The Devil Judge (TV Series 2021) Poster

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8/10
Amazing acting and cinematography
ashleywrite6 July 2021
I was actually quite pleasantly surprised with the scale of the drama, the cinematography gives an almost movie like experience. Some of the action scenes are a tiny bit dramatic, just the way I like them, that's the beauty of film after all, a guilty pleasure.

The chemistry between the lead cast is commendable, especially the actors playing Yohan, Soohyun and Gaon. Ofcourse some improvements can be made here and there but imperfections exist in the best of works. It's been a while since I've watched a courtroom drama this engaging, especially with the futuristic setting and the references to a "post epidemic" world, the Bible, Plato, etc.

The negative/rich characters are a bit dramatic and I hope to see more diversity there - not everyone is bad because they're rich or rich because they're bad, but we're only 2 episodes in so I will keep my expectations high. The subtlety of the main cast's chemistry and acting makes up for it! Jisung as always gives a stellar performance, treading the line between overbearing and understated very efficiently. I'm looking forward to more scenes with Kim Min-Jung (an amazing actress herself), the sparks between them are undeniable and so far every scene where they've been together has left me unsatisfied and craving for more. She's supposed to be his nemesis so that's a good thing.

As for the younger cast, Park Gyu-young is good, she radiates a very positive charm and the scenes light up whenever she interacts with Gaon. I find myself smiling involuntarily, there's zero awkwardness between her and Park Jinyoung and I wonder if they've known each other before this drama and are friends outside of it too.

Park Jinyoung is a complete surprise to me, sometimes idols with pretty faces lack a bit of depth in their acting but his expressions speak louder than words, especially his eyes. An actor who can act with just their face deserve commendation. I stand corrected and hope to see him do more mature and intense roles like this in films next.

All in all, I've watched a lot of the scenes twice and even thrice because they're just so well done, especially the car chase scene, the drone shots, the ending scenes of both episodes, the Seoul streets at night, the underground. Eagerly waiting for episode 3&4 next week!
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9/10
Must watch legal mystery drama
dinajoe-755727 July 2021
The most interesting part of this drama is about its live courtroom show. After watching episode 1 & 2, i was amazed by the cinematography which makes this movie-like high quality drama, indeed there are a few scenes that seem rushed to give an impression in the initial episode, but it did manage to impress the audience because there were some scenes that were fresh and unique.

The acting of each actor is very impressive and is able to bring the story of this drama to life. Jisung and kim minjung's acting is undoubted, Jinyoung's performance was amazing with his full of expression and gyuyoung also gives good performance. As expected, the story of each scene is still unpredictable and that's the reason why this drama is interesting So the main character in this drama centers on two men who chase each other and a woman who became nemesis of the first male character. I can't wait for the story and what conflicts will arise next.
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7/10
Second half was a let down after an amazing first half
sprashanthdummy26 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I liked The Devil Judge series for it's top notch cinematography and editing & excellent performance by Ji Sung. However, in terms of the storyline, while I found the first half (upto ep 9/10) very thrilling and well written, the second half was too draggy, angst-filled and kind of cartoonish. In addition, I found the character of Ga-On (played by Jinyoung) as too fickle and immature that he kept constantly flipping allegiance.

Overall, a good show that could have been so much better, especially in the 2nd half.
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10/10
Steller cast
rashidmuzamil-095326 July 2021
With the power packed cast this drama had a lot of expectations and i think it is over the expectation...the acting chemistry of the characters is good...last but not least the cinematography gives you chills...so damn good...i have not seen such cinematography in a while... All in All it is a good drama...it worth giving it a try...
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10/10
K-DRAMA OF THE YEAR !!!
neslihanbastem-2242030 July 2021
The plot is catchy and interesting. The actors are killing it!! The chemistry between Jisung and Jinyoung is on top. Everything about this drama is superb. I highly recommend it !!
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10/10
Highly recommended!
kineth-023896 July 2021
2 episodes in and i must say, i consider this drama as one of the best kdramas of 2021. The cast, the plot, the cinematography, the background music and osts!!! Everything is good!!! Im not even exaggerating. This is such a must watch kdrama. I just find myself in awe with the camerworks and editing skills of the series. The casts chemistry are also on another level.

I recommend you guys to watch this!! Tou wont regret.
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10/10
Must watch for thriller lover
wifeofjinyoung6 July 2021
The story, the cinematography, the way actors are portraying the story, the suspension, 1 week of waiting is totally worth for the next episode, please everyone give it a try.
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10/10
INTERESTING
tzongcamille6 July 2021
From watching the first episode you wouldn't want to miss the next. The story/plot is interesting.

Watching these actors before from other dramas i can say that their acting skills are superb on this drama. Hands down!

I hope that the story will progress as what its supposed to be not just other dramas that it die down from the middle of episodes but i am actually having high expectations from this so we will see.
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10/10
woah so cool !!!
alishaaahussain4 July 2021
The plot already looks amazing !! The actors also have great chemistry ahhh this is going to be so good !!!
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6/10
Good Enough
PennyReviews26 January 2022
Korean Drama "The Devil Judge" is a law drama with strong characters.

