Big disappointment
I am really disappointed with this kdrama. I didnt read the webnovel but I read the webtoon and it was much better than this. I hate the changes they made to the story and I especially hate how they changed some characters personalities (mainly the grandfathers). The beginning was quite good but the ending went completely downhill.So if you didnt read the webtoon, then I think you will enjoy this, but if you read it then stay away from this kdrama becouse it will only make you frustrated.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Solid romantic comedy to watch for relationship vibes
TLDR: Fun romcom with some good chemistry and hilarious moments. If you read the manhwa and liked it this is definitely worth giving a watchDisclaimer: average for me is a 5 so anything above that is pretty good to excellent and everything below that is pretty bad to horrendous. I am not into film making so I can name a total of 0 techniques that go into making a good TV show. I can only comment on how much I enjoyed certain aspects of a show relative to ones I've watched in the past
Overall: I did not think I would like this as much as I did. I read the manhwa and loved it so my expectations were already pretty high. I didn't pick it up initially because I saw the initial date scene in a trailer a few years ago and thought it was kinda cringe, but dang the characters grew on me. They serve as a solid backbone to an otherwise simplistic story that made me enjoy almost every moment of screen time.
Story: Nothing super special about the story. Pretty much your run of the mill CEO/employee contract relationship with misunderstandings thrown in. However, it does everything well with good pacing and very little excess fluff. It kept me interested all the way through despite already knowing what happens.
This is kind of a big thing but you do have to buy into the plot in order to enjoy the show otherwise you're just gonna be thinking wtf most of the time. Light spoilers but you just have to accept that the FL looks completely different to every other character in the show when she is in her Geum Hi persona (in the manhwa she had a pink wig so it made more sense). She just stops hiding her face at some point and it didn't make a difference so they kind of just gave up on the concept but its something I was willing to overlook.
I think it did suffer from the random breakup 2/3 slump thing that a lot of dramas have (right after the leads get together there is always some random BS that pops up that forces them to break up again even though they both know they like each other so we can get the dramatic climax 2 episodes before the show ends). It wasn't super bad in this show but it was still there for both couples and kind of nonsensical. For the main couple it was the classic parents don't approve/class thing and for the second couple it was the classic miscommunication so pretty standard cliches that I wish would go away. Some of the cuts are also funny/disjointed af depending on if you're a glass half full or glass half empty kinda person, slight spoiler but how does she end up in the car while running on the cross walk... I still cannot figure that out.
Characters/acting: Solid performances across the board. I liked the FL a lot more than I thought I would seeing some of her scenes out of context. She really grew on me and gave a charm to the role that made me like the drama more than the manhwa by the end. She could shift fluidly between the silly over the top drunk girl and heartwarming serious business girl all while still being the same character. The character was portrayed well and I liked the adaptation they chose to go with. The ML was good in the role and I was a huge fan of the character. Most CEOs in these kinds of dramas are objectively not good people but viewers can turn a blind eye because they're hot af and are given enough emotional/backstory scenes to stay invested. But I'm happy to say the ML here is actually a decent human being. He makes mistakes but apologizes and has a solid moral compass that he sticks to throughout the show. Their chemistry is really good and I loved their dynamic throughout the show even when they weren't a couple.
The second couple was probably my favorite relationship wise. They sort of serve as the proxy to give the audience some bf/gf screen time while the main couple is still working things out and I was all for it. Aside from their aforementioned random misunderstanding they were solid throughout the show and had fantastic chemistry. I loved the second FL both in her relationship and in her friendship with Ha Ri. Their back and forth was amazing to watch and the drunk scene is something to behold. The second ML was super charming and bounced off well with the other 3 main characters.
Side characters: All were pretty solid. Standout for me was drunk Ms. Kim. I low key wish they made her an alcoholic because for whatever reason that actress made every line hilarious when her character was wasted. I'm actually laughing just thinking about it lol. The rest of the development team was great. They all played their roles well as the comedic peanut gallery watching everything unfold alongside the viewers.
