The Judge from Hell is my new favorite obsession

Park Shin-Hye has released another drama, and I was absolutely the happiest. I can’t remember exactly how many of her drama I had the chance to watch (short answer: a lot). But The Judge from Hell has become one of my absolute favorite. Only downside? I really want a season 2.

THE JUDGE FROM HELL

Justicia is a merciless demon who’s task to punish the sinner that reach her court. However, while performing her task she wrongfully condemned an innocent. Her punishment is to live as Kang Bit-Na for a year with a mission. Her task, to punish 10 individuals responsible for the death of others. Without any interest in her new job, Justicia’s only interest is fulfill her mission. Before going back to Hell and reprise her role among the other demon.

However, her encounter with detective Han Da-on changes everything. Da-On is known for his meticulous work. And Bit-Na is unfortunately always a part of his investigation. But Justicia can’t have someone like Da-On stopping her from fulfilling her mission. But can she actually escape? Or will they start working together, while his past will only come to light?

CAST

Let me say, what a stellar cast. I loved every single character, including Bael (Justicia’s boss) even though he always seemed ready to be messing with her.

• Park Shin-Hye (Doctor Slump, Doctors) as Kang Bit-Na/Justicia (also interpreted by Oh Na-Ra)
  A Judge from the criminal district. After her death, Justicia takes her body as a punishment from Bael, forced to live her life as Kang Bit-Na for a year.
• Kim Jae-Young (Love in Contract) as Han Da-On
  A Detective at the Violent crime division. He is kind, with great observation skills but also with a painful past that no one knows about.
• Kim In-Known (You’re Beautiful, also with Park Shin-Hye) as Gu Man-Do
  Kang Bit-Na assistant, and also a demon sent to earth in order to help Justicia fulfill her mission.
• Kim A-Young (Welcome to Samdal-ri) as Lee A-Rong
  A demon who is entrusted to punish demon who became humanised. While working on her mission, she encounters Bit-Na/Justicia and starts to work for her.

Notable actors include Ha Kyung-min and Lee Joong-ok, demons working for a “cleaning company” in the human world, but also helping Kang Bit-Na cleaning her scenes after taking care of those she had to punish. The amazing Kim Young-ok further poses as Gabriel (known as Oh Mi-ja among the human), an angel who vowed to protect Da-On after he lost his family.

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT? ABSOLUTELY YES.

If you would like to adventure yourself in the K-drama’s world, I would absolutely invite you to watch this drama. It’s a good mixture of slight comedy, law drama, romance and mystery. Shin-Hye’s Kang Bit-Na has absolutely captured my attention. The drama is so easy to watch and absolutely never boring. Even the music is something you will never forget. And when Justicia’s OST will start, you know that things will start to get good.

I have to say, while I absolutely love the drama there is a small critic I have to leave: I really hope for a season 2. I understand why the left it the way the did, but at the same time I felt almost empty. It didn’t feel like a real conclusion, mostly because every decision would have probably disappointed some viewers. By default, leaving the ending without a full resolution was the obvious solution. But if a season 2 should it happen (a bit difficult I will admit it) will definitely be one of the best decisions they can ever take.

I am absolutely convinced that they have done an amazing job with this drama. The story was great, the acting was too and if you enjoy watching law drama, this one may be for you. I do feel that the villain was predictable, and while there has been a couple of surprises along the way, everything was fairly straightforward. Even the resolutions didn’t last as long as I thought, but that is not a negative thing. On the contrary, I feel that should they have focuses too much on it, they would have dragged the story to no avail.

One of my absolute favorite character was definitely A-rong. I loved Kang Bit-Na, but I also feel that would be the obvious choice. I had so much fun with A-ron even in her lowest moments. And the fact that she is such a huge Justicia’s fangirl (fandemon?) was an absolute gem.
So if you have time remember to watch this drama.

And if you are looking something similar, maybe have a look at some other law k-drama you should watch.