Queen of Reversals: Series review

178 February 5, 2011June 12, 2013

by girlfriday

Strangely enough, the most crack-addled I’ve been over a drama of late isn’t a snazzy one, or even a zippy fresh one at that. It’s the very classic and simple, almost throwback workplace drama Queen of Reversals, which just completed its 31-episode run on MBC this week. So if it wasn’t new and exciting, just why on earth was I so addicted to this drama about an ajumma who gets her groove back?

SERIES REVIEW

I never saw this drama’s quasi-spinoff-parent, Queen of Housewives, but I was happy not to have competing expectations. I also know, having watched Reversals, that I much prefer the reversal to the straight story. And that, in essence, is why I like this drama. Because it’s about a woman who falls in love, gets a divorce, dusts herself off, and then puts herself out there to love again. It’s totally How Tae-hee Got Her Groove Back, which is basically fantastic drama fodder.

Kim Nam-joo has pretty much always played leading ladies, but I sort of love that her character Hwang Tae-hee began this drama as a total bitch-monster from hell, who rules her team with an iron fist. She begins the series so high and mighty that we’re basically just itching for the moment when she gets unceremoniously knocked off her high horse. And you know she will. It’s the first of the great reversals.

When she chooses love over work, she gets usurped by her competition, Baek Yeo-jin, played by the winning Chae Jung-ahn (Coffee Prince). Chae is one of those actresses that I love, despite her always playing characters I mostly dislike. She’s like Moon Chae-won for me—I like the actress despite the characters she plays. I even liked her in Coffee Prince, even though she made me want to throw things. And she’s actually worse than Moon, because Chae Jung-ahn isn’t really a naturally good actress. I just like her. It’s weird.

Tae-hee returns from her honeymoon to find Baek Yeo-jin sitting at her desk, having scooped her title out from under her. And it turns out that Baek Yeo-jin, (who Tae-hee always calls, “Baek Yeo-woo,” meaning white fox) has two reasons to make her life a living hell: the torment she endured from Tae-hee when she was the low woman on the totem pole, AND the fact that Tae-hee’s new husband…is her first love.

And that’s all before we get past the first four episodes. What I really liked about the series initially was how fast things moved. In one episode, Tae-hee meets her husband-to-be, Bong Jun-su (played by Jung Jun-ho) and they go through their whirlwind courtship and marriage before you can say “commercial break.”

And the relationship is actually quite interesting, since Jun-su is a total beta male with no dreams and goals, and little talent to get him anywhere. Tae-hee, on the other hand, has been the alpha dog her whole life, and worked her way up with her whip-smart business sense. But their marriage is her first major left turn that takes her off the fast-track.

What we come to find is that theirs is a marriage wracked with problems, but it stems from this reversed-dynamic of beta male and alpha female. Not that it’s a dynamic that doesn’t work, but that it’s one THEY haven’t come to terms with. They spend five years with Tae-hee at home raising their daughter and Jun-su struggling at work, when really, it should’ve been the other way around. Play to your strengths, right?

In the end they divorce because Tae-hee finds out about Jun-su’s past with Yeo-jin, which he kept secret the entire time they were married. It’s not so much the reason for the split, but more the camel-breaking straw. She stops being able to trust him.

It played quite realistically—the way they handled the divorce—because though each character struggles with it immensely, they constantly butt heads because they’re trying so hard to save face and keep their pride. It’s actually quite tragic if you think about how many couples can’t get past massive issues because they can’t communicate how they really feel. And in the end, they realized that they had grown too far apart.

All of this story took a while, mind you, and the angsty divorce was no picnic in the park. I almost dropped the series a few times in this middle stretch when the marriage and divorce took center stage.

But then a curious thing happened…Second Lead Gu Yong-shik (Park Shi-hoo) got a reversal of his very own. I’ve said elsewhere that this drama is the worst case of Second Lead Syndrome I’d had all year (2010, when this drama started), but for once, it actually paid to root for the underdog.

The biggest reversal in this drama is that the hero, the guy who’s classically supposed to get the girl, doesn’t—he gets her and then gets kicked to the curb halfway through. The reversal is that the second lead…becomes the hero. I KNOW!

And it actually is a case of hero-swapping, not just in the romantic sense, but storywise. Gu Yong-shik was a day-player in the first half of the drama, showing up for the occasional moments, but in the latter half of the drama, he becomes the full-time hero, complete with tragic backstory and cutthroat battle to the top.

Once Tae-hee goes through with the divorce, Yong-shik’s crush takes center stage, and all the romantically-charged moments happen between them. I went from thinking it was a pipedream for Yong-shik to get the girl, to thinking that there might actually be a chance, to gasping that they really were going to let him win. It was such a nice progression, to feel like I’d wished for a unicorn, and then…poof! Unicorn!

