The Relief Pitcher for MBC's Friday-Saturday Drama Arrives, The Return of Trusted Actor Ji Sung A powerful relief pitcher has finally taken the mound for the MBC Friday-Saturday drama lineup, which has been in a slump for a long time. The protagonist is Judge Lee Han-young, starring Ji Sung, an actor who instills trust in viewers just by his name. Ji Sung is a "ratings guarantee check" who has proven both outstanding acting skills and box office success in every work he appears in, such as Kill Me, Heal Me, Defendant, and The Devil Judge. In particular, expectations for this comeback are hotter than ever, as he received praise for perfectly digesting the unconventional setting of a drug-addicted detective in his previous work, Connection. Attention is focused on whether he can restore MBC's crumpled pride this time and retake the throne of the Friday-Saturday home theater.
Go Away Cliché Legal Dramas, A Hybrid Genre Combining 'Regression' and 'Revenge' As the title suggests, Judge Lee Han-young is a legal drama with a judge as the main character. However, when you open the lid, the texture is distinctly different from the static legal dramas we have commonly seen. This is because it borrows the "Regression (Time Slip)" setting, where the protagonist, who met an unfair death, returns to the past, a turning point in his life, to change the future. This cliché, popular in web novels and webtoons, met actor Ji Sung and was reborn as a weighty authentic drama. Beyond simply determining victory or defeat through legal battles, the setting of punishing great evil using information from the future predicts a thrilling catharsis for viewers. A private sanction wearing judicial robes, or the cruelest revenge play within the legal framework, has begun.
A Life Lived as a Dog of Power, The Emptiness Hidden Behind Success The early part of the drama focuses on explaining why the protagonist Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung) had no choice but to become an incarnation of revenge. A case of rising from rags to riches, he became a judge from a dirt-poor family and succeeded by colluding with huge law firms in Korea. However, the price was harsh. In exchange for selling justice and conscience, he gained wealth and honor, but he had to live thoroughly as a hunting dog of power. A loveless political marriage, a "show-window" couple life, and a puppet-like life where he had to fabricate even written judgments if instructed by the higher-ups. Ji Sung realistically portrayed the tired face of a corrupt and fallen middle-aged judge who seems successful but is empty inside, increasing immersion.
Tosagupaeng (Discarded After Use), Cold Death Faced After Losing Everything His seemingly peaceful life is shattered by a single "refusal." At the moment he was about to deliver a ruling according to instructions from above as always, perhaps due to a change of heart, he refused the order and chose an independent path. Perhaps it was the last conscience left as a human being, or disillusionment with playing the puppet of power. However, the great power did not forgive the traitor. In an instant, he not only loses everything but is also framed as a murderer and miserably murdered. The end of Lee Han-young, who is "discarded after use" (Tosagupaeng) by the organization he dedicated his life to serving, nakedly shows the heartlessness of power and aroused the indignation of viewers.
Regression to 10 Years Ago, Gaining a Chance to Rewrite Life The moment he crosses the threshold of death, a miraculous thing happens. When he opens his eyes, he has returned not to the point of his death, but exactly to the past 10 years ago. That point in time was the very period when Lee Han-young took on his first trial as a judge, that is, when his original intention was put to the test. After a brief moment of bewilderment, he intuitively senses that this is a second chance given by God. A golden opportunity to wash away the past mistakes of cowardly compromising and selling his conscience, and to root out the great evil that drove him to death. Now, using his memories of the future as a weapon, he begins to make completely different choices from the 'me' of 10 years ago. This is the point where the counterattack of the experienced and venomous "second life" judge, not the powerless self of the past, begins.
A Judge Who Came Down from the Bench, An Action Drama Running with the Body If ordinary legal dramas focus on the judge sitting on the bench and solemnly banging the gavel, Judge Lee Han-young shows the judge coming down below the bench and navigating the field himself. Lee Han-young is not confined within case records. He moves faster than detectives to stop future events he knows about or to dig up the truth. Sometimes he infiltrates crime scenes himself, and sometimes he gets into physical fights with suspects. Ji Sung's unique agile action and intense eye acting, shown in his previous work Connection, are displayed without regret in this work as well. The active and independent character, breaking the stereotype of the job "judge," is a key element that breathes speed and tension into the drama.
Absolute Evil Kang Sang-jin vs. Hot-Blooded Prosecutor Kim Jin-ah, Tense Confrontation Another axis maintaining the tension of the drama is the existence of a powerful villain and a helper. 'Kang Sang-jin', the chief judge of the Central District Court played by Park Hee-soon, is the pinnacle of power and the final boss that Lee Han-young must fight against. His cool charisma, hiding a knife behind a gentle smile, contrasts with Ji Sung's hot energy and holds the center of gravity of the play. On the other hand, prosecutor 'Kim Jin-ah', played by Won Jin-ah, is a figure who goes straight solely for justice and revenge. Although she might have been in opposition to Lee Han-young in the past, she shares the will with the regressed Lee Han-young and heralds activities as a partner to bring down the great evil. The intertwined relationship between these three will be an important viewing point for the story to unfold.
Solid Narrative of the Original Web Novel, The Power of a Verified Story This drama is based on a popular web novel of the same name. The original work, completed in 2018 (or at the end of serialization), was loved by many readers for its meticulous legal battles and gratifying revenge narrative. Since there is already a solid verified story, the drama starts by securing the probability of the narrative. In particular, the "Cider" (refreshing/satisfying) development unique to regression stories is expected to blow away the frustrated insides of viewers. The pleasure coming from the process of paying back the humiliation he suffered and preventing tragedies that will happen in the future will approach as an attractive enough element not only to original fans but also to general drama viewers.
The Sprint of Episode 2 that Blew Away the Regret of Episode 1, Rising Immersion To be honest, Episode 1 was not without a sense of boredom due to somewhat typical development. This is because somewhat obvious clichés were listed to explain the setting of the protagonist's downfall and regression. It was enough to elicit a reaction like "Regression again?" However, as the story of the past timeline unfolded in earnest from Episode 2, the atmosphere of the drama changed 180 degrees. As the awakened Lee Han-young overturned the first trial and began to intervene in the case independently, the immersion skyrocketed. His acting, perfectly possessed by the character enough to elicit admiration of "As expected of Ji Sung," was like a powerful magnet pulling viewers in front of the TV screen.
Rising Ratings Current, The Prelude to a 'Refreshing Revenge Play' Has Risen The viewership ratings, which started at 4.3% in Episode 1 and rose slightly to 4.4% in Episode 2, are interpreted as a positive signal for this drama. Although it is not an explosive figure yet, the upward trend is expected to be steeper once word of mouth starts to spread. In particular, for viewers tired of the frustrating reality (like eating sweet potatoes without water), the appearance of Lee Han-young punishing those in power with law and strategy will provide vicarious satisfaction. It raises curiosity about how he will break the cartel of great power and change his tragic fate. I look forward to seeing if Judge Lee Han-young, which will be the signal flare announcing the resurrection of MBC dramas, can establish itself as the new ruler of Friday and Saturday nights.
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