Pencil Skirts, Presentations, and a Whole Lotta Heartbreak: Queen of Reversals Review

I'm someone who gets bored really easily after the couple initially gets together in Korean dramas. (Why do the parents suddenly want to kick him out of the company?  How did she JUST decide that she wants to go study abroad for two years?  Do we really need some new plot twist about an unexpected half-sibling in a random three-episode arc?)  That's why taking on a 31-episode drama like Queen of Reversals was a monumental step for me.  That's almost twice as long as my preferred 16-episode series length.  Prior to QoR, the only other long-ish drama I had watched was Goong/Princess Hours, which clocked in at a solid 26 episodes.  Considering that at least 10 episodes in the middle were made up of some montage of the evil ex-queen lady looking devious, the grandma being startled at a new scandal, and Yoon Eun-hye staring into space, obnoxiously crying, and/or being socially awkward, I was a little nervous to try another lengthy series.

The only reason I was able to even start this series was because I read a spoiler about the ending ahead of time.  I'm going to go ahead and assume that spoilers will help other people get through, so don't even bother reading if you don't want to know what happens! Also, I'm giving advance warning that this post will be long--because the series itself is absurdly long.

The Basics

This series follows Hwang Tae-hee, ice-cold power female extraordinaire, as she falls in love, gets married, falls out of love, gets divorced, and finally pulls her life together.  This is going to sound absurdly cheesy, but more than that, it's a show about second chances and learning to change. (Yeah, that sounds even cheesier now that I type it, but I'm standing by it!  People change! Personal growth!  Hope for the future! Hold hands and sing!) Hwang Tae-hee may be the title character, but maybe a better title would have been Office of Reversals because the show is really about all of the characters turning their lives around. Even the minor co-workers had a chance to really grow before the last episode, and the process was endearing to watch.  If you don't connect with Tae-hee, you will at least connect with someone by the end.

One of the major selling points for me going into this series was that the second male lead becomes the first male lead halfway through. Yeah, you heard right--THE SECOND MALE LEAD GETS THE GIRL.  Now, lest the plot stray too far from k-drama-dom, the second male lead also happens to be a rich chaebol's son with a tragic past that prevents him from initially connecting with people.  Blah, blah blah. You know how it goes.

Just how can you tell that he's rich?
Ascot? Check.

Fur coat?  Check. Check. Check.

And, in case anyone missed it, THE GOLDEN BEDROOM. Check!

My one complaint about this character was their first kiss.  I know that it was supposed to be passionate and spur-of-the-moment, but if you slap a man for putting the moves on you and then he kisses you again, he deserves a swift kick to the groin, not a spinning camera of romance.  I don't care HOW rich he is.

The Length: Worth It?

As I indicated by my weird love of A Gentleman's Dignity, I'm kind of a sucker for shows that just show normal life.  Just like that one, this one was filled with adults doing regular ole adult-y things. With the exception of the Cruella deVille boss who loves to hold grudges almost as much as she loves to wear absurd red lipstick, the characters are all the kinds of people you could meet in real life.

The major advantage of the 31-episode format is that they really get to dig into the depths of the relationships in a way that I don't think I've ever seen on a television show or movie. At the beginning of the series, I thought there was no way I would be okay with the divorce; then I thought there was no way my heart wouldn't be broken for Joon-soo in the end; then I thought there was  no way I would be remotely okay if Baek Yeo-jin won her man. Every single time, my feelings changed as gradually as the characters' did, and suddenly I found myself understanding why they made the choices they did. When most shows milk divorce for some quick tears, this one really really broke my heart, and I appreciated the gravity that it gave to something that shouldn't really be an easy plot ploy.

The second advantage to the length is tied to the first one: the extended format lets the male actors really shine with subtle, gradual character development.  I already knew that Park Si-hoo was a solid actor from Prosecutor Princess, but I have to say that Jung Joon-ho as Bong Joon-soo really stole the show for me.  He played that character with an amazing empathy that really pulled the series together.  I thought I would hate him, and I ended up feeling more connected to him than to anyone else.

Not to get off-topic, but if we've already mentioned men in suits,
we need to pause for some appreciation here.  Ok, carry on.

I'm sorry to say it, but the women were seriously lagging behind the men in this drama as far as acting goes.  Chae Jung Ahn only really has three faces in any series I have ever seen her in (flirtatious, perturbed/scheming, and crying), and while Kim Nam Joo did pretty well, her surprised face could really use some work.

Tae Hee's normal dinner conversation face...
And Tae Hee immediately after she finds out that her husband used
to date her enemy and lied about it for five years.  See the difference?
Also, that helmet on her head?  How does it stay so stiff and swoopy?

Now, this isn't to say that the show didn't get draggy over 31 episodes.  In fact, I chose one or two subplots that I fast forwarded entirely and didn't feel the least bit guilty over it.  For me, it was everything with Goo Yong-shik's mom.  I know that it was supposed to add this whole element of emotion to his character, but I could tell where it was headed from the beginning.  Here's my pro tip: fast forward until the last 10 seconds of every scene and you'll get the entire gist without the long, dramatic pauses.  Kdramas love to repeat important stuff at the end of the scene.  They also love to do flashbacks for really important stuff, so you really won't miss anything.

Because of the workplace setting, you'll also notice a lot of repeated plot elements over. and over. and over.  (Oh?  Need some tension?  How about a high-stakes PRESENTATION?  What?  The bad guys sabotaged it?  How shocking!)  The business atmosphere also allows for ten million angsty elevator scenes.  You know the ones--the doors slooooooowly close (and they usually show this happening from four camera angles) as the leads stare at each other.  Yeah, that happens about once every episode. 

