The Queen 'Woo' (2024)

A Battle Against Fate - A Subtle and Tactical Queen. Be the chess player, not the chess piece.

NOTICE; My review is kinda long, bear with me. Also, what's written below encompass my opinions, you don't have to agree with them.

A woman can't become an official, a woman must be submissive, a woman has to be obedient, a woman is a subordinate. All those are bull crap.
Queen Woo is about a woman/queen who didn't succumb to her own fate, a queen who battles against fate itself to survive. A woman mustn't be allowed to rule a nation, says who? If a man can, there's no reason a woman can't.
---------------------
SUMMARY
---------------------
Queen Woo tells the story of a woman "Woo Hui" who battles against her own fate, struggles to survive after the untimely death of her husband "Go Nam Mu." She has to make a choice. It's either she chooses to live in hiding, or choose levirate marriage. If she chooses the latter, the king's enemies who has been wanting to kill the king will pounce on her. If she choose the second option, she will survive, but she has to accomplish the task in a day (24 hours). Also, she has to choose one of the king's brother to marry, but the other power hungry princes won't just stand by, will they? She will have to travel to meet the prince of her choice, but her journey is going to be the roughest, full of dangers and many adversities. There are powerful officials, tribes, and clan who wants a share of the royal power, people who can't wait to tear her apart. The questions is; Can she do it? Her choice isn't exactly the safest, it's the most dangerous. The king is dead, with the queen at the center, an epic battle for supremacy, one who holds the sovereign authority of Goguryeo begins.


Queen Woo is set in the Goguryeo Dynasty. After two weeks, the 8 episodes has finally come to a close. Actually, I watched this the second day after the first four episodes aired. Before I did, I saw many negative comments about the nudity and all, but I wasn't swayed. Why? It's simple, it's because I'm a fan of political dramas. The political genre was what inspired me to watch this. After all, "Queen Woo" is one of my most anticipated political drama. And the political intrigue sure is there. I'm glad I ignored the comment, and watched this.

Queen Woo is a political drama that depicts human greed, desire, ambition, lust etc. You know the saying, "Kinship is nothing in front of power"? Yes, this is it. The eight episodes were well worth it.
In those episodes, I witnessed brothers turn against each other, sisters betrayed each other, loyal vassals became betrayals, family turned against each other. Yes, this is what a political drama is all about. And I witnessed an exceptionally strong and skilled queen. One who went against all odds to gain a hold of her own fate. A woman who's no different than a man. A woman who's a lot more skilled than most men rise to power.

As for the nudity, here's what I've got to say, "just look the other way. And if it bothers you too much, just skip those part and enjoy the show. Besides, it's rated 19+ for a reason. I saw some comments stating that kdrama is an holy land. Is it really? A drama rated 19+ is not what I'd refer to as holy. It doesn't matter whether it has nudity or not, the fact still remains "it's not for everyone." Well, those drama that are rated 15+ might be considered holy, but once you see a 19+ drama, don't expect anything holy to come out of it. By any chance, if you expect something holy from a drama that's rated 19+, then you're living in a fantasy, not reality.

Jeon Jong Seo portrayal as Queen Woo/Woo Hui was wonderful. I've never seen her in an historical drama before, this is the first time I'm seeing her in a historical drama. And for her first role as a strong woman in a historical drama, I never thought she could pull that role off, but she actually did. And excellently.

SCENES I LIKED

Firstly, I'll start with Queen Woo's entrance to the imperial court. As she entered, two old geezers didn't want to kneel before her, but she ordered them to kneel and show her the respect she deserves. Then and There, I knew she's someone not to be triffled with.

Another is the scene when she visited the third prince at his fief. The first thing she saw were the hanged innocent citizens who were killed by the third prince, there was blood dripping all over. And as if that wasn't enough, she saw how Go Bal Gi, the third prince slaughters humans as if they're animals, he also ordered his soldiers to throw them into the water. As a watcher, my soul almost jumped out of my skin, I got chills all over. However, she was able to face the Go Bal Gi without showing her fears even after she saw all that. Plus, she asked the third prince this question; "Can you tell me what His Majesty did to the Crown Prince?" One of Go Bal Gi aide replied with this answer, "His Majesty unable to kill his own brother, severed his nose as punishment." And at that moment I could see the fear in Go Bal Gi's eyes. Woo Hui instilled fear into the third prince, when she herself was hiding her fear. Such a rear quality. She's able to think straight even though she's faced with a beast like person. Few can achieve that. It matches what's written in the art of war, "March swiftly to the place where you're not expected. Conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains." She achieved two things with those words. She was able to hide her fear, also, she's able to conceal the death of the king from the third prince. The fact that she was able to kill two birds with a stone amazed me.

