STUPIDLY OVERLONG
Soo-chul a waste of space: Da-Hye had a more meaningful arc & his dead brother had more impact on the story by the way his mother reacted to his deathThe last 2 eps were a makjang meltdown. Clichéd & lazy. Makjang is fine in a makjang Drama, not here.Better as 14 60 minute episodes, with a different end.
BUT, some outstanding TRUE romcom - lol & sweet. The OTP worked, both of them. Lots of thoughtful and intelligent conversations between them, which was a delight And they dampened my eyes even when I knew how it ended, which is a tribute to the power of their acting.
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A Tale of Sympathetic Distance, Not Deep Love
Despite its romantic label, Queen of Tears lacks genuine emotional connection between its leads. From the start, their marriage feels more contractual than loving — the wife is cold and business-driven, while the husband is emotionally worn out. Even after her illness is revealed, the shift in their relationship feels rooted in sympathy, not rekindled love. The frequent tears may justify the title, but the drama ultimately explores emotional distance more than romance.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Perfect Start Met its Perfect Failure - At the End
The show had me hooked from the start with the main leads' love-hate chemistry. Watching them hate each other so intensely gave me life—like, "I hate you, but also, let's have epic slow-burn romance" vibes. The pacing was amazing in the first 8 episodes, and honestly, I was laughing way more than I expected. But somehow, they managed to fumble a seemingly perfect story, as if they saw greatness and thought, "Nah, let's add chaos."The Good Stuff:
Perfect chemistry from the leads (they could probably hate-flirt their way out of a hostage situation).
First few episodes? Chef’s kiss. I replayed the first two episodes three times—who needs new content when you have those?
The songs slap hard. They set the mood so well that I’m now emotionally dependent on them.
The “Why Did They Do That?” Stuff:
The songs only worked when the leads were on screen. For everyone else? Meh. Except Grandpa—he carried the emotional weight of a Marvel superhero.
The villain? No rhyme, no reason—just villain-ing for the sake of it, which, in true drama fashion, is somehow the norm.
Side characters? Forgettable. I swear they were just standing there as furniture most of the time. And the female side characters... oof. Their acting was so bad it felt like watching an AI-generated soap opera.
And don't get me started on how the plot went from "lighthearted fun" to “political drama nobody asked for.” They had a perfect rom-com setup! All they had to do was ride that wave and give us more of their school life and pre-marriage shenanigans. Instead, they opted for... politics. WHY.
I’m not usually this serious over dramas, but those first two episodes were so good they made me believe again—for a hot minute. But then the pacing took a nosedive, and the whole thing became cheap, forgettable, and un-rewatchable. Like, I’ll maybe rewatch those first two episodes for old time’s sake, but beyond that? Nah.
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Typically, I watch dramas like this for the main characters' dynamics. However, despite any appealing side stories, they tend to become excessively tedious over time. While I used to push through such moments 5-10 years ago, now I find myself fast-forwarding through them. Yet, in this drama, the standout feature is the superior casting and the chemistry among the actors, which surpasses the shortcomings of the script. The lead actors excel in their roles, making the series compelling to watch. Kim Ji-Won shines in aggressive, affluent, and glamorous characters, while Kim Soo Hyun effortlessly embodies humble and emotive roles.
One downside of the series is the character portrayed by Park Sung-hoon, whose portrayal was so off-putting that I felt the urge to punch the screen in every scene. Such one-dimensional characters, written solely to provoke viewer frustration, fail to engage me and come across as a version of "rage bait" tailored for tv dramas.
Nevertheless, despite its flaws, I found Queen of Tears enjoyable, evoking a reminiscent feel of dramas from 2015.
