[Mar 9 & 10] “Queen of Tears” Episodes 1 & 2: Ratings, Recap, Review

Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won’s new show “Queen of Tears” had a great start. On March 9, more people tuned in to see it than the show “Captivating the King” that was on before. Nielsen Korea says the first episode of “Queen of Tears” got a 5.9% rating across the country. To give you an idea, “Captivating the King” started with a 4.0 % rating in January.

Better yet, “Queen of Tears” had a lot more viewers for its second episode. It got an average rating of 8.7% across the country, which is almost 3% higher than the show’s first episode.

“Queen of Tears” episodes 1 & 2: Recap, Review

Marriage is hard work. After the initial joy fades, reality sets in. This is what Baek Hyeon-Woo, played by Kim Soo-Hyun, experiences in the new Kdrama “Queen of Tears.” Joining the powerful Queens Group through marriage turns out to be more of a curse than a blessing. In the first 2 episodes, Hyeon-Woo faces a rollercoaster of feelings about his marriage to Hong Hae-In, played by Kim Ji-Won, especially when he learns of her serious illness.

Episode 1

The first episode of “Queen of Tears” sets up the strained relationship between Hyeon-Woo and Hae-In after they get married. Three years have passed, and things aren't as Hyeon-Woo had hoped. He’s constantly at the service of his wife and her family. They sleep in separate rooms and anyone who marries into the family is expected to sacrifice everything for the Queens Group. If they try to leave, their lives are ruined. Despite this, Hyeon-Woo is desperate to get out.

Kim Soo-Hyun’s portrayal of Hyeon-Woo is rich with emotion, moving between humor and seriousness with ease. Whether he’s crying by the roadside or confronting his wife, Hyeon-Woo is on the edge. His only hope for happiness is to leave the Queens Group. Against his family’s advice, he decides to divorce Hae-In. But then she tells him something shocking at the end of the first episode.

Hae-In is blunt, even harsh. When we first see her in her internship at Queens Group, she’s struggling and unskilled, which draws Hyeon-Woo to her. However, he soon realizes she’s not the person he thought she was.

How did episode 1 end?

By the end of the first episode, Hae-In admits she’s dying and has only three months left. Hyeon-Woo sees this as his chance to break free from the Queens Group. But the second episode delves into Hae-In’s shock and Hyeon-Woo’s mixed feelings about her condition.

Episode 2

Episode 2 reveals more about Hae-In’s character and her reaction to her diagnosis. She’s dedicated her life to advancing the Queens Group. But lately, she’s been losing track of time and missing important meetings, which hints at her health problems.

Hyeon-Woo wonders if she’ll tell her family about her illness, but she refuses. The second episode shows us why: her family is troubled, and she’s the target of their issues. Her brother, Hong Soo-Chul, is easygoing but not very successful, which makes him less favored than Hae-In. And it seems like Hae-In’s mother, Kim Sun-Hwa, doesn’t like her very much.

She doesn’t care much when Hae-In talks about her urgent personal problem. In episode 2, she even threatens to sue Hae-In, which seems like she’s getting back at her.

Hae-In’s family only looks out for themselves. By marrying Hyeon-Woo, Hae-In has already caused a stir, and she’s having a tough time, though she doesn’t show it. Hyeon-Woo is the only one who seems to be there for her, even if he might have his own reasons. After finding out she’s sick, Hae-In becomes easy to take advantage of. And it looks like an old classmate, Yoon Eun-Sung, might be getting close to her just as she’s feeling very down.

During a key business event that could boost Hae-In’s sales, she meets Eun-Sung. He’s impressed by her honesty, but when Hyeon-Woo shows up to support Hae-In, Eun-Sung starts to feel competitive. He watches Hae-In closely all night, driven by a secret talk he had with Hyeon-Woo. This makes Hyeon-Woo jealous, and he might still have feelings for Hae-In.

How did episode 2 end?

The second episode of “Queen of Tears” ends with a lot of tension. Hae-In goes on a hunting trip to an island with her family and Eun-Sung. They compete to see who can hunt the most. Hae-In wants to win to show she’s the best, something Hyeon-Woo questions. Why does she need to keep trying to impress her family? Then, someone messes with the hunting area, putting Hae-In in danger. To make things worse, she starts seeing things that aren’t there, a problem caused by her illness, which makes her an easy target.

Review

In “Queen of Tears” episodes 1 and 2, Hyeon-Woo keeps a close watch on Hae-In. He knows she’s in a tough spot, whether she admits it or not. Just as a computer-made boar is about to attack Hae-In, Hyeon-Woo comes to her rescue. Until now, he’s been teased for not wanting to hunt, and her family has looked down on him. But this moment shows he’s strong and doesn’t care about their hunting tradition. His brave action might show that there’s still love between him and Hae-In.

This drama shows a different kind of love story. Usually, Kdramas about love across social classes end before marriage. We don’t often see what happens after marrying into a rich family. This show gives us a look at the challenges a couple faces when their marriage breaks the norm. It suggests fighting against the odds for love. If the love is real and worth the fight, things will work out. It might be hard and scary, but the relationship could grow stronger.~

(Sources: joynews24.com, naver.com)