Utilized everything they had with a great execution

Take this as an example of why shouldn't every k-drama end up in 16 episodes nor even extended to 20 episodes.

The plot is focusing on the main idea of the military life and I think it was consistent to carried it out in the whole 6 episodes. No pleasantries and pleonastic. Not revealing too many things and left some of the ideas and sentiments to the spectators. And as if you were drawn to adapt to be a part of them. It feels like we can see, hear, and feel the story as if those were ours to begin with. It felt so raw and violent but you can't stop watching because you want to know what would be next to happen. The misery and agony and also the irony of the military life is well conveyed and I think it has some connection in some way with some cases that truly happened in South Korea that changed the way it runs today. Though it may be a common secret that seniority is still prominent and conspicuous in that scope, D.P. succeeding in animadvert severely on the system and let it be known what is wrong with a scant of satire and insinuation. And evidently it works so well. It still felt so realistic without exaggerating some aspects of human daily life that might distorted the whole theme of military., like romance or unnecessary laughable moments.

And, I really like how it took such an ending. Blatant mockery by the media and the military to close the case in that way and also the surprising act of camaraderie. A great cinematography and acting also play their roles well that it almost taste so immaculate to the point I'm being hesitant on my own review if I might be so biased, but undoubtedly it really deserves all the praise.

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If you are here for the plot, let met tell you something.

Disclaimer: my review solely based on my preference on the story-line.

You may have come to watch for Suzy, Nam Joohyuk, Kim Seonho, or Kang Hanna. Or even for the interesting premises that they've offered to us in the beginning. The story about Start-Up and how the four main leads are there to teach us how business was supposed to be doing. However, I must admit there are hints of why I come to dislike this.

From the start, we've been offered by a promising plot of friends, family, and business. The way how female lead, Seo Dalmi, being an independent woman whose life doesn't revolve around men. But then, the writer seems fond of a love triangle which was unnecessary and set aside the business aspect for quite too long. I almost dropped the show knowing that it'll keep going like that for more than 4 episodes but I wonder what's the twist of the show and how will the writer bring back the business aspect, so I continue.

But I'm afraid I couldn't bring up anything except how irritated I was for watching the love triangle arc that truly unnecessary. I was coming from the Start-Up theme and yet I've been offered with a hopeless romantic story that couldn't resonate with me. The way how reckless the team to decide without considering to consult on their mentor because some of them have problems with him is just doesn't sit right with me. I will accept if only they're still asking another mentor which I believe should've been there to help her, hence they were called Sandbox for a reason. And one thing that's so illogical is that until the last episode, there are no consequences of their wrongdoings. I thought there will be some tension about it and how they should deal with it and become a stronger individual and as a team.

Not enough disappointment, the writer still keeping the love triangle arc which I clearly don't understand why even until now when it's so crystal clear whom they favoured. There's no need to create a nonessential war between two men when on the pilot episodes, they seem to love each other as brother. And I can see how much would they come if it end up as bromance. How good it would become to see they help each other to grow. I would say it such a wasted potential of this drama could become.

I won't say much about the hopeless romantic things that going on which I believe some people may see it as an okay plot and some others were against it all. But to point out some flaws that led to a great fan war amongst the viewers is the inconsistency between the characters. Dalmi, Dosan, Jipyeong, Injae, and even SST had some inconsistencies that seem like a Disney movie that is utterly a candy floss. How could you not even considering to have a break for your heart after being lied for months and just brush it off like nothing happened as if it's okay to be lied to. I understand if the meaning of this is love could change throughout the years and ones that always first to come, will win. But something missing in Dosan and Dalmi relationship, which is tension and how the relationship builds up after the letters been revealed or after their break up. It could've been nicer if they fought while Dosan keeps giving Dalmi his endless love so Dalmi finally can see that his love is real. But it didn't happen.

It's not about who is made for a better choice, but how things normally happened after such a great lie threw to one individual. I wonder if there are people who'd be pleased to see people who lied to you. Hence I thought it'd be a moment where I can see Dalmi's growing to be a wonderful woman who doesn't need both men and keep doing her things to success, just like Injae. As a woman myself, I don't want to be a damsel in distress and how myself becoming someone else's dream or trophy. Even I would be ashamed of myself if I have a person as my dream. The main focus is the relationship has become lacklustre which nothing like this is normal in the real life. If only they add 'fantasy' or 'fairy tale' in their description, most people would understand.

Most people who come for good storytelling which close to reality that they can take the lesson to obviously would have rage upon how the drama had become. Inconsistency and boastful characterizations are clearly not a recommendation.

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The perfect balance of comedy-crime drama

Close to perfect. I wonder why I always hesitated to watch this before. Amazing plot, various character developments, good comedy, great acting, cool action scenes, and exciting suspension. Nothing is a bit unnecessary for me, but the shortcoming was maybe at the first episode it was a bit slow, but it keeps getting better on each next episode. I love how it focuses not only on the priest or the prosecutor but also on other supporting roles' character development like Jang Ryeong and Ssongsak. Having the main character as a priest makes it more interesting than most of the same drama in this genre. In the end, the main idea of people repenting their sins feels align with the purpose of the priest himself. It makes me emotionally attached to each character. When it's characterized and comedy-crime, it doesn't lack the thrill when the action came in. Props to Kim Namgil for his great acting. But what I truly love the most is their good chemistry and how their relationship evolved from some stranger, some enemy, some acquaintance, to become one as family. Everything is beautiful and well-written.

Ps: I love how some sad and heart-breaking scenes not really using sad ost that makes you cry but rather they use the upbeat scores that make you feel furious and want to get revenge on those villains while watching it. It doesn't feel like I have to cry every time.

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From someone who didn't read the webtoon version

As I never read the webtoon version, so I don't have things to compare between the two. I'd say this is one of the best drama for 2020. I was expecting this for its visual alone that I was skeptical if they could make good special effect for the monsters. And I could say that everything wrapped up great. From the acting, the story, and obviously the visual. That I hooked up from the very first episode and ended up finished it in one sitting.

From the start, I was awed by how realistic and disturbing the monsters are. Though to be frank, it was more disturbing than I've imagined and I got goosebumps nearly in every monsters scenes but that shows how good and realistic the visual are. I forgot the feeling of watching SAW series and this reminds me a lot of it. So, if anyone that are sensitive, I would not recommend this. Too much trigger warnings. But if you think you could bear it, then the story alone is interesting and makes me wondering which one would die first as more twist keep coming in. I bawled my eyes a lot for the last few episodes and I'm not complaining at all. Maybe some of the BGM that I think wasn't give so much impact to the scenes shown.

No matter how good the visual is, if it's not supported by good acting, it'd be a failure after all. But everyone including the minor roles, as for me, are perfectly conveyed the emotions and tensions throughout the episodes. I could sympathize with their anger, frustration, laughter, sweet moments, sadness and pain. And I didn't expect this to come from this kind of series.

Hence, this is one of the best physiological thriller drama I've ever watched but honestly, I don't think I'd able to rewatch this since I'll probably get too sensitive if I watch this kind of scenes too much. BUT it's definitely a worth to watch drama for once in a lifetime and I highly recommend it for those who are into psychological thriller and don't mind any gore scenes to show up.

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