The Judge from Hell

Don't Go Looking for Romance!!

I can’t believe that it is over, I could watch Justita punish unrepentant criminals in her own crazy way forever!

There are very few shows that manage to hold my attention till the very last and “The Judge from Hell” was one such gem. Starring Park Shin Hye in an eclectic role, the show focuses on Justita, the Demon Judge in Hell who specializes in punishing murderers. As the third most powerful Demon in Hell, she is arrogant, and terrifying. A slight mistake in judgment lands her in trouble as she is exiled to Earth where she has to kill 10 unrepentant murderers and send their souls to hell. Easy, right? Wrong, because while Justita is quite good at doing her job, nothing could have prepared for the earthly attachments that cripple her desire to return to hell. As Justita, Park Shin Hye gives an eccentric performance, portraying a demon who is bloodthirsty and yet justified in her deliverance. Despite the ensemble casting that forms the core of this show, Park Shin Hye grabs your attention from the get-go. It was entertaining watching her on a killing spree that is seemingly warranted. This show doesn’t hinge much on romance, so you will be disappointed if you are looking for a somber love story!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/11/03/the-judge-from-hell-series-review/#more-1300

Read More

Fantastic story and acting

I absolutely loved the storyline of the movie. It was engaging and beautifully crafted, pulling me into its narrative from the very beginning. As I expected, both Park Shin-hye and Kim Jaehyung delivered outstanding performances that truly brought the characters to life.

Park Shin-hye, in particular, showcased her incredible range as an actress. She effortlessly navigated through a myriad of emotions, conveying deep feelings with remarkable nuance and subtlety. Her ability to portray multiple emotions and expressions simultaneously is a testament to her immense talent; it's definitely not an easy feat. Each scene she was in felt authentic and compelling, allowing the audience to connect with her character on a profound level.

Kim Jaehyung also brought a unique charm and depth to his role, complementing Park Shin-hye’s performance beautifully. His acting was so convincing that, for a moment, I found myself believing that he was not just acting but genuinely portraying a police officer. The realism he brought to the character was remarkable, making his performance even more impactful. Together, they created a captivating dynamic that enriched the storyline even further.

Overall, their performances were a highlight of the film, making it a memorable experience that I highly recommend.

Read More

One of the best drama in 2024

The Acting of both main leads is damn good
this drama holds a really interesting twist
this drama is amazing in one to describe
I won't regret to watch this drama
Once I finish it I will rewatch this drama again
One of the best dramas in this year
the acting, music, intro, cast, story everything was extremely amazing
I really expect that you will love it and won't regret it to watch this Drama
I will recommend you to watch this drama
this drama has another level of satisfying
If I rate this drama I will give it 10 out of 10
cause I really get into this drama

Read More

This series really surprised me!

I was so surprised by this series, I simply loved it from start to finish, I watched it until the final credits 🤣 (which I don't do) now I'm an orphan of this series, the incredible acting and expressions of the actress Park Shin Hye, made me love it and laugh a lot, the chemistry that she and actor Jae young kim had was surreal 🤌🏼👏 the rest of the cast also put on a show in their own right, the end of the series surprised me a lot, because I was scared of Kang bitna going back to hell, I loved it I really thank the writers for this outcome, the series was incredible from start to finish!

Read More

Drama do ano? Definitivamente merece uma posição.

É extremamente raro terminar um drama e pensar que ele merece 10 mas aqui não tem dúvidas que é merecido! Do começo ao fim conseguiram equilibrar todos os elementos possíveis com uma qualidade surpreendente, tivemos osts, comédia, romance, atuação surreal dos criminosos,vinganças saborosas, efeitos especiais incríveis e um casal com uma química transbordante. Não teve um momento que eu senti a história ficar chata ou enrolada. E é tão bom ver uma fantasia de novo pq é complicado a Coreia investir nesse gênero atualmente e com uma qualidade assim vai ser mais impossível ainda. E ainda teve a surpresa desse beijo final aí pq desde do começo não tava esperando que o romance fosse aprofundado e ganhei um banquete! A atuação da Shin Hye merece ser mencionada pq simplesmente ela brilhou como a Juíza do inferno.