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starts strong with refreshing role reversals but fizzles out with clichéd tropes
Queen of tears started strong with its plot mainly because of its role reversal on the most common tropes of kdrams the rich CEO and the poor female lead. It was refreshing to see Hong Hae in as the rich heiress and Baek Hyun Woo as Hae In husband who could no longer survive the enormous pressure put on him by his in-laws. While the plot and the plot- twists were surprising and unexpected, the last few episodes could no longer keep up with the excitement and its engaging plot. I personally felt that the writers had given up mid-way and added every trope possible to complete the drama.There were a good amount of comical moments and the side stories of the aunt Beom Ja, Soo Cheol, Da Hye, and Hyun Woo’s family kept the series interesting throughout…..however none of them, nor the plot could save the last few episodes… Overall the series is a good watch and refreshing even. I would rate it 7.5/10
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Great acting, storyline doesn’t make sense
Then again, most things in drama land doesn’t make sense ;);)It’s the kind of drama where the bad guy will win win win all the way to the last episode, then he will fall or get justice in just 10mins! Yeah, I hate dramas like this. There’s so much more could be done, build and focus on, but unfortunately the writing did not support the hype it’s receiving.
First 3 episodes I found annoying; 4-12 were riveting, interesting and intense; last 4 episodes were a bummer. This is mostly where a lot of scenes didn’t make sense. Both lead actors did a great job though! And the ending was wrapped up quite nicely. I didn’t really care for the other side couples and other storylines. Found them redundant and boring.
Watch if you must, just don’t get your expectations too high.
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Probably the only drama I regret finishing
There is too much happening in this drama all at once.I don't feel the chemistry and I kinda agree with so many reviews here about the actors, especially the villains acting well.
What pulled the drama down for me were surprising the acting of the Male lead and the Female lead. Its surprising because I watched it only for these two.
The script is not up to the mark. Where do I even start? The chemistry of leads is soo lacklusture. Maybe them getting divorced and moving separate ways might have been the best for them.
I got bored half way through but watched it anyway. I regret it.
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A Beautiful Setup Undermined by Scattered Execution
Queen of Tears had all the ingredients for a deep, emotionally rich romance: a broken marriage, lingering love, painful misunderstandings, and two incredibly talented leads — Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo and Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in. But sadly, the final product feels like a missed opportunity.📉 Too Many Side Stories, Too Little Depth
The biggest issue? The lack of narrative focus. The drama tries to juggle too many storylines — corporate family feuds, sibling issues, second leads, side romances — and in doing so, fails to develop any of them fully.
The romance between Hae-in’s aunt and her new boyfriend, for example, felt completely unnecessary and took up valuable screen time. Their arc had little emotional weight and often pulled attention away from what should have been the core: Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s relationship.
💔 A Love Story That Lacked Warmth
While the setup of Hyun-woo and Hae-in's failing marriage was compelling, I wish we had seen more genuine happy moments between them — not just in flashbacks, but in the present. Their emotional reconnection was undercooked, and the romance often felt overshadowed by external chaos.
⚖️ Out-of-Character Writing for Hyun-woo
One of the most disappointing narrative choices was how the drama undermined Baek Hyun-woo’s character. In Episode 1, he's established as a kind, morally upright man — someone who helps others and tries to do the right thing.
So to suddenly suggest that Hyun-woo was willing to fake love and wait for Hae-in to die — just to avoid a messy divorce — felt shockingly out of character. It seemed like the writers were trying to “balance” the emotional weight between Hae-in and Hyun-woo, but it came at the cost of logic and believability.
😠 Hae-in’s Treatment of Hyun-woo
Another frustrating element was how Hae-in consistently humiliated Hyun-woo in front of others, especially in the earlier episodes. Yet when someone else tried to manipulate or insult him, suddenly she felt protective. This double standard made her arc harder to empathize with.
And while the drama does explore her emotional growth, I still feel that Hong Hae-in never truly apologized for making Hyun-woo’s life miserable for years. That emotional accountability was missing.
😕 Scattered Writing and Missed Payoffs
Throughout the drama, I wanted to root for both leads — but the storytelling kept pulling me out. Important emotional beats were skipped or delayed. Storylines were dropped. And some moments that should have hit hard were softened by inconsistent pacing or weak buildup.
