A cop with a lot of family baggage. A woman in prison for murder. A copycat serial killer. These are the elements that set the stage in Queen Mantis, a new Korean show on Netflix. It's based on a French thriller called La Mante (The Mantis) and - if you'll forgive the bug pun - it's already generating a lot of buzz. If you're intrigued by crime-solving and a heaping dose of family drama, the Watch With Us team thinks you should watch Queen Mantis on Netflix. The Premise Is Fascinating Cha Soo-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon) is a police detective whose past hides a traumatic secret - his mother, Jung Yi-shin (Go Hyun-jung), is the infamous serial killer known as the Mantis, who is currently serving time for five murders. Raised by his grandfather Jeong Hyeon-nam (Lee Hwang-ui), he has no relationship with his murderous mother - until a serial killer begins copying her style with strikingly similar kills around the city. Soo-yeol is forced to team up with his mother to capture this copycat and maybe come to terms with his mother's violent nature. 5 Best Crime and Mystery Shows on Prime Video (August 2025) It's a Break from the Netflix Binge-Watch Formula Netflix Bingeing every episode of a show at once can be great, but sometimes it's way more fun to let the anticipation of the next episode build up every week - especially with crime shows, where suspense is such a huge part of the experience. Breaking from their typical manner of dropping episodes, Netflix is releasing Queen Mantis in real time as each episode airs in Korea - the first two episodes are available now, with subsequent drops on September 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27. If you like to let the tension build - and follow along with viewers and fan theories online - you'll enjoy the experience of Queen Mantis. It Uses a Thriller Trope in a New Way Go Hyun Jung in Queen Mantis Netflix Crime-solvers consulting with killers is one of our favorite murder-solving tropes - from The Silence of the Lambs to Mindhunter and Copycat - but by focusing on a mother-son relationship, Queen Mantis adds a whole new dimension to this terrifying dynamic. To solve the case, Soo-yeol must confront his own family history and trauma - something many of us avoid doing for our entire lives. 11 Must-Watch Netflix True Crime Drama Shows on Right Now (August 2025) We have no idea how this is going to pay off - no one does, since the show is still airing! - but we're excited to see how this mother-son relationship will evolve through their bizarre collaboration. Watch Queen Mantis on Netflix.