Jisung's fiery passion for acting is driving the box-office success of The Judge Returns.
MBC's Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns (developed by Namgung Seong-woo, Chang Jae-hoon / written by Kim Kwang-min / directed by Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon / produced by OH Story, Slingshot Studio) has completely dominated living-room screens and continues its runaway solo run. The Judge Returns recorded ratings of 14.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 13.5% nationwide for its ninth episode (Nielsen Korea), breaking its own record for highest ratings once again. In addition, it has consistently ranked high in the TV-OTT drama category and the drama cast buzz category, cementing its status as a dominant Friday-Saturday drama.
At the center of The Judge Returns' box-office storm is Jisung, who stars as Lee Han-young. The Lee Han-young he plays sheds a stained past as a corrupt judge and, in his newly gained second life, moves forward to uphold justice.
So far Jisung has shown strength across a variety of genres. Because of this, there was intense anticipation even before the first broadcast about what fun and charm his return-to-life courtroom story would offer. Now that the drama has entered its second half, Jisung is once again displaying the prowess befitting the label "an actor you can trust," which appears before his name.
In the early episodes Jisung depicted the 2035 version of Lee Han-young to fit the setting of "a servant judge of a huge law firm" who obediently submits to power. His eyes, which chose to accept the unfair reality imposed on him, were always hollow, and his cold, hardened face betrayed no emotion. Through a variety of detailed touches, Jisung compellingly conveyed the character's feelings of powerlessness and the fleeting agony and sorrow experienced at a tragic end, signaling the start of an engaging storyline.
Later, Jisung portrayed the Lee Han-young who is given a second chance at life in a completely different way, drawing admiration from viewers. When he exacts punishment on evil according to his plan, it delivers a thrilling pleasure, and the one-team, refreshing play he unfolds with the "pan-vengers" to achieve the single goal of implementing justice amplifies the genre's exhilaration. Because of this, viewers have been swept up in the rapid developments and many have said they are eagerly awaiting the next episode.
In particular, Jisung's unmistakable masterful acting shone again this time. He not only carefully pinpointed the moments when Lee Han-young's thoughts and feelings change amid the fast-moving story, but also three-dimensionally expressed those changes, strengthening the character's narrative.
After behind-the-scenes photos showing Jisung on the set of The Judge Returns were released, attention turned to the presence of the "acting craftsman" who has captured weekend nights. He read scripts seriously at every moment, and during breaks he meticulously monitored and actively exchanged opinions with the production team to create a highly polished result, showing dedication on many fronts. This side of Jisung lets viewers feel the passion hidden behind the drama's landmark scenes.
Jisung is completing another career-defining role. His sincere affection for the work has placed The Judge Returns among well-made dramas, and anticipation is at a peak over how his performances in the remaining episodes will raise viewers' heart rates.
The Jisung-led MBC series The Judge Returns' episode 11 will air on the 6th (Fri) at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] Surpass ENT
[OSEN]