Jisung's relentless, refreshing judgments acted as the core driving force that raised the dopamine of The Judge Returns, and with this week's finale broadcast approaching, attention is focused on what ending it will reach.
MBC Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns (planned by Namgung Seong-woo, Chang Jae-hoon, written by Kim Kwang-min, directed by Lee Jae-jin and Park Mi-yeon) is gaining momentum until the end with the judicial branch's all-time "ddolpan" Lee Han-young (played by Jisung) and his shocking actions. We looked back at the decisive moments of Lee Han-young that thrilled viewers, who ranked the show overwhelmingly first in Friday-Saturday drama ratings for four consecutive weeks.
#there is no mercy! Lee Han-young's insane spirit of pushing a serial killer into a car!
Lee Han-young, who faced an unjust death, returned 10 years ago to preside over the trial of defendant Kim Sang-jin (played by Bae In Hyuk) when he was a sole judge at the Chungnam District Court. Because Kim Sang-jin had been caught as an attempted thief, Lee Han-young had no choice but to sentence him to probation, but knowing the reality that Kim Sang-jin was a serial killer, Lee Han-young vowed to catch him. Seeking to break the chain of evil, Lee Han-young finally spotted Kim Sang-jin and shouted, "I sentence the murderer Kim Sang-jin to death. Carry out," as he firmly pressed the accelerator. When Kim Sang-jin collapsed onto the cold road and the punishment of evil was carried out, viewers felt an exhilarating catharsis.
#pressure from the powerful? Useless against runaway locomotive Lee Han-young! military service corruption ledger opened!
Needing a breakthrough to go to Seoul, Lee Han-young obtained a ledger of military service corruption involving the children of political and legal figures and decided to use it. The ledger even included the son of the person Kang Shin-jin (played by Park Hee-soon) wanted to install as a puppet chief justice. Faced with Kim Jin-han's (played by Jeong Hee-tae) subtle threat to hand over the ledger, Lee Han-young replied, "You could form a cabinet with the people listed in the ledger. Wouldn't it be easy to get a ticket to Seoul if you asked any of them?" Then, before the villains could act, Lee Han-young held a press conference to expose the ledger, humiliating the great evil, and with that he secured his entry to the Seoul Central District Court, catching two birds with one stone.
#excavator punishment for the sinkhole incident's main culprit & relentless tightening of the villains' throats until the end!
Lee Han-young maximized the charm of the "ddolpan" by taking private punishment into his own hands. Chasing the car of Chu Yong-jin (played by Lee Jang-won), the head of Nam-myeon district office and the main culprit in the Nam-myeon sinkhole incident, Lee Han-young deliberately caused an accident and dragged him to a quarry, and at the bereaved family's request that he kill Chu Yong-jin, he shouted, "Defendant Chu Yong-jin! I sentence you to death!" and tried to lift a huge rock with an excavator to pour it on him. The execution was stopped by the family's persuasion, but Lee Han-young tightened the villain's throat by appearing at Chu Yong-jin's trial in person. Watching Chu Yong-jin receive a sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of 5 billion won, Lee Han-young's sharp gaze gave viewers vicarious satisfaction.
#Lee Han-young's perfect scheme to bring down the great evil's financier!
Lee Han-young deceived Lee Seong-dae (played by Jo Sang-gi), who managed the great evil's operating funds, and embezzled 3 billion won of dark money. But when Lee Seong-dae learned the whole story of the case and tried to reveal the truth to Kang Shin-jin, he was in danger. At that time, Lee Han-young cornered Lee Seong-dae by reciting his daughter's account number and asking, "What do you think would happen if 3 billion won were deposited into this account right away? Aren't you curious what expression chief Kang Shin-jin would make if he found out?" In addition, Lee Han-young summoned his "reliable backer" Baek Yi-seok (played by Kim Tae Woo) and presented documents containing records of trial transactions and illicit solicitations to Lee Seong-dae, securing a satisfying victory.
Thus, The Judge Returns is enjoying sustained popularity into the late part of the series thanks to protagonist Lee Han-young's big plays. With only two episodes left until the finale, anticipation is building over what ending Lee Han-young, who was reborn from a corrupt judge into a dark hero, will show.
MBC Friday-Saturday drama The Judge Returns episodes 13 and 14 will be extended by 10 minutes and broadcast at 9:40 p.m. on the 13th (Fri) and 14th (Sat).
[photo] provided by MBC
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