Business Proposal (2022)

Cliches done right!

THIS is how you incorporate all the cliches without making them annoying. THIS is how you incorporate humor without making it loud and cringy. THIS is how you do the perfect rom-com.

Business Proposal felt like a throwback to early 2010 k-dramas and the golden age of romantic comedies, but it modernized it and fixed all the frustrating misunderstandings and miscommunications that made me tear my hair out back then.

I felt like the friendships were such an important part of this show from beginning to end and it made it that much better. The FLs and MLs are each so supportive of each other with their respective family situations, the coworkers are also such a supportive team, and it made the show that much more comforting to watch even when side characters came in to sabotage things as they usually do.

I admit that the ending is a little short and leaves some scenes and closure to be desired — but I understand that we only had twelve episodes and there probably wasn't much time to spend on some of the more interesting, non-romance subplots like backstories and family issues.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for something light-hearted and stress-free, this drama is the one.

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U-turn on expectations and clichés.

Not gonna lie - I dropped the show after the first two episodes. They were fine, but did not grab my attention. Next week I felt like watching a rom-com, so I picked it up again, and from that moment I just enjoyed the silly ride it took me for. They really played into, and at the same time broke all the cliches of kdrama rom-coms, and it was so much fun to watch

The story is something we have seen countless times - a fake relationship leads to a real one. Rich guy falls for a poor girl, yet few twists made it much more compelling and interesting. The female lead was not a damsel in distress - she is competent, friendly, strong. The male lead was not a cold lead - he is a cute and soft potato. The father was not evil, rather funny and a bit childish. The best friend second lead deal is dealt with in a realistic manner.

While the conflicts and issues between the main couple come from their different backgrounds, the second couple’s issues come from the differences of their personalities. Thanks to that we see a variety of interesting situations that kept me entertained.

That said, there was one side plot situation that had quite an impact on the characters and their behavior, but then was gone and never mentioned, simply because the current plot progression did not need it anymore. I wished we had some kind of closure or explanation for it.

The characters were all quite fun to follow. Except for the main cast that delivered a good performance, I want to talk about Seo Hye Won who played Jo Yoo Jung Young Seo's cousin. The girl was hilarious. Her random English lines with cartoonish subtitles on screen were some of the best scenes. She was extremely over the top, but it worked perfectly in the context of the show and overall tone.

While I have no huge complaints about any of the performances, I was slightly disappointed with Kim Min Gue. His character lacked expression. I get that he was this well mannered, stoic, logic driven guy, but I was just not completely convinced by his delivery.

It’s an over the top romantic comedy - funny sounds, funny animations, funny subtitles on the screen, but all of that was rather fitting and elevated the scenes - be it making them more funny, cute, sometimes cringe. I mean, the whole show is cringe, but I appreciate how they embraced that. Sometimes it’s the way to go - don’t take yourself too seriously, so people can enjoy it for what it is.

I don’t really have much to say about the soundtrack. All the songs were nice, cute and matching the drama, but the only one that truly caught my attention was Han Seung Yoon’s Whatever You Want.

Overall, if you are in the mood for romance, I don’t think you will find any better production from the past few years. It was cute, entertaining, did not have any over the top problematic plot lines, no random murder mystery we sometimes see in Korean rom-coms. Sometimes all one needs is good looking people falling in love with each other and all the cringe and sweet butterflies that come with it.

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Everyone Deserve a Treat Like This Drama Once In A While

