Queen Cheorin (2020)

SO GOOD exept the very end

I loved it so much at first !! One of the funniest drama for me, So Yong / Bong Hwan kicks ass and is so entertaining. The acting is flawless, the side characters are amazing.

But the ending made no sense to me... We don't know the real so yong, she is not the main character nor the one we get attached to during the whole show. Seems to me like they just wanted to avoid the gay part of the story at the end by blaming everything on hormones or something like that and that they didn't know what to do about real-so-yong's soul wandering alone... It also makes no sense bc it's not a happy ending they want it to be : CheolJong didn't fall in love with real-so-yong. How many time until he realizes that the queen is not the witty and arrogant woman he loves ? Or even worse, if he doesn't realize then the whole love story falls appart.. It's a cruel situation for him but also for Bong Hwan who wanted to stay and fell hard for CheolJong but then in a heartbeat is just satisfied to be set aside and go back to his old life as if nothing happpened... He was also exited to have his baby and so attached to it and then what ? Nothing ? We just see him happy that history changed a bit and that's it. What a heartbreacking twist. The ending really tarnish the show in my opinion because it turns a fantastic story into the background of a dull relationship... Kinda feels like the writers chickened out at the end to avoid writing a gay story...

If it was not for that, perfect !!

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In awe of how they had turn such an absurd, random concept into this masterpiece.

This experience has been such a delight. This drama has shown me lots of colors. I am especially in awe of how they had turn such an absurd, random concept into this masterpiece. I was honestly worried on how they could pull this off after reading the premise, but everything just worked.

There are some debates on the ending but personally, I wouldn't change a thing. Well except to get additional perception on one of the characters who had such a strong impact on the entirety of this drama. I think knowing and understanding her more would give the story, especially the ending, a stronger justification. I also really wanted to explore the ending not only for the main characters, but other support characters, as well.

I would love one more episode so we could see how the characters adjusted and lived but even without it, I firmly believed that everything fell into place. In a way, I loved how they didn't force a definite explantation of things on us so we are free to interpret it how we want to and depending on what feels right to us. I always love dramas where I could give it a touch of my own imagination. In some dramas, this may appear like a huge plot hole but if done right, it's such a nice element to add flavor to the story.

I loved every second I spent with this — from the setting, the vibe, the characters, the plot, the twists and turns, and the various lessons and realizations this has inflicted upon me.

The comedy hits on the right spot and there wasn't a single episode where I wasn't laughing out loud. I could be watching this at 3AM and I would be rolling on my bed, laughing.

I would also want to praise Shin Hye Sun and Kim Jung Hyun for such remarkable performances. I appreciated their versatility. One second they're serving us peak comedy, then powerful emotions the next. I love them so much! Their chemistry, too, is through the roof!

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This is an Anti-Fan Review #iykyk

I started watching this drama with not so much expectations but I was blown away by its solid storytelling from start to end. They have incorporated comedy so very well that it left me laughing just remember the scenes lol. The cast were all commendable especially Shin Hye-sun (SHS) and Kim Jung-hyun (KJH). SHS's complex character stood out so great and it was never overbearing. Meanwhile, KJH portayed a two-faced character which was a great challenge to execute but he pulled it off very well. Those last few scenes where he got up and walk towards the palace and then it started snowing is still vivid in my memory. That's how his acting is-- memorable. I was one of those people who watched this show as an ongoing series and then there's also previews... so you know how our patience is tested for this kind of viewing hahahaha

If there's anything that this show is so good at, it is THE PLOT TWISTS. There are so many plot twists in this show and those were all succinctly delivered. Each 60-minute episode seemed to pass by so fast!

Anyway, I am rating this as a 10 because of a solid story, meaning all scenes that were shown are vital in weaving this masterpiece. Effective storytelling is birthed when there is teamwork from ground up and this happened in Mr. Queen. Kudos to everyone involved in making this drama a spectacular masterpiece!

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It has it all and more!

Where to start?

