Juvenile Justice Cancelled by Netflix After First Season: Here’s Why

29.01.2023 - 20:26

K-drama series Juvenile Justice, which debuted on Netflix in 2022, was canceled after just one season. Both viewers and critics had conflicting opinions of the program, which focused on a group of adolescent juvenile offenders and the hardworking staff who work at the juvenile detention facility.

Juvenile Justice's demise shocked many viewers who had grown close to the characters and the nuanced topics it covered. The show addressed serious issues like violence, poverty, and the shortcomings of the juvenile justice system, but it also found moments of resiliency and optimism in the interactions between the characters.

Juvenile Justice Plot Recap

Juvenile Justice tells the tale of a stern, restrained judge and follows her when, much to her surprise, she is chosen to preside over a juvenile court in the Yeonhwa District.

Disclaimer: This section contains lots of spoilers. You may read on your own discretion.

Eun-Seok has acquired the moniker 'Judge Max'' as a result of her relentless pursuit of the harshest penalties for the criminals she hears. The story starts when she is appointed to a juvenile court in Yeonwha; from that point on, a flood of cases and corresponding rulings come her way.

She meets Cha Tae-Joo, a coworker, who is utterly unrelated to her in terms of temperament or demeanor. These capable individuals handle teen-related juvenile issues together. Judge Kang is a senior colleague of hers, although he seems more focused on his political future.

In the meantime, we observe a gathering of demonstrators criticizing the juvenile rules for being too lax and fostering the rise in juvenile crimes. This serves as a fuel source for Eun-animosity Seok's young offenders.

13-year-old Baek Seong-u is charged with the horrible, savage murder of an 8-year-old. He is unconcerned because he thinks he will get away with it thanks to the juvenile regulations in Korea. He also exudes a sense of mental instability. It turns out that Ye-Eun, a girl who is seen and pursued by Eun-Seok, is his collaborator. The former is surrounded.

Ye-Eun is transported to the center while numerous courtroom exchanges and backstage discussions are broadcast. Ye-Eun also appears to be suffering from a mental illness. In the meantime, the mother of the 8-year-old victim begs Eun-Seok for forgiveness. Ye-Eun, who appears to be the real ringleader, is sentenced to 20 years in prison while Seong-u is placed on 10-year probation.

The two begin working on Yu-case Ri's when she stumbles into the courtroom. She is promptly transported to a hospital on the assumption that she has been assaulted. When Eun-Seok goes to the salon where Yu-ri worked, she learns that there is a man there who Yu-ri appeared to see but later identified as a parent with anger management issues. She also appears to be ensnared in a loop of stealing and prostitution. Something seems off.

Yu-ri is detained by Eun-Seok for relatively minor offenses in an effort to prosecute her violently abusive father. He tries to attack his mother—grandmother—in Yuri's courtroom. Tae-Ju makes an effort to strangle him out of rage.

The following case requires the duo to investigate the Pureum Home for Girls, where O Seon-Ja, the proprietor, is allegedly abusing the residents. As she worked to create the institutions, she appears to have been a victim of the same horrors. In an odd turn of events, Seon-Ja pays for Yu-operation Gyeong's despite the fact that she is the victim herself. A-Reum, a daughter of Seon-Ja, is the one who fabricated the false report without considering the repercussions. All of the girls are now free.

After learning about Yeon-Ji, the leader, the couple is now prepared to search for the girls. Locked inside a hotel room, she appears to be in a difficult situation. Eun-Seok saves them from harm. Meanwhile, Seon-ja consoles Yeong-Na after she is battered by her mother's boyfriend.

In the following young person's case, it appears that the infamous organization 'Descartes' leaked a paper from a top institution. Sin-u, Kang's son, is involved in it! Kang is incensed as the police knock on their door. He threatened his son for getting good marks, which exposes his abusive parenting style. Kang is compelled to give up his political career and surrender. His new replacement is Geun-hee.

We then encounter Do-Seok, a man with a phony ID who is driving an SUV. He causes the death of a motorcyclist in an accident. The two get their hands on a video showing Do-Seok being beaten by some boys and going into a vegetative state as a result. The boys' parents rejoice as the gang is released without additional proof.

Eun-Seok is also given a case of gang rape, with Hwang In-jun as the offender. She quickly begins to cry, indicating that there is a connection to her past. In the meantime, Seon-a, the rape victim, suggests that one of the men who molested her might actually be Do-Hyeon (In-friend), jun's rather than In-jun, out of possible fear. Her mother-in-law slaps Eun-Seok in front of everyone.

Juvenile Justice Ending Explained

Do-Hyeon turns revealed to be the leader of the gang that rapes girls in broad daylight, films the incident, and then makes money by selling the video. Eun-Seok is checking into the possibility that In-jun is also participating, and she appears to have a reason for doing so. She coerces Tae- Ju, who is still in mourning over Do-Seok, to divulge Do-whereabouts.

Eun-Seok pokes about Do-Hyeon's and discovers a ton of information that points to his gang's criminal activity. He manages to catch her. He stabs Eun-Seok in the shoulder during the tense fight that ensues, only to have her attack him with a brick. They are stopped by the Police as he tries to choke her. Do-Hyeon is taken into custody as Eun-Seok is taken to the courthouse for treatment of her injuries.

Using the evidence, Tae-Ju is able to coerce additional preparators into confessing, leading to their arrest and punishment (including In-jun). Seon-a begs for her regular life to return as she sobs.

History of Eun-seok

Eun-contempt seek's for young offenders is validated. She began crying when she learned about In-jun since he was to blame for the passing of her late son. He had Do-Hyeon with him at the time.

They deliberately threw a brick from the roof of their school, which struck Eun-son. Seok's The only thing that persisted after his sudden death was Eun-ongoing Seok's animosity toward juvenile offenders. She erupted in rage at the thought that they had a real punishment.

While some argue that giving kids the right love and care can help them choose a different path, Eun-Seok thinks they will never change. She maintains the same position she had at first, with the exception that she is now prepared to be objective and more understanding.

The Atonement of Geun-hee

Eun-Seok's motives have been questioned by Geun-hee, Kang's replacement. She thinks Eun-involvement Seok's in the gang rape case is a result of her animus toward the preparator. In an effort to get the case off her plate, she even handles it poorly.

She tries to reassign the case to another judge after being confronted by Eun-Seok about her actions and threats to take public action against her wrongdoing. However, she recognizes her error when she digs deeper into the case. When Eun-Seok learns about her background, she apologizes and consoles her. She even consents to Tae-Ju using the evidence to further apprehend the preparators as a sign of good faith.

Final Words

While some viewers have voiced disappointment about the show's cancellation, others are sympathetic to the practical considerations. Netflix is renowned for its data-driven programming strategy and will cancel shows that don't fare well, even if they have fervent fan groups. Juvenile Justice may have had trouble drawing a sizable enough audience to support its continued production.

Juvenile Justice had a brief run, but it had a big impact on those who watched it. Important discussions regarding the juvenile justice system and the need for reform have been spurred by the program's nuanced portrayal of young offenders and the difficulties they encounter. The actors and crew ought to be pleased with the effort they put out and the effect they had on the audience.

Even though it's always disappointing when a show is cancelled, it's vital to keep in mind that this is how the entertainment business operates. Fans of Juvenile Justice can rest easy knowing that their favorite program has had a long-lasting influence on the way Netflix creates and distributes new content for its viewers.