This review may contain spoilers
It was almost perfect
My thoughts about this drama: “what a valiant roar, what a bland goodbye”I loved the first episodes, how complex their dynamic was and how well Soohyun and Jiwon brought them to life with their micro expressions. The way the pacing felt realistic, since a lot of things have passed between them and they're relearning each other. For me the drama took a bad turn when they lost focus of the main characters and expanded so much on the Queen’s drama. Especially the villains, they had so much screen time and were not really nuanced. Or the aunt, like yes, she was a nice character, but ???? why would they think I wanted so much screen time with her and that bland guy? At first it was cute, but when they gave them so much screen time the last episodes it turned out really annoying for me.
I feel like the car crash was unnecessary and something the writer included because she felt like the audience had not forgiven Hyun Woo enough for the way he acted at the beginning of the drama. That we needed to see him have this big gesture and go rescue her as proof of his love, but it was unnecessary and redundant by this point. We’ve already seen how much he loves her ever since the reality of losing her was on the table and he realized it (when she gets lost on his hometown and she admits it and he hugs her and cries).
In episode 1 and 2 we see how distant and resentful they’ve grown of each other, how they’ve built walls between each other (like when she says he is acting out of character by siding with her and taking her hand) but the moment she is honest and vulnerable (probably it’s been years since that) it dawns on him that she is sick and loosing herself. And it breaks him, because it turns real, that maybe she won’t be saved, that they’ve lost years of companionship they took for granted and both of them could’ve done something to fix things (their talk outside of the supermarket). Him recognizing he forgot that love (while she didn’t) and that scene in episode 6 in Germany was top notch, and staying by her side with Queen’s take over and also recognizing his own mistakes (like how Haein tells him she never wanted to be alone, and both understand she is talking about their baby; or him saying that he wishes he would’ve asked her about her day back then instead of acting as strangers) for me was enough. Him egging her on to have a reaction out of her, bringing her family to his hometown, being vulnerable with her and recognizing his faults, listening to her and caring, were reasons enough to forgive him.
I was also not a fan of her losing her memory. I think they chose way too many conflicts and they overlapped and we didn’t have enough scenes of them being happy without the threat of her disease. I would’ve either picked the Queen’s take over or her amnesia, both was too much. Especially when the pacing by the end was so bad and they chose to keep her amnesia instead of her remembering. We didn’t have scenes of “them” but of HyunWoo and a HaeIn that didn’t feel like HaeIn at times and did not know their past. Like, yes, their past wasn’t perfect, but it was what gave their relationship depth. And then they chose to skip her falling in love with him or any life milestones between them!!! Like them finding out about her being pregnant again and this time supporting each other and facing the uncertainty together. Their child’s first birthday! We got like a few seconds of them on the steps and then were clubbed with old HyunWoo facing her death and meeting each other again as “souls”. I think it would’ve been a little less shocking if we’d had at least more scenes of them spending their life together before that scene. Especially after most of the drama they made us bawl our eyes out.
One of the worst things they chose to do was that the reason they both grew distant and started to resent the other was not addressed with the depth and care that it should’ve been. They both hurt each other. HyunWoo felt that his feelings were not taken into consideration by HaeIn and that she did not care as much as him (shown by his surprise by the date being her passcode) and that he was not given space to grief. Like he grew up in a family in which they talk things together and support each other, that’s the way he is able to bear sadness, and HaeIn closing off emotionally and being defensive made him feel isolated. Meanwhile, HaeIn has already suffered the loss of a family member and she was blamed and resented by her mother for it, so it makes sense that because of that experience and the guilt and trauma of the miscarriage she was going through she thought HyunWoo would do the same, especially after seeing that he moved his things out of their bedroom. He did it because he felt hurt by her breaking down the nursery and not giving him space to grief, but it was how she was taught to grief: walk around it, pretend it did not happen and don’t talk about it (like how her father was going to turn the page of the family album when there was a photo of her older brother). I feel like the way they started to approach it was on track: HyunWoo seeing the birthdate being her passcode, HaeIn admitting she never wanted to be alone and HyunWoo understanding she is talking about the miscarriage and realizing he misinterpreted her back then and the look of regret when he apologizes and hugs her. But I think they should’ve talked about it sooner (like when they’re in his apartment, when she sees the birthdate being his passcode as well) instead of the gloss over they did on the final episode when she still does not remember a lot of what they went through.
