My Liberation Notes
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
There Are Consequences To Ignoring Consequences And Things Are Not Always What They Seem
They say there are consequences to ignoring consequences that are a consequence of one's blatant unwillingness to learn from their consequences, and that to me is what The Devil Judge was all about, a story quite relevant to our present time. I am a firm believer that one man’s devil is another man’s angel. But at the same time, those who fight monsters should beware not to become the monster they fight because when someone stares too long into the abyss, it will eventually stare back, as they say. But if one can imagine what makes a perfectly normal human being become a devilish avenger, as Go-On viewed Yo Han without even knowing what drove him. It becomes apparent that it’s hard for others to understand another person’s pain if they haven’t experienced it themselves. Justice-seeking monsters or devils like Yo Han do not just appear out of thin air; they are created; they become who they are because something unimaginable happened, and the magnitude of it only matters to them.But regardless of how others thought of him, Yo Han was always the power of the powerless, a man with a soul. Yes, his methods were unconventional, but at least he did not stand silently in the face of evil even as he lived with his unimaginable pain. Because as they say, the ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people. Yes, Ga-On (kudos to Park Jin Young for a well-done job) was a man of conviction. Still, he proved time and time again that nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. The same goes for Justice Min, who thought doing the wrong thing for the right reasons justified his actions which he will have to spend the rest of his days atoning as Ga-On told him no better judgment than that for someone like him. As they say, when one dances with the devil, the devil doesn't change. The devil changes them.
Ga-On, as a character, goes through a lot of heartaches, the biggest of all was losing his best friend, and in a way, it left him vulnerable to other people's manipulation, which made him do some unforgivable things. It doesn't excuse his behavior, but it does explain his choices. In the end, he falls in the same pit Yo Han found himself in so many years ago and finds the only way out is to take extreme measures to atone for the mistakes he's made, which was quite ironic for a man who blindly followed his conviction, a lesson learned the hard way, that the law is powerless in the face of power. As Yo Han says, monsters aren't born; they are awoken, and if one wants to make a dent, they may have to become the monster they so fervently abhor. I loved that Yo Han had people like him who stayed loyal to him to the end; they are all heroes in my book who understood the choices they made came with responsibilities they never floundered. As frustrating as it was to watch Ga-On fiddle with his inexperience and flip flipping as important to witness his gradual if at times sporadic development.
I would be remiss not to mention Soo Hyun, and unfortunately, as a character, she never worked for me. I could never really connect to her, and I tried. It was almost like she really didn't matter in the scheme of things and was created as a buffer for Ga-On. She was truly one-dimensional; everything about her revolved around Ga-On and his needs. She became a Cop to protect him, started investigating Yo Han for of him; she did nothing for herself, and I think if the writer had made her less focused on Ga-On and given her more depth in her function as a COP and a woman for that matter I would have been able to connect with her as a character and an individual. It felt like she had no value added to the drama, and that doesn't necessarily speak to Park Gyu Young as an actor but more the character. Judge Oh Jin Joo was probably another character that didn't get her fair share, but I commend Kim Jae Kyung for making the most of what she had and shinning through by the end of the drama.
Sun-Ah and her goons, on the other hand, were always prisoners of their greed. They lived in its bottomless pits, endlessly trying to satisfy that unquenchable hunger to no avail. The more they got, the more they wanted, but Sun Ah was her own doom and most significant enemy. I thought it quite hypocritical that Sun Ah was moved by certain things and didn't stand silently in the harassment or demeaning of women and orphan girls, which made her appear heroic in a way, yet a monster in the way she went after what she deemed hers, including the killing of innocent souls. It's so true when they say hypocrisy is the vice homage pays to virtue. Hats off to the talent that is Kim Min Jung in how she effortlessly portrayed the complex yet compelling Sun-Ah who lived and ended her own hell and on her own terms. Her life was the sum of all her choices. It must've been torture being her.
Many believed there wasn't much difference between Sun-Ah and Yo Han, Sun-Ah herself believed that, and that was probably the beginning of the end for her. But I say there are quite different. Sun Ah's revenge was very personal if we can even call it revenge. It was all for her and about her; she was never an avenger, nor did she have good intentions. In fact, her views were entirely incorrigible because she was utterly convinced of her moral perfection and the righteousness of her own cause, which made her sadistic and pretty dangerous. As I saw it, it was never really about revenge for Yo Han as much as it was about empowering the powerless. It was fitting that the ending showed history repeating itself and that the people who created the live show to popularize their image were judged by it. It was not just righteous, but justice in action. The Devil Judge was a delightful investment. Ji Sung again proves why he deserves to be on my top five list with his tremendously fantastic acting abilities. Kudos to the many gifted cast and production team members that made The Devil Judge the success it became, standing ovation for a well-done job. Yo Han strolling in a blaze of glory gives me great vibes for a second season. The drama's musical scores were also brilliantly done.
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lovebloomsamongthetrash
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This show was basically designed for me and I am very appreciative of this fact. There's a lot to enjoy about it and it's pretty fast paced. It basically keeps ramping up the stakes and the pressure throughout the series and I thought that it really worked. Yeah, there's a few things that I probably would have changed or done differently (I know people were upset about some of the deaths), but overall I thought that it was really great. I'd say that rewatch value is high since I've already been going back and rewatching episodes and finding connections/foreshadowing.
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
A great drama - except when it self-sabotages
"The Devil Judge" is a mind bending,law questioning spectacle everyone should experience at least once.Or the first half anyway.This 2021 drama presents dystopian corruption(because good things never die) and a small live court in the middle of this pandemonium.Led by one of the most charismatic characters I`ve seen in a drama recently,Judge Kang Yo Han.If you know about Geum Ja from "Hyena", Yo Han would be the male version of her.And despite these refined elements,why then,am I not giving this drama a higher grade?Well,let`s talk about it.LIKES
First,in all of my reviews I like to name the good things about a drama as I firmly believe it is hard to create,write,direct and edit a drama.Or any form of media for that matter.With that being said,this drama started off with a bang.The minute our main character(Yo Han is the main character GODDAMN IT)drives past the slums bathed in red,on his way to witness his inauguration,so to speak,really intrigued me from the getgo. Ji Sung is an amazing actor(save for a few seconds of overacting in final episode) and he managed to breathe life into this mammoth of pride,arrogance and hidden motivations clouded by elegant masculine fragrance. Yo Han never disappointed me and his goals,though not the most noble,had a consistent and understandable quality and thought process behind them.Honestly,I loved the way he maneuvered each hearing and what they did with his character,as what he stands for is not lost on me(after all,they weren`t THE most subtle about it). The way this drama was shot is also very commendable and at times even artistic,despite questionable CGI.Some set pieces and numerous instances made me feel for every resident in the slums the rich were using(and most of you will know about the scene I`m talking about).
The concept of a live court is intriguing in it of itself and the process of voting lending itself to the conversation of what democracy is in its purest form is also amazingly put together.The idea of Politicisation of a virus is a novel one as well,and takes guts to talk about,especially in this social climate. Not only that,but we actually got worthy antagonists ranging from the foundation to psychotic,yet charming Jung Sun Ah. Some`d say they took an absurdist route,but me,living where I live,could totally believe people in power would be as despicable as the ones we`re presented with in this drama.And that`s the fact of the matter.If you`ve lived or are living in corrupt society,you understand and agree with most,if not all Yo Han`s notions,because you know how bad it can get. When looking at it only shallowly,many would deem his decisions as extreme and rather on the nose.When in fact,Yo Han deserved more respect and reverence from people around him for being an absolute saint by withstanding their nonsense. But the pillar of necessary evil he embodies would,in reality,be necessary. They had it all.The writing was solid,the production adequate,the acting was ranging from good to masterful and then...the makers of this drama shot themselves in the foot.Because they introduced GA ON.The crux of an otherwise epic drama.
