The Judge from Hell

EXTREMELY OVERRATED DRAMA

This is drama had a high rating, i really wanted to watch it, i even subscribed to disney plus again to watch it.. only to be very disappointed. EXTREMELY OVERRATED DRAMA.

Firstly, the female lead, Park Shin Hye, i don't think this role suits her at all, she did not portray a demon. Maybe this was the directors vision, but i could feel that she is acting, she did not embody her role at all and consequently, it did not convince me either. However, now that i think about it, i never really liked any of her roles ( i haven't seen a lot though).
Secondly, the relationship. Why are the main leads so damn awkward with each other? and to the people saying they had great chemistry.. WHERE? in the story, 2 years supposedly passed and they kissed like they are both 16 and it's their first kiss. Where was the grand love that made her, A DEMON, become human and stay in the human world? it was an absolute snooze fest. Maybe the awkwardness comes from the male actor, Kim Jae Young, i have only seen him in Love in Contract and he left no impression so i don't know really where the problem lies in this boring relationship..
On the other hand, now Choi Dae Hoon, the random police officer that was a demon, now he embodied a demon and did an absolutely great job. This reminded me that i really want him finally to have a main role in a drama, because he never has a main role ;(
Now the story itself. The thing is, it was not convincing at all. The hell visually was very cliche, and their job was to send murderers to hell.. I am sorry, but is the only sin murder in this drama? why is it so black and white? this type of plot is boring and offers absolutely no nuance. For a contrast, there is this drama, the devil judge, where this kind of topic is explored in a much better way. The judge from hell just felt very childish and was not for me.
Overall, this hardly deserves a 5/10.

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UPDATE: Started strong, but fizzled out.

Original review after 4 episodes: I wish Disney listed it as ongoing. At least where I am however many episodes are up, look like they that's all there is. I thought it was complete and watched the four released episodes in a night and was left so mad at myself, because I wanted more. And now I have to wait until November to see it all play out. 😭

Honestly though, it is good. The main female character reminds me of Sim Eun-Seok from Juvenille Justice or Koo Ryeon from Tomorrow, but at an unhinged level. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about how it would be. I hadn't thought much of Park Shin-Hye as an actress. It isn't that I thought she was bad, it just didn't seem like she had a lot of range based on what I'd seen her in. Apparently that was the writing or direction, because she has shown much more range in these first four episodes than I can really recall from most of the dramas I'd seen her in previously.

I can't wait to see where this goes. I do worry a littttle bit that it might try to do too much. Like I see threads for different plots it could follow popping up and like...if it tries to grab all of them I think it will end up more a knot than a braid. Not my best metaphor, but my point still stands.

Side note, I do feel like spider guy should cut her a little slack. I mean, the guy confessed to killing three people. How was she supposed to know that was more of a childhood guilt thing than an actual confession? She's not psychic, she's just a demon sent to torture and kill murderers and there was a guy in front of her telling her he was a murderer.
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UPDATE: after the first like 7 episodes of supernatural revenge it fizzled out into a forced romance. Whole subplots seemed like they were dropped and the world building was lacking.

A-rong's whole purpose of being a demon punishing demons who fall in love came up once when she killed that random demon from the demon support group. But the group never comes back and her purpose quickly fades to the background in favor of the romance. She went from having her own purpose to apparently just tagging along as Justitia's underling. Man-do's whole thing about him attending church was never expanded on. A high-level angel who apparently was able to just peace out on his heavenly responsibilities to babysit a detective, though mainly in the form of vague warnings. The ultimate evil was scrunched pretty easily once they tracked him down. Honestly, her peer and co-second-to-Bael seemed more threatening than Lucifer in the end. Bael's character confused me entirely since it seemed like he wanted her to fail. I thought it would end up being the big twist/villain situation (since Lucifer was a little underwhelming) that Bael set her up because he was her worried her "I'm the demon of all demons" attitude meant she might try to challenge him and he wanted to basically smack her down before she rebelled. But, no it kind of went nowhere and ended with him being like "I'm glad you're my successor and would be disappointed to lose you". Her being a serial killer leaving bodies of criminals the justice system didn't punish branded with "hell" just kind of get dropped from the plot.

I liked the parts where she made the killers suffer the same fates as their victims. It was not only kind of satisfying (though I personally liked the psychological aspect of them having to feel what their victims did more than the just-straight-beating them up), especially the stalker who almost drove his ex to take her own life, but it really showed off how talented an actress she is when given the right scene. Honestly, I would have preferred to drop the romance and have it be more like Youth Justice where each episode is a different case and then her balancing being a human judge and demon judge to give them justice. Maybe still keep her paired up with a detective to balance the justice vs. vengeance aspect.

