Review - New Park Shin Hye KDrama, now on Hulu

I love Kdramas, and because I watch so many I'm planning to share my thoughts on them as I watch. In this first #entertainmentnote I share a kdrama review about the newest kdrama featuring one of my favorite actresses Park Shin Hye.

"The Judge From Hell" is an engaging story about a demon judge from hell who is demoted to earth and must carry out a special mission to regain her normal place. Along the way she makes friends, learns how to love, experiences true emotions, and becomes someone that actually wants to take care of people - a drastic change from her demon nature.

If you're a fan of kdramas, then you know Park Shin Hye very well. She's starred in multiple kdramas including Doctor Slump, The Heirs and Pinocchio. But this drama was a new performance style for her. While she's always had the range, she's become a beloved figure in the romantic comedy space and is usually a character that we all root for from the beginning.

So imagine my surprise when this drama begins and she's... evil. And not just evil - she's literally from hell. 

That alone made me wonder - "wth" am I about to watch? But it picks up pretty quickly. So without doing a deep dive into the characters or spoiling the plot, here is my review that sets out to answer the following:

1. What did I enjoy?

2. What do I wish I could change?

3. Would I recommend this drama? 

What did I enjoy?

The acting was so much fun. I love the risk that Park Shin Hye is taking by playing an unconventional character. It took some getting used to admittedly, but I like watching her stretch herself. At first I found the main male character annoying, but he grew on me in the end. It had some really funny moments that I laughed out loud at. I also thought the cinematic approach to her revenge scenes were really well done - the snaps in and out of what was the real world and her world are really captivating and add to the storytelling.

What do I wish I could change?

The biggest plot hole for me is - what happens to the real Kang Bitna? In the beginning it's clear that she is unfairly murdered, which sets the scene for the plot for of the drama. But we're left not knowing what happens to her in the afterlife. Is she ok? Does she survive and is she ever sent to the right place? This is actually a distracting plot point for me at the end of the drama that I couldn't shake. I've seen some attempts at explaining what happened, but it is very unclear.

Would I recommend this drama?

In the end, I would recommend this drama. I can't call it my favorite, or even one of the best of 2024. But it's a funny and easy drama to watch, and if you're looking to enjoy something while waiting for the next viral hit to drop - this one a great time filler.

What do you think? If this honest kdrama review was enough to convince you to check it out for yourself, you can stream it now on Hulu.