A little heavy on the melo, but an original take on juvenile justice
It is a common fault for writers to try too hard. To think that the more emotion they put into the writing, the more the viewer will feel it. Paradoxically, it is the opposite.The art of moving a viewer is to leave enough space for a reaction to arise within them through their own volition. The more the viewer is told how to think and feel, the less they actually will think and feel. This is not just because we all hate being told what to do, but because it is coming overwhelmingly from the outside, pushing against us and closing down the available space for our own response. We need only enough to peak our empathy, then we will naturally do the rest. And because it is not the emotion of the actor but our own emotional response arising from our own understanding, we will feel it twice as much. Knowing where the trigger point is and just how much is enough for any particular audience,is the thing that separates a brilliant director from an average one.
Here, the director (Hong Jong Chan) did the writer (Kim Min Sook) no favours in overplaying the melodrama. Trauma does not automatically lead to excessive and noisy crying. It can lead to anger, denial, confusion and often numbness and silence. This range of responses can also be utilised by a good director to emphasise the horror of a situation but they were not featured in this drama. By the time we reached episode 9, character after character was either crying or wailing in a string of consecutive scenes that became less and less effective as they rolled by. The result was to distance me rather than draw me in. Which is a pity because this was a powerful drama and had the potential to be more so.
Music also plays an important part in evoking emotion, and here the swelling orchestral music was way too heavy. There was far too much of it, it was far too loud and far too emotive. I found it oppressive.
Having said all that, there was much to appreciate in this production. The characters of the two leads are interesting and well fleshed out. Kim Hye Soo and Kim Mu Yeon gave convincing performances. They represented opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their attitudes and judgements. It was a wise choice not to have them as adversaries but genuine colleagues who maintained respectful regard for each other. This gave an opportunity for a more rounded viewpoint of the case scenarios, and highlighted the ambivalence that is always present. It meant that the focus remained on the ethics and morals of the action and was not diverted by inter-personal conflict. As a result, there was plenty for the viewer to reflect on.
The treatment of the young people also aimed at more realism than is common in k-dramas, especially in terms of their language, behaviour and attitudes. At times there was confronting material to watch but it was never gratuitous.
This was a deliberately victim-centred presentation and constantly emphasised the impact of anti-social and violent behaviour. As most court and crime dramas are heavily focused on the perpetrators this was a refreshing take on things.
A lot of the dialogue was educational in tone. Some of it out of character for the professional environment it took place in, but not so much that it was irritating. It was forgivable in the circumstances as the juvenile court is rarely depicted and little understood. As a piece of social commentary the show was very successful. As a drama, slightly less so but well worth watching.
What my rating means: 7+ A watchable drama, but nothing exceptional. Good enough to qualify for the race, but finished with the pack. The sort of thing that promises more than it delivers.
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Exposure of delinquent juveniles
Juvenile Justice showcases the reality of underage kids doing crimes and escaping harsher punishment. The drama emphasizes on the requirement of strict law when it comes to underage kids involved in heinous crimes.The drama uses the premise and it's characters very well. Each episode, or rather, each story was built amazingly and the ending for each of them had a very important message in today's society. This crime courtroom drama deserves an appreciation for not only bringing this case to the limelight, but also making the show intriguing with twists and turns, and entertaining as well as educating it's viewers.
My Rating : 8.5/10
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Juvenile punishment or reform?
Likes1. Heavy drama about juvenile offenders. Bullying, murder, gang rape. Should they be punished or help them reform? Can they really change? This drama will make you think and this is not just applicable to SK. It's an issue around the world.
2. Realized it's very important for kids to grow up in a loving and stable family/environment since their childhood trauma remains even when they grow up as adults.
3. Liked each of the cases although not always how these were resolved. It also made me think how far should we do our jobs. As judges they weren't supposed to investigate but they crossed the line. Coz if they dont do it who will? Or maybe they need everyone or the system (prosecutors, police, workers) to effectively work together.
