DramaloverPanda

A story set in a dystopian kind of Korea with no real world building that leaves too much unsaid leaving viewers often a bit confused. After a virus devastated the country leaving the vast majority in poverty the rich elite take over and use claims for social recovery to make themselves richer and stay in power. The premise of the show is based on a judge that has persuaded the government to broadcast a live trial show to further push their narrative. But Judge Kang really ends up using the platform to derail the corrupt elite and try to punish them for their actions when 'justice is silent against power and money".

A thought provoking drama that challenges power and wealth with the hands of the majority through a public trial. The cases I actually found quite interesting in the first few chapters and looked forward to seeing how the Judges would fight back against the narratives the corrupt officials were writing. But the trials are a very small percentage in terms of screen time for this drama. Instead most of what you see is the group of rich individuals and their scheming with a few homey scenes of our protagonists.

I'm not sure I have ever hated a protagonist in a story as much as I hate Kim Ga On. For a heavily character driven drama this story how did they end up with such a poorly written character in Ga On? Written to be the moral compass to Kang Yo Han's morally grey Ga On instead is the most easily manipulated, wishy washy, pathetic character. His loyalty changed from episode to episode and his incredibly stupid actions make you wonder how someone like him would have even become a judge. Judge Oh's presence and short lived manipulation was a better portrayal for the role he never fit.

I did not love the acting for Secretary Jung but the character herself was easy to hate and make your blood boil. In that sense she pulled off exactly what she was written to do. But so much of the story is spent showing us these flamboyant rich elites that hold the country in their hands and lead with money instead of wit. Jung is well versed in the art of manipulation and flattery to get exactly what she wants which is to make it to the very top of the pyramid. And she very much manipulates every single person she comes across. While not overly genius planning she instead makes it so far due to the characters around her made to constantly make dumb decisions. With Ga On honestly being the biggest obstacle for Kang Yo Han.

All in all while the drama is shot well with a great OST the plot and main characters will leave you wanting to pull your hair out. If you are looking for a good revenge drama then this is not it. If you are looking for a political drama, again, this is not it. If you are looking for a romance then this is definitely not it. Because what this ends up giving you is an attempt at all three but with none of the genres truly landing.