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should you really watch this?
this show is insanely overrated. the actors and acting overall is good, but it’s your generic rom-com filled with cliches from every kdrama. imo, this is just a walmart ver. of WWWSK.this kdrama is wholesome and filled with cute moments, but everything was predictable. the characters lack depth, with one-dimensional personalities that fail to develop meaningfully throughout the series. the narrative, rather than offering unique twists, relies heavily on tired tropes, making it a dull experience for viewers like me who watch rom-com. overall, this kdrama struggles to stand out in any way, which is why my rating is so poor. i don’t recommend watching unless you like this type of kdrama.
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nilai plus untuk drama ini adalah visual efeknya! gila sih kalo ngebayangin seberapa lama proses post-production mereka. episode awal sampai pertengahan rame banget, ngga ganggu sama sekali justru malah bikin ngikik. salfok juga sama bunga sakura yg berguguran di episode terakhir, itu juga kayaknya editan ya? wkwkwkwk.
terus juga sebenernya ngga jarang acting main couple di sini tuh awkward gitu. tapi untungnya awkward mereka itu ngga setengah-setengah, jadi keliatannya kayak yang sengaja gitu, bikin tetep enak ditonton karna jatohnya kocak wkwkwk. karakter harabeoji sama kawan-kawan satu timnya shin hari juga seru-seru pol!
overall gue suka; tipikal drama yang ngasih sensasi cringe geli geli menghibur gitu.
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This Rom-Com had me smiling through the whole thing!
***I just had to add something to my original review. I just re-watched this show, because I had just finished watching a couple of no-so-great shows and I needed something I knew I would enjoy. Upon re-watch, I think I enjoyed it even more, and this is why. The development of relationships was very evident, of both couples. I loved seeing even the most seemingly insignificant conversations, you could really understand why they felt the way they did about each other. So many shows, you never quite understand why the people like each other. It was just as much fun the second time around.What a fun show!
Let's be honest, there's nothing too terribly original about it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, if the things that they are doing are what you enjoy. And enjoy I did. It's full of the typical rom-com cliches, but it's put together in a very endearing way. The identity confusion didn't go on too terribly long, the main leads were strong characters that didn't let their families walk all over them, and I can ALMOST forgive the obligatory time jump. There is a lot of heart, a lot of humor, and a lot of fun to be found in this show. I also appreciated the fact that there weren't misunderstandings just to push the show along and keep the couple apart. We get to see an actual development of a relationship here, which I really enjoyed.
ACTING: Ahn Hyo Seop as Tang Moo - I had a bit of trouble with him toward the beginning, because it seemed he was trying to channel the lead from What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, but then a couple of episodes in he seemed to hit his stride. I ADORED him as Yoo Chan in Thirty but Seventeen, but whereas there he reminded me of a gangly puppy that hadn't grown into his body, here you can see that he has definitely grown into himself and is full of that cool grace of a romantic male lead. I thought everyone in the show did a very good job.
CHEMISTRY: Wonderful chemistry between both the lead couple and the second lead couple. No fish kisses, which is a nice change. Both couples had healthy relationships and there was time spent in honest, everyday conversations. I loved the scene of the lead couple when she went back to talk to him at the hospital when it was raining. there was a good balance between sadness, support and love as they discussed survivor's guilt.
The bromance was okay but tempered by the fact that they were employer/employee.
Sismance - amazing! While watching these two women from such completely different backgrounds interact, they were always supportive of each other. I love to see healthy friendships in the shows that I watch.
The ending was okay, a little more rushed than I like, but definitely better than most.
I have so many shows on my list to watch, I'm not normally one to re-watch anything, but I may revisit this one again soon, because it's an easy watch and it left me smiling.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Delightful Romcom That Will Steal Your Heart: A Review
This drama is an utterly delightful romcom, a treat for fans of well-executed romantic clichés despite the somewhat predictable "relationship in jeopardy" trope. While I'll delve into that later, let's first highlight the film's strengths. The two leads truly shine, especially Kim Se Jeong as Shin Ha Ri. She brings genuine authenticity and charm to her role, forging a deep connection with the audience. Her clumsiness never fails to elicit laughter, and her interactions with Ahn Hyo Seop as Kang Tae Moo are both endearing and humorous.I particularly enjoyed Ahn Hyo Seop’s embrace of the quintessential rich male lead tropes. It was delightfully old-school and silly, yet he delivered it perfectly. The supporting cast was equally amusing, from Young Seo's cousin's random English words to Tae Moo's grandfather's love of daytime dramas.
With just 12 episodes, the drama maintained a smooth flow with minimal fillers. However, towards the end, the unnecessary introduction of a "relationship in jeopardy" subplot, lacking strong writing and execution, detracted from the overall quality. This weakened the final two episodes, making the ending feel rushed and unfulfilling.
