Starting off with a bang

Since this is for the first episode, I'll cover the intro thoughts in this as well. Although I want to rant and rave for paragraphs upon paragraphs, let's keep it slightly short.

[Intro;] It really hits the second it starts. Not only does it promise to give a drama full of darker elements but also feels a little rebellious with the tone and the imagery.

[Episode;] Although most first episodes can be slower and not fast paced or hook you from the start, this drama brings on a sense of "I have to know what happens next". Just like the viewers of the live court show in this dystopian drama, you too might get pulled in by the constant glimpse of characters battling with their morals throughout. That one final moment near the end of the episode is what got me and I ended up binging all episodes that had been out at the time in one night.

[Characters;] They do a decent job at introducing them without telling you everything. So you do have questions by the end of the episode about each of them and their past as well as what they have to do with one another.

[Acting;] Is very strong in this episode and is sure to have many moments where you will believe the story they are telling well.

[Flaws;] We have way more questions than answers, which isn't a BAD thing for me but might be for others. We have no idea about this "virus", we don't know what pushed them towards what the country is going through in the drama.

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What a lifeless, by the book first episode.

None of this episode is bad, not really, that's why I've given this episode a completely average rating, but that is exactly where it falls flat for me. Everything is just so predictable and simple, none of it makes you interested in what's to come next or anticipate developments. The characters are one dimensional, and while of course, you'll have a little of that with this being the first episode and us knowing so little about their inner workings, they put so much time of the episode into attempting to flesh out our main character with showing us his childhood friend, his home, his interests, what he opposes, his sense of justice, every moment where he's given real personality (like when he is with said childhood friend), it all feels superficial and just there. Then we're supposed to have a sense of intimidation from this 'Devil judge', but he's so unimposing. I get they're trying for a less physical sort of 'villain' here (if he can really be called that), but while I feel a greater interest in him just for how the actor behind him plays, there really doesn't feel like there is much there than just the typical story/character beats for a story like this with the government employing a system that is supposed to be more fair and safe but 'isn't actually for the majority'. Might work for a person less versed and tired of tropes than I, but overall, there just wasn't anything special here for me.

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Spectacular Beginning

'The Devil Judge' was one of the most awaited drama for me this year. I'm really glad it didn't disappoint me yet unlike some other dramas released. Drama's plot comes first and Ji Sung choosing this drama added the icing on the cake for me.
The drama unfolds as the common people are suffering miserably in the city while the aristocrats are enjoying lavishness...in such a moment Korea's judicial system takes a unexpected change. Live Judgment, where public can vote in real-time using an app which will affect the verdict. In other way public emotion sways the verdict.Kim Yo Han a strict and merciless judge is in charge of it. Amidst dirty politics, interfering powerful figures can this variety-show-like- courtroom deliver justice. Even Yo Han seems a grey-ish character with many secrets hiding his intentions. Kim Ga Yeon, an assistant judge is determined to unveil the truth along side his childhood friend.
The first case this unique bench takes up against a chemical factory, negligence of work ethics resulting in several casualties. The CEO is punished with 235 years in prison. At this moment Yo Han seems like an angel but yawning while consoling an olderly victim leaves Kim Ga Yeon in bewilderment (also me 0.0)
From shooting scene to delivering the first verdict, it was an enthralling ride. Ji Sung, amazing as ever. Jin Young did a fabulous job. Other characters were also on point. Cinematography is pretty nice.
Deducting one star for the exaggeration in the plot. Though it's dystopic some things were a bit too much.
What does Yo Han want? Is he the devil as he appears or a justice delivering batman?...Looks like our main characters have many skeletons in their closets. We'll have to wait till the story unfolds.

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Overall is really good but...

I really really like the cast of this drama and for now every character seems interesting and I'm curios about their background and their agenda (especially Kang Yo Han).
Another positive point is that the cinematography is beautiful, but hell even if the setting is a dystopia, there are too many exaggerations in this first episode.

First, they didn't really explain well what tf happened and how we ended up in this kind of Korea, they talk about a virus or something of the sort that made the country fall in an economical crisis, but then they don't say anything else if not the people were unhappy because of it so riots started all over?? Like, give me a little more of context, how am I supposed to understand what's going on?
Also, about the bill for a judicial reform? Every citizen is part or the jury? Ya, that's bullshit, in time of crisis the people who are in power tend to keep it for themselves so there are less obstacles to make the situation stable again (and I mean that things could change for better or for worse, but a stable situation arise).

Another thing that made me scoff was that withing the first 20 minutes of the drama we have Kang Yo Han shots to a terrorist who's about to run over our 2nd protagonist: miraculously the terrorist deviate his course because he's scared and because our 2nd male lead must be the kind-hearted one he goes to save the terrorist before the bus explodes so in the end nobody gets hurt. All of that was so extra that I almost started laughing.
Not to mention how Kim Ga On just went spying around the Justice Court and searched documents in restricted area without no one noticing, like don't they have surveillance cameras in a place that important? And they seems also to have a more evolved technology than us, so I'm here uhm??
Also I don't think that Kim Ga On would have enough time to follow his boss around, but the best part is that there's no way you can follow a car on a BIKE like come on for real 😭

I'm so interested in this show but I really hope they'll start to make more smart choices in the following episodes shsh

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