The Queen's Umbrella (2022) User Reviews

Not your typical K-drama. Wow!

[Dougie_style · 9/10 · 10 November 2022]

I normally don't review, but there are only 3 reviews on here at the time of writing. Hopefully my review helps a few people find this gem.

First off, the storyline on IMDB doesn't do this justice. I was expecting some boring drama about a queen raising her sons to be men. It was far from that.

I get excited any time I see something produced by Studio Dragon. Alchemy of Souls, Start-up and Crash Landing on You are examples. Everything is high quality - stunning visuals, amazing soundtracks, well thought-out scripts and excellent acting.

This isn't your typical K-drama. As of episode 8, there are no love triangles, squares, pentagrams, etc. There are only hints of future romance, and only briefly.

Now, for the 1st episode I was bored out of my mind. Took me 3 days to finish it - and just barely. But what I've learned from K-dramas is you need at least 2 or 3 episodes to decide if you like it. The first is usually introductions to both character and plot. And that was exactly what this was.

2nd episode - This is getting better. The queen is even starting to grow on me. First signs are showing that I may end up liking this one after all.

3rd episode - Ok, I'm hooked. I ended up finishing the next 5 available episodes in 2 days.

What you get is a vicious power struggle within the royal family of Joseon (early Korea). The queen is the main character and will do whatever it takes to protect her family. She can turn from a loving mother to a mama-bear in a heartbeat. Kim Hye-su was well-cast for this role. She is both queenly and motherly at the same time.

The queen dowager (Kim Hae-sook, queen's mother-in-law/king's mother) is a ruthless woman willing to do anything to take down the queen and her sons. The Minister of War (Kim Eui-sung) is also gunning to eliminate the royal family - sometimes together with the queen dowager, sometimes separately. Throw in a dozen of the king's concubines trying to elevate the status of their illegitimate sons and you have a complex weave of backstabbing and manipulation.

There is a fair amount of action in this series, though don't expect non-stop sword fights. I originally thought I'd be watching a boring political drama even as I started the second episode, but the suspense is what keeps you glued to the screen. Assassinations, corruption, kids sneaking out of the palace to get a taste of the city. Even verbal debates become interesting. And nobody is safe - young or old.

I didn't find it slow at all. Even the relationships between the grand princes and their half-brothers keep you interested. There are friends and enemies as if these half-brothers were nothing more than classmates. Comedy is minimal (no slapstick) and usually contained to a couple of the younger princes.

I'd call this historical fiction, but it is so much more. Don't come into this expecting Jane Eyre. It's nothing like Hollywood-made historical fiction - it's much more intense.

Now I need to find something else to watch until the next episodes of both The Queen's Umbrella and Alchemy of Souls come out. /sigh.

Love it!

[jolenesd · 9/10 · 21 November 2022]

I was not expecting such a good quality series when I started. It also destroys some cliches of the historical k-dramas. MUCH more realistic characters and dialogs than the other K-dramas. The character development is amazing. Some diverse touch in the event flow makes it also unique. I almost got the same pleasure with Mr. Sunshine and crash landing on you (which are my TOP 2 Korean series).

BUT especially..... the queen...... I mean who has done the casting? Is there an oscar for casting? Spectacular. Incredible queen character, great acting.

Only 4 episode left. I wish it was 24 episodes instead of 16.

Refreshing story, definitely worth watching!

[magzabecka · 8/10 · 14 November 2022]

Pleasantly surprised with this show; very refreshing take on a popular genre, focused on the Queen's point of view and not much on romantic interest. I thought I've seen so many period K-dramas with similar plots that nothing can be done differently but this show has managed to do so! Cleaver writing, beautiful cinematography, great cast, in other words everything you need for an engaging watch!

For those complaining that the court dynamics are not sophisticated enough; this show is clearly not Game of Thrones/House of Dragon type of experience. But the show won't disappoint anyone who enjoys period shows. I'd say it's an interesting watch, even if you're not a fan of K-dramas.

