The Devil Judge (2021)

The devil is in the details

The Devil Judge is conceptual, surreal, provocative and very much character-driven by one man, Ji Sung as Kang Yo Han, the eponymous main character of this drama.

Based on only the second screenplay ever written thus far by Moon Yoo Seok, a former judge himself, who created the well-received Miss Hammurabi in 2018. This time he presents viewers with an imagined version of the judiciary operating within a dystopian setting. In particular, the concept of a “live court” where trials are streamed in real-time and the verdicts are decided by the general public via online voting. This premise revolves around the titular devil judge who presides over this unconventional justice system.

What I enjoyed about this drama

The technical execution is top notch. Direction, editing, cinematography, cinematic visuals and special effects are all very good. The absence of awkward scene transitions or inconsistent camerawork and sound mixing throughout makes for very pleasant viewing indeed, from an audiovisual standpoint.

The high production values reflected in the overall production quality, set designs, shooting locales and costuming are very impressive. From the grandeur of high society events and soirées, the opulent mansions, luxury cars to the uniquely futuristic setting of the supreme court, along with its distinctively cultish ceremonial attires.

The tale of one man’s vengeance by taking the road less travelled that reads like a contemporary and twisted version of the Count of Monte Cristo. The approach falls into the category of cutting-edge dramas that pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling. Or at least it makes a decent attempt to do so. It is a fusion of psychological thriller, legal drama and mystery that are interwoven with themes of revenge, love and betrayal, as well as elements of politics and corruption. For the most part, the combination of the myriad aspects has been seamlessly integrated into the narrative which induces considerable thought-provoking debates, certainly among viewers, on matters pertaining to morality and justice.

Most of the main and supporting characters are intriguingly written and superbly rendered. No one is purely black or white, and almost everyone is shrouded in grey mist. Where allegiances lie and what motives prevail are constantly being second guessed. Over the course of the entire drama, viewers slowly peel layers upon layers of these multi-dimensional and sometimes larger than life personas.

This is very much the case with Kang Yo Han, the titular character and main protagonist... or is it antagonist? Perhaps somewhere in between, no one can really say for sure because this is one personality that’s open to diverse interpretations, depending on where your moral compass’ true north is set. In a recent interview, Moon Yoo Seok had intimated that having written a good and just main character in Miss Hammurabi, he was inclined to explore a character that is the total opposite and who operates within a contrasting environment, in this case a failed state and corrupted judiciary.

This in-depth character study into the so-called devil judge, is made even more compelling by the excellent portrayal. I’m well aware of Ji Sung’s talents and accolades in the industry, there’s no question what an experienced and fantastic actor he is. But still I was taken aback. His embodiment of the role is utterly immersive, inspiring and captivating, for he truly possesses the gravitas, screen presence and versatility to succeed in this powerful characterization.

Aside from KYH, Jung Sun Ah is a character that mystifies the most alongside a complex story arc of her own that is no less fascinating. She comes across as charming, disturbing, manipulative and opportunistic. In reality, she is a psychopathic and surrealistic dominatrix as well as a complete femme fatale. Played by the prolific Kim Min Jung who injects, in no small measure, a nuanced passive-aggressive vibe into the profile. Some may argue that the character is one-dimensional with ambiguous motivations, but it’s quite fitting that she and KYH share a kind of dysfunctional chemistry and power dynamics that make them the perfect adversarial / love-hate pairing from hell.

Among the supporting characters, Heo Jung Se, the President, catches the eye as the most OTT yet amusingly so at the same time. Baek Hyun Jin is essentially reprising his performance in Taxi Driver with the exact same portrayal. Ahn Nae Sang has been seen in many dramas of late and here he plays the Chief Justice, Min Jung Ho. It is a measure of his experience that he manages to infuse the character with sufficient misplaced idealism and self-righteousness that infuriates most, if not all, viewers. Deftly portrayed with understated conviction and believability indeed. Jang Young Nam as the stoic Minister of Justice, Cha Kyung Hee delivers a commendable depiction where she projects the aura of an iron lady to perfection. The wheelchair-bound Kang Elijah, portrayed by Jeon Chae Eun, is another that's deserving of praise. For someone so young, she showcases such range beyond her years, especially in the last two episodes.

There are a total of 4 OSTs in the soundtrack, of which two resonate with me the most. The poignant classical instrumental piece, Enemy of Truth, and Tempest, the alluringly intoxicating pop-rock fusion. If ever there was a song that fully encapsulates the characteristics of the devil judge himself, it would be this track along with its distinctive guitar riffs and accompanying MV. Additionally the BGM, comprising delicate piano pieces, further elevates introspective moments throughout. Credit must go to the music director, Jung Se Rin for the impressive original score.