Read More

Korean version of The Punisher

Park Shin Hye steals the show as Kang Bitna, a judge who gets possessed by the demon judge Justicia after her death. She is a fashion star, crazy, violent and arrogant. But all of this is put together into a likeable character package, who makes you root for her brand of justice. The story revolves around her journey from being the devil who only cares about going back to hell to developing human emotions and understanding different perspectives. Bitna's lopsided smirk and crazy eyes when staring at those scummy criminals makes for the biggest highlight of the show.

Kim Jae-young as Han Daon had the perfect puppy-dog eyes that brought out the human in the demon. His heartbreaking origin story aside, but loosing another family member, the kind, tough as nails boss lady, was a bit too much. He perfectly emoted his struggle of wanting to be a good police officer but also setting aside everything and getting his revenge. I found the chemistry between the main leads to be a bit lacking, though the good looks on both sides made up for it.

I absolutely loved the ensemble cast. Every single one had stories to tell, however small, and brought depth to the overall plot. I was expecting to be moved by the stories of those left behind (was a big sucker for Taxi Driver for a similar reason), but seeing the cheery, church going landlady break down really got to me. I adored the old grandmother, i am just going to stop here, but her and Bitna's back and forth was such a treat to watch, provided a little light in between the pain.
The only major issue i had was the plot towards the end. I think it would have been better to have 2 more episodes, but make the ending, less rushed and more rational. Satan just being defeated like it's no big deal sort of undermined the story they set up, and the usually smart & meticulous J having a complete breakdown once confronted with a single problem felt a bit off. The guy just straigh up confessed in court, and even if arrogant and hateful, it felt forced just to give the families closure and justify Bitna's ultimate beatdown. I understand they wanted to focus on justice within the boundaries of law and human evil but still, I hoped there was a bit more to it.

Overall, definitely worth a watch. To more dramas where evil is punished, so people can live vicariously through them.

Read More

PSH, I apologize for not being familiar with your game

I'm loathe to ever say that any one actor "carried" a drama, because I believe that everyone contributes to the general success (or otherwise) of a show, but I must confess that Park Shin Hye's portrayal of Justitia/Bitna is the main reason why I finished this drama.

Justitia is irreverent and brash and sassy, and I thought PSH did really well in bringing the character to life and making her so fun to watch. This is my first time watching this actress and I know she gets a lot of flak for her acting, but I was impressed here.

Somehow though, I think the writers had too much fun make Bitna as crazy as possible and playing up those judgment scenes because the rest of the drama is absolutely chaotic.

First of all, the worldbuilding and lore are just laughable, to be honest. If you're going to adapt real-world religions and mythologies and change up stuff, at least put some care into it and have some internal logic. What do you mean Gabriel came all the way to rescue Justitia from Hell (her original home BTW) because she's suddenly a good person, when said angel didn't rescue Daon (was brought back by Bael) or the human Kang Bitna, who we never hear about again? Justitia is a DEMON and moreover the personification of justice. She shouldn't have to abide by human rules of good or bad. Also, Satan rebelling against Lucifer...? There were no other demonic names to use? And if Justitia was saved for being "good", which happened because she was becoming more human, why were other demons who were becoming human then being punished for doing the same? Mando can become a Christian, then later become Buddhist? To me, the writers were just doing whatever here, but I am open to any explanations.

Then when it comes to the plot, there were so many head-scratchers. Here are a few:

- Arong stopped chasing demons to become a full-time fan girl? Moreover, she was surrounded by demons who were practically human: Mando, the clean-up crew, etc, and she did nothing.

