After 4 episodes viewed it’s a rating of 7.5 for me. Production has layers of praiseworthy complexity which sums up the positive aspect of this drama series. The element that merits criticism pertains to the unrealistic handling of the fatal infectious disease by so-called professionals which made me cringe and flinch such as:
•Feisty SOU officer (female lead) gets scratched during a scuffle with an infected soldier and yet she doesn’t apply basic First Aid as a preventative measure and just stares at her open wound, unworried that the blood-bourne pathogen may infiltrate her system. Personal records reveal that she has “good survival instincts and problem solving skills” yet she forgoes prompt washing of her hand wound.
•She hands over her service gun and mobile phone to a non-gloved and therefore unprotected Lieutenant Colonel of the Crisis Management Center before surrendering for her imposed quarantine.
•The same Lieutenant Colonel is always in a business attire while everyone around him is clad in full PPE in the facility that houses infected patients.
•Equally negligent police corporal (male lead) casually examines a bloodied crime scene and touches contaminated objects then answers a call on his mobile phone. He also zealously sniffs the contents of a half consumed water bottle, putting the rim at very close proximity to his nose. Afterwards, he heads home and jumps straight to his bed without washing-up and still wearing his dirty work clothes.
•A bloodied suspect is whisked away by gloveless police escorts and yet in another scene there’s a conversation about how COVID-19 has made the public more safety-conscious which is why, “We don’t shake hands anymore”.
•Huge irony in the way the characters frequently allude to the present pandemic but blatantly resort to irresponsible handling with no regard for personal health and hygiene. Perhaps the writer and director can put more focus and attention to this vital detail because it’s really uncomfortable to watch.