허클베리핀 Huckleberry Finn – Tempest
정세린 Jung Se Rin - Enemy Of Truth (진실의 적)
Sondia – Nightmare (악몽)
Zeenan – What You Gonna Do

What I didn't enjoy as much

Issues with the plot development. Despite a really promising start along with numerous twists and turns as well as cliffhanger endings in almost every episode, somewhere towards the tail end of the second half, the story begins to feel repetitive and static. It was a case of one step forward and two steps backwards in a kind of time loop where certain characters repeatedly play out the same scenes time and again. I’m really referring to Kim Ga On and Yoon Soo Hyun here. Overdosed with a crisis of conscience, these two are either constantly disputing KYH or doubting themselves and even each other. The initial intrigue from their mind games and relationship dynamics eventually devolves into a rather superfluous recurring pattern. The presence of a considerably pivotal event in a later episode renders a particular character as nothing more than a mere plot device for the final arc.

If I’m being totally honest, the characters Kim Ga On and Yoon Soo Hyun do feel quite inconsistently written. The lack of profound evolution or at least palpable growth in either character who continuously exasperates with their appalling nonsensical decision making that contributes absolutely nothing tangible or substantial to the overall storyline, other than to recycle dramatic angst that detract from the more compelling direction of the drama. Park Jin Young, who plays Kim Ga On, isn’t the most convincing supreme court judge. He looks fresh out of college and somewhat lacking in life experience. Perhaps his role was intentionally written to be such, to instigate an emotional reaction from viewers and to set up the climactic end, which he does so competently. He does possess much potential, if only his character had been written with more depth.

Likewise Park Gyu Young, who elicits a similar response to her interpretation of police detective Yoon Soo Hyun. She spends most of the time pointing her service revolver at nearly everyone and jumping head on into situations that are beyond her control, oftentimes irrationally and without adhering to procedural protocols i.e. calling for back-up. I do think she’s a promising actress, having previously seen her in Sweet Home. Perhaps she would fare better with a more suitably written role in the future.

Although the nature of dystopia being depicted is supposedly totalitarian instead of post-apocalyptic, scenes of great injustice or suffering aren’t particularly apparent and not in abundance anyway. Apart from an isolated slum neighbourhood in the outskirts where small scale skirmishes break out and montages of public protests interspersed among certain episodes, the atmosphere very much looks like present-day Seoul. This gives rise to a feeling of disconnect between the purported setting and the featured visuals.

Final thoughts

All things considered, despite the misgivings that I have, The Devil Judge remains a compelling production worthy of viewing for its innovative concept, truly exceptional performances by its main leads and no holds barred storytelling. The final point worth mentioning is that the drama does eventually make good on most of the issues I have to redeem itself and ultimately end on a hugely satisfying note.

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One of the BEST finale it has, what an episode!

TRIGGER WARNING: This drama is a dystopia. Dystopia means 'an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice (bad/unfair), typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic'.There are many disturbing events which will piss you off, so stay calm. Also, few things might feel illogical as well but you gotta understand that, this is what happens in a dystopian world.

The Devil Judge absolutely keeps you thrilled through out the entire drama and I am not lying. The thing that contributed to this feeling, is undoubtedly the kind of drak and intense sound and cinematography obviously, apart from the super thrilling storyline plus plot&twists; truly notable. There are flaws which could have been avoided storywise leaving them behind but I guess they wanted to adjust it to 16 episodes. Also, the writer showed lack of steady writing capabilities at many points. Nevertheless, the story and screenplay is intriguing to be enthralled throughout.

STORY & PLOT:
The Devil Judge is set up in an imaginary dystopian world even though the scenario remains in the present-day Seoul and it's neighborhoods. The society is full of chaos, where injustice takes place in a blink and the powerful causes disaster openly without any fear of being brought down by the people. This drama for it's title was expected to be a legal thriller with plenty of courtroom scenes and law stuffs but it turned out to be a socio-political thriller between the powerful who prey over the common people.

Talking about the story, it's primarily about a live court show, initiated for fairer and transparent justice system that turns into a revenge plan where every powerful being with wealth and influence try to bring down each other by any means. Kang Yohan, the presiding judge of the show plans to destroy the authoritarian system of the nation alongside his personal purposes which were secrets only know to him. Kim Ga On, a young associate judge who believes in constitutional values joins hands with him and later gets involved as he finds out about the injustice done to his family in the past. Kim Sun Ah, a poor maid who ascends the stair to success by coercing the rich and influential all her life, controls the nation with her strings, by direct and indirect means. Sun Ah tries to destroy Yo Han as well as climb upto the the utmost peak of the system. Sun Ah and Yo Han, with their shared past story, seek revenge over each other and at the same time harm people by their sides.

The Devil Judge as a story is very good and intriguing plot which gives the vibe of perfect thriller development. The way the story used it's plot devices at right places, is an amazing sight to witness. The connections between past and present, their revelations and the way of their portrayal had me bewitched in just 2 episodes. By the time, the real game started I was bawling my eyes out and had goosebumps all over my body. The plot development is quite nice which is a steady ascending plot with no fall backs. However, there are a handful number of plotholes as well which could have been easily avoided. Also, the progression felt off many times when I thought they'd fall through the story but fortunately they picked the pace back to rise forward constantly.

