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This review may contain spoilers
Mature Well-Written Enemies-to-Lovers
It took me till the very end of ep 2 to get invested in this drama. While I love Shin Hae Sun and have enjoyed her in every drama I've seen her in (4 so far, including this one), I'd been considering dropping the show. However, now, 12 episodes later, I'm so happy that the email piqued my interest and convinced me to stay.
💌What I Loved💌
📂The Comedy
Not only did I find myself smiling at their antics, but I also genuinely found myself laughing out loud in multiple scenes throughout the show. While the show does become more serious (but not excessively so) in later episodes, the first few episodes reminded me of the 2022 drama Gaus Electronics. They need to make more absurd comedic dramas like that one
📂 The main couple - Mature, Hilarious, & they Communicate
You know those titkok and Reddit posts that are like 'which kdrama couple do you think ended up breaking up after the finale' (or something along those lines)? I am willing to fight anyone who would dare include this couple. Their start might have been a bit juvenile - as every enemies-to-lovers trope usually is - but as they grow, learn about each other, and eventually fall in love, they mature and fit together in the best possible way.
They face the awkward moments head-on, find their way back to each other after fights, and apologize; most of all, no one in their dynamic seems to pour more than the other. Despite their black cat x golden retriever dynamic, they meet each other halfway. They both put in the effort to keep the relationship moving and alive.
I think that often, when this dynamic is used in romantic plots, the golden retriever pours more of themselves into the relationship than the black cat in question. Yes, Joo In Ah does need coaxing to get her to open up, but she isn't standoffish or dismissive. She chooses him, talks to him, takes care of him, and shows him that he matters too.
And there was no 3rd act breakup. Hallelujah
📂 Based on their past and upbringing, they work beautifully together.
Someone with her past needed someone like him in her life to bring more light, laughter, and, oddly enough, food into it. He made her life lighter and brighter. I think of her r/ship with the VP as a burden. She was his saviour and anchor. Considering her past, his love would've only weighed her down further down the line.
📂 The Audit Angle of the Show
If you'd have asked me before this drama what audit departments did, I'd have replied with something along the lines of 'maybe cross-checking if the accounts and legal departments are staying on the up and up?' Literally nothing that would interest me in my day-to-day. However, auditing employee relationships? Now that's new. Because I'm lowkey nosy, I think I'd be into that IRL. Gimme all the tea
📂 Our ML's family
While we didn't see much of them, I loved the few times we saw his family. He perfectly embodies the bullied lastborn son in a family of all women. Despite how big he gets, he's still the baby, and they will treat him like one. I loved how they portrayed that older sister, younger brother dynamic. Like I will protect you, but I will also embarrass the ever-loving shit out of you at the drop of a hat. Plus, Joo In Ah got to join this lively family down the line. I think it was great for someone with her background
💌What Could've Been Better/Questions that I'd have Liked Answered💌
📂 I think I'd have liked to learn more about the Team 3 members. Our little Gen Z baby, the girl dating the loser bf for 10 yrs (girl, stand up), and poor mr white blood cell. I was rather curious about them
📂 What happened to Joo In Ah's father's OG family? It is mentioned once that he had a wife and a son. Where did they go? Did they just straight up abandon the man, or? Joo In Ah got saddled with him in the end. What a horrible thing. However, her breaking down after the funeral was one of the most standout parts of the show for me. The acknowledgement of hate mixed with grief. Excellent work.
📂 Our 2nd Leads - Lord, were they frustrating
※JJY - Every time I thought of his life, his misery, the phrase 'msiba wa kujitakia' would pop into my mind. In this colonizer language, this phrase can be translated to mean that I saw his life, the misery that is his life is a self-inflicted tragedy. He frustrated me to no end.
He had the means and opportunity to leave his horrendous family behind. To not accept being a pawn in an arranged marriage for company success. To seek a divorce. To not let the narrow and shallow societal view of his mother's mental illness be a black stain on his life, to not let anyone be ashamed of him and his life.
