That was an absolute wild ride. From the beginning till the very end. I’ve never watched drama that could shake me every episode. That each time surprised me with plot twists. That I could not anticipate what will happen because it was so absolutely unpredictable. And at the same time, drama that would be so perfect in every aspect.
When I prepare for writing review, I always make notes. Not much, just the overall thoughts that I have while watching drama. That helps me to organise my writing later on. Usually those notes are not longer than two pages of handwriting. Maybe four if drama is especially complicated or I have a lot of comments about it. How many pages I’ve written watching The Devil Jugde? Freaking 10 and I still think that’s not enough to barely touch the subject.

Let’s talk about Yo Han
Let’s talk about Kang Yo Han, because there’s so much to unpack here that we’ll going to be here for a while. First of all, huge kudos to Ji Sung for carrying this role, I hope his back is ok after that. He shown his acting range in Kill Me Heal Me, his attachment to the role in Defendant, but I honestly think that Yo Han is going to be his crown jewel. Because who is Kang Yo Han? Nobody knows. Nobody. We don’t know what’s actually sitting in his head. He’s so unpredictable that he can be double bluffing and we’ll know if two episodes later. He’s master of manipulation which basically means that once again he cannot be trusted, all he does may be just a way to fulfil his plan. From the beginning we see that there’s something wrong with him. The way he talks about hunting for example in one of first episodes. Right away I had a thought that the prey he would like to hunt is human. And I wasn’t really wrong, because it seems that his whole life was a battle. He had to fight from youngest years and one of his greatest weapons is manipulation. I was watching with my mouth opened the scenes when he was basically steering people in a trap that he prepare for them. How he manipulated them to be in exact position that he wanted them to be. No hesitation, no remorse, everything to achieve his goal.
And it seems that he can weasel himself out of every situation. Every time he was backed to the wall somehow he managed to get out without damage and it was so amazing especially that it was done so effortlessly that I could barely believe what just happened. I have to admit, I’ve said the phrase “Yo Han, you sly fox” more times that I care to admit
Yo Han is incredibly sure of himself when he interacts with people he manipulates and at the same time he’s absolutely awkward towards his family and the ones close to him (which totals to like three people, and I’m being generous here).
It’s clear that Yo Han’s methods are often too much, but seeing some scenes involving members of the Social Responsibility Foundation , the injustice and lies of people on the top, it’s hard not to sympathise with him. From time to time he makes us doubt if normal, according to the law methods are the right ones in this brutal reality. The truth is that Yo Has has his own slightly crooked form of justice, but at least he’s true to it through and through.
Yo Han is an incredibly complicated character, with many layers to him.

Cinematics
From the very first scene, cinematic were the element that I was totally in awe of. Remember it? Black Corvette riding thought the city at night. In the background Drop The Game by Flume & Chet Faker. This song, even tough was used several more times, was linked for me with this scene. Till now I thought that It’s Okay to Not be Okay was the pinnacle of cinematography in dramas, but I have to admit, The Devil Judge topped that. With amazing light (scenes in Yo Han’s office at night!) And scenography it just created amazing background to the main plot.

Music
That must’ve been one of the most searched out for me. It fits so seamlessly into the action of the show that after every episode I could just listen to it on repeat. And not having whole album already to listen to really hurts. But from now on every car trip starts with Tempest and that’s perfect way to go anywhere.
So how they say, choice of music in some scenes is *chef’s kiss*. I believe that’s this is one of there most memorable soundtracks I’ve heard.

Created world
I love dystopias. After time travelling, that’s my favourite motive. I was raised on 1984 by Orwell and Brave New World by Huxley, so I have a bit of soft spot for it. But when those two were till pretty much recently rather far away. With what happened in them, then The Devil Judge seems terrifyingly familiar. A great plague? Checked. Society in disarray after the crisis? Checked. Nationalist movements? Unfortunately, where I’m from, almost checked. So with all that in mind, watching The Devil Judge with this new scary form of Live Court seemed just too probable. And that was why this drama hit so hard. Is Live Court something that could happen? Hopefully not, but in society where all hope is lost, why not? We already have corrupted politicians and greedy corporations so we’re not far from there. Is the idea of people actually deciding about major court ruling absolutely terrifying? Of course. I have to admit, I chuckled couple of times watching those hearings (I mean the video from American prison was a bit over the top) but I also understand that the format of the Live Court was supposed to be a bit flashy. It was supposed to be a tv show. The way that it also become the battlefield between Yo Han and the Foundation was amazing. It looked like a true chess game, where each side had to be very cautious about next move.

The villain
This is a pure gem right here. Who do you fight psychopath with? Another psychopath. Yo Han could actually be a villain by himself with his very particular form of justice. But the writers decided to go a step further and gave us Sun Ah. Sun Ah at first seems like a perfect opposite to Yo Han. Where he want’s justice, she wants power, no matter the cost. But at the same time they share a lot of traits and this is pretty much scary at some point. And what I love about this character is how at the beginning she let everyone to underestimate her giving her the perfect point of attack. I mean, who would suspect a secretary?
Her lecture at school where she speaks to young girls about what to do to be a good child is a perfect introduction and explanation of motives for this character. For her survival can only be achieved through power and power is gained with wealth. Person must do everything to survive. She’s ruthless and her prey are men who are abusing women. They have to be destroyed. She finds their soft spot and hit it till she achieves her target.

Welcome to the world in which the ones talking about power don’t really have it, and the powerful work in the backstage meticulously steering their puppets.

About acting, apart from extraordinary Ji Sung and Kim Min Jung we have a vast array of amazing actors, even the smaller roles leave a mark in a memory. I mean great example is Park Hyung Soo as attorney Ko In Guk who really left amazing impression for me. Park Jin Young’s acting wasn’t convincing for me at the beginning but I was glad to see much needed progress throughout the series. But that might’ve been because the role he had wasn’t easy either. I could write something else here about Ga On himself, but I think that in the end he was exactly the person who he was intended to be and not much more.

This must be first drama that I gave the score of 10 with absolutely no hesitation. I had absolutely no choice to do differently, since this drama for me is simply perfect. Acting, characters, cinematic, music, everything comes up to the show that I will from now on compare others to. This would be a best series that other could only aspire to. I know that these are big words here, but honestly, I’ve never waited for another episode with that much of anticipation. I’ve never beed so hooked on a show in my adult life. This ladies and gentlemen is a perfect drama, thank you very much.