It's been years since I last wrote an entry. Facebook and Instagram are much more convenient avenues for self expression. It has also been an equally long time since I've last felt impressed enough to record down an experience. For someone who hardly watches tv (I don't even have access to a Netflix account), it is a big deal when I feel the urge to share my thoughts on a drama show.
"The Devil Judge" is a Korean drama series (spanning July to August 2021) starring Ji Sung as Kang Yo-han (Chief Judge), Kim Min-jung as Jung Sun-ah (Yo-han's greatest rival and the mastermind behind the evil machinations that plague the nation), Park Jin-young as Kim Ga-on (an Associate Judge and Yo-han's unofficial sidekick), and a host of other well-known names. The show is set in a dystopian South Korea where public justice is meted out by democratic vote in an live courtroom show presided over by Chief Judge Kang Yo-han, assisted by two other Associate Judges. At the same time, the President and political elites collude with the Social Responsibility Foundation to enrich themselves by exploiting the common folk.
I thoroughly enjoyed the show for several reasons. Firstly, it spans only sixteen ninety minute episodes. I dislike draggy soap operas that go on forever. Secondly, the twists and turns in the plot keeps one perpetually at the edge of the seat. I found myself wondering what to do if I were in the position of protagonist and antagonist. The toing-and-froing as each tries to get the better of the other while manipulating public opinion is simply mind-blowing. Thirdly, there are numerous real-life themes that can be discussed with the show as a starting point.
One recurring theme is the complexity of human feeling. The literal love-hate relationship between the main character and the villain is fleshed out by the excellent acting. Can one love and hate at the same time, or does this ambiguity drive one mad? Themes of trust and seeming manipulation of the trust are also central to the plot. Is the hero really a hero, or is he secretly villainous? Can human beings be taken at face value or when can we take each other's words to be the truth.The plot also questions whether the viewer is part of an ignorant and blind population that is being manipulated by the media and the powerful political elite that controls it (especially in this pandemic situation).
I am of the opinion that the twist at the end of the series itself warrants the time spent watching it. One can as easily watch it for the action and intrigue or allow it to trigger deeper conversations such as those about power in society, manipulation, and what really constitutes fact and fiction. Don' take my word for it. Catch it yourself.
