“The Judge Returns” Episodes 1 And 2 Review- Ji Sung Is Back!!!!

Ji Sung is back for the 1^st time since 2024… why did I think it has been longer?

Regardless, we’re happy he’s back. So how was his 1^st drama comeback under MBC since “Kill me, Heal Me”? Lets discuss the good and the bad!

For starters, the drama is somewhat confusing. It has a particularly confusing editing style that tries to cram in as many characters as possible in the little time it has, 1 hour per episode. Additionally, it tries to amp up attention by distorting the timeline and editing in flashbacks and snippets of happenings of the future without giving us enough context that we can use to begin to understand what is what. Overall, it makes for a confusing watching experience that I am not sure that a person who isn’t particularly a fan of the actors involved would find appealing.

Not to say its horribly done, but it screams desperate in a weird way. The thing is, you have some amazing names on this project. Trust the actors and the story to tell it properly without having to use such editing techniques. It feels the editing for the premiere episodes needed to be polished a bit more.

I mean, Its somewhat understandable, MBC is kinda desperate. They’re trying to reclaim the weekend spot which has been overtaken by SBS for some time now. It doesn’t help that Taxi Driver 3 airs in a similar time slot making it far more challenging than it already would’ve been without the stiff competition. However, since Taxi Driver is concluding its run soon, we might see the tide shift in MBC’s favor.

But if we can count on someone to pick an interesting binge-worthy project, its probably Ji Sung. Regardless of what he picks, you can be sure to enjoy your time and get invested even if the script might not make much sense.

So the script is based on a web novel. The idea itself is somewhat repetitive and reminds me a lot of other kdrama premises where someone gets a 2^nd chance to correct horrible stuff they did/had happened in their past and its attached to a legal system. This time, its a judge.

The web novel is being made into a 14 episode drama…. One novel for 14 episodes? This should be interesting and slightly concerning to follow…. I don’t know if the web novel has enough material to fill 14 episodes, but we shall see.

Overall, I’d say the premiere was fun. I didn’t think it was anything particularly special or out of the ordinary, for the most part.

Having said this, Ji Sung’s interpretation of a younger version of himself as a giddy young judge feels a bit off. There are severe exaggerations in certain scenes that, without context, feel almost campy. Suppose it wasn’t Ji Sung. I am not sure I would’ve tolerated the performance the same way, so I am definitely biased in this case.

Two people are directing the drama, and knowing just how talented Ji Sung is, I am leaning towards this being a director’s style above all. I might be wrong, but we shall see. I am, to a point, sure this over-the-top weird energy is behind us for the most part.

I love watching Ji Sung’s performances, and the cast he’s joined by are all amazing actors. I am sure this can become a strong contender for a good start to 2026. Hopefully, it delivers.

So, have you guys seen “The Judge Returns” yet? Any thoughts?