Kim Hye-su absolutely impressive

[PeterRiden · 10/10 · 21 November 2022]

This series presents a good selection of cast acting individuals and their participation is making of this presentation a very interesting watch. The Queen is most endearingly portrayed by gorgeous Kim Hye-su and she certainly crowns this series as the most interesting character by far. The story lines bring many wonderful statement imbued of wisdom and that is reflected by the new Crown Prince. The dramas that are injected make it even more captivating as to how The Queen prevails beyond it all. Great acting by all.

The antagonists in this series get you to really root for The Queen who certainly remains on top of all situations. That is a compliment for the writers who make sure that you get riveted for what is to happen.

Beautiful

[fallenprince-95496 · 10/10 · 24 October 2022]

It feels very fresh for me since we get to see a period drama from a different perspective. Here, we follow the mother rather than the typical young romance.

The story revolves around the inner court. We see multiple concubines rival for power through their sons. Mostly, we follow the life of the queen who aims to save her sons from the cunningness of the inner court. It's a really good story with a pacing that I enjoy. I don't find any moments boring at all.

The characters are great as well. It's only been 4 episodes but they are very well fleshed out. They have a nuance of modernity in them.

The music, costumes, and cinematography are really beautiful as well.

Waiting impatiently for more!

[vicknair-66656 · 10/10 · 29 October 2022]

Only a few episodes have been released and I'm already stuck on this unusual sageuk! Great cast, a different view of the Joseon royal court, and some characters who are already catching my interest as to their futures.

I can't wait to see how the storyline develops, and am hoping for a happy ending for those who aren't looking so hopeful at the moment.

The casting is great, and as usual for Korean period dramas, the scenery, costumes and cinematography are outstanding.

I'm looking forward to many more episodes, but I wish that I hadn't found it so early in the screening process, since I really don't want to wait and would definitely binge watch this drama if they were all released! Recommended for sure!

Must watch!!

[chanel-wade · 10/10 · 9 December 2022]

I can't wait until this show gets the views and celebrity that it deserves!! It was exceptional!! Definetly in my top 3 kdrama! The first episode doesn't give it justice but after that it's amazing! The pace is really good and the acting is fantastic! Such a great storyline and based on the few few episodes you don't expect it to toss and turn the way it does! Kept me excited! It's the first kdrama I have watched where I had to wait each week to watch each episode! I started getting really excited for the weekend to come. I strongly recommend this kdrama!! There isn't 1 episode that is filler. Hope you enjoy.

Nobody can punish me

[alaningle7 · 9/10 · 5 December 2022]

An unconventional queen is faced with challenges on all side as she struggles to protect her sons who are all bought into play as factions within the palace try to gain power. The queen is played outstandingly by Kim Hye-soo who is captivating on the screen as she defends her family from many enemies mainly influenced by the queen mother played with convincing aplomb by Kim Hae-sook. I would have probably rated it an eight as it does get bogged down a little at the end but the extra point is for the two protagonists. If you enjoy court intrigue and like strong female characters this is worth a watch.

Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 9/10 · 3 January 2023]

Korean Drama " Under the Queen's Umbrella " is a roller coaster.

The drama has multiple leyers, with the family drama, the palace politics and the comedy being the very core of it.

The battle between the strong female leads was intense to follow and it refreshing to see the Queen and not the King being the center of the political battles for once.

Also, the family drama was bittersweet, with tragedy but also some warm and lovable moments.

The comedy aspect, moreover, was spot on, without exaggerations to produce laughter. Rather, the funny moments came naturally and were well handled.

Last, but not least, the performances were enjoyable, but the leading lady was a dynamite.

So, overall, nine out of ten.

Drags on too much

[timoo87 · 7/10 · 9 January 2023]

I would like it much more if it was trimmed to 1/3 of its length, too much repetition and stuff being dragged out with overly dramatic shots. I guess I didn't know what I signed up for because I was told this is quite common for South Korean series.

It is interesting enough for me to keep watching until the end to know how will it all end and what will be revealed, it just takes way too long to get there.

The Queen's Umbrella would just work better as a 5-episode miniseries (at least for season 1).

Don't know if there will be more seasons coming, I have yet to watch the final episode of the season, but I will probably not continue watching.

Here is why you should watch it!

[gjjkyycsb · 10/10 · 25 April 2023]

This drama it's very well made. The truth comes fast, it's hard to predict what will happend the longer you watch it and the characters are actually smart, it do not takes decades to find out something only for the sake of time to pass.

Visual speaking it's amazing, respect, discipline, facing consequences with your head up, thinking your movements, mercy, justice, these are all on point. I don't know how I watched all of it in 3 days since I got bored very easy, maybe because the creator and actors are talented enought to keep you entertain and answer to your feelings. It will finnish the way you wanted somehow, I can feel it.

A bit disappointed considering how much this show was hyped

[ninchenbienchen · 7/10 · 8 April 2023]

Well, what can I say: This series had so much potential to separate itself from the hundreds of other historical k-dramas out there:

• a phenomenal cast
• the Grand Princes with their extraordinary personalities and their strong bond
• and a great soundtrack.

In the end, the Grand Princes took pretty much a backseat, barely to be seen towards the second half of the show. Instead, they focused way too much on the typical schemes and betrayal happening within the palast walls, just as all the other historical dramas out there. If it hadn't been for the Queen, who is definitely a legendary character, partially thanks to Kim Hyesoo's perfect portrayal, I would've rated it even lower than that.

Under the Queen's Stares

[Park_Min · 5/10 · 18 January 2024]

The drama really needed a better introduction to establish itself properly, it took me a while before it captured my interest. Others may not have the patience. By the time the drama finished, I had no idea how many princes were there. Most of them barely got any screen, yet had some small side stories. While the prominent ones didn't develop enough. Quality over quantity would've been the right approach. I found the ending to be too subdued, soft, and tame after spending 16 very long episodes of building tension through countless slow-mo shots, mean stares, and passive-aggressive empty threats. This was another area that was lacking, the drama needed more ways to build tension. The drama had some unjustifiable, unwarranted, and under-delivered preachy moments that yanked the viewers out and ruined the atmosphere. This seems to be a common trend with modern titles. Anyway, I see that "Comedy" is one of its listed genres, although it had relatively lighter moments every now and then but these didn't adhere to the comedy genre in any shape or form. I would remove the tag as it's misleading. Speaking of misleading, the synopsis's description of the queen's character was mostly wrong and didn't translate as such into the screen.

The best of the best

[emsqra · 10/10 · 11 April 2023]

I thought was a same pattern used in every single Drama for the last 10 years however I am so impressed by, I have enjoyed every single chapter. The plot Bad wins over Good but finally Good wins.

The history behind the love of a mother out of her time protecting not only the love ones and letting them be and walk their own path. The love between brothers and most of it !! The freedom of being yourself.

The actors, writers, the director, the music and everyone behind every chapter have delivered an outstanding Drama, which give us a hope a lesson of what is right thing to do in this world,.....

A mother's love and protective instinct in full drive

[magnoliacream · 8/10 · 10 December 2022]

This is about a feisty but kindhearted queen, Im Hwa-ryeong (Kim Hye-soo), who would fight tooth and nail for her children. The mother of the Crown Prince and four grand princes, she has to protect her children from the Queen Dowager (Kim Hae-sook), court officials and other characters who are conspiring to depose her, the Crown Prince and her husband King Yi Ho (Choi Won-young) from power.

Aside from political intrigues, other parts I found interesting were the Queen's relationship with her children as well as their growing pains. The romance between swoon-worthy Grand Prince Seongnam (Moon Sang-min) and Yoon Cheong-ha (Oh Ye-ju) is charming.

My review about this series:

[xautyoteusyrim · 10/10 · 3 December 2022]

Just a beautiful series with an amazing story!!

That is enough to show you how good it is!!

Just a beautiful series with an amazing story. Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story Just a beautiful series with an amazing story.

Emotional Masterpiece

[AlexisHH · 10/10 · 1 February 2023]

An emotional masterpiece!

I laughed throughout the story, rooted for the Queen and her children, mourned deaths and injustices, cried in beautiful and sad moments and was wistfully released at the end, never to see these characters again.

May the Queen, her children, and those who did good in the story all live well. A piece of my heart will forever belong to this beautiful story.

The series is definitely not for everyone. But if you can relate to the beautiful Asian setting, you will see a emotional, funny, sad and exciting story with great landscapes and traditional costumes. I loved it a lot!

Both actresses named Kim really shined in this one.

[kmhlbeavis · 9/10 · 10 February 2023]

I usually don't watch this type of drama set during this period. Once I started watching it I continued to see what would happen. Kim Hye Su once again put on a perfect performance as well as Kim Hae Sok as the evil queen. The only thing that was kind of the same was that they used an old person to play the villian once again, the only change was that it was a female. It was a back and forth with both queens trying to out do one another until the very end. I will not say what happened this is something that I recommend watching. The only thing that is kind of unrealistic is that the evil queen can even get men to do her dirty deeds without giving much in return. Other than that It was as close to perfect as you can get. Coincidentally both of these actress worked together in thieves as well. I rate this a 9 as it is close to perfect as you can get.

Phenomenal

[kimberleyalicia · 10/10 · 26 December 2022]

I saw a snippet of this show on tiktok and from that one clip I knew I wanted to watch it. I was not disappointed.

Starting with the scenery, breathtaking and the costumes are so well crafted.

It had a steady pace, and the introduction of characters was well done. I loved their growth overtime as well.

The queen by far is my favorite. Strong willed. Kind. Brave. And the respect that her husband the king shows her truly speaks volumes to her character.

This is by far going to be one of my favorite k dramas. The characters are so well played, the Queen, I cannot gush about enough. Wonderful all around! Not one single boring episode. Highly recommend.

Great potential at the beginning, ends slightly disappointing

[jeremyngyuho · 6/10 · 12 December 2022]

Series is good as a light-hearted story of a mother and her duties to her kids, albeit facing 'modern' issues in an ancient time. It seems to pro ide a more unique story and setting at first, which is a good idea.

But I don't like it when they take a dead serious turn to the story. The villain arc is weak and it feels like they are making it up as they go along. The show turns into a typical enemy-focused drama with a flawed buildup, a category it doesn't even stand a chance in.

The writing for the final few episodes feel forced and shallow. They should have ended the show post contest and wrapped things up smoothly before that. Not the other way round.

A beautiful, refreshing piece of art

[sukriitii · 10/10 · 1 December 2023]

Amongst the overwhelming Korean releases in genres of either romance or thriller, this drama stands as an exceptionally timeless series. It is so rare to come across a female-centered work that is so unbiased and so true to the nature of the highly overlooked and undermined strength of mothers who would go beyond the extent of reason, right, and wrong for their children. Both the villain and the hero are the most stunning female characters I have ever watched. Even the second females in lines have also outdone themselves. They brought so much color with their amazing grace and terrifying wrath that it was enough to make viewers skip a heartbeat.

The only thing lacking is the depiction of the past when the present queen was chosen as the crown princess. It would've been sensational to get a glimpse of that phase, yet it was still mentioned time and time again just to tease the followers to keep them intrigued.

Minor issues that become major later on.

[divemabini · 5/10 · 14 January 2023]

I was going to give this one a strong SEVEN (7) stars, even though it suffers from the usual KDrama tropes such as: 1. Overly cartoonish bad guys 2. Security oversights that are eye-rolling. People murdered? Folks getting poisoned? Have a secret to hide? No problem! Let's not increase our security one stinking bit. Court maids that can snoop without being seen. Royalty confronting people they know are dangerous with zero backup. The list goes on.

3. Throw-away characters that suck up screen time (and yet the writers think having them in the Epilogue, AKA Ep.16, justifies it).

4. Chance and VERY random encounters that have zero chance in hell of happening, simply to move the plot along.

5. Smart people (supposedly) acting in the most unrealistic and stupid way imaginable. Again, to move the plot along and have some semblance of terror.

Still, a solid 6.5 or 7...FOR THE FIRST 14 EPISODES.

Then episode 15 happens, and you're like WTF!?!?!, why is everything happening in 30 minutes. And more damning, why are the most stupid and ridiculous plot twists and reveals happening so fast?

Oh, it's because Korean writers have zero sense of pacing. It is reflected in so many otherwise good shows (not just this one), that it has become cliche. It's like they have world-builded so grandiose-like for the first 80% of the show that they have to sprint around like a chicken with no head trying to wrap up all the plotlines.

Well, it fails miserably here. And that sets up Episode 16 (the usual cliche Korean epilogue episode) for a spectacular fail. Normally, these wrap up episodes have at least some emotions in them. This one was a splattering of 50 different storylines into one jumbled mess of "look, see who's alive, see who's happy, see who's not, etc.". An incredibly unfulfilling hodgepodge that is blatantly fan-service for a "happy" ending.

So much potential wasted. Fans of the lead actress will thumb down my post for sure. She was amazing in the series, but she alone can't salvage this mess.

Stunning Scenes, Beautiful Message!

[overjen-33620 · 9/10 · 21 May 2023]

No spoilers here!!!

This show is a marvelous GEM! Absolutely gorgeous costumes and beautifully-complicated characters, with amazing, above-the-mark cinematography. This show grabbed me right away, in the #1 episode, and each episode after, left me unable to ignore the "Next Episode" button and turn off the TV! This series is not only binge-worthy, but also contains harsh, yet beautiful scenes conveying the lifestyle of the old empirical ways of China. Every detail is exceptionally well-filmed - from the artistic, old-Chinese language brush-strokes upon scrolls to the heart-wrenching, difficult decisions a mother makes for her sons as she loves them with all her heart and soul, but must try to make the best and even safest paths for their futures - no matter her own fears and anxieties.

I love that this show has me laughing one minute then crying the next. The messages of family, love, betrayal, self-discovery and an unwavering mother's pride, make up such captivating and intriguing plots and sub-plots. As the mother of a young-adult son, I can very well appreciate what the engaging, beautiful Queen goes through as she navigates her way through the ever-changing loyalties and fickle ways of the court. The Queen Dowager actress makes such a wonderful impression of the "evil queen" role, she is to be quite commended! Evil characters make a good vs. Evil show what it best is!

I would recommend this show to anyone who enjoys historical shows, ambient cinematography and a good-paced drama, (definitely not slow) with bits of dry comedy well-placed here and there...which I very much do! An especially great drama for mothers, the transgender community and even families as a whole, who strive to broaden their children's knowledge of historical China and how different cultures from the past had such stringent, and much-of-the-time sad lives despite their great wealth and pampered ways.

Please note: IMHO, I strongly encourage the viewer to watch this show in its originally filmed language!! I, myself, completely love to watch all foreign films and shows in their original language with English subtitles, so that I may hear the actors real voices and inflections of tone. To me, watching the show in English dub, unacceptably and rudely takes away 50% of the actors's personalities and performances. Just sayin'!!

On that note, I will come to the conclusion that I totally envy anyone just beginning this series! You are definitely in for a treat! Pop some corn, grab some chocolate raisins, pour a coke, and ENJOY!! -HachiRoku72 :)

Great Korea Historical Drama

[despond-geo · 10/10 · 7 December 2023]

This was my first time watching a Korean historical drama and it was fantastic. I am Hispanic and this was a historical "novela" (soap opera) that I thoroughly enjoyed. I learned a lot about the historical period. It has a great plot with twists and turns. In the end though, it has a good resolution as opposed to series that end up very abrupt. In the end, I would like to see more what transpired with the King. The acting is superb. My favorite character was Kim Hye-su, who plays the compassionate and wise Queen. She is the thread that links this series. Watching this series has made me want to see what else is available in Korean drama. This was a great experience.

Interesting at first but grows repetitive and predictable later on

[wh-in-question · 8/10 · 5 December 2022]

The beginning is very refreshing with excellent character designs. There are so many princes, as well as their mothers, but we can easily remembered them all. It feels like a modern drama in Joseon setting, with mothers getting their children to cram schools and competing against one another and all. Since it is in Joseon, it feels fresh and funny at the same time.

Later on when the plot revolves around the death of the crown princes, it becomes repetitive. The motives of each action of each character are clear, and the next moves are predictable. However, it is still quite enjoyable that I can finish the series with no pain and didn't drop it, although it is not as addicting as in the first few episodes.