I loved the actors and characters in this drama, they all worked well together, it's a just a pity the story was lacklustre. This series seemed to turn korean drama tropes on its head despite being a chaebol romantic comedy. The chaebol in this drama (Ji Sung) isn't your typical cold and moody, hot lead, instead he acts like an immature boy. Also even how his body acts is noticeable, other chaebols have limited movement with their body but Ji Sung uses a lot of gestures, I guess portraying that he isn't cold, calm and collected but playful and dramatic. Also the female lead Choi Kang Hee doesn't act like the typical doormat assistant, instead she is a kick-ass girl and former thug. She has to be one of the strongest female lead characters I have ever seen in a korean drama, she was awesome.
The other noticeable difference was that there are no villains in this drama, I mean there are rivals but they're portrayed as normal people not your typical villains like in other dramas.
Watch this drama if you want to laugh so much you'll cry and love all the characters, just don't expect a good story. I think this is one of the most underrated dramas, it's a must watch.
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my opinion hasn't changed
the story was good, playful until the end
there were some serious moments but still funny
the story is about a girl punk trying to survive as secretary
the cast the acting was great both male leads did so well
(two extremes the workaholic and the childish rich boy)
both female lead did well also to extremes Tough girl wimpy girl
(tough girl very unprofessional being in that field i would have fired her a long time ago)
this was the first kdrama ive seen where ive loved every character
the music is stellar both the main leads can sing >.<
im rewatching it right now
this is the first review where the drama get a perfect 10
their characters reminds me a lot of boys over flowers
she's a tough girl and a useless heir that falls for her
i adored it
and if your tired of wimpy girls that wont stand up for themselves
tired of the girls who are unrealistic
this is the drama for you
ps it has a ending that is perfect
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This review may contain spoilers
After reading reviews on this drama and finally watching it, I'd have to say I agree with what a lot of people have said.This had a typical kind of story, rich guys, poor girls etc. But there was just something different about this drama. There was just something unique about this drama. I can't even put my finger on why or what made it unique. Maybe it was the all of the cast with a mix of the fun instrumental music that's played in every episode. I honestly can't say without giving spoilers away.
I absolutely loved this cast! The chemistry with all the actors was simply amazing. This is the first time where I loved every character, and that is simply hard to do. I couldn't even help liking the "bad guys". The main girl had such a strong personality and wasn't easily bullied. She would fight back. Which is something I wish more dramas would have. Lord knows how many times I almost punched my screen because the main girl can't stand up for herself.
Can I just say that Ji Sung & Jaejoong are some serious eye candy! First time watching a drama with both of them and I was impressed. I didn't expect Jaejoong's character to be like how he was with Ji Sung's character. And this was literally the first time where I didn't hate "The Other Girl" (Ji Hye's character) Yeah, when you first see her you think, oh lord, now the drama starts. But seriously right after that feeling I liked her! She was always fun to have in the scenes, she made me laugh a lot actually.
Wasn't much music besides a few songs and a few instrumental songs, but it all fit perfectly.
I would've given this drama a higher score but I honestly felt the last few episodes were unneeded. By 15 I wanted it to be the last episode but they kept dragging the last 3 episodes with a storyline that I felt could've been done within one.
But other than that, great great drama!
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The show doesn't get interesting until the second episode. Once you get to the second episode, you get addicted to it, and can't stop laughing because the events happen one after another. There's a lot of watch-rewind-watch again moments. The first half of the drama is brilliant and for me is a perfect ten, which is hard for me to give because I'm so picky. The unexpectedness of how the show plays out and their reactions to one another make the show a thrill to watch. Sadly, however, like many dramas, it begins to slow down in the middle, around episode 11. It's not to the point of extreme boredom, and there are still some funny and cute parts, but not one after another like the beginning. That's why I gave the story a 7.
The acting and cast I'd give a 10. This is for the most part because of Ji Sung. Despite having watched this drama for Jae Joong's good looks, I quickly became a fan of Ji Sung's cute/funny/unexpected/diverse acting skills. You'd never believe he's 37. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find anymore comedies with him. Why does he have to play serious roles? :( Anyways, though I did like the main girl, this is the first time I've ever preferred the second female lead over the first. It's not that I wanted her to get the guys, I just found her much more entertaining. Who knew a girl could be pretty and funny? I want to watch Bachelor's Vegetable Store now after watching this. Jae Joong wasn't a bad actor in my opinion, just not as entertaining. I found their parents very entertaining to my surprise. I love how they all seem so childish, but have normal emotions too like real people, not the typical romcom rich parents.
The music wasn't bad but at the same time, it wasn't outstanding for me. Jae Joong sings the main OST though, so if you're his fan, you'll probably really like it.
I gave this a rewatch value of 6 because I'd rewatch the beginning but not the whole thing.