I'm sort of conflicted on Min Woo because he was way more ick than I remember him being in the manhwa and pretty much never gave off any impression of being a viable number 2 to the love triangle that may or may not have existed. He was just not a good person and I'm not sure if that's how it was in the manhwa or if they just wanted to take the character in that direction but I do wish the character was a little more likeable. (Nothing against the actor or anything as I'm sure the decision wasn't his and he did a good job of bringing the character to life seeing how much he turned me off, just wish he was given a more likeable character to channel his talent through)
The grandfather had a tough role to play as the over the top supportive yet stern father figure and I thought the actor did well. He was less comedic than in the manhwa but overall his character worked fine. I thought the mom was a little over the top at times but other than that not too much to say about the rest of the side characters.
Music: Not much to say, I watch at 1.5x speed mostly so can't really comment.
Rewatch: I can see myself revisiting this but wouldn't be at the top of the list. I will be rewatching drunk Ms. Kim tho lol
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
episodes 1-11 hella good then 12 biggest rollercoaster gmfu what am I watching LOOOOL pretty good overall for the second leads of young-seo and sung hoon but the whole ordeal with grandfather/tae-moo/ha-ri might be the most perplexing thing in the world and I'm sorry to say I don't fw it but go second leads! i swear the last 30 minutes were so confusing and what the hell was going on with young-seo and sung-hoon a year later?? have they just grown emotionally and financially? anything w the dad? AYO!?!?!? lot of plotholes but its ok the romance was top notch dig it asf Was this review helpful to you?
Fantastic drama.
This drama has all the cliche/tropes that you can think about. Even the story is like hundreds of other stories like this. But the way it was executed was brilliant. The scripwriters did a great job. Will have to see what else these scriptwriters come up with.The chemistry between ML and FL was spot on. The acting was super. No unnecessary love triangle or break-ups etc.
The ML loved the FL from the beginning and held out until the end.
IMO, it deserves the ratings and hope more people will watch it. I've recommended it to several friends and they also like it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
LOVE IT!!!
I cannot state how many times I have watched this. Great acting with both the main and supporting actors. I love how there was a consistent flow within this series. The soundtrack is A+. New's voice in Spring Breeze is simply heaven. The chemistry between the leads seems natural and earnest and not forced. I appreciate that it was 12 episodes. It was just right. The ending was a little 'cheesy'' and rushed. There were some real magical moments. When FL comes clean and how ML's face softens in the midst is so sweet. The hotel scene #1 (very cute), hotel scene #2 (very sexy). The first 'real' kiss - (special). These actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Kim Min-kyu, and Seol In-ah are definitely ones to watch. I truly loved this series. Must Watch!Was this review helpful to you?
awful, to my taste.
hatewatched through the end bc i already went through 6 episodes thinking it would somehow get better: it didnt.dont trust you will love this if you liked king the land!!!!! i mainly started bc it got rec for me after loving that show. its NOTHING like it besides the setting.
i will admit: it wasnt made for me, but i came in with the premise that it was just like what i liked about king the land, so i will rate it with that premise in mind.
if you like over the top comedy, way too dragged out scenes with boring and annoying sidecharacters you will love this, not my case.
also hated the main guys acting, nothing against him personally, but he was so stiff and it wasnt just a character thing, i could tell, especially bc i hate when stiff characters are portrayed like a failed attempt at being robot like. he didnt even succeed at seeming unhuman. just took me out of immersion MULTIPLE times.
anyways, this for sure is made for some people and i dont judge anyone who likes it. just giving a word of warning for ppl who might like me come into it expecting something else :)
Was this review helpful to you?
proof that clichés can spice up your life—if you know what you're doing.
2026 is apparently my year of walking down memory lane, and i have to say that it's incredibly rewarding to revisit a drama that still feels just as buzzy as i remember. 'business proposal' shall always be that girl.much like four years ago, when i used to look forward to mondays and tuesdays just to catch the newest episode, i found myself experiencing that same giddy, warm feeling every time i hovered over the play button. iam not even exaggerating when i say my face hurt from smiling before the episode had properly started; just the intro got me going. that has to be what comfort feels like, right??
what stands out the most is how effortlessly this drama proves that clichés are not the problem—bad execution is. because yes, you've seen these tropes before. probably multiple times. and yet here, nothing feels forced or embarrassing. instead it's all incredibly distinctive in the best way, like a romcom that understands exactly what it is and commits to it fully.
and then there's the characters.
