What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

Ewwwww

Horrible. PSJ is amazing overall but his character in this series is a complete nauseating jerk. I'm baffled as to why this has such a high rating. The main FL lines are all made up of "de?" What is wrong with this writer? Can a female character stand.upbfor herself? Regardless of her circumstances, there's reason for the indignity she has to suffer. The fact that the ML has trauma of his own is no excuse. Two Hallyu stars could not save this production. I hated the drama when I was finished but decided to wait a few weeks before I wrote review. I still stand by my originalassessment.

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The background story that the show was based on, had no potential at all. When I found out the real reason and what happened, I was so disappointed. The rest of the episodes were fillers.
I don't understand the hype of this show, probably because of the good looking pair maybe?
The acting was fine, nothing extraordinary. I have watched many romcoms, but without an intriguing story, the show itself falls short, this is exactly what happened to this show in my opinion.
Wasted a good amount of time over this show, ended up forwarding most of it. Won't recommend.

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Honestly, their relationship and chemistry were just meh. Really bland. The main lead carried everything on his back. He was the one who did everything first and developed the relationship. She did nothing, just responded. The efforts were one-sided and I feel like they don't fit each other. Lack of communication and understanding. It was just awkward cause I feel like he loves her WAY more. thought about her, texted her first, asked to eat together, asked out on dates, and wanted to spend time with her. Her actions didn't really show. She was like the robot in the relationship. She just went with things. I don't ship them. She did get a bit better at the end, bit wasn't much and didn't change the overall experience I had with their relationship. Also, she was really nosy about his life. I got mad when she asked others about his past. Her sister treated him like trash and he was supposed to win er favor..? that was on the worst scenes in this drama. What's wrong with being rich? He worked way harder than those sisters combined. I didn't like how The ML doesn't take a "no" for an answer and always pushed things. He asked about stuff multiple times, showed up at her house even though she said no. I just didn't find that romantic. He should've respected her boundaries. He was a bit obsessive at times. His relationship with his friend was also kinda one-sided. They kept bringing up what happened when they were five, it's not romantic or that important in their adult relationship. They kept doing that until the last scenes of this drama. The connection is so cheesy, weird and unrealistic. What they experienced together is not cute. Warning: This drama has A LOT of cliches. cheesiness and stupid moments. I predicted everything from the start. The "secret" was so obvious! Its also slow, not a lot of things happened, especially in the last episodes. Really dragged out. At least Park Seo Joon is a good kisser:) What I liked was that the FL had a career and was feminine and dressed nicely.

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bunch of GARBAGE

I really really really love park seojun but this drama is really really trash. the plot is just downright boring with super stiff acting from PMYG i have been her fan since healer but my god I was so astounded to see her stiff acting in this project. like I felt no chemistry going on between her and seojun given how this is supposed to be a ROMCOM? I would not recommend this drama I really had to drop it when I usually don't DNF any drama no matter how trash it is

given how it is adapted from a well known webtoon, the drama really does not deliver. I find ML (character played by Seojun) entertaining at times but how far can one character drag the drama when there's nothing more interesting to it !

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THE PLOT was promising at first but soon fell flat. I liked the premise but there was no climax. I mean there was a main conflict but it was too underwhelming. If you like kdramas with good character development than this isn't for you.

THE CHARACTERS were surface level. They could've been more but everyone was mediocre at best. I liked Secretary Kim but I don't feel like she evolved. I was actually rooting for her to quit being that self-centered boss's secretary because she deserved better. In the end she got the side eye from me because she ended up with him. I didn't like Lee Yeong Joon too much but his character is fustrating. He's rude and selfish, and the comedic relief he provided only served as a cloak for his narcissism. But the worst part is he shows NO CHANGE. In the last episode I felt he was the same person from the beginning. Yeong Joon's brother had potential but it was wasted. I found him cuter than his brother lol.

THE MUSIC was rather forgettable. The only OST that stook out to me was "it's you" jeong sewoon.

REWATCH VALUE is non-existent. I won't ever watch this again.

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Erratic writing is costly.

