This review may contain spoilers
Please, it's prince mantis not queen mantis
I'm trying to understand if the scriptwriter really understands the character of a psychopath as he wrote the dialogue "k*lling is not as difficult as clean it"In my PoV a serial K*ller didn't always mean to be a psycho. If the psycho did, it will be no trace; and they enjoy every process like a dedication. that's the horror, that's the thrill, That'll haunt the public's fear.
Some dialogues consider memorable, but overall story filled with clichés; it loses the hook.
As an character, ms. Go deliver the best character of a calculative mother figure. Not a mantis. Best of the worst. This drama talk about the female lead is it? Need not to saw the extras story.
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Yi-shin’s condition for cooperation is simple yet devastating: she will only speak to Detective Cha Soo-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon), who happens to be her son, a man who has spent his entire life hating and rejecting his mother. The plot unfolds into a tense psychological game between mother and son as they hunt down a new killer while unearthing old traumas.
Veteran actress Go Hyun-jung delivers one of the year’s most memorable and chilling performances. Her Jung Yi-shin is calm, controlling, and enigmatic. The scenes where she describes her crimes with cold, sadistic pleasure are the centerpiece of the series, constantly heightening the tension.
At the heart of the drama lies the twisted relationship between mother and son. The series explores Cha Soo-yeol’s deep inner conflict as he is forced to work with the very person who ruined his life, all while battling the fear of inheriting her darkness. This love-hate dynamic is intense and profoundly captivating.
Queen Mantis is not for everyone. It is a raw thriller with a grim atmosphere. The series sustains a high level of suspense, filled with unexpected twists and a strong focus on the psychological aspects of crime. It also addresses very dark themes such as murder, abuse, and childhood trauma.
Queen Mantis is a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers and dark psychological dramas. If you’re looking for a story that dares to explore the blurry line between maternal love and criminal madness—while keeping you on the edge of your seat with an unforgettable lead—this is definitely the drama to watch.
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I didn't look for the A-list actress, the A-list actress found me
Is she evil is she good? I guess you'll never know. That's exactly what makes Go Hyun Jung so irresistible to watch. She embodies ambiguity with precision. It was a fun surprise to learn she was also in Mask Girl considering I found her acting amusingly spectacular there, and this was no different.It becomes clear that the twists exist less for depth and more to stall before unveiling the real antagonist. Still, it's not a bad ride.
Having seen many in the same genre, the lack of chemistry of the investigating team here was difficult to overlook. There are archetypes filled in every k-crime series. In this one, several characters drifted either toward caricature or underdeveloped.
In summary, Go Hyun Jung was this drama's defining force and she made it worth it.
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More, please.
Spellbounding! Queen Mantis does not disappoint, EXCEPT I WANTED MORE. QM is not tagged as an ‘Limited Series’ on Netflix, I would appreciate a second season. 10s, across the board-script/writing, performances, costume, development, and many other attributes.SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
After watching Queen Mantis, I am reminded of the depth of my gratefulness for the talented Go Hyun-jung. Go Hyun-jung is the epitome of a classy independent survivor, a representation of a complete woman, despite adversity. Thankfully, Go retuned to the screen/stage, after enduring and escaping (what appeared to have been) an enslaved/subservient marriage.
I am grateful, I have witnessed Go (appear) live life to the fullest, enjoy her craft-love for the art of acting, and succeed with her own terms.
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HOPE THERE WILL BE SEASON 2!!!!
i just finished queen mantis and honestly it was amazing. this drama is going straight into my top list.To me, the acting was also brilliant. every emotion landed exactly as it should, especially the male lead's reaction when he found out the truth. the performances carried so much raw feeling that i was fully pulled in from start to finish.
the only thing that had me screaming was when the male detective’s wife went to that abandoned building even though she was told to go to a crowded place with people like girl come on you could have ran into the main road or something or even stopped a car..
But overall, I really enjoyed the drama. i really hope there will be season 2 cause they can’t leave us on a cliffhanger like that
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Gory Version of Family Feud
Chief Inspector Cha Suyeol, the ML, was transfered from narcotics to major crime when two bodies were discovered with modus operandi similar to a serial murder 23 years prior. Reason for his transfer was simple, the serial killer from then - Jeong I Sin, had been enlisted to help with the current investigation and her demand had been to work with her son, ML. ML totally detested his relationship with Jeong I Sin and never regarded her as his mother. Little that he knew, when Jeong had confessed to the crimes back then, her condition include protecting ML’s identity, to change it completely so he had no relation to Jeong and for him to be raised into a good person. The lead investigator then, now the captain of Major Crimes, became ML’s adoptive father as he was the one entrusted by Jeong to raise her son. As they close in to the copycat killer, more truths from her crimes 23 years ago emerged, which unlocked more memories from ML’s childhood that he had tucked far away and never wanted to revisit.I felt that the ML looked too boyish and young to play the chief inspector, and he made rather weird facial expressions when trying to convey his feelings. That very first expression he made during his first visit to Jeong was super weird that i couldnt distinguish if he was angry at Jeong or mocking her. Honestly i failed to see him as a police officer but more as a distraught, angry boy mad at his mom whom he thought had wronged him horribly as a boy.
