It’s over a month since Queen of Tears ended and Netflix is still slowing down our “moving on process” by continuing to feature the drama in their post. Just last month they have at least five posts of the drama. Even the main lead himself, Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) refuses to move on because from time to time, he is still posting photos of himself in Germany – the place where countless romantic scenes happen with Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won) and her husband. Well, we can’t blame them for going back to the drama that touches our soul – not only because of the heart-fluttering scenes but also the essential life lessons. POP TOKKI will help us recall those helpful lessons, so we can live by them again – in case we missed them.
Baek Hyun Woo is a middle-class lawyer and married to the CEO of Queens Department Store, Hong Hae In. On the outside, everything seems to be working out for Hyun Woo. He lives in a mansion, uses expensive stuff, and works as a legal director at Queens. Yet behind the glamorous life, Hyun Woo is a doormat to his wife and in-laws, even though he’s been with them for three years now. Feeling hopeless in his situation, he plans to split with his wife. But fate is truly playful, just when he is about to request a divorce, Hae In discovers that she only has three months to live due to a brain tumor.
LIVE AS IF IT’S YOUR LAST DAY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES
Upon learning of his wife’s condition, Hyun Woo cannot help but secretly rejoice as he finds a safe way to exit the Hong family. Little did he know his spontaneous worrying about his wife’s distress is a sharp knife that’s been cutting the rotten parts of his intention until the pure concern is the only thing left.
In other words, Hae In’s ailment is a blessing in disguise. The disease becomes the couple’s lifeguard against their drowning passion for each other and Hyun Woo has retrieved the reason he married his wife – to take care of Hae In. It looks as if Hyun Woo suddenly realized that his wife and in-laws’ shortcomings are irrelevant. The intimidation he faces every day is nothing compared to the possibility that, anytime, he could lose his wife. Hyun Woo is living as if it’s his last day to be with Hae In.
Hyun Woo’s determination to solely focus his attention on Hae In’s matter shows us that keeping in mind that life is limited can make it easy for us to sort out what’s important in our relationship and life in general. That’s why, Hyun Woo finally breaks his age-old strategy of sweeping his problem under the rug and swallows his pride to convince his wife that they should be together in the setback that she’s in.
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
Hyun Woo fell in and out of love for his wife’s nonchalant disposition. Surely, his love would not wither if he knew the times Hae In defended him from his in-laws, especially Hong Soo Cheol (Kwak Dong Yeon.) Out of Hyun Woo’s sight, Hae In was hurting too when their housekeepers were clearing the baby’s room.
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES STILL EXIST
Looking at the other female partners in the family like Moh Seul Hee (Lee Mi Sook) and Cheon Da Hye (Lee Joo Bin), they’re also quiet. Except, they know how to coax their partner – turns out they have ulterior motives in the family, including Yoon Eun Sung (Park Sung Hoon.) Opposite to them is Hong Beom Ja (Kim Jung Nan) who has the physical and behavioral look of a villain, yet seems to have the purest intention among the Hong family. The point here is that individual differences still exist among people with similar styles and dispositions.
Although Hae In, Seul Hee, Da Hye, and Eun Sung all have a quiet personality, they have different purposes for being indifferent. Like Hae In, some people are simply comfortable in silence, while others use it as a strategy to deal with life’s challenges. However, we wouldn’t know each other’s intention for behaving in a certain way, unless we properly communicate with them. Albeit, it’s easier said than done, communication can save our relationship. As Hyun Woo said, “If we had applied ointment on time, disinfected our wounds, and replaced our bandages everytime, would things have been different?”
In the context of a romantic relationship, Hyun Woo’s metaphor means that he and Hae In would still be married if they had been honest to each other, explained their sides, apologized for their mistakes, and changed their ways that are not helpful to their relationship.
BE KIND BECAUSE YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT
One of the pivotal moments of the show is when Seul Hee and Eun Sung successfully take all the assets owned by the Hong Family. They have nowhere to go, so Hyun Woo brought them to his family home.
