This review may contain spoilers
Amazing from start to finish, but be warned no romance
First I would like to point out for anyone wanting to watch this drama thinking it has ROMANCE that it doesn't.I kind of started watching it thinking it would have some, even as a subplot but it's not the case. This didn't diminish my enjoyment of the series but I feel the need to point it out here in case anyone only wants to watch a romance because you'll be disappointed in that sense (the drama is very well worth it without it and I totally recommend, but no one likes to feel their expectations were not met after having read the tags here).
Hopefully the tag is removed here as it makes it confusing for prospective watchers.
When it comes to the drama, it's dynamic from start to finish, I wasn't bored even once, the relationships between the women are beautiful to see and the drama in the company was kept entertaining all throughout.
I also liked the male cast and I feel all the characters had their flaws that made them more human but also more approachable and it was easy to sympathise with them. This has to be one of the first kdramas in years if not ever that has made me sympathise and like the chaebol daughter and grandson, even the ex-wife, probably because I haven't seen many if any instances of chaebols so blatantly rejecting their position, status, nepotism and inheritance as in here, almost in a bored way, in a "I have better and more interesting things to do than be here". The couple of lines that were given for their after in the sort of epilogue were great and loved to see it, it fits them perfectly. Both Albert and Nora were cinnamon buns to me (as well as Kim Bom, cutest kid).
The FL is absolutely amazing, even in her obsession for getting the job done, she can't be stopped and I loved to see it.
I think the whole drama is very well balanced as well, there is a bit of everything even though the plot is quite linear, we manage to see her past, background, family, exboyfriend and evolution to a healthy relationship between them. Amazing to see and so rare!!!! I loved the background detail of FL's parents and how they start fighting the baddies at one point, it was so funny and so cool to see.
I liked Ko Bok Hui as a flawed character that has done questionable things in the past, I enjoyed her evolution. My only criticism with her is her epilogue persona. The fact all of a sudden they dressed her like that because she's now a hairdresser? because she has a criminal record? Not sure, but I found it a bit lazy and out of place in my opinion considering how she has been the whole series.
Although there is no romance, and it doesn't need it, not going to lie I would have liked it a bit as a very small subplot. It's not needed! but maybe because I had the expectation given the tags and because at point the drama kind of points towards it, I did miss it a tiny bit. I did enjoy the crushes Albert and Lee Yong Gi had for the FL, it was very cute in a school way, and honestly if they had gone that route either of the two would have worked well for the FL and would have made for a cute very side subplot. But it's ok as it was too (plus yeah, especially with Albert there was an important age gap, not sure what Yong Gi was supposed to be age wise though).
Other characters I very much enjoyed that are more secondary, like Bang Jin Mok, Cha Jeong II, Yun Jae Beom (absolutely hilarious). Generally all characters were great, and I think it's the main reason this drama worked so well for me. The main plot is not that groundbreaking by any means, it has been done before in one way or another, but the characters make up for it big time. You get invested in them and enjoy their relationships, personalities and banter with one another. At moments the drama is funny, at others is sad, but it keeps a balance that simply works and keeps you entertained without tipping that balance too much towards one side or the other and feeling out of place.
Normally I don't pay attention to the music in kdramas because I rarely like it, more often than not it tends to start to annoy me as episodes go, this is one of those rare shows where I actually enjoyed the songs that played in the background to the point I'll be looking some of them up.
Also especial mention to the flashbacks with that retro filter with grainy lines, it was a good choice, not in the way, it wasn't annoying and it made it easy for the audience to recognise it was a flashback (see director of Surely Tomorrow, this is how you do it).
Overall I really recommend this drama, it's an all rounder, enjoyable, entertaining, great characters and very good acting.
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Park Shin Hye just wow!
This marks her second entertaining drama after the widely acclaimed “Devil Judge,” and it truly highlights her growth as an actress. In this new series, her role stands out because it greatly differs from her usual performances, allowing her to step outside her comfort zone and challenge her established image.She showcases not only her versatility but also her innate ability to portray a wide range of emotions, from humor and mischief to heartfelt sincerity. The way she balances these contrasting elements reveals how much effort she has put into perfecting her craft. This fresh and amusing twist adds a new dimension to her acting repertoire, making her performance feel both surprising and memorable.
Audiences are likely to appreciate how she injects energy and nuance into every scene, proving that she can adapt to diverse genres and characters with ease. This drama is not just another addition to her career; it is a testament to her dedication, creativity, and ever-expanding range as an actress.
