The first two episodes of the new SBS drama The Judge From Hell premiered last night to superb ratings.
So much so, if the Kdrama’s ratings continue like this throughout its run, it could end up being one of the biggest SBS hits of 2024.
That is because, according to the latest data via Nielsen Korea, The Judge From Hell, Episode 1 garnered 6.8 percent of the nationwide audience share when the Korean drama premiered, while Episode 2, which aired in the time slot right after it, grabbed a much higher 9.3 percent of the viewership.
The fantasy legal drama also fared just as well with audiences in Seoul where it grabbed a rating of 7.2 percent for its first episode, followed by an even higher 9.8 percent for Episode 2.
Granted, it is a little odd that the second episode performed even better than the first. But it is still a good indicator that airing episodes of a new Kdrama back-to-back on a weekend evening might just be a ratings winner.
Especially as the first two episodes of The Judge From Hell performed much better than the first two episodes of other 2024 SBS dramas My Demon, Flex X Cop and Connection — all of which went on to be big hits for the Korean TV network.
Please note too that, on a normal weekend, The Judge From Hell would normally air on Friday and Saturday evenings on SBS in South Korea but, as two episodes premiered last night, the next episode will release next Friday, September 27th.
The Judge from Hell details
The Judge From Hell stars Park Shin Hye (Doctor Slump) and Kim Jae Young (Love in Contract), alongside the excellent cast of Kim In Kwon, Kim Hye Hwa, Lee Joong Ok, and Choi Dong Goo.
My Drama List explains the Kdrama’s plot like this:
Kang Bit Na is an elite judge with a beautiful appearance, but she is a demon. Her mission as a demon is to kill evil people who lead other people to their deaths and don’t reflect on their actions. She sends these people to Hell afterwards.
One day, Kang Bit Na meets Han Da On. He has a friendly and gentle personality. As a detective, his mind is sharp and he has a keen sense of observation. But he carries pain inside that nobody knows about.
After Kang Bit Na and Han Da On meet, their lives change greatly.
You can currently watch the first two episodes of The Judge From Hell outside South Korea via Disney +.