101% RECOMMENDED
This drama started with a bang and continued to be my Fav Mon/Tue drama in march 2022 though there are many other Ongoing dramas that are good, but what makes this drama special is that it's fun and easy to watch, the best choice for binge-watching you just put this show on you'll have the most fun time and would Giggling for 8 hours and 4 hours you would be swooning over the romance. it's a fast-paced romance line either it's the first lead or second lead, this drama is filled with amazingly passionate couple chemistry and makes this drama so swoon-worthy... A drama can't be any more cliche than this one, but in every scene, you will be like "ok this has been done before but never on this level". this show has a unique quality that it doesn't make u irritated with its cliche plot but makes it more interesting and enjoyable due to its comic timing. Once you put it on you'll be eager for more and more that's how good this show is...
The reason I started watching this drama was that it was the newest Kdrama on Netflix with only 1 episode out and DANG I was hooked since, just because it was easily available on Netflix and Trailer seemed so fun, that I started watching it instantly; I had to suffer 6 weeks to finally see it's ending but surely this drama made MARCH 2022 SO MUCH FUN (jeez I'm gonna miss this drama so much).
Some Like 1st lead couple and some Like 2nd lead couple and it's totally alright but no need to compare these couples, BOTH couple's chemistry makes this drama Balanced and Worth checking out as the drama shows different aspects of romance.
Young Seo & Hari Are the best best-friends ever. A perfect example of a friend in need is a friend indeed (throughout the series they are seen cheering and helping out each other )
OVERALL: This drama is very good to watch, relaxing and gives a good laugh and constantly reminded me of how single I am...lol
*HONOURABLE Mention: Kim Min-Kyu with glasses... Is so CHARISMATIC... *wanjeon jalsaeng-gyeosso* (AND its special use in episode 8 had me freaked out...FIREee)
;P
...
REASONS TO WATCH:
+Bromance and Sismance=10/10
+Grandfather and Grandsons=8/10
+Awesome chemistry Between all the character=10/10
+Fake Jin Young Seo Scenes=11/10
+friendship between the leads=10/10
+comedy scenes=9/10
+Catchy OSTs=9/10
+A Light hearted destressing story=8.7/10
+fun watch
+short
+All the DIALOGUES are Catchy, Exciting and hilarious at the same time, 10/10
BUT MY FAVOURITE:
*KANG TAEMOO: I'm quite good... at many things. (EP1)
*SHIN HARI: Makes Samantha & Rachel very sad. (EP1), Archaeopteryx (EP2)
*CHA SUNG HOON: I’ll make sure that you never forget. (EP7)
*JIN YOUNG SEO: If you don't I'm really... gonna cross the line. (EP6)
...
REASON SOME MIGHT NOT WATCH:
-Cliche (but in a most enjoyable way)
-PURE ROM/COM (THE BEST OUT THERE)
-CRINGEY (BUT Alluring)
-FAST-PACED ROMANCE (totally the reason why I watched)
-NARCISSISTIC MALE LEAD (BUT TAEMOO IS DAMN CUTE BEING THAT WAY :* )
-RICH AND POOR (who doesn't like seeing rich lead flexing ;p )
-IF YOU PREFER ACTION, THRILLER, SUSPENSE OVER ROM/COM (this is the only reason one might not wanna watch it but still TRY IT and take a break from Action/Thriller types dramas, I'm sure everyone will love it)
...
CONS FOR ME:
*are only 12 episodes... [wish it was a bit longer (maybe 16 episodes) and we could have seen them all for a little while longer...]
...
*PS: I hope you all will LOVE this drama as much as I did*... and if you don't then we can't be friends ever... lol
AGAIN= *101% RECOMMENDED

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‘ Business Proposal’; The Revamped Rom-Com Formula With A Few Tricks Up Its Sleeve…

It is likely that most K-drama viewers can agree that the late 2000s to early 2010s was an era in the world of K-dramas predominated by melodrama and angst . Indeed for better or for worse, ‘ Business Proposal’ attempted to capture that in its rom-com formula.

‘ Business Proposal’ focuses upon Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-Jeong- ‘ School 2017’, ‘ I Wanna Hear Your Song’ and ‘ Uncanny Counter’), a relatively new researcher at one of South-Korea’s top conglomerate enterprises, GO Food. Ha-Ri has always had an unrequited crush on Lee Min-Woo( Song Won-seok- ‘ Swan’, ‘ Switch’ and ‘ Never Twice’), a close friend since their university days. However after having her heart broken once again by Min-Woo, Ha-Ri soon begins to reevaluate her feelings.

Meanwhile Ha-Ri’s best friend and chaebol heiress Jin Young Seo ( Seol In Ah- ‘ Sunny Again Tomorrow’, ‘ Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life’ and ‘ Mr Queen’) discovers that she will soon be forced to go on a romantic date with a rich CEO’s son, much to her displeasure.Asking Ha-Ri to take her place, Ha-Ri agrees to do so in order to pay off a family debt.

When Ha-Ri shows up as Jin Young Seo, she soon discovers that her “date” is with the president of her company, Kang Tae Mu ( Ahn Hyo Seop- ‘ My Father Is Strange’, ‘ Thirty But Seventeen’ and ‘ Dr Romantic 2’).