- What was the point in Bael asking Justitia to free J and send him directly to Hell? What would it have mattered to Bael in any case which murderers Justitia allowed to be punished by the law versus punished in her usual way? Also Justitia is apparently Bael's chosen successor but he sent an assassin after her?

- What was the point of the redevelopment plot if it played such an important role in finding the Kylum? All they did was mention it a few times until J revealed that it was where the Kylum landed.

- Speaking of the Kylum and Satan, both ended up being dispatched so easily, I can't believe they were set up as some kind of Big Bad and J the HUMAN serial killer ended up being so much more threatening (at least according to the drama's logic).

- I'm still wondering why any of the criminals' cases had to even make it to court before Justitia dealt with them in her own court? Once she knew who they were, she could have gone after them before their cases made it to trial and it wouldn't have mattered. Or she could have properly sentenced them then either have them broken out of jail or get them before they get to the prison like she did for the DID faker.

Also, you will never see shoddier police work and legal justice work in Kdramaland than in this drama. Honestly if you're hoping for some proper legal/cop drama action, think again.

I was also not a fan of the romance; I completely skipped their dating montage. I think the drama could have worked without it; I much preferred the flirty-hostile banter they had in the first few episodes. I really couldn't see what they liked about each other; all the FL did was look into the ML's eyes and her heart started beating. I'm not even sure at what point the ML fell in love. Not good enough. I think a slow, subtle attraction that came from them teaming up with each other would have worked better, and maybe they get together at the end or the drama leaves it open-ended.

As for what I did like about the drama, I liked Justitia's character development in realizing that justice could be achieved in other ways. I think the drama did an okay job exploring what true justice means using the FL and ML as foils, but IMO they could have done more. Also, the side characters were really good, especially the victims' families. They brought me to tears quite a few times.

KJY did good as Daon, but his character was downgraded to a puppy as the show went on. He's supposed to be the straight man to Justitia's insanity, but he was kind of overshadowed by her dominant personality. I don't think he was utilized as well as he could have been, but then again it's not really his show.

Criticisms with the story aside, the show really was an entertaining ride thanks to Justitia, even though it kind of petered out in the last few episodes. At least I'll keep hearing the word "Gehennaaaa" ringing in my brain for the next few weeks.

Read More

A Powerful Drama of Justice & Revenge

The Judge from Hell is a solid drama blending thriller and mystery elements. The judge’s quest for vengeance was incredibly satisfying, and the overall atmosphere of the series became more compelling as the episodes progressed. However, I must admit that the moments I truly enjoyed were when the judge tracked down the criminals and delivered the justice they deserved. The acting—whether from the main or supporting cast—was fantastic. Each actor played their respective role exceptionally well, adding depth and nuance to the story.

That said, I need to address the romance subplot, which I found poorly executed. Justitia’s sudden and underdeveloped feelings for Daon felt random and lacked depth. On the other hand, the storyline focusing on Daon’s feelings for Justitia was, in my opinion, handled much better at the beginning. However, this quality dropped off in the last 2–3 episodes, where his emotions felt rushed and unconvincing.

Additionally, the romance between the two characters often felt awkward. I wasn’t entirely convinced by the chemistry between the actors, and the excessive displays of affection—like the 40 hugs in a single episode—felt unnecessary and cringeworthy. These moments could have been omitted without losing anything substantial from the story. I believe this issue partly stems from the actress, Park Shin Hye. Having watched her dramas since 2011, I think she’s a talented actress overall, but romantic chemistry has never been her strong suit.

Honestly, the romance subplot could have been left out entirely. If it’s not well-executed, why include it? Either deliver a convincing, heartfelt romance, or skip it altogether and stick to the mystery, fantasy, and thriller elements that made the drama shine.

Despite these flaws, The Judge from Hell is an excellent drama. I almost binge-watched the entire series in just two days! (Though, to be fair, I skipped about three-quarters of the last episode.) Even with my earlier criticisms, Park Shin Hye delivered a strong performance, and I was especially impressed by Kim Jae Young, who surprised me with his portrayal. He’s definitely an actor I’ll keep an eye on going forward!