DISLIKES
To those who follow me, me dedicating a whole paragraph to one of the most annoying good guy characters I`ve seen in recent times should come as no surprise.I was very vocal about it. Kim Ga On should`ve NEVER been the main character of this drama.What`s more,his progression and story arcs are the most glaringly repetitive and that makes me even less forgiving.Unlike many,who,while admitting that Ga On is extremely dislikeable,still had the ability to overlook him and laud this drama,I can`t do that because,well,I`ve spent almost fifteen hours with this character.And when push comes to shove and there was a tinge of a chance he`ll die,I didn`t care.And that`s BAD.Kim Ga On being the central character of this drama pushes my gears in more ways than one. Not only was he inconsistently written(much like his love interest),but he was also the least interesting character to follow.Where Yo Han had to face himself,his beliefs and loner traits,Sun Ah had to deal with her wretched love and greed,Judge Oh with choosing between corruption and speaking out,Ga On`s story arc would seemingly complete...and then start all over again.His bias against Yo Han would subside and flare up and this would repeat and grow,like a sore on your back. THERE`S NO RESOLUTION. The first time it happened,I was on board,the second I was cautiously curious...but the third just made me hate this character. In fact,when I think back on it,Ga On could easily be perceived as an antagonist had they just changed how to interpret his actions. His holier than thou attitude being rewarded and fishing for emotional reaction made me cringe. His dilemma was uninteresting and frankly speaking,disrespectful to Yo Han who received him into his home,nursed him to health,showed him what precious law he wanted to abide by really amounted to and just who was responsible for the horrific end of his parents. Yo Han was more than patient with him and deserved a better sidekick. Maybe not even that,as I think that this drama would be a solid 9 without Ga On in it. Or if he had just been a minor character. But with his backstory, it`s almost impossible to see where all this faith in the broken justice system comes from with him. It`s insulting,from a writer`s standpoint. And I really wish they reconsidered his influence and inclusion in this drama. I have no problem in particular with the actor(though he didn`t have a lot to go off) nor the chemistry between Yo Han and Ga On, but he simply wasn`t deserving of this role. Point blank period.
Other than his character,the drama suffers a bit from pacing issues,and I think they could`ve done away with tens of minutes per episode. But I always think that. Finally I wish they worked on the story frame for the way characters act towards Yo Han,as this man deserves all the best and I`m walking away from this drama with the conviction that he`s become one of my favorite male drama characters.
In the end, "The Devil Judge" had a winning formula which they couldn`t complete just yet.But for what it`s worth it`s still a formidable entry in the world of law dramas. And if for nothing else,I`d watch it for Kang Yo Han.
#KangYoHanSupremacy
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Just me passionately waxing poetic on The Devil Judge:
For more visual experience:https://www.instagram.com/p/C04SC4ENuRD/
In a futuristic-dystopic South Korea, three charismatic judges are appointed for a live court show. Citizens have the agency to cast judgment on the defendants as the trials and verdicts are broadcast in real-time. Unknown to the public, our lead judge, Kang Yohan, plans to take down the corrupt government. However, he is challenged by his subordinate, Kim Gaon, and an ambitious secretary, Jung Sun Ah. They fight, they hate, they fall for one another, and they do more amazing things...
Sexy, shiny, and unapologetically cruel, "The Devil Judge" tells the story of broken souls yearning for revenge within their shattered dreams. Mind you, the trials are so over-the-top and can be illogical, but stay calm; that is dystopia. "A trial is a game; fail to serve evidence, you lose," said Kang Yohan. This is not only true for these trials but also perfectly describes our leads' arcs. The evil scheming is fun, ridiculous, and never boring as we’re constantly rewarded by thought-provoking and intense twists. I also appreciate the cinematic sets and aesthetics in this drama.
Of course, I have to talk about the masterfully-written characters. First, the complex, well-spoken Yohan, brought to life by Ji Sung with his arrogance, elegant sensuality, his smirk, and his wink that is worth A-Million-Dollar-Swoon. Just as impressive as him, Park Jin Young as the feisty and smart Gaon is an appropriate match for Yohan. Whoever cast them goes to heaven! Also, Kim Min Jung as Sunah is one of the greatest femme fatales whose presence dominates everyone. Her motivation is intriguing and a delight to see.
