Mr. Queen

MINDBLOWING!!!

A REALLY AMAZING DRAMA!!!!!!!!
I have already watched it like a 10 to 15 times...
All the episodes are well made and will keep you entertaining. They all have some amount of comedy, romance, plot so u will not get bored.
Mr. Queen all in all is a very amazing drama and will keep entertaining you till the the very end. Everything about it soo nice may it be the plot, romance or taking revenge...
All the actors casted have done a commendable job. the chemistry between the main leads is wonderful and makes it more interesting..
I recommend this to every Kdrama watcher this is a kind of drama which will not let you sleep at night you will be just thinking that what will happen next.
It is a great piece of art made very skillfully.. I really want to congratulate the entire crew of this series on making such a wonderful piece...

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Well-scripted Historical Drama

I am not a fan of fantasy dramas or body-swapping dramas, but this has to be one of the best I've watched. All characters fit their persona, and even from the interactions with other characters, you can distinguish each. You will lose track of time as you watch the drama. In one day, I was able to finish nine episodes. The comedy is great. There is visible character development. The main male lead played a role in Crash Landing on You, a great actor. From the first episode, you are also immediately being educated about Korean history and culture. As the show progresses, you can see much more (I even memorized the Korean Kings' song thanks to the first episode). I love the outro, it really fits the drama, the ost is so unique and very enjoyable. Overall, a great show. I would rewatch the drama.

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Oh My Tummy Hurts!!!

My Two Bits:

Here's how it went for me:
Hahaha
Oh Shit... Hahahahahaha
Oh Oh No Way HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Damn... Hot and Weird
HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHE
Damn... that made real tears 😭
Die Already!!!!
Oh HOHOHOHOHO... Is this for real... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Ouch
It's Over... So soon??
Phew.... that was one incredible ride!!

The rest is just your personal preference after you've invested in at least 4 - 5 episodes of your life

1 from my many many Favorite Bits.... that cart ride HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

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Total Review

Drama is a must watch Korean drama. At first I thought it would be more like Scarlet heart ryeo but then the story plot was well written as well directed. I loved every bit of it, especially shin hye sun's performance. They way she portrayed queen cheorin is commendable. Not to forget our dear actor playing the king. The plots is very entertaining as well comedic in parts. The romantics scenes are swoon worthy. By each passing episode it grabs your attention as to what is gonna happen next. It always hangs you in a cliffhanger. It is a must watch in this period of pandemic. It has that good feel to it.

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A beast of a drama

This drama is a jack of all trade and a master of all it's all thanks to the writers/screen writers/director scenes are never boring or out of place there is a lot of wow/dramatic moments that would make you appreciate screen writing and when its funny its at home where it wants to be it mixes romance, comedy and sadness so well a moment you would be on your toes thinking what's gonna happen next the next moment your stomach muscles gonna be in so much pain from laugher it does everything it tries to do so well and it sprinkles the perfect choice of actors on top it's a fine meal.


A ML inside a FL gender switch idea was so weird for me specially when he was talking in a voice of a male inside of the female body the first few episodes were so confusing as he liked the romance part but he wouldn't admit it and would fight it off 24/7 at that point a figured maybe there won't be so much romance and would be just a comedy drama until he/she fill into the second vegetative state and finally started self talk in her female voice (a part of her came back ) and from there the romance got a lot better.

The characters are all so loveable

King Cheoljong a cute pure person with so much to prove yet controlled for most of his reign getting stomped to the ground every time he tries to prove himself.

Kim So Yong , Jang Bong Hwan both are so alike yet so different in situation solving both seem to be confident and upfront they are so smart and so loyal yet so shy when it comes to loved once.

Grand Queen Dowager Sunwon and Kim Jwa Geun are the perfect partners in crime a tactical mastermind whose power was his knowledge and an emotional grand queen whose power was her position a perfect chemistry to make great villains.

great writing, great characters, great actors makes a great show

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Funny, Bold, Enticing -- the perfect KDrama

Can you imagine a drama where an overused and tired trope is presented in such a fresh and enticing way that you cannot help but REVEL in its GENIOUS?
Are you looking to be surprised by a historical drama that's not entirely historical, has steamy romance, the perfect balance between politics, seriousness and COMEDY?
Do you want to watch a drama that is PURE COMEDY GOLD, that flows naturally and effortlessly?
WELL, LOOK NO MORE!!!

