In Part 1, Queen Woo (Jeon Jong-seo) pursues princes for her wedding, while in Part 2, she hastens to achieve her objectives.
Part 1 already disappointed audiences with an abundance of revealing scenes, and its excessive violent moments raised eyebrows. Part 2 continues this trend.
The initially captivating visuals from Part 1 lost their allure when the action shifted outdoors. Despite the meticulously crafted sets, the action sequences in natural surroundings made it challenging to engage with the narrative. Additionally, tedious political conflicts were a significant issue; the drawn-out confrontations lacked tension and felt unnecessarily prolonged. As both Parts 1 and 2 depict events that unfold within just 24 hours, it appears as though a brief story was stretched to fit an 8-part series.
Even the character of Queen Woo, who should embody strength, appears weak. Jeon Jong-seo’s unsteady performance and shaky voice fail to project a sense of authenticity as a queen. Her effort to adopt her own speaking style rather than the traditional historical drama accent feels misplaced and does not convey the genre’s charm.
While Jeon Jong-seo may have believed that only rumors about school bullying could hinder the series, her inability to command the screen was a more pressing issue. With her struggles evident, it’s no surprise that the supporting actors also struggled to shine. Awkward moments frequently disrupted viewer immersion.
Ultimately, the 8 episodes left the audience feeling unfulfilled. Queen Woo’s narrative concludes with a seemingly pointless confrontation between former princes Go Pal Ki (Lee Soo-hyuk) and Go Pae (Song Jae-rim). After a lengthy and drawn-out storyline, the finale fails to deliver closure. Even if TVing intends to produce a second season, it’s uncertain whether viewers will be inclined to watch after such a disappointing experience with the first.
However, TVing appears to believe any publicity is beneficial. “Queen Woo is receiving positive responses daily, with strong characters, engaging storylines, stunning visuals, and an overall appealing aesthetic,” TVing claimed. “Queen Woo is incredibly popular, ranking No. 1 for paid female subscribers for three consecutive weeks, and is the second most-viewed original series following ‘Work Later, Drink Now 2′.”
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