The drama started out great but I feel like the writers didn’t understand the characters enough and thought we needed big action scenes to be impressed and hooked. Instead, it would’ve been better if it stayed as more of a character study on how for love to be kept alive it needs to be nourished, it needs work and communication and respect between each other. Jiwon and Soohyun are amazing actors and have the range to bring those scenes to life, so it’s a shame that the writers chose to sideline them (like I think the villains have almost more screen time than HaeIn in the final episodes...). Tbh, Soohyun and Jiwon were the reason I kept watching, especially by the end, I can say that the last two episodes are some of the worst episodes of the drama.
I love HyunWoo and HaeIn, and it’s been a while since I’ve been so hooked with a drama and the actors had the ability to make me care so deeply about their characters. “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new” by Ursula K. LeGuin reminds me of their relationship.
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A tropey, tear-filled soap opera with solid acting that tugs at the heart strings
If you've seen Perfect Marriage Revenge or Marry My Husband, then you have an idea of what's in store here (without the rebirth/time travel element): This is a soap opera, no question, with its requisite checklist of a wealthy family, succession conflicts and rivalry, scheming interlopers, over-the-top (yet predictable) plot developments, and of course, unexpected childhood connections. In that sense, there isn't too much that's "new" here. All three dramas are somewhat over-rated, but what sets Queen of Tears apart from the other two are the acting, production quality, heartfelt relationships, and a lovely soundtrack.Like many Asian dramas, Queen of Tears almost feels like a story in two different acts. The first is light, filled with dark humour and family dynamics that are amusingly bananas as we meet the characters and familiarize ourselves with the setting. The pacing and execution are pretty solid and I found myself cackling out loud multiple times. The cast of characters are not especially likable, frankly, but that's okay, because we're here for the great storytelling.
The second act takes a much darker tone, as wild plots, evil schemes, angst, and endless tears take centre stage. Much of the humour is gone. Characters hit rock bottom and grow. They are tested by adversity and overcome them. The show is keenly aware of its melodramatic turn, however, as even the characters themselves discuss and compare events to K-drama plots.
Overall, the first half felt more fresh and entertaining, but I personally enjoyed the back half more for the angst and significantly warmer and more empathetic characters, even as the story dipped into Makjang territory and some plot elements (like Hyun Woo's siblings, the miscarriage, etc.) were not as flushed out as I would have liked.
Given the amount of tears shed in this drama, I was curiously not bawling alongside the characters, especially for our heroine, Hong Hae In, played by Kim Ji Won. The earlier unlikability factor comes at a cost. Hae In is so scarred by life experiences that she hides behind a cold and indifferent mask. But even when the mask finally cracks in the second half, I struggled to warm up to her. Still, as someone who is forgetful yet overly sentimental, I did find Hae In's fears and personal story powerfully poignant. With a warmer character, I would have wept an ocean of tears. Ultimately it was Kim Soo Hyun's portrayal of Baek Hyun Woo that finally made my eyes water and my heart ache near the end. While Kim Soo Hyun lacks a certain "swoon factor" for me, his immense likability and solid acting comes through in Hyun Woo.
Another particular acting highlight was Kwak Dong Yeon, who plays Hong Soo Cheol. The actor already stood out for me in a number of his previous roles, and I initially found him almost unrecognizable here as the annoying jerk brother. When we first meet Soo Cheol, he is the stereotypical baffoon - the incompetent, spoiled family embarrassment and mama's boy with no self-awareness out to beat his sister. But surprisingly, he ends up being the warmest and most passionate member of the Queens family. In the hands of another actor, Soo Cheol could simply be a supremely annoying wealthy idiot sibling. Instead I found myself feeling sorry and rooting for him.