The main story is not something original, rather, it's a well-used trop, with the bad rich people in power corrupting the system and using the masses to their own advantages, and some people trying to stop them. The new thing that the drama introduces, however, was the live court theme, which was well handled. The some sort of family that was created in the mansion was pretty sweet as well and created enough cute moments to provide the drama with the right emotions and enhance the dynamics between the characters.

However, the drama started getting boring halfway through and only the live court cases were the main source of entertainment. Also, Sun Ah's character was simply unlikable and forcefully trying to be a strong lead and the main villain. In addition, the first episodes had an interesting camera work and editing which was a bit over-the-top.

Still, the final episodes were pretty intense, with an overused twist though. The performances were top-notch too, and the OST suited the story perfectly.

So, overall, 6 out of 10.
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10/10
How can this drama make you love and hate a character at the same time??
hanalisss21 November 2021
This show is a turmoil of emotions and feelings and the script is simply brilliant.

I cannot believe how thrilling and gripping this story is. You won't ever expect what happens next because even when you think you are smarter and you can tell who is the bad guy and what they did, there's a twist and your theory goes down the drain.

The complexity of each character is immense, the depth of their feelings and the fact that there is no black and white in human nature. One moment you will hate a character and wish they die and the next you will pity them and feel sorry for them and excuse their actions wishing they get redemption.

And all of this is achieved thanks to the superb acting of the cast. Each one of them nailed their performances to an outstanding level. Their faces and gestures transformed at the same time their feelings did. Was just magnificent to watch. 100% recommended.
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5/10
Superb acting, nice plot, terrible everything else!
solminafya19 September 2021
This is a ridiculously childish, non-sensical and amateurish show with anime-level silliness. But I know where the high-raters come from. It is enjoyable if you shut down your brain and just sink in. But once you open up your eyes to its flaws you can't unsee it

This is a terribly flawed show, yet it's enjoyable. First, acting is overall superb, plot is genuine and relatable. The problems with the show start from the very first scene, with the exaggerated use of unusual cinematographic angles, silly yet loud and overused music lines, and coloring that doesn't match from one shot to the very next in the same scene!

Without any spoilers, emotions and reactions in the show are unnatural and keep swinging from one mode to another back and forth, as if the characters switch on and off without learning anything or developing each time

The series is full of plot twist, but they are superficial and forced. Sort of an excessive use of Deus ex machina, come out of the blue without proper set up or misdirection, which defeat its purpose

There are many plot issues and character discrepancies, I just want to keep this spoiler free.
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10/10
Park jinyoung's top tier acting
cbarsavi6 July 2021
Park jinyoung conveys emotions through his acting without any dialogue , he is one the best actors if korea with so much potential .
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10/10
Intense and Suspenseful!
anna-ruthman925 July 2021
With a stellar cast expectations were high already, but was blown away so far by the superb acting of the cast, the cinematography and musical scores! The emotional roller-coaster in one episode is mind boggling. Highly recommend!
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10/10
This Drama is Throwing Money everywhere!!
tpradeepkkumar25 July 2021
Actors, cinematography, story , BGM , OST , you name it and they've got it. Everything in this drama looks perfect like high budget Christopher Nolan movie . I am not exaggerating when I say the first few episodes reminded me of The Dark Knight. This is a must watch new concept.
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10/10
Brilliant
zeynabhoseiny199423 August 2021
This without a doubt is my favorite show of 2021 and definitely on my top 10 shows of all time.

First let me say that Ji Sung has this ability to take your breath away when he is on the screen. He is crazy talented and chooses phenomenal roles. I follow his works religiously.

This show has a very clever plot and writing.

Every character is well-thought out and necessary to the plot. The twists are so shocking that you don't see them coming at all. And by the end of each episode you find yourself wanting more. The shots, the soundtrack all of the are chosen with special care.

And the ending is just perfect.

Do yourself a favor and watch this.
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10/10
Worth the time
tgsinc10 August 2021
Min-Jung Kim is my favorite - you will love this well acted and good story line emotions will run from hot to cold to tears. Just watch already!
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10/10
The two leads amazing acting
naomi-hadarian31 July 2021
Both Ji Sung and Jinyoung their acting is suberb. Their chemistry is off the charts. I have seen both actors in other drama's and movies but this their absolute masterpiece. The suspense is killing. There is hate, love, kinship. Wow!
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6/10
Implausible like an anime
rodcr-7422317 July 2021
The scenery and people are beautiful: it's nice to know a little more about the wonderfull South Korea, even if in a fantastic context. The photography, music and special effects are great.