And what happened in the latter half of the series was just unabashed adorableness at every turn, because Gu Yong-shik went all-out professing his love, and because Park Shi-hoo is just inexplicably magnetic.

I actually started this drama before last year’s cult favorite, Prosecutor Princess, and he was a huge reason I caved and finally watched that sucker. He’s one of those actors you would never look twice at, until you watch him in something, and then all of a sudden he’s insanely hot and you don’t know how you missed him. Mostly, it’s charm (and acting chops) over looks. He’s like the anti-Song-Seung-heon.

There’s something I just love about a hero who goes against the Darcy-grain. I’m SO tired of cold, proud jerky heroes who don’t reveal their feelings, and then get hit with a case of Noble Idiocy when it’s convenient for the story. Gu Yong-shik has all the outward markings of a classic Darcy-type: he’s a chaebol, he’s the prodigal son, he likes to grab wrists.

But he turns out to be silly, hilariously immature, warm, kind-hearted, and best of all—he’s a shout-it-from-the-rooftops kind of guy. Once he realizes that he’s in love with her, he literally spends the rest of the series in one heart-stopping, romantic declaration after another, being alternately cute and swoonworthy, sometimes with a little raw emotion thrown in. It’s So. Good.

It’s actually one of the cutest romances I’ve seen in a while, because it’s not riddled with larger-than-life histrionics and plots to turn them into Romeo and Juliet. They’re just two adults who work together (albeit in a very dramatic workplace), who have to get past the very realistic situation of life after divorce. Can she trust again, can she move on, can she let herself fall in love again?

Gu Yong-shik’s reversal into hero-dom and the stirrings of their romance are what took this drama from just cute and watchable to give-me-my-next-hit-of-crack-or-I-will-chew-my-arm-off. And interestingly enough, with Yong-shik’s character being so openly in love, it’s the heroine who gets hit with a bout of Noble Idiocy late in the game, to protect him from losing everything because of loving her.

I loved that while the characters struggled with their feelings, there was enough cuteness and levity to keep me rooting for them despite their reservations. This drama actually does a great job of turning mundane objects and little interactions into running gags, that eventually become emotionally fraught with meaning.

Like the pair of tangerines that they exchange, one with a smiley face that he draws for her, and one with a frowny face that she draws for him (since she’s always crabby and nitpicky while he follows her around like a googly-eyed puppy). They each take the tangerines home and put them on their nightstands, and though it doesn’t change anything or bring them physically together, it gives us a visual cue that they’re thinking of each other. One of my favorite recurring bits is Tae-hee venting at her tangerine every time Yong-shik does something annoying.

The same type of thing is done between Gu Yong-shik and his odd-couple roommate, Mok Young-chul (played by the delightful Kim Chang-wan of Coffee Prince and every drama ever). They have this running gag that Young-chul moves into his house and can’t ever manage to figure out which toothbrush is his, leading to hilarious bathroom run-ins and Yong-shik’s grossed-out faces every time he realizes they’ve been swapping again.

Mok Young-chul is one of the highlights of the drama as a side character who finds out that he has terminal cancer, and faces his mortality in a charming, winning, understated and beautiful way. When he dies, Yong-shik cries over their toothbrushes sitting in his bathroom, and then later makes a habit of visiting his ashes with a bottle of soju and a new toothbrush. It’s the cutest thing ever.

And that isn’t even the only bromance that Yong-shik has, since he’s got the sassiest secretary who ever lived, in the form of his best-friend-turned-secretary-slash-nagging-mom. He’s half in love with Yong-shik and half sick to death of him, and their interactions are really the best comic relief I’ve seen in a while.

This isn’t a drama that does anything new or revolutionary, but there’s something to be said for shows that follow a formula well. They’re like comfort food. There’s also something commendable in pulling off a formula the right way, as most dramas will show is not so easy a task. I was firmly with the heroine through all her ups and downs, and I held my breath at every will-they-won’t-they cliffhanger, tuning in because I literally HAD to find out what happened next. That’s actually rarer than you’d think, especially with a drama I’m not recapping.

But what I found refreshing about the story was that it handled divorce in a hopeful way—that it could lead you to rediscover yourself, find out your weaknesses that you have to face, and perhaps even bring you to the love of your life. What’s satisfying is not that Tae-hee gets her Cinderella ending, (because it wouldn’t have mattered if Yong-shik were rich or poor) but that she and Jun-su manage to wish each other well with heartfelt sincerity. It’s refreshingly mature, grounded, and progressive.