Elsewhere, Park Sung Hoon was very effective in his incredibly unsettling portrayal of Yoon Eun Seong, especially in early episodes. Some of that chilling effect felt diluted later on, however, overshadowed by melodramatic plot developments. Even so, Eun Seong's gaslighting and truth-filled lies remained extremely disturbing and uncomfortable to watch, particularly in the way it reminded me of the misinformation and disinformation we face in the real world today.
Queen of Tears started off as a respectable 8.5 for me, but the strong emotional notes struck in the last three episodes and especially the ending, pushed it into a high 8.
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This review may contain spoilers
JUST FINISHED IT AND MAN I LOVE IT!!???
I don't know why people are coming for the story and the cliche parts or coming for literally anything in that drama!! ...like are my standards low or was that just such a good drama!!!??!I've read some review where they were like "the last scene did nothing for me " like brooo no hate but howww ???!?😭😭 you gotta work on your emotions because that scene was sad as fuck and I just realised that that ending scene was supposed to be "heaven"
I was really not going to watch it because of how much I've seen it everywhere and I felt like it was a cliché but I gave in and thank god I did ...maybe how you get affected by this drama depends on how you have lived your life or the things you might currently be dealing with...but this drama deeply resonated with me, because I've watched it during a depressive time and it just became my consolation even though it is just a drama, it was really comforting watching a whole life pan out in front of me from the beginning till the end ...through the pain and struggles till the love. It was comforting knowing that there is hope to live life like that and to experience all those emotions it felt great seeing them struggle and suffer for their loved ones, baek hyunwoo was really out there doing the most!😭
I loved when haein's family came to live with hyunwoo's family. They clearly all needed that and they bonded so well. They all put borders between eachother just because they are different class and thought they were so different from eachother that they wouldn't be able to understand one another but in the end through their shared tragedies they became one big family and that was so satisfying to see(especially the bond between haein's and hyunwoo's moms) Really loved those episodes!
It was beautifully executed, from the acting to the music everything just went well together.
I get the people who are frustrated that they didn't get enough screen time (the leads) and that most scenes were focused on the rivalry with eunsung and his mother but I feel like things were balanced...like if all they talked about were the main lead martial issues then that would truly be a cliché and it would get repetitive.
If you are one of the people who did not like this drama for whatever reason, I won't be able to change your mind of course, but you know what? If we don't focus too much on the details this drama fulfills everything. It's just human beings trying to survive, which is literally what we do everyday and it makes you think that time really does fly and we should really make decisions that we don't regret later because once it's done it will be too late to undo them and then it creates all sorts of after effects like people being hurt and misunderstandings. But it also lets you know that life is so fucking beautiful!
I am honestly satisfied, I've bawled my eyes so many times and I have to watch the behind the scenes to satisfy this fire that was left from watching this drama and to get over it lol😭😭
Thank you for reading! 🙏☺️
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"King of tears"
Overall VerdictThe drama had strong performances and emotional pull, but it collapsed under weak writing, repetitive conflicts, poor character logic, and unsatisfying resolutions. It survives on tropes and suffering, not storytelling.
Major Negative Points
1. Weak and Incoherent Storyline
At its core, the plot feels undercooked. Instead of building a solid narrative arc, the writers rely on repetitive drama and forced conflicts. There is no meaningful progression—only constant chaos without payoff.
2. Absurd Initial Setup
The male lead wanting the female lead dead at the start is not just extreme—it’s illogical. This immediately damages the credibility of their relationship and makes the emotional foundation unbelievable.
