Ri Ara byul
India
"If the devil does exist among us, it would be the self-pity of the powerful." - Kang Yo Han.
A magnificent visual treat!
This drama made me appreciate the hard work that goes into cinematography, set design, CGI, and editing skills.
Was adding the dystopian backdrop necessary?
If the drama would be devoid of this context, then many scenes would seem unrealistic and not have made any sense. Although several parts of the show are also relevant in today's society, the public would have called it offensive and banned the entire drama. (If you know, you know)
So, in short:-
The dystopian setting gave the creators cinematic and creative freedom to explore. Hence it has a unique plot despite the concept being ordinary.
The story revolves around the elite people of the country. Our ML is one of them but has a different intention. When influential people commit a crime, either they escape the law, are released on bail or serve punishment that is way less than what they deserve. This drama has an entirely new approach towards justice, hence the name "Devil's Justice." I would not call this a classic courtroom drama, as it focuses more on the plot outside the courtroom. The story is simple yet thrilling and undoubtedly entertaining. You get to see the strong and weak sides of every character. It is bumpy at places, and has some loopholes but overall still worth watching.
The first half of the drama is like a wild-stormy sea, exciting, immersive, and exhilarating. While the second half is more calm and emotional which completes the story beautifully. The dialogue writing is pretty impressive; a lot gets conveyed in fewer words.
Also, fun fact - The writer of this drama, Mr. Moon Yoo Seok, is/was the chief judge of Seoul Eastern District Court (source-wiki)
"Hell is empty and all the devils are here".
Most characters of the drama are grey. Some are twisted, some are annoying, while some are just straight-up evil.
Our ML, Kang Yo Han, is a very witty and cunning character.
He is "black as devil and hot as hell." His character is perfect in every way yet very much flawed and is pretty consistent throughout the show.
What more should I say about Ji sung. He has aged fine like wine. The charisma and the sinister aura of the character totally suit him. His visuals will overwhelm you ;)
In the world of exotic characters, Kim Ga On's character is the most familiar one! He thinks simple and believes in what he sees, but is also weak and easily gets manipulated by both sides. He has certain core beliefs. But as he gets closer to Yo Han, he starts questioning them. His character won't fail to surprise you as the show goes on. Park Jin young's portrayal did justice to the character.
The chemistry between our MLs is so intense yet very natural. The bromance game is strong here.
I personally ADORED Jung Sun-ah, her character is pretty layered; you will "HATE" her yet pity her. Her character is twisted and evil yet very human. I particularly love the way she talks — feels like she is reciting a poem or narrating a story. It’s captivating. She will go down as one of my favorite female villains.
Kim Min Jung, the actress who has played the part, nailed it. Her expressions, posture, dialogue delivery, everything was ON POINT! I would love to see her more.
Kang Yo Han's and Jung Sun Ah's scenes together have this dark and insane love-hate vibe to it; I replayed their scenes several times!
The negatives:- (According to me)
1.]The 1st episode seemed chaotic and not very engaging. I was not able to connect to it right away. (I stayed because of the visuals)
2.]Even though the courtroom drama(scenes)will give you an adrenaline rush, seemed somewhat unrealistic to me. Like the judges being biased and coming down to interrogate like lawyers. I know the era is different, but still, I found it a little over the top.
3.]A character that had the potential but was poorly written. I found that character somewhat annoying, impractical, and unnecessary.
(I don't want the future viewers to have a biased/judgemental opinion on that character; hence I won't take the name.
Also, I want to keep the review spoiler-free. But if you have watched the drama, then you certainly know who I am talking about! And yes, your opinion may differ from mine.)
The music is 10/10. Period. The background score and the OST are classy and groovy! It transfers you to the dystopian world and suits the narrative flawlessly.
I would like to conclude this by saying, the story is not something out of the world/extraordinary but totally not worth skipping. Give it a try; who knows?
If you want to watch something very realistic, don't go for this. But if you wish to sit back and enjoy a "HIGH-QUALITY" melodrama with a darker theme then, this is for you!