I love that Tae-hee actually ends up bonding with her rival Yeo-jin in their cautiously wary Cold War way. They sort of bond over how much they mutually hate each other, which runs its course in the drama and eventually ends at a sort of hilarious détente, where they’re the kind of people who shout that they hate each other, all the while sharing a drink or eating a meal like a couple of girlfriends. It mirrors the cute lifelong frenemy relationship between the two mothers-in-law.

In the end what Tae-hee confesses to Jun-su: that she was swayed by Yong-shik because she’d spent her whole life chasing the people that she loved, that she didn’t even know that she COULD be loved this much—just breaks my heart. And in turn the fear that she confesses to Yong-shik: that love is always this heady in the beginning, but that in five years everything changed for her…what’s to say it won’t happen again in five more?

It’s so simple, and honest, and universal to be scared by love after wreckage. The fact that we follow Tae-hee through the course of two whole relationships and that we’re rooting for her the entire time is a testament to her character and her journey.

Overall the drama was well-made and beautiful to look at, but it followed a very classic formula (despite the reversals), like the kid who colors strictly within the lines. That’s not to say that you can’t get a beautiful product when you stay inside the lines, which this drama pulls off quite addictively.

There’s always a place in the world for kids who follow directions to the letter, and dramas that color within the lines. And there’s one thing that results from doing this, and doing it well: a satisfying drama that delivers on all its setups and leaves me happy that I invested, that I cared, and wished for unicorns.

178

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51 cinderella

February 6, 2011 at 4:06 AM

I actually stopped watching this drama after the first two episodes because I thought that Jung Jun-ho was the lead guy. And he just had absolutely no substance and yet here were two perfectly sane women fighting for him...

Who knows, I might watch this drama in its entirety... but it would have to wait until Dream High and My Princess finish... Dream High is definitely my crack (HyeMi-JinGuk FTW!), as for My Princess... we'll have to see...

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52 bopbopbop

February 6, 2011 at 5:31 AM

totally agree!
i almost dropped it around ep 9-10 ish..
but stuck with it...and it got soo much better!

park si hoo really does have this charm to him..
he's not like an exceptionally amazing actor or anything..but he has this way of portraying his characters that make you fall in love with him.
i fell in love with him after his drama How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor. and my love for him has just increased after Prosecutor Princess and Queen of Reversals!

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53 ar_arguably romantic

February 6, 2011 at 6:39 AM

thank you for the overview!

I was wondering if they had already planned for Park Shi Hoo to get the girl before all the extensions (drama is after all, Queen of Reversals) or if the extensions allowed the fans to get more input to put PSH as the one who gets the girl.

As for PSH being the anti-SSH, I think PSH is hot!! I fell in love with him in Iljimae, when he took his shirt off in the fighting ring.

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Kristal

February 6, 2011 at 6:26 PM

I would bet that fan feedback/the extension all lead to this second lead getting the girl thing. I mean WHEN has that happened in kdrama history...like ever! I can't think of one time. Anybody else?

I haven't watched any of this show but I'm kinda convinced to do so after this review even if I did hate QOH (only made it to like episode 10 and Kim Nam Joo in it!).

I wanna see what all the PSH buzz is about too! I keep hearing about him and have yet to see him in anything.

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xiandi

February 6, 2011 at 9:30 PM

A great example would have been Queen Seondok..Bidam was not even a second lead there but a mere protagonist who ended up to to be loved by Seondok...

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news

February 8, 2011 at 2:46 AM

What? Really!? I never finished watching Queen Seonduk after Mishil died. So Seonduk fell in love with Bidam? If so, I may have to re-visit that drama.

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Barbara Starks

February 7, 2011 at 6:11 PM

I agree the extension was to having the second lead get the girl because he had a stronger fan base. I'm sure the original script had the married couple working it out.

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songielove

February 7, 2011 at 11:18 PM

Haha. Well, interesting enough, it happened with PSH before in "How To Meet A Perfect Neighbor" where he was supposedly the second lead. The first lead was actually Kim Nam Joo's husband, Kim Seung Woo. Kind of interesting how that worked how played out. XD PSH's charismatic performance in there was so superb that the script had to change.

It's the power of PSH! <3

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elle loves krama

February 8, 2011 at 4:36 PM

Yup, I found that pretty ironic too! I am not sure why he is even cast as a second lead. His pout is the cutest thing ever.

PSH is the man.. enough said <3

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54 glalam

February 6, 2011 at 6:57 AM

What a beautiful recap. Thank you Girlfriday. I was wondering what to watch next. I am definitely going to pick this up.

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55 Shelley

February 6, 2011 at 7:43 AM

I finished all 31 episodes yesterday. Very good drama.

Well done with your recap.

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56 Angela

February 6, 2011 at 7:56 AM

Wonderful round-up!

