Baek Hyun Woo has a strong sense of responsibility and a need to protect everyone he loves.  Being raised in a loving and supportive family did nothing to prepare him for life under the roof of Queen’s Group.  And years of resentment have made him bitter with all the Hongs, as evidenced by his initial reaction to Hae In’s diagnosis.  But even with all the strife, Hyun Woo has an affection for his wife’s family that goes beyond filial duty.  And when he sees their lives being ripped apart by Yoon Eun Sung and his mother, he can’t help but jump in to rescue them.  Kim Soo Hyun is an amazing actor who brings genuine emotion to each of his roles.  He played the tenderhearted Hyun Woo beautifully and I think he was the perfect choice for this role.

Hong Hae In is a cold workaholic who is known for her acute business skills and her high expectations.  A childhood trauma left her emotionally disconnected from her family, particuarly her mother.  And although it seemed like her marriage might help her find some emotional secruity, the pressures in their marriage caused her to retreat further emotionally.  Her cancer diagnosis only reveals part of the healing she will need if she hopes to live a happy life and win the heart of her husband again.  I love Kim Ji Won.  She has given me some favorite leads with roles in dramas like ‘My Liberation Notes’ and ‘Fight My Way’.  But this role hearkens back to some of her earlier ones as the spoiled princess, while still adding the complexity of some of her more recent characters.  I thought she was great in this role.

I loved the way these two families came together to form a suppport system for each other.  In the beginning, the Hong family could barely be in the same room with each other.  But being forced out of their comfort zones really helped them come together and learn to appreciate not just each other, but Hyun Woo’s family as well.  Special mention to Hae In’s mother for mending her relationship with her daughter, Aunt Beom Ja’s love story with Young Song, and Da Hye’s villain redemption arc.

This cast dug deep for the emotions in this drama;  especially the leads.  And the tears weren’t wasted on shallow histrionics.  These were moments of raw emotion that you could feel in the pit of your own stomach.  I really appreciated the range of feelings they expressed through the course of this series.

One of the most important lessons our leads learned in this drama was how to communicate honestly with each other.  So I really couldn’t understand why, after all that, Hyun Woo would agree to keep the side effects of the surgery a secret from Hae In.  She was going to have to agree anyway.  Why not tell her and give her the time to process it before going to Germany?

Critics of this drama often complain about the large number of tropes used, and they aren’t wrong.  White trucks, umbrellas, and amnesia are just the tip of the iceberg on this one.  I certainly don’t expect writers to abandon these time-honored elements in their stories, but too many does start to feel very cliche.

The finale of ‘Queen of Tears’ brings the story to a nice conclusion.  Villains are properly punished, the Hong family is back where they belong, and our leads are committed to rebuilding their marriage.  Eun Seong is shot dead by the police during a final showdown with Hyun Woo.  The lady villains, including Da Hye, all serve time for their crimes.  And Soo Cheol and Geon Woo are there to welcome Da Hye and Grace when they get out.  Beom Ja is spending her time taking things slowly with Young Song.  With some of Hae In’s memories coming back, our leads agree to take their reunion slowly, although they are obviously on the road to a full restoration.  The ending montage proves this, showing the couple returning to their spot in Germany as a couple and later with their daughter.  And the drama made an unusual choice in following this one through to the very end.  The final scene shows Hyun Woo as the old man Hae In had seen laying lavender on his wife’s grave.  We see that she lived a long life before dying.  And then we see Hyun Woo joining Hae In in death, as the young version of Hae In holds out her hand and leads him into the eternal sunshine.

For me, I would take this kind of heartwrenching emotion over realism any day.  And general public opinion has been very high, breaking viewing records.  But this does veer pretty hard into the makjang as the story goes along. So if drama tropes and outrageous stories aren’t your thing, you may grow tired of this one. I give ‘Queen of Tears’  a solid 9 out of 10 ramen.

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I really loved this role for Ju Jung Suk.  He got a chance to show off such a wide range of complex feelings and relationships.  From his love for his brother to his desire to protect his brother’s widow and son, Lee In is a character with integrity and grit.  

How nice to have a sincere, likable Queen who is interested in more than her own power and greed.  I liked this character’s kind, loving attitude toward her family and her refusal to participate in the ugly political games being played by the Dowager and the Queen’s own brother. 

Most gender-bender style historical dramas go for a lighter rom-com feel.  So, I liked that this one committed to the concept without trying to water down the plot.  There is a seriousness to this drama that shows respect to the genre.

Okay, I have expressed this concern previously, but there are actresses who do not convincingly portray men. It is not solely due to flawless makeup that Shin Sae Kyeong appeared stunningly feminine. She did not even make an effort to realistically portray masculine gestures and body language. It would have been appreciated if there was at least some attempt to make it seem like she was trying.

I appreciate the effort to incorporate stories during the Qing invasion in more dramas. However, in this particular drama, every time the storyline shifted to the Qing Dynasty, it felt like a regression without any significant developments. And what is wrong with that Qing Princess.  She is seriously delusional!

So, here’s my main concern with this drama: the on-screen chemistry just didn’t click. However, that’s not my biggest issue. The love story is built on deceit and mistrust, which doesn’t sit well with me. Throughout the entire show, I never got the sense that the main characters were truly being honest with each other. Even towards the end, Hee Soo is still contemplating killing the King, which leaves their romance lacking any genuine sincerity.

‘Captivating the King’ is a historical romance that takes place during the Joseon period, while they are being ruled by the Qing Dynasty. While gender bender historical dramas have become quite common lately, this particular story fails to distinguish itself as unique from the rest. Although Jo Jung Suk delivers an excellent performance, the female lead’s character falls short, and unfortunately Shin Sae Kyeong’s acting lacks the range to carry a role this weak. The political aspect of the story is decent, although repetitive at times. But the romance failed to capture my interest. Nonetheless, it’s stunning visuals and high budget production still make it a worthwhile watch for fans of Korean historical dramas. Overall, I rate “Captivating the King” a 7 out of 10 ramen.       🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