SBS’ Friday-Saturday thriller is riding a hot streak with new series-high ratings, and Ko commands every frame as Jung Yi-shin―the serial killer nicknamed “Mantis,” who brutally murdered five men―and the mother of detective Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon).
Jung Yi-shin is a knotty figure. Her past victims were abusers of women and children, which has led some viewers within the show’s world to idolize her. Recent episodes also revealed her first kill stemmed from protecting her son, adding even more layers to her conflicted, aching interior.
A killer revered by some, yet a mother teaming up with her detective son to hunt a copycat―this double-edged setup is a tightrope. Ko doesn’t just balance it; she revels in it, turning in a performance that’s fearless, fluid and fully in control.
What dazzles is her veteran precision. She keeps the energy contained, letting calibrated breaths, sharp glances and hairline shifts do the heavy lifting. Those flickers of emotion race across Jung Yi-shin’s face, deepening the world and spiking the show’s intensity in an instant.
From the commanding power of Mishil in "Queen Seondeok" to the delicate nuance of Park Wan in "Dear My Friends," and the eerie transformation into Kim Mo-mi in Netflix’s "Mask Girl," Ko’s range distills into ‘Mantis’ with startling clarity. It’s little wonder many can’t imagine anyone else in the role.
Director Byun Young-joo has said she thought of Ko for Jung Yi-shin the moment she read the script―and the bet is paying off. ‘Queen Mantis’ topped Good Data Corporation’s overall TV buzz chart for the first week of September and placed No. 3 in week two, while Ko ranked fourth among most-talked-about performers.
The “Ko effect” is hitting social media, too, with feeds and forums lighting up after each episode―and the momentum is global. In its premiere week, the series entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 (TV) at No. 7, with Ko’s chilling turn hooking viewers worldwide.
With razor-sharp craft and an unrivaled presence, Ko Hyun-jung delivers goosebumps episode after episode. Anticipation for what’s next only grows as she shapes a role no one else could own.
Episode 5 of ‘Queen Mantis’ airs Friday, Sept. 19 at 9:50 p.m. KST.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)