[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Police University" Episode 2

Last cliffhanger, Seon-ho came up for his interview to the police academy and Dong-man tried to sabotage it for reasons he couldn't exactly explain since the entire situation also makies him look bad. In response, Seon-ho gives a remarkably heartfelt speech where he openly admits to having impure motives for joining the police academy. Nevertheless, Seon-ho is inspired for the first time in his life to show actual drive and purpose, and is using that as his guiding principle.

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"Police University" is quite strong when it's focused on more youthful aspects like this. There's also a really excellent conclusion to Seon-ho's conflict with his brother, as the more physically inclined Seung-beom is mad that Seon-ho shut him out of his sudden ambition to join the police academy. As the brothers separate to go into different life paths, we see that Seon-ho is finally truly on his own, and won't have anyone to rely on as he predictably faces Dong-man's wrath.

...Which is problematic, as usual. Dong-man's motivation is just too petty, and his work as a drill seargent is likely questionable. The occassional references to the big cryptocurrency investigation particularly call attention to how none of these arbitrary physical tasks are really all that important to being a good investigator. The cadets are trying to be cops, not marines, and should be showing personal initiative and a reasonably diverse skill set to better further their criminal investigation work.

I have no idea whether the actual national police academy is run like this, but if they're actually disqualifying recruits for not being able to tolerate arbitrary bouts of hunger then once again that does not inspire confidence in South Korean police. I'm already tired of Dong-man's protestations of how real cops, unlike model cops, deal with the constant threat of death. I'm especially baffled as to how he's getting a hinted romantic subplot despite showing no redeemable personality traits whatsoever.

In a related note, Jung Soo-jung is wonderful as usual. The early scene where Kang-hee's confronted by her mother is brutal, and gives a lot of insight to her motivation. I also liked her flirtation with cadet leadership, and how we see that there's no perfect way to do leadership, even if she makes it look easy. But just like last episode, Kang-hee simply doesn't have enough screentime, especially as we're introduced to more male cadets who lack her distinction.

Review by William Schwartz

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"Police University" is directed by Yoo Kwan-mo, written by Moon Min-jung, and features Jin Young, Cha Tae-hyun, Jung Soo-jung, Choo Young-woo, Lee Dal, Yoo Young-jae. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/08/09~Now airing, Mon, Tue 21:30 on KBS.