A comedic and historical, slightly LGBTQ romance with enemies to lovers vibes that hits the spot.
Although I initially came into watching ‘Mr Queen’ with expectations of a comedy drama it definitely wasn’t just that. It was overall hilarious but also came with action elements I didn’t initially expect (and also a history lesson I didn’t know I needed). The storyline kept me on my toes and I enjoyed how most characters were relateable even if slightly evil at times (looking at you Byeong-in). However the acting was what took the cake and yet again Shin Hye-sun delivered on every front. 🫰Despite it being amazing I couldn’t help but feel unsatisfied with the ending despite it being happy, but I think this is what I get for going into the drama expecting mainly romance (and an ending that fed into gay ideals that kdramas aren’t ready to focalise just yet). The only thing that dropped the drama from a 9 is going to be the small pang in my heart whenever I think about bong-hwan and Cheoljong :( the true soulmates of the show.
p.s. I would also have liked to find out what happened to hong yeons love life but I guess that’s being left up to our imaginations lol.
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When I first read the synopsis of this show, I wasn't overly excited about it but I thought I'd like to watch it eventually.... like maybe AFTER all the episodes had been released. I think curiosity got the best of me and I finally started it after the 10th episode had been released.Well.... that was it for me. Episode 1 hooked me, line and sinker! It was funny and different and completely unpredictable. I loved it. The only problem I ran into was binge-watching those first ten episodes and then having to wait until the next episodes were released!)
Even the opening credits were fun to watch. I ALWAYS hit the fast forward button through opening credits (except on the very first episode of a series). But I liked the opening music of this series and I loved the artistic torn-paper mosaic animation. Confession: I watched the whole opening credits for probably 18 of the 20 episodes.
This series was captivating.... the characters AND the story. The growth of the characters through the episodes was moving. I even got goosebumps in episode 20 when Cheoljong was reprimanding the group of officials for their crimes. (I've never gotten goosebumps from a scene like that.)
Honestly, I've been binge-watching Korean shows for a year and have seen LOTS. But I think this one is probably in my top three for favorites. Completely unexpected. I NEVER imagined this show would be satsifying to watch - it had everything I never knew I wanted in a show (good music, great credits, great characters who actually grew with the story, good and unexpected plot twists among a solid plot to begin with, action, romance, lots of unexpected hilarity, heart-wrenching emotion...).
Is it worth watching? Absolutely. And not just once. I'm adding it to my "watch again" list!
A quick note of kudos to the Viki subtitlers: thank you so much for the English subtitles (and for taking the extra time to note the translations of written titles and cultural notes). As a North American with zero Korean connections, it was really helpful to learn a bit more about historical Korean references. I would have never known those otherwise and it definitely added to the good experience of this show.
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Am I the only one who was disappointed?
What I enjoyed- Bong Hwan/So Yong was by far the best part of this drama for me
- the theme song was fantastic! I found myself getting so excited whenever it started playing
- whenever the Queen was in the kitchen
- Hong Yeon and Lady in waiting Choi, I became very attached to them
- Shin Hye Sun's acting!!!
What I didn't like
- how political it became a little over half way through
- the relationship between Jo Hwa Jin and Kim So Yong. I personally am very tired of seeing two women fighting over a man. I feel like that trope is extremely overused and that something else would've been fine to use as conflict.
the first bit was my favourite. It was funny and lighthearted but around episode 11 it started to get more and more politically focused and pulled me out of the story. I found myself skipping through a lot of the political bits and am now relieved that it's over. I am really surprised that this is my reaction because I was very much anticipating this. My favourite part was definitely the Shin Hye Sun's acting. She was so good and I can't wait to check out her other works!
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Mr. Queen has some of the funniest physical comedy I've ever seen. The story has layers of romance, heartbreak, political power plays, friendship, humor, adventure, LGBTQ connotations, and a bit of a supernatural element with bodyswap/time travel. I really enjoyed every episode (no skips). Had some minor issues with how the time travel was resolved at the end but it didn't ruin my rating. Also, LOVE the OST. Honestly- I could write paragraphs upon paragraphs about how great this series is, but I'd rather recommend you just watch it for yourself. It'll instantly grab you from the very first episode.