I really love the one who played Jeong I Sin though. She nailed it as a serial killer complete with complex thought process and eerie vibe. Although her moral seemed questionable when she talked about her crimes, her motherly instinct kicked in when she reminisce about her time with ML as a boy. It was clear that she had nothing but ML’s best interest in all her moves, then and now, despite knowing how hateful her son was at her.
Although this was about a serial murder that seemed to be committed by a random stranger who may have idolised Jeong as a serial killer, it turned out to be much closer to her as a young mother when she first committed her crimes. It was hard not to see this as a family feud between not-siblings. The context was interesting, i would love to see Jeong back in action when they revealed the hint of Season 2 at the ending.
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Mother of a Twist!
Jung I Sin is a convicted serial killer known as the Mantis. Twenty years ago, she brutally murdered five men and shocked the nation. Her son, Cha Su Yeol, grew up hating her and everything she stood for. Now he works as a police officer, determined to stand on the opposite side of crime. But when a new murder case surfaces and mirrors the Mantis killings, Su Yeol is forced to seek help from the one person he despises the most. His mother. To catch a copycat, the hunter must team up with the original predator.And that is when the madness begins.
Queen Mantis is the kind of drama that grabs you by the collar and whispers, “Trust no one.” From the very first episode, my brain was in detective mode. Who is Jung I Sin really? Is she truly a monster? Is she protecting her son? Did someone else commit those murders? Was Lee Jung Yeon involved? Every episode added new layers, new flashbacks, new clues. Just when I thought I cracked the case, the drama said plot twist and pulled the rug out from under me. It is twist on twist on twist. A full Inception experience but make it crime thriller.
What makes it addictive is not just the mystery but the emotional undercurrent. Go Hyun Jung as Jung I Sin is simply phenomenal. In the beginning, she carries this eerie, almost supernatural aura. The way she stares, the way she smiles slightly, it feels like she knows ten secrets you do not. I kept asking myself if she was evil or just misunderstood. As the story unfolds, we see what truly drives her. Her son. Suddenly the devil horns start looking suspiciously like angel halos. It becomes a powerful reminder that you can never judge a book by its cover and that everyone has their own scars and silent battles.
The chemistry between Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon is chef’s kiss. Their relationship evolves from cold resentment to something painfully tender. You can feel the years of anger, betrayal, and longing in every scene. Watching Cha Su Yeol slowly confront his past and his feelings toward his mother was deeply satisfying. It was not just a crime investigation. It was emotional therapy wrapped in a thriller.
Kim Bo Ra as Lee Jung Yeon, however, left me a little puzzled. She definitely earned a spot on my suspicion board more than once, but beyond that, her impact felt limited. I kept waiting for a bigger narrative purpose. Still, she did her job in keeping me paranoid, so perhaps that was the point all along.
The dynamic between Jung I Sin and Choi Jung Ho also had me tilting my head. Are they allies? Old friends? Is there unresolved tension? Or is it simply detective and convict with complicated history? Their gray area added another intriguing layer to the story, even if it never spelled things out clearly.
What I loved most is how this drama makes you suspicious of almost everyone. No character feels entirely clean. No one feels entirely guilty either. It plays with your moral compass and dares you to decide who deserves redemption.
And that ending. Oh, that ending. Revenge completed. Truth revealed. Justice served. The good people finally smiling. I was genuinely happy that Jung I Sin received her form of peace, especially with her son standing by her side. After all the darkness, it felt earned.
Overall, Queen Mantis is a genius blend of mystery, emotion, and psychological tension. It keeps you hooked, guessing, and emotionally invested until the very last minute. If you are a fan of crime thrillers that mess with your head while quietly breaking your heart, this one is a must watch. Consider yourself warned. Once the Mantis locks in, there is no escaping.
