[HanCinema's Drama Review] "The Devil Judge" Episode 11

So apparently Seon-ah being a former child maid for Yo-han's family is considered a horrible secret with the risk of disastrous consequences for the Social Responsibility Foundation chairwoman if made public. At least, Seon-ah's furious reaction to Attorney General Cha's threat gives that impression. Personally I'm not that clear on why this is such a big deal. If this secret is so dangerous, why did Seon-ah reveal it to Yo-han when he didn't recognize her?

Advertisement

This seems like it would be a bigger scandal for Yo-han. What kind of family employs child maids, even thirty years ago? Also, child Yo-han made child Seon-ah jump out the window. Even if she was a petty thief, the relevance of that would seem rather questionable compared to the revelation that an orphan under the employ of Yo-han's household had suffered severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Attorney General Cha could easily prove this much had happened.

Instead Attorney General Cha brings a metaphorical knife to a gun fight with Yo-han. Following that humiliation, we watch her role in the story collapse, with Cha ultimately becoming a pathetic woman who has undeniably lost. For all her shortcomings, Cha was the closest thing Yo-han had to a professionally competent rival. While the rest of her Social Responsibility Foundation allies seem happy enough to watch Cha go, I'm not really sure who else presents a credible threat at this point.

Seon-ah would seem to take that position. Unfortunately her characterization has gotten too weird for its own good, as her scenes with Yo-han are now so erotically charged it's unclear whether they actually have an antagonistic relationship at all. This impression is further muddied by the scene where Yo-han brings her home for dinner. Maybe he's just manipulating her. But Yo-han is starting to seem increasingly into their bizarrely psychopathic affection for each other.

Once again I'm left in the spot of not being sure how much credit I should be giving "The Devil Judge" for its worldbuilding. A pivot into making Yo-han the actual villain, completely validating Ga-on's initial suspicions, would be legitimately dynamic and interesting. Yet the cliffhanger here feels like its yet another contrivance meant to make Yo-han look like the bad guy despite his not technically being at fault. It's unclear to me whether "The Devil Judge" will ever actually acknowledge that to a man of Yo-han's intelligence, the fate of Attorney General Cha under his searing emotional pressure was actually quite predictable.

Review by William Schwartz

___________

"The Devil Judge" is directed by Choi Jeong-gyoo, written by Moon Yoo-suk, and features Ji Sung, Kim Min-jung, Park Jinyoung, Park Gyu-young, Ahn Nae-sang, Kim Jae-kyung. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/07/03~Now airing, Sat, Sun 21:00 on tvN.