Kang Tae-Mu is a straight-laced and career-orientated individual, even being labelled by his grandfather and founder of GO Food, Kang Da Goo( Lee Deok Hwa- ‘ Age Of Warriors’, ‘ Suspicious Partner’ and ‘ Hit The Top’), as a “workaholic”. ( Especially after the incident surrounding his inauguration ceremony.)

The “first date” is calamitous for Ha-Ri but unbeknownst to her, Tae-Mu has felt differently. Confiding in his chief of staff , Cha Sung-hoon (Kim Min-Gue-‘ Romance Special Law’, ‘ Perfume’ and ‘ Snowdrop’) that he will marry “ Jin Young Seo” ( aka Ha-Ri) in order to keep his grandfather off his back, Ha-Ri’s ordinary life is soon filled with an assortment of complicated and sticky misunderstandings.

‘ A Business Proposal’ is based on the lighthearted rom-com webtoon,  ‘The Office Blind Date’ ( ‘사내 맞선’) by Hae-Hwa. Adapted to the small screen by screenwriters Han Sul Hee ( ‘ Ugly Miss Ae’, ‘ A Love Story’) and Han Bo Hee ( ‘ High Kicked!: The Revenge Of The Short Legged’ and ‘ Standby’), “ will likely appease and dissatisfy viewers of equal measure.

Of course, it is important to specify that ‘ A Business Proposal’ is supposed to encapsulate a certain “easygoing nostalgia” from rom-coms. For the most part ‘ A Business Proposal’ did possess a lighthearted, easygoing and fluffy edge; occasionally tipping into angst-ridden melodrama in order to “spice up” certain events of the narrative and keep viewers intrigued . ( This was particularly apparent with the “clandestine ” events surrounding the main leads’ relationship as well as lingering questions throughout the narrative surrounding the traumatic past of main male lead Kang Tae Mu.)

It is important to point out that the main leads in the series played by Kim Se Jeong and Ahn Hyo Seop were fairly delightful. Indeed despite some strained initial interactions onscreen, Se Jeong and Hyo Seop possessed a surprisingly easygoing chemistry as the series progressed between their onscreen personas.

However their onscreen roles Shin Ha-Ri and Kang Tae-Mu were admittedly not without their writing flaws. As a female lead and the main heroine of the series , Ha-Ri was established to be the “ hardworking” archetype. On the other hand, it is hard to ignore that while Ha-Ri does continue to maintain her hardworking ethos alongside her complicated feelings for Tae-Mu, she could sometimes be passive with her reactions and actions in the events of the series. ( This became apparent at times by Ha-Ri being “ beckoned by the calling of plot dilemmas” rather than character growth.)

For example one of the most noticeable problems of the drama arose from Ha-Ri’s personal drive and motives. Although it is arguable that Ha-Ri may have done so as a consequence from direct and indirect influences by her parents ( although the same cannot be said particularly for her brother per say) , it was hard to truly define or highlight exact causes given by Ha-Ri for entering this profession as a food researcher with sincerity. (Although this may seem like a nuanced and minor background point, it could’ve easily allowed Ha-Ri’s character to possess more definitive edges.) Instead Ha-Ri was often subjugated to the role as the “ thinker”; a brilliant idealist with a multitude of possible projects and new ideas for the company . However even as viewers, we rarely saw some of these ideas being taken further by Ha-Ri chasing her own dreams , or at least attempts by the female lead to become more ambitious with her imagination. ( Of course this may seem like a nitpicked detail but it seemed odd that the narrative would often highlighted Ha-Ri’s dexterous talents as a food researcher and her possible ideas but rarely pushed forward for it to the synchronic with the female lead’s character growth and development.)

Of course, this naturally brings up the discussion surrounding Tae-Mu and Ha-Ri’s relationship throughout the drama. Although as mentioned previously the onscreen chemistry between Kim Se Jeong and Ahn Hyo Seop is surprisingly dynamic, there is admittedly a lot to discuss surrounding their onscreen personas’ relationship.

Perhaps the most evident point of discussion and initial debate around Ha-Ri and Tae-Mu’s relationship can be sourced from one of the trope-induced setups of the series; “the contractural relationship”.