Overall, I'd give this show an 8, because, while, the beginning was a perfect 10 for me, it slowed down near the middle, which is a significantly large portion of a show for me, and because it didn't have that wow moment for me. I'd recommend this show to anymore who wants to watch something that's truly funny and surprising, but doesn't really need something deeper.
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Most first episodes you can miss. But you don't want to miss this one. Also, the drama gets better and better as it goes along.
Eun Sol is the one who carries the drama the first half, but the second half, Ji Heon really is awesome.
You never know where the show is going to take you.
I liked that there were nonromantic non slow mo hugs involved.
Ji Heon's Dad
I grew to like this character really quickly. The fact that he's so down to earth with Eun Sol is great. It's nice that she has allies. He's a dad that really wants his son to succeed.
The things he does for community service is so funny.
I really liked him.
“Even though I meet a lot of women, I stick to my own age bracket.” Gahahaaha.
I also really like his relationship Eun Sol and how he wants to so desperately accept her but knows all the troubles that will come with it.
The actor really conveys the blustery, tempestuous personality with the soft-hearted side.
He's probably also one of the first Kdrama parents to apologise to the children for yelling at them. I love that he wants to start again with Ji Heon and be a better father to him.
Mu Won
I love his facial expressions. He's very cute and polite and he has a husky voice that does tingly things to my insides.
Mu Won - “Have you eaten?”
Eun Sol - “What?”
“If you haven't eaten, let's eat together. Even if you have eaten, eat again with me.”
His little fights with his cousin amused me because Mu Won is so mature but sometimes Ji Heon just gets on his nerves. I like the clashes they have and all the power plays and the way Mu Won is so cool about it.
Mu Won - “Do you want to eat together?”
Ji Heon - “No...why would I eat with...”
“Great. I don't want to, either. So, goodbye.”
Mu Won's a well-behaved gentleman so I like that Eun Sol advises him to, “stage a strategic revolt”.
He's kind of like a preppy high school girl who wants to experiment but just can't.
He is a beautiful creature and has the loveliest love confession but he's too scared to hear the answer. I loved that montage as he tries to avoid hearing her response.
In Episode 7....gah! I loved seeing his playful side. He definitely enjoys annoying Ji Heon more than he actually likes No Eun Sol.
“Are Ji Heon and I that annoying?..then you can just play around with us.” tehehe.
It was fun to see him relive his childhood or basically be immature for once in his life.
Finally, his shocked face whenever Eun Sol does something rowdy is just the best. The best.
Eun Sol's Dad
I really appreciate the continuing theme Myeong Ran and Eun Sol are confident women because their parents treasured them. As Eun Sol's father says, “Is your child the only precious one? My daughter is also very precious.” I like that they were brought up knowing that it's not the money that's valuable.
It's also great that with Ji Heon being such a sissy boy, that he has to gain the approval of Eun Sol's dad's more manly perspectives.
Romance
I really could not envision the chemistry working out. In most noona romances, the woman is still really childish and needs taking caring of by the younger hero. But Eun Sol really is like a mother to him to the point that it's sweet how she babies him.
I like that Ji Heon falls in love first. I think it's only appropriate considering the nature of the relationship.
When she confronts him about him liking her, he goes into the usual spiel of all the reasons he wouldn't like her. It doesn't phase her, she's still like, “So? What does that have to do with anything? Do you like me or not?”
“Why, why can't you accept my feelings?”
“First of all...”
*gasps “What, there's a number two?”
As the drama progresses, I began to understand Ji Heon's feelings for Eun Sol and how she became everything to him and it wasn't icky and weird but based on friendship and selflessness.
I really like how they outlined the relationship in Episode 8. How Eun Sol's rant at him really woke him up to how he was relating to her. And it wasn't all sunshine and roses.
When they do get together it's not very clear.
Eun Sol
I like that Eun Sol's personality remains consistent and her quirks continue throughout the drama. She doesn't change just because she falls in love.
Of course, Ji Heon tests her limits as a secretary. I like that she prevails.
Ji Heon - “Ah, what kind of woman is she? She's so ruthless!”
The heroine's voice is very low. It's a nice different from the tendency of Korean heroines to have a whiny voice. I like that she's not the type to apologise a hundred times. I like that she's a realist and not a fairytale optimist from the get-go.
I found myself looking forward to getting to know and love her.
I like that she owns her outbursts. She doesn't back down from her decisions. She sees them through.
She might say the wrong things, but she's not clueless. In fact, a lot of the times she's right on the ball. Her common sense is so uncommon in Kdrama heroines.
I like that she doesn't get tongue tied and she can say what needs to be said without dragging out long misunderstandings. She doesn't take crap lying down from anyone. She is an unusually quick thinker and when someone threatens her she threatens them right back.
In Episode 4 when she head butts him, she completely stole my heart.
Although I don't condone manhandling or intimidating, I do like that she does it to him as much as he does it to her.
Eun Sol really gives it to Ji Heon when he tries to put the moves on her. She is so brilliant.
She also isn't afraid to tease him about her relationship with his cousin.
