Jisung confirmed the true face of power and was shaken.
On the 31st (Sat), episode 10 of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns (planning Namgung Seong-woo, Chang Jae-hoon / screenplay Kim Gwang-min / directing Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon / production OH Story, Slingshot Studio) saw Lee Han-young (played by Jisung) pull his nemesis Hwang Nam-yong (played by Kim Myungsoo) down from the post of supreme court justice and enter Suojae, the heart of power, where he witnessed the ugly truth and delivered a shocking ending. That day's ratings recorded 11.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area households and 10.9% nationwide on Nielsen Korea, ranking first among dramas in the same time slot.
In particular, the scene in which Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon) calls Hwang Nam-yong and says, "Your son will have to pay the price. I will arrange for the supreme court justice to receive an investigation without detention and a suspended sentence. Of course, it must never reach Suojae through a deal with me," rose to a peak minute rating of 14.9% nationwide on Nielsen Korea, proving the intense interest in the broadcast. Moreover, reflecting changes in media consumption, the key channel competitiveness indicator for viewers aged 20-54 was 4.1%, ranking first among all programs aired that day and securing overall first place across Friday and Saturday, once again cementing its dominance in the weekend prime-time lineup.
Yesterday's broadcast highlighted Lee Han-young's meticulous brain play. Han-young deliberately leaked information to Ma Gang-gil (played by Kim Young-pil) a few days before the prosecution's raid on "Miracle Asia" so that Lee Seong-dae (played by Jo Sang-gi) could not find the con man. He also set up a new office for "Miracle Asia," lured Seong-dae and succeeded in siphoning off 3 billion won. Realizing too late that he had been scammed, Seong-dae was cornered when he received a call from Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon) telling him to donate 300 million won to a foundation in the name of Hwang Nam-yong.
Kang Shin-jin maintained a consistently composed attitude even though Hwang Nam-yong's son stood trial before Lee Han-young. Rather, Kang Shin-jin used allegations of hiring irregularities as leverage to demand illegal political funding files on current and former presidents and members of the National Assembly from Hwang Nam-yong. He preyed on Hwang Nam-yong's greed, who had his eye on the post of chief justice. Kang Shin-jin's beast-like gaze as he revealed his ambition made viewers feel chills. At the same time, Han-young added to the tension by realizing that Kang Shin-jin had handed over documents about Hwang Nam-yong's son's hiring irregularities to get what he wanted.
Lee Han-young received documents from Kang Shin-jin showing a collusion between Hwang Nam-yong and ES Group's Jang Tae-sik (played by Kim Beom-rae) and a statement from the father of Kim Jin-a (played by Won Jin-a) that had framed his daughter into an unjust prison sentence. Following Kang Shin-jin's instructions, Lee Han-young visited Hwang Nam-yong and, suppressing his boiling anger, secured the USB containing the illegal political funding files. But when Hwang Nam-yong told him to deliver a not-guilty verdict, Lee Han-young's rage exploded; he slapped him and snapped, "Take off that robe that doesn't suit you right now." Lee Han-young's frank blow, heedless of rank, gave viewers a cathartic release.
Meanwhile, Kang Shin-jin's suspicion reached its peak because the only people who knew about the 3 billion won that Lee Seong-dae had were himself, Lee Han-young and Kim Jin-han (played by Jeong Hee-tae). Kang Shin-jin tested whether Lee Han-young had opened the USB Hwang Nam-yong had given him, but Lee Han-young passed over it and breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Lee Han-young opened up about old feelings with his father Lee Bong-seok (played by Jeong Jae-seong). Using alcohol, he brought up how Bong-seok had pretended not to know him during past ES Group redevelopment protests, but his father defended him. Lee Han-young's sincere repentance moved viewers to tears and left a deep impression. At the same time, Kim Jin-a learned that Jang Tae-sik had moved her father to a VIP ward and rushed to the convalescent hospital. She flatly rejected Jang Tae-sik's proposal to be friendly, further fueling her desire for revenge.
Back Yi-seok (played by Kim Tae Woo) and Im Jeong-sik (played by Kim Byung-chun), who had been disappointed in Lee Han-young, heard his true intention to catch Kang Shin-jin and joined forces. Lee Han-young revealed to them that former President Park Gwang-to (played by Son Byung-ho) stood behind Kang Shin-jin, and succeeded in persuading Back Yi-seok to be the next chief justice candidate. With the formidable support group 'Chungnamz' rejoining, the balance of power was expected to be violently shaken. However, Lee Han-young could not escape Kim Jin-han's sharp suspicion. Kim Jin-han learned that on the day Lee Seong-dae was robbed of 3 billion won, Lee Han-young and Park Cheol-woo (played by Hwang Hee) had a phone call. In addition, Kang Shin-jin moved his subordinate killer Kwak Sun-won (played by Park Geon Il) to stage Hwang Nam-yong's son's death as a suicide.
Having earned Kang Shin-jin's trust, Lee Han-young heard the contents of the USB from him and even received the pitch, "I want to use this power with you." But the condition for entering Suojae was that Hwang Nam-yong's son be acquitted. Thinking Kang Shin-jin would target Hwang Nam-yong's son, Lee Han-young saved him a step ahead and warned that he would continue to be under death threats. Hwang Nam-yong's son then held a press conference to confess his wrongdoing, and Hwang Nam-yong ultimately submitted his resignation. With the current chief justice also stepping down, saying the judiciary's honor had been tarnished, the presidential office recommended Back Yi-seok as the next chief justice, and the big picture Lee Han-young had sketched was put into place.
At the end of the broadcast, Lee Han-young finally stepped into Suojae, the stronghold of power, together with Kang Shin-jin. Witnessing black money for special activity expenses being poured into a bathtub, Han-young froze. While inwardly thinking, "Crazy bastards," and burning with a sense of justice, Han-young outwardly pretended to go along, and the ending featured his performance. Viewers were left on edge, wondering what his next step would be after witnessing the reality of power.
Immediately after the broadcast, viewers reacted enthusiastically, saying, "The Panvengers team play is so good," "Park Hee-soon renewed the all-time villain character. It's completely chilling," "Why is Jisung making me cry today?" "Isn't asking Han-young to go to Suojae together basically a proposal?" "A drama that's so gripping you can't let go of the tension," and "The scale of the show is so huge my dopamine is through the roof."
MBC's Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns episode 11 will air on Fri, the 6th at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] Photo provided by MBC Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns
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