Confidence Queen Episode 11 Review: Lousy, Useless and Unnecessary Side Plots

This episode slows the momentum just when the series should be soaring. What should’ve been a gripping pre-finale setup ends up meandering through tired subplots and lukewarm twists. It’s an episode that tests your patience more than your curiosity.

Confidence Queen Episode 11 has a runtime of around 60 minutes.

This new Korean drama consists of 12 episodes, with one episode released every Saturday and Sunday.

Confidence Queen Episode 11 Recap

Episode 11 of Confidence Queen sets the stage for the grand finale, offering a measured yet intriguing build-up towards the climax. The episode opens with a tense flashback to the explosive argument between Gu-ho, James, and Yi-rang—a moment that fractured their alliance and left deep emotional scars. In the present, both Yi-rang and James quietly grapple with Gu-ho’s absence, though neither openly admits how much they miss him.

Gu-ho, meanwhile, is chasing justice in his own way. He tries to dig up evidence against the ruthless Mr Kang, hoping to expose his crimes. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations renders all his findings useless, making his pursuit seem almost tragic. Having left his former life behind, Gu-ho stays at a shared PG room, where he unexpectedly bonds with the kindly owner. This newfound companionship brings him a rare sense of comfort amid the chaos.

Elsewhere, James moves out of Yi-rang’s house and begins to keep a close eye on Gu-ho, curious about how his old friend is coping. In a surprising turn, James falls for a charming restaurant owner, believing he might finally find peace. However, the relationship ends in heartbreak. After getting into a fight with the woman’s ex-boyfriend—leaving him with a scar on his face—James learns that she has already moved on, dating another man just a day after kissing him. This betrayal deepens James’s cynicism and fuels the emotional turmoil that lingers between the trio.

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Yi-rang, ever the strategist, sets her sights on infiltrating Josef Architects, the firm connected to Mr Kang. With a high-profile project brewing between the Korean government and Dubai’s minister Abdullah, she sees an opportunity to win Kang’s trust and ultimately bring him down. Posing as a woman named A-reum, Yi-rang applies for a job and soon begins to understand Kang’s manipulative nature. Her first plan fails miserably when Kang treats her dismissively, but she quickly adapts, playing the role of a meek and naive employee to stroke his ego.

Her performance works, and Kang slowly begins to trust her. Yi-rang gains access to the firm’s inner workings, though Kang remains cautious. She senses that something more personal is holding him back. Determined to uncover his secrets, she joins forces with James once again, who provides her with information about Kang’s ties to the infrastructure minister.

When Kang invites Yi-rang to a private meeting with the minister and the CEO of Oracle Builders at a luxury hotel, she believes her moment of triumph has arrived. Yet the night takes an unexpected turn. The mysterious financier behind the project is revealed to be none other than the seemingly ordinary owner of Gu-ho’s PG hostel. To Yi-rang’s astonishment, Gu-ho appears alongside him, now introduced as Jeong-hyeon, the man responsible for managing all project funds.

The shocking revelation leaves both Yi-rang and James reeling, as they realise Gu-ho has once again stepped into the game: this time with an entirely new identity and a plan of his own. The stage is set for an explosive finale.

Confidence Queen Episode 11 Review

Episode 11 is easily one of the slowest hours the series has offered so far. After weeks of sharp twists and playful cons, this chapter feels like it’s dragging its feet towards the finale. The pacing is uneven, the tension flat, and the emotional weight between Gu-ho, Yi-rang, and James barely lands. What should have been a gripping setup for the final act turns into a drawn-out sequence of half-hearted schemes and predictable setbacks. Even the subplot about James’s doomed romance feels unnecessary, stretching the runtime without adding any real depth to his character.

For a drama built on wit and clever deception, this episode lacks spark. The story spends too much time setting up obvious reveals and not enough building intrigue. Yi-rang’s infiltration of Josef Architects had potential, but her scenes with Mr Kang feel repetitive and uninspired. By the time Gu-ho reappears under his new identity, the twist feels more like a relief than a shock—finally, something happens. Overall, Episode 11 serves as a filler rather than a proper lead-in to the climax, leaving viewers hoping the finale will revive the show’s once-electric charm.

Also read: Confidence Queen Season 1 Review