The Devil Judge (2021)

Even The Devil Was Once An Angel

” If the devil really exists among us it would be the self-pity of the powerful “

After the 1 hour and 22 minute pilot episode named " A Monster Emerges in Turbulent Times " was over I knew I was in for something good, when the last scene of the episode starts and the song " Enemy of Truth " from the original soundtrack kicks in I got chills, what an episode and what a way to get the audience hooked.

But could something that started so strong keep up this steam for another 15 episodes? Both yes and no. I'd say that MAYBE one episode in the second half of the show was dragging a bit but overall the long runtime of each episode ( at least 60 minutes ) was used well and I always wanted more.
The cliffhangers made me press " Next Episode " faster than I could read the text saying " Next Episode "

The Devil Judge could be described as a courtroom drama but it is so much more, sure the scenes that are the live streamed court cases are great but the show quickly moves on the to bigger picture of it all, why does Yo Han want to live stream all these cases and what is his end goal?

This is one of those dramas in which the journey is equally as good as the destination. The small cases that appear along the way all lead up to something much bigger and when the credits are rolling ( After a 95 minute long final episode!! ) you will definitely feel satisfied.

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A captivating story with a strong premise that did not fully deliver

Right let's get into this, The devil judge was one of those shows that personally engaged me at the start and then fell off as the series progressed then re-picked itself up at the end. I had to watch the first episode twice because the first time around I had some trouble wrapping my head around what exactly was going on. Although the second time I gave this drama chance I immediately fell in love with the premise, the cinematography was breathtaking, the plot was immersive and overall it seemed like a brilliant dystopian take on justice. I binged the first 8 episodes and was obsessed with the direction of the plot as it seemed so unique and interesting to me. However, the next 8 episodes were harder to get through, I can't fully pinpoint what it was that made it harder to get through but I do feel as though the pacing played a role. I LOVE fast-paced shows and that's why I was so engaged within the first half, In the second half, the pacing felt all over the place that it felt so slow and unorganized which made me struggle to wrap my head around what exactly going on. The last 2 episodes were an attempt to save this series which I do feel episode 15 was able to do, but episode 16 felt slightly rushed. Pacing aside, there were so many things that I was IN LOVE with within this series. FIRSTLY The cinematography CARRIED THE SHOW as well as the actors. they were all PHENOMENAL, I understand that some people didn't like some of the characters, especially the male lead but I truly didn't find any problem with him, in fact, I loved him. The show had so much potential in it could've delivered perfectly bit lacked within the middle and that became its biggest flaw. HOWEVER, I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS SHOW. It talks about the real 'devils' in society in a creative and aesthetically pleasing way and will leave you with a brilliant ending. It is worth it to watch and I would recommend others to give it a try.

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becoming the Devil to banish the Evil?

► What Makes it Worth a Watch

+ Ji Sung acting as Kang Yo-Han (fall in love with his voice, acting and looks all-over again)
+ OST worth adding to your favorite playlist (one of the best in dramas, transitions well for scenes and characters)
+ The mystery behind Yo-Han's backstory (a little Who-dunnit?)
+ The visuals, the concept of the live court show & filming locations

► What Could Have Been Better

• Not a fist-pumping, victory lap worthy finish
The whole process of rooting out evil - the plot could have been a bit more tighter and edgy. The ending doesn't make you jump up and say they got what they deserved, unless you like more bitter-sweet, philosophical endings.

• The Antagonist - Jung Sun Ah & Co
The bunch of them were greedy with low-key plans for world domination. No chilling, blood curling performances.

They were not evil to the core, rather puppets at one point or the other and seemed just plain lazy with carrying out their evil plans. Jung Sun Ah - tries to be the psycho villain - but neither can you sympathize with how she turned evil, not can you say her deeds were pure evil. (Thought some of the Yoga scenes and facial expressions were trying to imitate Yoo Ji-Tae from Oldboy but no where the same impact)

• Kim Ga-On
Expectations: smart, young judge who will use the right path and bring justice, influencing Kang Yohan in his endeavor as well.
Reality: Confused, Naïve character - who was neither good throughout and changed characters around him, neither was a good-turned-slightly evil character to deliver justice cause the powerful don't play fair either. Should have been a Watson to Yohan's Sherlock, or Robin to his Batman - it just wasn't built well.

Flawed character, but Jin Young still shined in scenes where he had to show conflict of thoughts and anguish.

► What Could Have Been Avoided?

- Yoon Soo Hyun & the little-lived romance with Ga-On
The entire character was unnecessary and drama would have been better without it as well as the forced romance between her and Ga-On

- The Doppelganger Effect: Ga-On & Issac
While we see in the end, that it was to affect Yo-Han to take notice of Ga-On, but he would have anyways because of the show they were working on. Eventually because of Ga-On's past history, Yo-Han would have worked with him. Neither does the resemblance affect any of the family members or in the plotline, hence unnecessary.

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Watching this show was like riding a roller-coaster!

