This review may contain spoilers
Intense drama
Without giving away too much of the plot;Ji Sung is THE Superstar Devil Judge, the lone revenger, who recruits a protege, to help him take out the elite, narcissistic villains who control the dystopian society of Korea. There was filler material and a ton of unnecessary flashbacks to clutter the viewers’ concentration. Editing Department went out of control.
Acting:
Ji Sung and Kim Min Jung showed their seniority and acting caliber. The other actors gave either basic or over the top performances. President Park must have escaped from the asylum for lunatics. Give that man a straight jacket.
Fashions:
Men’s fashions were on point, Women’s fashions were average (…Cha Kyung Hee) or outlandish (…Jung Sun Ah).
Story:
The plot was hindered by the flashbacks, flashbacking and choppy editing. Storyboard was all over the place. The church fire reveal was underwhelming. The writer should have pinned it on Jung Sun Ah instead.
Editing:
Too many repetitive flashbacks and choppy editing! Viewers cannot focus when they see past and present juggled in front of them.
Music:
Average
Conclusion:
Rushed, but gratifying
What I read into the final scene, is that Judge Kang has gone off the radar, to complete his revenging mission. Cue to Season 2.
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WoW
Jinyoung from GOT7, I couldn’t be prouder of you! Your acting in this drama was incredibly convincing. Not only are you a talented K-pop idol, but you’re also proving yourself to be a remarkable actor. Wow! I thought your singing was emotional, but your performance in this story took it to another level—I was deeply moved.Ji Sung, where have you been all my life? OMG, your acting is phenomenal! I found myself constantly rewinding just to fully absorb every scene you were in. Your presence and delivery were so captivating that I couldn’t just skip ahead to the last episode—the story wouldn’t let me!
The judges’ costumes and the set design were crafted with such meticulous detail, perfectly complementing the storyline. The colors were stunning! I could almost imagine a judicial system where citizens decide the fate of criminals, though in today’s world, that thought is a bit unsettling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this drama, and it’s one I’ll be rewatching. Huge thanks to the writers, producers, actors, actresses, and the entire costume and set design team for bringing this story to life!
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This review may contain spoilers
JAEGA JAEGA JAEGA!!!!!
LISTEN UP K DRAMA WATCHERS!!! Don't think you have some superiority complex and think this k-drama isn't good bc of these reviews saying it's disappointing, Ga-on has no personality and it's a mess. FIRST OF ALL, you cannot blame my man Ga-on okay it was hard to know the truth and he had mixed feelings. He lost his parents and the girl l he loved and almost Yo-han... SECOND, when I say that every single episode was interesting and had me SAT. IM NOT KIDDING OKAY!!!!! Literally I was itching and had to pee every 2 seconds from the anxiety this show gave me bc it was SO UPSIDE DOWN and anything was expected. Deep down tho I knew Yo-han did not do the fire but ngl thought it would be someone not expected that did the fire. bro got me thinking it was Ga-on at that point but im like nah that cant be. legit had to wait til the LAST EPISODE to find out like damn??? all for it to be Elijah anyways shows how good Yo-han is. Oh since we are talking about Yo-han he is THAT GUY okay. His morals, values, and humor is unmatched. Seriously tho, Ga-on was also so sweet he just wanted to do the right thing, poor guy and I'm glad he found out the truth at the end. Seon-ah WEIRD ASSSSS but she ate them fits and was a fun villain ngl but she did pmtfo with how she killed Su-hyeon and working with that RETARDED ASS PROFESSOR I HATED HIS ASS FROM THE FIRST EPISODE. but she was real for some stuff tho. OH AND THE WORST OF THEM ALL THE STUPID PRESIDENT BRO ALWAYS YAPPING AND SCREAMING I WANTED TO SKIP EVERYTIME HE WAS YELLING...... KOREA TOTAL CHANGEEEEEEEEEEEEE (roll your fingers in circles) SO REFRESHING!!!! Please just watch this you'll get me.FIRE INTRO !!! NEVER SKIPPED IT. &&& FIRE OST.
and dont forget..
JAEGA JAEGA JAEGA, JAEGA
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Worth it
Worth watching. wish it had season 2. ,............ ......