I've been watching this series faithfully from the beginning, but haven't been able to get past episode 22 since viikii subs has fallen behind... but maybe I'll finally bite the bullet and watch Darksmurf subs instead. I just can't stand waiting anymore!! Especially now that I know she DOES end up with the second lead (the one thing I was secretly hoping/praying would happen, but carried zero expectations for!)

I guess I should've had more faith, since this isn't the first time he's done this: Park Shi Hoo stole the girl in How to be a perfect neighbor too. If I was an actor, I'd sure hate to be cast opposite him... especially in a leading-role!! :)

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xiandi

February 6, 2011 at 9:46 PM

Hi Angela! try to watch the entire episodes here from vikkii subbers

http://kimchidrama.blogspot.com/2010/10/queen-of-reversals.html

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57 kitkat

February 6, 2011 at 8:07 AM

Thanks for this recap!! I completely agree with your recap. This drama was done well and was definitely a satisfying drama that left me "happy that I invested, that I cared, and wished for unicorns." This drama was well acted with complexities.

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58 kk

February 6, 2011 at 8:20 AM

Have yet to watch the final 2 episodes but i cant wait!! :D Read a lot of comments about people's love for PSH in other dramas and i feel that people have left out a drama that he was in: Family Honour/ Glory of the family. He was the lead in the show and gosh was he SMOKIN'. Try catching this show guys!

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59 chahaya

February 6, 2011 at 8:44 AM

I'm not interested to watch this drama even though I love PSH in PP. But, wahhh, it is interesting to know that finally, a second male hero got the girl :)

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60 Annie

February 6, 2011 at 9:00 AM

I love Park Shi Hoo, but the whole work place environment was way too boring for me. I think I might pick it back up though, just to see Park Shi Hoo's ridiculously hot smile *squeeeeeel*

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61 Namispop

February 6, 2011 at 11:01 AM

What a great recap! Thanks, girlfriday, very much!!

Your thoughts really mirrored mine. I thought this drama was reasonably fun to watch...until Park Shi-hoo came on...and then, this drama really kicked on, didn't it? When I first watched his work in Prosecutor Princess, I kept reading comments about how hot he was(is). I'm a guy, so please forgive me, ladies...but honestly, I just didn't see it(his hotness, I mean). He's certainly not bad looking, but I thought he was pretty...average. I think that, with Park Shi-hoo, it's his charisma, boyish charms, that mischievous gleam in his eyes and smile, and that magical combination of dorkiness and cool. He's not imho the best actor, but he's solidly good...and he has this gift of being able to show great vulnerability, tenderness, kindness, and warmth. He obviously works out a lot, and that shows, too.

I loved all of the pairings, whether they be romantic, bromantic, or ahjumma/sisterly friendly.

Most importantly, I loved how they handled the divorce. They presented it with realism, heart, and with great respect. They showed that divorce can and does happen, and that it doesn't always have to be the worst possible thing to happen to a couple. In the case of Jun-su and Tae-hee, divorce was actually the right thing, that allowed both of them to grow independently, find their own paths, and to become the best versions of themselves. And in the end, they were both able to show support for each other with a level of respect and love that they weren't quite able to as a couple. I was so satisfied and happy to watch how all of this unfolded.

What a great gem of a drama that QoR turned out to be! ;)

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miss

February 6, 2011 at 11:38 AM

i think in terms of look, is a matters of personal taste. I love watching his face the best. There is a reason i re-watched him in pp and family honour. lol
i love watching his red lips, his nose, his one-eye lid's. And his baby face....

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Namispop

February 6, 2011 at 12:06 PM

Hi miss,

I agree- an actor's or actress' looks, and how we perceive them, are definitely matters of personal taste and preference. For those who find Park Shi-hoo very handsome and hot, please completely ignore my comments. They were just my personal and humble opinion, to be taken with a grain of salt. ;)

I'm glad that you find him attractive and enjoy watching his face. Kind of like the way that I enjoy watching Kim So-yeon. :)

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Namispop

February 6, 2011 at 12:11 PM

...and with this drama, I've enjoyed watching Chae Jung-ahn. She's so pretty, it's hard to take your eyes off her. I enjoyed watching her in Coffee Prince, too.
;)

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miss

February 6, 2011 at 12:57 PM

hi.. nevermind..... ;) I love when people share their opinion so openly ;)

I think Kim Seo Yeon in my eyes is very pretty,too ;) Since I'm her fans.... How I miss KSY and PSH tandem.... they such a sweet pairing, haha

I love reading your thought, anyways.

