The Devil Judge is set in a dystopian Korea where a mysterious and ruthless head judge (Ji Sung) leads a courtroom reality show and makes a spectacle that divides the public. He is joined by a righteous rookie judge (Jinyoung) who questions his motives and tries to find the truth. The two then go up against a powerful foundation director (Kim Min Jung).
Ji Sung plays Kang Yo Han who is the ruthless head judge of a courtroom reality show who is known for his dramatics. He is surrounded by mystery though, and a rookie judge hopes to uncover his secrets.
Jinyoung is Kim Ga On who is a very kind and moral rookie judge alongside Yo Han. He wants to uncover the truth behind him and find out who he really is.
Kim Min Jung is Jung Seon Ah. She is the director of a corporate foundation and is filled with ambition to gain more wealth and power which pits her against Yo Han.
Then we have Park Gyu Young as Yoon Soo Hyun who is a police officer and longtime best friend of Ga On. She wants to help him however she can but worries he may be getting in too deep.
Wow! The Devil Judge is an excellent drama in every way. It has a tightly written story that’s packed with twists and turns. There are consistent plot developments all the way through with great pacing. There’s never a dull moment.
The overall production is slick and creates the perfect atmosphere for the dystopian setting. It contrasts the crisp, sleek halls of the courthouse and the luxurious homes and parties of the rich with the dilapidated areas of Seoul struggling with poverty and homelessness.
Ji Sung was absolutely incredible and delivered a powerful performance filled with intensity and raw emotion. The character of Yo Han is extremely complex. He’s morally grey and willing to go to extreme lengths to dole out justice as he sees fit. This is evidenced by his theatrics on his courtroom show where he does plenty of questionable things and gives out questionable punishments.
There’s also a lot of mystery surrounding who he is and what his past is. He lives in a old, secluded mansion surrounded by rumors that he was responsible for the death of his older brother many years ago. Of course, there’s a lot to this story just as there’s a lot to this man. I really enjoyed getting to slowly peel back the layers of who he was, what motivates him, and how he operates.
Jinyoung also gives a wonderful performance as our rookie judge Ga On. Filled with morals and convictions, he wants to make sure the law is followed to a T. Yo Han’s ways make him uncomfortable and unnerve him. He has a lot of demons of his own, and he has to begin to face them the more he gets to know Yo Han.
The bromance between Yo Han and Ga On was fantastic. This is a more nuanced and layered relationship filled with complexity. These two find themselves at odds more times than not. There’s a lot of distrust too. But even in the midst of all of the disagreements and distrust, the two find common ground and a way to express some of their deepest pain. It’s an interesting relationship for sure.
Then we have Seon A as one of our main villains who is filled with surprises. She is also a very unique character with a quirky brand of crazy badness and will stop at nothing to get what she want
The drama is filled with plenty of other villains too with a variety of corrupt politicians, justices, and media people. They show just how despicable and evil humans can be, not just with how deep their corruption runs, but with the lengths they are willing to go to in order to maintain power and control. Wonderful performances all around from this incredible veteran cast.
The Devil Judge deals with a lot of dark topics including controversial punishments for crimes, death, moral ambiguity, and the fallout of a pandemic. Things also continue to escalate as the drama progresses and things get darker and darker.
It definitely feels heavy with a suspenseful vibe throughout, but there are plenty of more entertaining moments with Yo Han’s theatrics and some more heartwarming moments between the characters.
There are a few things to keep in mind with a drama like this. Some elements of it feel sort of fantastical. You just have to roll with certain elements that seem a bit convenient. Like right off the bat, Ga On basically ending up living with Yo Han in his big mansion and the power that the villains have to execute their plans. You’ll find a few convenient plot devices here and there, but those feel quite small compared to how exceptional everything else is.
Overall, The Devil Judge was exceptional. It delivers a tightly written unique story in a unique setting with complex characters and hard-hitting questions. The excellent production creates a disturbing world that pulls you in. Incredible performances bring to life a variety of characters. The Devil Judge is engaging and suspenseful all the way through. It’s truly a fantastic show.
My rating: 9/10
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