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a lesson to humanity
so where do i start? first of all, i do not throw out the baby with the bath water. i look at the whole picture, script, directing, acting, photography, music, costumes, jewelry, set ups, stage designs...etc. it's art, and each aspect has to support the whole - that's a good piece of art. this drama was THIS KIND of drama. did the drama have problems? hell, yes. but i am yet to see a chinese or korean drama that is perfect. can you? this particular drama - the acting was through the roof, of course i am talking about Ji Sund (Kang Yo-Han) - what a trip! i also enjoyed Kim Min-Jung (Jeong-Seon-a) i think she gave it her all, very special, presenting her evilness to the utmost perfection. i can't imagine anybody doing better than that. and i must mention the young actress Jeon Chaeeun who played Elijah, she impressed me with her arsenal of emotions at such a young age and the ability to express them on screen. Jin Young (Kim Gaon) is a story apart from the others, in my opinion. i believe that he was wrongly cast. his looks are childish and he was too "pretty" for this role, like a decoration or lollypop. but may be that was intentional, to introduce a juxtaposition to Kang Yo-Han, who is all macho in the most beautiful sense, but has a soft inside. i actually never believed that he killed his brother or caused the fire, or killed Kim Gaon's childhood friend. i just didn't feel it was in him. i also was very suspicious of Gaon's professor from the very beginning, who pushed too hard, there was something behind his fight against Yo-Han. i just didn't trust him, and of course he ended up to be the "devil", who betrayed and killed. but back to Kim Gaon. again, opposite Ji Sund, who is the top of the best in this industry, Jim Young appeared to be very weak, in character as well as in acting. so many times, i looked at his eyes, beautiful - yes, but somehow empty, looking for a way to express a certain emotion, idea, or whatever... kind of looking through the "files in his brain", but couldn't find any. Ji Sund, every movement of a finger, slightly raised eyebrow, twitch of the mouth, tilt of his head, posture, thunder in his eyes... i can go on and on, everything is at play. not a single detail missed. you could sense his reach emotional intelligence that he relies on in his work and it totally draws you into his world. i must admit, Gaon somehow remedied himself in the last episode, but that's hardly enough. Gaon's friend, Yoon Soo-Hyun, could have been even better than Gaon, she had the potential, but wasn't given a chance, i felt. so that's a missed opportunity. the rest of the cast was mostly good, but i am not going to go into details.
the script, that many complained, but truly, all or most say they enjoyed, were glued to the screen, participated in the journey, got invested in the storyline... so how can you just dismiss the script? it did something to you, didn't it? was it all realism, of course not. but i already accepted that Asian dramas suffer from lack or realism, logic, even common sense. part of the "charm" if you will. like when Jeon Seon-a goes to the hospital, she suddenly melts, feels sorry for these girls, but i did not believe for a moment that she actually has the capacity to feel compassion. none. or when she kills herself in the last episode. from what we saw from her, she would first kill the president, yes, but then she would kill Yo-han and then probably all the rest. that would be more in line with her character.
all in all, "the devil judge" drama - spectacular, intoxicating, thought provoking, mesmerizing, instantly addictive, insanely engaging and most of all RELEVANT. RELEVANT WHY? the most important to me was the message that this story tries to convey, a kind of moral and ethical directive. if you think that this is a dystopia, think again and look at politics in general. do you remember what the president said about a clean korean race, about emigrants, about a new republic, about his own power... i had goose bumps, i wanted to throw up... did you hear some of the speeches of our own previous american president - that was eerily familiar, same words, same expressions, same sentiment. and he is not the only one. the attacks on the american congress on January 6 this year was not much different than Jukchang (the bamboo stick group - self proclaimed patriots). and in general, there are different democracies now that are simply crashing and burning. if humanity can not gather it's wits and put a stop to it, if they allow these forces to manipulate them, then we are not that far from the dystopia depicted in this drama. we were almost there on january 6, 2021 in our capital in washington. and it seems like this is a call for action. a message like this is much more than a flaw in a script.
