One Time Watchable
There is one insufferable character in all recent KBLs and this series too have one which is so tiring. The plot wasnt great but atleast the show focused on lead characters & their problems, no side stories. Team could have put more efforts on writing. Both male leads acting were good and the kiss scenes were good. Overall its not a great series but better than recent Kbls. I would recommend it for a one time watch.Was this review helpful to you?
a skip for me
i watched this bc twitter was raving about how this was going to be "my dating sim's son" and i watched it, episode one felt promising i loved the chemistry and acting the actors are great the plot was weak and nothing really held the show together, there was so much back and forth it annoyed me. by the last ep i just hoped they'd breakup. but no they kept going. the last episode really hit the nail on the head felt so extremely rushed and had a wedding scene that felt so incomplete and provided no joy tbh. i hope the actors find better scripts and stories because the chemistry did chemistryWas this review helpful to you?
The story follows Min Jun, a reserved office worker stuck in routine, whose life is shaken by the return of Jin Hwan, his former love. Although time has passed, the scars of their breakup are still fresh, and the tension between them is impossible to ignore. Between resentment, nostalgia, and desire, the series paints an intimate picture of facing the past without fully letting go of it.
Unlike many BL productions, Business as Usual stands out for its mature and emotionally complex approach. It doesn’t just show the attraction that lingers, but also the very real challenges of two people confronting old mistakes: lack of communication, emotional walls, and the fear of repeating history. While Jin Hwan, outgoing and charismatic, tries to break through Min Jun’s defenses, the audience witnesses a journey of reconciliation and healing.
With a slow and thoughtful pace, the series feels calm yet meaningful. Its short length makes it easy to binge, without losing the emotional depth that makes it memorable.
If you enjoy “ex-lovers reunited” stories and are drawn to office romances that balance passion with heartfelt reflection, Business as Usual is a drama worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
Someone GIVE ME A DAMN CIGARETTE
*sigh* I don’t know.. seems like kbl are pissing me off lately, the writing etc like not to mention I did had alittle hopes for this but.. nah.feel like Kim min jun just don’t know what he wanna do like he looks unhappy the whole time and was unhappy the whole time dude basically like “I want you”, “you know what I don’t want you”, “wait.. I want you”, “no go away”,”Why the hell is you leaving me?”.. do someone get it?
He doesn’t know what he wants to do, meanwhile chae Jin hwan is chasing after this dude.. you ran off because of miscommunication I explain to you what was really going on but still something’s not right. 🤧
what is this a push n pull series?
I get him at the beginning yes, yes you thought he did something wrong, cheated etc dipped without no communication that was a NO for me because I’ll at least be like wtf was that?
but at the same time I just don’t get this dude.
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worse ending I’ve anticipated
To be brutally honest, I think that I’ve seen better Bl’s with its storytelling and the way the story goes so smoothly. While watching this has given such tiresome and anxiously provocation . I understood what happened in the past but what in the hell is the problem for Min Jun present wise. yes I understand that many couples has gone through with overthinking thoughts and being paranoid or pessimistic, about one’s relationship towards another. He really has out done himself with disappointing me outta me the whole time. He made chae ji hwan tired as well. Like no one can love back such a monotonous character tbh. The second last episode, how and when in the hell did Min Jun came to the airport? Chae Ji just abrutly accepted and decided not to leave abroad??? That’s really demented where does the practicality go?. Min Hun just does whatever he wants in this series like being so demanding and possessive, he’s just one of those people who proves them right how inexperienced people that no idea what he is really doing in relationships. He is like a despairing soul, who has absolutely no idea how to handle himself.. overall it’s an ehh series.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I HATE Min Jun/Je déteste Min Jun
English:This show was okay. It was EXTREMELY similar to "Our Dating Sim," and that show was way better than this one. Min Jun pissed me off beyond belief. He kept blaming Jin Hwan for everything when it was LITERALLY MIN JUN'S FAULT. He kept assuming things and never talked them out with Jin Hwan. Even after the 8 years, when Jin Hwan and Min Jun talked everything out, Min Jun kept saying "we're incompatible," and Jin Hwan was trying to reassure him, saying, "we know what went wrong last time, and we know how to fix it and do better this time," but Min Jun just REFUSED TO BE COMPETENT AND LISTEN. I was getting so heated watching this because of Min Jun. However, I loved Jin Hwan. Jin Hwan was so sweet and caring towards Min Jun, and the actor of Jin Hwan literally has the CUTEST smile. I love him. Other than Min Jun as a whole, this show was pretty good overall. I like how it was short (longer shows tend to drag out plot points and I hate that), and the actors were really talented. Overall, I think this was a decent show. I don't think I'll rewatch this, but it was a good one-time watch.