As for the romance...I mean, I don't get it. He was drawn to her first from their first trial but then was pretty quickly against her and only following her in the hopes of taking her down and proving her a killer. He wasn't even like trying to be nice to get the information, he made his suspicion 100% clear. He also accused her of killing the other demon after she had basically stepped in to save his life from being killed by that demon. And lectures her about like "oh, just 'cause you're a demon, you think you get to demon things". So, other than his looks, I'm not sure what she saw in him to become so obsessed with him that she was basically ready to risk everything to keep him around. And then he goes from being all "killing killers is bad and makes you bad" to "kill this killer for me" in less than 24 hours. And he then transitioned from capable cop a bit over his head in a supernatural situation to just kind of being a damsel in distress.

I feel like it tried to so much from the start and then had to let things go. Like, if they dropped the whole Lucifer thing and all the moments of Man-do going to church, that would have given them time to establish the romance more.

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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.

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Enjoyed The Novelty But Can’t Recommend

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I was immediately excited to watch this because it’s a Park Shin Hye (박신혜) drama. Also, she’d be playing a completely different type of character than I’m used to seeing. I was so interested in this idea because I think Park Shin Hye is a pretty bad actress (not the worst, but she’s down there) and I really want to see her improve. She was the lead female in the first K-drama I’ve ever watched (The Heirs), so there’s a sense of nostalgia when I watch her.

Acting/Cast: I am happy to say Park Shin Hye killed it (pun intended). Her character was by far the most entertaining aspect of this drama. I already knew she could do action, which is a huge thing for me. So, I figured that was a big reason why she got this role. She did great with the action as well as the acting. Her sidekick was also a well-acted character. I like who they cast to play Bael. That was a nice surprise. My biggest issue in this category is the male lead. I don’t remember ever seeing him in anything else, so, unfortunately, I can only gauge his acting off this drama alone. It was terrible. I could not tell at all how he was feeling by looking at his face except for when he was literally crying. He looked like he was daydreaming, honestly. He had zero chemistry with Park Shin Hye’s character. It was a bit cringey. He wasn’t half-bad in the beginning though…what went wrong? 5/10

Writing: It’s all over the place. I feel like this drama switches the plot on us multiple times. Characters are introduced and done away with quickly. Things happen that don’t make any sense. The lore doesn’t even make sense. Characters change their minds suddenly to suit the direction in which the writers decide to take the plot. I think what people like about this drama is the revenge aspect. It’s brutal revenge, as well. Park Shin Hye’s character doesn’t do things by the books (unlike most K-dramas), but instead tortures and kills the murderers. In K-drama world, she’s only allowed to get away with this as a female lead because she is already evil and it’s her job as a demon. Loop holes… Anyway, the male lead is a cop and a human, so he can’t take revenge in this way because it would make him “evil”. So basically he just ends up taking a backseat for the duration of the drama. If he doesn’t physically do it, even though he’s not stopping someone else from doing it, he’s still good. What a cop out… (I’m usually not this punny. I swear.) He’s just there to watch along with us I guess. I usually like revenge type plots, but I didn’t feel this one was very satisfying. Especially, the judgments on the murderers who weren’t part of the main storyline. I don’t know these people. I haven’t had enough time to emotionally connect with their victims. I don’t want to see them get tortured. Honestly, even if I was able to emotionally connect…I still don’t like seeing that stuff. I think the revenge in The Glory was really satisfying because she outsmarted them and got them to destroy themselves and each other. And in Revenge of Others (another satisfying revenge drama), the vigilante tortured perpetrators because the law was letting them get away scot-free. He also wasn’t killing them afterward, so they had a chance to repent or be punished by the law as well. Plus, the drama allowed us to fully connect with the victims before enacting revenge. In The Judge From Hell, I also really didn’t like something that happened near the end. I can’t say too much but… we watch revenge dramas because we want a feeling of justice being carried out, wrongs being righted, and we root for the victims and underdogs. There was a victim in this story (this person wasn’t “good”, but still a victim) that was robbed of that and there was really no reason for it. It’s like they just threw it in there because the writers wanted as much death as possible or something. I was a little perturbed during the last couple episodes because of this. 1.5/10

Direction/SFX/Music: Scene cuts felt jarring at times, but I realized it was just the style. They would jump ahead and then backtrack to show the events leading up. The special effects are well done and the soundtrack, although it wasn't quite my style, is distinct and adds personality to the drama. 8/10

Entertainment Value: Now that I’m thinking about it, this drama really has Tale of the Nine-Tailed vibes. The plot is all over the place, it has interesting characters that bring a sort of charm to the drama, one lead is great while the other is terrible, and there is no chemistry between the leads. For me, this drama was a lot more fun to watch though. I never felt like dropping it. Although, I did get annoyed toward the end.
6/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 5/10. It felt like going to an amusement park and buying an overpriced, not-so-great souvenir. It was a fun time and the souvenir’s purpose, although underwhelming, is just to help us remember the good memories we had that day. I definitely would not recommend this if you want to watch a good romance and/or you dislike violence and gore. However, I would recommend it if you like watching Park Shin Hye. It’s the best acting I’ve seen from her.

