The Last Empress is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix and Kocowa, and in the US on Netflix and Rakuten Viki, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. 26 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Jang Na-ra's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Last Empress is worth clearing space for. At its heart, The Last Empress understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. In an alternate-reality South Korea, where a constitutional monarchical system prevails, Oh Sunny, a musical actress, becomes the empress of the country. Thus begins a dispute for power in the royal palace. Nothing is what it seems, and Oh Sunny is ready to fight until the end to uncover a mysterious homicide within the royal palace, fighting to protect those she loves the most and obtain happiness. Jang Na-ra and Choi Jin-hyuk lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It was aired in 2018–2019. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Last Empress passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Last Empress delivers. Viewers who responded to Revenge will find a lot to like here too. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch Jang Na-ra work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.

The Last Empress wrapped up in 2019, created by Park Young-soo and Kim Soon-ok — and 1 season is available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.