Queen Mantis Review: This thrilling Netflix K-drama blends crime, family and heartbreak brilliantly

The setup

The story begins with a killer known as Jeong I-sin (Go Hyun-jung), aka “The Mantis,” who was caught 23 years ago after committing a series of brutal murders. She has been living behind bars ever since. Her son, Cha Soo-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon), grew up carrying the shame of her crimes and eventually became a detective himself. He wants nothing to do with her, but fate does not allow it. A new copycat killer appears, imitating The Mantis’s methods. To solve the case, the police decide they must seek help from the woman who knows these crimes better than anyone—the original Mantis herself. That means Soo-yeol has to work with the very person he detests the most. From here the series builds its tension, mixing crime-solving with the far heavier weight of unresolved family ties.

The mood and the craft

What makes ‘Queen Mantis’ gripping is not a flood of plot twists but the mood it creates. Director Young Joo-byun keeps the show dark but not showy. The violence is never treated as a spectacle. Instead, the camera pays attention to silences, to the discomfort in a stare, and to the spaces where words fall short. Every scene feels heavy with something unsaid. At times the pacing is slow, but that slowness is intentional—it forces viewers to sit with the discomfort of the story rather than rush past it.

The writing also avoids glorifying the killer. This is not about making a murderer look clever or admirable. The narrative stays focused on the pain of the victims, the difficult task of stopping another tragedy, and above all, the emotional struggle of a son trying to live apart from his mother’s shadow. That balance keeps the drama from sliding into sensationalism. Actors ace their performances

The show would not work without its cast, and here the actors deliver. Go Hyun-jung plays Jeong I-sin or the Mantis, with chilling calm. She rarely raises her voice, but her stillness and careful words are far more frightening than rage could ever be. Her presence is commanding, the kind of performance that makes you lean closer even as you want to pull away. Opposite her, Jang Dong-yoon is convincing as the detective son.

He carries anger, fear, and exhaustion all at once. His character is built on conflict—he despises his mother, yet he cannot fully escape her. Jang makes that inner storm visible in his body language and in the rare moments when his vulnerability breaks through. The supporting cast adds depth: Jo Sung-ha as the senior officer brings weight, and Lee El as Na Hui offers sharp intensity. Together, they form a believable world rather than just a backdrop.

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Unsettling and thoughtful

‘Queen Mantis’ is not a thriller for everyone. Viewers who prefer fast action and constant twists may find its pace demanding. But those willing to stay with it will discover a story that goes beyond the hunt for a killer. It is about family scars, about what we inherit against our will, and about whether hate is simply another form of connection. The plot keeps a tight focus and avoids unnecessary filler. What lingers most is not the crime itself but the relationship at the heart of the show—a mother who cannot be ignored and a son who cannot break free. That emotional weight gives the drama a staying power that many thrillers lack. It is unsettling, thoughtful, and at times deeply sad. And that is exactly why it works. Rating: 4/5