3. Excessive Negativity and Villain Dominance
From episode two onward, villains hijack the story. Scams, manipulation, and cruelty dominate almost every episode. Their excessive screen time overshadows the actual leads, making the viewing experience exhausting rather than engaging.
4. Short-Lived Happiness and a Poor Ending
Happy moments are rare and never allowed to breathe. Every peaceful scene is quickly destroyed by another conflict, creating constant anxiety for the viewer.
The ending is especially disappointing—the long final monologue feels pointless. A simple, earned conclusion (like showing the leads’ marriage) would have been far more satisfying.
5. Weak and Self-Centered Female Lead
The FL lacks agency and emotional maturity. She is driven by circumstances rather than strength.
She prioritizes her problems (business, illness, ex, family) while emotionally neglecting the ML.
Her repeated actions—trusting the villain, drinking with her ex, doubting the ML without proof—cause unnecessary pain.
She accuses the ML of fraud and cheating multiple times, yet never offers a sincere apology even after depending on him post-surgery.
She also shows poor balance in family matters, largely ignoring her brother’s struggles.
6. Ineffective Side Characters
Most side characters exist only as fillers. They neither influence the plot nor add emotional depth.
In contrast, the ML’s family and especially his friend contribute meaningfully—often doing more to move the story forward than the main characters themselves.
7. Problematic Brother–Wife Subplot
This subplot is messy and poorly handled.
The wife cheats, questions paternity, runs away, and later returns regretful.
She faces no real consequences and is accepted back without accountability.
The ex-lover’s backstory is barely explained, leaving major gaps and weakening the entire arc.
This trivializes betrayal and undermines the emotional weight of loyalty and trust.
8. Unrealistic Business Portrayal
Despite being portrayed as powerful business figures, the characters behave like amateurs—falling for obvious scams, ignoring warnings, and making reckless legal decisions. This completely breaks the credibility of the business narrative.
9. Multiple Unsatisfying Endings
None of the major arcs conclude properly—neither the villains, nor the relationships, nor the subplots. Instead of closure, the audience gets frustration.
10. Unstable and Repetitive Romance
The ML–FL relationship follows a tiring cycle: love → misunderstanding → separation → patch-up → repeat. This constant instability makes the relationship feel shallow rather than deep.
11. Lack of Character Growth
Despite the story spanning several months, there is little visible development.
The FL barely evolves.
The ML only suffers.
Even the sibling bond lacks depth and believability.
Positive Points
1. Strong Acting Performances
The actors elevate weak writing. The leads convey pain, love, and frustration convincingly, making the drama watchable despite its flaws.
2. Excellent On-Screen Chemistry
The ML and FL share natural chemistry. Their caring moments in the middle portion of the show are genuinely engaging and among the best parts.
3. Warm Portrayal of Villagers
The villagers provide much-needed emotional relief. Their kindness adds heart and briefly balances the otherwise heavy negativity.
4. Valuable Supporting Characters
The detectives and the ML’s friends actually contribute to the story and often carry it when the leads falter.
5. FL’s Regret Scene
Although delayed, the FL’s regret scene is emotionally effective. It finally acknowledges the ML’s suffering and offers partial emotional closure.
6. Constant Interaction Between Leads
Unlike many dramas where leads are separated for long stretches, this show keeps them interacting—whether in conflict or care—which maintains engagement.
Why the Show Still Became Popular
Despite its flaws, the drama succeeds because it leans heavily on emotionally charged tropes:
Rich CEO FL × poor village boy ML
Workplace and class conflict
ML humiliated by in-laws but enduring for love
Interfering ex
Extreme sacrifices: accidents, shootings, near-death moments
Memory loss arc
ML’s unwavering loyalty despite constant pain
The core appeal is simple and powerful:
a man who suffers endlessly yet loves unconditionally.
That endurance, silent sacrifice, and emotional resilience resonate deeply with viewers—even when logic and writing fail.
Final Line
Honestly, the drama survives not because it’s well-written, but because pain sells.