I love both the leads, the supporting cast not so much. But I think it’s the writing that bogs this drama down; it drags with side plots that I found boring and some ridiculous overacting that is so awful I skipped their scenes. The plot drags aimlessly at ep. 14, and almost at the end, I’ve lost interest and will only check in to see how they wrap it up, but without much investment. And I get so tired of the relentless fake chaste scenes in romcoms: these characters are healthy young people in their 30s. Of course they have sex, and without grown women behaving like little girls until they do. The brother subplot is so badly handled, it dissolves in unbelievable sloppiness. Yeah, this is not the best effort in KDrama, and PSJ is wasted because even his character is just not very interesting, despite the background we discover. I’m disappointed because it should have been so much better.

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It’s been a long time since I was this found of a Korean rom-com. Even if it follows some very standard rom-com elements I do think this it managed to shine all on it’s own. It was a very well made rom-com.

If you strip away all the fun, colorful characters and the cute and fun scenes that were sprinkled all over the drama the main story really isn’t that special, but the characters and the brilliant chemistry between the main leads make it work. And that is the reason why you are watching. They sell the show.

There might not be a whole lot of story there at times it never really fails to amsuse you or make you smile. I never felt bored watching these episode and most of the time they felt really light and fun. And I think that is what rom-com should do, in a way.

Recently Kdrama rom-coms haven’t really been working their magic on me, so finding one that did felt so nice. Very often I think these shows start of well - or in a way that interests me - but after a while I just get bored. But with Secretary Kim that didn’t happen. I sometimes watched these episodes again while I was waiting for new ones and that’s rare for me.

I said before that Why Secretary Kim did have elements of very standard Kdrama rom-com; with the rich CEO with too much ego and the hard-working yet poor heroine that takes most things with a smile and there is a tragic back story thrown in there as well for some drama.

But Why Secretary Kim tried to make that work to the best of their ability and for the most part they succeeded. I didn’t think the more dramatic storyline overshadowed the fun stuff and dragged the mooed down. And it didn’t drag on forever and ever. There were some that thought the story had ended after that got resolved, but since I thought that was the most boring part of the drama and I just enjoyed it for the characters and the main couple and all of that, I really enjoyed that part.

I never felt that was an awful lot on the way of the main couple. Not disapproving-family members or something that was too much of a road-block. Most things got resolved relatively quickly since the characters very often talked to each other or talked it out with someone else about the problems they were facing, so there were no misunderstandings that dragged on forever. The drama focused a lot on the dynamic between the characters and their relationships and I think that tributes to the drama just being really light and easy to watch.

The success of the drama is mainly because of the chemistry between the main couple and a lot of the drama was just about their relationship and them getting to know each other better (outside of work).

Also the main character of this drama was always Mi So. Park Min Young really shines in this role. We saw things through her eyes - sometimes the focus was on Young Joon, but that was mainly to highlight a certain point or something. But unlike so many shows her story was never put on the back-burner for the sake of the male character’s storyline. There was a nice balance there. And they both got a chance to grow.

I also felt like they managed to make some of the side-characters more deep and have them serve some kind of purpose by making them be there for the main character and talk about their issues with them and give them their own problems and the characters all supported each other, especially the ladies. They were not always just there for comic-relief, which also made the drama more fun. One of the few dull characters was Young Joon’s brother.

Like Young Joon’s friend, played by the brilliant Kang Ki Young (one of the best characters in the drama, aside from Mi So). I was genuinely excited whenever he or some of the other side-characters came on the screen. Sometimes I just think they take up space and time from the main couple, but not in this drama.

There was something really fun and nice to finally watch a rom-com like Why Secretary Kim after so much time had passed since I had genuinely liked a rom-com this much (the last time I wrote a review for a rom-com was 2014). It never had to grow on me and I didn’t get bored of it after few weeks. I didn’t have too high expectations but this show very quickly won me over and I am so happy about that. And while the story maybe wasn’t that grand or meaty, and some might say that not much happened, I never really got bored of this show. Not a single episode. I just had a lot of fun.

