Review "You Are All Surrounded" (Dramapassion): an entertaining crime comedy!

Once is not custom, to end November with brilliance, we advise you a second K-Drama, available in full at Dramapassion. You Are All Surrounded is set in a police atmosphere, with a handful of revenge and a hint of romance!

The plot follows a team of several new recruits in a police station, finding themselves under the orders of a legendary inspector rather angry. A generational conflict is already to be expected…

This review contains important elements of K-Drama and spoilers. Read at your own risk.

You Are All Surrounded

Original title: 너희들은 포위됐다 – Neoheedeuleun Powidwaetda

Alternative title: You're all Surrounded

Gender: Comedy – action – detective

Broadcast channel: SBS

First broadcast: May 7 to July 17, 2014

Broadcasting platform: Dramapassion

Episodes: 20

Director: YU In-Shik

Scriptwriter:  LEE Jung-Sun

Synopsis

Eun Dae-Goo, Uh so-Sun, Park Tae-Il and Ji-Gook are the new detective recruits of the Gangnam police. They're all there for a reason, but none of them are there out of passion or dedication, that's for sure! Under the authority of the hot-tempered Inspector Seo Pan-Suk, they will have to prove themselves if they want to stay on the team and become detectives worthy of the name… (Dramapassion)

Main cast

And the sirens sound…

You Are All Surrounded is a fairly classic Asian series with its crime comedy theme. We enter, not only into the functioning of investigations from A to Z, but also through their unfolding, as well as into the daily life of detectives. The scripted choice to integrate newcomers in front of a veteran brings a certain comfort and empathy for the viewer who, as a result, quickly identify them.

It is also about a hero, Eun Dae-Goo, in search of the murderer who ordered the death of his mother. The latter also has a great hatred for his hierarchical superior, Seo Pan-Suk. The emphasis was on a thorough research of the characters, complementing each other enough to give us material to follow the narrative. There are not only links between work colleagues, as strong bonds of friendship and more if affinity …

The story does not only give us tracks to follow, it also makes us live alongside them. In addition, the machination orchestrated around the red thread is cleverly distilled, between clues and treasure hunt. Of course romance is not excluded, on the contrary, knowing that women know how to do it to put the grapple on their lovers. Finally, the opposition of law enforcement to prosecutors brings an interesting and not insignificant point of view.

Thwarted careers

It is often thought that the profession is a matter of vocation, whether to help innocent people or to maintain order. Yet, as you will see, our gang of young people has many other reasons. 

We were talking about Dae-Goo, a young man with a heavy past who forged and traumatized him, seeking revenge. His rebellious, mysterious and sometimes grumpy side convinced us. We adhere to this lost hero, ruminating for years regrets and quest for revenge. Thanks to his entry into the police, great changes take place in him, especially by confronting his mentor and enemy. These scenes with Inspector Pan-Suk, make them a comic duo, appreciable and functioning well. They were recently back together in the fantasy K-drama, A Korean Odyssey.

Pan-Suk is here, a somewhat gruff protagonist, categorically refusing to educate our young graduates. However, the role of big brother, or even daddy-hen, sticks to him like a second skin by making appreciate the evolution of each and the mutual aid that is born. The man has, like Dae-Goo, a shell that will crack little by little over the episodes…

Uh so-Sun is the only female member of the gang, but no offense to some, her strong character and her shared past with Dae-Goo melt the ray of sunshine of this team. It is through him that things evolve and unravel smoothly. We found his relationship with this one simple, while being a successful stroke of fate.

We could not conclude, without addressing the other two partners completing the table of the team. Park Tae-Il isn't content to be the "beautiful mouth" of the drama. The protagonist is calm and thoughtful with great sensitivity. Finally, Ji Gook is adorable during his little bouts of jealousy. Although these two characters are behind the top three, they are still entertaining and endearing!

Case closed

The drama is a good comedy, which unfortunately remains too much in the déjà vu. Some lengths spoil the plot somewhat, making it less engaging, because the scenario would have been better with less episode. The atmosphere is entertaining and good-natured, despite twists that remain too predictable, not surprising us too much. On the soundtrack side, the quality of the OST is adequate to the subject, without being striking.

The big asset of the series nevertheless lies in the play brought by the performance of the actors and the depth of their feelings. The paths they take gain in realism, although unfortunately remaining for us, too stereotyped. The chase scenes seem real, as does the corruption at the police station. We notice that the bad guys are there too, too obvious and will not leave a great memory in our memory.

The story starts well, but quickly becomes messy afterwards, presenting only less interest during the finale of it… Nevertheless, we will remember the fierce struggle of the prosecutors, more powerful than the inspectors, leading us to reflect on the functioning of the country of the morning calm.

You Are All Surrounded, did not entirely captivate us, nevertheless it is a good drama worth your attention. Lovers of comedy and overly complex investigations will enjoy it. Watch on the Dramapassion website!