Maybe from the beginning - I love sageuks, they're my favourite genre of kdramas that can be offered. I was still seething from watching The Red Sleeve and I was looking for something to wash down the bad taste that sageuk left behind. Lo and behold, this came up as a suggestion and I remember reading the infobox and thinking "this is like Go Go Princess". Imagine my surprise when I realised that it was the korean remake of the webdrama! From the onset the show was ticking all the boxes: a sageuk with a wacky premise that is balanced with romance and comedy, and a tasteful side of politics (I will die on this hill of me loving the political side to sageuks). Plus, the show was finished which meant it was binge watch time.

Premise:
Like it's predecessor, this show keeps the general gist that GGP did; playboy Bong-hwan has an accident that results in him being thrown back to the Joseon era, and not only that, he's in the body of the seemingly meek and obedient So-yong, Queen to King Cheoljong. The first few episodes deal with Bong-yong trying desperately to get back to his body and doesn't really care for the politics that are happening around him, remaining aloof and uncaring to the situation at the palace. But things are brewing and people are plotting and political intrigue is happening whether Bong-yong knows it or not, all the while he's being dragged into it.

I will defend the political side to sageuks with my dying breath and this show is no exception because we, like Bong-yong, are outliers and are learning who's who and what they want and we learn this alongside Bong-yong; it's not just good guys v bad guys, because everyone has their own side and are willing to do what they want to get it, Cheoljong is no exception to this. And we learn alongside Bong-yong, that palace life is not as perfect as it seems.

Characters:
Oh man oh man, where to even BEGIN? Bong-hwan is your typical playboy: he's kind of a chauvinist, a misogynist, doesn't really care about anyone but numero uno: himself and you don't entirely believe he's a good person, even though we know he isn't bad per se. I didn't generally care for Bong-hwan as his present day self because there isn't anything to really like about him, until he wakes up and is suddenly in So-yong's body; this, dear readers, is where the fun kicks in.

So-yong is a blank slate, portraying the meekness that is commonplace amongst girls at this time. She's sweet, she's quiet and soft, she has no big plans or goals other than one: to be queen and to love the king, and even be loved in return. By all accounts, she is innocent and the most innocent in the show as the sins of the father and family should not be on her shoulders. But Bong-yong isn't going to lie down and take any crap from people, and trouble and chaos ensues.

Bong-yong is a mix of So-yong and Bong-hwan; Bong-yong is loud, is brash, doesn't know etiquette, doesn't have a filter but Bong-yong is also kind and caring and sweet to those around her. Bong-yong is not Bong-hwan or So-yong, but the best (and worst) of both. Bong-yong's main storyline branches out from the need to get home, and instead becomes a journey of identity, both in terms of gender and sexuality. Bong-yong falls in love with Cheoljong, and at no point do you doubt that it's really only So-yong who is in love, and not Bong-hwan. And of course Bong-yong is thrown into chaos - she has never fallen in love with a man, let alone be attracted to one, and she doesn't know who she really is - her soul is Bong-hwan, but her body and heart is So-yong and she has lost all sense of who she truly is. But she never loses her way - in the end she decides it doesn't matter who she is, she loves who she loves and nothing will change that.

Cheoljong - my love, my life, how to even describe you? I believe i was like many in the beginning: i remember his first on screen appearance and i was like "uh, he's hardly going to be the main love interest?" He's goofy, he's simple, easily led astray and manipulated by his family and his government members. The literal definition of no thoughts, head empty, brain smooth. He was chosen simply because he was thought to be simple minded and could act as a puppet. However, we learn that this is very much not the case.

Cheoljong is an act: he knows how corrupt his government and the palace are, he knows the true nature of everyone who tries to make him think he can trust them and he is working secretly and tirelessly to bring down all the people in his way. He's cunning, meticulous, calculating and cruel at times, and sometimes that goofy façade cracks and his real self peers through, frightening those who begin to realise they were wrong about him from the start but this realisation comes all too late for many of Cheoljong's adversaries.

But the best part of Cheoljong? When he's in LOVE. In the beginning, we know he doesn't care for So-yong, let alone love her (insert second female lead here) and didn't seem entirely concerned when she decided to kermit sewerslide (in fact, I would say he would have loved for nothing more than for her to have died then). But So-yong has changed since her accident: she's no longer obedient and meek and quiet in any shape or form. She's eccentric and loud and does what she wants when she wants, and also seems to have forgotten her love confession to him. Cheoljong realises that maybe there's more to his queen and, despite objections, begins to place trust in her about his plans.