If anything, it’s less a balanced love story and more a chronicle of suffering.
A more accurate title wouldn’t be “Queen of Tears”—
it would be “King of Endurance.”
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The bar is on the floor...
It takes a lot for me to say something is truly overhyped...but this is overhyped.The BAD:
I THOUGHT it was going to be a moving story that deals with the ups and downs of marriage and divorce, but everytime it got close to a scene that could've been a deep insight into why the love between the ML and FL fell apart, it becomes a stupid, surface level, cheesy conversation. No depth, no real, believable development. Genuinely. If you truly want me to believe that that man was so miserable he was almost relieved to hear his wife was going to possibly die...you better show exactly why he suddenly starts loving his wife again, or show a gradual change as he learns to love his wife again, and have them have a real conversation and build their trust again, and their needs to be an actual reason for them to fall in love again...
Soo Cheol and Da Hye were really interesting at first...I THOUGHT, once again, that they were going to work through their issues and they would discuss why Da Hye kept running away, the abusive ex, yada yada, but what actually happened was, Soo Cheol becomes the manly man not a boy anymore man protector, Da Hye's problems disappear, and it's happily ever after? Ok...
Now don't get me started on Hyein's relationship with her mom. I don't wanna talk about it...or the cheesy predictable villain and his predictable evil plan I've seen only one billion times before.
Ok now.
The good...
The acting is very good. Everyone was really truly good.
Soo-Hyun, Jiwon, Kwak Dong Yeon, Kim Sunghoon.
They all did an amazing job with the cheesy, tropey, predictable, seen before writing they were given.
❤️
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Brilliant in its own right, but..
Queen of Tears is a brilliant drama in its own right. While it may not be as original as I would have liked, it more than makes up for it with stellar performances by the main leads. Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won are exceptional as Beak Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In, respectively, bringing depth and emotion to their characters that kept me thoroughly engaged.The storyline, though familiar, is well-executed, blending emotion, intrigue, and suspense. The character development, particularly within Hae In's family, adds richness and diversity to the narrative. The soundtrack is amazing, perfectly complementing the mood and enhancing the overall experience.
Despite its many strengths, the drama felt like it was missing a little something to make it truly outstanding and to add, episodes felt longer than they actually were which made drama feel slow at times. Nonetheless, Queen of Tears is enjoyable, with breathtaking cinematography and a good plot that will keep you hooked if you're patient.
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Fascinating
I loved this drama with the perfect combination of romance, comedy, drama and a bit of suspense. It's very important that the audience pays close attention to the dialogs and epilogues in the drama to understand the characters' dynamic and immerse themselves in the story. I loved it and have already watched it 3 times.Was this review helpful to you?
And they cried, and they cried and they cried some more.
So I just finished it.I watched this because of Kim Soo Hyun from It's Ok Not to Be OK, Kim Ji Won in My Liberation Notes and Park sung Hoon Into The Ring. All fantastic actors in these three excellent series.
I don't know what to say about Queen of Tears.
It was tearfully sentimental, lots and lots of flashbacks, the acting was so-so and the music was depressing.
Lots of "white truck" instances, and I think the main actors lost their acting charm toward the end.
It must have been so tiresome to do that acting - not because it was good but because it was all over the place.
The best actor of the Tears was the 2ML - he held his evil all together - was consistently evil and his facial expressions reflected that evil the more evil he got.
What the ML found attractive about the FL, I have no idea.
She was disrespectful toward him long after she woke up from her cancer cure - although the 2ML made sure that the ML went to prison and so was out of the way when she woke up. It took a miracle from the part of the ML to wake her up to reality.
Mostly throughout, FL was drippy and certainly not lovable.
The writer did all it could to try to make the viewers cry - and I'm sure it worked for most of the viewers.
The OST was even more miserable - especially toward the end. Also there were many holes in the story.
Ok, I can now check that off and NEVER WATCHED IT AGAIN.!!!!