Beyond a law-revenge drama, we have a subtle but deep romance that keeps you thrilled throughout the entire drama (and I am not lying). Shrouded in the shades of Beauty and the Beast, Yohan is like a loner Beast who wants Gaon by his side even when Gaon hates him, while Gaon is obsessed with Yohan, at the same time he hates Yohan since he is such a hypocrite, but Gaon still finds truth in his words. They have the best chemistry beyond their dialogues and gestures, in silence and behind the scenes. They are constantly skating on each other's vulnerability while playing out power roles in fascinating ways.
TL;DR: Yohan and Gaon are made for each other, and I can never get over them (Oh my GaHan!) Furthermore, it's beautiful to watch their bond heal each other, giving warmth to Yohan's family, which story I won't delve into to prevent spoilers, but there is Elijah as Yohan's sole family member and there is a mystery to why they ended up this way. There's just so much love in this dysfunctional family; without it, the drama would not be as wholesome.
Honestly, I could go on, and it wouldn't be enough to express my passion, but I will stop here and I hope you won't miss watching this drama if you haven't seen it. I would recommend “The Devil Judge” to all.
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Thought provoking
If you were given the power to kill a man with a single app, would you do it?I feel like this show was so relevant if you think of this current generation. Keyboard warriors on every app.
The premisse of the show was wonderful since day one. And stayed pretty flawless until the end.
Even with all that "show" on the last ep, i still think the revenge lacked impact. They all had it easy in my eyes.
I actually wanted something more vile to happen, but that's maybe because i am used to watch so many western shows with twisted criminals.
The judge is the epitome of anti-hero. You will trust no one until the very end. Absolutely no character is to be trusted, and i love this show because of it. I genuinely didn't know who had the true version of each event.
Amazing script! Amazing acting! Amazing directing! Flawless OST!
This was a delight!
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A fascinating monster saint in a fascinating cynical story about power and unjustice
This is a review of a series that has left me incredibly drained of emotion and without power. At the same time, I'm overflowing with adrenaline and a desire to share. I'm not going to spoil it because I want whoever decides to watch it not to spoil their experience, I'll just share the information that's there in the description of the show, as well as the emotions I experienced and my opinion of the production and the cast.I don't know where to start.
Power.Corruption. A compromised justice system. Abuses. Theft. Murder. Demagoguery. Manipulation of public opinion. Vice. Fighting for justice in the midst of unjust governance and an unjust justice system amidst a parade of façade democracy.
How can you defeat evil? With good? With effort? Or with evil? The series The Devil Judge presents one judge's struggle with evil using the tools of evil. It shows how the lack of justice gives birth to monsters - at the level of the individual, at the level of the crowd, at the level of society.
As we go through the first layer of the series and its social impact, we come to the core - the soul of man. What happens to your soul as you go through suffering, temptation, fear, hate, anger, greed, doubt, self-pity, pain, pain and more pain. The decisions you make; the paths you take.
I'll be the first to share that I've been skipping this series since it came out in July because I kept thinking it was going to be something contrived; I don't like the sound of the Korean language and I don't like Koreans. However, last week I came across first a few pictures, then a few trailers and videos, and since I have a weakness for dominant men, I snapped it up for this very trivial reason. However...for me it's the show of the year of the ones I've watched and I regret passing it by for so long for frivolous reasons, just as I don't regret picking it up again for frivolous reasons.
Early on, when I started watching The Devil Judge, I found myself in the middle of a major moral conflict that made me physically unwell - tightness in my chest, heaviness in my heart, tension throughout my body. By the middle of the third episode, I resolved my moral conflict by accepting that the "Evil fights evil" formula was just and calmed down. From then on, I just followed events, at times with regret, at times with disgust, and at times with the cynical "yes, it happens often."
The series is well worth it, I don't really want to give too much away because I don't want to spoil the feeling, I'll just say that it's well shot and the characters are very well built psychologically.
All the actors do well with their roles, however the one in the lead role (Ji Sung, 44) who I'm watching for the first time is.... wow! He has built such a complex character that at first glance shows a strong and ruthless personality, but at the same time ( and this is only noticeable in the look, I mean this guy plays with his eyes) you can feel the care, love, support and iron principles behind the demonic image. In a perfect way he plays an elusive pain, I guess this will only be felt by empaths, the rest will need the visual representation to feel it.