SETBACK IS THE KEY TO HUMILITY
As they arrived, Hae In’s mother, Kim Seon Hwa (Na Young Hee) refused to stay to preserve her pride from all the passive insults she gave to Jeon Bong Ae (Hwang Young Hee.) This gives us a great lesson that the wheel of fate can change. One moment you’re up and the next day you’re down, so be kind. Who knows, the person you’ve been mocking is the one who will help you in your darkest moments. Luckily, Bong Ae didn’t hold a grudge. She even paid for Seon Hwa’s coffee and let her work at Baek’s farm. Because of the job, Seon Hwa was able to sleep without her sleeping pills – for the first time. If she hadn’t let go of her pride, she probably wouldn’t experienced these perks.
Seon Hwa and Bong Ae’s blooming relationship does not differ from Soo Cheol and Hyun Woo. Before, Soo Cheol looks down on Hyun Woo. But when things turn dark, Soo Cheol’s humility comes out. This is evident when he and Hyun Woo have bruises on their faces and their family thinks they had fought. Soo Cheol exclaimed, “I wouldn’t dare. I heard that he used to box.” A redemption scene from the time Soo Cheol mocked Hyun Woo for not catching anything whenever they do the Hong’s hunting tradition. Just like his mother, Soo Cheol did not hesitate to compliment Hyun Woo after learning about his achievements.
EMOTIONAL NEEDS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT AS THE PHYSICAL NEEDS
Even though Seul Hee provided a wealthy life to his son, she didn’t get his affection because, throughout Eun Sung’s life, Seul Hee is estranged. In Seul Hee’s defense, providing worldly things is the right way to love. Unfortunately, money can’t buy long-lasting love. Eun Sung’s indifference toward his mother goes to show that true affection can only be achieved if both physical and emotional needs are provided. Contrary to his feelings toward his mother’s style of love, Eun Sung’s affection towards Hae In also lacks an emotional aspect. As a result, he experienced the same treatment he’d been giving to his mother.
MISTAKES AND SHORTCOMINGS CAN BE USEFUL WHEN VIEWED IN A POSITIVE LIGHT
Like Eun Sung, Hae In also experienced a lack of affection from her mother while growing up, but Hae In did not hold a grudge towards her mother. Though she tends to mirror her mother’s indifference every time they converse, she never talks ill behind her back. At last! the two reconcile after Seon Hwa learns about her daughter’s condition. In their heart-to-heart talk, Hae In gave her mother the greatest emotional need that all of us crave whenever we hurt someone and that is validation, as she said, “I would’ve struggled to have a daughter like me too.” Hae In took the condemnation that her mother is feeling and that is pure love.
Because Seon Hwa always makes sure that Soo Cheol’s emotional needs are always full, her son only gets a handful of benefits when people get hurt. On the surface, Soo Cheol’s clumsiness is a cautionary tale for us not to run away from pain. But on the bright side, Soo Cheol’s abundance of emotional needs has a significant role in filling up the meager emotional needs of Cheon Da Hye. Despite the latter’s betrayal, she was still accepted by Soo Cheol. Touched and relieved, Da Hye weepingly said, “No one has ever treated me the way you did.” Soo Cheol’s innocence is an epiphany for us that every fiber of our being serves a purpose, even those that we think are unlovable parts of ourselves can be helpful to someone’s journey in life.
IN A NUTSHELL
In between its accentuation of human limitations against fortune, health, opportunity, and love, “Queen of Tears” showcases the benefits of patience, acceptance, perseverance, humility, and forgiveness when facing challenges. Hence, the drama feels like a thoughtful preschool teacher who caressively reminds us of the essentials in life. This K-drama is truly enlightening and it’s due to the exquisite sets, breath-taking, chucklesome, and heart-fluttering scenes, as well as, the exemplary acting of the cast. “Queen of Tears” is a drama that provides new perspectives on life.
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Featured Image Credit: tvN Official Facebook
