Duty after School: Part 1 (2023)

Went into this with no expectations and left disappointed

Man, I really wanted to like this drama. And for a second I did, but then somewhere during episode 2 I started to get so fed up with the plot and characters. That annoyance only grew the more episodes I tried to watch, and I ended up skipping through most of 4 and then dropping it entirely.
The production value is really good and while the concept is wild, it could've worked if handled better, but it ended up just being a mess.
First off, there were way too many characters. The show spent so much time trying to give each one a little bit of air time, but all that did was succeed in not giving anyone enough. If we don't have one solid character to root for, with good side characters, then why should the audience bother watching? People were dying right and left and I didn't care. I did like the platoon leader, but he seemed to be the only one with any backstory and depth.
Beyond not really caring about anyone, the plot was just ridiculous. Like, I get it, the whole idea is ridiculous, but the choices being made by the characters, specifically the military, made no sense.
I was trying to push through to the end because there's only 6 episodes, but there are better things I could watch and I don't want to waste my time anymore. Maybe I'm giving up too quickly and when/if I come back to this, I'll change my mind, but at this point, I doubt that'll happen.

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The CGI is pretty good but this drama is so full of things that annoyed me.

It started off pretty well and gave us enough exposition to explain the current situation, but suddenly stuff goes sideways and we see how inept and pathetic the Republic of Korea Armed Forces were. They are so undermanned that they had to rope in 3rd year High School students to help fill in the numbers.

Now these kids.... they make some really stupid decisions that had me asking if any group of rational people would make the same decisions they did. And some scenes made no sense, like in one scene they were stuck in a garage and the danger was coming in through the roof but the car keys were stuck behind a cabinet. They made it very clear it would be in any moment and yet found 10 minutes to draw lots to determine who would be bait and lure it away so somebody could try to grab the keys... the same amount of time they could have easily moved the cabinet and grabbed the keys! That is just one of many idiotic moments that had me cursing at my TV.

Best moment is the huge sacrifice at the end. Really emotional and was a great way to end part 1.

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A Heart-Pumping Drama of Aliens and Survival

Duty After School is a captivating and intense drama that will have you on the edge of your seat. From the very first episode, you'll be hooked by its thrilling storyline and the visually stunning alien creatures that are featured throughout the series. The show's characters are well-developed, and their growth and weaknesses are portrayed in a realistic and relatable way that adds an extra layer of tension to each crisis situation they encounter.

The CGI in Duty After School is truly impressive, and the design of the aliens, with their flower-like appearance, adds to the fear-factor of the show. However, it's important to note that this drama does not shy away from gore and blood, which may not be suitable for everyone's taste.

Despite its darker moments, Duty After School manages to strike a balance between comedy, light-hearted moments, and intense action scenes. Each episode ends on a crucial point, leaving you eagerly waiting for the next installment and making it the perfect show for a binge-watch session.

While the series may have some minor flaws, it's a must-watch for any fan of dystopian genres. Duty After School is a unique and realistic take on an alien invasion that sets it apart from other shows that simply ride the coattails of the zombie-drama success. So, if you're looking for a wild and exciting ride, buckle up and get ready to be immersed in the thrilling world of Duty After School.

FYI, you can go ahead and read the Webtoon from which this Kdrama has been adapted! you will not regret it!

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My Fav Survival Drama

Duty After School tells the story of Seongjin High School students in grade 3-2 who are assigned by the state to fight the mysterious monster spheres that invade the world, then the South Korean Ministry of Defense offers additional points for CAST to enter college for high school students who join the army.

Duty after school isn't that scary because the monsters are small, but their movements are fast, so it surprised me when they attacked humans. Because the students wear weapons and army uniforms, i think this is a special point of interest for this drama.

This drama is very good and worth it to watch. The story is interesting and different from most survival dramas. There are many characters, but the screen time is quite average. This drama also has a humorous side typical of high school kids. While watching, I can memorize name of all students in class 3-2. Their friendship was so warm. Each character is realistic enough, So I can't really hate even if some are annoying.

For Part 1 a very charismatic character is Lieutenant Lee Chun Ho. He was acting tough but it was to protect the students. The ending is very emotional. How could Lee Chun Ho's struggle end like this ? Sodaejangnim.. you are the best platoon commander in the world♡

For Part 2 youngsoo who went crazy. I really hate him so much. Because for him, not going to college and being poor is more frightening than having to go to war. He is very selfish, for him it's okay to kill a friend than to destroy his college life. May he be placed in the deepest hell. I thought the ending would be different from the webtoon.. it's even scarier than the webtoon. Plot twist that made me crying for so long.

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One can easily understand why this drama is such a hit among fans. It has only six episodes, which are fast-paced but still give enough space to all the characters so we get to gradually know more about them. Each of the students is different, with different goals, dreams, and attitude, but when they come face to face with the alien menace, they are able to put theses differences aside and try to work like a proper team.

This drama is a thriller with some almost horror moments mixed in, one I would never watch when it gets dark and I'm alone, but it was able to surprise me with some gold comedy moments as well, like when some of the students try to desert the school but were caught and were running around while the soldiers were chasing them and a lively music was playing in the background. And there were also moments that were both comedic and heart-warming like when the soldiers prepared the food for them and then the food battle began. Korea really knows how to mix genres well even if just for a few scenes!