Given there are plenty of characters, I think few minor characters like like Judge Oh, Justice Min Ho Jung (Supreme Court), Seo Jung Hak (SRF Chairman) could have been written better. It felt like they were in the drama for mere show-off and to fill in the little gaps of the story. The drama is obviously dominated by Ji Sung and Jin Young to a great extent. I mean, yeah, I love them so much both as actors and as men but no, this is a drama and every character other than the leads should be fairly portrayed.

Overally, I am highly pleased with the story and plot development but I am also a lil sad for the lacking fields they left for the audience to be noticed and pointed out.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS:.
I don't really do character analysis for all the dramas but I feel this drama has a major drawback in drawing characters and developing the arcs. So let me.

The most major character Kang Yo Han played by Ji Sung is a high-class, good-looking, popular reputed Judge in the Supreme Court who is known for his strict punishing and merciless verdicts for the guilty. He is a mysterious being with doubtful yet tragic past stories and knows to manipulate and influence others. The daytime's judge turn into a devil executioner, violating the law himself to teach the evils a lesson. Upon his recommendation the South Korean Govt. forms a "Live Court" with the help of a public welfare forum namely "Social Responsibility Foundation". This is set to create histories and records as the first ever court to be aired live and with public itself as the judge who'd vote whether someone's is guilty or not.

With him joins Kim Ga On (Park Jin Young) and another Oh Jin Joo (Kim Jae Kyung) as associate judges. JinJoo is a sidekick character while Ga On is the 2nd most important person in the story who joins hands with Yohan to seek justice by illegal means despite his urge to obtain truth through constitutional values. Gaon played a great role in bringing Yohan and his niece Elijah close by acting as a bridge between them. The way he helped them gaining their confidence back and in blooming emotions in their cold-hard hearts, was a warm thing to watch. His character could have been a lot better, ngl. With no definite character development, his side story was portrayed as a factor that contributed to him joining the cause. To be honest, GaOn's character is a failed attempt. We saw intense bromance between GaOn and Yohan in initial episodes so I expected a greater chemistry by the end of the drama but I am disappointed to say that it fell through. He can be easily manipulated and swayed and towards the end he betrays Yohan and make him a scammer (WTF). He runs to Yohan when he needs help but get all energized when something goes wrong and even runs away whenever things get tough. This happened more than once. The drama could have been okay without his character I think.

Only thing about him that I loved is his chemistry with the female lead. The female lead against Ga On, Yoon Soo Hyun (Park Gyu Young) was a fierce lieutenant in Regional Investigation Unit (RIU) who craves for setting an ideal law and order situation and never stands offence & injustice. GaOn and SooHyun are childhood friends who are the closest to each other till date, accompanying each other in their evens & odds and in fact are more or less in love with each other even though they never talked about relationships. Their love story was heart touching as well as beautiful enough to heal a dying heart. But again, their romance was a waste. Soo Hyun's character with lots of potential wasn't used well. There was not a single thing about her except for that she's a long-term best friend of Ga On and have been rejected by him several times.

The lead antagonist here is Kim Jung Min who plays Jung Sun Ah, an evil woman with high ambitions like absorbing power from others and gaining control over the entire world. She knows the art of coercing, especially the powerful, wealthy and influential mass by her trickery. As a kid who didn't get proper care as a child, she starts working as a maid in rich families and due to her greed as well as sly nature manipulates them to get her things done. With her past inclinations and lingering feelings for Yohan, she seeks revenge from him and operates the country's system to achieve her goals. Her character is beautifully written and she justified it with all she could give.

Judge Oh (the other associate judge) is a gorgeous sweet lady who believes in idealism and thrives to create a just world. She gets manipulated by power and wealth at first upon being ignored by her mates but chooses to take the right side later. She had no essence in the story; she is one of the 2 associate judges after all and she was confident enough to go to good lengths but the writer did a poor job in her regard.

Kang Elijah, Yohan's young niece who is a victim of a fatal incident in her yearly child, lost her ability to walk and ends up in wheelchair. Her relationship with her only family, i.e. Yohan is bitter as they never try having the minimal conversation. She easily believes people who are kind to her. But she actually opens up to Gaon and later becomes close to his uncle, Yohan.

Apart from these main characters, there are plenty of side, supporting, minor as well as guest characters and most of them are casted with familiar faces.

ACTING & DIRECTION:
As we can see, the drama is a multi-starrer having GREAT actors like Ji Sung and Kim Min Jung as leads. Park Jin Young being an idol turned actor is very very good in acting. Ji Sung is definitely someone charismatic who knows the art of bewitching the audience every time he comes forward to do a role. Kim Min Jung, oh my goodness, she is rather an artist who pursues art. She's been acting for almost 3 decades and I want her to become a global star. Park Gyu Young is a nice actress and she totally justified her role in here even though the screentime she got wass less. Supporting actors also did a good job despite less screentime.

