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The Whirlwind

돌풍 ‧ Drama ‧ 2024
Completed
Cora Flower Award1
120 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Government-funded Psychological Warfare

HOLY FREAKING HELLLLLLLLLL this drama is not a kdrama anymore this is literally psychological warfare with government funding 😭😭😭 every episode feels like somebody holding a gun to democracy’s forehead while the other person is blackmailing the gun itself LIKE WHAT IS GOING ONNNNNN

first of all Dong-ho is one of the most terrifying male leads i’ve watched in YEARS because he doesn’t even act evil in a dramatic way 😭 he’s not screaming, not throwing glasses, not doing those corny villain monologues. NO. this man whispers in calm little lawyer voice and suddenly three careers are destroyed, a billionaire is crying, two prosecutors are getting exposed, and somebody’s entire bloodline is under investigation 💀 the way he keeps sacrificing pieces of himself for the “greater good” while slowly becoming the exact kind of monster he hated??? CHEF’S KISS. literally the whole show is watching a man rot morally in ultra HD while convincing himself he’s still saving the country and honestly… kinda iconic kinda horrifying 😭

and the thing that makes him scary is that he’s SMART smart. not drama-smart where characters become stupid so the plot can move. no this man is genuinely calculating like every scene with him feels like he already read the script before everyone else 😭 the way he anonymously fed information to different people just so they’d attack Su-jin from multiple angles at once????? HELLOOOOOO 😭😭😭 bro literally sat there engineering chaos like a bored chess god. when the review said he basically sent Su-jin into a lion pit and waited to see who would eat her first i LOST IT because that’s EXACTLY his energy 😭 he really said “i’m not killing you myself. society will do it for me.”

BUT ALSO… SU-JIN???? OH MY GODDDDDD this woman is actually insane in the BEST way. like every single episode i think “okay she’s done this time there’s no way she survives this” and then somehow she comes back with better PR, more supporters, another alliance, and a fresh blazer 😭😭😭 SHE IS A COCKROACH OF POWER. impossible to kill. terrifyingly adaptable. every time Dong-ho cuts off one route she opens three more like HYDRA 😭

and what i LOVE is that the show never writes her as some pathetic victimized woman politician. no no no this woman is dangerous. manipulative. emotionally repressed. deeply traumatized. probably hasn’t slept properly in years. but also charismatic as HELL 😭 the funeral speech????? oh she ate that up BADDDD. she weaponizes grief better than most politicians weaponize laws 💀 like imagine your enemy possibly murdered the president and YOU still somehow become the sympathetic public figure. i’m sorry but she’s a demon 😭

also can we talk about how everybody in this drama is emotionally attached to each other in the most toxic way possible 😭 because why does every confrontation between Dong-ho and Su-jin feel like a divorce between two people who used to run a revolution together LMAOOOOOO. the history between them is INSANE. they don’t even need romance because the betrayal itself has more chemistry than most kdrama couples 😭 every conversation is basically:
“you betrayed our ideals.”
“you became worse than him.”
“maybe but you created me.”
“okay fair.”
like HELLOOOOO??????

the flashbacks actually make everything hurt more because you see how idealistic they all used to be 😭 they genuinely believed they could fix corruption together and now they’re literally orchestrating assassinations, covering up murders, manipulating prosecutors, bugging watches, blackmailing ministers, threatening witnesses, and psychologically torturing each other over lunch 😭😭😭 the downfall is CRAZYYYYY

AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON PRESIDENT JANG II JUN because this man’s entire existence is like the ghost haunting everyone 😭 the way everybody keeps using his legacy like a political football after his collapse/death is sooo nasty but fascinating. every single person projects something different onto him. Dong-ho sees him as the symbol of compromised ideals. Su-jin sees him as protection. the public sees him as tragedy. meanwhile this man was corrupt as hell too 😭😭😭 literally no saints anywhere. not ONE.

