Slightly overrated if you ask me
So there are many reviews gushing about this drama. I feel a little meh about it.The drama delivers what the summary/introduction promises. Just that its almost only that much nothing more. plot-wise.
The world building in this drama was really lacking and left my head scratching.
It seemed really christian cosmos inspired, and what bothered me that they seemed to be using legit demon/-ve christian cosmos characters (idk really cause im not christian). I feal that they couldve made the names up for the 'aesthetic' that they clearly wanted instead of using actual ones- cause names carry power. And on the other hand they used only one +ve one.
Putting that point aside, many major plot points where left unanswered.
The show really showcases vigilante justice - tit for tat instead of reform. Large parts of screentime is given to FL just beating up various villains. The gore and blood are supposed to probably elicit a feel good response from the viewer. That made me a uncomfortable- especially since the pain of the survivors ('victims') isnt really the concern- their closure isnt really the concern, but just 'u did wrong so u'll pay for it' is. There arent many emotions involved. Its all very cold. And in this regard- there is a story arc, a character arc. We witness her becoming a feeling demon judge from a cold unfeeling judge from hell. She acknowledges that just beating criminals up and punishing them in the shadows of the night isnt enough to provide justice - closure to grieving families.
The romance in the show gets very little screentime, and is more present just to be a driving force behind her character arc. Her forbidden 'human feelings' for the ML become the reason she starts feeling empathy for aggrieving families and the people around her. All other side characters (including ML) are just present and doing their thing. There isnt much focus on them at all.
You should watch this show if-
1. You like vigilante justice, are ok with skipping forward or watching scenes of criminals just being beaten up, tortured and killed for their crimes.
2. Like wacky FL
3. ML is very smart and persistent. He is so secure that hes fine with dating a demon who's actions are quite often in direct conflict with his job. He's very clear with himself about his ethics system and boundaries.
4. Want to watch a mock- mystery thriller. the only thrilling part was the score. No need to apply brains. Infact it is better if u dont apply brains, otherwise u will notice too many plotholes.
5. The 'action' genre mention refers to the torture scenes ig.
6. Openish HE
Special mention to FL's character- why i watched the show-
I was obviously very unimpressed by the show. It also got really boring past few episodes. But what kept me from dropping it was Kang Bitna's sass. It was very fun and almost inspirational (minus the vigilante justice part). Especially the way PSH smiles/smirks with the score playing in the background, or her boredom and straightforward mannerisms of dealing with everyday boring situations was very endearing and refreshing. Kang Bitna is a 'psycho' , is a little socially challenged, but she is smart, not dull. There is also some comedic effect in the show with its various side characters, mostly in the scenes outside the courtroom and torture.
Special mention regarding 'vigilante justice'-
TBH what's shown in the show isnt really what comes to my mind when i think of vigilante justice - like robin hood. They mostly try to pass on torture as VJ. Criminals who are unrepentant, dont have ability to feel empathy or even comprehend why what they did was wrong, just torturing and morbidly killing them isnt going do anything. I wasnt going to type this out since this is just a show, but unfortunately this is the axial of the show which is baffling. Major screentime is given to these scenes. There remain lot of actual real world questions regarding this particular form of VJ, but be warned that it takes center stage in this show.
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Not all Kdrama require Romance
This one started great, but I was disappointed after they tried to make Justitia human. I have seen no reason for Justitia to fall in love with Han Da-on. It felt very forced, and I felt zero chemistry between FL and ML. Justitia is introduced as a cruel and ruthless demon judge from Hell. But all of a sudden, with no actual reason, she starts loving a Human. It didn't fit well with her character at all. It would have been far better just not to include romance in this series. The main villains were so predictable from the beginning, and the way that female police officer went after a cruel serial killer all alone is the stupidest thing I have seen in any Kdrama, but since it's needed for the weak plot, so I guess many such things should be ignored. Park Shin Hye has improved a lot in her acting I liked how she portrayed her character cant say the same for Kim Jae-young though. I absolutely loved the side characters. They felt like the life of this story.Was this review helpful to you?
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This is a rant and reason why I would never recommend this show!