Direction is good I would say. They did a good job managing the screenplay. The organization of scenes, intertwining, connecting, linking, revealing twists, etc were done well. Notable job in case of cinematography and CGI works plus the sound editing, oof. Cinematography is the best thing about this drama, which is tremendously a top notch. The sound editing that made the drama pretty intense and kept me going, I am very pleased by that. However, given that many characters were poorly written, the director didn't have much to do. So even with such good direction, the drama anyhow felt lacking.

OST:
OSTs are actually very good which also helped in making the drama more thrilling. However, there are only 4 OSTs accompanied by a number of thrilling background scores and themes and I like them "Tempest" by Huckleberry Finn is a heart-wrenching track whereas "Nightmare" by Sonidia felt tragic and sad. "What You Gonna Do" by Zeenan is both hardcore song depicting vital points of life. "The Nights" by Huckleberry Finn is a dark one which helps you seeing thing in a B&W shade. I liked their instrumentals as well.

THE ENDING:
The finale week and it's 2 episodes (15th and 16th) changed a lots of things. On one side, I was pissed bcs of GaOn's stupid actions without trying to understand the situations and on the other hand I was flabbergasted at how the tables had turned. The 2 greatest twist revelations at the end of ep2 were very intriguing I am sure most of us were awe-struck seeing those. Even when I knew I were to for 24 hours to watch the finale episode I couldn't wait thinking what's gonna happen. I cursed on Ga On and the writer but I admit my anxiety was on peak. But anyways, I was thrilled watching the finale and happy that it ended well though few things bugged me and felt unreasonable. I must say The Devil Judge finale episode is ONE OF THE BEST FINALE. It was so good and when I saw new twists that was gonna change the story to a great extent, I had goosebumps over my body. I am gonna forgive the writer a lil for gaOn's poor character just because how that character changed a lot in the finale. The way things ended is also very good and reasonable, I am honestly happy T T. The very last thing, that one thing i know made all of hs happpy. Ain't gonna spoil anything so watch for yourself. I can't forgive the writer for poor writing at many cases but it sure was a good watch.

CONCLUSION: Honestly, I loved the overall story and plot development. Ji Sung's character as Yohan is well suited and probably he's the one who kept up with the viewers. Kim Min Jung was another reason you should be watching this drama. But apart from these 2, other characters could have been a lot better. I am happy with the drama yet disappointed with the characters. I feel this is an unpopular opinion since many people love this drama to great extent but I am making sure my reviews aren't biased. I couldn't drop the drama bcs I liked the story and I was constantly enthralled by the screenplay however I expected much more than that. And tbh, at first I expected a courtroom drama just like others but found out it's not. Even so I am okay with whatever it is.

This drama could easily be a 9.0 but due to the writer's lack of sense, I will stand still at 8.5. Also, brownie points for the chemistry between Jin Young and Ji Sung that almost felt like a BL story with a daddy-baby relationship (cries under the blanket). Anyways, this drama is worth the one time watch, provided you have to bear with the side characters. That's all.

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Banjak banjak devil's everywhere, trust no one

From the very beginning of episode one, you feel as though you’ve been thrust into a whole new world.

The first few eps are great, but the second half is particularly thrilling and what really made the show for me. I grew more intrigued and got totally sucked in, becoming utterly invested in the storyline and the characters - who all have complex personalities and nothing really seems as it's shown. It's intense and a bit overwhelming at times, but I loved every second of it. Episode one is only the tip of the iceberg, the more you watch, the more interesting it gets.

Although I haven't fully ventured into legal dramas, 90% of the time, I drop them, as courtroom scenes, in particular, bore me to the core! But there's something gripping about TDJ that other dramas haven't seemed to achieve (for me). It's not repetitive and the lead up to a courtroom scene as well as the scene itself, although unrealistic, are very entertaining. If the thought of a courtroom scene puts you off from watching this, don't worry, there aren't too many, and practically none in the second half.

We follow Kang Yo Han, a judge, who is well loved by the public. He's a mystery at first, and so are all the other characters, but I rooted for him and his crew the whole way through!

The plot gets a bit messy and somewhat rushed in the second half, but that personally didn't bother me too much.