Cheoljong fell in love like how a person sleeps: slowly, and then all at once. He doesn't care about Bong-yong's constant monologues and quirky sayings (he even creates a queen's dictionary so he can understand Bong-yong's 21st century slang), her carefree attitude and nonchalant displays of affection touch Cheoljong as he has remained deprived of such things all his life. He is the number one supporter of "no touch", though doesn't seem to know exactly what it means other than "we live happily together separately". He wants Bong-yong to be happy, and he wants to be happy with her. And we never really do find out which side of Bong-yong that Cheoljong fell for, save for the end where he comments he feels like he's missing something once Bong-hwan and So-yong have been returned to their old selves. But Cheoljong loves Bong-yong, he fell first and oh boy did Cheoljong fall the hardest; he tries his best to understand Bong-yong's modern slang, has grown accustomed to her outbursts that freak everyone out and eventually she becomes the main reason he needs to keep fighting when everything seems lost.

Other characters include: second male lead who loves main female lead and then does everything to make her hate him while thinking he's doing it to protect her, second female lead who lied to male lead about being the girl from his childhood and hates the female lead, evil plotting baddies group 1 and 2, female lead's entourage and female lead's dad who is a cutie patootie and redeems himself for good. I don't have much to say about these side characters; they were good, they were fun, they did their parts in stirring up trouble and there was nothing really spectacular about them.

Other points:
The ACTING - mein got, Shin Hye-sun is a a GODDESS, you could really tell there was a difference between Bong-hwan and So-yong and then when the two become more connected how Bong-yong is a mix of the two, feminine and masculine all in one. Kim Jung-hyun was fantastic, he really sold the idea of Cheoljong being an idiot, puppet king in disguise and by GOD, when this man would lose his temper and start yelling? I would have to pause and fan myself because woooo boy. These two stood out from the entire cast, which isn't too say everyone else was bad, it's just these two were a powerhouse of acting and chemistry that I don't think anyone else could beat these two. Oh god, and the COMEDY - Shin Hye-sun needs to do more comedy because she is FANTASTIC, there are times i would pause and have to catch my breath because of her comedic skills. The same can be said of Kim Jung-hyun but his comedy is subtle and more unaware, the two actors meshing and rolling off of one another.

COSTUME/SET DESIGN: the thing about GGP was that it was super low budget and they made it work because their low budget was part of the comedy. You won't find that here; amazing costume designs and set designs really make the show a treat for the eyes. I think my favourite part about sageuks is their costuming and set designs, it's a treat alongside the actual show itself.

MUSIC: imma keep it real, I did not listen to any of the soundtracks, opening or credits. But it's not bad, i think? I can't really remember the soundtrack to this show.

Writing this review has made me want to watch the entire show again. It's definitely one of the best dramas 2020/2021 has had to offer!

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Consistently entertaining and unique!

This is perhaps the first time that I'm not even slightly hesitant that a drama deserves 10/10. 2020 dramas proved to me that most kdramas, no matter how good, lack consistency. And frankly, I was slowly losing interest in them. But Mr. Queen on the other hand was the definition of being an effortlessly fun and engaging watch from start to its very last minute. Even better, the fun never took away from the drama's seriousness in its plot and emotions, making it impossible to not get attached to the characters and their stories.

The acting was also never lacking, even by the supporting characters. Shin Hye Sun doesn't need to do more to prove how versatile she is as an actress. Even just within this drama, she perfectly portrayed the two contrasting roles given to her. First, the heartbroken and innocent So Yong who is about to marry the King which doesn't love her back, and the hilariously outspoken 'Mr Queen' who is Jang Bong Hwan, a chef from modern times whose soul somehow gets trapped in So Yong's body. Jang Bong Hwan has to live as a noble woman in the palace, marrying a dissatisfied 'puppet king' planted by the So Yong's family, which was played by Kim Jung Hyun.

