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Overhyped and underwhelming
The premise had so much potential—which makes the end result even more disappointing.Unfortunately, the execution falls flat. I have to say, I think this drama is overrated. It was highly predictable from early on, and something crucial just felt missing throughout. There was no excitement pushing me to the next episode, no real thrill while watching. It simply felt... boring.
For a drama with such high ratings, I expected so much more. I forced myself to episode 5, but with 20 episodes total, I'd rather invest my time elsewhere.
It's a shame. I was genuinely looking forward to this one.
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Satisfying revenge and bittersweet love
I actually enjoyed Part 2 much more than Part 1.I absolutely loved Li Jen and Chiang dating era—it was so sweet to finally see them spend quality time together, just being happy. After everything they went through, those moments felt earned.
The murders were portrayed in a very detailed way, and honestly? I get it. It made watching them get their revenge that much more satisfying. The plot twist was great and executed really well—it caught me off guard in the best way.
Tseng Ching Hua's acting is just phenomenal. I truly think he carried the entire drama. That smile of his, with pain still lingering in his eyes? Iconic. He conveyed so much with just a look.
That said, I didn't really connect with Chia Yen's portrayal. Visually, she looked too old for the role, and to be honest, her acting wasn't the strongest. It stood out, especially next to Tseng.
It was so satisfying to see everyone finally get what they deserved. But it was also bittersweet—because we know what will follow. The happiness doesn't erase the past.
For me, the real villain was always his mother. It all started with her. If she had made different choices, his entire future could have been different. That's the tragedy at the heart of this story.
At least, in the end, they got their happy ending. They're finally together.
Overall, it was a good watch. And it will stay memorable—mostly because of Tseng Ching Hua.
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it could be a great drama until it lost me towards the end
What an emotional rollercoaster. From the very first episode, I was completely drawn in. The first four or five episodes hit me so hard—I was crying like a baby. I especially loved the childhood and high school era. Back then, Eun Jung and Sang Yeon's relationship felt so pure. I also loved her time with her boyfriend—it was such a joy to watch because they were perfect together.But as the story unfolded, I couldn't ignore how terrible of a friend Sang Yeon really was. Because of her, Eun Jung lost everything she ever loved. Eun Jung herself is such a kind soul—poor, gentle, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. That's what made it so frustrating to watch her constantly let Sang Yeon back into her life, while someone like Sang Hak never got a second chance. Honestly, if that last encounter with Sang Yeon hadn't happened right before she was supposed to meet him, I think Eun Jung would have said yes.
Their relationship was undeniably toxic. Sang Yeon consistently took advantage of Eun Jung's kindness and manipulated her emotionally. I could go on and on about it.
Performance-wise, this drama shines. Go Eun, as always, was absolutely incredible. The acting across the board elevated the material.
Unfortunately, the story lost its way toward the end. What started as deeply emotional became more frustrating than enjoyable. I was especially upset with Eun Jung's decision in the final episode. Sang Yeon finally got her karma—or did she? In some ways, I feel like she still ended up getting what she wanted. Again. The last episode dragged so much that I ended up skipping scenes.
It's such a shame. This drama had the potential to be a perfect 10/10. If only the final episodes hadn't missed the mark.
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A Good Watch That Will Keep You Entertained
Don't let the first episode fool you! While the premiere was honestly terrible, I am so glad I carried on because I ended up completely hooked. Once the story gets moving, it becomes a thrilling ride.It was so satisfying to see how Han Yeong handles each case. Since he knows the future, he is always ten steps ahead of his enemies, and watching him dismantle corruption using that knowledge is the best part of the show. It gives the legal drama a refreshing "superhero" feel.
I loved the "Found Family" dynamic in this drama. Watching the reporter (Na-yeon), his loyal friend (Jeong-ho), and the team of prosecutors unite to fight injustice was wonderful. They became one solid unit, and their teamwork felt genuine and earned.
The villain, Shin Jin (played by Park Hee-soon), was fantastic. He was a formidable match for Han Yeong. My only wish is that the writers had explored the history and friendship between him and Han Yeong even more—it would have added so much emotional depth to their rivalry.