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Shin Hye Sun's Masterpiece
I don't understand why people complain about the ending. We all know that eventually they'll all return to their respective world. Everyone is unhappy because they want the King to be with JBH, not with the real KSY. But this is what happens, the same thing happened in Scarlet Heart Ryeo. We all know, whether you like it or not, they'll be back in their respective world. That's a sure thing.But, I still give it a 10/10, for originality, especially Shin Hye Sun's performance in this. Easily my favorite K Drama actress right now, despite me not finding her attractive at all. She carried the entire drama by herself.
Cha Chung Hwa's Court Lady Choi -> My Goodness ... I can't get that MAA MAAA out of my head.
I feel empty right now, because this drama brought me so much laughters. I just kept laughing and laughing and laughing.
This drama is really a drama that would make its audiences feel really good.
Highly recommended.
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Don't forgrt to add this in your to be watched list
❤I dunno where to start my review bcoz everypart of the drama has its best contribution. 👍🏼One of the best drama i have ever watched in my kdrama list. It s a Mixed salad of love, humour, affection, anger, fight, fantasy, revenge and mutiple emotions to be tasted completely.Lets start from the ML nd FL, they havn't acted for the role rather they lived as that character. "No touching" gave a new meaning for us. 😂😂Each nd every person in the drama expressed their full contribution for their given role till the ending has made me to watch the drama without skip nd forwrd.
👑💎The Queen dowager nd Grand dowagar queen gave their best to showcase their reputation and to maintain villain stand. The court maid,royal chef,court lady,royal concubin lived as the character from the very start.
🤞The misunderstanding of present world converstion and past world language barrier has also played its humour well. The drama got its highest rating becoz of its full filled story, acting, screenplay nd ost. ❤
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Worst ending than moon lovers
Sorry for my bad english . .I make an account just for review this drama
I really enjoyed this drama and waiting every week for new episodes
Everything was excellent till episode 18
I know it would be “taboo” if jang bong hwan still in so young’s body in the end
But what we watch is the story of jang bong hwan in so young’s body
How he can adapt in joseon era and help the king with risking his life
And now so young’s soul come back and bong hwan is come back to future
It’s not fair for bong hwan
So young gets the reward for what bong hwan already did
And the king didn’t know soul in so young body already switched in the end 🥲
The king is in love with jang bong hwan in so young’s body
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What a ride this has been! It hooks you in even from episode one. This drama will make you laugh and cry. If you are in need of some comedy, this is for you. You will laugh in every episode. At first, I found myself hesitant to watch because historical dramas are not my cup of tea. Surprisingly, I really liked this one, so even if you don't particularly fancy historical dramas, I still recommend you to try this out. I think it's well paced and none of the plot is dragged.The acting is top notch. Shin Hye Sun (who played Kim So Yong) did an amazing job. Kim Jung Hyun (who played King Cheoljong) did a great job as well. I noticed he was also in Crash Landing On You and did a great job there.
The ending was a bit iffy. The king fell in love with Jang Bong Hwan, not Kim So Yong. How did he not notice that the queen was different? I wasn't satisfied, nor did I think that the ending was so terrible. I liked how Bong Hwan's presence in So Yong's body made her more independent.
The music (OST) is pretty good, especially Bong Hwan A. It's the only one that stuck on my mind. The side romance is also on point. I really liked the romance between the Head Chef and Court Lady Choi. Rewatch value is 10/10. In fact, I rewatched it a month after I finished it.
If you are debating whether to watch this or not, do it! I definitely recommend this. You won't regret it. Hope this helped you. Let me know if it did. :)
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It was mostly good apart from that shitty ending
FIrst of all, SHS and JKH are the GOAT. Esp SHS. The eps without her were dull and their scenes together were electric, whether funny or intense. Give them all the awards. The show was funny but I do feel a lot of the humor was forced (like the court ladies' side stories which I would skip sometimes) and the political plot was underdeveloped (this is often the case with sageuks but this is mostly a comedy so ok).Looking at the finale reviews, I realise people are in three camps:
1. Either they wanted to see So-young as her own person and Bong-hwan was a driver to make her more assertive and fight back which you can look at it as
a) it's problematic bc we are (or the show is) saying it's only a man's characteristics and disposition which would have made her finally rise up
b) it's fine and Bong-hwan is strange anyway so his character would make anyone seem strange. They also wanted to see So-young the woman fall in love with the king and vice versa separate from Bong-hwan. Imo the problem here is that we feel sorry for her situation but we (and the King) fall in love with Sobong, the relationship with just So-young feels empty and thin.
