Hell hath known no fury like a mother provoked. Indeed Kim Hye-soo’s titular consort shows what she’s made of in this immersive sageuk that demonstrates plenty of writing weight underpinning its plot. Unlike what I had initially thought, this is a drama with political meat once it goes beyond petty harem wrangling. While it doesn’t lack political heft, the heart of this show is undoubtedly in the family dynamics. A mother and her children. And genuine brotherly affection. The queen is presented as the mother of all mothers. She not only epitomises motherhood in terms of how she fiercely protects her own sons in defiance of sinister forces but she exemplifies to the other women especially those within the royal harem, how to be a “true” mother in her wisdom and grace. She is not only the archetypical mother but the quintessential teacher. More than anything else a good mother is a teacher. It’s no wonder the king (Choi Won-young) selected her as his official first wife — a fact that’s obvious once the show hits its stride. He has plenty of women to keep him warm at night and ensure there are no lack of contenders for the throne but there’s only one he trusts with what’s on his mind. Much more than his own mother, the queen is his true ally because they actually have shared beliefs about good government.
Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022) Episodes 3-10
Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022) Episodes…
Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022) Episodes 3-10
Hell hath known no fury like a mother provoked. Indeed Kim Hye-soo’s titular consort shows what she’s made of in this immersive sageuk that demonstrates plenty of writing weight underpinning its plot. Unlike what I had initially thought, this is a drama with political meat once it goes beyond petty harem wrangling. While it doesn’t lack political heft, the heart of this show is undoubtedly in the family dynamics. A mother and her children. And genuine brotherly affection. The queen is presented as the mother of all mothers. She not only epitomises motherhood in terms of how she fiercely protects her own sons in defiance of sinister forces but she exemplifies to the other women especially those within the royal harem, how to be a “true” mother in her wisdom and grace. She is not only the archetypical mother but the quintessential teacher. More than anything else a good mother is a teacher. It’s no wonder the king (Choi Won-young) selected her as his official first wife — a fact that’s obvious once the show hits its stride. He has plenty of women to keep him warm at night and ensure there are no lack of contenders for the throne but there’s only one he trusts with what’s on his mind. Much more than his own mother, the queen is his true ally because they actually have shared beliefs about good government.