One emotional moment that never got its proper payoff: Hae-in never finds out that Hyun-woo saved her from drowning as a child — not Eun-sung. Her mother knows. The audience knows. But Hae-in doesn’t. A reveal like that could’ve added much-needed emotional weight near the end.
✅ What Worked
Despite all the messiness, there were still redeeming aspects:
Hyun-woo and Hae-in both remained loyal, no matter how strained things got.
Even after Hae-in lost her memory, she didn’t fall for the villain’s manipulations.
And of course, the drama ends with a happy, satisfying resolution.
The lead actors — Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won — gave it their all. Their performances carried the drama even when the writing faltered.
❤️🔥 Conclusion: A Love-Hate Experience
I really wanted to root for both Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in — and at times, I genuinely did. Despite the flaws in the writing, I still liked both characters and stayed emotionally invested in their journey. They had undeniable chemistry, and their performances brought warmth to an otherwise uneven story.
In the end, Queen of Tears left me with a love-hate relationship:
A drama with great potential and stunning performances, but one that lost its heart chasing too many side plots and emotional shortcuts.
I just wish it had trusted its leads — and their story — a little more.
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Cathartic, but a bittersweet ending
Queen of Tears is a K-drama of two halves. The first, composed of its early episodes, is an innovative take on K-drama romance. The other is a chaotic second half that squanders much of the potential of its beginning. The Netflix hit ended Sunday with a global audience that exceeded the wildly popular Crash Landing on You.In terms of chemistry, the leads were a perfect pair. It’s like they were crafted from the cosmic dust of perfect on-screen couples. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for other characters and sub-plots on the show, which are more disconcerting than fascinating.
Plotwise, the series started losing its charm in the second half as well. The amount of scenes that felt repetitive and the back and forth between the main leads only showed the lack of creativity of the writer. While the show we ended up with remains compelling, even fun, to the end, the decision to dispense with its profoundly tragic and emotional core makes the endeavor more rote and, at times, even boring. The series never recaptures the rare thrill of its early episodes, but nevertheless had a sweet ending that will surely be a satisfactory element.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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Kim Soo Hyun & Kim Ji Won’s Unmatched Chemistry!
At the time of writing this, it’s been six months since Queen of Tears aired its finale, but I still find myself thinking about this drama, especially because of the phenomenal on-screen pairing of Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won.I have to admit, I may be a little biased—I've been a long-time fan of Soo Hyun and have followed his career closely. But I’ll try to stay objective! As for Ji Won, I first noticed her in DOTS, and while I liked her back then, her performance in Queen of Tears really made me a fan.
This drama took me on an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. Every episode tugged at my heartstrings—I was constantly moved by the incredible chemistry between Soo Hyun and Ji Won. Their connection on-screen was magnetic, and I found myself laughing, crying, and getting frustrated along with them. The weekly wait for each new episode just made the anticipation even stronger. Out of all the K-dramas I’ve watched, this one stands out for its excellent chemistry, stellar performances from the entire cast, and impressive visuals. Despite the use of green screen in some scenes, everything looked seamless and natural. While the storyline was solid, I felt that some of the scenes in the few episodes before the finale could have been streamlined a bit. With a few tweaks, it could have been flawless.
And the OST? Absolutely unforgettable. Nearly all the tracks are still in my regular playlist, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
In short, Queen of Tears is a gem of a drama. Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won were perfectly cast, and the emotions they portrayed felt raw and genuine. If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re missing out on something truly special.
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i don’t know….
All of my friends that are K drama fans have been telling me to watch this, and I got so excited because I also saw that the rating even reached higher than crash lending on you however, I’m a little bit disappointedI don’t know if in my head it was better because of how much people talked about it and thatswhy i didn’t enjoy or is it actually like this
lovely actors & lovely acting but doesn’t deserve a 9.1 in my opinion.
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