Likes:

• The acting, it's very impressive! Of course it is since Ji sung and Kim Min Jung are in it, they're veterans. But Jinyoung's was good too considering his time as an actor and the fact that this genre is new to him, even though I found it a bit difficult to distinguish his confused face, thinking face, and angry face in the early eps, he did a great job at portraying his character and I was moved by every emotional scene he played in.
• The chemistry between Kang Yo Han and Kim Ga On (as well as Elijah) is too good, their bond just kept growing and it was nice to watch. And not to mention, how strong the other main characters are, both physically and in personality.
• Cinematography and overall production value. A big round of applause for that!! I was at a loss of words during some scenes.
• The OST, it's so fitting and on point. And when listening to the songs on their own, you feel immersed in the world and feel as if you're a powerful character in it. ^^ The violin in Enemy Of Truth never fails to give me goosebumps and the last 20 seconds of Mirror City... DAMN. Hands down one of my favourite OST's out there!

Dislikes:

• Not very binge worthy. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if I were to binge the drama, I think it's better to watch it slowly, but that's just my personal opinion.
• Some characters are a waste of space and aren't really needed :( Soo Hyun, in particular, probably should've been casted as a supporting character rather than a main, considering the amount of screen time she had and her purpose in the show. But nevertheless, she and Ga On had a sweet relationship and I enjoyed watching them together.
• There were some minor plot holes/issues, but they didn't really have a major impact on the drama.

If you're a fan of dark mature dramas with grey heroes neither good nor evil (and some bromance) as well as being someone that likes theorising a lot, I'm sure you'll find yourself enjoying this!

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It was good? but mostly just annoying.

Just gonna do pros and cons so that I don't ramble TOO much.

PROS:
+Yo Han
+Yo Han's mansion
+Yo Han's right hand man ("K")
+acting was top tier from the whole cast
+40% of Sun Ah's outfits
+Sun Ah shooting Heo Jung Se ( a.k.a K-Trump)
+the chemistry between Yo Han and Ga On
+the actress for Sun Ah played tf out her role
+the plot twist about the fire
+the shows general concept and the way they showed how interwoven the corruption was

CONS:
+ Ga On's naivety

+ Ga On being a self-righteous idiot until the very end

+ Soo Hyun being the WORST detective I've seen in a K-drama (not aware of her surroundings AT ALL, never calls for back up EVEN WHEN SHE BROUGHT A CHILD INTO A SITUATION WHERE A WHOLE GANG WAS BEATING PEOPLE UP......WITH PIPES, very biased towards one suspect even when given clues about others, indifferent to all the corrupt people in power because all her focus is on Yo Han)

+ SUN AH (every time I saw her face, it irked me; like, physical repulsion)

+ writers trying to give Sun Ah an incomplete redemption arc (it wasn't set up well)

+ people not having a brain of their own unless it's to blame Yo Han

+ GA OOOOOOON

+ the Ga On x Soo Hyun romance(very cliché and like ZERO chemistry)

+ again Soo Hyun being an idiot( how she gon' blame her tampering with a crime scene on Ga On? it was unnecessary for her to do it anyways??? they told you it was a suicide? you are also in control of your own actions?)

+how writers portray main female leads in a way that makes them extremely disliked by a lot of the audience; in this case, it would be Soo Hyun.

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A muddled message weighed down by K-drama traps; yet, it still manages to stay strong

It seems the world of the anti-hero is here to stay. In K-dramas, 2021 has served up a cornucopia of Batmanesque stories with some of the big splashes being Vincenzo, Taxi Driver, and now The Devil Judge. Out of them, The Devil Judge is very much the winner, even if Vincenzo is more pure in its anti-heroism. Both Taxi Driver and The Devil Judge are honestly just revenge stories, which of course have been churned out non-stop by Hollywood lately. While Vincenzo is the story of a man who slowly gets pulled into other characters plights, until he takes up the mantle of responsibility, thus actually following the classic hero's journey. Oddly, The Devil Judge does have this same journey, it's just not the tale of whom the show calls the Devil.

Quickly, the BASIC synopsis of The Devil Judge:

A newly appointed judge ( attractive every-man Park Jin Young) is placed as one of a triumvirate panel on a live broadcast, viewers vote in, major crime trials television show in an alternate modern day Korea. Once there, he finds himself caught in a political cat and mouse game being played by the charismatic and enigmatic central judge (Ji Sung showing how to be thrilling in a role while not going overboard). As plots unfold and more light is shown on the world around our new appointee, he finds himself confronted with traumas from his past that threaten his ideologies on what makes one a good man and if the law is truly just.

Yet, even though this is the synopsis, it is the central judge character that leads the show as if he is Gatsby to our protagonists Nick. The revenge plot of TDJ begins with Ji Sung and only pulls Park Jin Young in later and, I argue, is what ultimately causes the story to come-up short. While some heavy themes are layered into the 16 episodes covering current day crises such as virus outbreaks, vaccine practices, isolationist political leaders, racism, ethnocentrism, government corruption, fearmongering and wealth elitism, the story only deals with these issues because they are perpetrated by the same group of evil doers that our judges are seeking revenge against.