I don't get the hype of this show! I watched the show while it was ongoing and sure for the first 4-5 episodes it was quite interesting but boy after that it was a painful watch till the end!.. The story seemed all over the place, the characters and their intentions did not make any sense and the romance angle was totally unnecessary and forced. There was no explanation as to what happened to the real Kang bin na as in the first episode they said that she was a lost soul and was wrongly sent to the hell..so what happened to her later on we don't know!! The Villains of the first 4 episode were interesting to watch and felt way more real and wicked than the main villains who were fought of way more quickly and easily.. Also I did not get why they had so many side characters (the people of the building), who were quite honestly irritating to watch and the angel was also unnecessary to the story.Most of all, I was irritated by the fact that they saw/judged supernatural entities through the scale of human morals. I mean why was the ML angry at kang bin na when he knows she is The Devil! It's her Job to put bad guys away..why do he want to punish her for killing the bad guys and the hypocrisy of the ML that the minute he was the one who suffered a loss and needed her suddenly he was ready to understand everything she did??
In all I felt the plot had a lot of potential but they wasted it!.. The characters were not at all reasonable (including KBN love for HDE), side characters were not fun to watch and the plot and dialogus felt very obvious and robotic, there was no feelings and felt no emotion for the characters what so ever (they tried to make most of the characters pitiable)!...
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One HELL of a ride!
I think this was the single most consistently entertaining public TV k-drama to come out this year, no cap. I got so used to getting disappointed with kdramas after a particular number of eps that I was all READY for this to fall apart too... but guess what? This was pure fun. There was EVERYTHING-- a kickass fun FL, witty humor, role-reversal romance (I've been waiting for something like this!), fast-paced action, gore, and TONS of outfit changes!!!Firstly, miss Park Shin Hye CAME THROUGH and carried the drama on her shoulders. She finally escaped the typecasting hell after almost 20 years of her acting career and I couldn't be more happy for her lmao. I could watch her play the role of Kang Bit Na/Justitia for another 10 episodes easy because she was just THAT good. Kim Jae Young, on the other hand, was HOT and adorable. That man could just stand in one spot with his luscious hair and I'd still clap.
So yeah, this might be the BEST (public tv) kdrama to come out this year, because I highly doubt anything will surpass it in quality within these remaining 2 months.
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It's kind of bad, but not the worst.
The only overwhelmingly positive part of this drama is the FL's fun characterization, which Park Shin Hye clearly had a blast bringing to life. In the early episodes this was enough to carry the show, but as the episodes went by the increasingly declining plot with all the asspulls & absolutely insane sequence of events made it very difficult for me to keep enjoying the drama.Boredom is also a problem, I for one did not enjoy that every other episode had 10 minutes worth of torture scenes/fillers. All the procedural parts were on the boring side as well.
There is not that much romance in this show, but what there is it's really not working for me, the chemistry is not there & the whole romantic plot feels incredibly forced.
As I said before the plot is crazy, but it's not like they suddenly piss off the viewers with something really annoying, it's more of a perpetual eye rolling situation.
As for why is a show that's just barely hitting mediocre so successful? I think similar to Squid Game the audience that is normally watching regular kdramas found all the action scenes & bloodletting a new-ish experience that's still different -in my mind far worse- than now aging American shows of this type. -\_(ツ)_/¯
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it’s my personal opnion.opinion may vary person to person
Personally i love fanatasy series.but i found some recent popular fanatasy kdrama overly hyped.when i saw the trailer I thought TJFH will satisfy my cravings.but i am disappointed. Only plus points of this drama are PSH 's portrayal of funny parts and handsome ML.i found the violence scene overly dragged,overall plot can be finished in just 8-10 episodes(didnt need that detailed and long voilence scenes),story buildup was not that good some plotholes were really eye shore like abduction of the detective and ML's portrayal of emotion on that particular event and so on.i like kdramas because maximum actors' way of handling emotions are very good but i couldn’t feel the chemistry between the leads. Their romance felt to forced like they have superior and subordinate relationship.even the ending Doesn’t feel good at all.Was this review helpful to you?
This changed my mind about Park Shin Hye
I had seen heirs, memories of alhambra and Dr.slump and Park Shin hye acting was the weakest point of all said projects in my opinion. Nevertheless I Iove fantasy and liked the synopsis enough so I picked this up and Im pleasantly surprised with PSH acting as Kang Bit na. every single actor here do their jobs perfectly. ( minus the actress playing Aron. the facial expressions were too much)Justitia is responsible for sending murderers to hell but a wrong judgment in regards to human judge named Kang Bit na forces her to pay a huge price in return. She is banned to earth in Bit nas body where she has to find 10 unapologetic murderers and send them to hell. this new job has its own complication as Han Da on gets involved.
Han Da on is a detective with a painful past. His version of justice clashes with justitias greatly for obvious reasons. As time passes they get to understand each other more.
