Mr. Queen (2020)

May 14, 2023

Our Take: A breath of fresh air for sageuks. 

The Premise

In modern times, Jang Bong Hwan (Choi Jin Hyuk) is a head chef cooking for South Korea's top politicians in the Blue House's presidential residences. He's a dreamer and womanizer with a charismatic personality. But, one day, Bong Hwan gets into trouble at work after a coworker sets him up to fail. As he tries to run away, he gets into a terrible accident and finds himself transported into the body of Kim So Yong (Shin Hye Sun), a young queen in the Joseon era. 

Queen Kim So Yong's husband is King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung Hyun), the reigning monarch. He is a gentle and quiet person who is a figurehead king. The late King Sun Jo's widow, Grand Queen Dowager Sun Won (Bae Jong Ok) wields the true power in his name. While trying to find a way to return to his body in modern Korea, Bong Hwan attempts to win Queen Sun Won's favor by cooking for her. In the process, Bong Hwan/ So Yong discover that King Cheol Jong is not who he seems. Meanwhile, Sun Won's brother, Kim Jwa Guen (Kim Tae Woo) secretly harbors a desire for power.

Bringing the Characters to Life

Despite her unorthodox character, Shin Hye Sun skillfully pulls off the different personalities of Queen Kim So Yong and Jang Bong Hwan. Her ability to transition between acting as a male and female at ease is phenomenal. The way she sits, walks, talks, and even her expressions are so natural that you don't doubt for a second that Bong Hwan's soul is trapped inside So Yong's body. She is a complex, multi-layered character who subtly navigates between acting like a Queen to stay in her position, cooking show-stopping meals, and seeking ways to return home. No matter how ridiculous her situation is, she never feels like a caricature and always feels relatable. 

Like So Yong/ Bong Hwan, King Cheol Jong wears many masks. While he puts on a naïve and innocent act, he carries an aura of darkness. Given his upbringing and surroundings, he has many fears and frequently makes terrible decisions. However, in the context of a "dog eat dog" world where violence and upheaval are always present, Cheol Jong's actions are easier to understand.

Together, they have an interesting dynamic that has an equal amount of intensity and comedic relief. While Cheol Jong wants to keep his distance, the Queen's bold and wildly inappropriate actions captivate him. As he tries to decipher her behavior, Bong Hwan is (unsuccessfully) trying to control So Yong's feelings for the king.

While Shin Hye Sun shines the brightest, the rest of the cast makes the show much more immersive and engaging. Their interactions feel natural and relatable, as each character has struggles, flair, and a convincing backstory. 

An Almost Perfect Masterpiece 

A lot of K-dramas start strong but gradually lose steam as the show goes on, whether due to bad writing, lackluster characters, or poor pacing. However, Mr. Queen starts with solid momentum and carries that momentum throughout the rest of the show. The writers skillfully balance Korean history, fantasy, drama, action, suspense, politics, and romance, creating a strong blend of different genres that keeps you excited and interested at all times. 

The moment we get thrown into the Joseon era, like Bong Hwan, we slowly learn more about who So Yong and Cheol Jong are and who we can trust. With each episode, the characters become more endearing, the romance continues to build, and the story gets more intense. But there's still plenty of comedic relief to balance out the intensity. As you laugh one moment and get heated the next, you become more and more invested in the show and the characters. Even with 20 episodes, there are plenty of twists and turns and practically no filler episodes. 

A Bittersweet Ending

In the end, Bong Hwan returns to the present day while So Yong reclaims her place as queen. While it may seem like Bong Hwan did all the work to get Cheol Jong to fall in love with him, there are a lot of nuances between So Yong, Bong Hwan, and Cheol Jong's relationship that make you question who the king actually fell in love with. 

Because Bong Hwan has a flashy and arrogant personality, there are constant back-and-forth conversations between him and the king that are unique to them. Additionally, Bong Hwan frequently uses slang, shows off his cooking knowledge, and carries himself in an unladylike way. As a result, it may seem like these quirky and strange behaviors are the very traits that Cheol Jong was charmed by and fell in love with. 

However, from the beginning, So Yong has been a crucial part of the story, even though her presence is much more muted compared to Bong Hwan's. Since she was young, So Yong has loved Cheol Jong and acted with grace and kindness. When Cheol Jong was at his lowest point in life as a child, So Yong comforted him and moved his heart. 

So, when Bong Hwan entered So Yong's body, their souls co-existed and shared one body. So Yong continued to fall deeply in love with Cheol Jong while Bong Hwan still felt excitement around other women despite some confusion around his sexual identity. Once Bong Hwan returns to his own body and stops sharing a body with So Yong, he's no longer attracted to men. 

Although everyone returns to their place, the journey is not all for nothing. During the time spent with Bong Hwan's soul, So Yong becomes more confident and learns to express herself more freely. Meanwhile, Bong Hwan becomes kinder and more righteous and is no longer the selfish man he used to be. Cheol Jong feels the loss of Bong Hwan's presence, but his love for So Yong doesn't falter, indicating that he appreciates Bong Hwan. 

Some people were unsatisfied with the ending as Bong Hwan's story gets sidelined in favor of So Yong and Cheol Jong's. However, if we look closely at Bong Hwan, we actually don't know much about him, such as his background, friends, motivations, etc. But we learn a lot about So Yong's family, her dreams and challenges, and her love interests. So, while Bong Hwan is one of the main characters, he's not the most important person in the drama. It's So Yong's story, and Bong Hwan just happens to be a part of it. 

Final Thoughts

While most sagueks focus heavily on palace politics and romance, Mr. Queen elevates historical dramas by seamlessly blending different genres. One moment, you could get thrown into a nerve-wracking scene. Seconds later, you could end up laughing out loud. Additionally, each character added value to the show and meshed well together. Thus, while the ending may be unsatisfying to some, the journey is entertaining enough to do more than make up for it.