Queen Mantis

 By: Rumenta Rohanna

A police detective is forced to confront a painful reality: his mother is a notorious serial killer known as Queen Mantis. Jung Yi-shin gained infamy for murdering five men before being captured. Her traumatic past led her to develop deep hatred toward men, driving her to “protect” women and children from male violence through wrongful and illegal means. Her son, Cha Soo-yeol, grew up carrying the same family trauma, yet chose a different path by becoming a police detective in order to uphold justice in a lawful and ethical way, in contrast to his mother’s violent mindset. The conflict intensifies when a series of murders emerges that imitates Jung Yi-shin’s methods, forcing Soo-yeol to struggle between his professional duty and unresolved emotional wounds. The story reaches its climax in a direct confrontation between mother and son, before ultimately resolving through both legal judgment and moral reflection on the consequences of their actions. The series consists of eight relatively short episodes, each running approximately 70 minutes, and Queen Mantis achieved the highest ratings from the release of its first episode.

Jung Yi-shin , known as the Queen Mantis, became infamous after being convicted of murdering five men. Her traumatic past shaped her hatred toward men, leading her to “protect” women and children from male violence but through violent and unlawful means.

Cha Soo-yeol, Jung Yi-shin’s son, becomes a police detective in an attempt to pursue justice the right way opposite of his mother’s violent belief system. Their relationship becomes strained and conflicted, as the mother uses extreme violence to “protect,” while the son upholds moral and legal justice. Their dynamic reflects a painful and deeply fractured mother–son connection.

Jung Yi-shin committed the murders because of her trauma and past abuse by the men in her life. She believed her actions were a form of protection for future victims not merely killing, but preventing further violence.

This reflects how trauma can shape extreme thinking and behavior that goes against normal moral reasoning. While Jung Yi-shin’s actions are violent and criminal, they stem from a belief that she is preventing further harm turning her crimes into a distorted form of protection rather than senseless killing.

The series is directed by Byun Young-joo, known for works exploring themes of humanity and women’s rights such as Habitual Sadness, My Own Breathing, Ardor, and now Queen Mantis.

Visually, Queen Mantis has a dark tone with intense crime-thriller elements and suspense in every episode. 

Go Hyun-jung delivers a powerful performance as Jung Yi-shin, portraying a mother haunted by a painful past whose actions leave lasting trauma on her son, Cha Soo-yeol. Now a police detective, Soo-yeol is forced to confront his unresolved emotional wounds when an old case resurfaces and he must investigate his own mother to uncover the truth behind a series of new copycat murders. Through their intertwined relationship, the series explores the tension between past and present, positioning Jung Yi-shin as the core driver and origin of the crimes, while Cha Soo-yeol serves as the bridge connecting the original murders with the ongoing investigation. Ultimately, the story raises a critical question of whether traumatic experiences can ever justify extreme and violent actions.

Cha Soo-yeol serves as the second lead in Queen Mantis, a police detective who is also the son of Jung Yi-shin and acts as the crucial bridge connecting the past crimes with the present copycat investigation. Through his dual role as both a law enforcer and a family member of the original perpetrator, Soo-yeol embodies deep emotional and moral conflict, as he must balance his professional duty with the lingering trauma caused by his mother’s actions, making his character essential in linking the story’s past and present timelines.

In my opinion, the film portrays the emotional journey of a mother and son who are forced to confront their dark history while uncovering long-buried truths linked to crimes from 20 years ago.

Overall, Queen Mantis is a highly recommended series that deserves a personal rating of 10/10, particularly for viewers who enjoy psychological and crime thrillers. The show stands out through its intense storytelling and is further elevated by powerful performances from senior actors, especially Go Hyun-jung and Jang Dong-yoon, whose acting adds emotional depth and credibility to the complex characters and dark themes explored throughout the series.

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