TEMPEST (2025) A THRILLER KILLED BY AN UNNECESSARY ROMANCE
Rating: 8.5/10 can be a good 8.0 but here is why
I think the last half redeemed the disappointment of the middle part. It is short, heavy on geopolitics of espionage, unification,the usual suspects and everything in-between. The screen writer trying to mix facts and fiction is where he lost the story..I believe Koreans understood it better than outsiders because it touches their reality.
The female lead did well, she is very experienced, it's just that her character was never developed. The cast is packed with familiar faces, seasoned actors, who were very much underutilized. I do have a thing or two to pick with the male lead, he comes from a long background of action films and thrillers, so watching him try romance and a soft face was honestly the cringiest thing ever, his face just did not cooperate. Whoever thought adding a romance sub-plot was a good idea, should stop thinking altogether.
Overall it is okay, I had just come back from a two and a half month drama break so my expectations were probably too high, and I was not very thrilled.
I would give it an 8.5/10, though it is an easy 8.0, but that villainess woman, was the worst I have ever seen in a Korean drama, she really takes the cup. And thank you casting Director for picking real American actors, not just people who speak English.
For Future viewers,Just for fun,I made this list of all the swoon worth and moments between the Leads.I have watched 300+ asian dramas and they are in top 5 in terms of chemistry.If you enjoyed the chemistry as I did,Just for fun,I made this list of all the romantic timeline of the Leads's mad chemistry moments
ZHOU FANG & SONG LIN | Love Designer Moments
Ep 18 | 10:28"Tension Served Sharp"Where arguments cut deeper than knives, but the sparks are undeniable.
Ep 21 | 24:26"Post-Press Passion"Business dealt. Feelings pending. Emotions bubble after the storm.
Ep 23 | 33:33"When Past Wounds Resurface"Chaos meets calm—Song Lin protects, Zhou Fang holds ground.
Ep 25 | 11:59 – 17:20"Crash Into You"An accident rewrites their emotional playbook.
Ep 26 | 18:27"Office Dine & Kiss Replay"When dinner turns into a memory your replay button can’t survive.
Ep 26 | 30:05"Whispers After Hours"A mature love language only the two of them speak.
Ep 27 | 14:50"Exhaustion & Ease"End of day, but beginning of heart.
Ep 27 | 29:27"Above All—Us"Shanghai Tower view, but all they see is each other.
Ep 28 | 31:10 – 34:18"Acting? Never Heard of Her"Too real, too raw, too them.
Ep 29 | 32:49"Kiss of Defiance"A top-tier kiss fueled by love, defiance, and a bit of danger.
Ep 31 | 16:30"Hospital Playlist: Song Edition"Vulnerable hearts on a sterile stage.
Ep 31 | 26:11"Radio Zhou Fang: Tune Into Love"Late-night conversations. Frequencies aligned.
Ep 32 | 14:52"Just One Hour Apart"Separation anxiety: the romantic kind.
Ep 34 | 28:42"Sweet Like Cheese"A scene that melts like mozzarella on a flame.
Ep 34 | 30:00 – 39:18"Ride or Propose?"The line between commitment and confession gets blurry.
Ep 35 | 37:11"Fighting With Finesse"Where love is mature enough to argue... and stay.
Ep 37 | 26:29 – 30:30"Yaya & Song Lin: Gentle Giants"A soft scene that could hug your soul.
Ep 38 | 10:45"Where's the Gift, Milan?"Comic relief meets couple tease. Iconic.
Ep 39 | 22:55"Pour Decisions & Honest Hearts"A glass of wine, a splash of truth.
Ep 44 | 14:00"Under Shanghai Lights 💍"A cityscape moment worthy of vows and velvet boxes.
Ep 45 | 25:28"Harley Ever After"From motorcycle mayhem to marriage march.
Ep 45 | 39:00"Sunset Riders & Baby on Board 🍼"Their journey ends with a third heartbeat.