that’s probably my favorite thing about this show honestly. there are NO clean hands. every single person is compromised in some way. even the “good” actions are done through horrifying methods 😭 Dong-ho trying to save the country by committing crimes himself is soooooo funny in a dark way because sir… at what point do you become the thing you’re fighting 😭 this man keeps talking about justice while actively committing enough felonies to start his own constitution 💀

and i love that the show KNOWS this too. it never fully romanticizes him. even the reviews are like “uhhh king you are literally turning into the president you hated” 😭 the scene where he asks Jang-seok to continue the fight after he falls because he KNOWS he’s already corrupted himself??? whewwww. that hit. because deep down Dong-ho understands there’s no coming back for him anymore. he crossed the line episodes ago. now he’s just deciding how useful his destruction can still be 😭

ALSO JANG-SEOK MY POOR MEEEEOW MEOOWWWW 😭😭😭 this man is watching his best friend slowly transform into a political war criminal in real time and every episode he looks more exhausted 💀 the emotional conflict there is soooo good because he genuinely loves Dong-ho but he’s also a prosecutor so eventually he HAS to confront him. the scene where Dong-ho subtly admits that one day they’ll meet as prosecutor and defendant?????? OH MY GODDDD THE TENSIONNNN 😭 like this show really understands tragedy because everybody knows exactly where this is heading and still can’t stop it.

and can we PLEASE discuss the level of manipulation happening every episode because why is EVERYBODY recording each other 😭😭😭 bugged watches, hidden phones, anonymous leaks, recorded confessions, surprise press conferences, evidence in safes, blackmail documents… literally nobody in this universe should be allowed near electronics anymore 💀

the watch storyline specifically had me SCREAMING because Su-jin really thought she had Dong-ho cornered meanwhile he knew about the listening device THE WHOLE TIMEEEE 😭😭😭 i swear this man plays psychological chess like he’s possessed. he literally let her think she was controlling him just so she’d expose all the corrupt names connected to Daejin 😭 THAT IS SICKKKKKKK. like genuinely villain behavior but also kinda hot intellectually i’m sorry 😭

and speaking of Daejin OH MY GODDDD the way this corporation basically functions like an unofficial government is terrifying because it doesn’t even feel unrealistic 😭 the show’s portrayal of political-corporate corruption is sooo cynical but sooo believable. prosecutors getting controlled, media narratives changing overnight, public opinion manufactured through emotional performances, people suddenly switching loyalty depending on survival… this drama really said “what if power itself was a contagious disease” 😭

ALSO SU-JIN’S PUBLIC RELATIONS SKILLS NEED TO BE STUDIED BY NASA 😭😭😭 because how does she keep escaping career-ending scandals. husband corruption allegations? survived. hearing ambush? survived. public attacks? survived. possible murder involvement? survived. this woman could probably survive a meteor strike with a 62% approval rating 💀

and i’m sorry but the scene where Dong-ho jumps off the cliff trying to frame Su-jin further?????? ARE YOU KIDDING MEEEEEE 😭😭😭😭 i literally had to pause because WHO THINKS OF THIS. this man said “if i go down i’m dragging you into hell with me” and just launched himself off a cliff like a suicidal Shakespeare character with presidential immunity 💀 the level of theatrical insanity in this show is unmatched.

also the way they constantly use patriotism and history emotionally is soooo effective 😭 the flag passed down through generations, the promises about justice, the symbolism of returning to the Blue House, the idea of becoming a “whirlwind” that uproots corruption… it all sounds noble until you realize everyone saying these things is actively destroying themselves and others 😭 the irony is DELICIOUS.

and honestly the show is weirdly sad beneath all the chaos because none of these people even seem happy anymore 😭 they’re all trapped. Dong-ho can’t stop because too much has already happened. Su-jin can’t stop because survival became instinct years ago. everybody keeps escalating because if they pause for even one second they’ll lose everything. it’s like watching people drown while trying to hold onto crowns made of concrete 😭