I have to say, I was sceptical going in. The trope of a person from the present travelling to the past/ soul-swapping/ period dramas are such overused settings that I believed nothing good would come of it. But boy, did they prove me wrong!
Any and all success of the drama goes to its writers and the actors. The female lead is AMAZING!!! There isn't a moment in the drama that you'd question if she's actually a man stuck in a woman's body. And the male voice-over -- he has the perfect honeyed voice of a casanova. I have to say that I miss it a bit.
The male and female leads have great chemistry and all the cast display a stellar performance.
This drama is like the perfect chilli hot chocolate -- it's rich, creamy, smooth and sweet (but not too sweet), and the spiciness just cuts through it to take you to heaven -- it gives you warmth and comfort on a cold winter night.
This drama is a godsend to remove the aftertaste of 2020.

Also, can we talk about the OST? It's sooooo good! A special shout-out to the 'Bong Hwan a' song because that just hits the spot.

P.S. Do not watch this drama in front of company because you'll be ugly laughing and snort-laughing. You'll have no time or inclination to laugh sweetly/politely.

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Best Historical K-Drama EVER

There are about a hundred positive words to describe this masterpiece of a drama, but the most suitable one I think would be “amazing”. This drama really didn’t let me down, and it’s 200% worth all the high reviews it has. “Mr Queen” had me laughing the entire time. I never got tired of it, and I promise you won’t as well!

There are many factors to this, but the first thing I noticed was the stunning visuals of the actors/actresses. Whoa. The FL and ML portrayed their characters flawlessly, and so did the supporting roles! I really enjoyed Court Lady Choi and Hong Yeon’s characters! They were like the best besties anyone could ever ask for, haha. Additionally, the effortless chemistry between the leads deserves a pat on the back, because it was all too romantic and sweet. I especially liked Kim Soyong’s actress, because the way she fitted into the different personalities and roles was all too perfect. What really got me was her facial expressions!

Moving on, I’d just have to mention the OST (music). From the moment Bong Hwan woke up in the queen’s body and starting running around, being chased by the palace maids and eunuchs, to the very last second of the drama, I could not sit down still while any of the theme songs were played. “Bong Hwan A”, “…Keep Going”, and all the other songs had me dancing along, meanwhile “Here I Am” had me shedding some tears and presenting some of my terrible vocals. Such wonderful songs for a wonderful drama!

Furthermore, I genuinely enjoyed the storyline as a whole. It was humorous most of the time, it was serious at others, and it was helplessly romantic too. A combination of all of these and you get a chef’s kiss drama. Mr Queen not only related to modern society, but also had lots of historical politics in there as well. Although most of it wasn’t historically correct, I really liked the conflict between the Kim and Jo family, both in-court and in the inner palace. The only thing I would say about the plot is that I wish the ending could’ve been a little different. I think this, because Cheoljong first fell in love with Bong Hwan’s reckless and unrestrained attitude and behaviour, but when he returned to the modern world, the king didn’t really notice or do anything about it. I don’t know about you, but I lived for that version of Kim Soyong, and I felt a little disappointed with the finale when that side of her disappeared. In addition, I would’ve also liked to see their baby in the end, but unfortunately we did not get to add that cuteness to this drama. However, it wasn’t a big deal and I still really enjoyed it overall.

If you’re searching for a fantastic historical drama, I highly recommend “Mr Queen”. I guarantee that it will be the best one yet. So please do yourself a big favour and add this title to your watchlist! :)

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this was a BL and you can't convince me otherwise

Oh come on ! Commit and make it gay !
The king did not fall in love with the prude but with the insane chef.
You want to make me believe that after the last episode they lived happily ever after ?
No, he probably cried himself to sleep every night thinking about the love of his life.
While his wife is confused on why her husband has not genuinely smiled since they reunited.