I truly enjoyed this series, a very realistic and powerful depiction of the highest class level among our society, those who grew up super rich and value no people of lower levels than their own, and those who were almost under the ground, and climbed their way up by all possible means and after reaching the top, forgot who they were and their true origins.

The depiction was very very realistic. It was interesting seeing how everybody rapidly changes sides for their own sakes. Also, the portrayal of some contradicting characters as Yo-han and Seon-a was very appealing. They had a good side along with a really dark one. We could see that Yo-han was more aware of his good side, unlike Seon-a who was mostly led by her darkest side. They were both seemingly similar but also different. They're kinda complicated.

The only character i really hated was Soo-hyun. I didn't like the actress herself nor her character in the series. Her acting wasn't that good in general. Her hatred for Yo-han was too much, unnecessary and unreasonable. Her reaction after Kyung-hee 's accident was very frustrating. She lacked almost all detectives' skills, and finally there weren't really that much of chemistry between her and Ga-on.

Lastly, the bromance was AMAZING!! I absolutely loved the chemistry between the two main leads Yo-han and Ga-on. Although, they had their ups and downs, their relationship was very wholesome in a way. I definitely enjoyed the presence of the bromance atmosphere in this show. :)

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A lot of style, some substance, but zero satisfying conclusions

I'll start by praising the show, especially the music. There are moments I got lost in a scene cause the music was just that good. Songs like Tempest, Nightmare and the nights, soundtracks like Enemy of Truth, Hope of Dystopia and Hello, Master?. All of which worked so well, especially for the characters, to fully bring out their potential.

The narrative of a dystopian Korea was well done all things considered, though there are moments where your suspension of disbelief will truly be challenged. Coupling that narrative with a broken justice system and the greed of the conglomerates, you have an interesting enough plot to drive your drama. Of course, without good characters, that means nothing.

The main character is fantastic and so is the actor. The drama goes to great lengths to show why the the devil judge is considered “the devil” and why he has every reason to be the way he is. It's because of the dystopian Korea that a person like him was needed by this society. In the first half, the 2nd ML acts as an excellent foil to his ideals as he also comes to terms with the broken system he's trying to thrive in. The main antagonist (her actress is exceptional, by the way) is intelligent and charismatic. She has some good character moments sprinkled in between the scheming and strategizing. Aside from Park Gyu Young and Jang Young Nam's characters, the side characters don't do much of note.

The show also knows how to evoke emotion out of the reader because of how well established the characters are. Be it happiness when the MC shows actual growth, tension when their plans utterly fail and sadness when a certain character(s) dies. There are also some genuinely amazing plot twists, but it never feels like the writers are pulling the rug from under you.

What impressed me most is how reasonable the characters were when faced with uncertain situations without jumping to conclusions — at least that was the case until the final 4 episodes. Suddenly, the characters (aside from the MC) are surprised by the consequences of their own actions. They don't fully think before heading into dangerous situations and therefore, the story has to find convoluted ways to get them out of danger. As a result, the ending becomes one of the most disappointing ones I've ever experienced, especially because of its promising run.

Overall, it's a very entertaining show with well written character, very good production and OST, but with a frustrating ending where I kept skipping scenes in the final episode.

It is still very much worth a watch.

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ignore the bad character development

What I liked:

Kang Yo Han was definitely my favorite character, but that is mainly because I am a sucker for morally grey characters. He was "the law" but did not abide by it and often used violence and money to get his way. However, it was to "protect" the country.

My favorite scene was the "we are the light" Was it predictable? Yes. The moment they pulled out their phones I just knew what it was going to be. But the scene was just *chefs kiss*

The chemistry between Kim Ga On and Kang Yo Han's family was prenominal. They were sooo cute. Moments of fluff I loved.

What I did not like:

Everyone was just so easy to manipulate. The good guys, and the bad guys. Jung Sun Ah was manipulated into believing that the virus was real, but after being told, she goes to the site, looks around and bam she suddenly turns good again. Like no one tried to stop her as she entered, she just made a pained face, and went back to the other judges to fix the shit she created.

Kim Ga On was also very easy to manipulate. His teacher turned out to be bad... Woah didn't see that one coming ;-;.... Oh no, turns out he did a very bad thing by reporting his co-worker to the police.

Then Oh Jin Joo was soo easy to manipulate as well. Like she believed this person who was bought over by Kang Yo Han, would end up betraying him. That would be her downfall.

Some scenes could have been elaborated a little more to increase suspense and the number of scenes trying to do suspense could be reduced so that it doesn't feel rushed.

Yoon Soo Hyun was also terrible in the way her character was useless. I didn't understand what everyone was complaining about until I got to episode 12. She was acting as a foil to the main character, but their romance was not even convincing. I knew nothing about their background to make me believe they were in love. Then when she suddenly dies, like omg you were told not to go there. Like everything is almost her fault. I did not even feel anything at her death since there was nothing to feel. She was not developed at all besides being a "cop." Like what drives her morals? Why does she not listen to Kim Ga On when he tells her that it wasn't them who killed them, besides the obvious reason that she is a cop. Because there are are evidently many corrupt cops who have reasons for their corruption like family, greed, etc. Furthermore, she is a main character, so its probably important to provide more background on her.