Admittedly Ha-Ri and Tae-Mu have both consented to the relationship and for different reasons. ( Ha-Ri’s motives being sourced for money to help pay off a debt while Tae-Mu’s causes can be found in order to appease his grandfather.) On the other hand it is hard to ignore that the initial treatment by Tae-Mu towards Ha-Ri as merely being a “ cause to an end” for his troubles ( and vice versa to an extent with Ha-Ri) as well as even offering money to Ha-Ri as an incentive to keep his grandfather off his back, could feel as though it was problematic by the narrative rarely pointing this out as a serious issue of discussion.


Of course it would be wrong to suggest that Tae-Mu and Ha-Ri doesn’t grow beyond the roles of the contractor and the contractee. As the series progresses and impassioned feelings grow for one another, the narrative relished within opportunities to highlight the obvious feelings of the “ lovelorn” main leads for one another. In later episodes of the narrative , this would often trigger an onset of misunderstandings and attempts by the main leads to “ cover up” their situations from work colleagues and family alike. Although the series did gradually present their potential onscreen relationship with more overt honesty ( especially with regards to Tae-Mu telling Ha-Ri about his traumatic past), this did often gloss over earlier issues of the series as a consequence. ( This was mainly due to the fact that Tae-Mu and Ha-Ri’s initial problems even for the effect of “ tension” such as Tae-Mu’s attempts to convince Ha-Ri with money, Ha-Ri’s reaction and fake guises as well as later treatment by Tae-Mu, were rarely brought up openly by the characters in order to acknowledge their mistakes and accept all of their faults as a point of further character growth .)

Under the creative leadership of screenwriters Han Sul Hee and Han Bo Hee, ‘ A Business Proposal’ offered viewers with a pacy narrative filled with the events surrounding the main storyline as well as several subplots in order to pad out the drama’s screen time .

Of course, thus isn’t a particularly unusual tactic used by screenwriters. However while this did offer opportunities for viewers to be intrigued and captivated by the events of the narrative, it could often enforce the classic dilemma of juggling a lot of different storylines. This could often lead to some of the minor counterplots of the series feeling rushed or somewhat anticlimactic by the ending of the series.

Perhaps one of the major subplots to discuss within ‘ A Business Proposal’ surrounds the potential onscreen relationship between second male leads, Jin Young Seo ( Ha-Ri’s best friend) and Cha Sung-Hoon ( Tae-Mu’s chief of staff). Young Seo and Sung-Hoon were characters who possessed less definitive storylines than the main leads.

Of course this isn’t particularly unusual per say in a drama but it seemed as though the series often moved away from initial inferences given by Young-Seo and Sung-Hoon’s character arcs to be explored in more depth. ( This can be particularly applied to Young Seo’s family situation and naivety rarely being brought up as a point of character growth, as well as Sung-Hoon’s own familial situation.) Of course Young Seo and Sung Hoon were supposed to play the roles of the “ assets” to the narrative and screen time . ( Although admittedly Young Seo was shown to make an executive decision with regards to her own dreams by the ending of the series, it was rarely given a concise buildup.)

Although Young Seo and Sung Hoon’s onscreen relationship was surprisingly sweet and offered lighthearted respite at times from the angst taking place in the main storyline, it could often feel rushed as a consequence of inconsistent screen time given to the secondary couple. In addition to Young Seo and Seung Hoon’s potential relationship being used as a major subplot, there were also minor focuses to draw out the narrative upon Ha-Ri’s workplace colleagues ( especially in order to highlight the potential onscreen chemistry and jovial animosity between her superior manager Yeo Eui Ju [Kim Hyun Sook] and team member Kevin [Im Ki Hong]), Tae-Mu’s grandfather and his fixation upon soaps and makjangs, Ha-Ri’s parents, Ha-Ri’s old crush Lee Min Woo and his initial jealousy towards Tae-Mu as well as Young Seo’s “ love rival” offered as comic relief, flamboyant and the eccentric Marine Group Director Jo Yoo Jung( Seo Hye Won).

Nevertheless it’s wrong to entirely digress ‘ A Business Proposal’ without acknowledging some of its impressive feats, specifically the directing leadership of Park Seon Ho ( ‘ Birth Of A Beauty’, ‘ Suspicious Partner’ and ‘ My Strange Hero’). Throughout episodes, ‘ A Business Proposal’ displayed some impressively mesmeric and creative touches; differing from minimalist palettes to vivid and slick editing cuts. Although these imaginative touches dwindled in later episodes and instead highlighted minimalist approaches to filming and palettes, it certainly offered an onset of aesthetic shots throughout the first-half of the series. ( One of the most memorable scenes coming from the narrative bringing to life the cover story for Ha-Ri and Tae-Mu’s “ initial encounter”; Ha-Ri imagining a monochrome and drizzly day in New York, before her entire being-quite literally- is brightened up by the sudden appearance of Tae-Mu and a canary yellow umbrella onscreen.)