The above was a recipe for misunderstandings and uncertainty between the Queen and King, so I was quite unsure of how their relationship would progress but the writer outsmarted my thinking every time.

Also, I see how the ending could have ruined it for some, but I thought it made perfect sense as the drama justified it with proper explanation on the soul's control in So Yong's body.

Its been a while since I was so entertained, all-in-all, Mr. Queen is a flawless watch, no matter what genre you enjoy!

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This is a lover letter to our queen

I loved this drama beyond words, I laughed and cried and laughed again, pretty much all the cast is phenomenal. So here let me gash about it.

Story: the plot is so good!! although the falling in water and appearing in another timeline or world thing trope is so overused, but here it was brilliant because we didn’t know what happened to her all the series is she dead is she not where is she?! So good I was thinking about it day and night.
Acting: the queen it’s all her she is a queen she got my heart, she is so funny and played the “guy” part like a..well guy hehe. 10/10
Ending: the perfect ending in history I cried buckets in the last episode the ending was everything I wished for!
WATCH THIS DRAMA! YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!

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I started watching this series over a year ago and stopped at episode 8 back in April of last year. Maybe I was bored. Too much was going on plotwise and honestly they really didn't explain the family dynamics to my liking. However, I have a goal of finishing the shows in my currently watching list. I started rewatching and the show actually is better in the 2nd half. I usually don't say that. Most shows go down hill but this one picked up and became more interesting each episode.

The 2 best things about the show are that the cast is phenomenal and there are some genuinely funny, full on, laugh out loud moments. Shin Hye Sun and Cha Chung Hwa are pure comedy gold. Choi Jin Hyuk's voice was perfection. It's a good series to watch at least once.

I am shouting out epsiode 10. This epsiode was LOL funny. First when the Queen rolled out of the bed at the beginning when she was about to touch the King's nose and 2nd when Lady Choi smacked the Chef on the lips, I about hit the floor. That whole scene in the bamboo forest was hysterical.

4/21/23

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The first historical drama that successfully captured my heart!

As you can all see, my watchlist has literally no historical dramas/movies in my completed list or my plan to watch list. I’ve only seen Moon Lovers which failed me at the first few episodes, and sadly I had to drop them. Since then, I tend to avoid watching historical dramas as I thought it wasn’t my cup of tea. I tried watching the King’s Case Note once, and yet again I dropped them. And eventually I came with a thought that every historical dramas/films are B.O.R.I.N.G. However, then comes Mr. Queen, which I heard was really different from other historical dramas with the eccentric female lead and a comedic storyline. Who would’ve thought this drama would caught my eye—the eyes of someone who once avoids historical dramas.

The first episode didn’t really wow me to be honest, but oddly enough, I continued until the fifth episode, the eighth episode, the sixteenth episode, and eventually it lead me to the very last episode. I have to admit that some of the episodes in the middle (Ep 15-17) is a little boring as it focuses more on the dark side of the Palace instead of focusing on the King and Queen, but the trio—Court Lady Choi, Hong Yeon and the Queen herself—is something that always made me excited to watch a new episode. The side characters in the story left a big impact on the whole drama, as it made the drama more alive, more entertaining, and more beautiful!

The casts were all amazing! Shin Hye Sun killed the role, I really couldn’t think of any other actress that could pull off this role better than her! And what can I say for Cha Chung Hwa (Court Lady Choi), Che Seo Eun (Hong Yeon), Lee Jae Won (Du Il), Kim In Kwon (Royal Chef Man Bok), B.A.P’s Yoo Young Jae (Kim Hwan).... they were all ah-may-zing! Just WOW! Killed it! The only reason why I couldn’t give a full mark on the acting part was because there were some actors (like the man with the scar on his face and Dam Hyang’s dad) that seemed a little awkward when acting, but overall, it’s excellent!

