Undercover Relationship
Off the bat, we have a reverse trope in Queen of Tears. She is the rich guy and he is the poor lover. We start off with a kiss in the first two minutes. Kim So Hyun (playing ML Baek Hyun Woo) looks gorgeous as the New Company Recruit and Kim Ji Won (playing Hong Hae In, the Heiress of Queens Group and FL) is our beautiful rich Heiress. He is left handed, she is right handed and so are their lives. This is a very acrimonious relationship, stairs to nowhere. Queen of Tears is a Dark Comedy.Hong Hae In met Baek Hyun Woo working undercover as an intern in her own Conglomerate. Not knowing who she was, it was love at first sight for him. This drama could well be named ‘The Impossible Heiress’ or ‘Snow Queen and the Seven Airs’. After 10 minutes of viewing, you might agree with me that this drama has “Hit” written all over it. Secretly, behind the Ice Maiden veneer, there is a woman who loves her husband and a man who does not know that. This is a painfully great story, with a stacked cast. And believe it or not, this is a laugh out loud RomCom.
I like the dichotomy of the character Kim Soo Hyun is playing. Literally, his character (Baek Hyun-woo) has two faces. He is playing his character in happy times, a time in flashbacks when he and his wife (Hong Hae-in played by Kim Ji Won) were in love with each other. In the next sceen in Queen of Years, Kim Soo Hyun is playing his present self, one jaded by life and one totally saddened by his living situation and the loss of love for his wife. Kim Soo Hyun is asked somehow to reconnect to the emotions and feelings he had with his wife at first. For this character, Kim Soo Hyun has to be bipolar or living in two different worlds. I am so enthralled by how he is pulling off these polar opposite characters for his performance in Queen of Tears. Can he find the self he lost?
What I really like about Queen of Tears is a hidden message to the World of the Married. The grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water it.
Oh BTW. Seeing Kim So Hyun after almost a three year drama lay off (His last role was Ordinary Day 2021), you might have love at first sight (again) too. There is great cinematography in Queen of Tears. One thing that is inconvenient in Queen of Tears is the close up shooting of this drama. We have to read subtitles and try to look at faces. Since the camera person is using close in shots, that camera stays on the person speaking only a split second and then moves to the the next person speaking. The camera is moving off each person too quickly. To view the faces of the actors, I literally have to pause frequently.
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It is too superficial
As so many here stated - the production of the series is top notch. The visuals, the camera angles - everything adding up to be a mesmerising and enjoyable watch. Unfortunately, the production is the main (and only) good feature of this show, every other aspect, especially the story, is extremely lacking.1. The episodes are very uneven in their plot progression as well as invoking emotional roller-coasters. Sometimes, when the story is lacking in a film or a show, creators will overcompensate with trying to make their viewers emotional over certain parts. I am noticing a lot of that tactic here.
2. There is not a single likeable or relatable character. There are parts of certain characters that are sometimes likeable / relatable, but other that that, I have not yet seen a single one of them admitting and owning up to their past mistakes or misconducts. Everyone are over the top, self-centred, greedy bastards, to whom such a beautiful and light-hearted atmosphere of the show is not suited. It just gives off "Uncanny valley" effect. The villains are comical and boring; the protagonists have barely any screen-time to develop deeper connection between each other and, also, the audience.
3. The initial selling point of the drama (shaky relationship between rich wife and a husband who married into her family) is soon forgotten in lieu to the villains' convoluted revenge plans. At this point in show, there are far too many talking heads in rooms and not enough deep dives into the trauma of such selfish families, into the struggles of the protagonists - how did they come to want to marry each other, how did they grow apart (we might know the "why", but not the "how").
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This review may contain spoilers
Too Many Cooks/Troupes Spoil The Broth!!
For me, this drama "almost" lived up to its hype. The premise was strong and beautifully executed. The visuals in the drama were so scenic and beautiful making me want to visit Germany! The characters in the story had flaws and it was reasoned well.But from episode 13, the messy and lazy writing sank the ship. Too many unnecessary troupes were introduced in the later stage of drama where we should have been resolving issues from the previous episodes. Hyun Woo getting into an accident in the penultimate episode and the antagonist arc stretched till the last episode was nail in the coffin for people like me who have been religiously following the drama from its teaser and were waiting for the "Rom" in the said Romcom!!
For the last episode, too many questions and drama were left to unfold leading to a rushed and unsatisfactory ending. It was sort of bittersweet for me. I understand death is a natural phenomenon but showing in the last few minutes instead of them living a healthy life together is a grudge I am willing to hold with the writer for a long long time.