ALSO THE WOMEN IN THIS SHOWWWW OMGGGGG 😭 Yeon-suk especially surprised me because at first i thought she’d just be another side political aide character but NOPE this woman is MOVINGGGG. the way she switched allegiance after learning the truth, the way she protects evidence, manipulates meetings, and quietly navigates all these dangerous men… she’s lowkey one of the smartest people there 😭 but also girl STAND UPPPP because why are you helping these morally bankrupt men implode the nation 💀

and the pacing??? absolutely psychotic 😭 there’s no breathing room at ALLLLLL. one episode ends with attempted murder and the next starts with an election scandal and then suddenly there’s corporate succession manipulation and then BOOM emotional flashback and then somebody confesses to attempted assassination live on television 😭😭😭 like the writers genuinely hate peace.

also the dialogue in this show sometimes sounds like ancient war generals disguised as politicians 😭 everybody talks like they’re declaring the fall of an empire every five minutes. nobody just says “i disagree.” NO. they say stuff like:
“history will decide which of us deserves to survive.”
LIKE DAMN OKAYYYY 😭😭😭

and can we talk about how funny it is that every character thinks THEY are the reasonable one 😭 Su-jin thinks Dong-ho is too reckless. Dong-ho thinks Su-jin is too corrupt. Sang-cheon thinks he’s strategically justified. the billionaires think they’re protecting stability. meanwhile the entire government is collapsing like a jenga tower in an earthquake 💀

the show also does something really interesting with morality because it keeps asking whether intentions matter if your methods become monstrous. like Dong-ho genuinely DOES want justice. i believe that. but bro is also manipulating people, covering up crimes, threatening officials, and attempting murder 😭 meanwhile Su-jin started as someone fighting injustice and slowly became absorbed into the very machinery she once opposed. it’s tragic because neither of them fully notices how far they’ve fallen until it’s too late.

and lowkey… they deserve each other 😭😭😭 because WHO ELSE could even understand the level of damage they’ve both accumulated. every interaction between them feels like:
“i know what you did.”
“yeah but i know what YOU did.”
“fair enough.”
LMAOOOOOOO

also i need to say this: the actors are CARRYINGGGG this material so hard 😭 because these scenes could’ve become melodramatic nonsense in weaker hands but instead everything feels so intense and believable. especially the microexpressions omg. the tiny pauses before betrayal. the exhausted stares. the silent resentment. the way Dong-ho sometimes looks physically sick after making a decision but still continues anyway 😭 THAT’S GOOD ACTINGGGGG.

and the show LOVES symbolic imagery 😭 hills, watches, hospital rooms, graves, the Blue House itself… every location feels loaded with emotional meaning. even people shaking hands feels threatening in this drama 💀

the hospital scenes especially stressed me OUTTTT because everybody kept hovering around the president like vultures waiting to see if democracy survives another hour 😭 meanwhile doctors are trying to save lives while politicians are basically calculating poll numbers in the hallway 💀 absolutely dystopian behavior.

and the way public opinion shifts every two seconds is soooo realistic and depressing 😭 one press conference changes everything. one emotional speech changes everything. one leaked recording changes everything. the public becomes another weapon in the war rather than actual people. everyone’s constantly trying to “control the narrative” instead of telling the truth 😭

ALSO WHEN SU-JIN GOT THE FIRST LADY ON HER SIDEEEEEEE????? OHHHHH Dong-ho was SICK 😭 because Su-jin understands emotional optics better than anyone else in the show. hugging at gravesites, crying publicly, framing herself as the defender of legacy… she turns symbolism into armor 😭 meanwhile Dong-ho relies more on strategic destruction. that’s why their dynamic works so well. one fights through emotional influence and survival instincts, the other through cold calculated warfare.

and honestly by the later episodes i wasn’t even rooting for “good guys” anymore because THERE ARE NONE 😭 i was just rooting for whichever psychopath had the better strategy that week 💀 the show completely brainwashed me into becoming a political gremlin.

also the ending stretch where Dong-ho starts openly incriminating himself while taking everyone else down with him????? INSANEEEEEE. this man really said “if i burn, the whole system burns too” 😭 like at this point he’s less a politician and more a living suicide mission wrapped in legal documents.

