Stream Classics to Latest K-Movies & Shows at OnDemandKorea

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Queen of Mystery Season 2" Episode 5

Seol-ok is determined to study diligently, but cram school is a ruthless place. Things become more challenging when a temptation in the form of a crime happens nearby, sparking our heroine's usual hound-like fixation for crime solving. Episode five takes a step back from the main plot and a lot of the main characters, but we have new and guest stars popping up left and right. Can "Queen of Mystery Season 2" fit all of this and its main story in?

Advertisement

Between the huge new supporting cast, Hee-yeon (Lee Da-hee) taking a break from the story, Inspector Woo (Park Byung-eun) having a few seconds of air time lately and Kyeong-mi (Kim Hyun-sook) essentially gone for now, I wonder if the series is taking up too much for itself. We have a lot of elements carrying over from "Queen of Mystery", and as much as I love the subplots out so far, things are getting mighty busy in terms of what and who to follow.

Seol-ok and Mi-jooThe cam pervert and Seol-ok

That being said, the hagwon (cram school) case is an interesting one to tackle, even though it seems like it may not be connected to the murder case at all. In short, I do not trust the man with the cast on his arm, who may be the victim's family, and who is definitely not a hagwon student. Of course, I highly enjoy Dong Ha and Ha Hoe-jung as guests, not to mention the introduction of Kim Min-sang as the narcissistic forensic investigator, Hwang Jae-min. I just worry about the constant piling on of characters.

New cases aside, we get a little bit more information on Ji-seung (Kim Tae-woo) and the company's current situation. I still do not remember if he was even mentioned as a character in the first season. I am wondering why Ha Jae-ho (Jang Gwang) would want an unwilling Wan-seung (Kwon Sang-woo) to lead his company, when an older, more qualified Ji-seung is here and willing. Could the older brother's request for support mean that he is only doing this out of loyalty?

Jae-min calculating stabbings with Seung-hwaJi-seung and Wan-seung having a meal

I do highly enjoy how the writing still provides information without instant context, allowing us to wonder before we get answers. In the previous episode, Mr. Kim's lackey said that the entire family was present at Ji-seung's inauguration ceremony, for example, and it is only until this episode that we see Wan-seung was present in the building. I sincerely hope that Ji-seung's teased terrifying secret is not one that will hurt Wan-seung further.

The change in direction for "Queen of Mystery Season 2" is still jarring, and with a large part of the previous season's style and approach being gone, I cannot call season two an improvement of the same formula. There are a lot of lovely elements, but an inevitable consequence of going bigger is that the old neighborhood scooby gang familiarity is gone. My hope is that we will get a lot of quality time with these characters moving forward.

"Queen of Mystery Season 2" is directed by Choi Yoon-seok-II and Yoo Yeong-eun-I, written by Lee Seong-min-II and features Choi Kang-hee, Kwon Sang-woo, Park Byung-eun and Kim Hyun-sook.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

Watch on Viki

Note: Due to licensing, videos may not be available in your country

❎ Try Ad-free