c) it's lowkey homophobic and queer bait and the sigh of relief response that it's just So-young is getting the side eye
2. Or they want the King to only love Bong-hwan and So-young gets out of the picture which
a) is misogynistic and erases the woman
b) then they could've reincarnated the King Goblin style and gone full BL (Korea I dare you, Run On did it on the mainstream why not Mr. Queen)
3. Or Sobong remains and the King stays with them and if they showed So-young is present in more scenes throughout the show you erase no one and develop both. Or have a convo btwn the two somehow (like explain how the swapping happened/why he was chosen). Furthermore you have an interesting commentary on gender identity, sexuality and labels (see how the fandom struggled with Sobong's sexual ID and gender and finally merged their names and ID them as *they*) just like Black Mirror sn 5 episode 1. And imagine, *imagine* if the King knew as well and you get to explore that with him too. We're given crumbs in one of the last scenes but now you're literally killing Bong-hwan in So-young off (and breaking my heart). This is the loss of the series imo. I like how this was almost explored in Love in the Moonlight when the Prince was in love with Ra-on thinking she was a man but ofc they copped out and "revealed" they were a girl. And just imagine if Bong-hwan acknowledged his feelings outright with no joke to hide behind.
If you've read to this far I think you get the sense that I wanted a version of no. 3 to happen. Because I think love is love, whether or not the labels mattered. I think they both did and didn't.
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The best drama I've ever watched
I've seen my share of dramas. I think I've seen most of the dramas that are considered "the best". As for now, Mr Queen dethronised all of them and is my number one:) Things I like about this drama:1) Great leads: It's the FIRST drama where I wasn't annoyed at any point by FL or ML actions. I just loved them throughout all the drama. the chemistry was spectacular. There were no clisches in their relationship which was refreshing. I don't have to add that the actors who played the MC are now my favourite k-actors:P
2) Lovable supporting characters: sometimes you don't care about supporting characters but here you do and you love them as much as the main couple:)
3) Entertaining plot: there were NO dull moments, all episodes were fun and entertaining and brought something new to the plot. I have to say that I'm not a big fan of historical dramas, they're usually to serious for me that's why I loved this more contemporary approach.
4) Music: music was just perfect and so on point!
The only thing I didn't like was the ending. The drama made me believe that love is just love no matter the gender. Ending distroyed this belief a little bit by playing it safe. However, it's still my top drama and I recomend it to everybody - you won't regret watching it.
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The writers bit off more than they could chew
The Good:The acting was good. The cast delivered performances really well
The story, although poorly executed, was initially enticing
The Not So Good:
I knew the writers were going to land themselves in trouble super early on when they conveniently stopped clarifying who is in charge of the body at different times. Majority of the time we could clearly tell it was Bong Hwan but, sometimes I think they made Bong Hwan So Young-esque under the guise of Bong Hwan having So Young's memory. But they never show us So Young's point of view for us to truly understand how much of what was happening was her vs Bong Hwan and if she was changing to be more like Bong Hwan because when she got her body back she continued acting Bong Hwan-esque.
The body-swap was not done well because they did not think through how the whole switch-co-habitat-switch-back would cohesively work.
The Other BIG BIG BIG Problem is the Characters lack substantial motivation for why they do what they do. The story plot is being moved forward on toothpick legs. The greatest motivator in this whole world of Mr Queen is unrequited love. The only other plot mover was the Dowager and Mother-in-Law and the Dowager's brother's thirst for power. Everyone else was doing this because the person they loved or who they loved was not loving them. We get it, love is important but this is a bit much.
First half of the show I could forgive a lot of these problems but by the last 3-4 episodes I was not even concentrating completely, I just wanted to the end.
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