Read In-depth review of “Queen Mantis” (2025): cast, plot, themes, where to watch, and why Go Hyun-jung & Jang Dong-yoon Queen Mantis make this a must-watch thriller.
Queen Mantis TL;DR
Queen Mantis (2025) is a South Korean crime-thriller TV series (8 episodes) starring Go Hyun-jung and Jang Dong-yoon, directed by Byun Young-joo and written by Lee Young-jong. It’s a tense, psychological reimagining of La Mante (France) where a notorious incarcerated killer is forced to help police when a copycat emerges — but the emotional core is a fraught mother-son relationship that complicates justice. Premiered Sept 5, 2025 on SBS and streaming weekly on platforms including Netflix and Viki in many regions.
If you’ve ever watched a thriller that kept you thinking about the characters long after the credits rolled, Queen Mantis aims to be that kind of series. But this isn’t only a procedural: it’s built around a moral pivot — how do we pursue justice when family blood complicates motive and memory? The show pairs cold-forensic tension with jagged family drama, and at its center is Go Hyun-jung’s chilling presence, offset by Jang Dong-yoon’s dogged, troubled detective.
Twenty years after a cold-blooded serial killer nicknamed “The Mantis” terrorized neighborhoods and vanished behind bars, a copycat killer starts replicating the Mantis’s signature method. Detective Cha Su-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon), circling a personal history he’s tried to bury, is forced to ask his own estranged mother — the Mantis herself (portrayed by Go Hyun-jung) — for help. What unfolds is a tense negotiation between law and legacy: as the pair chase the new killer, old bonds, buried wounds, and uncomfortable truths surface. The show trades cheap scares for psychological unease and moral ambiguity.
The creative team — why you should care
Director: Byun Young-joo — known for Black Out and a cinematic eye that favors atmosphere and character detail. Her direction gives the series a slow-burn menace rather than relying on jump scares. KORB
Writer: Lee Young-jong — adept at tight plotting and moral complexity; this adaptation leans into the French original La Mante while making choices rooted in Korean societal tensions. AsianWiki
Source: A reworking of the French series La Mante (2017). The adaptation reframes cultural context — family structures, policing, and media appetite — while preserving the central thriller engine. KORB
These creatives give the show pedigree: it’s not just a glossy remake but a local re-interpretation, with deliberate choices about moral focus and character psychology.
Cast & characters (who’s who)
Go Hyun-jung as the titular Mantis (a.k.a. Jung I-sin / convicted serial killer). Go brings an ice-veined charisma, a presence that can switch from tender to terrifying within a single glance. Her central performance anchors the series’ moral discomfort. Wikipedia
Jang Dong-yoon as Cha Su-yeol, the detective and the killer’s son. Jang’s portrayal balances duty with personal pain; each investigative success reveals a sibling layer of family trauma. Rakuten Viki
Cho Seong-ha, Lee El, Kim Bo-ra and others round out the supporting cast, giving the show a network of characters who each have skin in the story (victims’ families, colleagues, and media figures).
Casting highlight: the mother/son pairing is the series’ beating heart — two powerhouse actors who treat emotional complexity seriously, making us believe that the procedural stakes are also intimately personal.
Episode structure & pacing
With only eight episodes, Queen Mantis opts for a compressed, relentless rhythm. Episodes balance case-driven set pieces with slow-reveal flashbacks that unpack family history. The structure leans toward a classic cat-and-mouse format but subverts it by making the emotional stakes (guilt, shame, maternal influence) as important as finding the killer. This economy of episodes keeps momentum high while allowing scenes to breathe long enough to be unsettling.
Themes & tone
Motherhood and monsters: The series interrogates how maternal relationships can be both formative and destructive. It asks whether nature or nurture defines culpability. Rakuten Viki
Justice vs. vengeance: When the son must interrogate the mother, the show explores whether state justice can account for private wounds.
Media, myth, and copycats: The narrative also examines how media sensationalism shapes copycat crimes and public memory — a modern wrinkle that complicates police work. KORB
Tone-wise, the show is cold and melancholic rather than gleefully lurid; it wants to unsettle intellectually, not just shock emotionally.
