This K-drama is worth all the hype with its intriguing mix of demons, angels and an enemies-to-lovers storyline. With a fantastic soundtrack and incredible attention to detail, The Judge From Hell on Disney+ is a must-watch!

I haven’t watched a K-drama for a while, but this one kept showing up on all my social media feeds. I finally relented, got myself a cheap Disney+ subscription because student finances are no joke, and dove into the 14 hour-plus episodes.

Kang Bitna is incredible, and Mando, the baby demon, is absolutely adorable. The rest of the cast? Every character, line and scene is packed with emotion. It’s a chef's kiss all around. I can't stop talking about this drama!

Synopsis (Spoiler free)

The Judge from Hell is based on the simple premise of a demon from Hell who takes the body of a judge and uses it to take the lives of unrepentant murderers she encounters in court. This is all part of her mission, as dictated by the director of Hell, Bael, following what she refers to as "an unfair demotion.”

Google describes the show as a dark-fantasy legal thriller, but there’s also an enemy (kind of) to lovers (definitely) plot line that runs throughout—it’s absolutely swoon-worthy.

The premise alone is brilliant, but with a stacked cast list, all 14 episodes available to stream, and some hilariously executed moments throughout the series, The Judge From Hell should be on your watchlist.

A star-studded cast

The cast list for this series is stacked with big names, and all perfectly fit with their characters. The main two are of course: 

• Park Shin-Hye who plays the icon herself, Kang Bitna — judge from literal hell, modern day judge in the body of the original Kang Bitna and all-round bad-ass.

• Kim Jae-Young who plays Han Daon, the detective, love interest, and victim of the long running serial killer case that lurks in the background of the series.

While these two are incredible on the screen, here are three other standout actors who made the show what it is:

• Kim In-Kwon who plays Koo Mando an assistant of Justitia/Kang Bitna — he is easily one of my favourite characters in the series. Adding a comedic edge as well as a nice contrast to other demons, Mando feels soft-hearted with a hint of demon on the side.

• Kim Ah-Young who plays Lee Arong, another assistant of Justitia/Kang Bitna but with a twist (that is a major spoiler). Never without her pocket knife and always ready to use it, Arong also adds a little spice to the series and is the quintessential demon. 

• Kim Hyun-Mok who plays (angel) Gabriel — his wings are fabulous, and when eating with friends he puts all the fries together in a pile.

Kang Bitna once said…

Kang Bitna captivates with her stunning 300 outfits spread across just 14 episodes, firmly establishing her as an iconic character in the K-drama universe.

But it's not just her style that leaves a mark. Her vibrant energy and unwavering determination make her truly admirable and relatable to fans. K-dramas are celebrated for their powerful scripts and unforgettable lines, and here are some of her most memorable quotes from the series:

• ‘And be good, or you’ll go to hell’ [episode 1]

• ‘Why bring such a small matter to court and make me busier?’ [episode 1]

• ‘Thanks for the cringey introduction… put your stupid wings away, you look way too tacky’ [episode 9]

• ‘Don’t be, I don’t want to be on the same side as you’ [episode 10 - talking to the chief judge, in response to ‘I’m on your side’]

It’s safe to say that this drama is an unforgettable experience that will leave you pondering the deeper meaning of every scene. If you love enemy-to-lovers tropes and fantasy, this series is absolutely for you!

Edited by Dina Yusof.