I only watch the timelines by the way..And a bit if the business parts but the rest were infuriating. Remember this was tye era where 40+ episodes were allowed and there had no business being that long
I don't know in which way except the 2 couple who tooo half of the screen time but I love Johnny and Dilraba combo that I made a whole timeline of their moments, I watch this drama every year since 2020..I can share if you want
"My Fated Boy" baby had grown into a bad boy..love this for him, can't wait to binge it..I will just Ignore the other stuff I don't want to mention..Let me enjoy Christmas in peace 😂
He is allergic to romance? Really? If true, then I understand now why I like him so much. I can’t stand this…
I was today's year old when I learned that he did a BL now I will never unsee it 😂 BL is a big No for me. I watched Tomorrow with you awhile back and I don't remember how the kiss scenes were but he had a really good friendship with the 2nd ML
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A THRILLER KILLED BY AN UNNECESSARY ROMANCE
Rating: 8.5/10 can be a good 8.0 but here is why
I think the last half redeemed the disappointment of the middle part. It is short, heavy on geopolitics of espionage, unification,the usual suspects and everything in-between. The screen writer trying to mix facts and fiction is where he lost the story..I believe Koreans understood it better than outsiders because it touches their reality.
The female lead did well, she is very experienced, it's just that her character was never developed. The cast is packed with familiar faces, seasoned actors, who were very much underutilized.
I do have a thing or two to pick with the male lead, he comes from a long background of action films and thrillers, so watching him try romance and a soft face was honestly the cringiest thing ever, his face just did not cooperate. Whoever thought adding a romance sub-plot was a good idea, should stop thinking altogether.
Overall it is okay, I had just come back from a two and a half month drama break so my expectations were probably too high, and I was not very thrilled.
I would give it an 8.5/10, though it is an easy 8.0, but that villainess woman, was the worst I have ever seen in a Korean drama, she really takes the cup. And thank you casting Director for picking real American actors, not just people who speak English.
ZHOU FANG & SONG LIN | Love Designer Moments
Ep 18 | 10:28"Tension Served Sharp"Where arguments cut deeper than knives, but the sparks are undeniable.
Ep 21 | 24:26"Post-Press Passion"Business dealt. Feelings pending. Emotions bubble after the storm.
Ep 23 | 33:33"When Past Wounds Resurface"Chaos meets calm—Song Lin protects, Zhou Fang holds ground.
Ep 25 | 11:59 – 17:20"Crash Into You"An accident rewrites their emotional playbook.
Ep 26 | 18:27"Office Dine & Kiss Replay"When dinner turns into a memory your replay button can’t survive.
Ep 26 | 30:05"Whispers After Hours"A mature love language only the two of them speak.
Ep 27 | 14:50"Exhaustion & Ease"End of day, but beginning of heart.
Ep 27 | 29:27"Above All—Us"Shanghai Tower view, but all they see is each other.
Ep 28 | 31:10 – 34:18"Acting? Never Heard of Her"Too real, too raw, too them.
Ep 29 | 32:49"Kiss of Defiance"A top-tier kiss fueled by love, defiance, and a bit of danger.
Ep 31 | 16:30"Hospital Playlist: Song Edition"Vulnerable hearts on a sterile stage.
Ep 31 | 26:11"Radio Zhou Fang: Tune Into Love"Late-night conversations. Frequencies aligned.
Ep 32 | 14:52"Just One Hour Apart"Separation anxiety: the romantic kind.
Ep 34 | 28:42"Sweet Like Cheese"A scene that melts like mozzarella on a flame.
Ep 34 | 30:00 – 39:18"Ride or Propose?"The line between commitment and confession gets blurry.
Ep 35 | 37:11"Fighting With Finesse"Where love is mature enough to argue... and stay.
Ep 37 | 26:29 – 30:30"Yaya & Song Lin: Gentle Giants"A soft scene that could hug your soul.
Ep 38 | 10:45"Where's the Gift, Milan?"Comic relief meets couple tease. Iconic.
Ep 39 | 22:55"Pour Decisions & Honest Hearts"A glass of wine, a splash of truth.
Ep 44 | 14:00"Under Shanghai Lights 💍"A cityscape moment worthy of vows and velvet boxes.
Ep 45 | 25:28"Harley Ever After"From motorcycle mayhem to marriage march.
Ep 45 | 39:00"Sunset Riders & Baby on Board 🍼"Their journey ends with a third heartbeat.
Remember this was tye era where 40+ episodes were allowed and there had no business being that long
You should see the other side of him in "The Art of Negotiations" crazy range
BL is a big No for me.
I watched Tomorrow with you awhile back and I don't remember how the kiss scenes were but he had a really good friendship with the 2nd ML