Drama Digest
A public defender, Park Taeyong, goes the unconventional route to become a lawyer. A very empathetic and mostly just man, he also defends petty offenders. His career hits its turning point when he wins a general criminal retrial case.
Park Sam Soo, a reporter, is an incredible writer who has a penchant for going after overlooked stories. Although he has inspired a considerable number of people with his dedication and his empathetic journalism, his earnings are not enough to support him financially. Working alongside Sam Soo is Lee Yoo Kyung, a rookie who comes from a wealthy family and is brave and just. When Sam Soo and Yoo Kyung witness Tae Yong’s retrial, they are highly moved and driven to bring retributive justice as Tae Yong does.
The Feel-Good Part
The best part of the show is undoubtedly the dynamic between Tae Yong and Sam Soo and their “bromance”. Their camaraderie is fun to watch, and the actors’ screen presence contributes a lot to it. Having veteran actors who know how to ace their performances favors the show undoubtedly. A court drama that is so empathetic and emotional can be too overbearing and preachy if done wrong, but Delayed Justice manages to stay on track and true to its goals. The ensemble cast adds to the spark of the show and does not disappoint.
The Disappointing Factor
The show focuses on one particular case for too long, and it becomes boring after a while. The drama would have been more cohesive and coherent if it was condensed to around 15 episodes and not 20. A lot of the plot development in the last half of the show seemed rushed and unnecessary, like the creators did it just for the sake of meeting the 20-episode mark. The plot is also very unevenly spread out over the episodes, making the entire drama very disproportionate. The finale is a little underwhelming, and there was potential for more.
In-Depth Analysis
This show is a commendable addition to the list of courtroom k-dramas, despite its flaws. Although it does drag out a little towards the end and has the series of events spread out throughout the show pretty disproportionately, the writer manages to create a show that checks the boxes of the goals they set out to meet. The actors deliver solid performances, and although a replacement of a lead actor takes place towards the end, we can barely feel a difference in the quality of acting. It also highlights some critical social issues and shows the perspective of people wrongfully accused.
Star Power
Kwon Sang Woo, Bae Sung Woo and later Jung Woo Sung do a great job in their respective roles. Their experience is clearly visible in their performances and lends to their on screen character personalities a certain charm and gravity.
Overall Opinion
If you are looking for a recent courtroom drama to binge on, this is a perfect one for you.
