I heard so many good things about this drama before I started watching but I was still hesitant because I have mixed feelings about law and corruption dramas. Sometimes I am bored by political corruption tropes, but it was clear from the beginning that this drama is much more stylized. It's dystopian, but also super realistic. It has some very entertaining characters and an antihero who's exciting to root for. "The Devil Judge" is a mysterious character with questionable methods, similar to a Vincenzo-type, and I loved "Vicenzo". Yes, it is about politics, corruption, and revenge... what you would normally expect from a drama like this... but it's also about morality and human nature which is way more interesting to me, with characters that blur those lines in the best way.

Ji Sung is perfectly cast as Kang Yo Han, a popular celebrity judge who shows no mercy when it comes to exacting justice. This is an iconic role, and he really gets to showcase his charm and the nuances in his acting. Obviously, he is no stranger to playing complicated characters, "Kill Me, Heal Me" is my favorite performance of his, but this is definitely a close second. I love characters that don't neatly fall under the category of bad or good, and he straddles that line in the most attractive ways. He's also the type of character who is usually 3 steps ahead of everyone else, which is fun, but also tortured by his past which is heartbreaking. He is matched with Park Jin Young as Kim Ga On, an ambitious new lawyer whose idealistic and often self-righteous ideas clash with Yo Han. It's the unlikely bond between them that drives most of this story. I loved their bromantic chemistry, and unconventional mentor dynamic. Ga On is frustrating at times, many MANY times, but his charm always shines through. I think he was perfectly cast in his role as well. They worked so well together.

The entire cast in this drama is great, and it almost feels unfair not to mention them all, but some of the performances were just exceptional... think broad comic book characters more than melodrama. I loved Jeon Chae Eun as Elijah. Her relationship with Yo Han was a strong highlight in this drama for me. Park Gyu Young as Soo Hyun, on the other hand, was a character I loved to complain about. Most of the time she was on the screen I was rolling my eyes, but I actually did appreciate her relationship with Ga On, even if it seemed obsessive and the friendzoning became one-note, I did think they were cute together. Don't expect a full-blown romance arc for these two. It's more about her influence on Ga On than about watching them falling in love. Other standout performances worth mentioning are Jang Young Nam as the Minister of Justice. I loved her unapologetic ruthlessness and powerful pantsuit vibes. Also Baek Hyun Jin as The President who I just call K-Trump based on his over the top antics and narcissism that seemed way too similar to the former clown in the American White House (I don't think the similarities were accidental either lol). There are a lot of characters to know but as the story evolves it's more about The Goal of the Devil Judge than remembering exactly who's who. It's also about the general publics reaction to easy access justice, so I consider the app voting masses important characters as well.

Surpisingly, my favorite character, whose performance I loved even more than Ji Sung's is Kim Min Jung as Jung Sun Ah. Every scene she had with Ji Sung was my favorite. I wasn't sure if I wanted them to fight or date but just a look or light touch between them was electrifying. I don't want to say too much about her character but it's one of the best performances I've seen is a while. Her soft-spoken bad@ssery is legendary.

Would I watch this again? Possibly, but there are some flaws in the drama that would make me a little hesitant to. One is that the story is pretty predictable. Anticipating what would happen was still fun, but I'm not sure if it would be as entertaining the second time. The performances are fun but were a little repetitive. I was excited to watch each week but it may drag if I were to binge watch it again. I do think that knowing the characters better may make me appreciate the earlier episodes more. I would definitely be tempted to skip to certain scenes. Many of the scenes are beautifully shot however, so maybe I can appreciate some just for the look of it all.

Overall, this drama is well done, but imperfect. I could easily nitpick the things that made no sense or were ridiculous, like why didn't Ga On ever go home??!! Or why was Soo Hyun always investigating alone??! I also didn't love the ending. It was pretty much what I expected, and was entertaining to watch, but I guess I was hoping to be more surprised or wowed. I loved that this drama challenged the idea that morality or justice are clearly defined. Self righteous characters aren't necessarily heroes and brutal villainous-types can also be empathetic. If you like watching manipulation and revenge that's played out like a game of chess, then this drama delivers. If you don't need romance, but might love a complicated bromance, then this drama is a must watch. It was funny to see that some things that are normal in America are dystopian in KDramaland... all we need is the app. Maybe being to jaded has kept this from being a new favorite of mine, but it definitely gets a thumbs up vote from me.