"A person like the third prince can't be given power." I love that sentence. Even though she's caught between a rock and a hard place, she's able to make the right choice by not choosing a beast to rule Goguryeo. The third prince was her best choice cuz he was the second in line to the throne should the king pass away without an heir. However, she went against the flow and decided not to hand over the sovereign authority of Goguryeo over to a monster. Her actions proves that "Desperation doesn't mean Impulsiveness." I love that about her. Such subtleness!

There's also the scene where she ordered the head of the Wangdang "Mu Gol" to head to the fourth prince fief, that she's chosen the fourth prince. I never expected that. She's able to calculate her moves during the most dangerous times, I love that about her. Indeed, she's not only skilled in swordsmanship and archery, but she also possess what makes a great commander "tactics."

When she's shooting arrows at the White Tigers, for a moment there, I thought I was seeing the second version of the founder of Goguryeo "Jumong/Chu Mo." I've got to admit, her archery skills were top notch.

"I'll no longer be a chess piece." That's one of my favourite part of the drama. My favourite part is when Woo Hui said this, "However, there's no war we can't win. And I must win." She possess the skills of a skilled commander, she makes the least expected moves I love that about her.
This is from the art of war; The skillful tactician may be likened to the SHUAI-JAN. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by both its head and tail. This is what Queen Woo is like. I love her character.


SCENES WHICH I FOUND UNNECESSARY

When the King took the advice of Eul Pal So (Prime Minister) to have nude women in his chambers while he's being treated, plus, that he should show that to the queen. How the king took such advice without hesitation amazed me. I mean, Go Nam Mu is no dimwit. He's a skilled tactician, a skilled warrior, but how could he take such a advice when he knows it does him, nor the queen any good? Sure, he was told distancing himself from the queen would protect her, but did it? It didn't. Plus, there's this scene were the great shaman "Sa Bi" was praying, that nude scene was unnecessary.

Ending explained
After a long journey full of adversities, Queen Woo finally returns to the palace with the fourth prince. The final battle ensues. Go Bal Gi allied with the defeated crown prince to take over the throne. Queen Woo gained the support of the fifth prince and two tribes out of five tribes. The misery behind the king's death is finally unraveled. Eul Pal So source of origin and his original purpose is finally revealed. With Queen Woo as the commander in chief, she puts on her armor to fight alongside their soldiers. She makes her speech to boost the morale of the soldiers. We could see the enemies soldiers outweighing the Queen's. Also, the broken sword of that was passed onto King Yu Ri by King Ju Mong is finally fixed. We see Woo Hui wielding the sword. Just as the epic battle was about to begin, the drama ended.

I'm giving an overall ratings of 9 mainly because of it's ending, the ending was very unsatisfactory. Many things were unexplained. For one, how the battle turned out should had been explained through subtitles, but it wasn't. I didn't like that about this drama. But then again, this is only the first season, I read that it's going to have a second season. I guess, all these questions will be answered when the second season finally airs.

What's made me rate this drama an overall rating of 9 are; Firstly, I love how the politics in this drama. Each episode felt like the end. In other words, each episode was climax. Secondly, I love how Jeon Jong Seo portrayed her role as Queen Woo/Woo Hui excellently. She gave off the vibe of a strong queen, a skilled warrior, and a tactician. I love that about this drama.

Thirdly, the action scenes. I love how the action scenes were well choreographed. I didn't know it'd have that much action, but it did. And I love that about it. Fourthly, the engaging plot. And Lastly, the fact that Goguryeo's founder was relevant throughout the show, even though some things were altered from what's originally written in the history.

The fact that this is a show about how a woman did the unthinkable, and went against the flow is what made me love this drama. Let's face reality, how many women were able to make history? The answer is obvious. So when I see, a drama about how a woman battle against all odds to gain power, I'm drawn to such a drama.

I also loved the acting of Ji Chang Wook. Even though it's my first time seeing him portrayed the role of a king, he pulled off his role excellently. Plus there's also Kim Mu Yeol, I love his portrayal as the mysterious Eul Pa So. Also, Jung Yoo Mi, she also nailed her role as Woo Soon. And Lee Soo Hyuk, as always, he nailed his villain role. Park Ji Wan also delivered in his role as the head of Wangdang "Mu Gol." Plus, all the casts delivered wonderfully in their respective roles.
Aside from the unnecessary scenes and the rushed ending, this is a worthwhile drama. If you're an adult, that is.

For those who want to watch for Ji Chang Wook, you're welcome. His character "Go Nam Mu" did die at episode 2, but he had screentime throughout the drama. Also, not every scene were in line with what's written in the history. History was altered in some part. Well then....

Lees verder