That is, the show seems to want to cover lofty ideas like changing the system, cleaning house, and bettering the world. All things we can get behind as viewers. But, it only brings them up and uses them as means of blackmailing or trapping those that selfishly escaped a fire ten years prior. The fire being the true evil act and not the long list of atrocities above. It makes TDJ come off as small. While we are dealing with presidents, ministers, and conglomerate owning villains who align in an almost Illuminati type power group, we are only after them cause they hurt the judge's family.

Also, as the TDJ makes these societal moral judgements it does so while allowing homophobia. In a scene where a punishment is handed down to a sex offender, the society-which votes for castration (Yep), is appeased when our Judge instead shows video inside of a Texas Prison for sex offenders and slides down a cell block where all the men make sexually suggestive remarks, kisses, and say they can't wait for the convicted to come join them. The courtroom erupts with applause and you hear people shout they knew the court wouldn't let them down when it came to a punishment, and our criminal all but faints saying he won't go.

Because yes, going to a prison with gay people is as bad if not worse than being castrated. Really? Note it wasn't a South Korean Prison because Koreans don't do the gay stuff that's over in the west....it was quite distasteful and caused me to pause. Remember this was done by our heroes and not the villains.

As for these villains, for a K-Drama, most are actually well portrayed. The two female villains steal the evil throne. Both being vicious, powerful, and one of which is the only evil doer of the bunch who gets their hands dirty. The male villains are much more average and mostly forgettable. That is except our good o'l Mr. President played by Baek Hyun Jin. Mr. Baek ends up falling into cartoon over-the-top territory. He chews up every scene he is in with eye roll worthy antics, that yes are based on the USA 's Donald Trump, and are just as grating. While one could argue, that was what he was supposed to do, IF you have seen Taxi Driver, you will find this EXACT SAME VILLAIN there just as a CEO instead of a PRESIDENT. Range and nuance are not on display here, which is a true pity, considering The President's character is written in a way that could have made him a truly terrifying enemy. His lust for stardom and power sends us and him on a totalitarian power grab that includes a bit of genocide. But the show always turns him into a clown instead of letting us actually fear him.

Now as I have mentioned, two of the villains are women, and they make up half of the females on display that matter. Here the program, like most K-Dramas fails its females. While, yes the BEST of the evil doers are women, that is just it, powerful women have always been portrayed in media BUT always as the villains. When we move to our two counterparts on the good side, they fair little more than a sacrificial love interest and a sidelined judge who quickly becomes the "softer side of Sears" for the televised trial program. Her role is to cry, look pretty, and be liked. Something she is happy to do as long as she is a judge fighting along side the dreamy (picture on her desk) Ji Sung.

As for our love interest, she only shows up when she needs to be there for our main male lead. Her life has been about following him around and taking care of him and even asking him to be her guy 5 times over and all 5 times him turning her down. But she still always shows up vigilant as ever in waiting. She does get the most rewarding slap to someone's face and gets to utter "Don't ever show your face to me again," in one of the strongest scenes of the series, but this strength comes with a steep price paid very soon after.

As for our male leads, the show mostly shines. From the get go Ji Sung's Yo Han is mesmerizing and terrifying. Intense, forceful, relentless, and yes beautiful, the interest he shows in our protagonist is intoxicating. That is as long as he is not theatrically grand standing in the televised trail room. Yo Han quickly establishes that he is not a good guy, but he is fighting the good fight. Flat out stating he does and will continue to do illegal acts to get what he wants because he has a goal and plan and everyone is either part of his solution or part of his problem. The character is layered with his own childhood trauma, that is further exacerbated by the aforementioned Great Church fire of 10 years past, and then burned in his skin (crucifix style) by the hate of the only people today that he has any inkling of caring. Yet, the greatest side of his character is the relationship that blooms between Yo Han and Ga On.

This relationship quickly becomes a homoerotic bromance with brotherly trimmings. Any novice YouTuber could make one of those 2 min BL videos to music without even trying with the scenes the show delivers. From staring longingly out of windows as the other frolics in the sun, redressing of wounds as one cowers over being topless, intense stares and shoulder crumpling embraces...yeah its all there. Except its all because Ga On looks like his dead older brother, which is never explained except for mere coincidence. Remember the homophobia I talked about earlier, just bringing it up again cause the show has let us know where it stands here. So now lets go back and basically have these two fall in love with each other....no homo.

Park Jin Young's Ga On is a bit more to chew on. The character is written extremely flawed, and honestly if I were asked to pick which one is the Devil, I would actually pick Ga On. You see, the Devil thinks he is right, and righteous, and is actually liberating heaven and the world from a tyrannical God. The Devil doesn't see the evil in himself. This is Ga On.