Overall, I had my highs and lows of this show. I couldn't speed through it and sometimes I didn't think I could make it to the last episode, but it had some really strong emotional pulls that make it worth it for those brave souls who aren't afraid to use the fast forward button like a champ.

Best Korean Drama Recommendations, List of Kdrama Suggestions for Beginners

We have compiled a concise list of great Korean drama recommendations for beginners because, let's face it: entering the world of kdramas can be a pretty daunting task. Maybe a friend gushes over them every time you see her, or maybe your Netflix queue keeps recommending them to you, but you just don't know where to begin. These suggestions will help get your feet wet and prepare you for a lifetime of addiction!

ViVi's Picks

Okay, so the first criteria I have for watching a Korean drama for the first time is that it should absolutely be available for streaming without commercials, either on DramaFever or Kdrama.com with a commercial-free paid subscription, or Netflix (click here for a current list of kdramas on Netflix). That may seem like a minor point, but the first time watching can be overwhelming if you're used to the 23- or 46- minute breakdown of American television, and cutting out the commercials can really help.  My picks aren't necessarily all of my favorite k-dramas ever (though some of them are pretty high on the list), but I feel like they set the groundwork well to help you know what you're looking for in future dramas.  Happy watching!

 Attention, all k-drama newcomers: Watch at least two episodes of a show before you give up on it.  The first episode will possibly be confusing, boring, or cheesy.  K-dramas need time.  Trust me

1. Secret Garden: This one has a cute love story and just enough basic cliches to get you hooked for eternity.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll add "matching sparkling jumpsuits" to your list of requirements for true love.  The body switching is a little random, but what's a good k-drama without some crazy magical plot twists?

2. Boys over Flowers: A classic.  You can't say that you watch k-dramas if you have never seen BoF.  I would recommend watching this second or third on your list instead of starting with it so that you have something to give it some balance. There are parts of it that are absolutely absurd, but you won't be able to stop, and once you're done, you will understand 2/3 of k-drama jokes on the internet.  Welcome to our club! Coco: I am with ViVi on this one. Despite it being over the top and ridiculous, I could not stop watching it. I even became a pretty hardcore fangirl of Kim Hyun-Joon for a good week, complete with internet stalking and fantasizing about how I would run into him somewhere in America.

3. Rooftop Prince: I feel like this is a good place to start for the magical/time travel genre. The flashbacks will help you get a feel for full-fledged historical dramas without the commitment of an entire series set in the past, and the plot keeps moving at a pretty fast pace. Comas! Murder! Reincarnation! Love!  More funny track suits!  I will be writing a more in-depth review of this drama soon, but it has a lot going for it, and it has a dash of everything. Update:  My Review of Rooftop Prince.

4. Dream High/Prosecutor Princess: I put these together because they're both great introductions to pure "fluff" dramas.  Both of them are mostly lighthearted and fun and make you feel good.  They have a side of drama, but they're upbeat overall.  Dream High has a catchy soundtrack, and Prosecutor Princess has one of the better kissing scenes I've seen (though Lie To Me and the Cola kiss wins hands-down overall).  Take your pick, sit back, and enjoy the fun!

CoCo's Picks

1. Coffee Prince: Also a classic, must-watch kdrama. I've already established why Coffee Prince is my #1 Kdrama Love, so if you haven't already read my post, read it and get excited! Watch it next. You won't regret it.

2. Lie To Me: This was the first Korean drama I ever watched, so it will always have a special place in my heart. It's one of the kdramas most similar to American romantic comedies, but also has all the great kdrama plot points, so it's a perfect introduction and pretty relatable for beginning kdrama fans. It's fun and lighthearted, but there are some pretty great dramatic moments. Plus, like I mentioned earlier in my Introduction post, Kang Ji-hwan is a hot Mr. Darcy-esque character and Yoon Eun-hye is one of my favorite Korean actresses.

3.  City Hunter: I've also already established why you must watch City Hunter in my City Hunter Review, including the eye candy that is Lee Min-Ho and the girl power awesomeness of Park Min-Young. It's a fantastic introduction to the kdrama action genre. It still has a lot of the romantic elements of other kdramas we love, along with some pretty great action and suspense scenes. Watch it!

4. Answer Me 1997 (Reply 1997): This Kdrama has a distinct vibe, different from the typical Korean romantic comedy plot and characters, which makes it feel fresh and unique. It's a coming-of-age story, visiting key moments in a group of friend's journey from adolescence to adulthood. Each episode focuses on themes and events that are the quintessential parts of growing up, complete with first loves, evolving parent/child relationships, teen idols, and awkward encounters with the opposite sex. The characters are relatable and lovable, and the situations will likely remind you of your own adolescence. The best comparison I can make for the is the old American show from the 1980's, The Wonder Years. My Review of Answer Me 1997

5. Scent of a Woman: This drama is a fantastic introduction to the melodrama genre in kdrama. Watch it when you need a good cry. It's terrible, but you just can't stop, even when you know it only makes you sad. Luckily there are some pretty great romantic and comedic scenes as well, so all is not lost. It's pretty adorable and the characters are totally lovable. The female lead goes through one of the most satisfying makeovers, both emotionally and physically, in kdrama history. Update: My Review of Scent of a Woman




So now that you are armed with an arsenal of 10 new Kdrama recommendations from friends you can trust, get out there and start watching! Because, kdrama, it's a thing, and it's only getting bigger!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10