Overall: lots of background information could be provided to characterize their current development.

Story: Morally grey characters. Could have been better with the build ups.
Acting/Cast: Some of the characters could have been better portrayed. Might have been the screenwriters fault. Specifically Soo Hyun.
Music: Wow it was pretty good. Normally I don't remember music unless something stands out. This was memorable. I loved the opening song.
Rewatch value: I rarely re watch stuff. This one i probably won't because i already know whats gonna happen so there is no suspense.

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an overwhelming script!

Congratulations to the writer, mr. Moon Yoo Seok! While watching the series, I wondered who the writer was and when I read he is a former judge, everything made sense. Not only the story was mindblowing, but he also gave to the characters depth and essence, even to the minor roles. So, don't miss watching it, it will not let you down.
Congratulations to the actors, too! All of them were excellent, the main leads to the minor leads. Ji Soong mastered his character with his stone-face expressions when needed, kudos. Jang Yeong Nam portrayed a relentless lady, kudos. Park Jin Yeong was excellent in portraying the wavering judge, kudos. Park Gyo Yeong also excellent, kudos. Baek Hyon Jin, WOW! I really hope he gets an award for his acting! Lee Hae Yoon, he totally convinced me, kudos! Jeon Chae Eun, I agree to the reviewer who wrote she was so mature in acting, kudos. Kim Jae Kyung, although she did not have a main lead, she played a major role in the plot of the story, she pulled it through, kudos. Kim Min Jung, at first I had the notion she was repeating herself as I had seen her at Mr. Sunshine, given her campy acting, it seemed to me like she was being too obvious at expressing her feelings with her demeanor and facial expressions, but I took it all back watching her heartbreaking acting to the end, kudos. Please forgive me for not mentioning the rest of the actors, I'd need a day to write a review for all of them, kudos.
The soundtrack: an excellent choice!
And finally, last but not least, many kudos to the director and his cast, Choi Jung Gyu for the cinematography, the meticulous guidance of his actors/actresses.
I strongly suggest to you to watching The Devil Judge. It will stay with me for a long time, that's for sure!

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not your average law show???

I forgot why I even started this show to be honest, it started very confusing though. It was like you couldn't tell between good and bad but also could at the same time? The women in this show this carried the show. Loved yohan and gaon's characters but the women. There weren't any parts where I felt the show was dragging. As evil as sunah, she's your perfect mastermind behind everything but nobody knew a thing because how good she was. I was not really surprised at the end she took her own life instead of someone else killing her. I was not expecting the twist about elijah though, that took me off guard. I think the ending was almost perfect and there is no need for a season two or anything. might revise later idk

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It's thrilling and digs at what is considered ideal

For me the story was a beautiful tragedy with comedy here and there, i loved the plot and its progression although i admit at some point i began to question certain character prejudice.

The acting of ji sung has got to be the major reason i picked this drama but the other actors pulled their roles well too. The character Kang Yo Han has depth if you get to understand his way of thinking and method of doing things i would have loved if the plot as a whole dived a bit deeper into unraveling who this character was and less of what he stands for, he has a tragic past and suffering most "evil" character would, but he was much more than that, he never tried to justify his actions neither did he cloak it under "fighting for the greater good" shit. For me he was more human than a devil as he said "monsters aren't made, the monster inside is awoken" he strikes me in so many ways because he reminds me of a part of myself i kill to be able to associate freely, since most of my ideas and principle are considered under the minority.
The character Jung Sun Ah is a bit more cynical and unreasonable, a typical example of what an obsession can do, a strong woman fiercely guarding a set of ideas she has no opinions on, she emotional and impulsive without a care, she had no knowledge of what love and loving should be or feel like, she was well written with so much flaw that just makes sense.

Kim Ga On is a character without depth and reason, he judges and concludes whatever he can of Yo Han yet he's bent on giving infinite chances to evil and cynical people because that's he's belief, this point contradicts the principles he stands for. he's the only flaw of Kang yo Han but finding out why and how makes you realise that even if Yo Han is the devil himself he's still very much made of flesh and bones, for a judge he's more ideal than practical, a saint that's blind to all that's evil. Ga On love story is quite pathetic and slightly understandable one wouldn't trade friendship for love carelessly. Soo hyun as a character is quite weak and badly written for me she's a goody two shoes cop that has this belief of protecting Ga On innocence, diving into crisis without proper thinking i hated her at some point but later all I felt was pity she deserved more screen time for a main character.
The dialogue are quite meaningful and inspiring I like myself a real good conversation and this drama delivered steadily. The serenading classical and OST was nice.

Over all i really liked the drama with a goverment like mine the method of Yo Han would be ideal.

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