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was it worth it? yes

I wasn’t interested in this drama for a long time. the graphics of the cast for the title picture said to me ‘this one isn’t my cup of tea’. BUT one day Itaewon Class OST #6 came up on my Apple Music feed and I fell in love with that song. I don’t speak Korean but without knowing the words, that song grabbed me like few other songs have. I sensed it wasn’t love song but couldn’t find the words anywhere because I don’t know the actual song’s title. this is what made me watch it, to find out if it was a love song or not.
I liked the first 2 episodes but the vibe didn’t grab me - just as I had suspected. I stopped watching around episode 11. A couple months later I decided to finish it and am glad I did.
PSJ as PSY was great.
I know this sounds silly, but the ML and FL hairstyles were a turnoff for me. I was okay with PSJ’s hair cut as a youth and early years out of prison, but I think it would have been more realistic if his character’s aging arc to 2020 included a change of hair style. I’ll just leave it at that.
I was touched throughout the drama by PSY’s sensitive but determined spirit. the chemistry between PSY and JYS was realistic to their characters. PSY had zero romantic skills and PSJ played that well.
the music was excellent, especially #6 which I found out is entitled Someday Boy / with great lyrics - and no, it is not a love song. the ‘boy’ is yearning for something better for his life. it seems he is pleading for time and hope. Kim Feel sings this song so beautifully, he is one my favorite Korean singers.
I probably will watch select scenes again but not the entire drama again.

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hard to take seriously

I tried to like this drama but had a hard time taking anything about it seriously. To be fair to other viewers who liked it, dramas that are about shamans do not appeal to me. I guess I don’t fully understand the whole shaman ‘lore’ - whenever I watch a drama that heavily relies on shamans, their meaning and purpose have very weak roots to begin with. I know it involves the spirit world, but it seems to me that, depending on the writer, anything goes in this genre, that’s why I can’t take shaman genre’s story line seriously.

I watched Head over Heels because of the very talented Choo Young Woo. This is the 5th drama of his I’ve watched and it very nicely showcases his wide range and I was not disappointed with his acting here. He was able to shift characters smoothly making it easy to know when he was Gueyon U (with a depressed flat affect) or Bong Su (who was mean, murderous, and abrasive for most of his arc).

My favorite character CYW has played so far is the carefree storyteller, Chen Seung Hwi, in The Tale of Lady Ok, followed by Dr Yang Jae Won in Trauma Code - both excellent dramas…, but I digress.

Back to HOH -
Cho Yi-hyun’s Sung-ah as a High Schooler by day - Shaman by night was very likable and truly well acted. Cha Kang Yoon’s Ju Hu, the loyal friend (with a late and misplaced confession to Sung-ah) to both Sung-ah and Gueyon U was great even if a little cringy a time or two.
The other Shamans - I can’t critique them because I was confused half the time.
I do agree with another reviewer, the lack of accountability for grevious acts was disappointing. Maybe that’s part of the Shaman ‘lore’.

I try my best to take a story as it’s presented and rarely rate a drama poorly just because I didn’t like it. I’m writing a review this time because, beyond the shaman theme, I just could not follow the story. I wonder how many other viewers felt the same way. It seemed there were too many elements and motives of the various characters to follow that the story of the two main leads kept getting lost- so much so that it made the drama was too long.

I did like the budding romance, and I’m aware they needed to figure out issues but, again, a lot of the sub-stories at times were unnecessary interruptions to its progression.

I’m neutral on the music, it neither added or subtracted from the story itself. Nothing stood out to me. 75% of the time I’ll download and listen to OSTs at least once, but don’t feel compelled this time.

I personally would not recommend this drama.

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Do you recall the story of how William and Kate got together?

I’m not disappointed in this drama but so far it’s difficult to rate it beyond an 8. We need more plot structure. Also their Chsracter arcs have yet to be developed. it’s a fairytale romance for sure and if the story is strong and the acting supports the story I will have watched a very satisfying drama.
Constitutional Monarchies do still exist. But for Korea, this is just fun fiction. As I started watching it, for some reason I was reminded of Willuam and Kate’s real-life romance - starting with their college days. Just like in a good K-drama, they each have their own interesting backstory, especially Will. IMO, their’s has been nothing short of a fairytale - and 15 +/- years later, in spite of all the palace intrigue, they are still madly in love. With that in mind I look forward to watching Perfect Crown unfold.