What I really love about this drama is the balance between the genres. You could get this super nervewracking scenes, but it could make you laugh out loud in split seconds with the sudden comedy. You could see this beautiful friendship between the FL and the side characters and the beautiful romance between the leads. It was all written flawlessly. I really love how they took 35 minutes of the last episode to give every protagonists (even the side characters) a happy ending. I don’t really get why people are not happy with the ending of this drama which shows Bong Hwan going back to his body and So Yong going back to the Queen’s body once again... We may never see Queen So Yong beat Man Bok with her cooking skills, or seeing her use weird words that the King always fail to understand, or seeing her act inappropriately that made Court Lady Choi stressed out most of the time, but the happy ending here satisfies me so much, as it still makes everyone happy. Everyone gets justice and each of their own happy endings. It ends with all smiles, and that’s what really matters for me.

Thank you, Mr Queen for showing me beautiful friendships and romance and also for showing me that a happy ending doesn’t really mean the death of all the antagonists—but forgiving is. Despite all the controversies that has happened to Mr. Queen, I’m thankful that I had the chance to watch this from start til finish. Beautiful drama.

Overall, a 9.5/10! Off to Mr Queen: Bamboo Forest! Let’s go! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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A must watch Joseon period drama.

What a drama...! Totally enjoyed it. A modern day chef swapping in a princess body and ready to get married to the King. And followed with lots of chaos, comedy, heart breaking moments, jealousy and what not. A clear adventure for viewers to seek a wholesome drama and happy ending also HOPE for a new season.

A modern way to present the story of Joseon era and perfectly executed by each characters. Hae-Sun and Jung-hyun chemistry is so good and how they clear their misunderstanding and grow closer to each other Supporting characters gave astonishing performance within the same story frame.

The plot is set on a good pace which will give a satisfacting ending with clear explanation and salvation to those who needed.

Music are also good, you can check the playlist on youtube also.

PLEASE add this drama on your watchlist you will not regret it.

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GET READY TO LAUGHT YOUR BUTT OFF!!!

I swear, I have never laughed so much while watching a kdrama!

Oh my goodness! WHAT AN AMAZING STORY LINE!!! I have read of transmigration, but this one is so different! I know I also watched a Chinese drama along the same tune, but this one still feels far from that! It was cool from beginning to end. Oh my, how I love the food part! That was sooooo hunger-provoking! I also love how they considered absolutely ALL CHARACTERS!!! They all came together to form this one big world of funny ins and outs of palace life. They all rock! I love how it can be a mixture of funny and serious at the same time. Hands down, one of the most worth it dramas that I have ever watched! :)

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The Queenless Queen

While the series set out to explore the comedic possibilities of a modern soul trapped in a historical queen's body, the formula turned out to be very limited to spin it for a very long 20 episodes. I enjoyed its earlier episodes but it kept repeating the exact same gags with every single episode. How many times they repeated the same kitchen/cooking gags? I don't understand how they thought that would work. The cast size was limited as well, it could've definitely helped in coming up with new material. However, its biggest flaw was trying to add plot to its bare-bone formula. It's one of the rarest sights to see this level of shameless attempts. They didn't even know how to include it so they dedicated separate episodes for it in the middle parts while reallocating the comedy to different episodes separately, again. Cutting and editing it down into an 8 episodes package could've solved most of its issues. I wouldn't have rated it this high if it weren't for its set up, characters, and some of the gags.

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A ÚNICA COISA BOA DESSA SÉRIE É A FL

Me apaixonei por essa rainha, sério! Quero ver mais trabalhos dessa atriz e mais personagens descontraídas e loucas como essa. Demais!

Então por que só 6,00? Não houve um plot significativo na história para dar uma acordada no telespectador. O alívio cômico aqui é perfeito, demais, não tem do que reclamar. Os secundários não são tão legais assim. O 2º casal principal achei desinteressante, mas gostei demais das damas de companhia da rainha. Em nenhum momento achei maçante a história, ela fluiu perfeitamente, embora tenha faltado emoção para ser mais interessante em alguns aspectos. Dei muuuitas risadas com esse casal estranho, e essa rainha louca.
A química deles é muito boa, e acreditei demais no romance deles. Confesso que fiquei com muita saudades e triste com o final, pois esse casal merecia um final melhor. Muuuuito melhor que este. Odiei o final, foi horrível mas compreensivo depois de um tempo.

De qualquer forma vale muito a pena assistir independente do final ser feliz ou não, agradável ou não.

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