Acting was exceptional. Even If I nitpick I can't find faults. Despite how shambled the writing was, their acting made it convincing. All the aegyos made me laugh. Hyun Woo crying and breaking down when Hae In was hurt made my hurt heart. Hae In from being cold-hearted and emotionless at times made me angry but once her story was out you couldn't help but sympathize. The one kiss (Germany) gave me butterflies.
I wish they work together again in a drama where the script does them justice to their commitment till the very end! The other supporting characters also did a great job!
The OST's are one of the best that I have heard. It matched the story and theme perfectly! The placement of the OST in the drama is done well making them more enjoyable and memorable.
Overall this was a 8.5-9 for me from episodes 1-12 but so many NEEDLESS twists/turns in the last few episodes led it to 7. If it wasn't for the extraordinary acting of leads and the great and intriguing premise I would have rated this somewhere between 6-6.5!
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Don't fall for the hype, keep the expectations low and similar to what kdrama usually do
I had to fall for the hype and start it earlier than I planned, it was going well but you can see that the writers tried to mix storylines from multiple dramas without a core story.Kim jung Nan character and acting is everything that is wrong with most kdrama, there's always that one character they get wrong by making them annoying and using them for all the dumb stuff no one else would do.
the leads chemistry and acting is spot on but how does one who is supposed so sick NEVER looks sick. is it part of contract to always make her look impeccable.
the ending is almost close but almost every single twist can be guessed long back due to similarities with other series so I don't have much hope but they will end it well as usual so a boring 7/10 as usual which is not a bad thing
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Masterpiece!
First of all! if you wanna start this drama, ignore the comments and review! just go in and find out if u like it or not!Now finaly done with this drama and i give it a 9 because of the unnecessary plot at eps 15/16. they should have gave us at least a full eps 16 on how the ML and FL gonna rebuild and make new memory! they rushed it a bit in my opinion but at least we got a pretty final ending to Hae In and Baek Hyun!
Overal a very good drama and i can place this in my top 5! For some reason i can relate to Baek Hyun due to my own relationship. The fact that you can go to such lengt for your person made me fall in love with his character! But dam they made my boy cry a lot.
I hope that everyone that watch this drama can have his/her own opinion and don’t read to much into reviews because if someone doesn’t like this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t!
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the top dramas of 2024. Very special to me and I will rewatch it for decades to come!
**SPOILERS AT THE END OF REVIEW**First I have to say that this drama helped me a lot personally. It's funny to me that the last episode dropped on April 28th, my 30th birthday. In one scene, Hae-in says something along the lines of "what's so wrong with aging, it's a blessing. It's a beautiful thing in life," in response to being told that Hercyna only wants employees under 27 years old to sell their products. Hae-in's reaction to life after being told she has cancer was written beautifully. It's the classic story of having a wakeup call after being told you don't have long to live. I've never had a terminal illness but as that 30th number was approaching me, I started to panic because I wasn't were I thought I would be in life. This drama made me realize how foolish I was and how I should be thankful that I'm living a healthy life. This show was made at the perfect time for me and I'm forever thankful <3
NOW as for the show, arguably some of the best acting, if not the best I've seen of any show out there (and I'm including Game of Thrones when I say this). Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won have set the gold standard in acting, so much so that it's actually inspiring. They made it so easy to feel how the characters felt. I also can't forget Kwak Dong-yeon. His bike scenes were all so special
Shout out to the villains, especially Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-seong. The acting from him and writing of the character were exceptional. He portrays someone desperate for love perfectly
The soundtrack is one of the best I've heard and the visuals were amazing, especially the shots in Germany. The Germany scenes alone are enough to rewatch, especially the big kiss, which is by far the most genuine and passionate kiss I've seen in any movies or shows
No plot holes to my knowledge, just some things that could've been expanded on
**SPOILERS**
Now even though the writing was great overall, it seemed to have gotten lazy and too tropy towards the end. It was very predictable and everyone could see Hyun-woo being run over from miles away. Made me roll my eyes when I saw him across the busy street from Hae-in and again when he got run over
Also:
- Hae-in's journal being fine thanks to the rain was lazy
- No one even cared that Eun-seong threatened Hae-in, the people around him went about business as usual
- Hae-in's side effects seemingly stopped after some episodes to make more room in each episode. Not the most realistic thing lol
- That car hit on Hyun-woo was brutal. More surprising he survived that than the bullet in his upper back
- Wish to have seen Hyun-woo's reaction to finding out he saved Hae-in from drowning as kids
- Hae-in seeing old Hyun-woo in mourning as a ghost when on their honeymoon, while beautiful foreshadowing, is out of place for a non-fantasy show since modern Hyun-woo couldn't see him
The ending was perfect. It's sad to see that Hae-in dies at an old age before Hyun-woo but it's perfect since she told him before the surgery to mourn her for four seasons and then forget about her and live his life. I interpret it as when he got to the lavender field to mourn her there, he was about dead as well from the emotion and then died shortly after to be with Hae-in once again <3
In summary, the show was very worth the watch and I hope it teaches others lessons like it did me. I will rewatch this one for decades to come and will always think about it because of those lessons leading up to my 30th birthday <3 Will be rewatching with my sister very soon!