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Thrillingly brilliant: when justice becomes a game and the courtroom a tool of power
Following a national epidemic, an era of riots, homelessness, and distrust in the government arises, bringing the country’s liveliness and finances to a halt. Politics and law become one, entangled in a mess of corruption that no one dares to touch for fear of challenging the conglomerates. No one except Judge Kang Yo Han, an avid chaos-maker and lover of games.But is he truly the hero he presents himself as? Or is he just another power-hungry figure, taking advantage of the country’s chaotic state to turn the growing force of his fame into a seizure of control, as have done past dictators? No one can ever know his true face, because he tells people the stories they want to hear. Amused, he watches as the strings he pulls—every illusion, every trace, every word he says, and the way people react—all fall into place like dominoes, just as he planned for things to play out. When you’re a genius who’s always one step ahead, it’s hardly ever possible to veer off track. But when Kim Ga On, an innocent and pure judge, committed to upholding the law, steps foot into his twisted world, becoming the light to his dark, Yo Han’s façade risks cracking…in more ways than one.
When the cards are already set up against you, or in Yo Han’s words: “When our playing ground is tilted against us,” the moral compass shifts not between matters of justice and plain right or wrong, but between the personal perception of good and evil. There is no fair game in this Korean near-future dystopian series’ live-aired courtroom, where corruption and greed meet the most vulnerable stories—facets of social injustice where civilian death and heartbreak are at the forefront—placing this confrontation under the spotlight, pedestaled like a variety show for everyone to witness.
In this series’ public-opinion-infiltrated courtroom that dares to fight against political corruption and the elite, power games are truly what’s at play and what is at stake for one becomes the other’s gain. From the get-go, always one step ahead, and aware that the courtroom is a mere tool in a greater scheme, Judge Kang attempts to gain control of it, convinced that public support is the only way he can shine alongside other powerful figures. However the saviour he may appear as, his judicial principles come with a twist: he believes everyone is equal under the eyes of the law—not in the sense that all should be granted innocence at first glance, but in the cold belief that innocent people don’t exist at all. Led by this philosophy, the expedition of law orchestrated through Kang is followed through a “game” rather than a more “just” vein of what would be an ideal, fair courtroom.
Kim Ga On, a newcomer judge fighting to stand his moral ground amidst corruption, slowly opens his eyes to the truth hidden behind the polished version of “justice” led by Judge Kang and presented on screen to viewers of the Live Court Show. Its image is meticulously crafted with the goal of fishing the attention and support of citizens—who have lost trust in their juridical regime and government—by showcasing exactly what they vote to see unfold on screen, unaware of what goes on behind the scenes or perhaps choosing to feign ignorance for their own satisfaction. Although mostly content with the outcomes of Judge Kang’s decisions, his sometimes masked, sometimes unmasked dishonesty puzzles Ga On, preventing him from resting in that contentment. Initially tasked with keeping a close eye on him due to his professor’s suspicions, Ga On’s relentless chase for answers soon spirals into a more personal-driven search, an obsession that borders on being downright down bad for him.
A god in the courtroom, a-sometimes-quirkily-immature man at home, a traitor among his peers, an unrightful trickster as a supposed follower of the rule…Perhaps enthralled, or baffled by the ever-changing silhouette of Kang Yo Han’s character, Ga On feels a magnetic pull draw him closer to his side, determined to unearth the reasoning behind his motives and enticing decisions. Ga On’s fixation on Judge Kang and obsession with understanding his complexity leads him astray from his black-and-white worldview. His character’s naivety and lack of depth reveal themselves when placed side by side with the complexly moraled Yo Han.
Ga On possesses a strong sense of utility; he cherishes those around him dearly, for they are lovers and not enemies. Even as an adult, he carries a youthful innocence, as represented through the bird tattooed on his back—one that resembles the white bird Yo Han had killed when he was in school and of which mirrors his loss of innocence at such a young age. Portrayed as a rule follower who strives to follow the book, the audience’s perspective of Ga On is initially that he is a good guy—at least when he thrusts himself into life-endangering situations with the goal of protecting everyone. Magnetic and sharp, Kang Yo Han’s presence draws one in with his strange and unpredictable, sometimes perhaps even crazy sort of flair. The series leaves Ga On—and viewers themselves—grasping at straws, the many versions of himself put forward, to try and dissect a clear picture of his persona—morals and motives and all—to decide if he is cheer-worthy or not.