Correction: this review was written after the first 2 episodes (not 12). the edit feature will not let me correct the number of episodes watched.

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not for the faint at heart

This drama is not for the faint at heart and not one I suggest watching close to bedtime. it was highly violent and whenever PJH came out with a pen and used it, I gasped LOUDLY like I was standing right there.
the story did lack depth, though. we needed more story to be truly invested in the lives of these boys. Nevertheless, I was hooked to the point of wanting a positive resolution/ending. But I needed more to emphasize with their choices and actions - with all the flashbacks I don’t think I fully understood why Baek Jin chose that path.
I hate to pick dramas apart too much, but the idea that such a level of bullying along with all that violence could continually occur in a highschool in a fully developed country, especially one with such high academic standards, without the teachers, and other adults on campus (let alone the parents) not knowing is mind boggling. does this really happen to this degree in Korea? where were the police?
I have to say the acting was excellent. EVERYONE did a great job especially Park Ji Hoon, Ryeo Un, and Bae Na Ra, our main villain.
The music added to the overall tone and did not distract. I personally won’t be rewatching this one because of the excessive violence. having said that, the fight scenes were so realistic (props to the choreographer) I felt some of those boys should have ended up with brain damage or worse. I won’t wait with baited breath but if/when Class 3 comes out, I will watch it…., once.😉

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Park Ji Hoon is ahead of his time

I’m not into heavy violence but made an exception this time. i don’t very often watch highschool dramas but also made an exception this time. this is a really good story - the characters are fleshed out and the actors really brought life to them. PJH is ahead of his time. I think he is 22 or 23 in Season 1 - and his acting chops are like that of someone in their mid to upper 30’s. I love his character so much so that I wished happiness for him but I’m afraid he’ll have to graduate HS before he finds it because HS is definitely not going to be remembered as the good old days for him.
hats off to the whole cast and crew!!!
the fight scenes are very realistic - too realistic for me, but like I said I made an exception. I doubt that I will rewatch this one for that reason.

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10 - because It speaks to the heart, that’s why.

Queen of Tears is being re-released marathon-style this weekend (6/3-5/26) in Korea. This feels like the perfect opportunity to revisit and review one of my favorite dramas and also respond to some of the criticism I’ve seen out there.

To those who have thoughtfully articulated their criticisms on various sites, I respect you for clearly explaining your perspectives. However, to those who gave this drama a low rating after dropping it within the first three episodes, to keep ratings fair, I would respectfully suggest placing those early impressions in the comments section rather than the review section.

—The Acting

I believe the director of Queen of Tears intentionally employed a restrained style of acting between Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Ji-Won for Baek Hyun-woo’s and Hong Hae-in’s characters. Meaning there was more silence and less dialogue, with much of the communication happening through eyes, facial expressions, delayed reactions, and unspoken emotions. This approach drew viewers into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, allowing us to experience their emotional journeys alongside them.

For me, much of the drama’s suspense came from these moments rather than from cliffhangers at the end of episodes. Both Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun portrayed their characters with remarkable refinement and skill. Each displayed the wide acting range necessary to create truly multidimensional characters.

Not only can Kim Soo-hyun portray profound sorrow, but he also excels at restraint. He masterfully utilizes subtle gestures and micro-expressions, communicating volumes without words. I’ve seen many of his dramas and films. Never have I seen him display more varied gestures, facial expressions, or dimensions within a single character than he did with Baek Hyun-woo. As Baek Hyun-woo, he convincingly portrayed boyish innocence, explosive anger, intense longing, devastating heartbreak, emotional collapse, and everything in between.

To the critics, how is that not great acting?

