SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama Queen Mantis premiered on September 5 with nationwide ratings of 7.1% and 7.3% in the Seoul metropolitan area, instantly taking first place in its time slot. The peak viewership even hit 8.7%. In comparison, Song Joong-ki’s My Youth, which aired at the same time, recorded just 2.9%, making Go’s drama the clear winner.
The first episode opened with a grisly murder scene that brought police officer Choi Joong-ho (Jo Sung-ha) back to memories of a notorious case from 23 years earlier. In a small mining town, five abusive men were brutally killed in what became known as the “Mantis serial murders,” committed by Jung Yi-shin (Go Hyun-jung).
Now decades later, Jung’s son Cha Soo-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon) has become a police officer himself. Haunted by his mother’s crimes, he clashes with her when she offers to help investigate a new copycat murder on two conditions: she must be kept in a secluded residence rather than prison, and she will only communicate through her son. Reluctantly, Soo-yeol and Choi Joong-ho bring her into the case, leading to a tense mother-son reunion after 23 years.
The episode highlighted Go Hyun-jung’s commanding performance, seamlessly shifting between the face of a mother and a ruthless killer. Her unnerving smile and sharp dialogue set the tone for the series, while strong supporting performances from Jo Sung-ha, Lee El, and Kim Bo-ra further anchored the drama. Special cameos by Byun Yo-han and Go Joon added weight to the premiere.
With its gripping storyline and Go Hyun-jung’s magnetic presence, Queen Mantis has already established itself as one of the must-watch thrillers of the season. Episode 2 will air on September 6 at 9:50 p.m.
Sources: Daum
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