Français:
Cette émission était correcte. Elle était EXTRÊMEMENT similaire à "Our Dating Sim" et cette émission était bien meilleure que celle-ci. Min Jun m'a énervé au-delà de toute croyance. Il n'arrêtait pas de blâmer Jin Hwan pour tout alors que c'était LITTÉRALEMENT LA FAUTE DE MIN JUN. Il supposait des choses et n'en parlait jamais avec Jin Hwan. Même après les 8 ans où Jin Hwan et Min Jun ont tout réglé, Min Jun continuait de dire "nous sommes incompatibles" et Jin Hwan essayait de le rassurer en disant : "nous savons ce qui a mal tourné la dernière fois, et nous savons comment le réparer et faire mieux cette fois," mais Min Jun REFUSAIT simplement D'ÊTRE COMPÉTENT ET D'ÉCOUTER. Je devenais tellement en colère en regardant ça à cause de Min Jun. Cependant, j'ai adoré Jin Hwan. Jin Hwan était tellement doux et attentionné envers Min Jun, et l'acteur de Jin Hwan a littéralement LE SOURIRE LE PLUS MIGNON. Je l'adore. À part Min Jun en entier, cette émission était plutôt bonne dans l'ensemble. J'ai aimé que ce soit long (les émissions plus longues ont tendance à étirer les intrigues et je déteste ça), et les acteurs étaient vraiment talentueux. Dans l'ensemble, je pense que c'était une émission correcte. Je ne pense pas que je la reverrai, mais c'était agréable à regarder une seule fois.
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This review may contain spoilers
A "Friends to Lover's" Trope Romance with a Twist!
Adapted from Moscareto’s web novel Eul’s Love, Business As Usual is a six-episode Korean BL that tells the story of Kim Min Jun (played by Chae Jong Hyeok) and his ex-boyfriend, Jin Hwan (Seong Seung Ha), who suddenly reappears in his life after an eight-year silence. It’s a reentry that’s anything but subtle. The same Jin Hwan who once lit up Min Jun’s world is now walking the same office halls, wearing the same company ID, still as sharp and put-together as ever. For Min Jun, who’s spent years treading water in a job that feels more like a placeholder than a career, Jin Hwan’s return is like throwing a stone into a still pond, ripples of old feelings, unresolved hurt, and a longing he can’t quite swallow all rise to the surface.Read the complete article here-
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/05/14/business-as-usual-series-review-ep-3-to-6/
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Slightly Above Average
Overall, this was an ok series with a just above average script. I liked how it gave each lead’s perspective on what happened in the past and how it related to their present-day actions. I also liked the epilogue at the end of each episode because it gave much needed information about the past. The script was good in that it made me care about the characters which is the only reason I kept watching. Well, the fact that it was only 6-episodes helped too. The main problem is this took the misunderstanding story element to a somewhat ridiculous level. There was also a lot of wasted screen time. For example, they give us a long flashback within the first episode for no reason. I thought the cast did a wonderful job considering what they had to work with.Random Notes:
This is one of those series you can wait to watch until you have some time to kill and have nothing better on your must watch list.
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Not bad but acceptable
Personal Review – Confusing but Thought-Provoking DramaThe story isn’t bad, but it’s definitely strange. It raises a lot of questions while watching, mostly because the sequence of events feels disconnected. This might be due to how each episode reveals parts of the characters’ pasts, but not in a clear or structured way. As a result, the viewer is often left confused—unsure of when something happened or in what context.
