Both plot and character driven, the latest Netflix K-drama, starring Kim Hee-ae and Moon So-ri in the titular roles, wrapped up its first season on April 14, the same day as its premiere. This brings us to the much-speculated discussion about the probable renewal of Queenmaker Season 2 (퀸메이커). The first season has been directed by Oh Jin-seok and written by Moon Ji-young. In addition to the two leading women of the show, the cast also includes talents like Ryu Soo-young, Seo Yi-sook, Ok Ja-yeon, Jin Kyung, Lee Geung-young, and others.
While more and more K-dramas in the recent years have been picked up for a follow-up season, it’s quite rare to see the feat happening despite many Korean TV shows garnering positive reception, ratings and views. Back in 2020, the Namkoong Min starrer sports drama series Hot Stove League concluded its season’s run while hinting at his character having begun a new journey as the general manager of a different sports team. However, the show was never renewed for a second season despite the fans calling the issue to attention time and again.
Queenmaker may have ended on a similar note, but in no way does that confirm the series coming back for a second ride. Let’s go through the either/or possibilities of Season 2 becoming a reality in the future.
-This Article Contains Spoilers Related to the Season 1 Ending-
What Was Season 1 About?
Renowned political fixer or campaign manager Hwang Do-hee tirelessly works under the roof of the Eunsung Group, led by chairperson Son Young-sim, built from the ground up on the foundation of corruption and exploitation of the working middle-class community. When a tragedy occurs at the company premises, tracing its scandalous origins back to the chairperson’s son-in-law, also the future mayoral candidate, Do-hee experiences a reawakening, redirecting her moral compass to the human rights lawyer Oh Kyung-sook, determined to take Eunsung Group down.
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Will There Be a Queenmaker Season 2?
Season 1 ends on a note that leaves us
with some hope on this front. After Do-hee has played her part in pushing for Kyung-sook’s mayoral campaign victoriously, she’s also left alone to deal with the consequences of some of her illegal approaches, purposely employed to disrupt the prevailing status quo at Eunsung Group. However, there’s no denying that her initiative and drive led to Kyung-sook’s triumph.
Witnessing this turn of events, she’s approached by yet another political leader to attain a similar triumphant end. While this incident ignites hope for Kim Hee-ae’s Do-hee jumping back into political action, it can also be perceived as an open ending meant to highlight her indomitable spirit and will to tear through the cut-throat game.
Coming back to Hot Stove League, this ending scene with Hee-ae being met with a new opportunity has the dame flavourful tinge to it as the former K-drama ending with Namkoong Min’s character at its focus, which, too, left us with the image of the protagonist heading straight ahead to face new challenges in the future. It doesn’t necessarily point towards a new season in the works, especially since there’s been no official announcement around the matter either.
At this hour, the show hasn’t been renewed for another season, which also seems like the final decision concluding this discussion, considering how other K-dramas have played out in the past.
The first season of Queenmaker is now streaming on Netflix. Read our review of the latest K-drama here.