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I went into The Ordinary Jackpot with zero expectations. Just like Eun Tae, I took a gamble and decided to keep up with the series without expecting much. Turns out, the gamble was worth the risk.

Like many other viewers, I was also drawn by the premise regarding the lottery win. It can provide much food for thought and I was curious to see how the main lead would handle his win. I initially assumed the story would focus on him using his money in order to make his work life better, however, the drama quickly showed that it had a different goal.

While Eun Tae had gained a big amount of money, it wasn't enough in order to quit his job and change his life altogether. Instead of investing this money somewhere, Eun Tae decides to keep up with what he had been doing already: continue working. Only this time, something has shifted. Since he had secured a big amount of money, he gained more confidence and decided to become bolder with his decisions and plans. The lottery money provided security to him, so even if something backfired, he would still be financially stable.

What started as a story about a lottery winner, expanded to a business drama with many other relatable characters. Although I haven't watched many business series, The Ordinary Jackpot presented a well-crafted story with many realistic elements. It's understandable that this type of plot might not grab the attention of many people. After all, many kdrama fans watch kdramas in order to escape from reality, therefore, a drama with such a realistic and common script might seem unappealing. And yet, it was precisely the grounded nature of the story which made me want to keep up with it.

The writer did a good job balancing the different themes and characters. The Ordinary Jackpot handled the obstacles Eun Tae's company faced in a plausible way, without coming across as too exaggerating. The pacing allowed the story to breath and as the drama reached its ending, I was very excited to see the outcome. Each week, I anticipated the release of the new episodes and each time, I was left excited for more.

Even though I was quite lost at times with all the information regarding the trade market and the company's politics, the story was easy to follow. The writer did a great job encapsulating the different mindsets and personalities of people who work in such big companies. Many scenes evoked anxiety, it was as if I was the one dealing with Hongsung's problems. Despite that, the story at its core remained so optimistic and surprisingly comforting, without losing its footing though.

The gradual shift after Eun Tae's lottery win shook the plot and the characters drastically. Not only did Eun Tae won over the members of his team but he stepped up and took over risky projects for Hongsung. Eun Tae's development, albeit subtle, was very effective for the trajectory of the story. By becoming more confident and open, he gained the trust of his team members and he became more involved within Hongsung's matters. Just like Eun Tae had said to Jun Ho on episode 2, he managed to shake things up in the company.

Eun Tae was an interesting main lead. Just like the title indicates, he's an ordinary person who happened to win a lot of money. His development was subtle but consistent and by the end of a drama, I felt proud of him and how far he had come from the first episodes. Lee Jun Hyuk, who played a fundamental role in my decision to start the drama, delivered a good performance. He portrayed Eun Tae with confidence, without coming across as too arrogant though. At the same time, the moments when Eun Tae let his anxiety spill showcased his worries as a person and allowed the viewers to see another side of his personality. Jun Hyuk's subtlety was very suitable for a reversed character like Eun Tae. He wasn't flashy like many other main leads but this made him more "approachable" in my eyes.

Eun Rae's relationship with Team 5's members was the heart of the series. I warmed up to everyone very quickly and soon, I got immersed in their teamwork and shenanigans. Once Eun Tae began behaving like a proper team leader, the rest of his members saw him in different light, resulting in the change of their relationship. Eun Tae became more considerate of their skills and feelings and he evoked respect and trust without being too strict or dismissive.

Eun Tae and Jun Ho's relationship became one of my most favourite dynamics. They came so far from their first impression and I couldn't help but smile while watching their interactions in the later episodes. Jun Ho treated Eun Tae with indifference and disrespect while Eun Tae was too distant and inconsiderate. Once they spoke their feelings out and settled their differences, they became a strong and efficient duo. Seon Hyun Woo was great in this role, he was entertaining to watch and after Jun Ho's cold facade melted away, he became one of my favourite characters. Hyun Woo delivered a performance that fully conveyed Jun Ho's change of heart towards Eun Tae. His performance in the last episodes was mildly amusing, especially when Jun Ho lashed at the team leader of another company.