Overall, it's still a fantastic romcom for those interested in this genre.
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One of the best ROM-COMS in KDRAMA Land.
I have watched and rewatched this drama many times, even after a year and a half after it has aired.It is your typical cliche rom-com, but DONE RIGHT.
STORYLINE : is the one you would expect in this kind of drama, so nothing out of common.
ACTING : The cast has done a perfect job at portraying the characters CHEMISTRY is on FIRE, that's why they've also won BEST COUPLE AWARD.
COMEDY : 100/10 Really funny, there is no episode without a good laugh.
OST: Beautfiul, especially the popular "Love, Maybe".
So yes, watch it if you want a classic rom-com and a good laugh.
Remember : when it comes to dramas, it also comes to what you are in the mood for!
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A Super Fun Drama You’d Not Want To Miss!
I rarely watch k-dramas, but I finally made the decision to binge “A Business Proposal”, after it constantly appeared everywhere, and being recommended to me by the MDL community. I’m so glad I made that choice, because this drama proved to be one of the best modern dramas I’ve watched in a while!I think what pulled me in to the drama so much, was the whole plot itself. I love dramas that include changing appearances (like “True Beauty”), and so I was basically hooked from the very beginning. However, I must add that I did loose a bit of interest near the middle/end, because the climax of the drama had ended. This was what made “A Business Proposal” go from a 9.0 to a 8.5 for me.
Next, I want to say that the whole cast was extremely well picked. Kim Sejeong’s smile and expressions perfectly fit her role as Shin Ha-Ri, and she has that playful side of her that showcased during her act as Shin Geum-Hui. Meanwhile, Ahn Hyo-Seop overwhelmed me with his stellar appearance and acting skills. He really made Kang Tae-Moo’s arrogance and bossiness come to life. The bonus was that the two main leads had an awesome chemistry that peaked my attention towards them even more.
Moving on to the second leads… they were just sooooo perfect! I have to be honest, I sometimes even loved them more than the main couple! Seol In-Ah’s acting was so on-point, and I can visibly see her development as an actress from “Mr. Queen”. Her chemistry with Kim Min-Kyu was all too good, I totally ship them in real life!
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This review may contain spoilers
Funny, heartwarming romances, interesting characters but...
8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2022 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 12, 60 minute episodes. It is known by the alternate title "The Office Blind Date."Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) often does odd jobs for her friend and heiress Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah). This one is even a bit much for her but she still agrees to pretend to be her friend and go on a blind date, playing a vixen, in a deliberate attempt to "botch" it. Little does Ha-ri know but the blind date is none other than Kang Tae-mu (Ahn Hyo-seop), the new CEO of Ha-ri's company. Tired of the whole blind date circus, Tae-mu vowed to just get it over with and marry his next blind date. Tae-mu did not realize that the next blind date would be a deception and that he was not going out with an heiress, Young-seo, but an employee at his company. It is not long before he discovers that Ha-ri is not Young-seo but he is not sure who she is and when he asks for her real name she gives him another psuedonym she often uses with her friend's friends and not her real name which would have revealed she was actually his employee. Tae-mu still does not know Ha-ri works for him and hilariaty ensues as she hides the fact from him. Tae-mu's grandfather, Kang Da-goo (Lee Deok-hwa) has been pressuring his grandsone to find a suitable marriage partner as he is the heir to the conglomerate. Tae-mu bullies and bribes Ha-ri into pretending to be his fiancée in exchange for 800,000 won per date. While Ha-ri is not keen on this level of deception she agrees as she is constantly looking for money to cover her families' financial woes. Young-seo takes another route to escape the constant pressure of finding a marriage partner, she moves out of her father's house and finds herself next door to none other than Tae-mu's, Chief of Staff/like a brother, Kim Min-kyu (Cha Sung-hoon) who finds the heiress very alluring yet is angry at the way she deceived his boss/like a brother. The set up is ripe for laughter inducing moments and a multitude of misunderstandings. Can the four young people navigate the expectations placed on them and be able to find their own path to love?
