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“But… why are you going this far for me? I am nothing special.” “I had not thought about it before, but sharing each other’s warmth. This must be what they call love.”

- the first night with the duke episode 1 & 4

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THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE - Episodes 3 & 4 (Thought Dump)

First thought: this is such a romcom with so much anticipation. The 6-day wait is too much for me to handle, and this is where I proved the rewatch value for Episodes 1 and 2 is so high, I couldn't remember how many times a day I watched each episode with full focus and as background noise. I remember the same feeling with The Romance of Tiger & Rose.

And this is a romcom that is aware that it's a romcom - the way that Sunchaek is the one vocal about its cheesy parts and cliches. But it does not turn out as cringe. It's cute as hell! Lee Bun getting more expressive about his obsession while Sunchaek is slowly giving in and falling for him... What a pleasing progression! I also just came to know that this is only 12 episodes long, and being 1/3 of the story already (especially with how Episode 4 ended!) makes it the right amount of pacing. I also noticed that it does not do much or have a lot of scenes in different places i.e. huge part of Episode 3 is only set in one event (the Astral Philosophy Club) instead of hopping around multiple settings and timelines. At the same time, the plague arc didn't last a whole episode! It feels that you are really seeing the daily progression of the story, especially given the limit of episodes. Knowing usual webtoons that try their best to drag around scenes until the ending for the sake of having more episodes.

I am happy that this isn't a love triangle romance, and that Sunchaek is fully committing to being the cupid for her favorite female lead Eun-ae. After admitting to herself she'll fight for her own story, I can wait to see how Eun-ae and Soo-gyeom's relationship will develop.

Here's to another week of waiting for the next episodes!!!

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this is her attempting to act dirty so he’ll dislike her. you can’t see why you failed, sunchaek?

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THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE – Episodes 1 & 2

I haven’t seen anything about this drama or the webtoon (as the Tiktok comments shared). I haven’t even watched any K-drama since The Judge from Hell. But the baits this drama has on me is only two things — an isekai/transmigration trope (it’s my most recent guilty pleasure), and my girl SEO JUHYUN!!!!!!!!! (+2 bonus points for pairing her with taecyeon, and taecyon himself)

My primary thoughts on the first two episodes:

I am coming in blindly on this. I’m not planning to dive on any social media platforms except for Tiktok edits (since this is where I hear the news!) (and except the comments sections in Tiktok too), so all that matters for me is that I am enjoying it. I did have some encounters with dissent that the drama wasn’t faithful to the webtoon. I leave it to the fans of the original piece, but right now, I am good with the flow and I can’t wait to know what happens next.

I do have some thoughts about the second lead guy. Personally, I am hoping for this not to be a love triangle. It would’ve been good if the second lead and the supposed female lead would be a good love story. Maybe this time, the second lead would finally get the girl.

I’m not an avid Taecyeon watcher so I’m not sure about his other characters from before, but I love him as this tsundere character. I am also almost always reminded why he’s one of the 2nd gen Kpop’s best visuals. I also like it that just by the first few episodes we can already see his soft side not just because of his romance with sunchaek but also as a warrior.

I made this post because of my Seohyun. When I saw the drama’s liner, I am still convinced she can still pull off a college student character. She’s ethereal. I can’t help but watch the drama on a bigger screen than my phone because she’s that beautiful. And for the acting chops: this character and genre really suite her. She *is* a lovable main character who is occasionally a menace. When she was trying to convince Bun to break off their engagement with her various ways, I only fell in love with her more! Who wouldn’t?!?!

I do admit this typical creepy and coercion to marry or have a romance is, once again, REJECTABLE in real life and I hate it to my core;;;; but unfortunately for this drama I’ll just, in the meantime, trust the process and flow. I’m curious on what happens next. It’s different because she’s running away because she knows this story was not really for her and someone else, and not because the guy is forcing himself into her for his own selfish reasons. Okay maybe it IS selfish to offer a marriage where you’re the only one who has feelings and all that… okay now that I’m writing it…….

Okay,,, of course there are corny and cheesy scenes. It’s natural for a silly little romcom like this. I dig it! Give me the cringe! The comedy!

I can’t wait for more. I love Seohyun and Taecyeon. They have complementing visuals and cute chemistry.

I also do love the original main lead. I hope she doesn’t turn a villain.

The drama’s still beginning but give Seohyun more sageuk dramas. Why hasn’t she been booking much since Scarlet Heart?!?!?!?! DO YOU NOT SEE THE MATERIAL????

I hate waiting i need all of the episodes stat 😭

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she's sick of the cycle it's getting funny 😭 | cinderella at 2am episode 6

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the judge from hell ending credits what a heartwarming ending. best drama, you will be missed!