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Geumbokhee forever
I was worried this would spoil some of the magic at the end, like a lot of series can, but nope. Geumbokhee is canon, and you can't prove otherwise. Period setting is really fun and while I was worried it would be just slightly too quirky and manic, it strikes a really good balance between comedy and drama without feeling jarring in either sense, even if the comedy is really screwball and the plot can get quite surprisingly serious (though not too melodramatic) at times. It's all very natural feeling.Love the performances from all the women, and this might be the first time a random kid has sprung up in a show's plot and not just not ruined things, but actually improved things. The Korean birth rate propaganda works if the child is being raised by two lesbian couples living together it turns out. I will admit to not liking Nora at first, and I never quite fully came around on her much sillier and less developed character, even if she has way more screen time than Mi-sook, I feel Mi-sook was just a better character and we just saw more of her. I did end up liking more than I disliked her at the end though, she just feels like a character from something a little more focused on pure comedy than a comedy-drama. I'm also going to be real, the Risk Management guys and Cha Jung-il are the only interesting men. Shin Jung-woo and President Kang are devastatingly boring, thankfully Song Ju-ran is a much better secondary villain to Kang. Also love Choi In-ja and the way she mirrors characters like Bok-hee. So many fun to watch female characters to more than make up for the boring men, and yet CERTAIN PEOPLE have spent the entire drama's run speculating about M/F relationships instead.
More importantly, there's several Hong Kong cinema references here that aren't obscure or anything but I just find it really funny that Google translates Hong Geum-bo's name to Sammo Hung, and then you start to realise that was a totally on purpose similarity. The A Better Tomorrow reference here isn't as good as Extreme Job's though, the gold standard for jarringly random HK cinema references in Korean entertainment. Speaking of, I love Director Yun so much.
I want a season 2 but I also think they captured lightning in a bottle with the cast chemistry among the women of Room 301 and I'm not sure they can do it a second time without something being missing or having them come together as a group and have it not feel forced. I will at the very least take Geumbokhee as a FSS agent/PI buddy cop duo though.
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This review may contain spoilers
A story about female friendship disguised as a legal/ company drama.
Just finished too! Really loved the ending! Tbh I feel like this was basically a drama about the friendship of 4 young women and a little girl 🥹🥹🥹 All the company stuff also happened but basically it was all just a side story or a tool to bring these women together. Thats how I interpret it! 😂😂😂It was definitely one of the best dramas this year so far. I give it a 9/10. The only thing that bugged me a bit was that some plot lines about the company got too specific and complicated, for example that one part when they are trying to trick Albert’s father with some old bills in Myeongdong??? What was all that about??? I seriously didn’t understand even a bit of that 😂😂😂
I was also sad that Albert and Miss Hong didn’t end up together!!! I need to stalk this actor now because he is hella fine!!!! His lips and his voice omg!!!! 😍😍😍I wanted to see more of him!
I also wanna see more of the actress that played Kang Nora! She was amazing as well as her mom!!! Loved these so much!!! Such an amazing drama about women power!!!! Love love love it!!!! Who run the world?
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HUMOR WAS SO ON POINT.
Honestly, LOVED the ENTIRE cast. I literally do not think any other character could be more perfectly fit for each role.I have actually never seen the Chairman's daughter, but man she was SO perfect for the ditzy but innocent and cutesy gal!!
Honestly, the humor was what really got to me each episode; you just KNOW there will be a funny moment - even during the serious sections.
And I think one thing that people forget is how when introducing a large group of characters, you really couldn't tell WHO was for WHO and LOVED the growth of the group of women and the WHOLE team!!!
Like EVERY character seriously GREW on me LOL. Even the enemies, I'm like yes, they are so doing their part - respect.
I think this was a great "light" comedy + I loved the plot overall.
I know it DID get a little slow during the mid part - but honestly, I think they were trying to really build some character development AND RELATIONAL development; really goes to show why and how some of these characters decided on certain decisions and how each circumstance / person and or relationship with someone made them feel.
Another thing was that in the end, everything makes sense and some parts really did drag / go everywhere (personally think a 12 episode drama would have been perfect) but I GENUINELY enjoyed the ENTIRE drama!!!
I definitely would recommend this watch for its humor, mystery, and honestly, just love dramas with good revenge / growth!!! No drama is perfect and I reviewed this drama for what it was, truly a light comedy, some adorable romance, growth, brains, and heart-felt friendship!!
To each their own judgement / review, but please give it a try ^-^
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Fun and Nostalgic
There’s been a lot of garbage kdrama released in the last year especially under the guise of ‘romcom’ but this was a pleasant surprise. Very watchable, especially the first 7 episodes. Park Shinhye has been great since The Judge From Hell and similarly here too. Her character is strong and funny and doesn’t take shit from anyone. Very reminiscent of the 2014-18 kdramas, so I enjoyed it, despite some parts dragging a lot and some storylines becoming repetitive. I liked that the villains were actually quite stupid so I was not that stressed out that they’d get away with their crimes. Overall it was fun and I did not cringe that much which is a huge feat for recent kdramas.Was this review helpful to you?