I loved this and would definitely recommend others watch it and I would rewatch it. That being said, there are some flaws that exist when compared to the web toon it is based on. The web toon was more flawless in my opinion as it stayed away from some tropes that can be tiring where this returned to them and deviated. Spoilers* In the web toon the grandfather liked Ha-ri throughout and would chastise the Tae-Mu anytime grandfather felt Tae-Mu was not treating her right. In the drama rendition the grandfather was more of a stereotypical Korean wealthy parental figure and disapproved of the relationship. In the end, there was a very short piece about him not coming back until she accepted the ring which indicated she finally won his approval but it was way too short relative to the length of time he had disapproved. There was also the separation trope in the drama rendition that did not exist in the web toon. I am not a fan of the separations that are usually a year or more. In real life it rarely makes the heart grow fonder and more often just causes people to grow apart. It was not necessary and they could have stuck with the way it was in the web toon. The chemistry between the actors was really good. Kim Seo-jong reminds me of Emma Stone in both her looks and her voice. It is said we all have "twins" running around in people that have similar features and I see that in international stars. I think Kim Seo-jong was well cast in the Ha-ri role as she was a pro at carrying out the comedic aspects of hiding like she did whenever her secret was about to be discovered. As many have observed, 12 episodes did not feel like enough. There was still room to carry out aspects that were reflective of the web toon. In the web toon Ha-ri did not give in to marriage right away and he was insistent on marrying her because he vowed to marry the next person he went on a blind date with and carried that through despite the deception. There was a lot of comedy associated with that in the web toon. There is also the concern that Netflix is setting a standard of a shorter number of episodes and one thing many like about South Korean dramas is the depth of story and character development that can only be achieved in at least 16 episodes. In this case, 12 episodes meant they rushed certain aspects of the story and did not fully tell others. I loved the relationship of Ha-ri and Young-seo and it made sense how she came to do the blind date as they would do practically anything for the other. Tae-mu and Min-kyu's brother like relationship was also very enjoyable and heart warming. It went a bit more risque in the bedroom scene than was necessary and I felt it deviated from the way South Korean dramas typically portray intimacy. All of the characters were well cast and it was enjoyable watching the character and relationship developments. I thoroughly enjoyed this drama but hope that Neflix will not continue to deviate from a formula that works so well for South Korea drama. As a huge South Korean drama fan I do not want to see South Korean dramas "Americanized." I rarely watch American dramas for many of the reasons that make me love South Korean dramas. American dramas are typically too short, too risque, don't have a lot of character or plot development and unnecessarily introduce sad elements.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama "The Business Proposal" has definitely an old Korean drama feel to it. The romance is light and fluffy, there are enough funny moments between the couple, there is no love triangle, rather, a cute second couple, and there are plenty of trops that were enjoyable to watch.The leading actress, in addition, does a great job with her character and she is another reason to watch this drama for her delightful performance. The rest of the cast gives nice performances as well, but not as energetic as hers. The colors and the whole atmosphere of the drama are bright and light as well.
Unfortunately, the series goes downhill towards the ending. The trops feel more and more stale and the story gets boring, to the point when the second couple was probably the only reason to keep watching.
So, overall, 5 out of 10, as the first half was fun, but the second part not so much.
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Tropes and Secretaries
This is my very first review!I am an avid and seasoned watcher, and I am quite strict with myself, If I don't like it I drop it after 5 minutes...
I was inbetween drama, was looking for something easy and fluffy to binge, had this saved in my list so... I gave it a go.
I have my special preferences, and if a drama mixes together a few cinnamon rolls, contratctual/fake marriage, office romance, she is short/he is tall, he is a newbie to loving/she's got the experience: then I'm in!
So I watched with great expectations, which were not deluded until episode...8, I believe? After that, the drama took a totally different direction, which was on the verge of cringeworthy and that almost ruined my good impression of it.
It had nothing to do with the many many tropes (oh yes, many reviews prior to mine deal with this matter) that stuff this drama to its full. If you like them, you'll have them all, shoelaces, rain, umbrellas, piggyback.... undsoweiter undsoweiter undsoweiter, all the usual suspects!
I actually LOVE tropes, I actually expect them, it a sort of ritual, a drama is not a drama withouth tropes!
It's that from episode 9, things got on a different rail and the fluffy lost to the anxiety /cringe, too much roverling inside, to many talks so little true action (of any kind, if you know what I mean).
What saved it for me, is that at some point I started to think about this drama as an exercise of style, an enciclopedia of quotes from and references to A-List k-drama of the past years, so many there were at every instance. In this perspective, it becomes a game and it is quite fun to look out for the which (which drama is quoted at this moment?), the who (which character?), the how (how well is the quote / innuendo made?)...
What ALSO saved it for me, and again I am not alone in this, is the 2ML&2FL love story, which was actually one of the best I have ever seen.
And the 2ML.
THE SECRETARY.
There have been many dramas where the secretary is a revelation, starting with Kill me, Heal Me and Choi Won Young, in this case the secretary is so totally worth it and let's just say that starting tomorrow I 'm getting myself a gym subscription.
As for the ratings:
Story: I gave 6.5 because of all the premises which are my favourties, but the development is not the one I was looking for.
Acting/Cast: I gave 7.5 because they are all cute ( especially the secretary. But I already said it, eh eh eh).
Music: I gave 7, it is overall ok
Rewatch: i gave 5 as I will not rewatch it (or possibly maybe once, only beacuse of the secretary?)
Overall, I believe 7 is a good note, even if it could have been a 9.