I guess an 8.0/10 is my grade.
Thanks for reading this.
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It's all over the place kinda mess
When my guts told me this drama trying to put too many on their plate, i should've trust it. I was so invested till i realized i just wasted it all. My emotion, time, mostly emotion.When SML started to disgust me with his delulu mind and action (bless PSH), it was a sign a big big sign that yes, i can and allowed to drop this drama.
But here i am, after finishing ep 16. Honestly, it's not news when you fully invested at the beginning and hate a drama after certain episodes. It happens a lot. However, this drama is "expensive", from quality, actor, marketing, budget, etc... Even the writer. Yup. Everything feels like wasted potential, they have it all why can they just make it right? Just a decent plot from famous kdrama screenwriter, is that a lot to ask?
The acting save this drama, for real. The fact that most of us hate the villain and love the leads and their family is the biggest proof.
At last, they shouldn't be greedy and put so many tropes and you can watch it for the actors and the actors only. You also need enough patience, like A LOT of its.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Queen of Tears '' is a dark comedy melodrama.The story is pretty unexpected, especially at the start of the drama, which was more on the comedy side. Slowly, they introduced the dramatic scheme involving the villain and the family, as they go through unexpected changes. Then, the series turns towards the romantic side, with many moments between the couple. The plot gets darker towards the end, with the final episode being quite dramatic. However, it must be noted that the last episodes, especially the fourteenth, were rather boring and felt more or less like fillers.
Another perk for this drama was the excellent side characters that were interesting and helped the story a lot.
Also, the performances were excellent.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Best Watch of 2024 So Far
A fabulous journey of lost love, redemption and reconciliation.Words cannot express my feelings, as I look back at this journey of eight weeks. What happens when you are a stay in son-in-law and dying to divorce both your wife and her family. Before you sympathize with Baek Hyun Woo’s situation, you might need to hear about the said wife’s tragic life. Despite her ruthless demeanor, Hong Hae In is a lone camper who trusts no one. In times of utter despair, she desperately wants to lean on her husband, only he wants nothing to do with her and is seeking a divorce. Both are depressed at different levels; with familial pressure tearing them apart. When I first watched the pilot episodes, it seemed the show was more about their reconciliation. But “Queens of Tears” managed to deliver a beautiful script with a stellar casting that literally embodied the struggles faced by the variant characters. A couple cannot, will not be together until their families get along well. Marriages are made in heaven, aren’t they? Let’s talk about each & every character in this show, as we pay homage to this phenomenal melodrama!
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/queen-of-tears-series-review/#more-777
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A Masterclass in Rekindling Love
The Premise: Love in the Midst of CrisisThe story follows a married couple, Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo, who are three years into a marriage that has reached a breaking point. Hae-in is the cold, powerful third-generation heiress of the Queens Group, while Hyun-woo is the warm-hearted son of farmers from the countryside. They begin the drama at a stage where they no longer understand each other or want to stay together. The series is a miraculous, thrilling, and humorous journey of how they fight their way back to one another against all odds.
The Emotional Roller Coaster
This drama is truly a roller coaster of emotions. I loved watching the transition from a couple in crisis to a duo ready to do absolutely anything for each other.
The "Protective" Dynamic: One of my favorite parts was their fierce loyalty. While they might tolerate someone being mean to them personally, they will not stand for anyone disrespecting their partner. Their "How dare you say this to my other half?" energy was so satisfying to watch.
Balance of Life: The story beautifully shows them trying to find happiness while balancing their high-pressure office roles and complicated family duties.
My Personal Take & The Ending
I’ll admit, I was a little confused by the ending. I don't quite understand exactly what it wanted to depict in its final moments, but I am happy that it is a happy ending. Despite the confusion, the journey was so well-acted and emotional that you should definitely watch it!
Final Verdict
If you want a drama that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of a "second chance" at love, Queen of Tears is essential viewing.
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