For those intrigued about the accompanied soundtrack, ‘ A Business Proposal’’s OST is mainly comprised of an array of saccharine, upbeat and lovelorn ballads; some of which were admittedly generic and quick to disappear from memory. However, fast-paced tempo song ‘ You Are Mine’ by VICTON (빅톤), sweet vocal track ‘Love, Maybe’ (‘사랑인가 봐’) by SECRET NUMBER and ballad-style composition ‘ Melting’ by BAMBAM were particularly noteworthy tracks.

‘ A Business Proposal’ offered its audience with a nostalgic sweet and lighthearted topping of angst, cliches and romantic relationships throughout the duration of the series. Although ‘ A Business Proposal’ boasted an unoriginal plot premise with several writing flaws and tropes, the narrative did surprisingly offer several unexpected takes upon the setup, with decent onscreen chemistry between the main leads as well as imaginative takes upon filming and editing. Overall while ‘ A Business Proposal’ may not appease everyone with its niche dilemmas and plot premise, the series will offer a sugary and sickly sweet ride for anyone looking for an updated and lighthearted take upon old-school rom-coms. Overall, a decent binge-watch.

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This drama was filmed in the wrong era

If this drama was out at the same time as Boys Over Flowers or Secret Garden or something, I would be more understanding. But this drama felt like they were just following the Book of K-Drama Cliches. I have watched cliche dramas before that work just fine, but this was just straight up boring and outdated. Everything was predictable, from the dialogue to the tropes. There was barely anything to the plot to keep the drama moving. I felt like I was watching filler ep after filler. No wonder there's only 12 eps.

I thought we have moved past the I-will-bother-you-till-you-like-me-Sehoon-Lee Min Ho-like romance. The main couple barely shared any connection and had no chemistry. The second couple was slightly better, but they also didn't match in compatibility.

The only unique factor was the English speaking cousin.

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A Korean billionaire romance with potential

Seven episodes in, I'm yet to see what the proposal is or what it has to do with any of the businesses in the show because the contractual relationship doesn't seem to be it considering how it was treated. ABP is also guilty of following several stereotypes and clichés that are now so old that they might as well be outdated. How many times haven't we already watched/read a story of a fake identity/contractual relationship? In how many dramas have we not seen women subtly or unsubtly directly or indirectly taking each other down? Since I've not read the original work this series is based on, I can't say if this typical storytelling is the brainchild of the author or the screenwriter but for the premise it promises, it lacks substance.

There is the usual hardworking middle class family of the female lead, her equally crazy and supportive best friend who, refreshingly, has a thing for the second male lead, the charismatic and rich hero who has a tragic past, a sweet and reserved SML who is his best friend and an eccentric grandfather who just wants to hold great grandchildren in his arms. So, the characters are ready, and the foundation is laid but when these are established, there is not much to take the story forward. ABP thus transcends genres in the sense that it jumps from comedy to romance to what is looking to be melo. The point of discontent here is that the story had (still has) potential but instead goes chasing after useless elements.

An unrequited crush who leads the heroine on, his on again-off again girlfriend who is existentially jealous of Shin Ha Ri and a perverted neighbour are plot devices of yesteryears, not 2022. Of course, the men save their women every time and the two women have nothing to talk about other than their suitors or love interests. When this first happened in episode 1, I decided to wait out and hope for some betterment, seeing that it all begins with a blind date, but nothing seems to have improved from then to now. While passing the Bechdel test is not indicative of how well a series does, it is tiring to see women whose entire lives revolve around men, and not themselves. That the original novel has a better reason for Ha Ri agreeing to the contract is just another fact to lament.

BUT the male characters are written well. Their traits are cute, lovable and new. A big plus to ABP's characterisation is their gentleness. How often do we find an old man addicted to dramas so much that he actually sets up alarms and gives a running commentary while watching them? I can totally see Ha Ri's mother and Tae Moo's grandpa hitting it off when they meet. Tae Moo, in turn, maybe an archaeopteryx who for whatever reason puts on a cold and severe look (that looks very put on) but he's actually a big softie who likes to clean Sung Hoon's apartment whenever he's stressed. Then there's this fuzzy fur ball of a Sung Hoon who's just fluff bundled into a human. Nothing much can be said of Ha Ri and Yeong Soo but the food product development team is a delight (pun intended). Music delivers and after a while, the drama is watchable only for its actors.

