Military Prosecutor Doberman review: Power duo punishes criminals in uniform
After Rain’s and Kim Bum’s Ghost Doctor, South Korean television network TVN's latest drama is Military Prosecutor Doberman, which stars Ahn Bo-hyun and Jo Bo-ah.
The first two episodes of the 16-episode series are now available for streaming on Viu and iQiyi. Here are our thoughts about the action-packed legal drama.
1. Ahn Bo-hyun portrays a military prosecutor Do Bae-man.
Ahn Bo-hyun, known for his roles in Descendants Of The Sun (2016), Itaewon Class (2020), My Name (2021) and Yumi’s Cells (2021), plays an unscrupulous military prosecutor Do Bae-man.
He lost his parents when he was young, and got himself expelled from his high school to escape the mandatory military service — high school dropouts don’t get drafted. In order to become wealthy and successful, he studied hard to pass the bar exam and become a lawyer.
However, due to his unimpressive educational background, he faces difficulties in finding a decent job, until an established prosecutor Yong Moon-goo (Kim Young-min) offers him a deal: he has to trade five years of his life to work as a military prosecutor in return for a guaranteed position at a law firm.
Bae-man takes up the offer, essentially turning into Moon-goo’s underling. He is tasked with spine-chilling missions like planting evidence and accusing someone of a non-existent crime. But he carries them out anyway, like a brainwashed soldier who does not question the authorities.
2. Jo Bo-ah is a meek-looking but revenge-driven badass Cha Woo-in.
Jo Bo-ah, who is best known for starring alongside Lee Dong-wook in Tale Of The Nine Tailed, portrays a seemingly gentle rookie military prosecutor Cha Woo-in.
Under that facade lies a cynical and vengeful woman, who may even come across as crazy as she whacks the life out of multiple bad guys.
Woo-in hides her identity as the heiress of a corporate conglomerate and her ability to put up a good fight. But her mismatched appearance and subtle behaviour catch Bae-man’s keen eyes and raise his suspicions. As Bae-man works on another mission from Moon-goo, he crosses paths with Woo-in’s hidden agenda.
3. Do Bae-man and Cha Woo-in form an invincible pair.
Despite his skewed principles and his brains-over-brawn job, Bae-man is highly skilled in physical combat. Woo-in doesn't pale in comparison, and may even fight just as well, if not better. It's a matter of time before they discover each other’s secrets and come together to form an alliance. With the amount of action in the first two episodes setting the standard for the drama, it can only get more exciting to see them throw out forceful punches and deliver justice literally with their own hands.
4. The reference to the dog breed Doberman may be a giveaway for subsequent events.
The name Do Bae-man alludes to the dog breed Doberman, which is known for its intelligence and tenacious loyalty and for being a guard and police dog. The dog even makes an appearance in the drama to underscore this reference.
Even if you know nothing about the dog breed, a quick look at the dog in the drama is enough to feel how intimidating and aggressive it can be if triggered. If it is intentional to refer Do Bae-man as Doberman, it can only mean that he is a fierce but submissive character.
Yet at the same time, if he faces threats, is betrayed or finds something amiss, he may turn into a powerful weapon against his owner. It will be interesting to see how Bae-man evolves over time under Woo-in’s influence.
New episodes of Military Prosecutor Doberman will drop on Viu and iQiyi every Tuesday and Wednesday.
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