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This review may contain spoilers
Overall I really enjoyed watching the show but I think it's a bit overhyped. Actors were amazing, I loved their chemistry and acting was seriously top notch. I also love shows with excellent fashion styles and all of their outfits literally made me droll.
I didn't really like that first 5 episodes were a bit slow (compared to others). There wasn't much going on and later A LOT things happened to the point where it was all a bit too much. Especially last episode. It lasted almost two hours and honestly it was a bit exhausting, at least for me. I mean, hurt Baek Hyun-woo running away from hospital and trying to save Hong Hae-in from Yoon Eung-seong and also Yoon Eung-seong dying. All in one single episode.
I also didn't really like how they portrayed the grandpa as a bit naive, trusting Mo Seul-hee so easily and never suspecting anything. It was also a bit too much how they portrayed Baek Hyun-woo as a very superior character - excellent swimmer that at a very young age even saved a kid (Hong Hae-in's late brother), top student and was in army. We would have loved him anyways 😂
Don't get me wrong, the show is good, it's also very easy to watch and it will definitely keep you interested but I just think that there were way too many things going on.
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If your looking for a deep drama then this…
..then this is the one.Honestly I’m writing this with the credits still running on the screen.
This drama is very deep which I love, it focuses mainly on the couple and the development of the relationship between every character.
It’s not something I’d rewatch though since kind of like Pretty little liars once you know what happend, it loses the flare.
There are a lot of twist and times where you have to clutch the pillow and hope for the best.
It’s feels like reading a book were you get really into the story.
It’s my presonal favorite.
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One of the best kdrama in 2024
I don’t know even when to start about this show wow wow wow. It has surpassed all of my expectations and more this is one of the best kdramas out there and I see why it has surpassed my other favorite show crash landing on you.Queens of tears is just at show it’s so wholesome and raw and really. It showed how we fall in love and how lack of communication and misunderstandings can ruin something so beautiful. I have never cried like I have with this show episode after episode until the end but you know what it was worth it cause the show was just that beautiful and more.
I really like the actress that played Hong Hae In she was the perfect choice for this role she killed it and I’m so glad I got to see her again cause I loved her in the Heirs she played Rachel so good. When I saw her play this role in Queen of tears it was amazing she deserves all the recognition and respect cause she did a spectacular job at this role.
The love story of Baek Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In was amazing to watch the ups and downs of their relationship and more was a great show but I can’t for Yoon Eun Sung wow I really don’t like him and what he did in the show but I will say Park Sung Hoon really played that role well cause we didn’t like his character at all hahah he deserves an award for best supporting actor cause he really played it well the villain.
Overall I can say this Queen Of Tears is a must watch it and yes it’s worth all the hype that it is getting cause it’s that good and it’s the best drama and waiting for the special 2 episodes!!!
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Worst Kdrama I have Ever Watched
Unfortunately, I have watched the drama before I learned the male lead is an abuser + p*doph*le, so I completed it. The biggest mistake ever, because it was so sloppy and boring. The actress was bad, too. I hope you-know-who is facing something even worse than the girl in the drama in his real life.Was this review helpful to you?
overrated
The story is boring at first, then it is catchy for a few episodes in the middle then it just goes downhill.Actor Park Sung-hoon carried the show.
I didn’t catch any feelings from the main leads, such a letdown!
Their relationship isn’t fully explored, not in the past, nor in the present, and they should have talked at least about their problems not act like they never happened, that’s what I kept thinking.
A mature married couple unable to talk to each other honestly .
loved a few of the main actress’s outfits though!!
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What if the gender roles were reversed in a Cinderella romance? Could the relationship survive or would the man feel too emasculated? Could he find a way to be a man while being the less powerful, less wealthy half?
The initial premise becomes weighed down with large scale conspiracies, sickly sweet morals about the 'common people,' and lots of sickness/death wish fulfilment. Ultimately, the show is completely unrealistic, full on daytime soap level drama, but with extremely slow pacing.
The two actors have little chemistry, the music is just OK, and besides one scene early on where our male lead rescues the female lead, there's nothing here I would rewatch.
This is one of the most popular KDramas, with prestige actors, and so I've been trying to suffer through but I can't anymore . . . I'm dropping.
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