I also like that she really gives it to him straight about the kind of relationship they have. I think she's the first heroine to really lay it down that working tirelessly is not as easy or as stress-free as other Kdramas portray.
She seems more like a noona to the cousins and she makes fun of Mu Won's lack of fighting skills.
Her practical side sometimes makes her seem cold and I like that she hardly ever cries.
Ji Heon
“I know you can solve the problem on your own. But you also have to tell me about it.” ~ Ji Heon
I can't believe the actor was the 34 when he filmed this. He acts so convincingly as a child. He does have a disorder but that's not a good enough excuse for me.
I liked when he started to try and look out for Eun Sol in his own weird way.
When he starts to let her help him, it gets even better.
He's an extremely prickly character who doesn't like this or that and doesn't like to be touched either. In the beginning he acts like he doesn't care what anyone thinks but of course he's a big baby and when he starts putting in the effort and trying he really enjoys the approval.
Responsibility is really hot. Haha. Ji Heon definitely became more attractive to me as he started growing up.
His immaturity also works in his favour too because he's not as prone to hide behind arrogance and image because he knows he doesn't really have one.
His stance on romance is simple, but effective. He's also encouraging.
It's weird how his character developed such depth and presented a side to Ji Heon that I would never have suspected, yet the writers lay the foundation so you realise it was always there.
He also apologises for wrist grabs.
Even as he grows up, he doesn't lose his cluelessness, “What? You're also dating an assistant manager?” ahahahaha.
By the end of it, I really believed in his character and his love for No Eun Sol.
Myeong Ran
I loved her as the best friend. She is a little on the large side which is great and she's just as kickass. And she's my first solid best friend in a Kdrama. She has a low voice too and that made the friendship seem more mature for some reason.
I liked that she has fun together with Eun Sol. It's not just that she's someone to complain to or a shoulder to cry on. They get along so well and can just let loose with each other and have inside jokes and dance and sing together.
Myeong Ran's ferocity really cracked me up. I like how the rich didn't dare cross her. Her strange relationship with Na Yun was hilarious.
The Ex – Na Yun
I kind of liked that she was a bit less controlled than other second female leads. She doesn't have it all together. She also really cares about Ji Heon even when she contemplates revenge, she won't go through with it.
She also wears her heart on her sleeves and she's not cool at all. She actively tries to prove herself to Eun Sol and this made her seem much more real.
I like that she chokes on her food and that she makes friends with Myeong Ran.
Elders
I liked the theme of the main characters outsmarting/rebelling against the parents.
There are scheming elders but I'm glad that the elders scheme amongst themselves and get in the way of each other and so it's not all up to the poor younger folk to dodge their machinations.
Also, Eun Sol has no trouble standing up to the elders. She's not intimidated or deferential at all. She's so direct with them, “Please don't come to this crappy neighbourhood with your crappy attitudes anymore.”
Surprisingly, the children of the annoying elders also learn to get a backbone and confront their mothers. For the win.
Fashion
Bow ties are always fun. Ji Heon wears a backpack which emphasises his kid look.
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I really liked the story even though it was pretty predictable. It was refreshing because of the humorous way they did it. I only wish they kept up the humor throughout. The series got a little more serious towards the end and that slowed things down a bit. That's really my only complaint with this show.
I thought all the actors did really well, both the main and supporting cast. They were all really funny and I especially liked the hilarious rivalry between Ji Heon and Moo Won! Yay cousin bromance catfights!! ^_^
Overall, Protect the Boss is one of the best lightweight Korean rom-coms I've watched.
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This is indeed another rich guy with issues falls for a poor no-nonsense girl drama. It has all the elements you should expect in this kind of kdrama, including greedy family members, a rival "hot" guy, and a jealous female rival. Even though the story is basically unoriginal, the way the characters act/react is often refreshing, and not so typical. There is also a pretty standard subplot about business corruption, betrayals, and greed, which eventually took too much focus in my opinion.
The supporting cast is made up mostly of fully developed characters, not just people meant to keep the main couple apart. Wang Ji Hye was really a stand out among the supporting cast. I initially liked Hero Jaejoong, though his coolness/aloofness started to bore me towards the end. I would have personally liked less time spent on the secondary couple who's scenes started to feel too repetitive. I also liked Ha Jae Sook, and I loved the female friendship displayed on the show.
The music fit the show well, though none of the songs were particularly memorable. Both male leads have more than one moment where they sing, which i thought was pretty cute.
I agree that this drama goes on too long. Compared to the pacing of the earlier episodes, the last episodes really started to drag the story out, and lost too much of the humor. The last scenes were underwhelming, and felt rushed. This is one of those kdramas that start with a bang and ends with a shrug. I still think this drama has more good going for it than bad, and would definitely recommend it.
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As u can tell I rly liked this drama & will be watching it again in the future b/c it rly made me laugh. I hope every1 that watches it enjoys it as much as I did.
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