It's not that ABP is bad. Even though it takes its women for granted, it gives them room to breathe. They make their own decisions, and they initiate the relationships when they are ready. There are no toxic narcissistic overbearing tropes to be found. It's just that ABP fails to utilise its characters, their quirks and a solid foundation of a popular and successful premise.

NOTE: Ratings may vary by the time the drama ends and if, like I'm hoping, the show redeems itself, this review may vary too.
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EDIT: Turns out I was rather wishful. The last two episodes were particularly over the top dramatic, as if no one knew how to end this story. I guess they didn't. The characters don't change and even until the end, remain good on their own, failing in their dynamics with other characters. The plot takes unnecessary turns that are illogical and are not given a proper closure. Min Woo and Yoo Ra remain consistent in how much of a train wreck they are, and their arcs remain meaningless. Tae Moo's past also meanders into a dead end.

There is some pointless last episode drama as well and we see some deviation in characters here- favourite grandpa unusually (but maybe not unexpectedly) turns into a typical mother-in-law and instead of seeing a rosy wedding (which in my opinion would have saved the drama's ending), there is just added frustration. He also never got to meet the owners of the chicken house, and he'd wished his granddaughter would come from a modest family like that in the first episode. *sigh*

Even though it puts a smile on our faces, ABP largely remains a wasted potential, and the lone bright spot remains the Tae Moo- Sung Hoon duo. It makes me want to ask- why are people still writing such shallow plots and why are people still watching them? Most importantly, why is it that people think visuals and kisses can salvage a story? (The high ratings despite everything will probably explain it).

ABP is lighthearted and doesn't take itself seriously at any point. Recommended only for those looking for some sweet mindless romance.

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Another overhyped netflix drama with no substance.

It's basically a take on all annoying cliches from the kdrama world - chaebol guy with a traumatic family childhood meets a lively, poor girl who turns his whole world upside down. Plus, there's the chaebol's family going against the relationship (what a surprise). An annoying love triangle exists too.

If you're like me, an avid long time Kdrama fan who's fed up with these cliches, you really should avoid this drama if you don't want to feel annoyed. I always crave for dramas that are realistic and relatable, and sadly this isn't one of them.

A lot of people also mention the chemistry between the leads as their favorite, but honestly, I didn't feel any spark at all. The acting was also too bad. The male lead was trying too hard to replicate the main lead in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (with the countless hair touches) and it really din't work for him. (heard the webtoon really portrayed this but come one guys) I hope he gets a better roles next time cause he's actually good.

The only plus side I found was the female lead's job of being a product researcher. I often find it amusing how kdramas can romanticize jobs that often go unnoticed. This drama amazed me only in that aspect.

Really, skip it. They keep saying that this drama did all the cliches right... It honestly didn't.

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who proposed this drama ??

i suppose this is an unpopular opinion, but i barely tolerated this drama. it requires zero expectations or standards to be watchable, and i couldnt manage that. most people are in love with it and say this drama uses tropes and cliches “properly”, but i didn’t think so at all. they were cringey at best, toxic at worst. i believe dramas have a responsibility to portray relationships mindfully, without romanticizing abusive behaviors that will then influence young viewers. therefore my negative feelings towards this show are mainly directed towards the characterization of the ML and a few other tropes/ideas the show pushes on the audience.

to start: there are hundreds of kdramas with the same “cold rich guy is mean to innocent girl until he falls in love with her because shes so different” plot lines. business proposal is one of them.

the cold ML archetype is overdone and horrifying, and in 2022 i didnt think id have to watch this arrogant, spoiled man literally blackmailing a poor girl into fake dating him and then harassing her about it even at work. imagine if the ML was unattractive or sixty years old, it wouldnt seem so romantic then. but media romanticizes stalking, borderline harassment, pushy men, and this affects how we see relationships and set standards.

