Mr. Queen: Best Korean Drama Series Review 2025

Review: “Mr. Queen” – A Captivating Fusion of Historical Drama and Supernatural Intrigue

Introduction

“Mr. Queen” transcends the boundaries of traditional historical dramas with its unique premise and intriguing plot twists. This South Korean series masterfully blends elements of comedy, romance, and political intrigue, offering viewers a captivating and immersive storytelling experience.

Plot Overview

At the heart of “Mr. Queen” lies the remarkable journey of Jang Bong Hwan, a modern-day chef who finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to the Joseon era. Entwined in a twist of fate, Bong Hwan’s soul inhabits the body of Queen Kim So Yong, setting the stage for a fascinating exploration of identity, power, and love in the royal court. As Bong Hwan navigates the challenges of court politics and palace intrigue, he must adapt to the customs and roles of a bygone era while unraveling the mysteries that shroud the palace.

Characters

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Shin Hae Sun delivers a stellar performance as the assertive and unconventional Queen Kim So Yong, infusing her character with wit, vulnerability, and strength. Opposite her, Kim Jung Hyun shines as King Cheol Jong, a monarch caught between duty and desire. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, drawing viewers into a tumultuous yet endearing relationship that transcends time and societal norms.

Direction and Cinematography

Directed by Yoon Sung Sik and Jang Yang Ho, “Mr. Queen” boasts exceptional production values that transport viewers to the grandeur and opulence of the Joseon era. The meticulous attention to detail in set design, costumes, and cinematography captures the essence of historical Korea, creating a rich and immersive visual tapestry that enhances the storytelling.

Themes

“Mr. Queen” delves into themes of gender identity, power dynamics, and the pursuit of personal agency within a rigidly patriarchal society. Through Bong Hwan’s transformation into Queen Kim So Yong, the series explores notions of femininity, masculinity, and the complexities of cultural expectations. The narrative weaves a nuanced tapestry of humor, drama, and social commentary, inviting viewers to ponder the intricacies of human nature and societal norms.

Mr. Queen | Official Trailer | CJ ENM

Watch this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Ikfk0hJbw

[Mr. Queen]
Working as the President’s chef, free-spirited man, Bong-hwan, wakes up one day in Joseon Dynasty as a woman named So-yong, who has to marry King Chul-jong the next day. He tries to return to the present day, or even at least back to being a man, but fails. He marries the King and becomes the Queen Cheorin, but feels devastated that he has to spend the nights with a ‘man.’ Luckily, the king does not touch him in any way.

Living as So-yong, Bong-hwan finds out many conspiracies behind So-yong, including finding about people who tries to get rid of her. Also he finds out that the King does not love So-yong, but someone else. Now as a tradition, So-yong turned Bong-hwan has to spend 7 nights together with the King.

This drama has made me laugh a lot, cry a little and I really enjoyed it. The cast is GOLD, their acting is superb, the script is really good, the setting has been really well done… I really recommend this show, go for it :)

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Mr. Queen” is a riveting and thought-provoking drama that pushes the boundaries of historical storytelling with its refreshing take on time travel and court intrigue. From its compelling storyline and dynamic characters to its visually striking cinematography and thematic depth, this series is a testament to the creative ingenuity of South Korean television.

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of “Mr. Queen” and embark on a journey of discovery, laughter, and romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final episode. Prepare to be enthralled, enchanted, and emotionally invested in this unforgettable tale of love, power, and self-discovery.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are based on personal observation and interpretation of the series. Viewer experiences may vary.

Feel free to reach out if you have any other requests or need further assistance in crafting your review!

Reviews By People

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.

Rating: 7/10, recommended watch for light-hearted Joseon-period romcom. The lead actors are strong and the supporting cast add a lot of endearing humor making each episode a lot of fun to watch. My main criticism is in some foundational writing: Chef Jang Bong-Hwan, played by Choi Jin-hyuk, falls into a swimming pool in the 21st century and suddenly his soul/mind transfers into a Joseon queen’s body for no reason other than plot.
I wish they had added some lore, mysticism, life-lesson foreshadowing or some justification to make a more seamless story. At the end of the series the chef abruptly returns to his body and it felt very disjointed from story we invested in. Choi Jin-hyuk was mostly in the first and last episodes and his voice was no longer used for the majority of the series. Otherwise, it’s a delightful comedy. Shin Hye-sun is a remarkable actress in this show, her mannerisms, humor, and character development is enthralling.

