Queen of Tears — Series Review (Spoilers)

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Queen of Tears is a Netflix series released on 9 March 2024, adding to the growing collection of K-dramas on the streaming platform. The story centres around a man who divorces his wife, only to discover she has a terminal illness that will soon claim her life. This revelation sets off a whirlwind of secrets and betrayals that drive the series forward.

Each episode is packed with plot twists that constantly shift the characters’ circumstances and their goals. For example, when a potential cure for Hae-in’s illness is discovered, she and Hyun-woo travel to Germany for treatment, creating a new storyline. The moment one plot thread concludes, another begins without a pause. This relentless pace keeps viewers engaged but comes at the expense of a deeper emotional impact.

The lack of breathing room between twists is noticeable. Audiences need time to adjust to changes in the character’s status quo, allowing tension to build and stakes to feel meaningful. This kind of pacing is well-executed in series like The Vampire Diaries, where twists develop steadily across a season, setting up significant stakes with a sense of resolution and progression. Without these quieter moments, Queen of Tears sometimes feels overwhelming.

What makes Queen of Tears unique is its focus on an established couple, rather than the typical K-drama trope of new relationships culminating in happily-ever-after endings. This fresh take on romantic dynamics breaks away from the formula, showing the genre’s growing diversity in storytelling. Exploring a love story between two people who already share a history adds emotional complexity to the narrative, making the drama stand out among its peers.

Recent K-dramas have expanded beyond traditional school-based narratives and youthful love stories, exploring romances in office settings or between older characters. Shows like Hotel del Luna, Crash Landing on You, and Strong Woman Do Bong-soon highlight this trend, with Hotel del Luna weaving in supernatural themes. It’s refreshing to see the genre evolving with new settings and character archetypes, offering viewers greater variety.

While I appreciate twists in storytelling, Queen of Tears overdoes them. The constant barrage of twists leaves little time for audiences to absorb the consequences of one before the next emerges. Striking a balance between slow pacing and rapid developments is crucial, especially with the longer runtime of K-dramas. Too many twists can dilute their emotional impact, making them feel less meaningful.

Longer episodes can work to a show’s advantage when used thoughtfully. True Beauty, for instance, uses its runtime to develop relationships and carefully introduce new plot points without overwhelming the narrative. Queen of Tears, however, misses opportunities to delve deeper into Hae-in’s condition and its effect on her relationships, particularly her divorce from Hyun-woo. Similarly, more backstory on Eunsung’s possessive nature towards Hae-in would have enriched the narrative.

Hae-in stands out as a heroine. Unlike the meek, reserved female leads of earlier K-dramas, she is assertive, intelligent, and unafraid to stand up for herself. She reminds me of Bong-soon from Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, though some of her decisions remain puzzling. While quieter heroines have their charm, characters like Hae-in keep me engaged by challenging expectations. Her ability to fight for herself in a world that constantly tests her strength is inspiring.

Hae-in’s strength is not her sole trait. She is deeply flawed, grappling with her mortality and moments of vulnerability, often caused by Hyun-woo’s mistakes or her family’s actions. This nuanced portrayal makes her a compelling character fighting against her limited time. The mortality aspect of her storyline is particularly gripping, as it adds urgency to her every decision and interaction, making her struggles deeply relatable.

Hyun-woo’s journey is one of redemption. He begins as a flawed character, making significant mistakes, such as hiding written divorce papers from Hae-in. When those papers resurface later, they shatter the progress in their relationship. His growth over the series is a testament to how a character can evolve by confronting their flaws and facing consequences. Watching Hyun-woo navigate his guilt and attempt to rebuild trust with Hae-in is both heartbreaking and rewarding.

Eunsung is an effective villain with a chilling descent into madness, but his dynamic with his mother feels underexplored. His unraveling builds steadily throughout the series, culminating in his complete breakdown. However, the twists surrounding him could benefit from more space to create a stronger emotional impact. His role as an antagonist is fascinating, especially as his motivations are revealed, but there’s a sense that the story only scratches the surface of his potential complexity.

K-dramas are known for their tropes, and Queen of Tears embraces many, including hospital plotlines and the rich-girl-poor-man dynamic. However, unlike older dramas such as Boys Over Flowers, it integrates these tropes into a gripping story without making them feel forced. The show finds ways to reinvent familiar ideas, weaving them into the narrative in a fresh and engaging way.

Some elements, though, feel unnecessary, such as Hyun-woo’s car accident towards the end. It is a last-minute attempt to add drama, detracting from the narrative. The 1-hour-30-minute episodes feel overly long for this story, with filler plot points often padding the runtime. While the series does make good use of its extended length at times, there are moments where the pacing feels uneven, and certain subplots could have been trimmed or omitted entirely.

Despite its issues, the extended pacing does allow for deeper exploration of Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s relationship, making the characters feel fleshed out. However, the reliance on constant cliffhangers to sustain interest could have been avoided with tighter storytelling. A more balanced approach to pacing might have allowed the emotional moments to resonate more fully, creating a stronger connection with the audience.

What truly elevates Queen of Tears is its emotional core. Despite its flaws, the series manages to deliver powerful moments that stay with you long after the credits roll. The themes of love, loss, and redemption are handled with sensitivity, and the cast’s performances bring these emotions to life. The chemistry between the leads, in particular, is a highlight, making their journey all the more compelling.

With this series having its issues, especially with its pacing, I still think it’s one of the best K-dramas I have seen. It may not be perfect, but it’s undeniably moving and offers a fresh take on the genre’s usual conventions. By the end, it left me in tears and longing for more. I look forward to seeing what this genre has to bring in the future.