specifically, i hated how the show romanticized ML being pushy with FL. his profession of love: “it you reject me again ill ask you out again and again. i wont give up until you like me back” was appalling. first he blackmailed her into fake dating him, then he says he wont give up even if she rejects him? not only is he a powerful wealthy man, hes also her boss. this is the DEFINITION of a power imbalance. no matter her reasoning for saying no, she said no and i would’ve loved to see him respect that choice. it couldve been written that FL realizes her feelings on her own and comes to him, without making it look like he pressured her into the relationship.

and this is not a one time situation: the drama does this with youngseos cousin who keeps pushing herself onto sunghoon who clearly drew a line. notice how in this situation its weird and uncomfortable but with hari and taemu its okay, because we the audience know she secretly harbors feelings. i dont appreciate this show telling viewers that if someone says no, you dont give up.

in the past major dramas such as boys over flowers and heirs, MLs would be pushy and FLs were doormats and this ended in true love. now, we finally have characters setting boundaries and yet STILL dramas say “never give up! no means yes!” i definitely wouldve been a lot more lenient and willing to just watch this as a lighthearted fluffy drama had they not used this male lead archetype.

perhaps you think this doesnt matter. but there are impressionable viewers learning what is acceptable and romantic based on these dramas, no matter how silly or obvious the tropes may seem. even if these dramas are far from reality and are clearly meant to be taken lightly, this all couldve been omitted while still keeping the plot the same.

in terms of writing and production: they didnt spend enough time fleshing out the characters and i just didnt care about them or their romance. there was barely any build up, they saw each other a few times and suddenly he was in love with her. the scene in ep 11 everyone was so excited about felt so random to me and for the first time ever i did NOT want to watch a main couple show be affectionate.
the ML spends half the drama harassing and blackmailing the FL, and the FL spent half the drama lying to him. the characters felt very 2d and they were basically built off the cliches rather than having actual personalities. the side characters like haris old crush and his gf had a single personality trait each and i forgot they existed at all. oh, hari has a brother that shows up once in a while for no reason. all of this i didnt really mind as it was obvious from the start that this drama is not meant to be revolutionary. rather i think the worst part is i didnt feel chemistry between the main leads at all.

overall, this drama is highly predictable and lacks any real depth. i know many people enjoyed it, and thats fine. perhaps you will enjoy it too. but i hope my review tells you what the description and ratings do not.

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A Funny and Entertaining Watch

If you are looking for a light rom-com after a long tiring day, this is for you. It is filled with funny, feel-good yet full of the usual K-drama trope and cheesy lines but I am not complaining.

The chemistry of the ML and FL are amazing, but I found myself loving the scenes of the SML and SFL Sunghoon and Young-seo. There are still areas to improve on the main leads acting, most esp their lovemaking scene in EP11, which I find a bit cringey and awkward. I felt that the actors were really holding back or shy, at least the viewers like me felt it. It felt forced and unnatural. How did Tae Moo miraculously carried Hari to make love after breaking his arm when he couldn’t even put on a cardigan back at the hospital? The second lead couple did their lovey scenes better in my opinion.

The ending I must say is flat and underwhelming. The grandpa’s sickness came in late and was wrapped up hastily through a year time jump. I wish a wedding or even a double wedding was shown. Even the chef friend seemed like a forgotten part of the story.

The OST was also good. I like Victon’s “You Are Mine”. It was upbeat and perfect for the drama.

Overall, I give this show 8/10. It is a nice watch but not worthy of more than that since it didn’t bring anything new to the Kdrama world, or be called classic. It is entertaining enough though to see.

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A fun, light-hearted watch for the rom-com lovers

As a die-hard fan of the webtoon, I was over the moon to see the drama adaption finally coming out!

It's the contract dating / marriage trope that fakes it till you make it once again. Cliché and exaggerated at times, but still extremely entertaining. In fact, rather than being pure cringey, I love how the screenwriters just absorb the clichés like a sponge and turn them into A+ grade comedy. It's a fluffy rom-com that hit all the right spots, making you laugh and swoon like there's no tomorrow. And the editing is just spot on with the fun and comic-like transitions.

We have an interesting cast here. It's a little scary how much Ahn Hyo Seop fits right into the ML's role with that side-parted hair and dashing suit, like he just steps out of a webtoon. The way he slicks his hair back gives me major What's Wrong With Secretary Kim vibes (I can almost hear Park Se Joon yelling "Aura" in the background). I like Kim Se Jeong's singing but I have yet to see her in a drama. Oh my goodness, she got me doubling over from laughing so hard when she called Ahn Hyo Seop an Archaeopteryx. And don't even get me started on who's Samantha and Rachel. Their blind dates are absurdly hilarious and you'll wheeze in laughter before you know it. It's a bit different from how I envisioned Shin Ha Ri would be, but definitely a refreshing twist for the webtoon fans.

