Queen Mantis Episode 1 Review: South Korean mystery-thriller-police procedural series “Queen Mantis Episode 1” is finally out on September 5, 2025. It’s the ideal start that the series could have, as it perfectly blends crime, psychology, and family drama into an intense narrative. The thriller takes us to the haunting return of an infamous serial killer’s legacy as it introduces a new copycat murderer who is terrorizing Seoul. In this Queen Mantis Episode 1 review, we will discuss some of its key highlights.
Queen Mantis Series Overview
- Premiere Date: 5th September 2025
- Premiere platform: SBS TV & Netflix
- Director: Byun Young-joo
- Writer: Lee Young-jong
- Season 1 Episodes: 8
- Episode 1 Runtime: 1 Hour
- Stars: Go Hyun-jung, Jang Dong-yoon, Jo Sung-ha, Lee El and others
- Rating: 3.5/5
Queen Mantis Episode 1 Opening Scene
The episode at the start takes us to the senior detective Choi Jung-ho (Jo Sung-ha), who is investigating a gruesome murder. The crime scene appears to be a replica of the killings from the early 2000s, where victims were mutilated similarly. The original killer, who is named “The Mantis”, targets the abusive men and earns an odd mix of good and bad admiration. The official reports claim that Mantis died in prison, but Jung-ho knows that she is alive, imprisoned at Anwon Prison.
Now, while the investigation moves ahead, Jung-ho and his partner, Kim Na-hui, discuss the possibility of the city dealing with a copycat killer. Hence, to track down the murderer, Jung-ho went on to take a bold step where he is seen seeking help from the original Mantis, Jeong I-shin.
Cha Su-yeol’s Emotional Conflict
Queen Mantis Episode 1 takes us to Cha Su-yeol, who is a dedicated officer, and he is fighting crime on Seoul’s streets. But this is not the only fight that he is fighting because beneath his tough exterior lies a painful secret: that he is the son of Jeong I-shin, who is the original Mantis. He has now taken up a different name to escape his mother’s shadow, and Su-yeol has spent his entire life distancing himself from her crimes.
When Jung-ho contacts Su-yeol seeking help, Jung-ho reveals that I-shin will only cooperate with her son. But Su-yeol refused it, as it would have been undesirable for him to confront his mother and relive his trauma. However, Su-yeol reluctantly agrees to assist in the investigation under one condition: that his connection to I-shin must remain a secret so that his family and reputation are protected.
Queen Mantis Episode 1 Review: A Dangerous Alliance of Su-yeol and I-shin
The reunion between Su-yeol and I-shin is tense, and it is the biggest highlight of Queen Mantis Episode 1. Their bond is layered with bitterness and unresolved emotions. Though Su-yeol and I-shin are working together, I-shin continues to play with his emotions and test his patience. She asked for exclusive access to crime scene photos and even had a personal visit at the latest murder location to analyse the killer’s techniques.
As we move further in the episode, it is revealed that the copycat is working from crime scene images that were never made public. This suggests that someone with insider access to investigative records has been helping the murderer. Who is the helper? Fans can’t wait to explore the bigger mystery in future episodes.
Baap of Movies Final Thoughts
All in all, Queen Mantis Episode 1 is the perfect start to the much-awaited series. All thanks to the unpredictable storytelling and dark themes, it has successfully hooked viewers. The relationship between Cha Su-yeol, Jung-ho, and Jeong I-shin is key to this web series, as it has a compelling tension, and the mysterious motives of the copycat killer keep audiences guessing.
At the end of Episode 1, one thing is crystal clear: the true danger may not just be the copycat killer, but the killer can be Mantis herself. Well, who the real killer is will be explored in the further episodes; till then, keep waiting for Queen Mantis Episode 2 to unveil more secrets around the murder, which will premiere on 6th September, at 6.20 PM.
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