Editorials 
1
This review may contain spoilers
The Early Spring's Foil
Airing almost back to back after The Early Spring means that there will naturally be comparisons being made by audiences. Already there were jabs being made that Wei Da Xun who was casted as the ML was much less attractive than Jing Boran and Zhao Jin Mai.
While Jing Boran is a certified hottie, Wei Da Xun pulled his own weight and matched the level this drama brings. If you've seen my previous review on The Early Spring, you would know that my biggest gripes was with how the main couple's relationship was portrayed. Mainly, the issue with having such a large age gap and power gap and how consent would look like. Irreplaceable, though almost having the same age gap and power difference, did not trigger the same question of consent. Both parties were aware of the relationship they would be getting into and how that would affect their careers. There was never a question of consent, but rather suitability. Honestly, as other reviews have mentioned, there is a lack of chemistry (across the board with all couples) between the actors themselves, but also in the character builds. While ML was a great help to FL, I don't think they are suitable for each other because they are almost a little to similar to each other. FL is ambitious and often takes on more than she can chew because she is confident in her ability to manage. ML is quite similar, valuing efficiency and ability. Their attraction towards one another can be explained by their similarities and shared goals, but there's not much that would suggest this relationship would be long lasting or enriching. It just feels like they're a work couple or a couple that is together because of work. In fact, most of their scenes whilst in a relationship are not different from them at work or from before they were a couple. It's like they clock out of their normal work and clock in at home to do more work.
That being said, aside from addressing the issue of age gap, Irreplaceable does a good job at immersing you into its world. It was believeable that these characters worked as consultants. The scenarios and plot points were well written (with an exception) without being too boring. An issue I had with TES in hindsight was the believability of the plot. I had trouble believing the characters (specifically the FL) were a part of this prestigious, global corporation because there was a question of capability. Irreplaceable made it clear from the start that while FL was new and inexperienced, she had the smarts and work ethic to survive in a cutthroat environment.
My main gripe aside from the bland romance amongst all the couples is the random last minute break up/plot twist and open ending. Given that this drama is quite short for a C Drama and lacking 4 episodes on TES's 24 episode run, it's understandable if they wrapped things up earlier. Instead, it feels like they pushed a last minute break up for no reason and it did little to deepen the romance between ML and FL. Their respective reactions actually makes me think that their relationship will last shorter than expected. While their open ending (kinda) at the end hints that they do make up, I almost don't want them to. It feels like a natural end to a brief romance. FL goes out of her way to protect ML and along the way manages to prove her excellence while turning the tables. But ML doesn't take that well because it was not the method he would have taken and it unsettled him that FL was able to do that. He literally runs away from home because he was unhappy with it. From afar, he was able to appreciate FL's ability, but when she's performing well right next to him, he feels threatened. While he does get over it in the last ten minutes of the last episode, to me it means that they are destined to break up down the line because he will not be able to tolerate FL, especially not so close to him in the same company.
TLDR: Irreplaceable is the other side of The Early Spring's coin. It takes a completely opposite approach to the same office romance between a significantly younger employee and their boss. While each had their strengths, I would say they ranked at about the same. One's strengths was the other's weakness with neither coming out as the winner.
While Jing Boran is a certified hottie, Wei Da Xun pulled his own weight and matched the level this drama brings. If you've seen my previous review on The Early Spring, you would know that my biggest gripes was with how the main couple's relationship was portrayed. Mainly, the issue with having such a large age gap and power gap and how consent would look like. Irreplaceable, though almost having the same age gap and power difference, did not trigger the same question of consent. Both parties were aware of the relationship they would be getting into and how that would affect their careers. There was never a question of consent, but rather suitability. Honestly, as other reviews have mentioned, there is a lack of chemistry (across the board with all couples) between the actors themselves, but also in the character builds. While ML was a great help to FL, I don't think they are suitable for each other because they are almost a little to similar to each other. FL is ambitious and often takes on more than she can chew because she is confident in her ability to manage. ML is quite similar, valuing efficiency and ability. Their attraction towards one another can be explained by their similarities and shared goals, but there's not much that would suggest this relationship would be long lasting or enriching. It just feels like they're a work couple or a couple that is together because of work. In fact, most of their scenes whilst in a relationship are not different from them at work or from before they were a couple. It's like they clock out of their normal work and clock in at home to do more work.
That being said, aside from addressing the issue of age gap, Irreplaceable does a good job at immersing you into its world. It was believeable that these characters worked as consultants. The scenarios and plot points were well written (with an exception) without being too boring. An issue I had with TES in hindsight was the believability of the plot. I had trouble believing the characters (specifically the FL) were a part of this prestigious, global corporation because there was a question of capability. Irreplaceable made it clear from the start that while FL was new and inexperienced, she had the smarts and work ethic to survive in a cutthroat environment.
My main gripe aside from the bland romance amongst all the couples is the random last minute break up/plot twist and open ending. Given that this drama is quite short for a C Drama and lacking 4 episodes on TES's 24 episode run, it's understandable if they wrapped things up earlier. Instead, it feels like they pushed a last minute break up for no reason and it did little to deepen the romance between ML and FL. Their respective reactions actually makes me think that their relationship will last shorter than expected. While their open ending (kinda) at the end hints that they do make up, I almost don't want them to. It feels like a natural end to a brief romance. FL goes out of her way to protect ML and along the way manages to prove her excellence while turning the tables. But ML doesn't take that well because it was not the method he would have taken and it unsettled him that FL was able to do that. He literally runs away from home because he was unhappy with it. From afar, he was able to appreciate FL's ability, but when she's performing well right next to him, he feels threatened. While he does get over it in the last ten minutes of the last episode, to me it means that they are destined to break up down the line because he will not be able to tolerate FL, especially not so close to him in the same company.
TLDR: Irreplaceable is the other side of The Early Spring's coin. It takes a completely opposite approach to the same office romance between a significantly younger employee and their boss. While each had their strengths, I would say they ranked at about the same. One's strengths was the other's weakness with neither coming out as the winner.
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