'Queen Mantis' Premieres with Impressive Ratings, Surpassing 'My Youth'

The new SBS drama 'Queen Mantis' made a strong debut, recording a 7.1% viewership rating, more than triple that of Song Joong-ki's 'My Youth', which aired at the same time with a 2.9% rating.

Airing on the 5th, 'Queen Mantis' achieved a 7.3% rating in the metropolitan area and 7.1% nationwide, quickly claiming the top spot in its time slot. The peak viewership soared to 8.7%, with the 2049 demographic rating averaging 2% and peaking at 2.57%.

The first episode of 'Queen Mantis' opened with a gruesome murder scene. Detective Choi Jung-ho (played by Jo Sung-ha) recalled a serial murder case he handled in the past upon seeing the body. The infamous 'Mantis' serial murders, which occurred 23 years ago in a small mining town, involved a woman killing five men suspected of domestic violence or child abuse. The perpetrator was Jung Yi-shin (played by Ko Hyun-jung).

Fast forward 23 years, Jung Yi-shin's son, Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon), has become a police officer. He encounters a woman, high on drugs, attempting to kill her husband and throw her daughter off a rooftop. In a dangerous situation where the child's life was at risk, Cha Soo-yeol shot the woman's leg to save the child, but faced criticism from his superior. Reflecting on his past, Cha Soo-yeol was reminded of his own childhood.

Detective Choi Jung-ho sought Jung Yi-shin's help to investigate a copycat 'Mantis' crime that emerged after 23 years. Jung Yi-shin agreed to cooperate under two conditions: she would be housed in a pension home instead of prison, and she would communicate only through her son, Cha Soo-yeol. This arrangement was kept confidential. Despite his lifelong resentment towards his mother, Cha Soo-yeol joined Choi Jung-ho to meet Jung Yi-shin to prevent further murders.

The mother and son reunited after 23 years, but it was far from a heartfelt reunion. Cha Soo-yeol suppressed his anger, speaking coldly, while Jung Yi-shin initially wavered but soon shifted from mother to murderer. Their heated emotions led to mutual provocation. Jung Yi-shin chillingly remarked, "The smell of blood? I like it. It's the smell from when you were born," and requested to see the crime scene.

Ultimately, Choi Jung-ho and Cha Soo-yeol brought Jung Yi-shin to the crime scene. She examined the scene while humming to music, seemingly recalling her past murders, which enraged Cha Soo-yeol. Jung Yi-shin left only cryptic remarks, but Cha Soo-yeol managed to extract a crucial clue from her words.

Cha Soo-yeol, reliant on Jung Yi-shin to stop further killings, found himself unsure whether she was helping or manipulating him. Thus began the eerie collaboration between the mother and son, both similar yet different. The first episode concluded with Jung Yi-shin's unsettling smile, leaving viewers intrigued.

Ko Hyun-jung's transformation into a chilling serial killer was commanding, her performance anchoring the drama's identity. The strong supporting cast, including Jo Sung-ha, Lee El (as Kim Na-hee), and Kim Bo-ra (as Lee Jung-yeon), bolstered the narrative. Special appearances by Byun Yo-han and Go Joon added to the drama's appeal.

The second episode of 'Queen Mantis's Outing' airs on the 6th at 9:50 PM.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr