The Judge Returns and Familiar Wife are similar because both revolve around the idea of getting a second chance to fix past mistakes and rethink life choices. In Familiar Wife, the male lead wakes up in an alternate reality where his marriage and life are completely different, forcing him to confront the regrets and emotional neglect of his past, while The Judge Returns gives its lead a chance to go back in time and correct his failures through justice and moral responsibility. In both dramas, the protagonists start off flawed and emotionally immature, and the second chance becomes a catalyst for deep self-reflection, personal growth, and learning how to love better. They blend fantasy elements with very real emotional struggles, questioning whether fate controls life or whether choices do, and ultimately emphasizing that growth, accountability, and changed behavior matter more than simply rewriting the past.
