Thai's own version of WWWSK
As someone who has seen the Korean one like 5 times and even read the webtoon I would say this was actually well done,I liked how they didn't even try to make it exactly like the Korean one (It makes it easy to not compare) .They took inspiration from WWWSK and wrote their own Thai version, they focused on the emotions of the original and did their own thing. Which some people might not like because they probably tuned to it expecting it to be exactly the same.Bua and Jes did such a great job. The chemistry was perfect I was just blushing and kicking my feet 🤭
I did have problems with some things but truly speaking you look back and you realise it doesn't matter
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Not bad but...
Don't have any expectations. Don't go looking for it to be like the original.Low brow humor...toilet level - including fart jokes.
I had high hopes for this version. I thought they would follow the same formula and just put a Thai spin on it. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Someone decided to increase the comedy and almost completely remove the sophistication the original has.
Casting: Not bad. I feel bad for saying this but, Prim can't hold a candle to Kim. She makes simple mistakes, loses her professionalism often, and just doesn't match up to Secretary Kim in the WOW! department. She always looks like a secretary - no matter what. Thi/Thee has the professionalism and hotness level required for this part...kudos to casting - he always looks good in every scene.
Not happy with the secondary characters...they are the main reason this smartly written series goes the clown car route.
There was almost no build up to Thi seeing what a terrible person he is. He has basic brief moments of having to take responsibility but, one of the main reasons for the success of the original was Mr. Lee having to admit how bad he had been and to sincerely apologize for his past behaviors. The key moment in the original was his apology and willingness to let her go. We see nothing of this in the series. He never atones for being a terrible person.
For me - a key to this series success is - do I need to fast forward through anything? Answer - yes. It is (unfortunately) very easy to fast forward through entire scenes and not miss anything. Anytime her sisters/friends show up - you are guaranteed it has nothing to do with the main story. Same with the coworkers - other than filling time and looking like they need a new job - you can skip their scenes entirely.
And, I wish the writers would go along with the budget. Asian dramas are notorious for skimping on the extras. Don't spend three episodes building up a huge event that the company is creating only for us to see 23 people in attendance. In the original, casting had the forethought to fill all the seats for the book signing event...here - the location seemed an afterthought.
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An Adaptation with its own charms and Thai flavors!
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25A 7.5 MDL rating currently for “Dear My Secretary” seems a little low. It might not be the perfect rom-com out there, but it was an enjoyable watch for me. Maybe fans of the K-version and webtoon are disappointed? I actually watched the Korean "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim” and really appreciate this version’s Thai flavor. It’s not a cookie-cutter adaptation. The general plot and the important plotlines (that I remember) are there, but the execution has a more casual vibe. The Korean version definitely had a bigger budget as you can tell from the sets that everything was just bigger and fancier.
But “Dear My Secretary” has its own charm. I really like Jes playing the narcissistic Vice President. I think he’s more adorable and less over-the-top than Park Seo Joon. Having only seen Jes in “4 Minutes”, I am quite impressed with his comedic timing and applaud him for playing such a different character. Jes also has great chemistry with Bua, who plays Secretary Preem. I love their kisses as well! It’s not easy to find passionate kisses in a Thai non-BL drama. We all know “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” has some amazing kisses, and this adaptation lives up to that reputation. At a certain angle, Bua even looks like Park Min Young. She is beautiful but Secretary Preem appears to be a little less business-like than Park Min Young’s character.
The drama really focuses on Thi and Preem from start to finish. Although there are side characters with their own small plotlines, they don’t take away screen time from the leads. The mystery plot also starts from the beginning, thus, it doesn’t feel like the darker plot/trauma was sprung out of nowhere in the middle of the drama. This version sets the stage quite well to incorporate the mystery with the romance. I was actually very engaged from the start until the reveal of what happened 25 years ago.
However, after that the pace slows down and the writing quality decreases. The brother’s recovery happened too easily and too quickly, and without giving it the proper closure when such a big part of the drama was connected to it. I wish his road to recovery was shown and not told to the viewers. Additionally, despite loving the main couple’s sweet and cute moments, I find the part about family approval drags on for longer than it should. The conflict that happened in ep 15 was resolved rather quickly even with the explanation. It really didn’t need that many episodes to wrap everything up.
Although I don’t remember much about “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” since I watched that some time ago, I do think there are quite a number of memorable scenes that did not happen in "Dear My Secretary”. I’ll share more of that at the end of the review, as it could be a spoiler.
Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. I think I am finally getting used to the Thai-style. I like this smaller, cozier, slightly more casual version of “Dear My Secretary”. I love the integration of Thai culture: the bigger-than-life personality of some of the supporting cast (but still tolerable), the beautiful traditional attire and the Thai festivals and traditions. I wish just the writing was tighter in the quarter of the drama and that it kept me interested from start to finish.