Vote if you found it helpful/useful.
Thank you.
This drama made me appreciate the hard work that goes into cinematography, set design, CGI, and editing skills.
Was adding the dystopian backdrop necessary?
If the drama would be devoid of this context, then many scenes would seem unrealistic and not have made any sense. Although several parts of the show are also relevant in today's society, the public would have called it offensive and banned the entire drama. (If you know, you know)
So, in short:-
The dystopian setting gave the creators cinematic and creative freedom to explore. Hence it has a unique plot despite the concept being ordinary.
The story revolves around the elite people of the country. Our ML is one of them but has a different intention. When influential people commit a crime, either they escape the law, are released on bail or serve punishment that is way less than what they deserve. This drama has an entirely new approach towards justice, hence the name "Devil's Justice." I would not call this a classic courtroom drama, as it focuses more on the plot outside the courtroom. The story is simple yet thrilling and undoubtedly entertaining. You get to see the strong and weak sides of every character. It is bumpy at places, and has some loopholes but overall still worth watching.
The first half of the drama is like a wild-stormy sea, exciting, immersive, and exhilarating. While the second half is more calm and emotional which completes the story beautifully. The dialogue writing is pretty impressive; a lot gets conveyed in fewer words.
Also, fun fact - The writer of this drama, Mr. Moon Yoo Seok, is/was the chief judge of Seoul Eastern District Court (source-wiki)
"Hell is empty and all the devils are here".
Most characters of the drama are grey. Some are twisted, some are annoying, while some are just straight-up evil.
Our ML, Kang Yo Han, is a very witty and cunning character.
He is "black as devil and hot as hell." His character is perfect in every way yet very much flawed and is pretty consistent throughout the show.
What more should I say about Ji sung. He has aged fine like wine. The charisma and the sinister aura of the character totally suit him. His visuals will overwhelm you ;)
In the world of exotic characters, Kim Ga On's character is the most familiar one! He thinks simple and believes in what he sees, but is also weak and easily gets manipulated by both sides. He has certain core beliefs. But as he gets closer to Yo Han, he starts questioning them. His character won't fail to surprise you as the show goes on. Park Jin young's portrayal did justice to the character.
The chemistry between our MLs is so intense yet very natural. The bromance game is strong here.
I personally ADORED Jung Sun-ah, her character is pretty layered; you will "HATE" her yet pity her. Her character is twisted and evil yet very human. I particularly love the way she talks — feels like she is reciting a poem or narrating a story. It’s captivating. She will go down as one of my favorite female villains.
Kim Min Jung, the actress who has played the part, nailed it. Her expressions, posture, dialogue delivery, everything was ON POINT! I would love to see her more.
Kang Yo Han's and Jung Sun Ah's scenes together have this dark and insane love-hate vibe to it; I replayed their scenes several times!
The negatives:- (According to me)
1.]The 1st episode seemed chaotic and not very engaging. I was not able to connect to it right away. (I stayed because of the visuals)
2.]Even though the courtroom drama(scenes)will give you an adrenaline rush, seemed somewhat unrealistic to me. Like the judges being biased and coming down to interrogate like lawyers. I know the era is different, but still, I found it a little over the top.
3.]A character that had the potential but was poorly written. I found that character somewhat annoying, impractical, and unnecessary.
(I don't want the future viewers to have a biased/judgemental opinion on that character; hence I won't take the name.
Also, I want to keep the review spoiler-free. But if you have watched the drama, then you certainly know who I am talking about! And yes, your opinion may differ from mine.)
The music is 10/10. Period. The background score and the OST are classy and groovy! It transfers you to the dystopian world and suits the narrative flawlessly.
I would like to conclude this by saying, the story is not something out of the world/extraordinary but totally not worth skipping. Give it a try; who knows?
If you want to watch something very realistic, don't go for this. But if you wish to sit back and enjoy a "HIGH-QUALITY" melodrama with a darker theme then, this is for you!
Vote if you found it helpful/useful.
Thank you.
Was this review helpful to you?