Yo Han sees his evil and knows his evil but honestly believes the means justify the end. Ga On is given to the audience as a noble bright eyed moral judge, and he believes himself this. When he begins questioning the world and himself after he falls under the thrall of Yo Han, he always comes out on the pious end. Yet, as we go through the series we learn that as a teen he was troubled, attempting to kill a man. He attempts to kill that same man again within the first half the series. He also attempts to kill two others during the show and also attempts to kill himself. He commits crimes as a judge, but somehow remains morally superior to Yo Han, and is only brought back to earth by the earnestness of his lady love. He has remorse, but then turns right around and repeats his crimes. By the shows finale Ga On has done just as many criminal and heinous acts as Yo Han, but the show tells us hes the better man. He still believes he is the better man. We are supposed to accept him being the better man. But he isn't.

This brings us to final muddled message of the show. Society and justice are a game with no true good or evil and no true right or wrong. Whoever plays the game the best decides who and what was truly just. Wealth is all that matters as it has the most influence.

Now, this isn't wrong perse, its just isn't right either. A society cannot function and operate if this is honestly what the people think of their own world.

Yet, the ending of TDJ reinforces these ideas in a final show of anarchy and nihilism. Just like Vincenzo and Taxi Driver before it, the only place for true justice is at the end of your fist. What a sad world we live in that the public, as in the show, cheers this message forward. But there is a bit of light in all the dust, and I assure you that there is entertainment and fun to be had along the path to reaching this climax whether you agree with its message or not.

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Dystopian must mean American in Korean lol

I heard so many good things about this drama before I started watching but I was still hesitant because I have mixed feelings about law and corruption dramas. Sometimes I am bored by political corruption tropes, but it was clear from the beginning that this drama is much more stylized. It's dystopian, but also super realistic. It has some very entertaining characters and an antihero who's exciting to root for. "The Devil Judge" is a mysterious character with questionable methods, similar to a Vincenzo-type, and I loved "Vicenzo". Yes, it is about politics, corruption, and revenge... what you would normally expect from a drama like this... but it's also about morality and human nature which is way more interesting to me, with characters that blur those lines in the best way.

Ji Sung is perfectly cast as Kang Yo Han, a popular celebrity judge who shows no mercy when it comes to exacting justice. This is an iconic role, and he really gets to showcase his charm and the nuances in his acting. Obviously, he is no stranger to playing complicated characters, "Kill Me, Heal Me" is my favorite performance of his, but this is definitely a close second. I love characters that don't neatly fall under the category of bad or good, and he straddles that line in the most attractive ways. He's also the type of character who is usually 3 steps ahead of everyone else, which is fun, but also tortured by his past which is heartbreaking. He is matched with Park Jin Young as Kim Ga On, an ambitious new lawyer whose idealistic and often self-righteous ideas clash with Yo Han. It's the unlikely bond between them that drives most of this story. I loved their bromantic chemistry, and unconventional mentor dynamic. Ga On is frustrating at times, many MANY times, but his charm always shines through. I think he was perfectly cast in his role as well. They worked so well together.

The entire cast in this drama is great, and it almost feels unfair not to mention them all, but some of the performances were just exceptional... think broad comic book characters more than melodrama. I loved Jeon Chae Eun as Elijah. Her relationship with Yo Han was a strong highlight in this drama for me. Park Gyu Young as Soo Hyun, on the other hand, was a character I loved to complain about. Most of the time she was on the screen I was rolling my eyes, but I actually did appreciate her relationship with Ga On, even if it seemed obsessive and the friendzoning became one-note, I did think they were cute together. Don't expect a full-blown romance arc for these two. It's more about her influence on Ga On than about watching them falling in love. Other standout performances worth mentioning are Jang Young Nam as the Minister of Justice. I loved her unapologetic ruthlessness and powerful pantsuit vibes. Also Baek Hyun Jin as The President who I just call K-Trump based on his over the top antics and narcissism that seemed way too similar to the former clown in the American White House (I don't think the similarities were accidental either lol). There are a lot of characters to know but as the story evolves it's more about The Goal of the Devil Judge than remembering exactly who's who. It's also about the general publics reaction to easy access justice, so I consider the app voting masses important characters as well.

Surpisingly, my favorite character, whose performance I loved even more than Ji Sung's is Kim Min Jung as Jung Sun Ah. Every scene she had with Ji Sung was my favorite. I wasn't sure if I wanted them to fight or date but just a look or light touch between them was electrifying. I don't want to say too much about her character but it's one of the best performances I've seen is a while. Her soft-spoken bad@ssery is legendary.

Would I watch this again? Possibly, but there are some flaws in the drama that would make me a little hesitant to. One is that the story is pretty predictable. Anticipating what would happen was still fun, but I'm not sure if it would be as entertaining the second time. The performances are fun but were a little repetitive. I was excited to watch each week but it may drag if I were to binge watch it again. I do think that knowing the characters better may make me appreciate the earlier episodes more. I would definitely be tempted to skip to certain scenes. Many of the scenes are beautifully shot however, so maybe I can appreciate some just for the look of it all.

