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A perfect empress, a fickle emperor, an ambitious former slave, and a charming prince with a blue rose. Launched on Disney+ On November 3, one day earlier than planned, « The Remarried Empress » (known as «The Remarried Empress» in French) is already making waves. According to early trends, the series has reportedly topped the charts in many countries, and some fans are already calling for a second season. Now that the first four episodes have been released, here’s what viewers are saying.
Warning: Minor spoilers for episodes 1 through 4.
An instant success
The numbers are staggering. Just three days after its release, «The Remarried Empress» became the most-watched local series in the history of Disney+ and Hulu for a launch, among all non-U.S. productions. It thus dethroned «Moving,» the superhero drama released in 2023, which had previously held that record.
The series also achieved the best debut ever recorded for a Korean title in more than 50 countries, including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Mexico, and Canada. Disney has not released specific viewership figures, but highlights a significant difference compared to «Moving»: while the latter was primarily popular in Korea and Asia, «The Remarried Empress» is also making a strong showing in Europe and the Americas.
This success didn't come out of nowhere. The trailer had racked up 13 million views in 48 hours on YouTube and social media, and the preview screenings at the Busan International Film Festival were sold out. The original webtoon, published on Naver, is nearing 3 billion views, making it one of the most popular of its kind.
On social media, the excitement is so great that some fans are already calling for a second season, even though the first one is far from over.
An anime is coming soon, and a springboard for Webtoon
This success extends beyond Disney+ alone. The series is produced by Webtoon Entertainment, the platform that publishes the original webtoon, and it was in fact in consultation with Webtoon Entertainment that Disney moved up the release date by one day to thank fans for their enthusiasm.
And the story of Navier won't end there: an anime adaptation is in the works with Crunchyroll. This should satisfy—at least in part—the fans who are already clamoring for a sequel.
For Webtoon, «The Remarried Empress» also marks a new milestone. After spawning several Netflix hits, such as «Bloodhounds» and «The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,» the platform is now expanding its presence in Hollywood with English-language adaptations of its works. Its president, Yongsoo Kim, sees these series as a way to introduce the world of webtoons to an audience that is not yet familiar with it.
Acclaimed sets and costumes
On social media, there’s one thing everyone agrees on: the beauty of the series. Viewers praise the richness of the sets, the quality of the cinematography, and the splendor of the costumes. The series was reportedly filmed in part in Europe—notably in the Czech Republic and Germany—which is evident in the grandeur of the locations.
Navier's wardrobe (Shin Min-ah), who seems to change outfits in every scene, is drawing a lot of attention. Fans of the webtoon are also having fun comparing the scenes with their illustrated counterparts and praising certain faithful details, such as the famous blue rose given by Heinrey (Lee Jong-suk).
The chemistry between the actors is also highlighted, as is the quality of the supporting cast.
Rashta, the character who divides opinion
But one character is at the center of all the discussions: Rashta, played by Lee Se-young. For some viewers, her past as a mistreated slave explains—or even excuses—her struggle to survive in an elitist court. Others believe she crosses the line by manipulating those around her, and that a difficult past does not justify attacking the empress. In an interview, the actress said of her character: «In the end, I saw her as pure evil. For the first time, I realized that I couldn’t fully understand the actions of a character I was portraying.»
The debate has even extended to Navier. Some viewers criticize the heroine for ruling over an empire built on slavery without ever questioning it—a point they say was already overlooked in the webtoon. Others, on the contrary, consider it legitimate for a wife to reject her husband’s mistress, regardless of her past.
A sign that the series, beyond its romance, tackles issues that provoke a reaction.
That doesn't mean everything is perfect, though. Some members of the trade press, while praising the visuals and the cast, regret that the characters still lack depth in these first few episodes.
Our opinion
We watched these four episodes without having read the webtoon. First impression: the world-building is confusing. With its balls and palaces, the series immediately brings to mind *Bridgerton*, but it blends old-fashioned styles with modern touches—especially in the costumes—and throws in a dash of the supernatural for good measure.
We're happy to see some top-tier headliners again, backed by a strong supporting cast. Special mention goes to Ju Ji-hoon and Lee Se-young, whose characters are utterly detestable.
On the other hand, the story remains rather light for now, and the plot doesn’t develop much beyond romantic entanglements and betrayals. The first two episodes also move very quickly: the emperor falls for Rashta in barely five minutes. Still, the formula works, and you really want to know what happens next.
«The Remarried Empress» has 10 episodes. After the first 4, which have been available since November 3, 2 new episodes are released every Wednesday on Disney+ through the finale on November 25.
What do you think of the series' premiere?