This review may contain spoilers
A Ruthless Ride Led by a Queen Who Owns Her Darkness
You will always find me seated for a good “women going to town on evil men” drama, and Queen Mantis absolutely delivered. I loved every second of it.
Go Hyun-jung was phenomenal with that innocent face and disarming smile, she murdered men in cold blood without a hint of remorse, and somehow you never once felt she was on the wrong side. She was strong, confident, unapologetic and honestly, she didn’t even feel like a murderer, more like a saviour.
Jang Dong-yoon played his role perfectly as the emotionally stunted son who couldn’t see things from his mother’s perspective yet still longed for her love. Watching his growth was one of the most satisfying parts of the show. His gradual realization that life isn’t black and white, and that assailants can also be victims was thoughtfully done.
The show also nailed the suspense around the copycat killer. There were moments I even suspected the male lead! The mystery kept me guessing, and even when I thought I’d figured it out, the reveal still hit hard. That’s a rare win in thriller storytelling.
The supporting cast complemented the mother-son duo without stealing the spotlight, and the story balanced their arcs nicely. The final reveal, with the grandfather turning out to be pure evil, was shocking. I loved that the show didn’t take the “justice will be served through the system” route and instead let the female lead finish him off herself. The setup for Season 2 was the cherry on top.
Of course, it’s not flawless. The logic slipped a few times, the trans villain subplot felt unnecessary, and the pacing dragged a bit toward the middle. Still, those flaws were minor compared to what Queen Mantis got right.
Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. If I dare say, this might just be one of the best dramas of the year.
Go Hyun-jung was phenomenal with that innocent face and disarming smile, she murdered men in cold blood without a hint of remorse, and somehow you never once felt she was on the wrong side. She was strong, confident, unapologetic and honestly, she didn’t even feel like a murderer, more like a saviour.
Jang Dong-yoon played his role perfectly as the emotionally stunted son who couldn’t see things from his mother’s perspective yet still longed for her love. Watching his growth was one of the most satisfying parts of the show. His gradual realization that life isn’t black and white, and that assailants can also be victims was thoughtfully done.
The show also nailed the suspense around the copycat killer. There were moments I even suspected the male lead! The mystery kept me guessing, and even when I thought I’d figured it out, the reveal still hit hard. That’s a rare win in thriller storytelling.
The supporting cast complemented the mother-son duo without stealing the spotlight, and the story balanced their arcs nicely. The final reveal, with the grandfather turning out to be pure evil, was shocking. I loved that the show didn’t take the “justice will be served through the system” route and instead let the female lead finish him off herself. The setup for Season 2 was the cherry on top.
Of course, it’s not flawless. The logic slipped a few times, the trans villain subplot felt unnecessary, and the pacing dragged a bit toward the middle. Still, those flaws were minor compared to what Queen Mantis got right.
Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. If I dare say, this might just be one of the best dramas of the year.
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