The Judge From Hell review: Park Shin-hye shines in the K-Drama that is just as beautiful

4/5

Story:

A demon judge, Justitia, is sent to Earth, to atone for her sin of wrongful punishment. She has to send 100 murderers to hell within a month. During her time as Judge Kang Bitna, she discovers a new life she never thought of as Justitia. Being a judge, she sets off to make things right everywhere.

Review:

Ever thought about a demon being so good they're the perfect humans to exist? Park Shin-hye, who went from demon Justitia of Hell to Judge Kang Bitna in the human world, is exactly that. She is great with people she loves. She would protect them dearly. And in case you crossed the wrong paths with her, then not even God can spare you. That is her special power - she is human and a demon and nails both the versions.

Kim Jae-young, who drops in as her human lover, Detective Han Da-on, is a visual delight. He does not have much in comparison of Shin-hye, but you just cannot ignore him when he takes charge.

Kim In-kwon is a character you would most certainly overlook because of his role as Man-do, but he has some cool things to offer as well. Kim Ah-young, being Justitia's biggest fan, almost always has something to offer as A-rong. Ha Kyung-min's Dong-ju and Lee Jong-ok's Jae-hyun come as a package deal and shine the most when they openly accept their role as demons.

Kim Young-ok is a revelation as O Mi-ja. She's mysterious right from her entry, but turns out the sweetest to ever exist in this world. Kim Hye-hwa's So-yeong follows suit, except she's stronger because of her conditions.

Kim Hong-pa's Jung Jae-gul, who originally has a cameo role, ends up playing one of the leads as the story progresses. His sons Tae-gyu and Sun-ho, played by Lee Kyu-han and Choi Dong-goo, also end up as the leads. They are both contrasting but defective personalities, and leave a mark with their performances throughout.

Shin Sung-rok in the role of Bael has smaller roles but leaves a strong impression each time - you hate him almost every time he appears. Among the cameos, the most powerful is Oh Eui-shik in the role of Choi Won-jung. It is when you feel the real hate for the first time in the show. It is the moment serial killer J's story is being built up at a rapid speed and things fall into place soon after. Yang Kyung-won's Seung-bin comes a close second because of the actor leaving a lasting impression.

The best part about The Judge From Hell is in each episode. There's always a case waiting to be solved, justice waiting to be served. Justitia's way of serving that justice goes on to show that the plot in itself is extremely strong and intriguing. Needless to say, Shin-hye nails it each time.

The plot thickens when a character, serial killer J, established from episode 1, comes to light a little before the finale. This is where things come together. Justitia is no longer a demon, she is completely human. The part of her that broke, is visible in Shin-hye's eyes, once it is all over. It is why the actress is brilliant in her role.

Verdict:

The Judge From Hell is something you do not wish to miss out on if you like stories about justice, with supernatural elements like heaven and hell. There is a love story, too, but it is brief. All in all, this series is definitely worth your time.