and maybe THAT’S why the title fits so well because the entire story feels like a whirlwind. nobody stays clean. nobody stays stable. everybody gets swept up, destroyed, transformed. power just spins faster and faster until people lose themselves inside it 😭

ANYWAYYYYYYY this show is basically:
“what if idealism and corruption got trapped in a toxic relationship and dragged an entire nation into couples therapy from hell”
and i am OBSESSEDDDDDD 😭😭😭

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Completed
unterwegsimkoreanischenD
50 people found this review helpful
Jun 30, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

A very well done, substantial, self-critical, thought-provoking Korean-style political drama.

In “The Whirlwind,” the old masters of Korean film and television use their strong aura to demonstrate what it means to truly want to represent transparency and democracy in South Korea 2024. Even after several decades of 'real' democracy, the political apparatus still feels like a vice in the hands of a few in a backroom and every idiosyncratic move inevitably leads to pain. Here we see the top-class veterans Sol Kyung-gu and Kim Hee-ae and a few more in a Netflix production that has substance and intensity and decisively highlights a major dilemma within the South Korean political scene. A great script with characters who are not just black or white, but full of shades of gray.

2024, as I said. Unfortunately, the struggle to act politically honestly, or to curb corruption and illegal influence by the Jaebeol conglomerates, obviously still is a Sisyphean mission... But there is this longing in the country – a desire that politics will at some point be done by responsible, accountable citizens and not manipulated by this 1 percent of the Jaebeol elite, using the system for their own benefit. ((On the other hand, as a mass, that is all too easily manipulated by misleading information the (in theory powerful) people ultimately doesn´t impress as a source of hope... Sobering. Unfortunately.)) Obviously it is difficult to change the sluggish but powerful apparatus. However, the more scandalous conditions and dynamics are clearly communicated through the media, the more the shiny elite may become disenchanted (as in "The Whirlwind"). And perhaps - the more this happens - at some point the general public will no longer be so easily swayed and deceived. Perhaps, slowly but surely, the number of those, who dare to oppose the whims of the so-called elite, no matter the cost, is against all odds growing. And maybe more and more will follow over time. This is, where “The Whirlwind” is coming from...

In 2024, South Korean politics is no longer just a male affair. Nevertheless, the world of decision-makers is still a world of cliques, and if one person is not willing, then force will be chosen. The pattern seems to be the same forever.
And yet. In this KDrama we are dealing with a protagonist, who doesn't care about all the headwinds. He isn´t impressed. He doesn't want to be bought and is resisting temptation. He might become a role model, yet he is driven by his own interest. He cares about the cause, the idea, his political values, and he risks everything for it. The end - the good, honest one - justifies the means. And suddenly an upstanding citizen also attracts others, too. He embodies a longing, stands for a hope that is truly shared by many - even those who have learned to function well within the corrupt apparatus. Where there is a will, there may be a path, but it can be rocky, swampy and, in some places, hopeless. Once again a brave David has faced off against a complacent Goliath. And if he's not careful, even our ambitious David may imperceptibly stray from the right path on his way to an honest goal. Because in fact, not every means justifies its noble end... When it comes to a world of responsible citizens who are equal before the law, then it is at the same time and first and foremost about accountability and about taking (lawful) responsibility for one's own actions. In all consequence. This equally applies to everyone, too. Uncompromising. Without exception...

So, overall I consider “The Whirlwind” a very well done, substantial, self-critical, thought-provoking Korean-style political drama.

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Completed
bit
15 people found this review helpful
Jun 28, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

A perfect drama

I was always looking forward this drama and I was scared I might not like it but now it’s my favorite. So much unexpected and shocking plot twists, especially the end… They just never stopped and never failed to shock me. Even if you don’t like politics they manage to keep you glued to your seat with the storyline. The acting of the whole cast, especially Sul Kyung-gu and Kim Hee-ae was beyond outstanding, not to mention the writing. This is the type of drama, and netflix original we needed already! Even the ending, which I usually hate in dramas was written well and finished the story perfectly. It broke my heart to pieces and I respect both the actors and the writer for managing to make me feel a whirlwind of emotions, for both characters.