Kim Soo-hyun needs no defense from me. He proved his ability years ago. Part of South Korea’s finest assembly of actors, he became his country’s highest-paid K-drama actor and one of its most awarded actors through consistent excellence. One does not reach that status by being flat or mediocre.

Kim Ji-won has likewise evolved into an exceptionally dynamic actress. I first enjoyed her performance in Descendants of the Sun, but there is a night-and-day difference between her acting range then and what she delivered in Queen of Tears.

She gave us a subtly layered Hong Hae-in: a strong, uncompromising Type-A personality who is fiercely defiant but too proud to openly express emotions that might be perceived as weakness. Some of her funniest moments came through her indirect expressions of affection—asking leading questions, offering backhanded compliments, or scolding Hyun-woo before admitting he made her heart flutter. These moments, in my view, highlighted just how difficult it was for her to communicate genuine romantic feelings.

As Hae-in’s journey progressed, Kim Ji-won revealed her character’s deepest vulnerabilities at precisely the right moments and in exactly the right measure, making her both believable and relatable.

Queen of Tears would not have been the same story without both Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won. They were equals as actors, just as their characters were equals within the story. To say they had little or no chemistry is, in my opinion, to have missed much of what the drama intended to convey.

—The Character Development

Kim Soo-hyun once remarked in an interview that Baek Hyun-woo begins the story as a loser. In some respects, he was right.

Hyun-woo was passive, submissive, and immature in his understanding of love. He believed enduring mistreatment without protest was an expression of devotion. Eventually, being constantly wounded by the Hong family—including his wife—became unbearable.

He convinced himself that he hated her.

Not surprisingly, with that mindset, divorce appeared to be his only escape. Then came the shocking realization that his wife’s impending death might conveniently solve his problems for him.

What a cowardly way of thinking.

Hae-in sounded as though she understood what love was when she spoke to Eun-sung. In reality, she was every bit as immature as her husband. She seemed to believe that as long as Hyun-woo remained “by her side,” they would be alright. He said he would always be there, didn’t he?

At the beginning of the story, we see how thoroughly she has adopted her family’s arrogant sense of superiority, which justifies mistreating those of lower status for personal gain—even when that person is her husband. As we saw in the nursery scene, she hid behind that arrogance as a way of coping with the miscarriage.

While utterly foolish, Yang-gi’s suggestion that Hyun-woo pretend to love Hae-in in order to secure a place in her will became a blessing in disguise. Or…, perhaps it was a calculated move by Yang-gi to help his best friend see the truth beneath all the hurt.

Luckily, Hyun-woo cannot truly pull off hating Hae-in. As her condition deteriorates, his resolve gradually crumbles. His love for her reignites.

In reality, he never hated her at all.

The pivotal moment comes in Germany. Completely defeated, he deliberately provokes a divorce battle from Hae-in, not because he wants to leave her, but because he desperately wants her to live. He gives her something to fight for, even if it is not with him.

This is where Baek Hyun-woo fully embraces what love truly is—not merely a feeling, but a choice and a commitment expressed through action.

In helping the Hong family escape to Yongdu-ri, Hyun-woo proves that love by devoting himself completely to protecting Hae-in and her family. We later learn that he contacted hundreds of cancer centers around the world in search of treatment options for her.

Likewise, Hae-in’s growth begins when she finally “wins” the divorce. Only then does she begin to examine herself honestly and see Hyun-woo for who he truly is, the only man she could ever love. She realizes that he gives her a reason to live and that she cannot bear the thought of a future without him—whether in life or in death.

For a fiercely independent and emotionally guarded woman, this was enormous character development.

When she found herself separated from the pressures of her corporate life in Yongdu-ri, Hae-in revealed a softer side she may never have known existed. The ultimate expression of her selfless love for Hyun-woo came during the press conference, where she exposed Eun-sung in order to protect him.

The overall family relationships ultimately reinforced one of the drama’s central themes: that love outweighs money, status, and power. When they lost it all, they could finally see and appreciate each other.

Beom-ja, although initially too eccentric to be taken seriously, became a scene-stealer who consistently provided much-needed comic relief.