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the story was boring...yes its funny (not as funny as some other drama) but this drama doesn't deserve the point, it's soooo overrated because nothing special in it. its sit nicely in 'warm' territory for me.
main lead was good but nothing special. but...i like almost every interaction between support role (and their story).
the music is good, but i don't remember any of it...even after finishing all episode, i still humming some track from My Beauty Inside (its not that they're a lot better drama, they got their own flaws, its just about the track in it).
will i rewatch ? of course not...its sooo overrated. i've been hesitating to watch this because i'm not sure i'll love it but i decided to watch it because i'm curious since they got high rating and a lot of praise. it turn out to be one of the dramas that overrated for me. i'm not disappointed, but i'm not over pleased either, but i guess i'm expecting to much from this drama (because of the praise OMG)..no rewatch for me, to many dramas on my watchlist.

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DISCLAIMER: (please read)
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As of episode 12, I've decided to drop the series. So keep in mind that the following review is based on my personal taste and those 12 episodes. As such, I encourage and advice everyone to read two or three more reviews before deciding whether you should give this series a shot. Something I hated or was disappointed by might be something you love and was surprised by. This review is subjective, after all.

PLOT: It dragged
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The story had potential (to go into a dark and rarely explored territory) which is why I stuck to it as long as I could. The problem is that said darkness it's buried deep underneath clichés, wooden dialogue, absurd sound effects, fluffy romance and sidequests (all support characters' scenes which add nothing of value fall into this). As much as I love comedy, I think this series could've benefited from taking out the forced --and often cringy-- humor in favor for leaning into the melodrama that was at its heart (the only thing I found interesting).

Keep in mind that the reception of this drama has people in two camps. Those who love it and find it hilarious, and those of us who feel like we're trapped in the twilight zone. After some reflection, I believe that if you like watching romance with some story to the side, then this might appeal to you. If, on the other hand, you are like me and you like to watch a story with romance on the side, then I would skip this one.

Episode 11 sums up my experience. The first half dove into the parts I found interesting, focusing on the narrative with a more serious tone. Unfortunately, the last half was weighted down by the standard dose of fluff, cheese and what I can only regard as silly humor (I must say that the "cartoony" sound effects broke me out of the series and often got on my nerves, though I know a lot of people loved them).

The series as a whole had mostly fluffy & nonsensical scenes which never really hooked me or left me wanting more. In the end, I had to muscle through most of the series, forcing myself to keep watching in hopes that it got better. By episode 12 I have given up hope and had decided to drop it.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Dull
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Before I dive into the protagonists, I feel the need to make a note about the source material. Since this is a show based on a web series (which I'm unfamiliar with), I curved my expectations and set the bar very low. I intend no offense, but some web series tend to be beautifully drawn but present very superficial stories. Sadly, this show wasn't an exception and, despite my precautions, I was disappointed.

Kim Mi So (female lead): She's introduced as a strong protagonist. She's as perfect as her boss, with elegance and charm to match. Of course, she's also inexperienced with love, easily flustered, lovably clumsy and a bad liar. So after the first few episodes, she became ultimately boring. I kept waiting to be surprised, only to learn that what I saw was what I got. I truly believe that Kim Mi So would've benefitted if she'd been graced with a sharper wit, streets smart, a weird sense of humor... or something that made her stand out. She needed something to break that "perfect" character and give her an edge. Otherwise, you have a lead that falls flat, like eating an unremarkable dish. Sure you don't hate it and you might even finish it, but you won't remember what it tastes like either.

Lee Yeong Joon (male lead): As much as I like Park Seo Joon, his character was the most frustrating. It had less to do with his acting, and more to do with the source material. Lee Yeong Joon was riddled with traits that were so over the top, it was hard to take him seriously. When analyzed outside the story, he had the potential of becoming an interesting character because he's full of contradictions. He's a man who hides his insecurities behind a wall of arrogance. However, instead of using that contradiction as a base for character growth; his arrogant attitude was used to create cheap humor. There's also a lack of commitment from the writer to give him solid traits and stick with them. Case in point, he was introduced as a player, BUT he was never intimate with anyone. He's observant and smart, BUT he failed to see certain things when it mattered (ex. the flower thing). He's supposedly very smart, BUT he constantly misreads situations. He's bold & straightforward, BUT he can't be honest about his feelings. And on and on. One contradiction makes for an interesting character, but when you have so many, it's hard not to see the wishy-washiness of the writer.

