This is a melodramatic remake of a Korean revenge drama with tight plot, some really tense sequences, and great performances from some of the cast. Slow pacing and melodrama detract from the story at times.

Maou's premise is great. Ikuta Toma and Ohno Satoshi - two of the most famous idols from Johnny & Associates - play the characters who are pitted against each other in a fight-to-the-death conflict. South Korean origins of the story provide tight plot, high level of suspense, and aggressive temperamental characters. Moreover, K-dramas take on the theme of revenge is very famous in its own right; the main intrigue of whether the characters will be able to reconcile or if someone will have to cut out their own tongue first never lets the viewer off the hook.

As usual with J-drama remakes some elements translate less convincingly than the others. The roughness of brash police officers like Serizawa Naoto is looked upon favourably in South Korea where it's the only thing that allows them to fight for justice in the face of many obstacles. As much as J-dramas love their rough police officers this kind of characters are firmly thing of the past and Ikuta Toma's Naoto looks out of place in Maou. It's never quite clear why his colleagues tolerate him and even his humbleness is not particularly endearing in the context of Japan where being humble is a default. Ikuta Toma has played many complex characters since Maou but he's not quite convincing in there. He doesn't look the part and he struggles in the dramatic scenes that call for display of raw emotions.

Ohno Satoshi's twisted sharply-dressed lawyer Naruse Ryo fits better in J-drama landscape than his nemesis. Ohno pulls off menacing aura well, however, his cherub visuals constantly spoil the effect and give the moniker “angel attorney” a more literal meaning.

Nevertheless, the story is tense and full of suspense. The strong support cast also deserve the praise. The characters of Tanaka Kei, Kichise Michiko, Okunuki Kaoru, and Oshinari Shugo are charismatic and relatable despite not having that many scenes. Even the introduction of psychic powers as investigative tool doesn't strain suspension of disbelief much.

What really detracts from the story is slow pacing especially during melodramatic scenes. The characters are understandably ravaged by strong emotions and feelings. However, the viewer can only take that many scenes with heroes crying 'woe-is-me' seriously. The overly-sweet romance doesn't help.

Personally, I don't like how the trappings of Catholicism are used in the story. Even taken at the face value, they don't bring that much symbolism. Naruse Ryo for all his omnipotence and plotting is not a devil incarnate and the way the drama treats past 'sins' seems quite removed from the western Christian tradition. Thus, it was hard not to roll my eyes at some of the scenes (of course, your take may be different from mine).

All in all, Maou is a gripping drama with some dubious creative choices. Discounting those choices, somewhat lacking acting of the male leads, and at-times slow pacing, the drama is quite enjoyable and I'd especially recommend it for the lovers of dramatic angst who usually avoid South Korean dark revenge dramas.