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the judge from hell: ending thought dump

i would say i'm insane that the first thought i had when the credits rolled was "where's human bitna's soul???" not because the drama would be better if she shows herself, but because they showed her escaping and just didn't give us any closure. nevertheless, despite this, they gave us such a unique way to justify justitia's stay on her body. not to mention the bael deal (giving her 3 years of vacation before returning) and the cliffhanger lucifer deal (10 sinners killed in a year to be fully human) (we should get a season 2 at this point). the three scenes leading to the ending clearly showed us how her morals changed in the way she was conflicted with her decision about the un-remorseful defendant, to her (VERY BEAUTIFUL) callback on her scene with the children asking her about justice.

they also resolved the serial killing trope really well. the idea already of making the murderers feel how they killed their victims had such a nice build up from the first SA suspect until this serial killer. then when they built the coffin displays for all the victims while J was hanging himself was, in a way, a peaceful closure for the victims. it showed his remorse (despite bitna forcing him to do so), and putting an end to their worries that justice won't be served to him (he escaped, plus the way he told myeongsuk ahjumma that he was eating well inside jail) and he got what he deserved. again, not to mention that in the earlier episode, bitna and her chief judge refused to give in to the assemblymen's pressure to acquit him. i know, justitia has her own firm judgement already. but it made her human anyways.

side note: i found it funny (a bit) that bitna's death scene in episode 13 never fazed me. was this an effect of snowdrop still? jk.

and coming from this - i loved the pay off of every decision and interaction bitna and gabriel had. i already had the vibe initially that every test gabriel gave bitna would be beneficial for her to have more points from God, hence the reincarnation. and the cute scene too at the end - where his new form asked her to treat her to burgers because she promised on her funeral that she'll buy her dinner. the details of this show is very meticulous and i love it.

it was also so heartwarming to show all the victims after two years with the closures they showed. it's also really a good thing that the show only showed around 5 suspects instead of stretching it to how many episodes they have (a lot of law shows do that) so we still get to see everyone.

and, of course - han daon and kang bitna. i loved how much they trusted each other's judgments when it comes to the heavy decisions about their morality. i think this is the best way to show a relationship - or if anyone should pick a partner in the future, it would be with someone who trusts your wisdom to choose what's best for you. and both of them are, in a way, morally good decision makers. not to mention they were both so supportive of each other. daon never gave bitna the burden of giving up her future in hell by not doing the killings. he has his role as a detective, she has her role as a judge. such a nice partnership! and when it comes to their romantic scenes, i'm fine with all the subtle and natural moments that they had. they didn't have any extravagant cliche romance scenes except for the imaginary wedding. the long kiss was also a huge pay off after all the teasing of steamy moments with no kisses, interrupted kisses, the pecks, then we get "[nv] you should kiss me as much as you love me." [!!!!!!!!!!!] damn!

and park shinhye, of course! the best thing that happened to this drama. i apologize as i was a bit doubtful of her. i didn't like how she portrayed cha eunsang in the heirs and now i realized it was just because the writing of her character was so goddamn stale. but like what the director said - if there was an actress who can show her subtle cute style and be an action star villain-main character, it should be her. she showed well how justitia's mentality transitioned from being a full blown demon with no remorse to someone who felt immense sympathy from the victims and han daon's experience, and of course, the girlboss girlfriend vibe.

of course, not everything in this drama is unique. but it is refreshing. it also stresses important messages about justice that should be said especially in this era - the number one rule of justice is the law should not forgive what the victims couldn't. apologizing is an obligation, but forgiveness is not. justitia's trials cover admission of crime, asking for forgiveness to the victims, and remorse for the deed, all three core things that people sometimes forget when cases like murders and such happen. korea should know better after seeing this show. [coughs]

and, as always, we should never waste the potential of kim jaeyoung and park shinhye. GIVE THEM A MOVIE!!!!!

also kim jae young the new korea IT boy lfg

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THANK GOD I'M WRONG

after rewatching episodes 11-12 today i'm sure bitna's still on the illusion spell casted by satan 😭

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after rewatching episodes 11-12 today i'm sure bitna's still on the illusion spell casted by satan 😭

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the judge from hell and the human detective who loved her

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:D T_T

we got romantic & dating scenes in episode 11. now i'm scared of the next episodes. :)

we got a indirect and direct confession, daon wiping off blood from bitna's face after stabbing paimon, daon admitting he's half worried half jealous, daon and bitna tag team against jung sunho, dating scene, bitna's reactions in finally giving in to danoh's compliments...

ain't it always a good sign in the kdrama universe? :D :D :) :/ :| :(

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we got romantic & dating scenes in episode 11. now i'm scared of the next episodes. :)

we got a indirect and direct confession, daon wiping off blood from bitna's face after stabbing paimon, daon admitting he's half worried half jealous, daon and bitna tag team against jung sunho, dating scene, bitna's reactions in finally giving in to danoh's compliments...

ain't it always a good sign in the kdrama universe? :D :D :) :/ :| :(

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i died on the first 3 minutes of this episode

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this is the longest week of my life why is it not friday night yet

(it's already friday midnight korea time as of this writing)

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if evil why baby girl

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the tilted framing/shots with justitia x murderers representing the lady justice scales during her trials and verdict... taste