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Cycle of darkness
This is a remake of the French show La Mante, which I never had the chance to watch. Judging this drama on its own terms, it is a serviceable police procedural and psychological thriller, but neither sub genre is truly explored in a satisfying manner. In fact, the show manages to make the police team main cast very unlikable for nearly the entire duration. Whether it is a lack of leadership from the chief to some genuinely annoying characters such as detective Bae, the police team spend a large amount of time displaying unusual incompetence and illogical decision-making skills.On the psychological front, there is an attempt to address the very real-world impact poverty and abuse can have on its victims, but I found it hard to connect with many of the characters emotionally - with the exception of perhaps Park Min Jae and of course our Queen Mantis herself, played with commanding presence by Go Hyun Jung. Unfortunately, I found the copycat killer reveal and story somewhat formulaic - I think trying to keep it a mystery box until the end without showing enough "clues" ahead of time made it difficult for me to believe it in the end. The set up of our male lead character was also lacking - I think if we were shown more of his youth/past and struggles with his hidden identity, I would have related more to him.
All in all, worth a check if you like the genre, but do not expect a truly gripping thriller. Also as a warning, there is plenty of gore and portrayal of abuse of many forms, including child abuse, so tread carefully there if that is an area of sensitivity for some viewers.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the Most Phenomenal Crime Thrillers This Year!!
What happens when a serial killer is idolized by another one? What happens when the said serial killer has experienced a mental trauma which set her on that path? What happens when the said killer’s son endeavors to become a straight laced police officer?From the pilot episodes itself, I questioned Jung I Sin’s intentions. Go Hyun Jung’s has a fabulous presence, while her younger version presents herself as a beautiful killer, the older version is haggard yet dangerously alluring. You are pulled into Jung I Sin’s world, even if you don’t want to be. The bloodthirst is viable, there is no pretense about the fact that she willingly killed five men who were either abusive to women or children. She punished the despicable, but like her son Cha Su Yeol often decrees, she had no right to. But to the women or children whom she released from a lifetime of pain & despair, she is no less than a Goddess. Our copycat killer, Ah Ra feels the same about her, to the point that she transitions from being a male to female. She entirely reinvents herself and models her life following into Jung I Sin’s footsteps. The only glitch being that Ah Ra is also secretly in love with I Sin. “Queen Mantis” is indeed about the Queen, Go Hyun Jung lives & breaths life into a character that is morally inept yet intriguing.
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/09/29/queen-mantis-series-review/#more-2067
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This review may contain spoilers
Great acting, thriller with a twist at the end.
Thought the storyline overall was great and really dwelves into the family of killers and the lasting impact on them. I liked how the drama built a fine line between right/wrong of the mom, and how you can not fully support her but also can’t fully hate/demonize her. The suspense and acting made the story something to look forward to.Was this review helpful to you?
Queen Jung Yi Shin
Queen Mantis is a gripping and emotionally complex drama that dives deep into morality, justice, and trauma. The story follows Jung Yi Shin, a woman who becomes a serial killer, but not without reason. Every one of her victims is an abuser or predator. The show never glorifies her crimes, but it constantly challenges viewers to question where the line lies between revenge and righteousness.Yi Shin is portrayed brilliantly as a calm, composed sometimes a bit crazy woman. Her trauma and choices are difficult to justify, yet equally hard to condemn. Her son, a police officer who believes killing is wrong no matter the reason, represents the rigid morality of the law... a law that often fails victims. Their relationship adds incredible emotional depth, especially in the later episodes where love, guilt, and duty collide.
The writing stands out for how it exposes the failures of the justice system and the hypocrisy of society. The subplot involving another killer, shaped by years of abuse and trauma, adds a disturbing but powerful layer, showing how violence can perpetuate itself.
At just eight episodes, the show maintains a perfect pace without unnecessary filler. Some moments feel exaggerated, like such large number of police failed to catch two women with single gun, and a few character actions might frustrate you, and the bond between su yeol and his wife didn't touch me... but the rest of the plot had me hooked.
By the end, Queen Mantis leaves you conflicted... torn between empathy and judgment, sorrow and satisfaction. It’s not just a thriller; it’s a raw reflection of how far people can be pushed when justice repeatedly fails them.
p.s..hoping there'll be season 2
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?️ “Queen Mantis” — When Justice Isn’t Black or White
Honestly, this drama is insanely good. It really makes you question — if someone commits a crime to protect the people they love… are they still a criminal? 🤔 Watching kids suffer because of adults, and the police being helpless because “the law says they’re minors,” hits differently.But the real showstopper? Go Hyun-jung as Mantis. Her performance is absolutely chilling — she doesn’t just act the role, she becomes it. There were moments when I literally got goosebumps watching her.
Now, being honest — the music could’ve been stronger, and a few parts of the story went a little off track. It’s not something I’d rewatch, but for fans of intense crime thrillers and morally grey characters, this one is totally worth your time.
P.S.: Guys, we actually have a female criminal lead here — and honestly, it’s rare to see that in Korean dramas!
P.P.S.: I’ll never look at quiet, composed women the same way again… you never know who’s hiding their inner “Mantis.” 😅
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