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Namispop

February 6, 2011 at 3:11 PM

Thanks, miss! I enjoy reading your comments, too! ;)

My2Girls

February 6, 2011 at 1:16 PM

Sukispop - I could not agree with you more. I felt this show handled the divorce beautifully. I was a little sorry for So Ra but not because her parents divorced but because they both worked so hard - that is seemed like she had very little time with them. I too felt that they were awful to one another when married and became much kinder to one another after they divorced and grew up a bit. I think the extension was the best thing to happen to this drama because it allowed them time to show real growth in the characters.

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Namispop

February 6, 2011 at 3:21 PM

Hi My2Girls,

You brought up a good point about their daughter, So-ra. I felt bad for her, too, what with the way that her parents were constantly yelling at each other. Not a healthy environment for any child. But I do like that, after their split, they acted kinder to each other in front of So-ra, and made sure that she felt just as loved as before. And, when they each had their new partner, So-ra simply gained two more grownups who would love her as their own. Very nicely done, Show.

I agree- the extension did make it possible for much better character growth and development. The added episodes flowed into the storyline seamlessly, and the story's conclusion was that much more satisfying. I wish that all drama extensions could work as well as QoR's did.

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62 obivia

February 6, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Oh great, now I have to add another drama to my must-watch list. Ugh. Thanks. Thanks a lot for so articulately picking up on the nuances and charms of this drama. (shaking fist!)

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63 sosoxrah

February 6, 2011 at 11:07 AM

This is definitely my go-to drama when I'm feeling tired of all the trend-setting, over-the-top dramas. I just enjoy each scene and I don't have to think that hard about why the characters are acting one way or another. Idk why but I've been into watching the less popular (in terms of hype, viewer ratings) dramas lately. I'm also enjoying "New Gisaeng Story," and I'd like to see a brief review on what you guys think about that. It doesn't have the strongest actors but the story is interesting along with the personalities of each character in the drama. Anyways, thanks for the review. I'm glad you feel addicted to this drama as I do.

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64 sumee

February 6, 2011 at 11:58 AM

Omg PSH is like anti Song Seon Heong..I dunno if I loughed like this while reading something in a while !!!!! Perfect ! :-)

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65 charles

February 6, 2011 at 12:24 PM

Please help.I'm desperate to know the title of the very slow,romantic song that's keeps cropping up at some of the many tender moments.For example,it's played during the last minute of episode 29 as well as the 21st minute of episode 19.Thank you for anyone's input on this.

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bluebear847

February 6, 2011 at 4:35 PM

There are three main songs used in this drama so most likely it will be one of these, but you should check them all out because they are all really good. You can look them up on Youtube to find which one it is

Byul - Let's Be Happy
Tim - Learning of Separation
Sung Shi Kyung - Dazzling Confession

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charles

February 7, 2011 at 6:57 AM

Thnx bluebear.Unfortunately,it is none of them you listed.Oddly enough,the song I like is not any of the youtube-Queen of Reversals OST's! :(

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bluebear847

February 7, 2011 at 1:54 PM

Hey,

I checked the episodes its the song Byul-Let's Be Happy (if you just type the english in youtube it doesn't come up, sorry didn't realize this) in Korean the title is 행복하자

Here is the youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbHR-ALbBn4

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charles

February 7, 2011 at 2:40 PM

Hi bluebear :) Thank you a zillion times ever so much!The song title is so apt to how I feel right now thanks to you!

66 Caff

February 6, 2011 at 1:03 PM

Does her relationship with the first dude last for half of the series? Iono if I can take it - he seems so insincere :s (just finished ep1) XD

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My2Girls

February 6, 2011 at 1:20 PM

Keep at it! He grows on you and I know what you mean about insincere I felt it too. But by the end of the series I really like him - though I am pleased she does not end up back with him.

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67 Lena S.

February 6, 2011 at 1:58 PM

GF Thank you so muh for the review!

i was addicted to this drama too and found too draggy in the middle (the divorce part) but after Yong Shik "reversal" story started to develop the drama reinvigorated imo and that thanks to PSH charms, i was so worried that wouldn't get the girl in the end.

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68 eve

February 6, 2011 at 3:11 PM

Thanks GF for the review. Was a bit disappointed that QoR did not get recaps here. But that did not deter us from watching PSH. He is gloriously delicious, he is a thrill to watch, he definitely can act and hilarious too. He caught our attention, find him hot, handsome and irresistible. The casts were perfect and was rooting for the him to get the girl. YES !!!

Definitely worth watching. We've been rewatching the 3rd time. Can't wait for his next project. Park Shi-hoo love you !!!!

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69 MJP

February 6, 2011 at 3:47 PM

I picked up at episode 29 after reading intermittent reviews from DramaBeans and Open Threads. I don't think I will start from the beginning, due to the fact that I really disliked the character of Bong Jun-su (played by Jung Jun-ho). The dislike is truly for the character and not the actor who I loved in Last Scandal (watched it three times.)