While I enjoyed this more than The Devil Judge, it felt like it lost its momentum in the last few episodes. To be honest, I think it would have been much better if the drama were shorter by a few episodes. By stretching it out, the high energy of the middle part fizzled out a bit toward the finale.
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Great drama for the first half than it turned into American nonsense!
I have to say, "Tempest" started out incredible. I was absolutely glued to my screen. The show was packed with great action and genuine suspense, and it had this energy that was super addictive.The best part, hands down, was seeing Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won together. Their chemistry was off the charts! They were brilliant in every scene, and they made the whole bodyguard/spy thing work so well. I especially appreciated the plot's initial approach to global politics. It felt smart because it touched on the truth: the USA always seems to find a reason to start wars in different countries so they can profit from them, just like they've done for decades. This angle made the story feel refreshing and insightful.
But then... what happened?
You could feel the writing getting weaker as they got closer to the end. The scripts started getting sloppy, and that final episode with the plot twist? Borderline ridiculous. It completely undid all the careful build-up from the first half.
Honestly, it just turned into one of those lame, generic American dramas that I can't even sit through anymore. It’s such a shame because the first half was so amazing. They had a massive hit on their hands, but the ending just ruined the whole ride. Such a major letdown.
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Exceptional acting but disappointing writing
A compelling premise and brilliant acting couldn't save this thriller from its own flaws. While the central idea was intriguing, the execution simply fell flat, resulting in a drama that was just 'good' instead of extraordinary.The emotional and psychological depth of the drama centered entirely on the fascinating development of the mother-son relationship. Watching Detective Cha Su-yeol confront and slowly process his bond with his killer mother, Jung I-shin, was the true highlight of the series.
This core dynamic was powerfully carried by the cast. Go Hyun-jung delivered an amazing, dominating performance as the serial killer, fully embodying the character's chilling complexity. I found myself unable to resist sympathizing with her actions, given she only targeted abusers in situations where the law was helpless. This moral ambiguity—a killer driven by a warped sense of vigilante justice—elevated the entire viewing experience. Jang Dong-yoon also excelled in his role, skillfully portraying his character's internal turmoil.
However, the writing was the biggest flaw. The police characters were frustratingly incompetent, and the female detective, in particular, was often annoying and poorly handled. On the plus side, the mystery itself was well-constructed; the writers successfully kept the killer's identity hidden, proving my guesses wrong. The twist in the final episode was a spectacular moment, leaving me speechless and redeeming some of the earlier missteps. The obvious open ending sets the stage for a potential second season.
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Great drama with shamanism essence but loosing its memento towards the end
I finally understand all the hype about this drama! I was completely hooked from the start, especially the first 10 episodes. Young Woo acting as both main characters was incredible, and he showed the same
impressive talent he did in Tale of lady Ok. I particularly loved watching his character Bae Gyeon mature and find redemption, shedding his guilt along the way. Another highlight was seeing Young Woo to
play the evil spirit. It was fascinating to watch him, and even though he was a villain, you couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for him.
I was completely invested in the dynamic of the main trio. Even with the love triangle, their chemistry was undeniable, and I found myself strongly rooting for Bae Gyeon. The plot was both captivating and unique, with the incorporation of shamanism providing a welcome andfresh twist on the romance genre.
However, the drama did lose some of its steam in the final episodes. The narrative didn't feel as tight or exciting as the beginning, and I was genuinely bothered by how the central villain was allowed to run
rampant without any consequences, which led to a rather unsatisfying resolution.
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Good criminal drama
It is a good crime drama that will keep your attention as the events slowly unfold. It has a good storyline, even if saying one word to the police would end the game. The acting is good, and they have good chemistry as well.It is a shame that it is not available on any streaming platforms, so I had to watch it in bad quality with terrible subtitles, and because of that, the experience was not so great.
Overall, it is a good thriller that will keep you seated.
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Heartwarming story of friendship.