Finally an entertaining, not dumb kdrama!
I've watched so many kdramas and cdramas this last year and I've been extremely disappointed by most of them! So my scores for this drama are probably a bit higher bc they're in comparison to the terrible kdramas I've had to sit through hoping they wouldn't be as bad as they were.Does this drama have a unique, complicated, never-seen before plot? No.
Was the story well-written though? Yes!
Finally top k-actors were put into good use and they delivered great performances with incredible comedic moments! I dont know what it is exactly that people are judging when they write their reviews or give out scores, but in no way this is a below 8.5 drama, especially compared to the ones released this last year.
Let me say it again: the comedic moments were truly amazing! The editors should be applauded here bc they knew how to edit the hell out of the material they got! The OST fit the era of the show very well too.
And the actors were all a top-tier cast! Even the new-face actor Albert Oh was well-suited to his role.
By the way one thing I really LOVED was the female characters and the relationships that they showed between them. Showing women standing up for each other and creating genuine friendships really tagged on my heartstrings. And the female lead being a badass with her martial arts skills and being the one saving the other women instead of a male character doing it.. chef's kiss!
Overall such an entertaining watch! A breath of fresh air compared to the last 5 kdramas I've watched.
Good job to all the creators of this drama, they've done what many other k-creators have failed to do. They delivered a lovely show!
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SECRETS BEHIND A SMILE
Undercover Ms. Hong plays with duality: light on the surface, but layered with quiet tension underneath.At first, it feels easy to watch. There’s a certain charm in how the story unfolds, mixing light humor with subtle mystery. But as the episodes progress, the tone gradually shifts, revealing a more restrained and introspective narrative.
At the center of it all is Ms. Hong herself. She isn’t the kind of character who demands attention loudly.. instead, she pulls you in through quiet control. Her strength lies in what she doesn’t say. Every glance, every pause feels intentional, reminding you that she’s constantly balancing who she is and who she pretends to be.
The supporting characters add texture to the story. Some bring warmth and lightness, helping balance the heavier undertones, while others introduce tension that slowly builds throughout the drama. Their interactions with Ms. Hong give more depth to her character, even if not all of them are fully explored. A few side arcs feel underdeveloped, leaving you wanting more from certain relationships and backstories.
The chemistry between the leads is subtle rather than overwhelming. It’s not the kind that explodes with intensity, but one that grows quietly over time, fitting the overall tone of the drama.
That said, the narrative does play it safe. There are moments where the story feels predictable, and certain plot points could have been pushed further. The pacing, while steady, may feel slow for those expecting something more dynamic.
Still, it works in its own way. It doesn’t try too hard to impress.. instead, it settles into its rhythm and lets the characters carry the story.
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This review may contain spoilers
I enjoyed Undercover Ms. Hong, primarily because Park Shin Hye was fun to watch, as was her mentor at the government agency. I also liked Bok Hui’s sassiness. Most of the other characters were over the top, including Kang No Ra and her hair and the villains Secretary Song (with her helmet hair and wobbly lipliner) and Chairman Kang (with his orange makeup that made him look like Korean Donald Trump). In sharp contrast was sluggish Go Kyung Pyo. I haven’t watched enough of his dramas to know whether he usually sleepwalks through his roles or was directed to act so that everyone would wonder what Hong Geum Bo origiinally saw in his character. If the latter was the case, he did a good job.Although the drama seemed to be about good versus evil and ordinary workers versus corporate powers, the real theme seemed to be the old guard making way for the new. Perhaps Kim Bom also foreshadowed the generation after that? Maybe I’m thinking too much about this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
it’s worthwhile watching
For a comedy it was light on but funny in many ways. As a mystery, they did well. PSH was terrific as Miss Hong and her many characters… Inalso loved thata they didnt bring romance into this other than the back story of the leads.Character development was made throughout and the criminals get their just desserts.
This one definitley kept me on my seat, wanting more. Yes there were parts that I didn’t think Inwanted to know about but by persisting, I was rewarded.
This is definitely one I will be rewatching.
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This review may contain spoilers
Winds me up
Just Wow -- talk about demoralizing -- women's are there to provide coffee etc..... Sorry but Park Shin Hye doesn't nearly pull off a 20yr old vibe -- acting stupid isn't being a 20yr old -- sticking clips in your hair isn't neither -- she just does not look nor portray that character well -- she is a pretty actress & usually does well -- but her overacting is teeth rattling Ha Yoon Kyung is another misadventure but not nearly as awful as Cho Han Gyeol out of them all he detracts from a scene with his nonchalance which comes over as I'm pretty so that is all you should require. The supporting cast is why I will try to finish this series because believe me they hold this together so far that is all I can sayWas this review helpful to you?
