Tempted (also known as The Great Seducer) is a recently-aired Korean drama featuring girl group Red Velvet‘s Joy. The drama is based on the French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, which was adapted into an American film in 1999 featuring Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon, called Cruel Intentions.
The drama follows a trio of best friends, Se-joo, Shi-hyun, and Soo-ji, who are known for their clever and sly manner and immense wealth. Shi-hyun and Soo-ji make a bet to see if Shi-hyun, “The Great Seducer,” can make college student Tae-hee fall in love with him.
Tempted is a fascinating study of lies and relationships, and also the ways in which wealth manipulates and influences decisions.
Actor Woo Do-hwan is able to portray the duality of male lead Shi-hyun with simplicity and ease. In the first few episodes, his cool and cold demeanor takes center stage. However, as the series progresses, his sweet and innocent nature is exposed. Woo’s acting is believable and convincing, and his intense gaze is the perfect backdrop for his conniving character.
Moon Ga-young plays Soo-ji, the leader of the pack who often initiates new ‘projects’ for the trio. The actress is a pretty ideal match for her character; her condescending tone of voice can quickly switch to sweet and accommodating. She’s an ideal actress for the kind of role that provides the foundation for the ties between other characters.
To round out the trio is Kim Min-jae as Se-joo. Se-joo is the comedic relief and most simple-minded of the three, living to have a good time and dedicated completely to the wellness of his two best friends. This is what makes the unfairness in his life the saddest, because you can genuinely feel that he means well for those around him.
Because of her pre-existing popularity and newness to acting, some viewers have criticized Joy’s acting as girl-next-door Tae Hee. However, she brings a fresh sweetness and subtle strength to her role as Tae-hee, a hardworking, independent female. Tae-hee isn’t your typical Kdrama trope. She speaks her mind, changes her own light bulbs, and disapproves of cringe-worthy romance.
Perhaps the least interesting storyline of the drama is the issues between the parents of the lead characters. Viewers often comment on how irrational and wrong their decisions are, and how their children are replicas of their parents.
Despite low ratings in Korea, the show has a promising premise that keeps the audience interested and carries the wave of the episodes. The drama has 32 episodes, and the final episode aired on May 1st. If you’re interested in a modern story about the complexities of love and money, check out Tempted! It might just be your next binge-worthy Kdrama.
This article is written by our blogger, Lauren Jiang.