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Exploring Moral Dilemmas and Supernatural Justice: A Review of The Judge From Hell

The Judge From Hell is a captivating fantasy thriller that hooks viewers with its unique blend of supernatural elements and moral dilemmas. The premise, which cleverly incorporates law and justice within the realm of demons, adds a compelling complexity that keeps the story engaging. Bitna's character exemplifies this contradiction; she initially appears as an unstoppable force, executing judgments with precision, but her growing emotional attachment to Daon creates an inner conflict that adds depth, even if it sometimes slows the plot's momentum.

The trials Bitna administers reflect the moral principle of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and I found her brutal yet fitting approach to justice both intriguing and thought-provoking. While these sequences carried emotional weight and were integral to the narrative, some felt drawn out, affecting the overall pacing. Additionally, the haunting soundtrack enhanced the dark atmosphere, adapting beautifully to the show’s emotional range and elevating the viewing experience.

Despite some pacing issues, the performances were strong, particularly Park Shin-hye as Bitna, who brought fierce energy to her role. However, I found Kim Jae-young’s character to be a bit divisive; his rapid discovery of Bitna’s secrets diminished some tension. The cliffhanger ending leaves the future of the story open, which could either be a clever setup for a second season or a frustrating conclusion if unresolved. Overall, I would rate the series 4 out of 5 stars, as it successfully weaves a strong premise with engaging characters and a compelling mix of moral dilemmas and supernatural elements.

READ MY FULL REVIEW HERE: https://diyarisks.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-judge-from-hell-2024-series-review.html

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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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IT'S THE SERIES OF THE YEAR

i've been a fan of kim jaeyoung for three years now, i saw his drama "reflection of you" and his acting got me hooked up, he portrays emotions so well, i looked up on sns and he was so underrated, but i'm loving the fact that he's gaining the attention and admiration he deserves, my man devoured his role as "seo woojae (reflection of you)", "kang haejin (love in contract)", and of course as han daon, i feel so proud for the recognition he's finally receiving for his acting, he's a humble pookie, i hope he keeps on getting frequenct roles from now as he mentioned in one of his interviews that whenever he'd go on hiatus after shooting a series he'd be depressed, but i really wish he keeps on getting more and more roles and let's not forget that our man deserves a reward for his unmatched performance, we love you kim jaeyoung.
park shinhye depicted her character flawlessly, it was a hard slap for those saying she can't act, the action scenes left me in awe everytime i watched one, i hope both of them work in a project again, they had chemistry that was exceptional.

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Roller Coaster, but It is A Hell of A Ride

Idea is totally fresh and execution is great. They put everything in place excellently, and this is the outcome. The storyline is almost perfect. This is the type of series where audience will easily forgive any makjangs and yet the writer took advantage on that nicely. The conflicts are over the places in the beginning, but it's needed and they resolve it quite well. Still I wonder how is Bit-Na's debt going lol. Character development for romance is a bit slow, but who cares? This is not mainly a romance and, who the hell will easily trust a Demon?!?

The thing that I want to highlight the most in this drama is the characters itself. Usually when it comes to have a demon as the main character, K-Dramas tend to mix it up with some dumb and irrational brain. However they made all of the demons (except Man-Do) to be as how demons should be. As a demon, Kang Bit-Na is really smart, ruthless, powerful and unstoppable. This depicts correctly about how she have truly lived for more than 500 years in the hell. Park Shin-Hye is definitely the star of this show, she brings the energy into it. The character of Man-Do is hilarious and sparks joy around the shows.

Unlike most K-Dramas, this series ends quite strong. Although it is quite a plothole (you get 3 years, but you choose to spend 2 years in an "exile" rather with someone you love???), but it is still a quite well, and not disappointing ending. In fact, they actually keep the story quality pretty consistent throughout the season. They have also prepared for next season, but I feel that they have to be careful as there isn't much more to explore.

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The Judge from Hell!

You guys need to understand how incredible of a drama this is from the beginning till the very end! It's the drama of the year for me. Park Shin-Hye outdid herself in this role. I personally haven't seen her drama, but I have seen how much of a criticism she gets because of her acting! But this is amazing her as Kang Bitna was truly a gem to watch! Kim jaeyon where was he all this long? please this was SOOOO good. They wrapped the drama so well in the last episode and it is by far the best dark fantasy drama ever.

let's talk about the writing now this is called a drama well-written. Genuinely, it was so perfect. I devoured the whole drama. The casting, storyline and everything was just perfect. I have never given a drama 10/10. This was it for me. Each and every actor even the side actors did so well. The subtle romance and the OST?! AMAZING!

I hope writers learn from this drama and create good storylines not to say they aren't good dramas, but this was done really well :)

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