Queen Mantis Episode 5 Recap: A Past Uncovered, A New Victim Found

In Queen Mantis Episode 5, which aired on the 19th, it began with chaos. Jung Yi-shin (Go Hyun-jung) escaped from the pension house. She went looking for Cha Soo-yeol’s (Jang Dong-yoon) wife, Lee Jung-yeon (Kim Bo-ra).

Lee Jung-yeon faced Yi-shin alone. The air turned tense. Before anything could happen, Soo-yeol arrived. He saw Yi-shin standing close to his wife and exploded in anger.

He pushed Lee Jung-yeon away and told her to leave. Then he handcuffed Yi-shin and dragged her back to the pension.

At the pension, his anger boiled over. He shouted, “Did you kill Seo Gu-wan and come into my house?” Yi-shin acted like she knew nothing about Seo Gu-wan’s death. Soo-yeol pressed harder.

He said all her movements matched the timing of the murder. Yi-shin only replied, “I threatened you, so they should all die. Just like your father.”

She whispered, “Are you sad Seo Gu-wan died? Pity? Or do you feel safer now?” Her words shook him. For a moment, he feared he was like her.

The Copycat Killer Strikes Again

Meanwhile, the investigation team faced pressure from their superiors. They hinted at replacing the whole team if results didn’t come fast. Soo-yeol went to meet the psychiatrist who once treated Yi-shin. While Choi Joong-ho (Jo Sung-ha) caused a distraction outside, Soo-yeol stole Yi-shin’s old medical files.

The files revealed something grim. Yi-shin had watched her mother die in a fire. Her father, Jung Hyun-nam (Lee Hwang-eui), confessed the rest. He said her mother was trapped, screaming, as fire consumed their home.

Yi-shin tried to run in to save her. He held her back with all his strength because he feared losing her, too. Hyun-nam admitted she shut her heart after that day. He blamed himself, saying maybe that trauma led her down this dark path.

Back at the station, the team discovered a link between the murder victims. All of them were following a mysterious user named “Joy” on a dating app.

They also found that Park Min-jae (Lee Chang-min), a webtoon artist and former suspect, was following Joy too.

That same day, a courier delivered a phone to Joong-ho. It belonged to victim Noh Du-cheon. Inside was a video of murder scenes.

Soon, a call came from the killer. The voice said, “Tell that woman,” clearly hinting at Yi-shin. The call cut off.

Soo-yeol gathered the team and revealed Yi-shin had been secretly helping with the investigation. Some felt betrayed. Kim Na-hee (Lee El) calmed down and shared that Joy followed all four known victims.

She warned the next victim would come from Joy’s list.

The Killer Targets Park Min-jae

Yi-shin watched the crime footage. She said, “This guy doesn’t think he’ll get caught. It’s confidence.” This conversation is crucial. Yi-shin, the original predator, is now profiling a copycat.

Her analysis isn’t based on police training but on a shared, twisted psychology. She understands his pride and showmanship because she possesses it herself.

This forces Soo-yeol to rely on her darkest traits, blurring the line between hunter and weapon and deepening his internal conflict. Soo-yeol agreed. The killer had started by copying Yi-shin’s style, but now created his own twisted methods to inflict more pain and display it.

Yi-shin guessed he had pride and showmanship. She said they could exploit it to make him slip.

Then the killer called Yi-shin directly. She asked why he was imitating her. She said the mirror he used was novel, that she only thought about killing, not making victims watch their end. The killer teased, “With today’s last scene, it ends.”

Soo-yeol and the team searched Joy’s follow list. They spotted opera singer Kim Seo-jun, who had a live performance that day. The police rushed to the theater, expecting him to be the next target.

Yi-shin doubted it. She told Soo-yeol, “It’s too easy. There’s a trick.”

While they chased a false lead at the opera house, Park Min-jae tried contacting Joy himself. He knew she admired his comics and hoped to trap her.

He messaged Soo-yeol, saying Joy was coming to his studio and to come quickly. But Joy found out he had called the police.

She sent a chilling text: “Would you have handed me over even if I were Yi-shin? I did the same as her. Treat me the same.”

Moments later, she attacked him.

A Bloody Scene

Soo-yeol finally saw Min-jae’s message. He rushed to the studio with his team. It was too late. Min-jae lay unconscious, tied up and covered in wounds. A deep X-shaped cut marked his chest.

Soo-yeol collapsed beside him, clutching his bloody body. He cried out, “Min-jae, you can’t die. Open your eyes. Please.” But Min-jae was fading fast.

The episode ended with Soo-yeol’s scream echoing through the room, and the killer still at large.

Episode 5 successfully raised the stakes to a breaking point. Park Min-jae’s attack is a direct message to Soo-yeol and Yi-shin. The killer isn’t just copying anymore; they’re communicating and challenging the Counters.

This personal vendetta suggests the final showdown will be deeply intimate. Key questions for the next episode: Will Min-jae survive, becoming a catalyst for Soo-yeol?

And how will the team’s distrust of Yi-shin’s involvement affect their ability to catch this new, cunning adversary?

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