What makes it even more confusing is that many important details are simply not explained, possibly due to the limited number of episodes. I’m not criticizing it because I disliked it, but because I found myself lost, unsure how to connect the dots or understand the nature of the characters’ relationship.
I feel like the director had a stronger concept in mind, but it wasn’t fully realized. As for the actors—they weren’t bad. In fact, I appreciated how they conveyed deep emotions. I could feel their confusion, fear, and the pain of losing something they loved. They also did a good job portraying the misunderstanding and emotional tension between them.
However, what truly bothered me was how the relationship between the two main characters was left vague. Maybe I misunderstood, but I felt there was some level of emotional manipulation. I don’t enjoy watching a drama that fails to clearly define the bond between characters.
One moment, in particular, stood out: the friend chose to express his feelings with a kiss while they were drunk, which led them to sleep together—and then the relationship just ended. It made me wonder: is the director suggesting that you shouldn’t follow certain rules in relationships? If so, I think the execution didn’t match the idea.
Also, even though the story is set in 2025, it didn’t feel modern. It reminded me of dramas from 2020, both in storytelling and concept. I’m still left confused, with many unanswered questions. The ending seemed happy, but I would call it an “open ending” because nothing was clearly explained.
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Waste of time except Song Seung Ha (the actor who plays Ji Hwan)
Min Jun was so frustrating so that I couldn't finish the last episode! Maybe I'll watch special episode later but I'm not sure. The story was simple but it wasn't bad considering it was a short series. The misunderstandings between themwhich were the main hurdles of their story were persuading enough but I really hated how insecure was Min Jun. He was still doubting Jin Hwan even after Jin Hwan confessed and the misunderstandings were corrected. Also, I don't know if it's about acting or directing but his scenes were so slow so it was extra frustrating lolWas this review helpful to you?
Business as Usual but Not Much Else
Business as Usual is exactly what the title suggests: predictable, safe, and serviceable. It doesn’t try to be revolutionary, and frankly, it doesn’t come close. But it’s not a total flop either. It gives you just enough to sit through it, but not enough to leave a lasting impression.It started off with promise. The setup was intriguing enough to catch attention, but as the episodes progressed, it became clear the drama was stretching out a storyline that could’ve been resolved in a single conversation. What could’ve been a more emotionally rich and tightly written series ended up being padded with avoidable miscommunication and narrative stalling.
Chemistry-wise, the leads had something, but just barely. You won’t swoon, but you’ll acknowledge it's there. With more training and time, I can see both actors evolving into roles that ask for deeper emotional work. Jin Hwan’s character carried a quiet emotional burden that resonated, while Minjun’s arc lacked growth, he stayed in the same emotional place for most of the drama. Even by episode 7, he was still whining. There was potential for a redemptive arc, but it never came.
One of the more disappointing aspects was the present-day storyline. While the past/present structure made sense conceptually, the execution was clunky. The present scenes felt shallow and rushed, making it hard to connect. It’s like they had all the right ingredients but cooked the dish on low heat and served it half-baked.
Romantic scenes? Decent. Korea continues to improve in portraying BL intimacy, though still somewhat restrained.
Speaking of clichés, the airport scene made me groan. That trope has been played out enough. Unless you're giving us a Call Me by Your Name level of heartbreak or Your Name Engraved Herein depth, maybe it’s time to leave that in 2024.
The ending? Rushed, disconnected, but at least not tragic. There's some satisfaction in the closure, though it felt more like a sigh than a moment of impact. The familial storyline felt like an afterthought tossed in for some emotional seasoning.
While Thai and Taiwanese BLs continue to push the envelope in plot, performance, and emotional weight, Korean BLs seem to be stuck in a cycle of safety and hesitation. Yes, restrictions may still exist, but if a story can’t be told with full commitment, perhaps it’s better left on the drawing board. Especially with rising actors, a BL role can either build a career or bury it.
The standout elements? Cinematography and OST, both top-tier, as expected of Korean production teams.
And as a side note, I couldn’t help but notice the office setup looked awfully familiar. Turns out, it's the same one from The New Employee. I guess I’ve officially watched too many BLs.
Overall, watchable, but ultimately forgettable.
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