The Judge from Hell- Episodes 7-8
Episodes 7 and 8 of The Judge from Hell bring the drama to a boiling point, blending murder, mystery, emotional confrontations, and supernatural justice in a way that leaves you on the edge of your seat. As Bitna’s cold exterior continues to crack, and Daon edges closer to the truth, their complicated relationship takes center stage—along with new revelations and tragic twists that shift the story into high gear.
The episode kicks off with a tense confrontation. A killer attacks a woman in the street, but Myeongsuk intervenes just in time, forcing the attacker to flee. Detective Kim Soyeong suspects a connection to a past case and, shielding Daon from the emotional toll, visits his parents' mausoleum. She decides to take the case into her own hands, leaving Daon out of the loop—for now.
Meanwhile, Bitna finds herself at the center of controversy as the backlash against her controversial rulings intensifies online. Yet, she remains indifferent, shrugging off Chief Na’s warnings to keep her distance from high-profile cases. Rumors about Arong being Satan in disguise are spreading, but Bitna dismisses them, chalking them up to gossip. Her indifference vanishes, however, when she helps a schoolgirl named Dahui fend off bullies—only to discover the girl is Soyeong’s daughter.
This chance encounter forces Daon to confront Bitna that night. Consumed by guilt over his parents' deaths and grappling with his feelings for his adopted sister Dahui, Daon demands answers from Bitna about her hot-and-cold demeanor. Her cryptic reply stuns him: "If you'd killed anyone, you'd already be in Hell." The conversation takes an unexpected turn when a drunken Daon tries to flirt with her, and Bitna, momentarily caught off guard, helps him to bed—only to find an empty drink can stashed in his wardrobe, confirming that he’s collecting evidence against her.
Bitna’s fury is short-lived, however. Instead of punishing Daon, she spares him—a decision that leaves Arong and Mando bewildered. Arong begins to suspect that Bitna’s leniency might have something to do with forbidden emotions. Could love be creeping into the heart of Hell’s judge?
While Bitna wrestles with her conflicting feelings, the show introduces a sinister new character: CEO Choi Wonjoong. Beneath his polished public image lies a sadistic streak, as he tortures a strike leader with golf balls before dumping him on the roadside. With Mr. Won missing for days, his family desperately seeks help. But when the Hell clean-up crew gets involved, the case takes an eerie turn—especially when Won's body is found hanging in the woods, staged as a suicide.
Despite the mounting evidence against Wonjoong, the police’s hands are tied due to the CEO’s influence. Daon is determined to bring him to justice, but Bitna has her own plans. She meets with Daon at a café, where he offers her a can of Coke—only for her to scoff and walk away, still refusing to let him sway her from her chosen path.
As the trial approaches, Bitna makes a shocking ruling: Wonjoong is sentenced to just one year in prison, two years probation, and community service. The victim's family is devastated, but Bitna remains composed—though it’s clear that the emotional weight of the case is starting to get to her.
But Bitna isn’t done with Wonjoong yet. That night, she lures him to an amusement park, unleashing Hell beasts to torment him. With a smile on her face, she corners him in a Ferris wheel and stabs him with her demonic blade, sending him straight to Hell.
Unbeknownst to her, Daon was one step ahead—planting a tracker on her during their earlier hug. He records the entire event, capturing proof of her supernatural execution. When Bitna realizes what he’s done, she demands the phone. But Daon throws sulfur powder—temporarily freezing her powers—and arrests her.
Before Daon can take her in, however, they receive an urgent call: Soyeong has been found dead. The scene is brutal, marked with the signature "J" of the serial killer responsible for Daon’s family’s murder. Grief-stricken, Daon races to the crime scene, leaving Bitna tied to the Ferris wheel.
When Daon returns to confront her, emotions explode. He’s desperate for vengeance, begging Bitna to hunt down and kill the elusive serial killer. Bitna, however, refuses—knowing that once Daon’s soul is tainted by revenge, there will be no saving him. In a heartbreaking moment, Daon promises to let her kill him after they catch the killer.
As Bitna walks away, something unexpected happens: tears begin streaming down her face. For the first time, Hell’s judge feels the weight of human emotion—a shift that shocks even her. Daon witnesses her tears, and in that moment, both realize that their lives are now more entangled than ever before.
With Bitna’s emotions spiraling and the serial killer still at large, the stakes have never been higher. Will Daon’s thirst for vengeance push him beyond redemption? And can Bitna hold onto her role as judge—or will love pull her into a dangerous spiral of humanity?
These two episodes deliver everything: tension, romance, supernatural intrigue, and emotional depth. With Bitna’s icy demeanor finally cracking and Daon teetering on the edge of darkness, The Judge from Hell continues to up the ante, leaving viewers eagerly awaiting the next twist in this gripping, unpredictable tale.
DramaZen's Opinion
A Meeting of Good and Evil: Where The Judge from Hell Takes Us Next
This week’s episodes leave us with two characters—once polar opposites—now converging somewhere in the moral grey zone. Bitna, Hell’s ruthless judge, has begun to show subtle but meaningful growth, gradually softening the longer she stays among humans. Her connection to Daon seems to be the catalyst for this change, and while it was a bit surprising to see her cry so soon, it makes sense. Faced with Daon’s raw emotion, her tears feel instinctive—a glimpse of the human heart she’s slowly discovering within herself.
On the flip side, Daon’s sudden shift from law-abiding detective to revenge-fueled partner-in-crime feels rushed. Up to now, he’s been written as the epitome of lawful good, stubbornly clinging to his moral compass despite dealing with literal demons. To suddenly see him abandon his ideals after Soyeong’s death feels like the writers hit the "death-of-a-loved-one" trope button a little too hard. Don’t get me wrong—I'm all for Daon teaming up with Bitna to take down murderers instead of foolishly trying to arrest her. But I wish his character development had evolved as steadily and organically as Bitna’s, instead of flipping the switch so abruptly.
As we move toward next week’s episodes, the direction of the story feels uncertain. While the emotional arcs are compelling, I can’t help but hope the writers start tying up the dangling plot threads. What happened to human Bitna, who is still languishing in Hell because of a clerical error? And where’s the follow-up on the Satan-Kylum side quest, which seemed so important last week? Then there’s Bitna’s shady ex-fiancé and his father, whose ongoing appearances keep reminding us of their villainy without adding much new. The redevelopment scheme is clearly still in play, but it’s high time the writers move beyond “rich jerks doing rich jerk things” and start giving us real plot progression.
Less weekly gore, more story, please! I love the dark themes and brutal justice, but it’s time for the narrative to start delivering on the setup—especially with so many intriguing threads left hanging. I’m eager to see how Bitna’s evolving humanity plays out and whether Daon can hold onto his soul in the process, but I need more than just shock value. Give us answers, give us resolution—and maybe a little less carnage while you’re at it.