Overall, this drama is well done, but imperfect. I could easily nitpick the things that made no sense or were ridiculous, like why didn't Ga On ever go home??!! Or why was Soo Hyun always investigating alone??! I also didn't love the ending. It was pretty much what I expected, and was entertaining to watch, but I guess I was hoping to be more surprised or wowed. I loved that this drama challenged the idea that morality or justice are clearly defined. Self righteous characters aren't necessarily heroes and brutal villainous-types can also be empathetic. If you like watching manipulation and revenge that's played out like a game of chess, then this drama delivers. If you don't need romance, but might love a complicated bromance, then this drama is a must watch. It was funny to see that some things that are normal in America are dystopian in KDramaland... all we need is the app. Maybe being to jaded has kept this from being a new favorite of mine, but it definitely gets a thumbs up vote from me.

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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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"If the devil does exist among us, it would be the self-pity of the powerful." - Kang Yo Han.

A magnificent visual treat!
This drama made me appreciate the hard work that goes into cinematography, set design, CGI, and editing skills.

Was adding the dystopian backdrop necessary?
If the drama would be devoid of this context, then many scenes would seem unrealistic and not have made any sense. Although several parts of the show are also relevant in today's society, the public would have called it offensive and banned the entire drama. (If you know, you know)
So, in short:-
The dystopian setting gave the creators cinematic and creative freedom to explore. Hence it has a unique plot despite the concept being ordinary.

The story revolves around the elite people of the country. Our ML is one of them but has a different intention. When influential people commit a crime, either they escape the law, are released on bail or serve punishment that is way less than what they deserve. This drama has an entirely new approach towards justice, hence the name "Devil's Justice." I would not call this a classic courtroom drama, as it focuses more on the plot outside the courtroom. The story is simple yet thrilling and undoubtedly entertaining. You get to see the strong and weak sides of every character. It is bumpy at places, and has some loopholes but overall still worth watching.
The first half of the drama is like a wild-stormy sea, exciting, immersive, and exhilarating. While the second half is more calm and emotional which completes the story beautifully. The dialogue writing is pretty impressive; a lot gets conveyed in fewer words.
Also, fun fact - The writer of this drama, Mr. Moon Yoo Seok, is/was the chief judge of Seoul Eastern District Court (source-wiki)

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here".
Most characters of the drama are grey. Some are twisted, some are annoying, while some are just straight-up evil.

Our ML, Kang Yo Han, is a very witty and cunning character.
He is "black as devil and hot as hell." His character is perfect in every way yet very much flawed and is pretty consistent throughout the show.
What more should I say about Ji sung. He has aged fine like wine. The charisma and the sinister aura of the character totally suit him. His visuals will overwhelm you ;)

In the world of exotic characters, Kim Ga On's character is the most familiar one! He thinks simple and believes in what he sees, but is also weak and easily gets manipulated by both sides. He has certain core beliefs. But as he gets closer to Yo Han, he starts questioning them. His character won't fail to surprise you as the show goes on. Park Jin young's portrayal did justice to the character.

The chemistry between our MLs is so intense yet very natural. The bromance game is strong here.

I personally ADORED Jung Sun-ah, her character is pretty layered; you will "HATE" her yet pity her. Her character is twisted and evil yet very human. I particularly love the way she talks — feels like she is reciting a poem or narrating a story. It’s captivating. She will go down as one of my favorite female villains.
Kim Min Jung, the actress who has played the part, nailed it. Her expressions, posture, dialogue delivery, everything was ON POINT! I would love to see her more.

Kang Yo Han's and Jung Sun Ah's scenes together have this dark and insane love-hate vibe to it; I replayed their scenes several times!

The negatives:- (According to me)
1.]The 1st episode seemed chaotic and not very engaging. I was not able to connect to it right away. (I stayed because of the visuals)

2.]Even though the courtroom drama(scenes)will give you an adrenaline rush, seemed somewhat unrealistic to me. Like the judges being biased and coming down to interrogate like lawyers. I know the era is different, but still, I found it a little over the top.

3.]A character that had the potential but was poorly written. I found that character somewhat annoying, impractical, and unnecessary.
(I don't want the future viewers to have a biased/judgemental opinion on that character; hence I won't take the name.
Also, I want to keep the review spoiler-free. But if you have watched the drama, then you certainly know who I am talking about! And yes, your opinion may differ from mine.)

The music is 10/10. Period. The background score and the OST are classy and groovy! It transfers you to the dystopian world and suits the narrative flawlessly.

I would like to conclude this by saying, the story is not something out of the world/extraordinary but totally not worth skipping. Give it a try; who knows?

If you want to watch something very realistic, don't go for this. But if you wish to sit back and enjoy a "HIGH-QUALITY" melodrama with a darker theme then, this is for you!

Vote if you found it helpful/useful.
Thank you.

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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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The neon! The Catholic/Christian motifs! The commentary on the nature of crime and punishment! The depiction of the corruption of state! The symbolism! The soundtrack! (Tempest has basically been on repeat for weeks now.)

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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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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