But what does he do? Sit and passively allow all this to happen. Bro could've taken charge of his life so long ago, but no. Noble idiocy, my friend. Noble idiocy. He does eventually get his head out of the sand and take charge of his life, but it was a little too late in my eyes
※A Jeong - There are so many reasons for me to be mad at this woman. For going after a married man (idc if his marriage was already in tatters and his wife was cheating), for throwing Joo In Ah under the bus, for using Noh Ki-Jun and discarding him TWICE!! for wearing those tiny ass skirts to work (giving a bad name to admin girlies everywhere), for helping throw Heamu into chaos and being instrumental in thousands losing their jobs, for being a two-faced little snake. I could rant and rage at all this, but I won't.
Because all my anger is at the fact that she's (excuse my French) a dumb bitch.
Miss girl is broke, homeless, and in debt. But she's going to risk the job, the roof over her head, debtors to hound her, the ability to buy food because of a dick that wasn't even pointing at her??? Risking your money, your bag for a man that don't even want you??? Christ on a cracker..! I can't. I just can't.
※And then at the end of the show, JJY seemingly forgives her and wants her back because she's apparently good at her job? Is Korea lacking in EAs?? Is there an EA drought in that country? An EA, especially a CEO-level Executive Assistant, needs to be one of the most trustworthy people to a CEO. She betrayed him once, and he still chooses her again? Sir, you are an idiot. I also suspect that that was a way for the show to hint at the possibility of their love story further down the line. I hate that
📂Joo In Ah's Decision Regarding that one Audit File - I don't think we ever got a good explanation why she chose to delete the file. Why did she choose to keep quiet and deflect when they kept hunting and beating her down because of it? Part of me thinks she was holding on to the promise she made to JJY 5 yrs prior. That she'd always protect him. Personally, I don't think she owed him her protection or silence, especially after all the nonsense he'd pulled to her and Noh Ki-Jun since she came back. I also think she should've at least explained her reason(s) to Noh Ki-Jun.
📂Final Thoughts📂
As a whole, the story is great, and the acting is fantastic by everyone involved. While I did find the 2nd leads idiotic, frustrating, and a little cliché, I don't think that's enough reason to miss out on the comedy and romantic development of our leads
💌What I Loved💌
📂The Comedy
Not only did I find myself smiling at their antics, but I also genuinely found myself laughing out loud in multiple scenes throughout the show. While the show does become more serious (but not excessively so) in later episodes, the first few episodes reminded me of the 2022 drama Gaus Electronics. They need to make more absurd comedic dramas like that one
📂 The main couple - Mature, Hilarious, & they Communicate
You know those titkok and Reddit posts that are like 'which kdrama couple do you think ended up breaking up after the finale' (or something along those lines)? I am willing to fight anyone who would dare include this couple. Their start might have been a bit juvenile - as every enemies-to-lovers trope usually is - but as they grow, learn about each other, and eventually fall in love, they mature and fit together in the best possible way.
They face the awkward moments head-on, find their way back to each other after fights, and apologize; most of all, no one in their dynamic seems to pour more than the other. Despite their black cat x golden retriever dynamic, they meet each other halfway. They both put in the effort to keep the relationship moving and alive.
I think that often, when this dynamic is used in romantic plots, the golden retriever pours more of themselves into the relationship than the black cat in question. Yes, Joo In Ah does need coaxing to get her to open up, but she isn't standoffish or dismissive. She chooses him, talks to him, takes care of him, and shows him that he matters too.
And there was no 3rd act breakup. Hallelujah
📂 Based on their past and upbringing, they work beautifully together.
Someone with her past needed someone like him in her life to bring more light, laughter, and, oddly enough, food into it. He made her life lighter and brighter. I think of her r/ship with the VP as a burden. She was his saviour and anchor. Considering her past, his love would've only weighed her down further down the line.