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70 bluebear847

February 6, 2011 at 4:45 PM

This drama was so addicting once it got to PSH's story. But I liked the drama as a whole too it was one of those rare dramas that had everything right with the cast and music and stuff. I liked it because it seemed really sincere and the writing was soooo pretty at major parts. To me the writing had a lot of wisdom and truth that made it possible for the audience to really connect emotionally. But I will say that the ending episode was a little just a wee little disappointing...it just seemed a little anti-climatic with all the angst, PSH was still the one in the end that had to go get her, I was kind of waiting for KNJ's character to finally admit outright and be like I love you too to his face because she always just beat around the bush about it, she just seemed tired in the last episode haha, maybe it's jetlag.

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71 miss

February 6, 2011 at 4:46 PM

I think the love storyline in QoR between tae hee and Yong SHik is abit similar like Family honor between kang suk and Dan Ah...
IN Family honor, the woman has a scar and bitter past. She can't let go of her Ex husband who has died 10 years long ago. Until KAng SUk arrive in her life and pursued her like no other tomorrow.

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miss

February 6, 2011 at 4:48 PM

I mean *pursuing her*

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72 pickles

February 6, 2011 at 7:15 PM

Omgggg, now I so regret not following this series. I didn't watch it cause I thought PSH wouldnt get the girl!!! Now that I know he does, I'm DYING to watch it!!! Gosh, where can I load all the episodes? Will torrents still work?

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73 xiandi

February 6, 2011 at 8:57 PM

Ohhh my ...thanks for the review..Everything you said was so right and was the same reason why i like QOR.

I did watched QOH and i came to love Kim Nam Joo's acting.. She and her real life hubby Kim Seung Woo was among my top fave Korean actors who really played their roles very well...and definitely, i'm a 100% Park Shi Hoo fanatic too and i was able to watch all of his series..

QOR was really way better than Queen of Housewives..Oh Ji ho & Yoon Sang Hyun (OSKA) was great on that too but QOR story was really so simple that it makes most viewers relate with it. ( and yes! just those divorce people )

I just finished episode 29 and i'm looking forward with the ending.. I was so glad the Yong Shik and Tae Hee ended up together..

And yes...Park Shi Hoo is more handsome than SSH

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74 xiandi

February 6, 2011 at 9:01 PM

Ohhh my ...thanks for the review..Everything you said was so right and was the same reason why i like QOR.

I just finished episode 29 and i'm looking forward with the ending.. I was so glad the Yong Shik and Tae Hee ended up together..

And yes...Park Shi Hoo is way WAY more handsome than SSH

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75 Jin Ari

February 7, 2011 at 2:27 AM

That is the power of our cute Si Hoo!

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76 tun teja

February 7, 2011 at 3:51 AM

the kiss make me wanna see this drama...^.^

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77 madgwenny

February 7, 2011 at 5:41 AM

Fantastic drama especially because of Park Shi Hoo.

I saw him first in Iljimae and then in Family Honor.

His portrayals are real, he's such a great actor no matter what his role is. He was so cute in PP and so much more loveable here in QOR.

I love him to pieces and I can't wait for his next project.

Thanks for your inputs.

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78 Lisa Purba

February 7, 2011 at 7:52 AM

I was not into this drama but having read your recap I'm gonna give it a go. Thanks, GF ^^

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79 doug

February 7, 2011 at 8:10 AM

Hmmm-I really don't care who gets the girl-I just want to see Ms. Han and that smirking brother get what they deserve. (I'm still stuck back at ep 20 with DirectTV)

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80 Elle-Emme

February 7, 2011 at 10:17 AM

will go back and watch this again

i loved PSH in Family honor

i am just looking for the high i get from secrect garden not there i guess i will just have to talk to my shrink

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81 SuziQ

February 7, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Kind of lost interest early in this drama because I couldn't stand Kim Nam Joo in Queen of Housewives. Watched it because I enjoyed Jung Jun Ho.
Didn't know Park Shi Hoo was the second lead. Loved him in Prosecutor Princess but got waylaid by Dream High and My Princess because I thought was so much more cuter and I loved the music.
I 'm glad I read this series recap and will try to see it again to the conclusion since I really like Park Shi Hoo so much. I'll give it another chance. I hope to see Park Shi Hoo as the main lead in the future. He is HOT! I like his acting better than Song Seong Heon of My Princess.

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82 badmamajama

February 7, 2011 at 1:01 PM

i see what you are trying to do here . i will resist till the end ! lol JK i tried watching this after your casual comments about it , i love park shi hoo after PP . i didn't think it was a great show not even good but i sucked it up and watched it anyway for him and your right now i feel like going on a wikipedia craze and watching all shows his in . damn him . i only made it to episode one witch i didn't really like but i'll try again since i hear he appears in ep 2 and am sucker for second lead guys who GET THE GIRL . we never see that round here in dramaland .

