Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
SBS’s new series, The Judge from Hell, is a fantasy action drama where a demon inhabits the body of a judge and partners with an all-too-human detective to mete out justice to criminals. The demon’s intriguing narrative kicks off with, “I’m a demon. I come from hell. I took the body of a human named Kang Bit Na. I didn’t want this, but I am quite pleased with what I see in the mirror—especially the face.”
Demon judge Justitia (Oh Na Ra), dedicated to handling murder cases, conducts trials in her own way for Kang Bit Na (Park Shin Hye), who claims innocence. This attracts scrutiny from the overseer of Hell, Bael (Shin Sung Rok), who criticizes her methods and imposes a punishment: send ten vile sinners to hell within a year. Consequently, Justitia finds herself in the body of the very person she judged—Kang Bit Na. From the first episode, Park Shin Hye captivates viewers with her seamless portrayal that swings between human and demonic.
Known for her roles in upbeat and positive characters from You’re Beautiful to Doctor Slump, Park Shin Hye introduces her first antihero character in this series. Instead of tormenting ordinary people, the demon hunts down those who truly deserve punishment, delivering justice without mercy, albeit with an endearing charm added by the actress. According to Park, “If my previous characters had the ‘Even if I’m lonely or sad, I won’t cry’ vibe, Kang Bit Na shouts ‘It’s okay to say it’s hard when it’s hard.'”
Park Shin Hye’s transformation is further complemented by her interaction with detective Han Da On, played by Kim Jae Young. Generous to the weak but unforgiving to the powerful, he’s the one who checks Kang Bit Na’s unilateral decisions. Following their chemistry is another highlight of the show.
The Judge from Hell made a powerful impression with back-to-back broadcasts of its first two episodes. The opening episodes tackled the topical issue of dating violence. The demon inhabiting a human’s body chooses a man who regularly abused and threatened his girlfriend as her first target. While the depiction of violence aims to dramatically convey the victim’s shattered daily life and psychological fear, the explicit scenes could potentially trigger real victims and might even inspire copycat crimes. Recently, similar concerns were raised in Good Partner. While the scenes of Kang Bit Na dispensing rough justice outside the courtroom are gratifying and entertaining, they call for a more delicate approach from the producers.
At its core, The Judge from Hell may resemble a legal drama since it involves a judge passing sentences. However, it distinguishes itself by incorporating elements of “fantasy action” and the “Hell” universe. It powerfully reassures those who are neglected by society or resigned to their fate without judicial support that justice can still be achieved. Additionally, the demon trio—Kang Bit Na, Gu Man Do (Kim In Kwon), and Lee A Rong (Kim Ah Young)—promises thrilling enactments of justice in a reality more hellish than Hell itself. (7/10)
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Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
