Is Duty After School Worth It? An Objective Evaluation

I remember the first time I stumbled upon Duty After School. It wasn’t through a friend or a recommendation, but rather through TikTok. It kept appearing on my “For You” page, and I couldn’t help but notice the dramatic scenes where an alien brutally murdered the kids. It got me intrigued, and I knew I had to find out more about this show.

After debating for a while, I finally decided to give Duty After School a chance. Most of the dramas I had been following had already ended, and I was looking for something new and exciting. For those who haven’t heard of it, Duty After School is about a high school student who is preparing for the CSAT exam — a big exam that determines which university you can go to. But one night, everything changes when the student is suddenly thrown into the world of soldiers fighting against an alien threat. These aliens come from a mysterious sphere and feed on human flesh, making the stakes even higher. As I started watching the show, I couldn’t help but feel drawn into this intense and unpredictable world.

As I continued to watch Duty After School, I couldn’t help but feel enraged by the way adults tricked these young students into voluntary military service. They promised an additional point for the CSAT, and many students were interested in taking advantage of the opportunity. Little did they know that this was a one-way ticket to death. It was heartbreaking to see how easily these young minds were manipulated by those in power. I couldn’t help but wonder how many of them would still be alive if they had known the truth. As the story unfolded, I found myself more invested in the characters and their struggles, hoping that they would make it through this brutal and unfair situation.

As I delved deeper into Duty After School, I noticed that the drama was divided into two parts: part one consisted of six episodes while part two had four episodes. The first part mainly focused on the student’s trainee days under the command of Platoon Leader Lee Chun Ho and Sergeant Kim Won Bin. While part two is mostly about how they were thrown by the adult to fence on their own against the enemy. This time, there’s no platoon leader to guide and save them, they are on their own.

At first, I was a little overwhelmed by the number of characters to memorize, but as the story progressed, I found myself becoming more and more invested in each of their journeys. I loved how the show gave each character their own unique backstory and personality, making it easy to distinguish them from one another.

What I Love About Duty After School:

But what I really loved about Duty After School was the way it tackled important themes like sacrifice, duty, and the cost of war. The show didn’t shy away from the brutal reality of fighting against an alien threat, and it didn’t sugarcoat the sacrifices that had to be made to protect humanity. It was a stark reminder that war is never black and white and that every decision has consequences.

Another thing that I loved about Duty After School was the way it portrayed the relationships between classmates in a life-or-death situation. As in any other school, there were cliques and groups, each with their own dynamics and personalities. But when faced with the threat of an alien invasion, everything changed. It was inspiring to see how these students, who were once divided by their differences, banded together to protect each other and ensure their survival.

I remember watching in awe as a few characters quickly helped others to get to safety during the chaos of the sphere’s attack on the school. It was heartwarming to see how these young individuals bravely helped their classmates and refused to leave anyone behind, even in the face of danger. They made a pact to work together to ensure that everyone survived and could take the CSAT.

One of the characters who stood out to me was their class leader, Kim Youjung. She took her leadership role seriously, making everyone’s safety her top priority. Despite being the punching bag for everyone’s frustrations, she always took the blame for the group’s mistakes and ensured that they learned from them. It was moving to see her struggle with the burden of making tough decisions that not only affected her own life but the lives of her classmates as well.

In a way, seeing these young students face their fears and work together was a reminder that we are all capable of strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Duty After School showed us that even in the darkest of times, hope and the power of human connection can prevail.

As I watched Duty After School, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own childhood and the way I used to view adults. I always thought that they knew everything and had all the answers. But the reality is, they were just trying to survive like the rest of us. Seeing the children in this show reminded me of how much I trusted adults back then, only to be let down when they didn’t have all the answers I was looking for.

The adults in Duty After School are no exception. They’re flawed and willing to do whatever it takes to save themselves. But there are a few exceptions, like Platoon Leader Lee Chun Ho, Sergeant Kim Won Bin, and their homeroom teacher, Miss Park. These adults are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of their students.

One scene that particularly moved me was when one of the students begged the platoon leader to let them go home after witnessing the traumatic death of their teacher and some of the soldiers who were training them. Despite the student’s pleas, the platoon leader stood his ground and insisted they continue their training. At first, I was conflicted, but ultimately, I realized that it was safer for them to learn how to fight these aliens than to be unprepared and potentially put their loved ones in danger.

Now, as I get older, I understand the importance of being prepared for anything that might come my way. I wouldn’t want to be caught off guard, especially when it comes to the safety of my loved ones. Duty After School highlights the importance of being able to rely on others, especially in times of crisis. And it reminds me that even though adults may not have all the answers, there are still some who are willing to put others before themselves.

What I Don’t Like About Duty After School:

I can still feel the disappointment in my chest when I think about it. The ending of the show, it just didn’t sit right with me. I mean, sure, I understand what the writer was trying to do, but couldn’t they have given us a partially happy ending? After everything we’ve been through with the survivors, we deserved that much.

As a fan of the original webtoon, I have to say that the changes they made to the story for the show felt a little rushed and, frankly, all over the place. It started off strong, with that first battle against the aliens really grabbing my attention and showing how the class had grown and matured since the beginning. But then, somewhere along the line, things just started going downhill.

I felt like the character development was lacking, and it seemed like the plot was lost at times. The pacing was all off, too — there were so many unanswered questions, and it was like they were trying to cram too much into each episode.

And don’t even get me started on the ships! I had been rooting for certain characters to get together, and they just… didn’t. It was such a letdown.

All in all, I was just so frustrated with the ending. It felt like they could have done so much better, and instead, they left us with more questions than answers. It’s a shame, really — I had been looking forward to the show so much, and it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Does Duty After School Worth Your Time?

If you’re looking for a way to kill some time and have ten hours to spare, then sure, you could give this show a watch. But I have to warn you — it might not be worth your time. I mean, I don’t want to completely discourage you from watching it but don’t get your hopes up too high.

That being said, I do have to give credit where credit is due. The cast really did a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life. It’s just a shame that the writing and storyline didn’t quite measure up to their performances.

As someone who enjoys good drama, I have to say that this one fell a little flat for me. The pacing was off, and there were times when I found myself checking the time, wondering how much longer until the episode was over.

But still, there were moments that kept me hooked, and the cast really did their best with what they were given. I just wish that the writers had put a little more effort into crafting a compelling storyline.

So, my advice? If you’re really desperate for something to watch and have nothing better to do, then go ahead and give it a shot. Just don’t expect too much, and remember to appreciate the performances of the talented cast.