ANTAGONIST: Stale
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Lee Sung Yeon (ML's brother & semi-2ML): He's the closest thing to an antagonist we get and, like the leads, he suffers from lack of depth. He's a paper character and never really comes alive. I wasn't able to either hate or love him and the writing made sure of that. He was introduced as a likable character, sweet and observant. Then, in record time, he was unraveled before our very eyes. We were told how to feel about him, rather than make the reveal of his story more impactful by giving us time to relate to him first. So the only thing I felt towards him was a sort of tired indifference.

SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Painfully shallow
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This is a series that got bogged down by having so many two-dimensional support characters who added nothing of value to the story. Chances are that if you skip all of their scenes (most of them which are aimless repetitions of their actions), you won't really miss anything...

PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Fluff with an extra dose of cheese
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This romance started on the wrong foot but at least it did move away from a toxic relationship into a more fluffy one. The thing that didn't work for me, aside from the extra dose of cheese, was that the characters felt and acted like kids. This could've been less ridiculous if both characters had been younger. As it stands, watching them made me feel awkward (I also had to fight second-hand embarrassment during most scenes).

Keep in mind, if you like fluffy romance, you might really enjoy this series.

OVERALL: Based on the 12 episodes I watched, I hesitate to recommend it unless you have a high tolerance for fluff.
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If the series was edited to take out the parts that were a waste of time, it might've been something wonderful. This could've been a good eight-episode story, but by extending it without having good material, it became mediocre. Though I tried to hold on, it became increasingly difficult with each episode to keep my mind from wandering. Now that I've watched more than half the series, I feel like I can make a proper assessment, which is that I doubt it'll get better and I'm unwilling to put more time into it.

Again, the potential was there but the story fell into the wrong genre. This should've been a romantic melodrama with comedy sprinkled in, not a rom-com with a side of melodrama.

I frankly do not recommend this drama if you are expecting a strong, impactful or memorable story, complex characters that grow as the series progresses and/or something refreshingly new. If, however, you are searching for fluffy romance with lots of scenes dedicated to their courtship, then this might shoot to the top of your list.

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This doesn't have basic spoiler

At first it was good and there was a mystery that happened decades ago that was the cause of the brothers conflict. Young Joon was treating her like shit and putting her into much stress for the past 9 years and when she snapped he realizes then that she was worth and fall for her. Let's say that is okay but after she first found out that Young Joon's brother was the one with her when she was kidnapped she was supposed to stop searching at that point even tho he couldn't remember anything from that time - yes he couldn't remember because it was painful for "him",so she should stop pressuring him to remember and just move on, start dating Young Joon, instead she keeps digging in because she wants young Joon to be the one there with her and that's because the director said so. After the truth was revealed the nightmare and trauma stuff just disappeared it's like "now that the the truth is revealed let's forget about it" like a phase and for the last 3-4 episodes I REALLY wanted to finish it fast so bad those episodes were unnecessarily long. The supporting characters' story, interaction was better in my opinion. That's what keeps me to finish it even tho I hate.

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Story - 7.5/10: Overall, the plot was a letdown from what I had expected. There was so much talk about this drama even before it got released so it got me hyped up. I know that this is suppose to be a romantic comedy series but it focuses so much on it that it didn't give justice to the other elements. At the end, I even had to skip scenes because I wanted to watch the romance of the second leads rather than the main characters. However, I have to say that the beginning was really good but it fell flat near the middle.

Acting/Cast - 9/10: I do believe the individual actors and actresses were really good and I love them individually but the fluttering and happy I feel during kiss scenes and other romantic scenes were just not there. I feel like the chemistry with one another wasn't that strong. I love them as people but I didn't enjoy them much in this series. The side characters were amazing though!

Music - 9/10: I love the music in the series! I feel like this was one of the best parts of this entire drama. I was hooked on with the music. They did a nice job with insertion.

Rewatch Value - 6/10: It was just so boring, I don't think I could watch this again...

My final words are to give it a try. Although the majority of this review is bad, don't skip over this just because the rating isn't good. Others have very positive reviews of this and I just happen to have a different opinion.

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