Summary

• Hae-in and Hyun-woo's love story is fated from childhood to death, with struggles and sacrifices along the way.
• The timeline of their relationship in Queen of Tears is non-linear, adding depth and complexity to their romance.
• Despite challenges and separations, Hae-in and Hyun-woo find their way back to each other for a heartfelt ending.

Queen of Tears’ success can be attributed to the strained yet fated relationship timeline between Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo. From their first fated meeting as children to their deaths as people who lived long lives together, the cards that Hae-in and Hyun-woo were dealt felt as if their relationship was doomed to fail. However, their love for one another has been hard to deny, and watching this tumultuous married couple find their way back to one another has been thrilling to watch.

As a romantic comedy, Queen of Tears’ best scenes even stronger, Queen of Tears delved into Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s past, present, and future, not constricting itself to a chronological timeline. This technique certainly worked well for Queen of Tears, making Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s relationship seem like it was fated from the very beginning.

Hyun-woo Saves Hae-in From A Boating Accident

Before Episode 1

Queen of Tears does not shy away from the romantic K-drama trope of fated lovers as they share that Hae-in and Hyun-woo did not first meet as adults but as children. When Hae-in was nine, she was involved in a tragic boating accident while on vacation that led to the death of her older brother, Hong Soo-wan (Hong Soo-wan). Hae-in, on the other hand, was saved by an unknown figure, who was later revealed to be Baek Hyun-woo. This detail served as a tool that deepened Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s strained relationship further, making their reconciliation seem inevitable.

Hae-in And Meet At School (But Hae-in Transfers)

Before Episode 1

The second of Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s chance meetings in Queen of Tears proved that Hae-in and Hyun-woo's love was fated. Hyun-woo’s first day at a new high school would end up being Hae-in’s last, yet they found their way to one another. Hae-in, upset about her move abroad, falls and is comforted by Hyun-woo who gives her a band-aid. Though the two never reveal who they are, the music player that Hae-in drops proves to be a key link that binds Hae-in and Hyun-woo together for years to come and is a nice touch to their relationship.

Hyun-woo & Hae-in Meet As Interns (And Fall In Love)

Before Episode 1

Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s first initial meeting came when they were interns working at Queens Group. Hae-in didn’t know how to work a copier, which led Hyun-woo to help her. Hae-in would then continually feign ignorance and kick the copier just like she did the first time so that Hyun-woo would rush over to help her. Hyun-woo became concerned about Hae-in and her lack of knowledge in a working environment, which eventually developed into feelings of love.

Hyun-woo’s concern for Hae-in is endearing, especially when hindsight gives the audience the luxury of knowing Hae-in’s financial situation, making Hyun-woo seem even more oblivious with his affection. Similarly, it is also nice to see a normally stone-faced Hae-in return her affections in her own way as she follows Hyun-woo home, wanting to see him one more time. Even with Mi-sun tries to break up their relationship in episode 5, Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s foundations stand strong and hint at what their relationship could be like in the future if they worked things out.

Hae-in & Hyun-woo Get Married

Before Episode 1

After around a year of dating, Hyun-woo proposes to Hae-in despite being impressively clueless about her family situation. Their love for each other is felt in every second, with Hae-in making sure that Hyun-woo is sure about his choices as she fears what would become of him as a member of their family. Though Hae-in’s fears do ultimately come true, their love feels pure and sweet and makes a great contrast to the pain felt throughout Queen of Tears, and gives hope as to what could be reignited for the couple.

Following their extravagant wedding, flashbacks reveal that Hae-in and Hyun-woo traveled to for their honeymoon. These flashbacks set up important details for the present, deepening the significance of Sanssouci to the couple and making each return to even more poignant than the last. Though in these flashbacks, Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s newlywed chemistry is refreshing compared to the strain of their current relationship and is a welcome turn away from the main storyline from time to time.

Hae-in Gets Pregnant (But Then Loses The Baby)

Before Episode 1

Sometime after getting married, Hae-in and Hyun-woo discover that Hae-in is pregnant, with the baby due to be born on October 31st. They are initially elated, and both parents excitedly decorate their new baby’s nursery. However, for unknown reasons, Hae-in miscarries. This causes a big rift between the couple as they both grieve separately. Waiting to reveal these details in episodes 4 and 5 adds much more depth to Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s relationship, making their actions make sense but at an agonizing cost.

Hyun-woo Wants to Divorce Hae-in (But Hae-in Is Ill)

Episodes 1-4

Despite what the introduction of Queen of Tears showed of Hyun-woo’s and Hae-in’s relationship, their marriage was anything but well. Just as Hae-in had predicted during Hyun-woo’s proposal, he was miserable and the aftermath of the loss of their first child is echoed in every moment they are on screen together. Though the distance between them is comical at times, the pain both Hae-in and Hyun-woo feel is evident as they yearn for each other through layers of trauma.

In the early episode of Queen of Tears, Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s relationship is the coldest it ever has been. Despite this, there are moments where they both show how much they care for each other. In episode 2, Hyun-woo saves Hae-in from an oncoming boar. Hae-in also clearly holds a flame for her husband, as she notices him researching her illness, thinking he is truly the one person who cares about her, making the later revelations just that more heartbreaking.

Hae-in Gets Treatment in & They Reconcile

Episode 5-6

The build-up to Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s first reconciliation in the place that means the most to them is thrilling. Seeing Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s barriers come down for the first time as they finally talk about what made them drift away from each other feels like a burden has been lifted from Queen of Tears. Though, it is also great to see how far Hyun-woo's character develops in such a short period as he realizes just how much he loves Hae-in and how wrong he was for thinking the way he had done previously.

Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s trip sees them closer than ever before and is a delight to watch as they enjoy being in each other’s company for the first time in such a long time before the storm truly hits. This trip to also brings up various discussions about death for Hae-in and Hyun-woo, which ultimately foreshadows their fates at the end of the series.

Hyun-woo & Hae-in Get Divorced

Episode 6-9

Throughout Queen of Tears, the impending reveal of Hyun-woo’s desire for divorce loomed over the series. So when Hae-in finally discovers the truth, the impact it has is even more painful, as Hae-in truly believed her husband was the only person who truly cared about her. Hyun-woo does nothing but it to his faults, knowing that he truly messed up. However, he soon devises a plan to make Hae-in hate him and divorce him so that she has a reason to keep on living.

Though this fall back down to Earth was always going to happen, it does not make it any easier to watch Hae-in and Hyun-woo grow apart once again. However, their emotions of love seem to have grown since their initial separation, as Hae-in and Hyun-woo continue to fight in each other’s corner and protect each other when they can. Their feelings may be complicated, but it is fascinating to watch the layers of Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s relationship peel away in this complex part of their lives.

Hyun-woo Asks Hae-in To Withdraw Their Divorce

Episode 10-12

Despite the unfortunate circumstances that brought Hae-in and her family to Yongdu-ri, this move drew Hae-in and Hyun-woo closer together than ever. Hae-in, now away from the burdens of working life, frets about Hyun-woo and often waits for her ex-husband’s return from Seoul. These moments feel well-earned, as Hae-in and Hyun-woo can enjoy the smaller moments of life away from the burdens of corporate life.

However, after Hae-in’s health takes a bad turn, she bluntly confirms her feelings for Hyun-woo. Knowing that she does not want to waste any more time, Hae-in's confession is raw and heart-breaking as she thinks her time is running out. Hae-in's thoughts are further confirmed when she rejects Hyun-woo’s proposal, not wanting to burden him with her death. Thankfully, Hae-in changes her mind in a way that only Queen of Tears could pull off, as tragedy is quickly reversed with comedy and Hae-in screams into a pillow like a teenager.

Hae-in Has Brain Surgery (She Forgets Hyun-woo)

Episode 13-15

Hae-in’s reluctance to get brain surgery is heartbreaking to watch, and one of the most emotionally raw sections in Queen of Tears’ entirety. Hae-in’s reasoning is valid and very much in character, as she stated multiple times throughout Queen of Tears how she would much rather die as herself than be unable to live as someone else. This results in some of the best acting from Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun in the whole of Queen of Tears as Hyun-woo attempts to reason with Hae-in and her drastic decision.

What finally breaks Hae-in is Hyun-woo’s reaction to thinking she had almost died in a car crash. This scene is flawless, with the moment Hae-in changes her mind visible without the need for dialogue. When she finally does get surgery, Hae-in does everything she can to Hyun-woo, but despite ing her name, it feels in vain as Hyun-woo was arrested so Eun-sung could be by her side instead.

Hyun-woo Sacrifices Himself For Hae-in (Hae-in Re Him)

Episode 15-16

The climax of Queen of Tears sees Hyun-woo sacrifice himself for Hae-in one more time. Despite only having a limited memory, Hae-in’s reaction to Hyun-woo being shot in place of her is harrowing. Kim Ji-won does well to convey Hae-in’s anguish through emotions she doesn’t quite fully understand, making for an incredible scene to watch as she tries to process what just happened. Kim Soo-hyun also excels as he portrays a worried Hyun-woo, who is seriously hurt after being involved in a hit-and-run not long before.

This sequence of events proves how far Hae-in and Hyun-woo have come, going from a married couple that despised each other to one that would die for one another without a second thought. It ultimately shows that, despite the hardships he went through prior to the start of Queen of Tears, Hyun-woo never once stopped loving Hae-in, and this final act demonstrates this in a dramatic fashion.

Hyun-woo & Hae-in Get Re-married And Have A Daughter

Episode 16

The final scene of Queen of Tears packs a punch as it gives Hae-in and Hyun-woo the happy ending that many had hoped for throughout the scene. This beautiful montage pays homage to Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in, showing them re-discovering their love for each other once again through new memories and reminiscing on the old. Hae-in is also shown wearing her wedding ring, which suggests they do get re-married at some point. However, one of the sweetest points of the montage is the addition of their infant daughter, who s Hae-in and Hyun-woo on their travels multiple times throughout her life.

Hae-in Dies First And Waits For Hyun-woo

Episode 16

Just as Hae-in had predicted in episode 6, she dies first on April 7th, 2074 at the age of 84, far suring the three-month prognosis she was given at the start of Queen of Tears. Now alone, Hyun-woo travels to and visits his wife’s grave, mirroring the vision Hae-in had in episode 14 of a man visiting his wife’s grave while they were on their honeymoon. In that vision, the man would regularly lay flowers on his beloved's grave for years.

However, Hyun-woo’s time soon comes and Hae-in, just as she had promised in Queen of Tears episode 6, waits for him in the afterlife. It is a beautifully touching and poignant moment that wraps up Hae-in and Hyun-woo's fated relationship ending perfectly. Their timeline was a tumultuous one, full of twists and heartbreaks, but they ultimately ended up where they were always fated to be: with one another, even after death.