Side note, this had such a pretty cinematography and visuals it was so nice to look at!

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Completed
Amit
11 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

A Political Masterpiece

One of the best dramas of the year! If you're unsure about watching it, just go ahead and watch at least two episodes—you won't be disappointed. This drama was incredibly well done, with acting, pacing, and scheming by the actors all on point.

If you have even a slight interest in politics, it's a feast for you. Don't miss it! The references to the Bible are just analogies, nothing more (and I'm saying this as a non-Christian). Some people are overreacting to these references, but the characters aren't trying to convert anyone. They are simply drawing comparisons to explain political scenarios.This is one of the best dramas about today's world and modern politics.

My rating: 9.5/10

P.S. The ending was perfect (though I won't say it's happy, sad, or neutral, as none of those options apply here).

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Completed
The Butterfly Flower Award1
12 people found this review helpful
Sep 15, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

"I'll take you along to hell"

The Whirlwind was a high stakes political drama that pitted two formidable players against each other. Lies, corruption, bribery, murder, there was nothing off the table in this deadly game for power. In the end, the winner would be the one who was willing to place all their chips on the table in a daring bet, risking everything.

“Just when you think you have it under control, you find that you don’t.”
When there is an assassination attempt on the President, Prime Minister Park Dong Ho becomes the acting president. Only problem is, he’s being investigated for bribery. Dong Ho plans to use the office to rid the government of corruption and exonerate his friend who was also framed for bribery and died. Deputy Prime Minister Jung Soo Jin is determined to bring down Dong Ho due to his investigations into the Daejin Group and its control of various judges, prosecutors, and politicians such as herself. The two play a relentless game of cat and mouse always trying to stay one step of the other, never worrying about getting their hands dirty…or bloody.

“At your age, courage can be dangerous”
Just like a twister churning up everything in its path, Dong Ho and Soo Jin were willing to destroy anything and anyone in their way. Dong Ho’s powerful mesocyclone was fueled by his burning desire for justice. Soo Jin’s corrupt cloud of energy came from the need for power and influence. Dong Ho found that in order to achieve his goals, he would have to borrow the playbook of his enemies all while trying to not become what he hated. Soo Jin and the comatose president both started out fighting the dictatorship in the past but had transformed into the very things they’d fought. Political alliances changed rapidly and both manipulated the media. No one was safe with a crooked prosecutorial system and judges for hire.

“Only a greater lie beats a lie”
While The Whirlwind was intriguing it could also be exhausting. There was no room to catch a breath from the oppressive atmosphere. The whirlwind of plot twists turned and flipped in every episode. The characters’ emotions and relationships had little nuance. Everyone was taciturn and calculating with little to offer to those closest to them, even their children. Park Kyung Soo’s script never slowed down even when bouncing over enormous plot holes. Kim Hee Ae played the duplicitous Soo Jin well with one exception. I don’t know if she kept her mouth open to make it look as if she was feral and always baring her teeth or has a breathing problem but I found it distracting when she was onscreen. Sul Kyung Gu was given little emotional depth to explore and often wore the same expression from scene to scene. Kim Mi Sook as Dong Ho's Chief of Staff was the MVP for me as the person who knew who, how, and when to attack. Numerous veteran actors played unscrupulous politicians on both sides of the aisle.

“There’s only one cross”
An old saying goes, “A lie travels halfway around the world before the truth puts on its shoes. By the time the truth catches up, it’s too late.” Dong Ho quoted a variation of this and sadly it is all too true. Once a lie becomes embedded, especially a lie people want to hear, truth becomes overshadowed. Many of the things that occurred in this drama have correlations in real life around the world. A powerful corrupt leader manipulating his followers to overturn the government, manipulation of and by the media, judges taking bribes, and powerful corporations buying support for the changes they want enacted, happen all the time. In this drama, one man was willing to sacrifice everything to wipe the slate clean like a whirlwind. But how long before new players move into the void to once again purchase favors? How long before those longing for power and influence sell themselves to the highest bidder at the cost of justice? Despite its flaws, The Whirlwind was an infuriatingly compelling drama.