The judge from hell has interesting themes: demons, angels, revenge, justice etc. The visuals aspect of it is top tier and every episode is just as interesting with no dragging or fillers. I also loved the styling of characters too. The twists can be seen from a mile away. Han da on character is a bit bland for a main character. The romantic aspect of it is bit rushed but I think it makes sense when its just 14 episodes so Im not really complaining. its not the greatest kdrama ever made but its still worth watching.
Also they dont explain what happened to real Bit na?
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The Law of Karma:The demon of all demons!
An experienced Judge with a gorgeous appearance, Kang Bit Na's body is taken over by the third in command in hell, Justitia. Justitia came to the world from hell with a mission of killing ten murderers who have not yet been forgiven by their victims and the ones who are unrepentant about their actions. Now, Justitia and Kang Bit Na has become one person. A judge from hell inside a judge's body. In this mission of hers, she crosses path with a police officer, Han Da On. Justitia believes in Tit for Tat, while Han Do On doesn't believe in such laws, he wants everyone to be punished accordingly, he always goes by the law. Two individuals with contrasting personalities and beliefs crosses path!Do you believe in the Law of Karma? I love this drama precisely because of that. Kang Bit Na made the murderers who has killed countless individuals feel the pain their victims felt when they were being oppressed, tortured, brutalized, tormented, and assaulted. There's one punishment that's most appropriate for murderers. And what's that? Is it going to prison? Getting arrested? A death sentence? Sure, a death sentence and a life sentence are punishments, but making them feel the pain, torment, and agony their victims went through when they were dying is the best punishment ever. And with that, Kang Bit Na/Justitia handed out those punishment accordingly.
This drama promotes crimes, says who? Is it so bad to kill those who have killed countless people? Or is it a sin? How is Kang Bit Na's job/mission different from the military who kills terrorists and invaders to protect their motherland, countrymen, and family? She only did what the law couldn't do. For those who have witnessed how dirty, corrupt, and twisted the law has become will agree with me when I say this; "Thousands, millions, and even billions suffers from the court's injustice, and many people will still suffer from it. What kind of world are we living in? It's a world full of unfairness and injustice. A world were the victims becomes the culprits, the culprits becomes the victim. A world were the guilty gets away with it all as long as they have the influence, the resources, and the authority." The law itself is funny and a joke. A criminal will be given freedom or acquitted just because the crime they committed has passed the statute of limitations, is that justice? No, is it fair? Some evil doers usually forget about karma. They tend to think they can get away with it all. In this drama, there's brutality and violence, but I liked it cuz the perpetrators/murderers got what they deserved. They experienced first hand what it means to be in pain and torment. I loved how they're made to experienced the hell their victims went through and even far worse through Kang Bit Na. It's really nice to see. In this one Kang Bit Na was like the judge sent by the heavens to punish the evil doers and murderers. If you think this drama promotes violence and crime, that it should have been shelved, you're the one who's twisted!
That said. I've got to applaud the outstanding performance of the dramas main focus 👏👏👏 our female lead, our anti heroine, our badass FL, Kang Bit Na/Justitia portrayed by Park Shin Hye. I've never seen this other side of Park Shin Hye's acting since all these years of watching her dramas. It's as if I was watching her onscreen for the first time, she didn't just slayed this one, she cleared the floor. She took the whole audience by surprise, and for that, she just topped my list of favorite actresses. Honestly, when she took on this drama, I wasn't sure what the performance would be, but when the official poster and trailer were released, I was anxiously waiting for the release of this one. And as expected. No, her performance was beyond expectations. That wicked smile, her facial expressions, and the way she portrays the emotional aspects, I almost fainted from the overwhelming acting. "The demon of all demons, is me," that sentence captivated me! Kang Bit Na, the badass, cruel, blunt, yet deep inside, a kindhearted person. I loved Park Shin Hye's acting in this one a whole lot 💞💗💓💖 No actress could have done it better!!
Now let's talk about our ML. He also portrayed his role excellently. Actually, I didn't like his character at first, but as time goes by, I got to understand him, what he's fighting for, and his principles. Kim Jae Young did his role justice. He's the type who values principles and his sworn duty a whole lot. He almost crumbled, but it's nice to see how he picked up the pieces and didn't allow grief to ruin him.
