Premiering on January 2, The Judge Returns is a fantasy justice drama that follows Judge Lee Han-young (played by Ji Sung), a man once trapped as a pawn of a powerful law firm. After regressing ten years into the past, he is given a second chance to make different choices and punish entrenched evil, delivering cathartic justice along the way.

Boasting a cast of trusted actors including Ji Sung and Park Hee-soon, expectations were particularly high for Ji Sung. The drama marks his return to an MBC series nearly a decade after his Daesang-winning performance in Kill Me, Heal Me, making his comeback especially symbolic.

The series did not explode out of the gate, debuting with ratings in the 4% range. However, as episodes progressed, word of mouth steadily grew. The real turning point came after the conclusion of SBS’s hit rival drama Taxi Driver 3, which had dominated the same time slot.

On the episode aired January 16, The Judge Returns finally broke into double-digit ratings, solidifying its upward momentum. Since then, the drama has consistently maintained strong numbers without significant dips, signaling stable viewer loyalty.

This success is particularly meaningful given MBC’s recent struggles with its Friday–Saturday dramas, many of which failed to generate major buzz last year. Against that backdrop, The Judge Returns has clearly established its presence and revived confidence in the time slot.

Ji Sung’s role in this resurgence has been especially noteworthy. At the drama’s press conference last month, he jokingly but boldly remarked, “I hope we hit 50% ratings,” drawing laughter from the room. While the show hasn’t reached that lofty figure, critics and viewers agree that his words were far from empty bravado.

Instead, Ji Sung has delivered a commanding performance that helped breathe life back into MBC’s primetime dramas, earning praise for both his acting and the show’s gripping narrative.

As The Judge Returns heads toward its conclusion with four episodes left, attention is now focused on whether it can maintain its momentum and finish strong potentially marking a full-fledged revival for MBC’s Friday–Saturday drama lineup. The series airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m. on MBC.

Sources: Naver