15 September 2024

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Completed
nobody
5 people found this review helpful
Jul 16, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

Finally a TV series with main character that does what is in everyone's mind

In the past we've had so many Korean and Chinese dramas where the main character is always outsmarted, lie to, betrayed, tortured, and they are unable to fight back with dirty tactics. The reason being the main character is supposed to be morally rights and uncorrupted and sticks to principles.

I'm happy to see a drama that finally lets us all experience satisfaction of fighting criminals the way they're meant to be fought, no holds barred.

This is such a refreshing approach and I love the story and mind games and strategies. This show is not for the village idiots who want the heroes to win because they have a heart of gold and stick to their principles and Good Triumph over Evil.

No. This is about you get what you are willing to fight for. The game of power don't give a crap about feelings, pity, principles, friendships. It is about gaining and leveraging advantages. Luck. And fight fight fight. Nothing comes free

It was non stop...

Great series.

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Completed
moon
6 people found this review helpful
Jun 28, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Such a good drama

I had been waiting for this drama ever since it was announced and when I finally watched it today, I can tell you it did not disappoint. It was so good that as soon as I came home from work, I watched it beginning to end all in one sitting. Thanks to its relatively short watch time, it does not bore you, it instead leaves you yearning for more. The cast and their acting is phenomenal in this drama. When you watch this drama, it makes you feel split on whether a particular person is actually rotten or not. My only discrepancy was that I wished it has been longer and made the sufferings even more fleshed out. But that's just my nitpick, the ending is satisfying as hell. Such a well crafted drama, and it looks so good as well. Beautiful just beautiful.

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Completed
Ramnyli
3 people found this review helpful
Sep 20, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

It is mind-blowing drama with a well-written script

My mind was left stunned as I watched the intense power struggle between Dong Ho and Soo Ji. It was incredible. When you think that there is no way Dong Ho will get through it, he finds another way.
I could not stop watching as I was drawn to the story from the first episode.

The acting is superb, and the main leads did a great job. The drama is fast-paced, so you do not get bored even though it is about politics. It is a written masterpiece that will captivate you with its unexpected twists and turns.
The ending emphasizes the limitations of relying solely on truth in achieving victory.

After watching it, you realize...oh no, it is not fiction; this is the real world we live in, as corruption is everywhere, and justice is just a word because if you have money,
you have power, and if you have power, you are untouchable.

I am not even surprised that the rating is so low, as most non-rocom or non-famous handsome actors have ratings below or slightly above 8.

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Completed
Slay_rylle
2 people found this review helpful
Jul 16, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

PLOT AFTER TWIST ! Y’ALL DON’T SLEEP ON THIS !

I was already tuned even before its release because it’s been months since the last series Netflix released that wasn’t romance (except the disappointment that was hierarchy) and I’m so glad this series kept its promises.

It was a pure political dramas, as I like them, full of plotwsists, no ´black or white ´ characters. Each of them had their bad sides when it comes to politics.

The episodes went by so fast I didn’t even realize. The cast and the acting were on fire. I already knew many of the actors in the cast since they are like ´veterans ´ in the industry but they didn’t fail to impress me once again by their performance! The intro and the OSTs were on point !

Even if I hated dong ho (he was being too pretentious to me, killing the president for his own sake and utopian aspirations when he eventually quickly fell into the same thing he was reproaching to him). Also he kept repeating the same thing ´I wanna change the world ´ which gave me shonen vibes but he was being too repetitive it quickly became annoying af !

Even if I didn’t love this character for this side of him he was a political genius if I’m being fr and it made the show entertaining ! His friendship with jang seok was so wholesome, they went through thick and thin together and he was the one always putting him back on the right way !

The ´old ´ secretary and the young assistant were also good characters.

The FL is so powerful and written truthfully to women of power and I love the writers for that.

