'Queen of Tears' is now the second highest-rated show in tvN history. Here's why you should binge it
The new K-drama, Queen of Tears, has everyone talking—memes are everywhere and fans are diving deep, learning everything they can about the real lives of the actors. Some viewers are even saying it's the CLOY of 2024!
The romantic-comedy drama, led by director Lee Jung Hyo of Crash Landing on You fame, features A-list stars Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won. Its popularity continues to skyrocket after it recently surpassed the ratings of the 2016 drama Goblin, securing its place as the second highest-rated show ever on tvN.
But what makes it so good? Here are some reasons why K-drama enthusiasts find Queen of Tears at the top of their list, and why you should add it to yours, too.
There is perfect chemistry among the cast
In the drama, lawyer Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-Hyun) is on the brink of filing for divorce from his CEO wife Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won). However, Hyun-woo's plans shift when Hae-in's health takes a turn for the worse.
"The chemistry between the actors is palpable. Their performances breathe life into the characters, making them feel like real people with genuine emotions," digital creator and entrepreneur Isaac Saliendra said. "Whether it's the lead male and female or the supporting cast, their interactions create a captivating ensemble. Viewers become emotionally invested in their journeys."
Lance Mejico, a journalist who writes about pop culture, also echoed the same thing. He thinks that the chemistry of the lead stars has "a lot to do" with the success of the show. "They make it so natural; that's why it's not hard for viewers to fall in love with the story."
He continued, "The rest of the cast are also equally talented, which makes it easier for die-hard fans and even for ordinary viewers to be glued to it every single week."
Engaging storytelling
Once you start watching the K-drama, there's no turning back. Saliendra said that the 16-episode drama transcends the typical K-drama formula, wherein its narrative is "layered, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged."
"From the very first episode, viewers are drawn into a web of family secrets, love, and personal struggles," he told L!fe. "The plot unfolds with unexpected twists, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Each episode reveals new layers of complexity, making it impossible to look away."
Moreover, for Laura Manlapaz, a software engineer who has watched Korean dramas since 2012, Queen of Tears, has a compelling storyline that portrays a universal theme to which viewers can relate.
"It mirrors our struggles in love, friends, family, and ambitions, which keeps viewers engaged and emotionally invested in the characters. We all just wanna root for a happy ending and redemption of the characters after an emotional rollercoaster journey," she noted.
Relatability of the concept of love
The first thing that comes to mind when we say K-drama is the "hopeless romantic" type of love. However, for some K-drama fans, the concept of love in Queen of Tears is authentic and can serve lessons in life, especially for married couples.
"It portrays that marriages aren't always perfect. Not everyone gets the 'happily ever after' after the wedding. It shows that people need to learn to communicate with their loved ones. Everyone has their own way of expressing love and their own way of seeing they are loved, and people need to learn how to give and understand that," Marie Benedicto said.
She thinks that viewers are hooked on the series because of the plot twists and how the artists portrayed their characters.
"People know how the main leads love each other, and it's just that they don't know how to communicate their love and struggles. Because of all the hindrances on their love story, people are so intrigued about how this will end," Kim Irish De Guzman, a certified Ji Won fan, said.
Beyond the exploration of love, Queen of Tears breaks societal expectations and outdated ideas surrounding marriage.
"It portrays a man who dares to terminate his marriage despite the family's wealth and status, by addressing toxic family dynamics and the courage to break free, the drama resonates with viewers who have faced similar struggles. It's a refreshing departure from the usual romantic tropes," Saliendra said.
Patricia Acer, a system administrator, also said while most K-dramas usually begin with romance and a happy start, Queen of Tears begins with the male lead asking for a divorce.
"Everything that the female lead had done in the drama was commonly done by male chaebols from other K-dramas," Kim Ji-Won's Philippine fan base added, highlighting the reverse cliché aspect of the drama where the female character is the chaebol and the male character is a prince or the "Queen's Man."
Impressive production
Aside from characters, plot, and script, Queen of Tears also fuels our wanderlust with dreamy scenes beyond South Korea.
For instance, the series features Germany prominently—a location that holds special significance for the on-screen couple as it was their honeymoon destination and the place where their love story reignited.
Moreover, these kinds of scenes were combined with soundtracks that give viewers a certain kind of emotion.
"If there is anything that makes a drama memorable to me, it is the soundtrack, which gives me all the feels and kinda takes me back each time to scenes I find remarkable, combined with picturesque scenes," Manlapaz said.
Queen of Tears is nearing its finale, but the showrunners are already teasing something special for fans to enjoy after the final episode.
As the show comes to an end on April 28, tvN said that they will be airing a two-part special episode on May 4 and 5.
Not many details have been released but the special episodes will feature the main cast: Kim Ji Won, Kim Soo Hyun, Park Sung Hoon, Kwak Dong Yeon, and Lee Joo Bin.