Another dynamic I especially liked was the one between Eun Tae and Ji Hye. Ji Hye, a contract worker, worked hard in order to become a permanent employee. Eun Tae acknowledged her skills and dedication but he never attempted to sell her false hopes. Instead, he urged her to keep up with her good work and trust her own capabilities. The levels of trust Eun Tae put to Ji Hye, a far more inexperienced worker, highlighted the shift in the dynamics and the pay off was more than satisfying. Ha Yul Ri, whom I first saw in "A Bona Fide Killer" showed great versatility here. She made me sympathize with Ji Hye and she portrayed her anxiety and need for perfection very realistically. Ji Hye was by no means weak, she just needed more guidance and confidence in her skills and thanks to Eun Tae, she grew more as an employee.

The rest of the characters were equally compelling. I never expected to care so much about people in corporation and yet, here I am. All of them felt like real people, with their own flaws and worries. Although the series has a main antagonist, I wouldn't necessarily say there were any villains (not in the classic sense, at least). The writers settled on a more realistic approach, proving that people cannot be classified as "black and white", especially in work places where everyone is trying their best to survive.

Eun Tae's relationship with his boss, Jang Kyung Chul was surprisingly to say the least. I expected Kyung Chul to be the typical embodiment of a toxic boss but he was more layered instead. He was strict and he deemed some of Eun Tae's ideas as risky but at the same time, he trusted his judgement and he genuinely cared about him. There were various moments in their interactions which added humane undertones to his character, showing once again that people are not one-dimensional.

Park Hyun Sook, Hongsung's Department Head was yet another remarkable person in the story. We don't get to see many female characters in higher positions in business and her contribution to the story was more than poignant. She was stern but understanding too. Strict but practical and competent. Park Bo Kyung delivered a fierce performance, her presence commanded my attention and she carried the character with confidence and determination.

Jeong Seon Hyuk, the main antagonist, was a very complex character in my opinion. His action might have been "unethical" but they derived from his dissatisfaction from Hongsung's treatment. Instead of portraying him as a villain, the writers showed that he was another worker who sought to climb the ladder and establish his name in the sales industry - even if that meant he would have to follow extreme measures. His relationship with Eun Tae and Kyung Chul made the conflict between Hongsung and Seon Hyuk's company even more bitter. Both Eun Tae and Kyung Chul didn't want to harm Seon Hyuk, they understood where he came from and they wished to find another way to resolve their grievances.

While The Ordinary Jackpot was consistent throughout its run, some aspects could have been more polished. Since the drama was 10 episodes long, some plot points didn't receive much attention. Had the drama been longer, some aspects could have been explored in more depth. I would have liked to see more of Eun Tae and his family. There was a lot left to explore between him and his brother and how the financial instability of his family affected his need to work and earn money.

Another aspect the writer missed to explore was the fight against the system. I would have liked to see Eun Tae acknowledging the faults of the system more, especially in the capitalist society we live in. The drama obviously addressed this issue, it's just that the social commentary could have been more daring and in-depth.

In the middle part, some episodes felt less engaging, although that changed as the plot progressed more. While I enjoyed the characters and their interactions, some scenes which focused on the business aspect dragged, causing my attention to falter.

The Ordinary Jackpot was a business drama which made many poignant points. Money can definitely assist you but ultimately, our lives rely on the choices we make. We shape our own future based on our actions and the opportunities we receive. Life is not fair. Even after winning 1.3 billion won, Eun Tae realised that he couldn't change the life of others altogether. What he could do, though, is make sure that his coworkers would receive recognition and rewards for their performances. By changing his attitude, he changed his team's mindset, resulting in better results and earning the respect from his higher ups. While one could argue that The Ordinary Jackpot presented an idealistic version of the corporation life, I personally found the story to be full of valuable lessons. I appreciated the drama much more than I expected and I consider it to be one of my most favourite watches this year.