'The Judge Returns' Hwang Hee has emerged as a "surefire fun character" who delivers top-tier entertainment.
MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Judge Returns' launched a dynamic storyline, and Hwang Hee drew attention the moment he appeared. He transforms into Park Cheol-woo, a blunt and passionate FM prosecutor who is entwined in a bizarre(?) connection with Lee Han-young (Jisung) and has arrived on the small screen for the new year.
So far, Hwang Hee has shown his versatility in various works befitting a "Veteran" of genre pieces. Earlier in the drama 'Love Song For Illusion,' he provoked tense dynamics as a two-faced illegitimate son with twisted desires, and recently in Netflix's 'The Price of Confession' he brought a warm human touch as an officer of duty to a suspenseful narrative, if only briefly. Because of this, viewers were curious to see what kind of performance he would deliver in 'The Judge Returns,' which combines time-slip and courtroom genres.
And episode 2 of 'The Judge Returns' fully showcased Hwang Hee's true worth. His performance, which blended playfulness and seriousness in a character that oscillates between the two, and his seamless chemistry with Jisung that delivered thrills could both be seen.
Park Cheol-woo (played by Hwang Hee) pulled the trigger of curiosity from his very first appearance. He was the very first person Lee Han-young met after returning to 10 years earlier. Everyone began to focus and watch to see in what direction the relationship between the two would flow.
Afterward, Park Cheol-woo elicited both laughter and tension. He happened to meet Lee Han-young in front of the house of Kim Sang-jin (played by Bae In Hyuk), a man sentenced to suspended prison time for attempted theft, and this served as a catalyst that made the story even more interesting.
Their Tom and Jerry–level bickering chemistry spread cheer across the drama, and Park Cheol-woo becoming Lee Han-young's avatar—such as dismantling a window to sneak into Kim Sang-jin's house—hit the comedy button.
Meanwhile, Park Cheol-woo's passionate moments as a prosecutor, dutifully performing his role, raised viewers' heart rates. He chased tirelessly day and night to gather evidence that Kim Sang-jin was a serial killer as a matter of course, and he sprinted full force to avoid missing the opportunity to make an arrest right in front of him, driving the narrative with satisfying energy.
In this way, Hwang Hee stood out as a lead responsible for the diverse pleasures of 'The Judge Returns.' Based on solid acting skills, he deftly delivered character work that ranged from warm to cold. As a result, understanding of the character Park Cheol-woo was deepened.
Moreover, the "refreshing cooperative chemistry" that Hwang Hee paints with Jisung also drew much attention. Since the relationship between the two, which naturally joined hands, is being steadily built up, how it will shine in future episodes has emerged as a point of interest. Expectations are rising for Hwang Hee's performance as he delivers a satisfying blow against great evils alongside Jisung.
The MBC drama 'The Judge Returns,' featuring Hwang Hee, airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] MBC
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