Anyways, I laughed so hard sometimes I had to pause just to finish laughing. It was almost on Business Proposal level, almost.

Also I want to lower the rating bc they made me salivate every episode. Still thinking about the ramens.

I was in love with the cousin but just bc he was hot.

I guess it's all I have to say.

bisous

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Great start, absolutely awful ending

I don't usually write reviews but I just finished this drama and feel like I have to this time...

What I liked:
-the acting was phenomenal
-innovative story, nicely executed
-nice comedic aspects in the typical silly k-drama way
-lovable characters and nice development
-CJ and BH had so much chemistry

What I didn't like:
The ending was just awful. Nothing made sense and some characters did not deserve their ending at all. I wish Byeong In had gotten a better ending. But most of all my heart aches for Bong Hwan. He fell in love with Cheoljong, made friends and was so close to starting his own family, just to loose it all with nothing to make up for it. He couldn't even say goodbye to anyone. Also I couldn't care less about So Yong as she had like 5 minutes of screen time in the first 19 episodes. Even CJ said he feels like something is missing. Literally the worst ending for both leads imho. It's a shame that such an awesome series had to end like this.
I'm so so frustrated with it and if the ending makes or breaks a series for you, do NOT watch this.

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Mr Queen failed its own protagonist

*Warning; this review is not about the overall show, it's mainly my gripes with the way Bonghwan's character was handled. Please keep this in mind before continuing. If you want to know my opinion on the actual romance well: you’re better off reading ACTUAL transmigration BL instead of wasting your time on this show.

As much as I enjoyed this show for its comedy, I definitely believe the writers did Bonghwan dirty. We never really learn much about his life outside of being a chef and in a coma, we don’t know anything about his friends or family, or why he even wants to go back so badly. They don’t properly flesh out his motivations, and treat his desire to go back home like a joke throughout the entire series. I wish they further explored all the trauma he went through; waking up in a different era and in a body that isn't his own, being referred to as Kim So Yong while his own identity is slowly erased, adapting to a female body (i.e. periods, pregnancy, etc) and then having to deal with all the palace politics and violence as a modern man. Bonghwan literally went through the most shit on that show and the writers never addressed it or took it seriously. Not to mention how they kind of forgot how Bonghwan was stuck in So Yong’s body in the second half and instead treated him like an eccentric version of So Yong. I literally had to keep reminding myself that this was Bonghwan inside the body because this show was trying really hard to erase his existence for the sake of the romance. Like I literally know nothing about him as a character separate from So Yong. even though he was the protagonist, Bonghwan was one of the most neglected and underdeveloped characters within Mr. Queen.

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Appreciate the Brilliance of Shin Hye Sun in This Incredibly Entertaining Series!

I have seen Shin Hye Sun in three series before this one: Oh, My Ghost, Stranger, and most recently in Hymn of Death. All of the above are dramatic roles, and all I can say is, “Oh, my God!” Her comedic chops are off the charts! She is nothing short of brilliant, stealing virtually every single scene that she is in! I compare her to Lucille Ball. While the rest of the cast is absolutely fantastic, this series doesn’t work without Shin Hye Sun’s incomparable performance!

Most body-switching movies and shows are same-gender switches. I’ve seen just a handful of cross-gender switches, and while they tend to go for comedic effects, the actors tend to overcompensate. The man exaggerates female characteristics such as speech and walking while the woman does the same. Shin Hye Sun, instead, goes for more subtlety and realism as a man who’s suddenly been thrust into the body of the Queen. Jang Bong Hwan is a chef from the future, so he not only has to figure out how to live in the body of a woman but also a woman who also happens to be of royalty!

What we end up getting is some of the funniest and zaniest roles I’ve ever seen. Shin Hye Sun brilliantly doesn’t even alter her speech very much. Just to the point in her smirk, the way she sits and communicates, which is Jang Bong Hwan’s style. In short, she gives us a very masculine queen as well as one from the future, who isn’t afraid to inject current idioms, terms, and ideas into her speech, often causing hilarious confusion among the Joseon people from 200 years ago who have no idea what she’s talking about. King Cheol Jong even begins keeping a Dictionary of the Queen’s Language in an attempt to understand her. He also has no idea why his once docile queen is now far more aggressive and direct in her speech and manners!

