Imagine you’re on the subway, watching “Queen Woo (2024),” and suddenly something shocking happens. You might quickly turn off your phone because the show’s got a lot of explicit scenes that could make anyone feel super embarrassed.
The show dropped its first part (episodes 1-4) on the 29th. Directed by Jung Se Kyo and provided by TVING, with Andmark Studio, Compass Pictures, and CJ ENM Studios behind the scenes, “Queen Woo” dives into the life of Woo Hui. She was the queen of Gogukcheon the Great, the ninth king of Goguryeo, and after he died, she became the queen of the next king, Sansangwang.
In the show, Go Nam-mu (played by Ji Chang-wook) is the second son of the former king. He’s married to Woo-Hui (Jeon Jong-seo), who’s from a royal family. Things start going downhill after Go Nam-mu becomes king. Even though he still loves his wife, a certain event makes it tough for him to show his feelings, leading to more tension between them. The nobles even want Woo Hui removed because she can’t have children.
Then, out of the blue, Go Nam-mu dies. Woo Hui, now left on her own, decides she needs to marry her late husband’s younger brother to keep her position. Before anyone finds out about the king’s death, she sneaks out of the palace to find her new husband.
Woo Hui is a real historical figure and the only queen in Korean history to have been married to two kings. Her story is pretty unique because she chose her own kings during the Goguryeo period, which was about 1000 years before the Joseon dynasty that most people know about. The show keeps things exciting with its fast-paced plot and urgent events that keep you hooked.
The characters are pretty interesting too. Besides Woo-Hui and Go Nam-mu, there’s Woo-Hui’s older sister Woo-sun (Jung Yu-mi) and Go Nam-mu’s younger brother Go Bal-gi (Lee Soo-hyuk). Each character has their own distinct vibe. The setting in Goguryeo adds a fresh touch, and since there aren’t many historical records from that time, it gives the creators and viewers more room to play with their imagination.
But here’s the thing—the show’s got a lot of violence and explicit content that might be a bit much. The war scenes and some characters’ brutal tendencies are pretty intense. While this fits with the action-thriller genre, the explicit nudity feels over the top. Even if there’s a reason for these scenes in the story, it raises questions about why they need to be so graphic. It seems like they might be using it just to get attention, which kinda undermines the show’s message about a woman making her own choices.
On the acting front, the cast does a great job. Jeon Jong-seo brings a lot of charisma to the queen’s role, even with fewer lines. Lee Soo-hyuk’s portrayal of the cruel prince Go Bal-gi is really chilling and adds to the suspense. Jung Yu-mi’s willingness to do explicit scenes is noteworthy. Ji Chang-wook also delivers a strong performance as Go Nam-mu, showing the complexity of his character.
The show’s got a gripping story and pacing, but the over-the-top nudity kinda overshadows its strengths. It might have been added to pull in viewers, but it takes away from the experience, especially for those who were hoping for a more faithful take on Woo Hui’s story. We’ll see if the second part changes things up when it drops on December 12th.
“Queen Woo” is an 8-episode series, with the second part (episodes 5-8) set to be released on TVING.