The CGI of the aliens (especially the small star-like ones) was absolutely marvelous! I'm looking forward to part 2 of the drama especially if we will get to see the other bigger aliens as well and I can't wait to know what is their origin. And hopefully all the students and Won Bin manage to make it out alive!

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Not Your Average Alien Flick!

I really enjoyed the series! Although I’m not usually into alien invasion stories, this one caught my attention because it gave me vibes similar to All of Us Are Dead, and I’m glad I decided to give it a shot. The way the story was structured kept me hooked from start to finish, and even though the main characters are students, their confusion and gradual development made it even more fun to watch.

Na Ra quickly became my favorite character. She reminded me of Namra from All of Us Are Dead: mysterious, cool, and incredibly capable—maybe even more than the guys! I also really enjoyed the subtle chemistry between her and Kimchi, even though it wasn’t the central focus of the story. I really hope their relationship doesn’t end in a tragic way, though, given the nature of the show.

That said, there were a few things that left me feeling a bit let down. For one, the entire class surviving throughout the chaos felt a bit unrealistic. In a situation like this, with the aliens attacking and the danger constantly escalating, it seemed like the group should have lost more members as time went on. The fact that they stayed relatively intact took away some of the tension that could have made the story feel more high-stakes.

Another issue was the lack of clarity about when the aliens actually arrived. We’re told they came a year ago, but there’s very little explanation about how they arrived or their initial invasion. It would have been nice if the show gave us more backstory on this, as it would have made the alien threat feel more grounded and impactful.

There was also an inconsistency with the size of the aliens. In episode 1, we’re introduced to a huge alien that devours the top student, but after that, we only see smaller ones. The show doesn’t really explain why the larger aliens disappear or how the characters know which ones are big and which are small, especially when they talk about the aliens in the sphere. This felt like an oversight, and I think it would have been helpful for the writers to clarify these details.

Overall, despite these few issues, it was a fantastic series, and I’m definitely looking forward to Part 2. The mix of alien invasion and student dynamics made for a unique, exciting experience. I hope the next part addresses some of the gaps and keeps up the momentum with equally engaging action and character development!

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just go watch, wth u doing

i honestly don't know how to write a review, so obviously the reason I'm writing this is because this drama was SOO good I had to let my feelings out. The plot was well-rounded and the relationship the students had with each other was very admirable and just overall nice to see. There was never a moment where I felt bored watching this show. Like most captivating dramas, each episode would normally end with a cliff hanger to force the viewer to watch the next episode immediately - this drama didn't even need to this to be binge-worthy. I must say, the ending was not the best (sad ending), but even with a bad ending, it wasn't enough to drag this show down in any way. SUCH A GOOD SHOW!!!!

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Worthy but not necessary

I haven't read the webtoon so this is based only on the series.
This was an interesting take on the apocalytpic genre woven into the dynamics of being a high schooler. The idea is quite creative and while the storyline could have been much more intricate and the season longer, it's still a good watch if you want something quick and adrenaline rushing. I would have definitely liked more episodes focusing on the backgrounds of the characters in depth, and the bonds between them and their superiors. For a long time, I couldn't memorise their names either because there was not enough spotlight on a few characters at one time...

There were some annoying and frustrating characters such as the cowardly girls who wanted to leave everything and run away. The constant whining, scream-crying almost made me drop the episode or skip the scene, especially when the dialogue repeats itself at least twice in a single episode. I almost felt like slapping them so i'm surprised at how and why the opposite characters were soooo good at holding back and not lashing out at them in times of emergencies (it would have been understandable if there were more clashes)

P.S. it's better to assume that this is a solo work with an open ending instead of watching season 2. You're better off without it :-)

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one of the best survival series

I've watched the other shows with similar plotlines such as Sweet Home and All of Us Are Dead etc. so Duty After School had a synopsis that piqued my interest. The plot moves slow and fast at the same time. Slow as in, the character development is pretty lacking, but fast, in a way that so MUCH happens in one episode. So much changes per episode yet there's not really an explanation for such big changes. One thing I felt lacking in storytelling was how fast some of them learned to weld firearms and shoot, however, their mentality was still just as immature and frustrating as before. (just a few character though) The pack is constantly moving and there's a lot of killing/gore lol.

Overall, the drama was great, it kept me on the edge of my seat (quite literally) the entire time and it was interesting enough for me to complete in one day. I developed a big crush for the commander sergeant,, maybe i just like tsunderes LOL. But the ending was pretty unfortunate and the kids are all good kids (for the most part) so I enjoyed watching the show.

It was kind of hard to keep track of who was who in the beginning because there were so many characters, but it was interesting how they really separated each character and we got to know their personalities throughout the episodes. My favorite characters were Kim Chiyeol (Kimchi), Soo Cheol, Na ra, and JangSoo. I eventually started liking everyone towards the ending but some were truly a struggle ._.

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A good thriller, and action drama but the editing was a little meh

I've seen a lot of edits of this show on TikTok, and now, after finishing it, I get the hype for this show. They did a nice job depicting the student life: immature kids who always whine and are out of touch in reality but slowly mature as they understand what is going on. I'm glad that the aliens here are interesting to know and watch, since in the other fantasy dramas I have seen, the "fantasy" or "sci-fi" parts were so boring. A lot of characters were so annoying, but a lot of them are also exciting to see. The action scenes are so good, but since the students are either arguing or complaining, it gets irritating. The cliffhanger was nice; since this has a second season, it would make you curious about what will happen and how they will end the invasion of these unknown creatures. A 9/10 for me.

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