Tempest (2025)

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Tempest drama is just another typical spy espionage thriller drama, boasting top stars, strong production crew and reputed director, screenwriter with big elements America, South Korea, North Korea, Mercenaries, International-Spies, Secret Agents everything looks solid right but it only on the story board and ultimately feels like a half-baked cake.

As a big fan of spy espionage thrillers; I had some good expectations for this drama, especially from one of my favourite director KIM HEE-WON but the execution fell down. While the story feels fresh compared to previous spy thrillers, the plot is poorly developed.

This really drama’s biggest drawback is instead of leaning into the genre’s elements – conspiracies, betrayals and psychological mind games it turns into chaebol-family conflicts in midway, slowing the pace and weaking the narrative drive.

Good in
• Initial episodes.
• Production design.
• Acting.

Major disappointments
• Underdeveloped plot.
• Midway focus heavily on family conflict rather than espionage.
• Forced romantic subplot.
• Lost momentum in maintaining real suspense and tension.

Technical aspects 6/10
Bad editing, the editing feels sloppy in some episodes. Scenes cut and jump too quickly, breaking the actual flow of the story narration and making it hard to connect to the scenario. Soundtrack and background score feels off but in early episodes it was on the track. Average Cinematography.

ACTING 7/10
One word- Underutilized talent of acting power houses JUN JI HYUN & KANG DONG WON, I loved acting and they portrayed roles perfectly but unfortunately the script doesn’t give their characters enough depth or opportunity to showcase their full range. Their characters becoming average in this context is a sign that writing failed to maximize their potential. Same goes to supporting actors they also given good performance according to roles.

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A masterpiece in kdrama falling period

It's a solid 10/10 just for performance, director and acting and don't let me start with the best action sequences ever in any kdrama.
The music is so good too, I have been listening to it on repeat.
The chemistry btw two leads are mature and FIRE.
QUALITY is so so so important but like always kdrama fans nagging about anything related to good quality drama bcz they used to garbage and seems don't want it to change.
Anyway
This is the best kdrama I have ever seen with just episode 1, amazing, each episode is like a great movie not some low budget childish immature kdrama we have these years especially high ratings are all jokes, anyway I will rewatching it many times I'm sure 😁
I will stay away from kdrama till another good quality and directions and performance like this one come which will be so hard/impossible to find soon.

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