What works — strengths
Lead performances: Go Hyun-jung’s magnetism and Jang Dong-yoon’s nuance are frequently singled out in early reviews as the show’s core strengths.
Tight scripting: The adaptation is focused: with eight episodes, each sequence pushes character or plot forward.
Moral complexity: The mother/son dynamic adds moral friction missing from many straightforward procedurals — consequences and histories matter here.
Production values: Cinematography favors moody frames and forensic detail; background scoring is minimal but precise, amplifying dread without melodrama. Early reviews praise the visual language.
What might frustrate some viewers — caveats
Not for viewers who want light escapism. This is heavy, emotional, and morally ambiguous.
Graphic moments: The show doesn’t shy from violence in service of story; if you’re sensitive to depictions of crime or trauma, tread cautiously. Reviews note some intense scenes.
Early reception & ratings
Early Nielsen and trade reports show the premiere pulled strong ratings for its slot, with industry outlets and fans praising Go Hyun-jung’s return to a chilling dramatic archetype and the show’s ability to hook viewers quickly. Critics praise the balance of family drama and crime procedural elements. (See roundups from Soompi, Moneycontrol, and multiple episode recaps.)
Comparisons (who will like this?)
If you liked La Mante (original): This is a faithful emotional translation with culturally specific shifts. KORB
If you liked Silence of the Lambs-adjacent thrillers: Fans of mind-bending killer-versus-detective dynamics will appreciate the moral chess.
If you liked The Glory or Strangers from Hell: Expect dark, atmospheric storytelling and character studies in which trauma matters.
Not like Vincenzo or light rom-coms: Queen Mantis is grim, not comedic, and prefers moral tension over bravado.
Cinematography, sound & production design
The show’s look is clinical yet atmospheric — cold interiors, heavily textured night scenes, and close-up forensic shots that amplify discomfort. The sound design is engineered to make silences loud: footsteps, the rustle of clothing, and small domestic sounds are used as auditory punctuation marks to heighten dread. Reviewers note the production values feel cinematic for broadcast television.
The feminism question (sensitive territory handled carefully)
A female serial killer protagonist risks sensationalism; Queen Mantis avoids fetishizing her violence by focusing on consequences and psychology. Where some adaptations might glamorize, this version interrogates the conditions (rape culture, misogyny, or trauma) rather than excuse crimes. The series encourages debate: is it empathetic to understand a monster’s motives, or does that undermine victims’ experiences? The show often frames this as an ethical dilemma rather than an answer. Rakuten Viki
Soundtrack & score
The OST is spare—ambient textures and a couple of haunting vocal tracks that play at emotional peaks. No loud pop ballads here; music supports, rather than directs, your emotional reading.
Streaming availability & how to watch
SBS broadcasting: Premiered Sept 5, 2025, on SBS — check local listing if your timezone differs. Wikipedia
Netflix: Weekly release in many international markets (Netflix’s weekly K-drama rollout), so expect episodes to appear a few hours after Korean broadcast depending on region. What’s on Netflix
Rakuten Viki / Viu: Also carrying the series in certain territories with volunteer subtitle groups and licensed subtitles. Availability depends on region. Rakuten Viki
FAQ (People Also Ask — include on page + JSON-LD)
Q1: What is Queen Mantis about? A: A reimagined criminal-thriller where a convicted female serial killer helps police hunt a copycat — and the central relationship (her and her detective son) complicates the hunt. Rakuten Viki
Q2: How many episodes does Queen Mantis have and when does it air? A: The show is an 8-episode drama that premiered on Sept 5, 2025 on SBS (Friday & Saturday slot). Wikipedia
Q3: Where can I stream it internationally? A: Netflix is carrying weekly episodes in many international markets; Rakuten Viki also lists the show in some regions. Check your local streaming rights. What’s on NetflixRakuten Viki
Q4: Who are the lead actors? A: Go Hyun-jung (the Mantis) and Jang Dong-yoon (the detective son). Rakuten Viki
Q5: Is it based on anything? A: Yes — it’s adapted from the French series La Mante (2017), reworked for Korean television.
Note: Some details in this article are based on early reports and may change as the movie’s official updates are released,
0 Comments