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A healing romance with some epic comedy
With such glowing reviews and high ratings I was worried that I would be disappointed. But fortunately this drama lived up to its hype for me. It’s not one of those deep, heavy, meaningful dramas. It’s more of a light funny sweet romcom that is so well executed that you don’t mind the clichés. After watching hundreds of Asian dramas I’ve come to the conclusion that cliches are inevitable. And it’s not the cliché storylines that make a drama bad but how they are carried out. Great acting and likable characters can make a cliché story feel fun and interesting. On the other hand, poor acting and bland characters can make a cliché story feel dull and monotonous. This drama was chock full of likable, relatable characters that made you feel like they were a part of your family. Pair that with some top notch acting and you have a great drama like this one.The acting in this drama is above average. I was invested in every single characters storyline. The second male lead was a bit stiff in the beginning but got much better as the drama progressed. I was surprised by that because I’ve seen him in lots of other dramas and he’s a great actor. But overall the actors did a great job of getting me invested in the drama. And it didn’t hurt that the whole cast was gorgeous and very easy on the eyes.
The romance was done just right. It wasn’t insta love for the main leads but it wasn’t a slow burn either. I liked the pacing and chemistry of their romance too. The second leads had a cute romance that was a fun watch and added to the likability of the drama. Be prepared for lots of kisses, piggyback rides, hugs, and some sexy scenes. Both the main male lead and the second male lead go shirtless which is always a plus for me. And just let me say, the second male lead must live in a gym because he is one of the most muscular actors I’ve ever seen in an Asian drama. But as far as romance goes it was really very romantic with lots of sweet moments. And I liked that this was a healing romance. Both leads help heal each other’s emotional wounds. Watching their journey as they help heal one another and become better versions of themselves was a joy.
The female lead is a very likable character that’s talented, respected at work, confident, outgoing, and charming. She has a great family you’ll love, a touching sismance with her best friend and is a pretty balanced person. There’s only one area she’s lacking in and that’s in the romance department. Even though she’s very pretty, she’s had an unrequited crush on the same guy for 7 years. And it’s taken a toll on her confidence and self esteem.
The male lead is a practical no nonsense guy that is hyper focused on his job. He’s not mean or a bully at work he’s just a workaholic. Due to a trauma in his past he shuns intimate relationships with people other than his grandfather and his best friend (the second male lead). His interactions with the second male lead are so cute and endearing. I really enjoyed their bromance.
It was also quite refreshing to see the main leads have a healthy relationship where they communicate well and trust one another. I’m liking this trend lately where the main leads don’t have lots of silly misunderstandings but instead respect and have faith in one another. The lack of breakups, misunderstandings and noble idiocy made this drama so much better. And there weren’t any evil meddling second leads obsessed with the main leads either. I’m so done with that trend. So even though there are several clichés in this drama the lack of annoying second leads and unnecessary breakups more than makes up for it.
Now let’s talk about what I didn’t like. There’s not a lot to dislike about this drama. But there were a couple of things that kept it from getting a perfect rating from me. There was a lengthy separation at the end which was quite unnecessary (they didn’t breakup but were separated because one of them had to go overseas). I hate the old cliché ‘I have to go overseas for an extended period of time but I still love you’ trope. I never liked it and never will understand the overuse of this scenario in dramas. So I took off a full point for this. The other thing I didn’t like was the last episode of this drama. It wasn’t as bad as many have claimed in the comment section. The main characters are all addressed and have satisfying endings. I was happy with how everything turned out for everyone. But my main complaint (and everyone else’s) is that a lot of time is spent on some unnecessary angst that’s thrown in at the last minute for no apparent reason. It’s the last episode so you want some sweet moments, to see how everything turns out for everyone, even the minor characters. You want all of the loose ends tied up in a pretty little bow. You want to have some meaningful touching moments, not unnecessary angst just to hype things up. The angst would have been okay if there had been another episode or two. The fact that it happened in the last episode taking time away from those last sweet touching moments between your favorite characters is what I have a problem with. It wasn’t super bad just annoying , so I took a half point off for this.
In conclusion I’d say this is a very good drama that I’d highly recommend. It’s not for those who are looking for a deep drama that sends a message or teaches a lesson. But if you like super romantic romcoms that are full of gorgeous actors that make you laugh your butt off then this dramas for you. It’s short, sweet, sexy and funny. Seriously just go watch it!
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Humor and Romance Rolled into One
This romantic comedy contained many hilarious moments (stiches- in- your-sides humor). If you really want a combination of humor and romance, then this is definitely the TV series you want to watch.There is a strong bond between the ML and FL. The ML does not waver in his feelings and devotion to the FL and not even pressure from his grandfather causes the ML ot waver.
The program is ligh-hearted and fun-filled. if you want to watch a series to help you unwind and relax then this is it. It's a clean romance so the whole family can view it together. Happy viewing!
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