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83 Yiya

February 7, 2011 at 3:07 PM

I loved this drama so so much. I'm so guilty of the second-lead syndrome -- pretty much if there's a second lead that's not absolutely hateful, I'll be in love with him and heartbroken at the end of the series. I basically leave every drama in tears and bitterness (I walked into SKKS really liking Sun-joon, but we all know how THAT turned out. Poor guy couldn't really compete). But this? The guy that's actually likable won out!! I'm still on Cloud Nine about it. Some K-drama heroines do have brains! The a-holes don't always win! There is hope in the world!

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84 Birdie

February 7, 2011 at 4:23 PM

Thanks for the review,gf. Yes it turned out to be a well done drama. If you can keep watching until after the divorce, you will not be disappointed with the later parts. Kudos to the directing,editing and scriptwriting. I love how we are brought to each scene so smoothly and so sensitively and how divorce and other issues are dealt with so emotionally realistic and relatable.

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85 Barbara Starks

February 7, 2011 at 5:32 PM

I was disappointed in the ending, the husband didn't cheat he just did not expose every bit of his past, what man does? I don't think she learn anything from this fail marriage which is sad. I hope the new guy don't have any woman in his past, because oop's another fail marriage.

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miss

February 7, 2011 at 6:02 PM

Don't tell anything it means you Lied especially when your secret can become a huge reason your marriage would broken up. How come u keep a secret when u work in the same company with your ex? U have to tell her, in order to not create misunderstanding..

I know Tae Hee has false too, but the same goes to Jun Su.

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bluebear847

February 7, 2011 at 11:40 PM

Hmmm, I don't think they broke up completely on that fact I think it was just the major tipping point they had other problems too and they just seemed really bad for each other personality wise. They were both much better and successful people when the weren't together. (But honestly I think it was a big deal too it wasn't the fact that he had a girl in the past but the fact was he lied to her face the whole time they were married since they all worked together and the main reason why he met TH was because he wanted to show YJ up for breaking up with him...so it messed with TH's head and made her rethink her whole marriage and stuff...and when she gave him a chance to be honest he still lied which made her not trust him even though he didn't cheat)

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86 klesis

February 7, 2011 at 6:48 PM

I'm so glad I stuck with this drama. My husband refuses to watch it - he calls it the "ahjumma drama". Haha. I totally love PSH, since PP!!! (Which I persuaded my husband to watch and he is currently glued to!)

I've liked KNJ since an old drama of hers - "her house". It was a good, long-running drama.

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87 cute...........

February 7, 2011 at 9:59 PM

i enjoy to see PSH in (PP,QOR, my prefect neigberhood), i think i like the character......

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88 ftLOVE

February 7, 2011 at 10:53 PM

Thanks for recapping!!!
I too, LOVE the drama so much!!!
It wasn't exactly very interesting at first but it really is engaging....

kekekeke.

All of them are awesome, and the fact that Goo Yong Shik did end up with Hwang Tae Hee makes it so sweet.
^ ^

Just a minor question though...
I know most of the songs they played in the show, but there's just this song i can't find in the OST album.

Anyone has any idea about the song?

It is sung by a female singer and the lyrics goes something like this... (eng trans ~)
"I'm right here, at this spot...Be happy, let us be happier"

Any idea???
Sorry if i'm posting the wrong thing, but i really love the show and i love the songs too....

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bluebear847

February 7, 2011 at 11:31 PM

Someone asked this earlier in the comments, the song is Byul-Let’s Be Happy (if you just type the english in youtube it doesn’t come up) in Korean the title is 행복하자

Here is the youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbHR-ALbBn4

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ftLOVE

February 9, 2011 at 6:01 AM

AHHHH!!!!! Thanks a million for the info~~~~
omo omo!!!!

ahhh~~~~ hehehehehe
so happy....i searched for weeks!!!
HAHAHAH

THANKS :)

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89 songielove

February 7, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Awesome review girlfriday!

I remember i hesitated watching this because Park Shi Hoo was said to be the second lead. But while thinking that, i just knew there was a significant reason why he'd choose this role. I totally love him and i know how awesome and passionate he is an actor, so i had no choice but to trust him.

Thankfully i did because i totally love Goo Yong Shik!!! PSH's never played such a cute rebel before. Yong Shik is such a silly bad***, he moved the story along for me because of his quirkiness. Then i got cold feet because i was beginning to realize that maybe he really isn't going to end up with Tae Hee. But, what do you know? I can't name any other actor who's been able to turn their second-lead role into the first lead-- not just once, but twice! Whether intended by the writers or not, the progression and pace was done appropriately. I even questioned the episodes extensions at first, but now i'm wondering how we were going to get a satisfying ending with initial few episodes.