Dislikes
Couldn't connect with or care for the two main leads despite their background stories.
Rating: 8/10
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One of the best crime-law series I've watched. Simple concepts yet so deep.
I love this drama for several reasons and I'll tell you each of the reason why you should need to add this on your watchlist.1. Very deep meaning using relatable situations for almost everyone. One of the things I really commend about this series is the fact that they used common scenarios that can be understood easily. They also didn't add a lot of law technicalities so even if law genre doesn't interest you or you don't know anything about law, you can still enjoy it.
2. The colorful characters. In most dramas we identify who's the main leads and who are the villains however in Juvenile Justice, it's difficult to draw a line. Everyone has a fair share of good and bad in them that it's really hard to tell whether they're a good or bad person. Personally, I can't stop myself loving all the characters.
3. The actors and actresses. Of course, this series won't be successful without the casts outstanding portrayal. Kim HyeSoo did not disappoint and she perfectly embodied a judge who is strict and serious but at the same time uses logic and compassion to teach the juvenile offenders a lesson. Her portrayal is certainly outstanding. On the other hand, Kim MuYeol, another actor who's known for versatility. His character here is a lot more passive than the previous shows/movies I've seen which is why I'm a bit sad. His portrayal as an associate judge who's very emotional and show empathy to all the juveniles is on point but I guess his character as Judge Cha TaeMu is a bit plain. Compared to Judge Shim's character, who's very fierce and aggressive, Judge Cha's saint-like personality has been outshined by Judge Shim's unique way of handling her cases.
Actually there's a lot more to expect from this series and it's definitely worth the watch. I hope you try watching this and fall in love with its heart-wrenching show filled with a lot of lifelong lessons.
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One of the best series I've ever watched! very well written plot
Very emotional series, gripping from beginning to end, I ended up crying a lot, as each story made me feel like I was in the victim's shoes. Simply incredible. I love how this type of series brings topics that are always so current and real, the way each story makes me think and feel is surreal. This approach from different points of view, such as those of the victims, those of the guilty and the judges, makes those who watch (at least it did for me) undergo an obligatory reflection on character and empathy. Because without a doubt, empathy is the most human feeling anyone can experience. The ending gave me much more than it promised. Life is a new beginning, it is up to us to have the strength to change and move forward.Was this review helpful to you?
Raw, Emotional & Brilliant
I don’t know why I put this drama off for so long because it has now become one of my favourites.The acting was fantastic from the judges to child actors. Everything felt natural. Nothing was overly dramatic, fake, or unnecessary.
I loved that the drama explored different kinds of juvenile cases instead of focusing on just one type of crime. Some cases were brutal enough where I felt that they deserved harsher punishment, but the drama also showed the other side how the system works and how even minors who genuinely change can be permanently labelled as criminals by society.
It also left me with a strong feeling that sometimes laws seem more focused on protecting offenders than the victims. Not just juvenile offenders, but the justice system in general. I do wish there were stricter consequences in real life to prevent repeat offenders.
The FL’s character development was one of my favourite parts. Watching her slowly change while still remaining true to who she was was incredibly satisfying.
The second half is much more emotional. Every character made me feel something anger, frustration, sadness, empathy.
It’s only 10 episodes, and honestly, I don’t have much to complain about. Every episode felt meaningful and well done.
10/10. Absolutely worth watching.
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Minor Law that too simple
This is the story about the judge who doesn't like if the criminal is a child that is underage which is the law can't punish them because they are underage. That's why in this K-Drama, the main character (The Judge) wants to strengthen the law for underage so that they didn't do the same mistake and understand how serious the law is. For example, is what punishment should be given to a child that killed someone and destroy the victim's family? The law for minors is really easy and that didn't make the child understand what He/She has done. That's why when they grow up, they can do the same things as a criminal even worse than before.The effect of this K-drama is not much but it is more realistic than what happens in real-life cases.