our leading lady, shin ha-ri, isn't trying to be a strong, independent woman—she just is one. the female friendship between her and young-seo has an actual depth and narrative importance, which already puts this kdrama above half the genre. and the men? oh, the men. the best kind, actually—down bad, devoted, and just the right amount of endearingly pathetic. spectacular. give me fourteen of them immediately.
structure-wise, the series knows exactly what to do. conflicts and plot twists are resolved within an episode or two, never overstaying their welcome or dragging the pacing down. is the narrative in itself undeniably unrealistic? yes, but everything moves with such confidence that it's hard to hold that against it. could some details have been handled better? sure. and i do think the romance could've been more prominent, especially toward the final episodes. but don't you love it when we get a drama portraying such a healthy, functional relationship between a chaebol and an "ordinary" woman without it descending to toxic masculinity and a saviour complex?
exactly.
sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is put on a silly little romcom, embrace the cheesiness, and let it make you stupidly happy for a few hours.
Was this review helpful to you?
It’s Great Until You Decide to Rewatch It…
Loved this show when I first watched it (now I wonder how…)Rewatched it a couple of days ago and I just shouldn’t have. It has quickly shifted from a show I love to a show I used to love.
Why?
The romance/chemistry between the ML and FL is actually LACKING in many ways. They have no chemistry and a rewatch will show you that.
The second ML and FL were quite good BUT the romance could use more work as well.
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this after rewatching, but I’ll say it’s a show you should only watch ONCE!
Was this review helpful to you?
Cute Contract Show
BUSINESS PROPOSAL (2022) is a Korean romance drama. It is heart warming story about two unlikely characters who find love, but the friendships in this show were some of the sweetest kdrama portrayals, and although the family relationships often took back burner, the family dynamics were sweet as well.This show was a romantic drama, but is often very funny and laughable. Some of the side characters are very colorful and enjoyable, especially Ha-ri's bestie and coworkers.
While at times this series does have some controversial aspects with regards to female treatment by males, it's not something viewers won't expect or find too extreme either, though I did lower my rating a bit.
"In disguise as her friend, Ha-ri shows up to a blind date to scare him away. But plans go awry when he turns out to be her CEO - and makes a proposal."
Overall, this is a touching, heart-warming show that is also very short (only 12 episodes) compared to the usual 16-25. Definitely worth a watch for fans of romance and kdrama.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An Engaging Love and Ambition Story
"A Business Proposal" takes you on a captivating journey of love and ambition. The drama brings the characters to life in a perfect way, making their stories relatable and compelling. The chemistry between Tae-moo and Hari is especially engaging, with Tae-moo's heartfelt expressions of love melting hearts and making him incredibly charming.I loved how Hari helps Tae-moo heal from his past, showing the power of love in overcoming challenges. It's heartwarming to see their bond grow stronger and bring positivity into their lives.
The friendship between Young-seo and Hari is also touching. They're always there for each other, providing support and comfort through thick and thin.
As a fan of the original webtoon, I wished they included the honeymoon part in the drama, but even without it, the overall experience was satisfying and left me wanting more.
After "True Beauty," "A Business Proposal" has become my second most favorite drama. The adaptation of the webtoon, the lovely chemistry between the leads, and the exploration of love and ambition make it a captivating watch.
In conclusion, "A Business Proposal" is an engaging drama that beautifully blends love and ambition. The wonderful chemistry between the leads and the heartwarming friendships make it a must-watch. Whether you're a fan of the webtoon or simply looking for a captivating romance, "A Business Proposal" is definitely worth your time.
Was this review helpful to you?
a good intro into kdramas...
What a cute drama! Although I was dissatisfied with some of the chemistry, I did enjoy this when I was watching. Strangely enough this felt like twelve 30 minute episodes rather than twelve hour long episodes. I can't even confidently say that it this would've improved if it followed the sixteen episode format. I suppose it just feels like this because of the way it didn't flesh anything out besides the mains ? It doesn't feel like a well rounded story but I understand that its supposed to be a short series so it makes sense.
The soundtrack itself is so good?? I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. There's so many good songs in the soundtrack that I found myself liking over two thirds of the song choices, which is pretty rare for me.
I really do think this is the perfect drama for someone that is just getting into kdramas. Its lighthearted, adorable editing, great soundtrack with a cute story. Overall, a simplified joy.
Was this review helpful to you?