The end is so delightful because we realize even if he committed suicide, he actually left having a plan. He ended up looking like the ´good ´ one, the president that was accused for nothing.

Also rip Han min ho, he was there for short but he was nonetheless a good character. May he rest in peace ! 😔

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Completed
Anthojay
2 people found this review helpful
Jul 1, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

The best modern political kdrama ever made

The whole production value is just too mindblowing, the depth of the storyline is incredibly insane and the level of scale is unimaginable, it's leaving you speechless over and over again literally after every plot twist. This will go down as the best modern political kdrama ever made in history and it's soaring past others by a very huge leap, almost monumental for any kdrama scene. The screenplay has extremely precise execution of political strategies and intelligence battles, every single threat design is carefully handled based on logical consideration that fits seamlessly into multiple environmental factors and connections, like a perfect art of war. Acting performances are needless to say, they're best in class and definitely the strongest hold of this drama, it's like watching real politicians strive against each other in reality, a total reflection of modern politics in today's world.

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MissHaps
3 people found this review helpful
Jul 4, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Watched the first 10 episodes in one sitting kind of good.

I’m usually fickle with the dramas I watch, just because I'm tired of the rom-com fatigue, but boy, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I watched the first 10 episodes in one sitting and finished the rest in two days. It’s just so hard to stop because every episode is quite like crack. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger, it left me wanting more (especially since I was meant to stop with episode 5). At some point, I wondered, ‘Why the title “Whirlwind”?’ and the answer came in the next episode.
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Completed
Pen9uin
2 people found this review helpful
Jul 17, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

The Whirlwind - When the truth doesn't win over a lie, a bigger lie wins!

If you intend to binge all 12 episodes at once, I think we should stop a bit, because 4 episodes per movie is enough for one day. The film takes place at a very fast pace; The moves, political tricks, and calculations of the two forces will make you temporarily turn off the screen and take a sip of water and breathe to continue returning to the movie.

The Whirlwind builds on a familiar premise in films pursuing typical political themes: depicting the disastrous struggle in the corridors of power in Korea - a place covered by the shadow of corruption. There, the trio of Prime Minister Park Dong Ho, Deputy Prime Minister Jeong Su Jin and President Jang Il Jun were each other's reliable allies in the progressive political camp. However, when Su Jin and Il Jun became entangled in corruption scandals one after another, Dong Ho realized that the ideal of a fair society was gradually crumbling and tried to make a radical change by cutting off his roots. Bureaucratic roots in government are none other than the existence of the President. It is worth mentioning that the methods of enforcing justice and protecting themselves of all three are very cruel, cunning and sometimes morally ambiguous, blurring the lines between good and evil, justice and injustice. labour.

With anti-heroes and villains as the center, The Whirlwind shows the dark side of politics, where there will always be the presence of wolves in sheep's clothing and monsters in hero's clothing. The use of a group of characters who have figuratively become “monsters” due to their beliefs and basic human desires turns the film into a battle in which evil clashes with evil and lust. Confronting desire helps The Whirlwind escape the familiar characteristic of the conflict between good and evil.

Summary:
Advantage:
A movie with a solid script full of unexpected details that keeps viewers in suspense until the final episode.
The film's cinematic quality is evident from the poster, with artfully arranged images and close-up shots that deeply capture the emotions of the characters. Iconic political contexts such as the Blue House, the National Assembly or the National Funeral... are presented solemnly and majestically, enhancing the vivid quality of the film.
An excellent performance by Korean actors and actresses.

Defect:
As time goes on, viewers feel like the same situation is being repeated over and over again, even though the content is clearly different. The struggle taking place between Dong Ho and Su Jin is still the central theme, occasionally bringing surprises but in a few details, but the audience can still guess what happens next. Compared to the whole, although it gradually weakened in the following episodes, the movie still had a spectacular undoing in the final episode.
And the character assistant to Su Jin, who is famous as an assistant to the deputy prime minister, but why did he get scammed 3 times in a row? I was also tricked by the same trick, a bit confusing.

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