The chemistry between these two leads, who are stuck on the same team yet overcome by mistrust, creates a tense dynamic similar to the one presented in the renowned K-drama ‘Beyond Evil’. Shared moments between Kim and Kang drip with subtext, especially in the subtle details that feel too strong to dismiss the deliberateness of every quiet pulse. Though not overtly romantic, the quiet intimacy laced within every lingering gaze, every crack in the armor that exposes a soft, scared vulnerability only the other can see, every emotion-charged touch, is energetically sensual and steamy.
In a spectacle of fine ice between the two leads, where one might succeed but only at the other’s expense, the only way to survive is for both to stand on equal ground, only possible when Ga On—who grew up adhering to the faulty law system and surrounded by people in government jobs—finally adjusts his perspective of justice into a more radically complex one. It’s the key to being content with what’s considered the courtroom’s “wins.”. Ga On slowly comes to learn this truth; that justice is not achieved by following the rulebook page by page. With everything he had once been taught by the country’s official judicial team now non-applicable to this new game-styled courtroom, he has no choice but to turn to Judge Kang’s ways. Ga On comes to realize that fairness is a projection of your own ideals and values, and that leveling up to your opponent sometimes means detouring from the rule book and playing dirty.
Heavy on mystery and play of perceptions, this gritting series is for lovers of suspense, ponderers of justice, desirers of societal reform, or simply anyone wishing to question their own morals. It’ll leave you contemplating and pondering—remembering, as Kang Yo Han says, that “There is no justice in the real world. Only a game exists. A terribly tilted one at that.”
Want to delve deeper into the world of 'The Devil Judge'? FIND THE LENGTHENED AND ANALYSIS -STYLE VERSION OF MY REVIEW ON MEDIUM! : “Analyzing The Devil Judge (K-Drama): When Justice Becomes a Game and the Courtroom a Tool of Power”
2025-08-06
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The show's an ABYSS....it captured all my heart, mind and sanity.
Have you ever heard that "IT TAKES ONE DEVIL TO FIGHT ANOTHER". Yup that's real. A good guy will have to take eternity to curb the evil and times a luxury you don't have when there's evilness everywhere. You need something quick and effective. For eg:- lighting yourself on fire to burn down this evil world. Sacrifices happens everywhere, it's just that some you know and some you don't. This is where our beloved devil judge THE KANG YOHAN comes to play role. He becomes the devil , sacrificing himself, the kang yohan who was once good, to fight these devils of the society.The character of KANG YOHAN is so complex, so intense, so mysterious, so sympathetic, so courageous, so good, so beautiful, EVERY BREATHE HE TAKES, every move he plays, every idea he thinks, TAKES EVERY FUCKING BREATHE OUT OF YOUR LUNGS and also he's the one giving the viewer the oxygen to breathe throughout the series.
Jung sung-ah! Dammit! you need to watch series to know about her....I won't just tell everything.
Our GAON-ah.... he is a character that believe criminals should be punished only in legal ways. But can legal ways punish the wealthy criminals who control the system? He's completely opposite of character idealism of kang yohan. The contrast makes the show even more appealing.
The show is not even a sad romance kind off, it's crime, mystery, thriller, but the hell's of bucket of tears I cried. The backstories of every character made me cry so much. Especially kang yo han.
Kang Yohan is:- I don't love kang yo han for his well kept brownish hair,
That scar on his forehead, dangerous smirk, his power and authoritative voice , his not so cold heart he tryna show people, not his chiseled body, the powerful steps he takes, or his Devilishly Good Personality or how BEAUTIFULLY DANGEROUS person he is,I love all this but not as much as his eyes....that's speaks volume and can make someone speechless at the same time.
He's eyes are like so black, dark void, the abyss, the blackhole, something so dangerous but you still wanna go close to him like a moth going towards fire.
🤧 DAMN HIS EXISTENCE.
He was epitome of beautiful lightening of thunder you should not go close to.