📂 The Audit Angle of the Show
If you'd have asked me before this drama what audit departments did, I'd have replied with something along the lines of 'maybe cross-checking if the accounts and legal departments are staying on the up and up?' Literally nothing that would interest me in my day-to-day. However, auditing employee relationships? Now that's new. Because I'm lowkey nosy, I think I'd be into that IRL. Gimme all the tea
📂 Our ML's family
While we didn't see much of them, I loved the few times we saw his family. He perfectly embodies the bullied lastborn son in a family of all women. Despite how big he gets, he's still the baby, and they will treat him like one. I loved how they portrayed that older sister, younger brother dynamic. Like I will protect you, but I will also embarrass the ever-loving shit out of you at the drop of a hat. Plus, Joo In Ah got to join this lively family down the line. I think it was great for someone with her background
💌What Could've Been Better/Questions that I'd have Liked Answered💌
📂 I think I'd have liked to learn more about the Team 3 members. Our little Gen Z baby, the girl dating the loser bf for 10 yrs (girl, stand up), and poor mr white blood cell. I was rather curious about them
📂 What happened to Joo In Ah's father's OG family? It is mentioned once that he had a wife and a son. Where did they go? Did they just straight up abandon the man, or? Joo In Ah got saddled with him in the end. What a horrible thing. However, her breaking down after the funeral was one of the most standout parts of the show for me. The acknowledgement of hate mixed with grief. Excellent work.
📂 Our 2nd Leads - Lord, were they frustrating
※JJY - Every time I thought of his life, his misery, the phrase 'msiba wa kujitakia' would pop into my mind. In this colonizer language, this phrase can be translated to mean that I saw his life, the misery that is his life is a self-inflicted tragedy. He frustrated me to no end.
He had the means and opportunity to leave his horrendous family behind. To not accept being a pawn in an arranged marriage for company success. To seek a divorce. To not let the narrow and shallow societal view of his mother's mental illness be a black stain on his life, to not let anyone be ashamed of him and his life.
But what does he do? Sit and passively allow all this to happen. Bro could've taken charge of his life so long ago, but no. Noble idiocy, my friend. Noble idiocy. He does eventually get his head out of the sand and take charge of his life, but it was a little too late in my eyes
※A Jeong - There are so many reasons for me to be mad at this woman. For going after a married man (idc if his marriage was already in tatters and his wife was cheating), for throwing Joo In Ah under the bus, for using Noh Ki-Jun and discarding him TWICE!! for wearing those tiny ass skirts to work (giving a bad name to admin girlies everywhere), for helping throw Heamu into chaos and being instrumental in thousands losing their jobs, for being a two-faced little snake. I could rant and rage at all this, but I won't.
Because all my anger is at the fact that she's (excuse my French) a dumb bitch.
Miss girl is broke, homeless, and in debt. But she's going to risk the job, the roof over her head, debtors to hound her, the ability to buy food because of a dick that wasn't even pointing at her??? Risking your money, your bag for a man that don't even want you??? Christ on a cracker..! I can't. I just can't.
※And then at the end of the show, JJY seemingly forgives her and wants her back because she's apparently good at her job? Is Korea lacking in EAs?? Is there an EA drought in that country? An EA, especially a CEO-level Executive Assistant, needs to be one of the most trustworthy people to a CEO. She betrayed him once, and he still chooses her again? Sir, you are an idiot. I also suspect that that was a way for the show to hint at the possibility of their love story further down the line. I hate that
📂Joo In Ah's Decision Regarding that one Audit File - I don't think we ever got a good explanation why she chose to delete the file. Why did she choose to keep quiet and deflect when they kept hunting and beating her down because of it? Part of me thinks she was holding on to the promise she made to JJY 5 yrs prior. That she'd always protect him. Personally, I don't think she owed him her protection or silence, especially after all the nonsense he'd pulled to her and Noh Ki-Jun since she came back. I also think she should've at least explained her reason(s) to Noh Ki-Jun.
📂Final Thoughts📂
As a whole, the story is great, and the acting is fantastic by everyone involved. While I did find the 2nd leads idiotic, frustrating, and a little cliché, I don't think that's enough reason to miss out on the comedy and romantic development of our leads
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