I did not expect to like this drama so much. The drama is mostly focused on the young boys and their journey, which involves bagnington. It will make you care about them and laugh with them. It is such a heartwarming journey.I love the bond and the relationship they built and how they cared for each other.
Also, the villagers are funny, and their way of slowly becoming one big family is just awesome.
I love the acting and the production; even though it's 16 episodes long, I didn't get bored.
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nice to see our team back not as good as season 1
I loved to see our dream team back solving new cases from a new village. Joon Ho is a nice addition to the team, and I like his bond with Wook. But to be honest, I liked the first season better, as the village characters were better, and I really wasn't attached to the new villagers. The ending was a nice surprise, and I would love to see a new village with Siwan.Was this review helpful to you?
Great action drama with good storyline
Wow, what a nice surprise! I didn't expect it to be so good. I was captivated by the story from the first episode and I loved the Eui Gyeom and Yun Gi throup. I like how their relationship develops throughout the drama. The fighting is amazing, as is the storyline. The more we learn about Eui Gyeom's past, the more sympathy we feel for him and the more resentment we feel towards his family, especially his father.The first half of the drama was amazing; I liked the fighting scenes, and Eui's desire to fight made it so captivating.
If I compare it to *Study Group*, I would say this drama is better, as the fights feel real and the storyline is great. Don't get me wrong, I like *Study Group*, but it lacked deep emotions and a complex storyline.
I hope we get a season 2 so we can see more of our superheroes.
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Great drama- you will feel their emotions from the beginning and cry your eyes out
I love this drama as it made me feel emotion from the first episode. I like how they switch from the past to the present. It is a very emotional story about love, guilt, and friendship. From the beginning, you know it is a sad story, but you will still cry your eyes out. I love Seo Ji Hoon's acting. He was also great in *Begins Youth*. I wish to see him in more dramas.What will hit hard is the fact that it is very realistic and how people who are left behind are, or have to deal with, guilt. I like how we are getting slowly to know Ha Min and So Mang's relationship, even if it makes it more painful. Their interactions were my favorite part of the drama. It is sad to see how parents push their children to the limit and do not think about the consequences until it is too late.
This drama will stay with me for a long time.
This drama is similar to *Way Back Love*.
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Thiller with great atmosphere but badly written.
Good thriller with a good storyline. My favorite character was Detective Seong Jun. The female lead was quite annoying; toward the end, I could not stand her. The atmosphere is great, so it's a shame the drama is not quite there. To be honest, I did not expect the plot twist and was surprised, as usually, you can guess who the killer is. It's a nice watch, and it's only six episodes. If it were better written, it could have been a great thriller.Was this review helpful to you?
the drama felt like never ending....too long and it got boring, no real connection to characters
The first few episodes were great; I was very excited about the drama, and I loved the storyline. As time passed, I lost focus and was not drawn to the drama, and I did not care about the characters and I did not feel any connections. The episodes were especially long and started to drag, and I was getting bored. I think if they had taken a different direction, it would have been more interesting. The storyline was getting weaker, and each episode felt never-ending.The production is great, as is the acting. especially Jin Goo did an amazing job portraying both characters. I really tried to keep watching it but gave up at episode 9 as I did not have the will to watch the remaining 8 episodes.
To be honest, it cannot compare to *Red Sleeve*, which was amazing. It has the same length, but I was so invested in the story and felt for the characters. The same actress appears in both dramas, but she did not leave any impression on me in this one.
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Great character building and full of emotions
Great crime drama, with a slow pace and not much action. Instead, you get to know the characters and feel for them, rooting for them. I was on the edge of my seat as the suspense and atmosphere building were amazing. I love how they uncovered the truth bit by bit. The production and screenwriting are amazing. Also I like how they connected the past and present. The acting was great, especially Park Hoon, who did a great job portraying his character. I loved the friendship between Young Jin and Eun Ho, as well as the rest of their friends; they became like a family. The villains did an amazing job; I kind of felt sorry for them.Definitely recommend watching it if you are looking for a drama that concentrates on emotion instead of action.
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