Yang-gi also stole nearly every scene he appeared in. In fact, I think his final scene with Hyun-woo was one of the most memorable moments involving any supporting character in the entire drama.

Ironically, Eun-sung did nothing to weaken the Baek-Hong relationship. If anything, he strengthened it. Despite all their resentment and misunderstandings, neither Hyun-woo nor Hae-in seriously looked elsewhere. Eun-sung, wonderfully portrayed by Park Sung-hoon, never truly had a chance.

—The Story and Valid Criticisms

Queen of Tears was approximately two years in the making, including about a year of filming. Across its roughly 23-hour runtime, Studio Dragon delivered a beautiful story about two people who had forgotten how deeply they loved each other and who rediscovered that buried love after a life-threatening tragedy nearly ended their relationship forever.

It’s worth remembering that the drama was reportedly inspired in part by the real-life story of a Samsung heiress who married a regular employee.

Stories, fables, and even biblical narratives often use extreme or unrealistic circumstances to communicate deeper truths. I view many K-dramas through a similar lens. Not every detail needs to be realistic if the emotional truth resonates.

This is why I can accept some of the more exaggerated elements of Queen of Tears. One could dismiss parts of the story as unrealistic, yet real life often proves stranger than fiction.

That said, even as someone who loved the drama, I can acknowledge its flaws.

Too much screen time may have been devoted to the mechanics of the conspiracy against the Hong family. The writer and director likely felt it necessary to illustrate the lengths psychopaths will go to in pursuit of power and wealth, but I was not heavily invested in all of the related side characters and their storylines. Some of that time could have been spent further developing the Baek-Hong relationship.

The Hong family—excluding Hae-in—sometimes came across as overly naive in their trust of people who clearly sought to exploit them. At first, I found it difficult to believe that Hae-in’s mother remained trapped in grief over her son’s death for so many years, but unfortunately some people never fully recover from such losses.

Grandfather, who trusted every word Baek Hyun-woo said, suddenly placed his faith in a complete stranger and eventually removed Hyun-woo from the board. That transition felt abrupt.

Eun-sung’s character arc never truly evolved beyond his obsession with possessing Hae-in and controlling Queens Group. Despite the writers’ efforts, viewers never developed meaningful sympathy for him or for his mother, Moh Seul-hee. We were repeatedly reminded how terrible a mother she was, often more times than necessary.

—The Second Half

The collapse of Queens Group and the destruction of Baek Hyun-woo’s life is where some viewers felt the drama lost focus. With so many moving parts, keeping track of everything could be challenging. Grace’s role as a double agent often felt like a wrench thrown into the machinery of the plot.

The exile to Yongdu-ri introduced numerous additional storylines, some of which felt unnecessary. Yet the central focus remained the Baek-Hong relationship. Every major event either contributed to or reflected their gradual surrender to the love they had spent years suppressing.

These moments may seem like plot diversions, but most of them serve a deeper purpose: they forced the building of a new relationship between two people who thought they knew each other but actually didn’t.

—The Illness and the Plot Extremes

Critics who argue that Hae-in’s illness lacked realism make a fair point. The drama could have done more to show its physical effects and the reality of her recovery.

Likewise, Hae-in’s post-surgery recovery was far more glamorous than reality would allow. Still, those shortcomings were not deal-breakers for me.

The arrest in Germany, the kidnapping, the hit-and-run, Hyun-woo somehow leaving the emergency room in one piece, and the winter gunshot sequence all pushed the boundaries of plausibility. But these were narrative devices designed to intensify the emotional climax between Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in.

Alchemy of Souls was pure fantasy, yet audiences embraced it because they connected emotionally with the characters. The same principle applies here.

—Why I Still Rate It So Highly

Even someone who loves Queen of Tears can acknowledge its flaws and still give it a 9 or 10.

Why?

Because, taken as a whole, the drama speaks to the heart.

I have never been wealthy, nor did I marry into a chaebol family. Yet the relationship between Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in reminded me of my own marriage.

My love was immature in the beginning. Like many couples, we experienced our share of dramatic and difficult moments. Then, in our sixth year together, my husband began suffering life-altering medical episodes while still appearing healthy on the outside.