He speaks fantasy for someone like him cannot exist in real life.
The punishments are so satisfying.
Apart from these, the rest of the characters are tooo oh so mind-blowing.
This Drama Is 1000/10 For Me.
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THIS IS A MILION/10
This is a masterpiece, this is a one of a time experience...Not a single boring episode not even one minute. It is so good i promise you guys would NEVER regret it.. I honstly regret finishing it, like i got so attached to it, that it feels empty.
So this drama talks about how fucked up the governments and the people of power are.. Was i surprised of how missed up they’re getting each time??? No, not at all.
There was a "plot twist" where they show that another person is a selfish disgusting human being as well, wich i expected already.. I mean this is how humans are they’re selfish and greedy, they follow thier own good. This fact hurts, but it is the reality of our world.
on one of the trails they gave the defendant (he was so evil) the death penalty, and i was so happy. But when it actually happened i felt so bad.. i was like am i any better than them? and don’t get me wrong i did not feel bad for him, but actually witnessing it is another thing...
Anyways i truly LOOOOOOOVE ji sung he is such an amazing actor i loved him since "kill me heal me" (i should probably finish that as well).. And this is my first time seeing jin young’s acting and OH MY he is WAAAY too good, honstly the whole cast is a CHEF’S KISS they’re so good.
I cried a lot they really did me good lol...
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I couldn’t stop watching
This is one of my favourite drama. I don't watch just anything because I am a picking person, but this is drama is worth watching.I was very excited for this drama of course because Ji sung l trust his acting skills😁The first 6 episodes was very good.I couldn't stop watching episode after episode but after episode 6 the event is start became slowly, but the events keep get interesting more and more without feeling boring. I didn't like the last episode at least we can say it's a happy ending l mean when l watch the last episodes l start thinking that the drama will be sad ending but there was events doesn't make any sense.There was alot of bold topics that show the extent of human ugliness and greed and l loved that because these things are exist in reality.Ji sung was perfect for this role he doesn't need me to say anything about his acting skills.Park jin-young was good but there was scenes l didn't convinced or impressed when l should. Kim min-jung was very good as villain at the beginning she was irritating but with the time l start loving her😁I also love the relationship between Go on and Soo Hyun.The music and the OST's was Great and l keep listening to them. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND 👊👊
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Leas actors carried the show
Honestly, veteran ML Ji Sung and Kim Min Jung are the powerhouses of this show. Their chemistry and cat and mouse game is palpable with tension of love/hate. I LOVED their morally ambiguous characters, it was a fresh take to the other drama tropes out there. Id seen Kim Min Jung in Mr Sunshine but WOW i think she deserves an award for her portrayal of Chairwoman Jung. Its not an easy role to play with her complex and sometimes contradictory emotions and i think Kim Min Jung portrayed it to a tee. The show could not have done without either actor. Jinyoung did a good job but he's nowhere at the level of these 2 veterans though... maybe with time and experience he'll get there. The story is fast paced and keeps you on your toes. It's set in a dystopian theme so bear thay in mind when watching and dont expect everything to be super realistic. Overall a great show with superb acting, cinematography, OST and satisfying plot.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Highly recommended
A beautiful drama with great great cast, i am already a fan of ji sung, i have watched all his dramas so how can i skip this one..Well the storyline is strong, every episode is full of enthusiasm and excitement. This drama has not only strong heros but also strong villains.
The only thing i dont like is the character of police female lead i dont remember her name, she should act like a police officer and not a teenage girl, she is always available for her lover without any planning, equipments or other staff..
The actor who is playing the character of Ga On is great but the character is not that strong, anyone can easily manipulate him..
I am angry on him because he left yo han in epi 12 and in 14 he came back to help yo han (judge) and again he is leaving him on minor reasons, he never think about others, he never used his brain. The game of winning by politicians needs a brain and not emotions hah.
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I was skeptical - Initially
I was right. This is not a great drama. I watched a few episodes thinking it will get better as the series went on. Unfortunately the series was becoming worse and worse. So I had to stop. The review has have 500 characters in length. No sure why? There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing more to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show. There is nothing to write about this show.Was this review helpful to you?
