External forces/foreigners like aliens that invaded the Earth and ruthlessly killed everyone? Or men/people from our own kind who would rather have you killed to save their life? Like when the platoon encounters cellmates. They almost die because of these villains. Or maybe, the real threat is closer than you think? It lies among your friends, is one of them and will destroy you from the inside? Kook Young Soo is the example of the betrayal inflicted by a friend. It’s even more painful than having your friends disappear at the hand of aliens. All in all, Duty After School is a harsh coming of age drama that shows life as it is: a literal battlefield in which everyone can become your foe.

Ambiance: The atmosphere of that drama is so good! The plot is well written and perfectly matches the dark vibe. It may be the apocalypse, but we’re still dealing with a group of clueless students who try their best to navigate this brand new life brought about by war and aliens.

Aliens: I’m impressed by the quality of the CGIs in this drama. The aliens and spheres are so credible. They are well made, quite scary, and worthy of the best apocalyptic movies. I wouldn’t want to be confronted with these things. They are intelligent, fast, aggressive, blood-thirsty and have better teamwork than human beings. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Emotions: Duty After School is a roller coaster of emotions! There’s no other way to describe it. You feel hopeful, then scared, then you find yourself crying your eyes out. Honestly, it’s very well made, stressful exactly when it should be and heartwarming when you need it. The drama is full of suspense and action, and I didn’t get bored even once.

End: At the end, Kook Young Soo loses it after discovering that the CSAT has been cancelled. All his hard work at school goes to waste, making him completely irrational. He still believes that there is a way out of poverty through his grades for him, but is scared that his misdeeds towards So Yeon would hinder him. Indeed, he kissed her after rendering her unconscious. Kwon Il Ha tried to stop him, but was unfortunately killed. Out of fear of having So Yeon tell the truth to the group, Young Soo chooses to annihilate everyone. No Ae Sol, Lee Na Ra, Yoo Ha Na and Kim Chi Yeol are the only survivors. They owe their lives to luck and/or fate rather than anything else. Shortly after the massacre that cost their friends’s lives, the war comes to an end. The military has designed a new weapon capable of destroying aliens. Life goes back to normal, school starts again, the cycle repeats itself. Except for the last seniors of Sungjin High School, who now have to live with the painful memories.

Even if the drama ends with Kim Chi Yeol abandoning his college entrance exam, we know nothing about what happened to the others (first Won Bin, the second in command; then the 3 other survivors). I personally would have loved to hear a bit about their fate, but I understand the final message that aimed at showing that Chi Yeol had lost everything to war: friends, innocence, meaning, and a future to build again.