I had to grow up. I had to choose to love him, not simply rely on the fluctuating feelings associated with being in love.

An emergency room doctor’s quick thinking over the phone taught me how to respond during his episodes. What I learned helped save his life at least a dozen times.

A year later, the end came suddenly and tragically. There was no opportunity to go back and correct my mistakes. No chance to revisit the moments when I had been immature or selfish.

After spending enough time blaming myself, I eventually realized something important: he never held those mistakes against me. He had made plenty of his own. We always understood that about each other, even during our worst arguments.

That realization changed how I viewed Queen of Tears. Forgiveness is one of the highest forms of love in action.

I love the song “Way Home,” but because of my own experiences, it is still difficult for me to listen to the final soundtrack without becoming emotional.

—Why is Queen of Tears a treasured story for many

I am certain I am not the only viewer who found pieces of their own life reflected in this drama.

Queen of Tears may contain over-the-top moments, but many viewers accept them because extraordinary moments exist in ordinary lives. We just don’t read about them every day.

In the end, despite its plot holes, detours, and occasional excesses, Queen of Tears succeeds where it matters most.

It reminds us that love is not merely something we feel.

Love is a choice. And it is not for the faint of heart.

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loved the brotherhood of friends

it was a good drama overall. the 4 friends since high school was a pleasure to watch - including the snippets or flashbacks at the beginning of each episode of the specific moments of their lives over the years.
my favorite character was Tae San. he was an intentional man. he chose to love Se-ra and committed himself to her - while he struggled over the marriage issue he still wanted her.
Do Jin - difficult to watch him try to win Yi Soo over. but between Do Jin attempts and YI Soo’s seemingly immature responses/rejections, both of them left much to be desired in the first half.
Lee Jung Rok - what an idiot to cheat on his wife. I don’t have words for his kind. mi seek was just as weak - she actually enabled him by threatening to but never following through with the divorce
Choi Yoon - he always had a pained look on his face regarding Mi Ra. you never got to see him as a successful competent lawyer. mi ra’s many childish ways were annoying, especially her crying. Yoon and Mi Ra’s story arc was the least compelling evincing.
the show got better and ended well.
this drama offered som good insights guys and plenty of truly funny moments.

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An excellent, excellent Drama!!!!

the perfectly cast Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Yae Ji, and Oh Jung Se literally became Moon Gang Tae, Ko Min Young, and Moon Sang Tae respectively. The brother relationship between MGT and MST is the best I’ve seen after watching 150 +/- K-dramas. The tender moments and the fight scenes were worth every minute. KSH and SYJ had excellent chemistry. What began as Eye Candy to KMY and repulsiveness to MGT bloomed - through craziness - into a lovely romance. KMY did not have disassociative personality disorder. She needed to know what it felt like to be cared for, and loved for who she really was inside. MGT needed the same as he was slowly burning out emotionally.
I loved the way they all three became family. The three actors blended exceptionally well in every scene they were in together. it’s a toss up who dominated the screen between SYJ and OJS. they were equally great. It was KSH, though, who carried the whole drama from beginning to end so beautifully! His MGT character arc was critical to the arcs of KMY and MST and he nailed it. the breakdown scene in Episode 9 was a jaw dropper. I felt his emotions deep in my heart. all the supporting cast added depth and emotion to the entire drama.
The story itself was cleverly told; an unlikely romance told with the use of fairy tales in a mental health hospital - with great sensitivity in telling each person’s story.. The well earned ending for MGT, KMY, and MST was delightful and bittersweet at the same time. I didn’t want them to leave. I even teared up watching the last few minutes. the story did start to go over the top with the revelation of the villain which is why I rated the story itself a 9.
The art work and cinematography were excellent. the fields and colors were beautiful. the ocean view at the hospital was so peaceful. the cursed castle was creepy - as it was supposed to be. the OST was perfect. I’ve played it many times while working.
it’s rewatch value is a definite 10 - I’ve watched it probably 4 times already.
I loved this drama. it was probably my 10th K-drama.

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