About the romance. Well, there's not that much romance in this one, but the natural and amazing chemistry of Park Shin Hye and Kim Jae Young sure is there. I enjoyed how Kang Bit Na always teases Han Da On. Their quarrels sometimes made me laugh. Also, that kiss scene in the last episode was very lovely. "You are the only blemish in my life, my only weakness. I love you a lot, Han Da On." Han Da On replied with"I love you too." Then, a kiss followed. Oh my, that scene was more than satisfying. Just for that scene I decided to add another 0.5 to the ratings I originally wanted to give this one.
There are a lot of emotional moments in this one. For one, Han Da On's foster mother's murder. Another was when Kang Bit Na almost died. So, if you're just starting, get your tissues ready.
I love the OSTs. My favourite of them all is "Crossroad by Sunmi"!
The fact that Kang Bit Na was strong till the end is impressive. Even in the face of death, she didn't falter. I really loved her. Indeed, this is a lady's show.
Also, I loved how the mystery aspect was portrayed, I almost couldn't figure out who exactly the serial killer J and satan was until the last five episodes. I've also got to add the actions scenes. The action scene were damn satisfying. I was gulping over the amazing CGI. The whole production team really did this one justice.
And without excluding all the casts who performed extraordinary well. From the support roles, down to the guest roles, all performed amazingly well. They made the audience felt emotions with their acting. I for one felt it!
The ending was also beautifully done! All the villains got their retributions and punishments were served accordingly!
But of course, I have a bit of an issue with this one. I'm wondering how an Angel and a demon became so close to the extent that he saved her from being punished. But then again, logic is usually thrown out of the window when watching something fictional.
Also, I didn't like the fact that they used the a flipped cross as the symbol of hell. Anyway, I don't want to go into that too much, so I'll stop here.
In essence, The Judge From Hell is a drama that explores crimes, and not just crimes, it explores the cruelest ones. It further explores the cruelty and delusions of culprits. It's a drama worth the watch. The 15 hours I invested into this one indeed didn't go to a waste. So for all the positives I'm giving this one an overall of 9.0. I loved and enjoyed the journey! This is a drama I'd definitely recommend, but beware, there are some mild Gore!
Thanks for reading!
Enjoy the Journey!
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Park Shin Hye SLAYED this role
The plot was pretty refreshing with a strong, witty FL an ABSOLUTE DIVA. Also I lowkey enjoyed the “actual court” scenes because those criminals deserved every bit of it.20 min into the drama and I already knew Park Shin Hye is going to EAT THIS ROLE UP. She’s truly a classic S-class actress. >_<
I love the open ending, depending on each individual’s moral and opinion everyone can have their own satisfying ending.
The chemistry between the leads is wholesome, although ML’s presence was kind of underwhelming at times but still loved his character and most importantly Kim Jae Young did a great job playing Han Da On (his mischievous smiles and teary eyes meltssss you T-T)
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Meh
The series is getting a higher score only for its good-for-casual-watch aspect and the graphics being relatively decent. Unfortunately both the FL and ML were very one-note through the whole series and despite trying to force a romance between the two, it really just didn't work. The plot was both straight-forward and sloppy.However, if you can turn off the analytical mind and are the type who enjoys watching an "eye for an eye" kind of of punishment, this is a good one to try. Note that while it's not the most graphic I've come across, it's graphic enough for queasy watchers to avoid.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama '' The Judge From Hell '' is a revenge fantasy with many criminal cases that get explored.The drama has a satisfying plot when it comes to giving justice, even though one can argue about its fairness and morality. But the cases the Judge takes up are so frustrating that the audience can't help but root for her to give them a 'proper' punishment.
The fantasy element, moreover, was nicely handled, as it was proven by the way they concluded the story. In addition, there were a lot of small details that enhanced it and made the lore compelling.
On the other hand, the final episode was pretty much a filler. Yes, it gave some additional moments with the characters, but plot vice, it didn't offer much. Also, the romance was nice and sweet at times, as it provided plenty of funny and cute moments, and fortunately, wasn't the focus of the drama. But, in the end, was kind of rushed, so a batter handle of it would have been nicer.
Finally, the performances were all great, but the leading lady stole all the thunder.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
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Le Krama de l’année
wow, juste une claque ce kdrama et génial j’ai enchaîné les épisodes il est beaucoup trop bien, j’adore le personnage principale et la violence bien marqué dont elle fait preuve c’est le genre d’héroïne qu’on ne trouve pas à tout les kdrama mais dès qu’on la et qui puisé remplit de force, de charisme et de folie/brutalité comme on aime, ce Kdrama devient des plus divertissant par ses situations improbable et lunaire et parle le personnage principal parfaitement incarné. REGARDER LEWas this review helpful to you?