But the story and the storytelling... it resembles a japanese anime, with it's stagy and naive characters and overly dramatic tone. (I'm very aware of the deep differences between South Korea and Japan, so my use of the word "Japan anime" has no meaning beyond what an anime means to me). I expected more with something themed on the judiciary.
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10/10
PIQUED MY INTEREST!
haniebersobelaro7 July 2021
I really love the cinematography, the production and the line-up of the casts! I love how the first two episodes already got me hooked and piqued my curiosity on how this drama will progress! Absolutely looking forward to the growth of the story and the development of the characters especially the growing tension between Kang YoHan & Kim Gaon.
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6/10
Take it with a pound of salt
simbiat23 August 2021
Having experience with real court (Russian, though, not Korean), I can tell, that the series breaks quite a few protocols, that need to be followed even when keeping in mind, that trial is a TV show in the show's lore.

For example, the way prosecutor is shown here is like he is a pompous advocate, which is a US cliché. But prosecutor is representative of the state (government). It's not a representative of a victim as what you commonly see in US shows. I mean, he may share some of his biases, but not like that. Surely not during initial presentation of the case, which is meant to be a list of facts. I think even US shows try to follow the protocols much more closely than that.

So, no I was not able to believe in the "trial" here at all. Otherwise, though - quite high quality based on the 1st episode. Sound design, cinematography, actors... Can't say I've noticed anything too damning in any of those. And the concept itself is interesting. If only trial did follow the law as characters suggest, though...
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5/10
Not recommended
ravenmortmain13 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Well I usually don't write reviews , but I binge watched this and I had to. I have no idea why this series has a high rating to be honest.

The actors all were amazing but the story got sloppy especially near the end . It seems like the writers just wanted to create unexpected and surprising moments at all cost. So many out of character moments were seen. Also the court show felt cringy and unrealistic multiple times. It was like everyone in the court was part of a play in a theater . Just blurting out dramatic monologs. It could have been as much interesting if they tried to imitate an actual court.

The storyline in the first half of the series was more believable. But after Yo-han went after the whole government at once it was terribly inconceivable how he did a lot of things. There were times when the government could easily get rid of Yo-han and they just passed. WHY???And two times faking death in one episode? Seriously whose idea was that ?

And another thing that I have a problem with : Was that really necessary to make Yo-han's brother the look alike of Ga-on? Once in a while they showed a scene or a conversation that made you think Yo-han and Ga-on might be more than just colleagues or friends. And the scene after that would be Yo-han and Isaac. It was honestly disturbing for me. I could'nt decide their relationship was something like batman and robin or that they had unspoken feelings toward each other. Honestly I think the creators didn't know either. Or maybe they just wanted to satisfy both groups. But the ambiguity was annoying for me .

Overall the relationships in this series were'nt appealing at all. I liked Soo-hyun and Ga on as bffs but not as a couple. I wish they kept them as friends. We don't see many good platonic relationships between a man and a woman. Also I think Soo-hyun's death didn't make any sense.

Now I'm going to say what I liked about this series. I loved Seon-a and Minister cha . The characters were well written and acted. Two brilliant female villains. And I dare say they were the main enemies. Their planning and methods, a bunch of times I really admired them. Unlike the male antagonists they had complicated characters with motives. They questioned their morals once in a while and showing us their past and family made them look more human and relatable. In contrast other villians were left underdeveloped.

Overall the best thing in this series was the actors. They all did a phenomenal job. I can't say the writing was constantly bad. There were some good moments . But this series was long and had 16 episodes. I'm not sure it made up for the whole thing. The drama wasn't that compelling. I'm not saying every series should have fantastic friendships and relationships. This is supposed to be political and dystopian. But the story falls short sometimes and unfortunately the drama and relationships don't make up for it.

Right now the only thing that tastes good in my mouth and I might remember later is Seon-a and how hard she tried for her ambitions. So I give The Devil Judge 5 stars for her character and the other actors.
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10/10
Exciting from the first place
zahraenayatzare7 July 2021
I absolutely recommend this drama It's exciting just from the first ep and attract you Totally different from other kdrama The cast is great I love it.
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10/10
100% recomended
saraabsz7 July 2021
Its a High quality drama indeed. Everything about it is perfect. Specialy the casts.
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10/10
There Is No Place For Naivety...
Chaokage6 September 2021
After Vincenzo and Taxi Driver comes The Devil Judge. Another vigilante/dark hero character emerges in a dystopian Korea. This series makes its goal to focus on the naïve beliefs of people of the rule of law and that the system should be upheld whether it works or not. A ferocious attack at the naïve people and their beliefs that the system, that is vastly corrupted and run by the powerful and the rich, should be upheld and any means to fight such system should be done as the law allows. Frankly speaking, this series does a marvelous job at portraying the fickle minds protecting the very system that is causing them huge misfortunes while taking down the very people trying to get them out of their misery. I really cannot tell you how satisfied I am to have watched this series make fun, for the lack of a better word, of these gullible people while delivering the most factual events as if they are cut from reality itself. This is by far one of the greatest portrayal of the human condition that can no longer save itself. A must watch!!!
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