Tae-pung-sang-sa

I have been waiting for Lee Jun-ho to accept a role as challenging as Lee Kang-doo (Rain or Shine) or Yi San (The Red Sleeve) and I think this might be it. Kang Tae-poong is equally believable as the carefree party goer or the serious business worker. Lee Jun-Ho captivates the viewer, I believe, with his genuine connections and reactions, his vulnerability, charisma, his technical ability and true understanding of the human condition. Kim Min-Ha has brought the magical quality and emotional depth I saw in her role as Sunja in Pachinko to this drama. Am also loving the fun and engaging character played by Kim Min-seok!

Update: unfortunately I have to lower the rating, as the story became too repetitive, different challenge, same procedure. The play with the opposites turned into boring stereotypes. Thus, the originality and freshness of the show got lost, which is very unfortunate.

Let's see if the show can regain territory before it ends...

Up till ep 6 absolutely great!

Junho carries the show and it's a real pleasure to see him again ;) Junho apart, this story stands out with clarity and warmth, exploring the effects of IMF crisis on personal and social levels. Junho transiting from happily floating freedom party life to shouldering the legacy and business of his father is nothing but excellent. On his side he has the ernest, marvellous, grounded and sincere Minha contrasting and helping him enter his new role as CEO, she as well with terrific acting. Sincere, not too sweet, not too stiff.

The setting of the late 90s is precise, the dialogues convincing, the metaphors satisfying.

There are plenty of difficulties and debts to overcome and secrets to be uncovered.

After such a great start, I really hope the series is able to manage well the possible pitfalls, like overstraining difficulties, balancing romance and the original scope, avoiding clichés.

If it's able to maintain it's momentum, it's questioning, it's emotional depth it's going to be one of 2025's best productions, if not the best.

So you may be asking yourself, "if they love it how come only a six?" So here's the thing, without giving away any spoilers, every one to two episode/s is the same. Obviously the micro details change but the development of each episode pretty much follows every episode previous.

It would be great, if they haven't finished filming, if there was more character development, and longer storylines.

I'll still keep watching, but I'm already starting to fast forward through the parts that are so boring because I know exactly what's going to happen.

Typhoon Family stands out to me as it weaves real moments of Korean history - e.g. 1997 IMF crisis - into a deeply personal, emotional story. It doesn't just retell the past; it helps you feel what ordinary people felt then - their struggles, hopes, and determination to rebuild.

Through heartfelt characters, subtle humor, and cinematic storytelling, the drama turns history into something relatable, educational, and genuinely moving. You learn about Korea's resilience not through textbooks, but through these precious characters - their families, friendships, and dreams.

It's rare to find a drama that teaches, touches, and entertains all at once - Typhoon Family achieves it beautifully.

This drama is everything k drama is good at. The traditional 16 hour format, beautiful storytelling and character development with well researched sets. The characters are all great actors, but LeeJunho is a true stand out. Already a Baeksang winning actor for The Red Sleeves, and well known for Guwon in King The Land, his portrayal of Kang TaePoong may surpass them all. His subtle facial expressions and gazes take the audience with him on Taepoong's journey of highs and lows. Kim Minha plays her part so naturally, and the whole cast blends is excellent.

For Koreans, there are many very small details that are all accurate. For example, clocks on the wall, messages on shoes, Korean bred roses, bank books ... to name a few. For the rest of us, it is a unique time in history to learn about.

I haven't watched a k drama like this for a long time. It's truly a masterpiece.