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Masterpiece
One of the best drama ive ever watched, i really thought that nothing can be as amazing as Mr.Sunshine, but I was wrong!1) Story
The plot is really interesting. We don't know till the end who is good and who is bad, we don't know the past of the main lead. And even that, the story isn't very complicated, which means that we have a lot of amazing plot twist without need to write everything we have known earlier. Also the "romance" is amazing. "Romance" cause the drama leaves this part to the imagination, but we have really great chemistry between Yo han and Ga On mainly (i also enjoyed Yo han and Min Jung). Maybe support characters hadn't a lot od the screen time but it has to be said that i don't mind it. Yo han. YO HAN <3
2) Cast
Do I really need to say anything?
Ji Sung. If i have him the other characters can be played by pigs. Sorry, but he steals all the show. He has AMAZING talent, he is handsome, charming and I just love him in any drama. But other actors also played good! Jung Sun Ah - as I said I really love mr.sunshine and seeing her in this show was great.
3) Music
Love so much. OST is awesome. I still listen to Tempest, Enemy of truth, Different from the outside, I am the abbys and few more. Really amazing. Btw my friend is now watching TDJ (her first kdrama) only because she heard Tempest, which was played in my home.
To sum up, this drama is amazing. In every aspect, Graphic, colors, music, cast, story... I really reccomend this. To everyone. It's interesting, mystery but not too heavy. Overwhelming sometimes, but in a good way. Sad, but not too sad. Just perferct.
Sorry for my english, cause its not my 1st language. Have a good day!
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
A Mastery of Mass Manipulation (This drama has me in a chokehold like Yohan!)
This is solid. The drama doesn't pull any punches and it hits the ground running. Everything is fast-paced from the start for a reason. This drama is a Masterpiece and a shining example of what more to expect in Kdramas moving forward. A Trailblazing type of drama that is original in its genre and a blended artwork of cinematography, casting, lighting, acting, writing, directing, sound design, and pacing. This is a must-watch.I did my research before watching this drama. I came across an article that mentioned an interview with the writer of the show who is also a former judge. His writing brought realism - scary realism - to the Dystopian alternative universe of South Korea, post-COVID.
Technically, many of the things that happened in that drama has already happened or are currently happening around the world. Like America for example, the writer said he was inspired by International government policies and politics when creating the universe and it shows! The President in the drama can be seen as a certain President that was running for the Presidental Election in 2016. (Sounds familiar?) Or the many corrupted government officials and CEOs of various conglomerates that helped fund them. Something that is definitely current in many countries.
The writer also said something else that I was impressed by: he writes characters without assigning gender. I love that. He created strong women that can be soft and fragile too. He created strong men that can vulnerable and sensitive too. Kim Gaon
was a 'Babe in The Woods'. He was thrown into a nest of vipers for the expense of someone else and instead that 'viper' turned out to be the most trustworthy person Gaon has ever known. (This story reals feel Gothic in that aspect since Gaon as the Babe in the Woods gets held hostage in the Gothic castle later, a.k.a Yohan's deary mansion in the middle of nowhere!)
The review! This drama is beautiful to look at. The camera work is flawless. The scenery, set locations, and action shots are all different from each other with different moods, colors, shadow play, and angles. I enjoyed the variety of these moments. It's a stark contrast from Gaon's small, cozy home in the poorer side of town, to the clean and immaculate office building of the Live Court, to Yohan's cold and dark mansion out in the countryside. This drama took me places and I enjoyed that!
The music is to die for, there I said it, and I won't take that back. There were moments when I was watching intensely at the screen and had to rewind to reassure myself that I wasn't just imaging the music sounding quite excellent at a very emotional or important moment. I wasn't imagining things, the music is 12/10. The OST has a song that is sweet with gentle, female vocals and an accompanying guitar to represent innocent love. Then, there's the swelling symphonies and heavy orchestra for the more chaotic moments and action scenes to rev up my heart rate because the crescendo was bittersweet since you're happy to finally breathe again, but you're upset that it's over. (Rewind button again!) Next, there's a rock guitar type of song whenever Yohan is up to his Batman acts again! Of course, with his trusty sidekick Rob- Gaon, I meant Goan. (But Yohan really referred to him as his sidekick so that's canon right?!)