Read More

The Judge from Hell is a Masterpiece

To start this review, I am rating this Korean Drama, The Judge from Hell, a 10/10.

The plot was all about Kang Bitna, a judge. She was murdered in a public park. When her soul went to hell, she was wrongfully convicted by the judge of hell named Justitia. Since it was wrong, Bael, the director of hell, punished Justitia to be inside the body of Kang Bitna. She was tasked to kill 10 murderers within a year, if she did not fulfill this task, she will brutally die.

When she became Judge Bitna, she became carefree, not justifiable, and doesn't act like an honorable judge. Because of her task to kill murderers, she only use light sentences to them, for example is paying only a fine. Her sentences are only light since she kills them afterwards, torturing them through illusion before they were sent to hell.

In the first episode, Han Daon, a police officer was accused of physical maltreatment of a thief, but he argued that it was just a self defense. Judge Bitna sentenced him not guilty. With the continuous deaths of the murderers sentenced by Judge Bitna, Officer Daon and his team investigated thoroughly the truth behind their death. The story basically revolved with Officer Daon pursuing the truth between Judge Bitna's hidden agenda.

I gave the plot or story with a 10/10 because of how clear, concise, and well made it was. The viewers can easily apprehend what is going on in each episodes. There is also no dull moments, so each scenes are entertaining to watch and you will be easily hooked on what is happening on each episode. I love how you can see the effort of the staffs behind this series. Each episode was perfectly edited, no CGIs were cheaply done, it was edited beautifully. The set designs, especially to the supernatural settings, like the hell, was really done well also.

The other reviewers did not like the last 2 episodes. I kind of agree that the series can be finished with episode 12, but with the episode 13 and 14, they added more to the story. I feel like if it was finished with episode 12, it will be more confusing, because the viewers will feel that the story has more to offer. But with episode 13 and 14, the vision of what will happen next when Judge Bitna send Satan to hell was answered. Also, I love episode 14 especially, since the development between the 2 main characters was enlightened. That episode gave Bitna and Daon a chance for us to see what will happen to their story after all the obstacles they've been through.

Characters/Cast - 10/10
First of all, Park Shin Hye's acting really made me gasped. I know her already from her past films, but with this character, she amazed me so much more. With the way her character's emotions break, her fighting scenes, and her courtroom lines, she was really the perfect cast for this character. She served and slayed in giving us the best Kang Bitna or Justitia experience.

In terms of Kim Jaeyoung as Han Daon, to be honest, I did not like his character at first. I was like "Not all stories need to have love teams and this story is one of those", but later on I understood. Han Daon was the weakness of Justitia. Because of how powerful and strong minded she was, she needs a kryptonite to weaken her. Han Daon's character was really well portrayed with his kind of traumatic childhood experience, him pursuing Judge Bitna, and him as a police officer.

Valak, Gremory, Kim Jaehyun, Moon Dong Ju's characters was an experience. Kang Bitna's task will not be complete without the help of them. There are times that I got angry, most especially of Gremory, because of her poor decision making, but I still loved them all on the end of the series. Their respect to Judge Bitna, as her subordinates, made me respect their characters also.

Each and every side character was definitely needed because of how they added an extra flavor to Judge Bitna's character. Her co-demons, the angel, colleagues in the law firm, and neighbors, they all contributed well to the amazing plot this series has. Each part of Judge Bitna was highlighted because of them and their amazing roles for this series.

In totality, I love every inch of this series. I never felt bored on a single scene. Each episode made me interested on what comes and happens next. I love each and everyone of the characters. This was really perfectly and amazingly made. If a season 2 comes-up, that will be great, but if they decided to not come-up with another season, then it is okay. Everyone must watch this film, because The Judge from Hell is the true definition of a South Korean Thriller-Drama.

Read More