Completed: 6/23/2025 - Review #594
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Memorable scenes (to. me) that were missing from the Korean “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim”
1. 3-legged sports day race and hugging of co-worker
2. Closet kiss when FL’s sisters were visiting
3. Pushing FL’s chair away when almost caught kissing
4. Beautiful waterfall as the backdrop for the brother’s QA and wedding
5. Their very passionate and iconic first night at ML’s gorgeous and humungous house
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Not that good
I admit, that I enjoyed WWWSK - the script, the cast, the acting. Surprisingly I also liked the Filipino adaptation - the script, the cast, the acting. So I was really happy, when I saw this Thai adaptation as I watch lakorns mostly...but my oh my, I did not think, that I would drop this.We all know, that lakorns are a different kind of drama and their adaptations are oftentimes "off".
The script here was overly dramatic, forced funny moments ( that I found ridiculous ) - the choosing of a new secretary: yeah, jump into the pool to rescue some documents (insert BIG eyeroll here).
The cast. The ML in WWWSK had charisma, that aura of power and at the same time he displayed the wounded hero to a T. Here: not so much. The FL in WWWSK had a calm, controlled air around her, when she was in the office. She had grace and style and always behaved absolutely perfect. Here: not so much. The acting. Both actors are good. The ML actor is one, that I liked almost from the start of his carrer. He has some great lakorns which I enjoy rewatching. But this role here is a no from me. Bua has improved in the last two years but her acting is nowhere near the level of the FL in WWWSK - sorry for that but this is my opinion. I like both actors in other lakorns but not here. To know the original characters and actors and then seeing this remake turning out like this...dropped somewhere in the middle. I can however recommend the Filipino adaptation.
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For the pleasure of watching these characters again :)
A very successful Thai remake of "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?", with a local adaptation and the addition of a rivalry/opposition within the family.+++ Excellent actors. The CL is very cute: "Jes" Jespipat Tilapornputt & Nalinthip Sakulongumpai (Bua) have excellent chemistry and very natural acting. [And it wasn't easy to play on the same level as Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young :) ]
+++ Storyline respected but adapted.
+++ Effective direction (even if it lacks a few iconic scenes from the original drama)
### Thai series with a bit of humor usually have caricatured, over-the-top characters, and here we have them too: the sales manager, the office pin-up, etc.
### In the K-drama, the brother's character was more nuanced. Here, he's weird and hostile from the start. However, he recovers very quickly (too quickly) from his emotional wounds... A few therapy sessions, and it's over :)
### Thai flirting practices are excessively blunt. They lack subtlety, tact, and even respect.
=> For once, a very successful remake!
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Remake thaï très réussi de "What's wrong with secretary Kim ?", avec une adaptation locale et l'ajout d'une rivalité/opposition familiale au sein de la Cie.
+++ Excellents acteurs. Le CL est très cute : "Jes" Jespipat Tilapornputt & Nalinthip Sakulongumpai (Bua) ont une excellente alchimie et un jeu très naturel. [et c'était pas évident d'aller jouer sur le terrain de Park Seo Joon et de Park Min Young :) ]
+++ Storyline respectée mais adaptée.
+++ Réalisation efficace (même s'il manque quelques scènes culte du drama original)
### L'usage des séries thaï avec un peu d'humour, c'est d'avoir des personnages caricaturaux, excessifs, et ici, on en a aussi : Directeur commercial, pin-up du service administratif, etc.
### Ds le K Drama, le personnage du frère était plus nuancé. Ici, il est weird et hostile dès le début. Cependant, il se remet très vite (trop) de ses blessures émotionnelles ... Quelques séances de psy, et c'est fini :)
### Les pratiques de drague thaï sont excessivement cash. Elles manquent de subtilité, de délicatesse, voire de respect.
=> Pour moi, (enfin) un remake très réussi ;)
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La brutta copia dell'originale...
Nuovo adattamento tailandese del famoso drama coreano di qualche anno fa. Il divario è evidente, salta proprio agli occhi.Qualitativamente parlando la Thailandia ha ancora molta, molta strada da fare e per il resto si limita a sfornare un'infinità di BL che conquistano il pubblico insofferente alla censura coreana e, soprattutto, a quella cinese.
Proporre però dei remake di drama che hanno avuto successo senza avere i mezzi per raggiungere lo stesso livello equivale a garantire una brutta copia dell'originale. Questo mi aspettavo e questo ho trovato.
Riparametrando la valutazione rispetto agli standard tailandesi è una serie che avrebbe anche potuto strappare la sufficienza, ma l'aver optato per il riproporre un adattamento impossibile da eguagliare l'ha ulteriormente penalizzata, uscendone proprio male dal confronto.
Limitarsi quindi al noto "What's wrong with secretary Kim" coreano è indubbiamente la scelta migliore.
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