I really liked it overall but the ending felt rushed a bit.
Aside from a major oversight in the fifth episode, this is the best-written kdrama I've watched so far. As in, things make sense, characters don't do stupid, out of character things, and there aren't really annoying tropes overstaying their welcome.I have to commend this show for relentlessly going for so many "hiding in plain sight" scenes, even when they're not done all that well (look, not just about anyone can do it like Tsui Hark). But I love them so much, any excuse to include them is a good excuse in my book.
Mostly because of this, the first couple of episodes are seriously laugh-out-loud hilarious.
I really liked it overall but the ending felt rushed a bit.
The Netflix subs were wonderful, far better than what I am used to with Korean/Chinese content (Credits to a certain Su-In Choi apparently). It's not easy to contextualize humor in different languages and I was so glad to "get" some jokes that I definitely wouldn't have gotten with lesser quality subtitles (so, around 95% of the subs I get).
And finally, lead actress Kim Se-jeong's performance was easily the highlight of this show. From her mastery of subtle facial cues to inflated emotional deliveries, she was outstanding.
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Bright, Breezy, and Delightful
A Business Proposal is the quintessential 2022 K-rom-com: adapted from the webtoon (The Office Blind Date), briskly paced, packed with gags, and powered by a lead couple that grabs you from their disastrous blind date (which is great for the story). It’s a series that knows exactly what it wants to be: sparkling entertainment, without pretending to be dramatically profound beyond its scope.- Plot in two lines (no spoilers):
Shin Ha-ri agrees to stand in for her friend on a blind date with the goal of getting rejected; opposite her sits Kang Tae-mu, a young CEO determined to marry quickly and get it over with. Thanks to that initial mix-up, a fake relationship kicks off—soon colliding with the workplace and with real feelings creeping in beneath the facade.
- What works (objectively):
1. Chemistry & comic timing: Kim Sejeong’s timing is spot-on; Ahn Hyo-seop plays the “aloof/rigid” contrast that gradually melts in a natural way. The secondary couple (Seol In-ah & Kim Min-kyu) isn’t mere garnish: they inject energy and often steal the scene.
2. Direction & pace: tight episodes, lively editing, zero dead weight. Many rom-coms drag; here the short run (12 eps) keeps it snappy.
3. Physical comedy & visual gags: the show uses facial expressions, micro-reactions, and controlled slapstick well, without tipping into full cartoon.
4. Trope management: fake dating, contracts, hidden identities, “grumpy x sunshine”—they’re clichés, yes, but the script orchestrates them with craft and polishes them just enough to feel fresh.
- Where it wobbles (without sinking the ship)
1. Workplace-romance ethics: there’s a hierarchy (CEO/employee). The show treats it in a romantic, glossy key without really problematizing it; if you want a serious take on power and boundaries, this isn’t the one.
2. “Light” conflicts: obstacles and misunderstandings resolve quickly and painlessly; the emotional stakes remain medium-low by design.
3. Product placement: visible and frequent (part of the commercial package); if it bothers you, it’ll pop out of the frame now and then.
Themes (without pushing beyond the genre):
The series brushes against family expectations and class/image (family name, “useful” marriage), but doesn’t truly open those files: it uses them as framing to legitimize romantic choices. Consistent with the goal: comfort rom-com rather than social critique.
Performances:
1. Kim Sejeong (Ha-ri): natural charisma, musical comedy sense (eyes/voice/timing), and a non-syrupy warmth in serious beats.
2. Ahn Hyo-seop (Tae-mu): starts rigid, gradually finds tender shades without losing the “CEO” imprint.
3. Seol In-ah & Kim Min-kyu: the secondary couple delivers an excellent comedic-romantic counterpoint; many memorable moments come from them.
OST & Look:
Catchy OSTs—no instant classics, but they do the job for a bright tone. Polished styling, luminous palette, cinematography that “dusts” every setting: the aesthetics are clean and consistent with the promise of lightness.
Personal impression:
I had fun—not because it reinvents the genre, but because it keeps its promise: lively, well-acted, with chemistry that holds even when the script chooses the easy road. If you’re looking for moral complexity or grounded realism, this isn’t it; if you want a well-packaged romance, it hits the mark.
Conclusion:
A Business Proposal is an efficient, sparkling rom-com: it lines up the tropes, polishes them, snaps them together with pace, and serves them with leads in great form. It isn’t deep, but it doesn’t pretend to be—and in its lane, it plays like a frontrunner.
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This review may contain spoilers
Great start, disappointing end.
Title explains it. First 5-ish episodes were great. I was feeling the chemistry between both the main couple and side, but then the secret got out. That's pretty much where it started falling, and quickly. The chemistry flat out disappeared. I had to skip through the last few episodes because nothing happened and every interaction between the main 2 became unbearable to watch. Which sucks, because I was absolutely loving it to start.I do think it's worth the watch, but if you get to the point where you're bored, just stop or skip through it. You're not missing anything.