We are taken back to Joseon about 200 years in the past when a puppet king is being controlled by nearly everyone around him, but most notably by the Grand Queen Dowager, the Queen Dowager, and Kim Jwa Geun (the Grand Queen Dowager’s brother). It did take me a few episodes to get the names down because there are so many. Basically, you have two rival families in the Kim’s and the Jo’s who are vying for control of the country. The Queen is of the Kim family while the King is of the Jo family. Little do they realize that the King is far stronger than anyone realized or anticipated as he struggles to find a way to bring balance and contentment to his subjects, who mostly live in slavery and poverty. But the wild card in this drama is the Queen. No longer meek and docile, Jang Bong Hwan quickly decides that the Queen is nobody’s puppet and nobody’s fool. Instead, he figures out a way to understand his new role but also how to help the King gain power to stand up to those who would use him for their own purposes.

I’ve said this in numerous reviews already, but Koreans are masters of storytelling and always find a way to convey an uplifting message or something to think about to improve things. This series is no different. Overall, the series is comedic, but it does have some dramatic moments, some heart-wrenching ones, and also some inspiring ones too. In the end, we find that both King Cheol Jong and Queen Kim So Yong (after she’s reverted back to herself without Jang Bong Hwan) have both changed (even if Jang Bong Hwan left behind a few seeds of influence!). Jang Bong Hwan, himself, realizes that he is no longer the same, self-serving man that he was before either. He wisely states, “Perhaps it isn’t about trying not to be rotten, but instead cutting out what is rotten.” And that such an idea might—in fact—help to change the world, but it first begins with changing yourself. Gandhi himself stated as much when he said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

This is simply one of the most delightful series I’ve seen, and it is literally rock solid from beginning to end. I kept waiting to see if the story would begin to falter or drop off slightly toward the end. It didn’t. It kept me completely invested from beginning to end.

Unfortunately, the government in Joseon from 200 years ago proves that not much has changed in the world since that time. The rich still oppress the poor. The powerful still exploit the weak are always in search of ways to retain even more power. Mr. Queen gives us some food for thought; that just because that is how things are, it doesn’t mean that nothing can be done or that they must somehow stay that way. King Cheol Jong and Queen Kim So Yong give us two examples of what can be done if will, determination, and courage are vested. Or perhaps one of my favorite quotes from Lord of the Rings: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

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Great comedic actress, ultimately a mess

What if a modern man landed straight in the middle of your standard Joseon era plot, but into the body of the queen instead of the king?

The actress here (Shin Hye Sun) is really amazing, and plays all the bodily quirks, humor and slapstick in a truly wonderful way. The first 10 episodes sail along on her sheer acting ability plus some love triangle intrigue. The male actors that form the love triangle are a bit one note, but they show good connection with the actress.

It quickly became clear that no one knew how to end the plot, and the writers just stuck to the same themes and gimmicks of the first 10 episodes. The rest of the actors and plot devices are somewhat mediocre, and so everytime the main actress is off screen it was hard to pay attention.

By episode 17, I was skipping rapidly (I did finish it). Music was fine, I would not rewatch. I grade on other criteria:

Complex Themes: 6
Love can come in unexpected ways. Embracing what life throws at you with sincerity can be rewarding. The gender and body dynamics are not explored much at all.

Character Growth: 7.5
The male chef in Kim So Yong's body goes from being dismissive and treating it all as a game, to sincerely wanting to help the people he encounters, and feeling more open to emotions. It was an expected transformation, but still decently done.

Complex Women/Relationships Between Women: 7
There's lots of women characters but besides the main character, they are all somewhat caricatures with very thin backstories. Kim So Yong's rival was the only other female character that had a bit of depth.

Cinematography/Production Budget: 7
Competent, in the way most modern dramas are. But, the sets, costumes etc. all feel like you've seen them twenty times before. The fight scenes are fairly uninspired.

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