My 2nd favorite thing about QOR (#1 is PSH ㅋㅋ) is the overall tone. It was mature and able to highlight seriousness in a script where there was so much humor and wit. Just brilliant.

My 3rd favorite thing about QOR was the wardrobe. I just drooled over Kim Nam Joo, Chae Jung Ahn, and PSH's stylish business suits. ^^

I'm absolutely head over heels for PSH, he's just overly addicting. I first saw him in Gavy NJ's first MV and then in "What Star Are You From" as the second lead... He sure has come a long way. I really can't wait for his next work. He just gets more superb and charming.

I still root for a Sihoo-Soyeon reunion though. =P

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90 ag

February 8, 2011 at 1:06 AM

Thanks for the nice summary. Just waiting to watch the last 2 episodes. Of course, I watched it because of PSH,but the story developed in such a way that kept you interested. It was one of the s-l-o-w-e-s-t romances,but it couldn't have played out any other way. I think it's dangerous for an actor to star with PSH, because PSH ends up stealing the show! Can we all say too adorable to handle? Hahaha

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91 maltreti

February 8, 2011 at 4:11 AM

I totally agree with you. I was addicted to this drama till the end. Just wanted to know what is going to happen. It is a really good drama.
I hope to see Park Shi-hoo more often. Since Prosecutor Princess I'm totally in love with his acting.^^

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92 Free

February 8, 2011 at 5:32 AM

I was hoping that either you or GB would do a review of this drama and you did one! thanks! OK, with your input here, I will go ahead and start watching it.

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93 Rainyrain

February 8, 2011 at 12:58 PM

thankuuuu GF , I didn't want to watch the drama becoz PSH was the second lead and so he won't get the girl , but since the story turned to his favor then I'm going to watch inchallah :)
I love PSH he is such a sweety

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94 sweetkiss

February 9, 2011 at 8:05 PM

haha thanks for the recap. I actually started watching this when it first aired because i fell in love with psh (again) in prosecutor princess. i only watched it cuz he was supposed to be in it (he wasn't much in the first few eppys) and then i kept at it, especially since he did take over in the latter half. I completely agree with your statement of how he's the anti-ssh LOL his acting and screen presence totally redoes your image of him. the only part of the ending i didnt like was i wonder what happend to the evil lady and his brother. that aside, i did enjoy this drama, esp. Fhang Tae Hee haha

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95 kaysee

February 9, 2011 at 9:51 PM

I think Kim Nam Joo is such a good actress. I've never seen her before in any drama, but after watch Queen of Reversals, I just love her. I'm even considering starting Queen of Housewives because of her.lol

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96 Sweet_Vie

February 12, 2011 at 2:56 PM

At first two episode, I don't like to watch further but after I watch after episode 12, the story is getting interesting because of Park Si Hoo..He is a really good actor..He play his role in this drama really great. He can make a good chemistry between him and Kim Nam Joo. This drama is worth it to watch. Park Si Hoo....Fighting!!!!! I'll always support you as your fans...

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97 Bella

February 13, 2011 at 7:39 PM

After Episode 31, I am gutted by the fact that there are NO more aftermaths of YS and TE together after they became a couple (something similar to what Goong did with the last 2 episodes after the two got together : pure, unabashed sweetness.)

I've rewatched the reunion scene probably a gazillion times and it's somewhat unfair that they left it at that, with so few cute scenes in the ending!

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98 Jinsight

February 14, 2011 at 7:45 AM

Loved this drama sooo much! I've seen many over the past few years, but this is definitely one that has moved towards the top. Perhaps not coincidentally, my other fave drama is Prosecutor Princess. Yet what really stands out about QOR is that FINALLY a "second lead" that I rooted for actually won out! I think that definitely took this from a conventional to an amazing drama level.

Now off to watch more of PSH :)

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99 andygal86

February 16, 2011 at 9:30 PM

Thanks for the wonderful review girlfriday! Park Shi Hoo and his boyish smile makes me swoon! :) This series was so much fun to watch and I'm glad I stuck it out. For the last 25 minutes of the final episode, I could not stop smiling! I was over the moon to see Yong-shik and Tae-hee finally (!!!) get together, and just be happy!

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100 dowon

February 21, 2011 at 10:31 PM

Let me just say:

I AM SO HAPPY SHE PICKED PARK SHI HOO.

Phew, I was so worried for another second-lead-letdown. And I agree completely; he is one of those actors you just kinda pass over, until you see him act and bring in his own personality and substance to a role--suddenly he's hot!

Thank you for the recap!

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