On the other hand, Kim Min Gue is the ideal secretary sidekick for the ML. This is the bromance I was most excited about, snarky but sweet. Seol In Ah plays the free-spirited bestie for the FL, one that you always wish for yet never have. Together, they make up one of the most iconic second couples I've ever seen. They're so scandalously cute in their own way. It's great that not only each couple has its own arch but we also have so much bromance and sismance energy here. The grandfather is so loveable with his outrageous marriage "project", a quest to find blind dates for his workaholic grandson. It's a bit hard to believe this was also the mad king we saw in The Red Sleeve. And that makjang he's watching really hits home for me, it's like they're watching their own drama unfolding.

The OSTs are also overwhelmingly sweet, almost to a diabetes level. My absolute favourites would be Love Maybe by MeloMance, You Are Mine by VICTON and Spring Breeze by New (The Boyz). All in all, it was an extremely witty script with as many unexpected turns as there are clichés. If you're a fluffy rom-com lover and don't mind a bit of silliness to de-stress, then here's the perfect pick for you!

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Fantastic comedy rom com

Absolutely love a good comedy rom com and this was no exception. The story was probably a max 7.5/10 but the overall enjoy-ability of the show was close to a 10/10. I loved how it didn't take itself seriously, the refreshing take on all the cliches and tropes present in rom coms, and the chemistry between all the characters. The story and vibe of the show kind of petered off near the end where they tried to go a more serious route and it felt kind of rushed, but overall I was satisfied with the ending and thought it wrapped everything up nicely. This is the perfect show for when you just want to wind down after a long day at work, and want to watch something funny and light-hearted.

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Clichés with no plot

I started watching because I love romance, and everyone said it was awesome. Well, I didn't find it awesome. Here's why:

Male lead: I feel like his character is pretty much a shallow copy of Park Seo-joon's character in Secretary Kim. Which is not a compliment even if it was exactly like that character. There's little depth to him. His parents' car accident seems to have shaped his entire personality. One day the trauma simply disappears. It's 2022. Love doesn't heal traumas. Therapy does! Anyway, I digress. At first, his main personality trait was being rude and a workaholic. Once he falls in love (out of nowhere) the only personality trait we see is him being in love.

Female lead: she too lacked personality. I'm still trying to find an adjective for her. I simply find none because she had absolutely nothing going on for her. The only times she seemed to have a bit of personality was when she was pretending to be her best friend on blind dates.

The main couple: half the time she was running away from him. In the other half, she was repeating the same phrases someone had just told her or 'huh?'. 2022 and we have that. There have been so many great female characters for the past few years (I'll mention Crash Landing on You, Hotel Del Luna, and Mad For Each Other to name a few), and here's Ha-ri, sounding every bit like a female lead from the 2000s. Anyway, the couple simply existed one day. It made no sense to them at first too.

The second couple had chemistry, which was more than the main couple. They also had some sort of connection. They kept me watching the show, I won't lie. But then they slept together - while she was super drunk. Drunk enough to not remember anything. While he wasn't drunk. How come that's okay? From where I come from, that's not consensual. So after that, they were lost to me.

The plot: I know it's not the kind of drama we can expect an intrinsic plot. I didn't expect it. But this was... nothing. Nothing happened. The episodes felt like fillers all the time. A lot that served as a foundation for the plot didn't get explained. Ha-ri's crush on Min-woo, Min-woo's girlfriend, and Tae-mu's grandfather who wanted him to marry any woman to have kids but when it was Ha-ri he didn't support the relationship (because she made him trip a few times. seriously?!). I understand this kind of drama is supposed to be a rom-com - make us swoon and laugh - but at least a simple plot is expected. This simply didn't deliver it. It delivered a few kisses so maybe that's why everyone was in such an uproar.

The cast was good. They made what they could to make it work.

Overall, everything was forgettable. Ha-ri's co-workers, Tae-mu's trauma, Ha-ri's crunch on Min-woo. The only exception may be the cousin who spoke English with Korean. I'll be forgetting everything by tomorrow.

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