Tempest That Forgets How to Storm
Plot & Writing Structure
I went into Tempest already cautious — mostly because it was directed by Kim Hee Won, whose previous dramas like Vincenzo and Queen of Tears I consider examples of wasted potential: huge, flashy beginnings that ultimately collapse under the weight of their own complications. Unfortunately, Tempest follows the same path.
The story starts out ambitious. The opening episodes offer political intrigue, espionage elements, and a setup that promises a grounded diplomatic thriller. There’s a strong cast and clearly a significant budget. But the writing never manages to hold the weight of its own ideas. Plot twists are predictable — I genuinely saw all of them coming — and the narrative keeps trying to surprise without actually building tension.
Still, the show earns a middling score because it attempts something bigger and occasionally succeeds, especially in its setup. The train sequence and bomb defusal remain the standout moment — smartly staged, tense, and dramatically effective. If the series had kept that level of clarity and focus, it could’ve been much stronger.
Score: 5/10
Pacing & Structure
This is where Tempest most clearly falls apart. The pacing is uneven to the point of feeling disjointed. After the first few episodes, the drama seems unsure of what genre it wants to be — political thriller? spy story? romance? Instead of accelerating toward a climax, the plot slows itself down with a misplaced romantic subplot and scenes that don’t contribute to the story’s urgency. For a 9-episode series, this kind of structural indecision is fatal. The finale rushes to tie everything together, but by then the narrative rhythm is long gone. The result is a drama that feels both too short for its ambitions and too drawn-out in execution.
Score: 3/10
Character Writing & Development
Characters in Tempest are a mixed bag. Some arcs begin with real potential, and a few motivations are solidly established. However, the writing often undermines the characters — especially the protagonist. She is introduced as a diplomat, yet her decisions rarely reflect training or experience. She is easily deceived by almost everyone around her, and her reactions often feel overly naïve for someone supposedly working in high-stakes international affairs. It’s not that the actress doesn’t try, the writing simply doesn’t support her role. Side characters receive more consistent treatment, and a few relationships have emotional weight, but the lack of growth or layered development keeps the score firmly average.
Score: 5/10
Cultural or Social Commentary
Tempest clearly wants to say something about geopolitical tension, national security, and Korea’s place in global diplomacy. It gestures at these themes, and a few lines hint at deeper ideas — about loyalty, political ethics, or bureaucratic pressure. However, most of that potential gets buried under melodrama. The drama simplifies diplomacy to personal betrayal and emotional outbursts, making the political world feel small and strangely unrealistic. It’s not completely devoid of commentary, but what exists is superficial and rarely followed through.
Score: 3/10
Entertainment Value
The entertainment value depends almost entirely on the viewer’s patience. The first two episodes are engaging, and the production quality remains consistently high. But the thrill of the initial setup gradually fades as the writing becomes more predictable, and the genre blending becomes awkward. Action scenes are cut too fast and lack weight, the musical accompaniment is generic to the point of distraction, and the shift into melodrama removes most of the urgency the story initially built. By the later episodes, watching becomes more of an obligation than an enjoyable ride. The only real relief comes at the end... when it’s finally over.
Score: 3/10
I went into Tempest already cautious — mostly because it was directed by Kim Hee Won, whose previous dramas like Vincenzo and Queen of Tears I consider examples of wasted potential: huge, flashy beginnings that ultimately collapse under the weight of their own complications. Unfortunately, Tempest follows the same path.
The story starts out ambitious. The opening episodes offer political intrigue, espionage elements, and a setup that promises a grounded diplomatic thriller. There’s a strong cast and clearly a significant budget. But the writing never manages to hold the weight of its own ideas. Plot twists are predictable — I genuinely saw all of them coming — and the narrative keeps trying to surprise without actually building tension.
Still, the show earns a middling score because it attempts something bigger and occasionally succeeds, especially in its setup. The train sequence and bomb defusal remain the standout moment — smartly staged, tense, and dramatically effective. If the series had kept that level of clarity and focus, it could’ve been much stronger.
Score: 5/10
Pacing & Structure
This is where Tempest most clearly falls apart. The pacing is uneven to the point of feeling disjointed. After the first few episodes, the drama seems unsure of what genre it wants to be — political thriller? spy story? romance? Instead of accelerating toward a climax, the plot slows itself down with a misplaced romantic subplot and scenes that don’t contribute to the story’s urgency. For a 9-episode series, this kind of structural indecision is fatal. The finale rushes to tie everything together, but by then the narrative rhythm is long gone. The result is a drama that feels both too short for its ambitions and too drawn-out in execution.
Score: 3/10
Character Writing & Development
Characters in Tempest are a mixed bag. Some arcs begin with real potential, and a few motivations are solidly established. However, the writing often undermines the characters — especially the protagonist. She is introduced as a diplomat, yet her decisions rarely reflect training or experience. She is easily deceived by almost everyone around her, and her reactions often feel overly naïve for someone supposedly working in high-stakes international affairs. It’s not that the actress doesn’t try, the writing simply doesn’t support her role. Side characters receive more consistent treatment, and a few relationships have emotional weight, but the lack of growth or layered development keeps the score firmly average.
Score: 5/10
Cultural or Social Commentary
Tempest clearly wants to say something about geopolitical tension, national security, and Korea’s place in global diplomacy. It gestures at these themes, and a few lines hint at deeper ideas — about loyalty, political ethics, or bureaucratic pressure. However, most of that potential gets buried under melodrama. The drama simplifies diplomacy to personal betrayal and emotional outbursts, making the political world feel small and strangely unrealistic. It’s not completely devoid of commentary, but what exists is superficial and rarely followed through.
Score: 3/10
Entertainment Value
The entertainment value depends almost entirely on the viewer’s patience. The first two episodes are engaging, and the production quality remains consistently high. But the thrill of the initial setup gradually fades as the writing becomes more predictable, and the genre blending becomes awkward. Action scenes are cut too fast and lack weight, the musical accompaniment is generic to the point of distraction, and the shift into melodrama removes most of the urgency the story initially built. By the later episodes, watching becomes more of an obligation than an enjoyable ride. The only real relief comes at the end... when it’s finally over.
Score: 3/10
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