The casting and acting were wonderful choices and I applaud the crew behind the camera as well as the cast in from of the camera. I loved every character and I didn't hate any character I wasn't supposed to, so this makes this drama the best drama I have seen all year. That's impressive. The women in this drama deserve a standing ovation. When the writer said that he doesn't write characters based on gender, he meant it. He truly meant it and thank you so much for that because was finally got a FEMALE VILLAIN THAT DID EVIL SO WELL! *chef's kiss*
When Seon Ah was walking down the carpet for the funeral.... that moment is seared in my brain. That is a Power Walk - the actress definitely has the legs for them. Her outfits were on point. The styling for each character fits the personality of the characters and no one looked out of place. Every detail in the visual aspects was perfect. Just as perfect as the common imagery of showing certain characters' reflections, or them looking in the mirror to represent the duality of a human being is perfect. Applause, applause, standing ovation.
(Also, the government official Cha Kyung Hee was a terrifying, powerful, cruel, horrible, and pitiful person. I nod my head at her last scene and the decision she made reflecting the proud and decisive person she was always portrayed as in the drama. A fitting end for her and a clever twist to the story.)
So is this the part where I mention the BL? Maybe.... maybe individuals that aren't aware of the writer's intention are clueless to the fact that the story is supposed to be a story of politics, crime, and love between two men. But I am aware that that was the original intention and trying to watch the drama without immediately looking for those BL moments was unnecessary because it's more or less shoved in your face within the first episode. *teehee* The tension!
Could these two characters be any more intense than that first meeting? Yes! Buckle in, because it's only the beginning.
Look, the drama starts off pretty fast-paced and continues to do so until at least episode three where Gaon finds himself in a Gothic horror romance story as the naive, yet fearless (sometimes careless) main heroine. This is why 'babe in the woods' fits him so well. I referred to him as Baby Boy quite often because he's precious and needs to be protected at all costs! (Apparently, everyone feels the same, like his childhood friend, Professor Min, his coworker, and of course Yohan.) Jinyoung's idol looks helped in the 'deer in the headlights' look of naivety and innocence. He's even beautiful when he cries, true talent because I was definitely flinching whenever he was manhandled or hurt. 'Someone save Baby Boy!' or 'Oh no, not the Baby! Don't hurt him please!' I said these phrases often and the actors Jisung and Jinyoung have an age gap of 17 (!!!) years so yeah. He's a baby.
The Devil Judge - the titular character and the drama - was a masterpiece of mass manipulation through media and the like. Some characters in this drama were playing games with other people and secrets. It was refreshing to see so many complex characters with dubious morals and corrupt ethics on-screen in one drama. The calmer, domestic and wholesome moments are between Yohan, Gaon, and Elijah. Also, the mystery behind the church fire was a clever twist and satisfying to know the whole truth. Elijah must be protected too!
The verdicts for the crimes in the show are just, unethical but just all the same. I truly enjoyed the moments where the corrupted criminals realized that the system will not let them off because Yohan is no one's friend. Especially those who are responsible for the broken system in the first place and/or benefit from it. This was cathartic to watch. Yes, I got excited at the scenes with the public flogging, castration, and electrical chair but look at it like this: an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind.....so let me enjoy this before we all go blind! Now, the public flogging, I thought it was going to be on his butt with a long wooden paddle that I've seen in historical Korean Dramas, but that kind of flogging was acceptable too. The scene with the electric chair was more complicated since there was a scene where children were participating in something that they really couldn't truly understand and such knowledge of their actions would be very detrimental to their mental health. That moment showed the downside to such 'swift/easy justice' as Professor Min quoted in the show.
I would say watch this drama. Watch this drama and watch this drama. If you like dramas like House of Cards, Sherlock, or Law & Order - you'll love this drama for many more reasons than you were aware existed.
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A not super homage of a superhero story
A rich guy in a powerful position with a vigilante hobby and a tragic backstory. A young protege' that lost his family. A wheelchair bound woman that's a whiz with computers. A coterie of corrupt men in power. A ambiguously good/evil female that to has a romantic interest in the rich guy. A city awash in crime.Figured out yet what story this is? So there's some surface-level differences but the similarities are too numerous to dismiss. It's not a fatal problem, but it does set a bar of expectations fairly high. It's a high-quality setup that requires excellence in execution.