If you love the law, then you might like this one!
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'Anyone can be a victim'
Now I get why this drama is said to be underrated because its first episode did not disappoint.This might a fresh plot for law-related dramas since it sheds light on the juvenile cases or delinquency. How crimes committed by young offenders are something to still be tolerated rather than be corrected from the start.
You might hate Judge Sim for being a maxim court judge and her skeptical attitude but going through the episodes you will know why her personality is vital in keeping the courthouse impartial.
This drama really talks about the pressing issues on adolescence, the conditions or household that pushes them and facilities that rectify their mistakes.
I recommend you to watch it and learn from it that having a child is a responsibility for anyone who chose to have them.
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My Review for Juvenile Justice
For a drama that relates to Juvenile Delinquency, I was not expecting the story to be this good. As mentioned from the synopsis, we can see at the start that Sim Eun Seok hates juvenile offenders, and is often harsh when handling cases. This drama has her cover on each case that deals with many juvenile offender issues from different aspects in South Korean society. Impressively, each case have managed to top the others previously, building not just the story but the characters involved.After watching the final episode, the season finale is as jaw-dropping as when the first episode debut. Many times while watching, I had goosebumps from how unsettling a case was and the question of true justice is often posed to us viewers. The writing is superb and there is so much attention to detail that goes into each case (the cinematography is often quite symbolic as well). Definitely a recommend for anyone who is interested, as it manages to tell such a meaningful story in a short 10 episode-run.
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Children don’t have a developed enough brain to be able to understand the consequences of their actions. But then what if that action involves a loss of a human life? Or when the action is horrific… inhumane? How do we balance understanding the perpetrators as well as the victims? How do we determine the appropriate punishment for a juvenile in order for them to understand the pain and suffering their actions have caused and to deter them from doing something similar or even worse in the future?
That is what each of the cases in Juvenile Justice address. I think the series does a wonderful job of presenting cases where the juveniles are a product of their environment, are still redeemable and can be saved. And then the juveniles who are so horrific that they need to be caught and appropriately punished. While the series is extremely dark and horrific, they do so in a respectable manner. They show just enough of the events that you can use your imagination to fill in the rest of the scenes. I wish more shows would do this.
I think the only drawback the series has is that it addresses the issues AFTER a juvenile commits a crime but not so much on the prevention of it in the first place. I think one of the stories attempts to do that, and I hope that message got across to viewers. That the quality of family life is important. That running away and homelessness can be dangerous. And that we need better social safety nets to protect the vulnerable.
The MC said one thing in the beginning that took me aback and to be honest, turned me off. “I hate juveniles”. But by the end, I understood what she meant with a broken heart that is terribly sad for her character.
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This review may contain spoilers
My Concern about this show
"Jo teenager fairytale ke colourful world se asliyat ke grey world mein apne aapko dhalna shuru kar chuke hain, unko ye adbhut show dekhna chahiye. Conspiracy, Politics, Ethics, Morality, Business - in sabki acchi samajh hone ke baad, woh ye show samajh sakte hain ya in saare factors ko samajhne ke liye woh ye show dekh sakte hain."Content :- Sim Eun Seok is an elite judge with a prickly personality who hates juvenile offenders. After she gets assigned to a local juvenile court, she tries to balance her aversion to minor offenders with firm beliefs on justice and punishment, as she goes out of her way to break custom and administer her own ways of punishing the offenders.
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Children need attention
This series has become one of my favorites, without any effort. I have always appreciated the detective, detective and investigative series, but above all series that take place in court. This series amazed me, the best I've seen.The protagonist, Judge Shim (played by Kim Hye-soo) is simply perfect, she has a very interesting approach to dealing with "young criminals" and gives them the right lesson to grow at their best. The backstories of the various characters are treated very well and manage to make you empathize with each of them, from the protagonists to the tertiary characters.
I highly recommend this series, it is very interesting and is perfect for a marathon.
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