I finally finished it! I started watching it last 2021 and dropped it when I saw a spoiler about the ending because I didn’t like it. But since this is so entertaining, I went back and watched it again up to the end. The cast was amazing, the story was well paced, and the humor is exactly my type lol
I’ve seen KJH in School 2017 and I really liked him there so no surprise when I saw how he embodied this helpless, but not really, king. And I think this is the first drama I’ve seen of SHS. She’s amazing especially at the end when the (SPOILER) original soul took over the body. The glaring differences of two characters and the little bits of similarity is so incredible. The way she delivered her lines, I think, is the reason why the humor hit home run every time.
But yeah, I still didn’t like the ending they made for our main couple. That one little scene of the king feeling like he lost something just doesn’t do it for me. Yeah, you lost something dude! Your queen! Because just like how the king said he fell in love with Hwa Jin and not just because of the life debt he thought he owed her, the one he really bonded with through thick and thin was JBH, the one he fell in love with was that guy who transmigrated.
The well as the point of attachment for the original Queen and the King is just so weak, I can’t bring myself to root for them. And why did we go through the rollercoaster of JBH’s inner conflict to being attracted to a man if they’ll just put him back lol A lot of characters in the story got their well-deserved happy ending but for the main leads, I consider it a BE.
And also, NIW’s chara’s story is just heartbreaking, a lot of those he brought upon himself but he’s just so hopelessly dedicated until the end, you’ll just feel sorry for him anyway. It seems to me that this drama wanted to lean into the light-heartedness of the story. Even the main villains got off too lightly in my opinion, if you consider the things they’ve done (which isn’t much but…).
Would definitely rewatch it after some time. 8/10.

I Just got done watching this drama after much going back and forth about if I wanted to even start it because of the confusing sypnosis, but after reading these review on here I decided it was time to give it a go…… And I can’t believe I didn’t watch this when it first aired. I Do Not do historical dramas of any sort— I use to be able to sit through historical dramas but I don’t know, my preference has really changed throughout the many years of watching Korean dramas. I gave this one a chance and it Did Not disappoint.
I loved every aspect of the complexity of the characters, how you never knew what was going to come next or how these characters were going to act or respond to something happening in the drama, to the drama’s comedic side. I found myself laughing so much in this historical drama. One reason I don’t do historical dramas is because you always know when there’s history there’s politics and I don’t do those two, that’s when it really starts to get messy for me. When there’s politics there’s killings.
So I have changed my genre preference of Korean dramas to rom-coms only but this one definitely brought back the memories of watching all genres of Korean dramas from 10 years ago for me. I have never seen any of the dramas with the main lead actress but this woman deserved an award for her acting in this drama!!! It was superb!!!! I actually only really came here because of main male lead after watching him in CLOY and 2nd female lead after seeing her in Business Proposal.
Don’t sleep on this drama like I did if you’re reading these comments thinking if you should watch this drama or not!!!!!! P.S. Here I Am song gets me every time!!!!! My favorite from the series!!! It’s on replay for me!!!!

This drama is super hilarious on multiple levels! I have to say I could watch it 20 eps nonstop at once. I can stop laughing everytime I see court lady Choi. She is one of the most funny characters in the whole drama. Except for 1 thing, the romance is super weird too. It is a man soul in a woman body, we dont know who is in love with the king at the end. I cant stop myself from imagine it is Jin Hyuk and the king that kissed, made love and end up having Jin hyuk pregnant ?.
It is just too fcking weird!!! It would be more logic if the inner soul of the real Queen can talk with Jin Hyuk and they try to take control of 1 body. Even if a man is trap inside a woman body, he cannot be converted to be a woman by time. It that is true, then what is LGBT? Can they just have to stay in the body that is not merged with the true sex and wait for conversion? Except from the romance logic, it is very worth watching again. Damn, I really had to convince myself the king is kissing Hye Sun- a woman from time to time.