The budget is definitely there. Ample sums of money have been spent here on special effects (lots and lots of fire and explosions and smoke). There's some big set pieces with lots of crowds. There's lots of fancy vehicles and a big house and the wardrobing is wonderful.
The majority of the cast is strong. Ji Sung clearly has the intensity and physicality to play Kang Yo Han. Among the supporting cast, Jang Young Nam, Baek Hyun Jin and Jeon Chae Eun stand out. Kim Min Jung pushes a bit much in to caricature than needed, but is passable. But Park Jin Young is the central character in the narrative and, while he's not the only issue with the character, he's not helping this production with his limited acting skill.
The fatal flaw of "The Devil Judge" is the character of Kim Ga On played by Park Jin Young. This is a show of intrigue. It's a deadly game of five dimensional chess where subterfuge and strategy are critical to survival. Kim Ga On, however, shows no traits that would make him useful in any conceivable way. Ga On doesn't control his emotions. He doesn't keep secrets. He doesn't conceal his intentions. When he attempts to dig up info, he is easily caught. He doesn't listen to simple directions. He is not only useless to someone playing in such a game, he's an obvious liability with no redeeming value. That Kang Yo Han has selected him among a legion of more worthy potentially useful allies to be his sidekick is inconceivably poor scripting. Yo Han is an unforgiving man bent on revenge and a brilliant tactician, but his choice as his wingman would struggle to outsmart an inanimate object.
Even more frustrating is that Ga On is the lifelong friend and object of affection for Park Gyu Young's Detective Yoon Soo Hyun. There's a backstory as to how they were childhood friends but it is entirely unconvincing as to why Soo Hyun has any feelings for Ga On. He has no apparent reason for not returning her feelings despite the fact that does actually like her. There are times when drama characters may not immediately become an item based on sketchy reasoning, but this is over the line of any credible basis.
There's more bad logic in the storyline here than needs to be reviewed. And it should be noted that entertainment or art in general should be permitted license to ask the audience to engage in some degree of suspension of reality. That's part of the point - to disengage from the stress and fatigue of our daily lives. But there's still a requirement that a story have solid footing. A line exists that should not be crossed. "The Devil Judge" crosses it and then sits fire to it and then salts the earth where it once lay.
As an aside, Park Gyu Young still deserves a leading role. It would be a bonus if it was on a show that didn't seem so bent on making her look as bedraggled as possible.
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Too theatrical and too grotesque
Delightful music is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this drama. Stunning music and phenomenal Ji Sung whose acting stunned me.Unfortunately, that's as far as praise goes. The drama is done too artistically for my taste. The cinematography, the set design, the costumes - everything is beautiful, but I was too wrapped up in the beauty where the plot was lacking. The first episode in terms of carrying out the process enthralled me, but then everything started to break down. There was too much of something that verged on caricature and not enough of the elements that are most important to me - something that would draw me into rooting for the hero. The theatricality of this drama, sometimes grotesque, took away my feeling of satisfaction from the first episode and took away my pleasure from watching. I abandoned this drama two or three episodes before the end and came back only because I saw the phenomenal Ji Sung in an older drama and wanted to compare the acting.
The drama is aesthetically pleasing but for me it was a bit too much in terms of form and the characters were cartoonish.
Cet avis était-il utile?
Give it a try you won't regret it
At first the drama could see like messy but while the time pass you would understand everything like why happened those things, I like that they don't introduce the drama like in a boring way and they keep that line of surprise in every episode, I love the chemistry that Jisung and Jinyoung have, what I don't like is that the writer made Gaon like stupid he keeps making conclusions out nothing but anyway apart from that I love the character and the evolution he has every episode, I love Yohan in every aspect, but the character I hate is Oh jinju that's sorry but the worst character I can't deal with her. Anyway give it a try you might like it, is easy to watch and the cast has an environment so friendly all the time I hope we can see them together in the future.Cet avis était-il utile?
