Netflix continues to expand its repertoire of K-dramas, and this political thriller is a commendable addition to the list. The series, aptly named “The Whirlwind,” revolves around a man seeking to avenge his friend, a victim of corruption who was driven to end his life. Park Dong-Ho, both a prosecutor and a loyal friend, rose through the government ranks to become the Prime Minister of South Korea. He then attempts to assassinate the president.
A high-stakes political chess game unfolds as he locks horns with Deputy Prime Minister Jung Su-Jin. They delve into each other’s pasts, uncover secrets, forge alliances, and attempt to entangle each other in legal battles. This intricate setting leads to incredible plot twists that the show exploits relentlessly.
Plot Summary
The series begins with Park Dong-Ho assassinating President Jeong Il-Jun to become acting president. He aims to clean up the corruption within the government before being brought to justice himself. Park Dong-Ho faces competition from Jung Su-Jin, the Deputy Prime Minister. She gathers evidence to prove Park Dong-Ho is guilty of murdering the president, but her allies choose to help him as he has a lot of dirt on them. In desperation to gain an advantage, she completes the assassination of the president while he is in critical condition.
With only a month left before the opposition demands a new election, Jung Su-Jin prepares to run for president herself. Park Dong-Ho also steps down from acting president and begins to campaign. This happens to be Jung Su-Jin’s strong point, and she wins the voters’ sympathy using Jeong Il-Jun’s family’s support. However, Park Dong-Ho wins the Korean Liberal Party elections by borrowing votes from rivals. He then goes on to win the general elections against Jo Sang Cheon by defaming him in the public eye.
After winning the elections, Park Dong-Ho offers Jung Su-Jin the position of Prime Minister. The feud doesn’t stop there. Jung Su-Jin tries to resurface allegations of the former president’s murder. Park Dong-Ho dodges the allegations by leveraging his allies. Later, he confesses to his actions, aiming to become a whirlwind to take down corrupt people and fulfill his friend’s dream of a government free from corruption.
The Whirlwind: Plot Analysis
The series encapsulates a number of intense political rivalries happening across the landscape of the Korean Government in a brutal play of power. So before jumping into the show, make sure you have a decent understanding of the political and legal system of the government.
Park Dong-Ho serves as the protagonist of the series, and initially, he’s an extreme altruist when it comes to the legal system. He, however, pivots when he realizes that the truth cannot beat a lie, and only a bigger lie can beat it. This idea holds significant value in this series and adds depth to the storyline because eventually, Park Dong-Ho has to leave behind his morality to ensure justice prevails. It also makes for an amazing transition in Park Dong-Ho’s tenure during the series and sets up the plot for some wild twists and turns.
A user on Mydramalist astutely commented, “So many twists, it becomes a whirlwind.” What’s even better is the symbolism in the name. This is especially true because “The Whirlwind” is a man who rises to the top just to clean up the corrupt and bring them down with him.
This series portrays some amazingly crafted grey characters, amassing many incidents with high moral ambiguity. One of the most prominent tactics is displaying sincere characters getting trashed into changing their ways by their circumstances. A good example of this is Park Dong-Ho’s friend Lee Jang-Seok. A thoroughly sincere character who goes through an astounding transformation from first expressing his disappointment in Park Dong-Ho to investigating him and then making moves to help Park Dong-Ho’s plans.
The Whirlwind: Cast Performance
The actors did an amazing job fitting into the roles. Sol Kyung-Gu fit perfectly into Park Dong-Ho’s rigid frame while still displaying passion and concern. It’s rare for actors to fit in so perfectly to play a realistic government which makes it even more awe-striking.
Kim Hee-Ae optimizes herself in portraying Jeong Su-Jin’s cunning character. The look of devastation on Jeong Su-Jin’s face every time her plans came crashing down is a sight to see. The directors deserve props for executing this masterpiece brilliantly. Almost every character on the show has done a phenomenal job settling into their roles.
Negatives Of “The Whirlwind”
If there is any flaw, the series stretches a little too long, causing boredom to set in for a few episodes in between. Every duel between Jeong Su-Jin and Park Dong-Ho ends up with Park Dong-Ho striking back twice as hard, leaving Jeong Su-Jin in a state of devastation. And while that’s a view to catch, it does get repetitive at some point. That said, that’s also because, most of the time, we see Jeong Su-Jin on the ropes getting demolished and then coming back up with a restored zeal.
Overall, “The Whirlwind” brilliantly executes a political thriller, delivering plot twists and characters that keep you on the edge of your seat. The show is gripping because it shows power struggles and moral ambiguity, and the actors do a great job with it. The intense action and interesting story make this show a must-see, even though there are times when the show can get quite repetitive. Yet again, Netflix has added a K-drama to its library that is thrilling and thought-provoking.
