The Devil Judge is Captivating but…

What works in this drama?

You only start realizing that the world created by Choi Jung Gyu (director) and Moon Yoo Seok (screenwriter) is bizarre when you see the judges wearing priestly robes in a court. Yes, it’s a bizarre and oddly fascinating world. But you do not realize it because it is no different from the current world we live in.

We know we are living in a post-truth era where emotion takes precedence over facts. The Devil Judge is set in a dystopian Korea where a judge turns his courtroom into something like a live reality show where verdict is done by the majority’s voting. Now, his methods are wrong for he manipulates his cases but we root for him nevertheless.

The protagonist Kang Yo-han (played by Ji-sung) is the titular devil judge who sets out to change the world with the aid of some supporters and a fellow judge Kim Ga-on (played by Park Jinyoung). Yo-han is a God-like devil admired by everyone and feared by the politicians because they can not ‘tame’ him. He is throughout the drama, every character is talking about him and by the end of it, you realize that you will never forget the character name. The drama is visually spectacular and a huge shoutout to the cinematographer.

The Characters

The three lead characters are well fleshed out. They have a motive for the things they do, however good or bad they are. Ji-sung is brilliant as the ‘almighty’ Kang Yo-han. The actor has a magnetic screen presence that whenever he is on screen, all you see is him. Park Jinyoung plays Ga-on with honesty and vulnerability. How many times do we get to see a man cry on screen? Kim Ga-on is extremely broken and vulnerable and Park Jinyoung plays him with ease.

But Kim Min-jung as Jung Sun-ah completely steals the show. Sun-ah is the perfect villain, an absolute rival who can bring the hero down. She is fearless, ruthless and extremely beautiful for a villain. Kim Min-jung’s performance sometimes overshadows all the other actors. She has the poise in her body language and conveys varied emotions through her eyes. She is cruel in her dealings but she is a villain with a redeeming quality.

The Devil Judge Cast and Credits https://mydramalist.com/62087-the-demon-judge/cast

Another commendable aspect is the music that fits really well into the narrative. All the songs are exceptional. My favorites are the opening theme “I am the Abyss” and the soothing track “The Nights” by Huckleberry Finn.

What does not work ?

The problem though, lies mainly with the fourth main character Yoon Su-hyun. The character is so underwritten and we don’t even know her backstory. She is driven only by her love for Ga-on. There is no solid reason as to why she loves him so much. Even her dreams are for him. Her thoughts and actions completely revolves around him. This was a let down because she felt like a character without a purpose, almost like a magnet revolving around Ga-on,. The actor who plays her, Park Gyu-young, though, is really good. She has great potential and deserves a full fledged character.

The Devil Judge and its dystopian world is essentially male. There are only two female characters which can be called noble (a judge and a cop), but these characters are so peripheral. Female characters are underlooked. They don’t have much role to play in this imaginary world. They are either ruthless, wicked or, noble but shallow. It is almost ironic that in a drama that talks about correcting the world, women’s role is almost negligible.

But, that’s not all. It gets too melodramatic often times and there is a lack of meticulousness in some scenes involving minor characters. The Devil Judge is essentially an over the top drama, so you cannot expect too much logic and perfection and yes, there are some compromises done for commercial purpose, especially in acting.

So, is it worth your time?

Despite all its flaws, The Devil Judge is watchable. It is extremely thrilling and a total adrenaline rush drive. You go from one episode to another; there are no points where you feel bored. It is definitely worth a watch.

The Devil Judge is a masterpiece
byu/Apprehensive_Egg9676 inKDRAMA