'Queen Mantis' Sees Ratings Surge with Intense Plot Twists

'Queen Mantis' is on a rising trajectory.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 7th, the second episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Queen Mantis' (directed by Byun Young-joo, written by Lee Young-jong), which aired on the 6th, recorded a 7.3% viewership rating in the metropolitan area, showing an increase from the previous episode.

The peak viewership moment reached 10%, breaking into double digits, and the key demographic of viewers aged 20-49 also saw a significant rise, with ratings climbing from 2.5% to a peak of 3.29%. This surpassed the ratings of 'My Youth,' starring Song Joong-ki, proving the magic of Go Hyun-jung's performance.

In this episode, the joint investigation to catch a copycat killer began between serial killer mother Jung Yi-shin (played by Go Hyun-jung) and her detective son Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon). The complex and tense mother-son relationship, where they can neither fully trust nor completely doubt each other, kept viewers on the edge of their seats.

Previously, Jung Yi-shin left a cryptic remark at the scene of the second copycat murder. Cha Soo-yeol, picking up on a crucial clue, discovered the existence of prime suspect Seo Gu-wan (played by Lee Tae-gu). At Seo Gu-wan's house, Cha Soo-yeol found numerous materials related to the 'Mantis' serial killer case, personal information of various individuals, and evidence of homemade firearms created with a 3D printer.

Among the findings were letters seemingly exchanged between Seo Gu-wan and Jung Yi-shin, who is in prison, which shocked Cha Soo-yeol. Enraged, he headed to the detention house where Jung Yi-shin was held late at night, suspecting that she had instructed Seo Gu-wan to kill. However, Jung Yi-shin denied it, sarcastically questioning, "Is that all you are as a cop?" The tension between the mother and son, meeting after 23 years, was palpable.

Meanwhile, Seo Gu-wan was committing crimes. Deluded that his half-brother Kim Tae-seok had stolen his happiness, Seo Gu-wan broke into Kim Tae-seok's house, threatening his wife and children while pretending to be Kim Tae-seok. Fortunately, the police acted swiftly, saving Kim Tae-seok's family, and Seo Gu-wan was arrested. However, Kim Tae-seok's whereabouts remained unknown, leaving his fate uncertain.

In custody, Seo Gu-wan provoked both Kim Na-hee (played by Lee El) and Cha Soo-yeol, particularly angering Cha Soo-yeol by bringing up Jung Yi-shin. Ultimately, Choi Joong-ho (played by Jo Sung-ha) and Cha Soo-yeol brought Seo Gu-wan to Jung Yi-shin. Facing the madman who idolized her, Jung Yi-shin, with an inscrutable demeanor, provoked Seo Gu-wan, extracting a crucial hint that Kim Tae-seok might still be alive.

However, Seo Gu-wan's rampage did not stop. He not only strangled Jung Yi-shin but also mentioned Cha Soo-yeol's wife, Lee Jung-yeon (played by Kim Bo-ra), in front of her. In a moment of madness, Jung Yi-shin's eyes flashed with insanity as she strangled Seo Gu-wan. Barely preventing Seo Gu-wan's death, Cha Soo-yeol was left with chilling words whispered in his ear: "It all has to end," and "You heard it all, he knows everything." It was a spine-chilling moment for both Cha Soo-yeol and the viewers.

Amidst the chaos, Seo Gu-wan shot himself in the head. Cha Soo-yeol, following the psychological trail of Jung Yi-shin and Seo Gu-wan, deduced Kim Tae-seok's possible location and found him. The episode ended with Cha Soo-yeol desperately trying to save Kim Tae-seok and the eerie image of Jung Yi-shin feeding unidentified insects with leaves hidden in her mouth through a vent.

The second episode of 'Queen Mantis' showcased the powerful synergy between Go Hyun-jung and Jang Dong-yoon, highlighting the essence of a high-density crime thriller. SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Queen Mantis' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM.

Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr