Can a mother absolutely love her child while being a serial killer? How does the perfect mix of family drama and crime thriller keep those watching glued to the screen? And does Go Hyun-jung’s comeback role make this year’s most-talked-about K-drama even more compelling?
SBS’s crime thriller Queen Mantis is taking 2025 by storm with episodes airing weekly on Netflix (Sep 5 – Sep 27, 2025), along with SBS broadcasted in South Korea. This warmed up psychological mystery and tense family drama promises to deliver both the suspense and emotional engagement we have come to expect from the genre.
With outstanding performances, shocking twists and turns with enough suspense to keep you watching, Queen Mantis is already setting new standards for crime thrillers this year. So, lets take a look at what makes this K-drama worth watching to watch in 2025.
2. Plot Premise
Twenty years earlier, Jung I-shin, who infamously went by the nickname “Mantis,” was known for a series of horrific murders. Jung I-shin murdered five men who either had harmed women or children. When Jung I-shin targeted these men, her family had no idea that it would cast a dark shadow, particularly upon her own son, Cha Su-yeol. He grew up hating his mother because of what she did in the past, especially because she was simply terrorizing the world. It became a mission for Cha Su-yeol to avoid killing or doing anything to anyone when he grew up. Su-yeol became a police officer as a crusade to stop someone from doing what his mother did (i.e., killing someone).
However, when a copycat murder occurs, they ultimately are forced back into a tense, unwilling relationship with one another. Can a mother who committed the acts Jung I-shin committed ever truly love her child? Will that adult relationship moving forward always have the dark past hanging over their heads?
Hints in the story suggest that maybe Jung I-shin had some feelings for her son — while her violent actions imply that those feelings must be gone; “the hint/backstory moments while visiting shows you that there must still be some form of maternal love — just not on the surface, and it is a belief her past still held some backstory weight.”
3. Main Cast & Characters
- Go Hyun-jung as Jung I-shin: Go Hyun-jung, known for her outstanding performances in Mask Girl and Reflection of You, plays the role of Jung I-shin, an emotionally complex mother, who also has a highly troubled and dark past. She genuinely captures the duality of a character, demonstrating both terror and vulnerability, who is both a cold-blooded killer, yet is capable of loving maternal feelings. Through nuance in expression and emotionally complex scenes, she keeps viewers anticipating Jung I-shin with both fear and resounding sympathy throughout the show.
- Jang Dong-yoon as Cha Su-yeol: As the son, Cha Su-yeol, Jang Dong-yoon has a much-storied background in acting, mainly in Like Flowers in Sand and Daily Dose of Sunshine. As a dedicated police officer, Cha Su-yeol has to deal with the consequences of his mother’s criminal past, while also feeling paranoia that he will follow in her footsteps into darkness. Jang perfectly depicts the tension between being professional, having morals, and the role of family, through Su-yeol’s struggle evaluation of each step of the investigation.
- Lee El as Kim Ha Nui: Lee El’s character, Kim Ha Nui, plays a crucial role in the investigation unfolding, providing insight, intelligence, and emotional context. Kim helps propel the plot, but more importantly reminds viewers of the humanizing aspects of the police.
- Cho Seong-ha as Choi Jung-ho: Cho Seong-ha brings gravity to the investigation through his role as Choi Jung-ho, someone whose choices and actions really change the suspense and twists of the spread.
- Kim Bo-ra as Lee Jung-yeon: Kim Bo-ra plays Su-yeol’s wife, whose pregnancy and aspect of the copycat case are a big deal in the emotional stakes of the series. Her character brings urgency and personal conflict, especially when the copycat killer targets her.
- Han Dong-hee as Seo Ah-ra: Han Dong-hee surprises the audience as Seo Ah-ra, the copycat killer. Her character is cunning and unpredictable, easily creating suspense and conflict as she constructively intersects the narratives of Jung I-shin and Su-yeol and comes across other elements of mystery in the story.
- Supporting Cast: Han Si-a, Kil Geum-sung and other supporting actors help enhance the series through their portrayals of colleagues, victims, and investigators who support the main arc and help build the world outside of the central establishment.
4. Episode Highlights
Episodes 1–6: Building Tension
The initial six episodes serve as an introduction to the tense mother-son relationship and crowd intrigue about the identity of the copycat murder. There is a fascinating fear of Jung I-shin’s backstory, Cha Su-yeol grapples with his mother’s past, and the suspense closes in on the investigation. This section of the series has an interesting equilibrium of psychological drama, familial conflict, and the excitement of the crime plot.
Episode 7: Shocking Twists
In episode 7, the plot thickens. Jung-yeon’s pregnancy is announced with even higher stakes for Su-yeol. Then the shocking reveal of Seo Ah-ra, the copycat killer, flows into another twist: Jung-yeon is kidnapped, bringing her and the unborn child into significant jeopardy. Su-yeol faces the dilemma of saving his wife or reliving the horror with his own mother. Simultaneously, Jung I-shin (Yi-shin) is poised for a final showdown with high stakes, bringing further tension and drama to the series’ climax.