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cliche yet great
i read this on tapas and seriously, i prayed that the series will give justice to the webtoon and uh, well, it's great. I laughed real hard that i have to stop myself from bursting it out cause i know my parents will knock on my door! HAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA this story is so refreshing and cliche. it's cute and pleasing in the eyes. the male lead is my new crush! i just felt bad for the best friend hehe. he lost his chance haha. and also, public view is really important in life eh? and why does this need 500 characters huhuWas this review helpful to you?
If you’re in the mood for a feel‑good rom‑com without major twists or heavy drama, this one’s for you. I especially loved the natural chemistry between Tae‑moo and Ha‑ri — their interactions feel warm, funny, and genuinely heart‑fluttering. The side love story between Cha Sung‑hoon and Jin Young‑seo is just as heartfelt, with both couples sharing a chemistry that feels real and unforced.
There are a few emotional moments, but they only add to the heartwarming experience. Speaking as a guy, I was looking for a cheerful, comforting rom‑com, and Business Proposal delivered perfectly.
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Cute drama for the feels
I loved this drama, though it is not in my favorites because it's more a drama for if you want to watch something funny and carefree. I loved that they deviated from the clichee of separating the main couple and making them break up, I often find that trope boring and unnecessary, so I was happy that this couple finally stood up for themselves. I loved the second lead couple as well, though I have to say that the only thing that really, really, really bothers me about this show is that they had him sleep with her for the first time when she was blackout drunk. I hated that they tried to turn it into something romantic. Everything else was really cute though.Was this review helpful to you?
FL's Change and Classicisation
This story started off really great. FL was a great character. She was confident, cool and unique with a mysterious side. It made perfect sense for ML to fall in love with her. But then FL started to turn into a classic, typical, unoriginal romantic drama woman. At this point, all the burden fell on ML and the more caring and loving ML was, the more watchable the series became.In fact, in one scene towards the end, the chemistry between ML and the second FL felt more attractive and believable.
Overall a good series, not much to say. I watched all the episodes, which is difficult for me. I was only upset that the original and different female character turned into a clichéd female character. After all, we suffer a lot from the lack of original and different female characters in romantic series.
Of course, there are a lot of cliché scenes. We are used to them now and we don't find them strange.
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the perfect rom-com
this show made me so happy! the plot was interesting and straight to the point, without too many unnecessary additions and side stories. the casting was amazing and so were the characters! perfect writing for each one of the main leads that created a perfect match.the show is not too long and not too short, and watching it was not exhausting or boring at any point. every episode was interesting, fun and beautiful. i have rewatched it before and i will 100% rewatch it again!
i highly recommend watching this show with your loved one or with your friends!
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Pretty much what I expected
I ended up binging this when I needed something stupid (affectionate) and hilarious as a palate cleanser. It was basically exactly what I needed and what I expected.I have the usual grievances when it comes to plot points not making sense (Tae-moo being hospitalized for a... not even broken arm?? Which he uses just fine when he leaves? Lol sure, and Sung-hoon commenting on why someone who can see just fine needs glasses when he... LITERALLY DOES THE SAME 😂) and some cultural... expectations? that translate into plot points. The acting was cute and believable for the most part, except my one pet peeve - Tae-moo's hair brushing gesture, don't ask me why, just didn't feel real to me! Also Ahn Hyeo Seop is scarily thin (in this?)?? Like, not sure it's sexy to be able to see your RIBS from your BACK!? (But that is... generally speaking, that industry in that country, so.)
Anyway the plot is predictable but fun, the couples are cute, and the friendships even cuter. I enjoyed watching this but not my cup of tea for a rewatch, but for the fans of romance and fake dating trope enthusiasts, I think you'll have a good time.
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Wasted 9 hours of my life
I have zero clue what's to like here. Void, empty, full of cliches, and meaningless. The main girl is supposedly likeable because she's 'different' but as far as I can tell she's literally just your average girl. The romance isn't believable either. The whole love at first sight stuff is so tiring and I dislike it immensely. The main girl's whole thing is she's supposed to be 'so different' but there is nothing she does that's particularly out of the norm or unusual. The bit where he pretends to be her bf in front of their friends isn't too far off the vibe of the actual romance.I found the directing was awful and over the top emoting (no doubt at the director's behest) extremely tacky.
Oh and lastly the entire show sometimes seems to me to be just one big product placement. The vit C spray thing, face stick, bomb shots...
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I love it!
This is a good drama to watch if you've watched a heavy one or if you are trying to get over a drama (for me I was trying to get over Lovely Runner!)It's funny, witty, and explores multiple dynamics (does not fixate on the leads alone). I think it truly is a well-rounded, light hearted drama with a tad bit of spiciness too (swearing, slight sexual content etc). I also think it highlights class and class differences, and even the difficulties that arise when people from different classes clash. Even compared to a more popular drama such as Lovely Runner, I think this show does a better job at actually having a meaningful purpose that goes beyond showcasing romance and compatibility alone. I truly adore this show!
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