Jun Ji Hyun, also known as Gianna Jun, is back on the small screen after four years with 21.6-million-dollar series, Tempest.
Disney+ has finally released the star-studded series Tempest episode 1 on September 10. The premiere kicked off with three episodes available simultaneously.
The 9-episode espionage thriller follows the journey of Seo Munju (Jun Ji Hyun), a former United Nations (UN) Ambassador, who became a widow after her husband and South Korean presidential candidate, Jang Junik (Park Hae Joon), was assassinated.
The murderer held Munju at gunpoint, but a mysterious man, Paik Sanho (Gang Dong Won), unexpectedly saved her life. This moment marked the beginning of their story. With Sanho behind Munju, she slowly uncovers the truth behind her late husband’s assassination.
Munju attends a mass for South Korea and North Korea’s reunification with her husband in Tempest episode 1
The series is set against the backdrop of inter-Korean relations as well as South Korea’s political ties with the United States. The first episode opens with Munju’s narration about a dream she had where she was a man. Shortly after, it was revealed that the man in the dream is Munju’s husband, Junik.
They attend a mass for South Korea and North Korea’s reunification. Junik asked Munju to tell South Korea President Chae Kyungsin (Kim Hae Sook) to meet with him after the mass to discuss something. Unfortunately, Junik was shot by a soldier before he and Munju could meet to discuss the matter.
Munju proves to be a woman with quiet strength as she holds her ground against her in-laws in Tempest episode 1
Junik was rushed to the hospital. However, it was too late, and he passed away due to excessive blood loss. The next scene shows a tense dinner with three women, Munju, her mother-in-law, and grandmother-in-law, as well as Junik’s brother, Junsang (Oh Jung Se).
Junsang announces that he will take Junik’s place and run for the presidency. Okseon (Kim Mi Sook), Munju’s mother-in-law, disagreed and argued that Munju will make a better candidate.
The dinner was interrupted by Junik’s representative to discuss the division of assets that he left. To the family’s horror, Junik left his entire estate to Munju, who they strongly disapproved of. Munju holds her ground even after the insults they throw at her and calmly puts the family in their place.
Sanho is offered a job by an unknown client to protect Munju in Tempest episode 1
Their lives get entangled after Sanho saves Munju from the military soldier who shot her late husband. This time, an unknown client seeks him out to work as Munju’s bodyguard. Sanho spends some time observing Munju and is undeniably drawn to her.
From his observation, Sanho concludes that Munju is strong and can handle herself, therefore he does not see the need to get involved.
Sanho and Munju meet again
Munju visits the church where her husband was shot and meets Sanho on the way back. He returns the cross necklace that Junik gifted Munju earlier in the episode, but notices Munju was being followed so he asks her to talk somewhere else. We see more of Sanho’s fighting skills as he, once again, protects Munju from those men following her. They climb to the mountaintop and talk about the day of the murder.
During her conversation with Sanho, Munju learns that there is more to her husband’s death than meets the eye. The episode conludes with Munju seeing that her brother-in-law possibly had something to do with her husband’s death.
What to expect in the next episodes of Tempest
The first three episodes of Tempest have been released and are now streaming on both Hulu and Disney+. The title shows “Season 1,” which will run until October 1, 2025. It is highly likely that there will be more to see after the nine episodes have been released.
In the meantime, viewers can standby every Wednesday for the next episodes.
Source: What’s on Disney Plus, Collider, USA Today