Episode 8: Finale (Sep 27, 2025)
The final episode will air on September 27, 2025, and everyone is dying to know: Will Jung I-shin sacrifice herself for her son? Will Su-yeol be able to forgive his mom and come to terms with his past? The finale will resolve the suspenseful mother-son conflict as well as those shocking twists that fans have been eagerly waiting for.
5. Themes & Social Commentary
Mother-Son Toxic Love
Central to Queen Mantis is the complicated and often toxic relationship between Jung I-shin and her son, Cha Su-yeol. Love, hate, and fear are closely intertwined as Su-yeol resents his mother but still has an attachment to her as a relative. This tension is the emotional center of the series.
Cycle of Violence
Su-yeol lives in fear of inheriting his mother’s “killer instinct” which speaks to the larger theme of cycles of violence. The series endeavors to address how trauma and sins of the past become the sins of the next generation, and whether one can truly escape the implications of inherited legacies of darkness.
Women’s Perspective in Crime Drama
Queen Mantis approaches the crime thriller genre from a new angle by featuring a female avenger, and showcasing family traumas from a female perspective. While researchers note Jung I-shin employs violence, her violence is framed as resistance to male abuse, thus enabling a multifaceted and morally ambiguous character.
Police Critique
The series intentionally depicts police incompetency and problematic investigations, thereby heightening tension and connecting to the notion of human error and complexity on moral levels.
Representation
A scene featuring a trans character discussing gender-affirming surgery received praise for its sensitivity and accuracy, which connects to the series’ attention to inclusivity and care in the much-maligned portrayal of gender identity in mainstream thriller narratives.
6. Production & Direction
Queen Mantis is directed by Byun Young-joo, known for her work on Black Out and for blending social issues with thriller elements. The series is written by Lee Young-jong, recognized for 12.12: The Day, who masterfully crafts suspense while exploring complex human emotions.
This K-drama is part of the SBS × Netflix output deal (2024), a collaboration that aims to expand the global reach of South Korean dramas. By releasing the series both on terrestrial television (SBS) and streaming platforms like Netflix, the show reaches a wider, international audience while adapting to the changing viewing habits of modern viewers.
With a short-form, 8-episode format, Queen Mantis embraces the OTT-style narrative, focusing on concise storytelling, intense pacing, and high-stakes drama that keeps audiences engaged episode after episode
7. Reception & Ratings
Queen Mantis has enjoyed a steady rise in ratings, starting at 6.3% and climbing to 7.5%, marking a strong performance for a Friday-Saturday K-drama slot. On Netflix, the series quickly rose to #1 in Korea and began trending worldwide, demonstrating its international appeal.
Critics’ Response:
- Praised: Go Hyun-jung’s chilling and magnetic performance, the suspenseful plot, and the intense mother-son dynamic.
- Criticized: Some found the police subplot and certain side character arcs weak or underdeveloped, slightly detracting from the main storyline.
Fans’ Engagement:
The drama has sparked active discussions on platforms like r/KDrama and social media, with viewers speculating about finale outcomes, debating character choices, and sharing favorite moments. The hype surrounding the final episodes has kept fans eagerly anticipating the conclusion.
8. Why Queen Mantis Stands Out in 2025
Queen Mantis stands out as one of the most talked-about K-dramas of 2025 due to its unexpected combination of family melodrama and crime thriller. The main character is a female lead playing a killer mother, a daring and unique character trait that draws instant attention and diverges from the typical thriller narrative and tropes.
Further, the series is simple and succinct to cater to the modern OTT era, with only 8 episodes to deliver the high-paced storyline without any fluff. The drama provides pure entertainment while provoking reflection on morality, familial ties, forgiveness, and complicated issues of human behavior—making for an eye-catching and easily discussed series.
9. Conclusion
Queen Mantis has become one of 2025’s must-watch crime thrillers. With a classic mystery hook that momentarily becomes outmatched by family drama, the thrilling suspense is not negated or replaced. In fact, Queen Mantis possesses a deep emotional weight and yet humorous moments across its layered narrative. And the ensemble cast, along with lead Go Hyun-jung’s equally horrifying and sympathetic role as Jung I-shin, adds to the drama’s complexity and suspense.
As the finale airs on September 27, 2025, fans are all waiting to see whether I-shin and Su-yeol will be saved or whether they will both be destroyed in the end, and that big breath will be slowly exhaled around the world. While truly a thrilling watch, Queen Mantis also, importantly, displays K-drama’s ability to blend dark crime-plots with rich, heartfelt family stories. Queen Mantis is something to watch for both the fun of the story as well as meaningful tension and exchanges found throughout the show.
