It appears that “Queen of Tears”is currently falling behind in the race with “Crash Landing on You.”
Even before its premiere, “Queen of Tears” has been consistently compared to the blockbuster hit “Crash Landing on You.” Both dramas share the same broadcasting station and screenwriter, and the “Queen of Tears” team purposely creates similarities to evoke thoughts of the popular on-screen couple, Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin. Furthermore, “Queen of Tears” and “Crash Landing on You” also share common elements and themes, such as the extravagant “wedding of the century” and the portrayal of a wealthy “chaebol family” .
Gradually, the success of “Crash Landing on You”has unintentionally made it a standard for both excellence and popularity, particularly for “Queen of Tears”. This is especially true now, as the ratings for Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won’s series are only 0.058% behind “Crash Landing on You”.
Therefore, when evaluating the works of screenwriter Park Ji-eun, which one should rightfully be crowned as tvN’s top-rated K-drama?
Works that embody screenwriter Park Ji-eun’s spirit
Born in 1976, Park Ji-eun is a renowned South Korean television screenwriter known for creating popular dramas like “My Love from the Star,””The Producers,””The Legend of the Blue Sea,””Crash Landing on You,”and her current work, “Queen of Tears.”
Just like her earlier projects, both “Crash Landing on You” and “Queen of Tears” reflect Park Ji-eun’s signature style. Her dramas consistently feature female lead characters who break the traditional Cinderella mold.
Specifically, Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) and Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) are both affluent tycoons who excel and possess more talent than the men in their respective families. Love is not their only focus, unlike many other romantic dramas, but rather a part of their lives.
At first, Park Ji-eun, the screenwriter, did an excellent job of crafting a powerful and self-sufficient female protagonist in “Queen of Tears.”In fact, Hae-in was initially even more remarkable, driven, and capable than Se-ri from “Crash Landing on You.”
Throughout both dramas, viewers are able to witness the characters’ development, exploration of self, and triumph over challenges, all of which depict powerful feminist themes that align with Park Ji-eun’s signature style.
As a result, both “Crash Landing on You”and “Queen of Tears”are unique romantic comedies that deviate from the typical dramas in their genre. While they promote the importance of love and life, they also focus on a significant element: the characters’ ability to overcome obstacles using their own strength, while prioritizing their individual identity and well-being.
Despite this, “Queen of Tears”has been unable to achieve something that “Crash Landing on You”has.
A nearly perfect K-drama until the end
Despite concerns from viewers, “Crash Landing on You”still aired with its original storyline, which involves characters from two unlikely countries that may not have a happy ending.
In particular, the male protagonist, Jung-hyuk (played by Hyun Bin), hails from North Korea and serves as a soldier, while his father holds the esteemed position of Chief of the General Political Bureau. In contrast, Se-ri is a South Korean heiress, born into a privileged family and has never known the hardships of poverty.
Despite a paragliding accident, Se-ri finds herself in North Korea where she is taken in secretly by Jung-hyuk and his team. As they live together and discreetly work towards finding a way for Se-ri to go back home, the South Korean heiress and Jung-hyuk begin to develop deep feelings for each other. Even at the border between their two countries, there are moments when they are willing to risk being shot in order to run towards one another.
“Unlike other popular Korean dramas such as “My Love from the Star” and “The Legend of the Blue Sea,” “Crash Landing on You” does not include supernatural or fantasy elements. However, it still manages to captivate viewers with its unimaginable love story. Screenwriter Park has skillfully crafted a compelling storyline from start to finish, showcasing the talents of both the main and supporting characters. Whether in the rugged rural areas of North Korea or the bustling city of Seoul with Se-ri’s luxurious apartment, each character plays their role to perfection. Whether they bring humor or serve as antagonists, whether they are nosy neighbors or cunning colonels targeting Jung-hyuk, they all make a lasting impression on the audience, contributing to
Additionally, the plot of “Crash Landing on You”skillfully weaves together elements of politics and tense conflicts within the wealthy community, in addition to the classic “star-crossed lovers”narrative.
Despite being initially unfamiliar to viewers, the land where Jung-hyuk resides is portrayed in an intriguing and relatable manner. However, some viewers may find the romanticization of the setting controversial. The drama also offers moments of comedic relief for the audience, balancing out the heavier themes. Unlike typical Korean dramas that rely on tear-jerking storylines, it does not intentionally manipulate emotions, unlike recent episodes of “Queen of Tears.”
Comparing Two Dramas: One Staying on Track, One Losing Its Path
“Queen of Tears”marks a unique addition to screenwriter Park’s repertoire of works, with its dark comedy elements being a rarity. While the K-drama’s use of controversial humor may not please all viewers, it is undeniable that it adds to the show’s overall impact.
Despite not being a major issue, “Queen of Tears”still manages to captivate viewers with a unique theme, providing a refreshing change from the current state of Korean dramas.
“With its focus on a “male Cinderella”and the intricate changes in romantic plotlines and wealthy relationships, “Queen of Tears”is a testament to the exceptional writing skills of Park Ji-eun and is sure to be a source of pride in her career.”
Regrettably, these remarks are limited to the initial 12 episodes only.
During episodes 13 and 14, the entire team, particularly the duo of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, faced a downfall in their efforts. Many viewers expressed dissatisfaction with screenwriter Park’s decision to push conflicts to the extreme and rush developments, which deviated from the original essence of the series.
As “Queen of Tears”nears its conclusion with only 2 episodes remaining, numerous unresolved conflicts remain. The fight for the “Queens Group”continues, leaving little opportunity for new characters to make an impact, and the villain’s repetitive and irritating schemes only add to the tension.
As soon as Hae-in regains consciousness following her surgery, the only thing she can recall is her husband’s name, Baek Hyun-woo. However, she is then manipulated by Eun Sung, causing viewers to reach their breaking point of frustration.
Despite screenwriter Park’s efforts to develop the villain’s character as a psychologically disturbed individual, viewers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the sudden shift in focus towards love affairs and lack of complete ruthlessness. Furthermore, the film’s attempts at humor continue to fail and the recurring “memory loss”plot details are causing irritation among some audience members.
Despite the underlying message of cherishing memories and love in “Queen of Tears”, viewers still feel uneasy with the deliberate attempts to provoke Hyun-woo’s wife, especially when he intentionally seeks the attention of other women.
Conclusion
While “Crash Landing on You”showcases the screenwriter’s strong control over the overall script, particularly in terms of character development, “Queen of Tears”appears to be losing its force towards the end.
The nonsensical progression of the story and the excessive use of drama have transformed “Queen of Tears”from a one-of-a-kind series into a stereotypical “weekend K-drama”with confusing and aggravating plot twists.
“Despite its unconventional plot, “Crash Landing on You”successfully concludes the love story in a believable manner, without resorting to unnecessary tragic elements. On the other hand, “Queen of Tears”highlights the screenwriter’s struggle to add excessive suffering to the characters.”
Despite having only 2 episodes remaining to reach a conclusion, it will be difficult to fully satisfy the audience with a sense of closure.
Origin: K14
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