RouteVenus
STORY 7/10
Up until episode 13, I was determined to give Protect the Boss a strong 8, as it was a highly enjoyable (if predictable) ride. But as other reviewers mentioned before me, the final 5 episodes (that could be easily reduced into 2) effectively assassinated the plot (and some of the characters). It's not that the series couldn't last for 18 episodes. It could. There was definitely enough material to work with. The problem was that the writing in the final episodes was all over the place, it concentrated on the wrong stuff and did very little for character development; it was like the writers suddenly forgot that some of the characters exist (Eun Seol's father appeared and disappeared in a blink of an eye; the grandmother became strangely passive during some major moments), forgot what their relationships are ("Gangster Chairman" Cha suddenly doesn't approve of the heroine why again??? it didn't make sense), or that the characters were going to say something (Eun Seol promised Ji Heon to definitely tell him why she did what she did next time they talk....I was really waiting for it...it never happened); or that they have valid issues that need to be addressed (it would be nice if Ji Heon was shown to be as supportive of Eun Seol as she is of him).
That being said, Protect the Boss IS a good drama, one that defies many cliches and offers many hilarious moments, not to mention that:
+ the male lead acknowledges that the heroine is much more awesome than him, there is never the typical arrogant male lead moment "she is such a loser why do I have to like her?"
+ family dynamics of the rich family is unusual and entertaining
+ the antagonists are more pitiful and funny than villainous
+ the second female lead is really a precious cinnamon roll and she eventually befriends the heroine
Negatives:
- as mentioned, the last third of the show was poorly written and boring
- the main couple was nice and their chemistry was decent...but lacking, somewhat. I don't know why, maybe it only seemed to me that way because Choi Kang Hee who played the heroine looked like she could be Ji Sung's older sister (not that she wasn't pretty, she was!), they just weren't convincing as a pair - they were cute, but not the OTP of the century
ACTING/CAST 9/10
I've never ever heard before about this Ji Sung guy, but he was amazing, he made his character truly three-dimensional and believable, and I definitely became his instant fan. He was adorable! The rest of the cast was great as well.
MUSIC 7.5/10
Some catchy songs but nothing to write home about.
REWATCH VALUE 6/10
Big yes to rewatching my favorite moments, but I don't think I'll be able to get through episodes 14-18 as a whole ever again.
OVERALL 7.5/10
Up until episode 13, I was determined to give Protect the Boss a strong 8, as it was a highly enjoyable (if predictable) ride. But as other reviewers mentioned before me, the final 5 episodes (that could be easily reduced into 2) effectively assassinated the plot (and some of the characters). It's not that the series couldn't last for 18 episodes. It could. There was definitely enough material to work with. The problem was that the writing in the final episodes was all over the place, it concentrated on the wrong stuff and did very little for character development; it was like the writers suddenly forgot that some of the characters exist (Eun Seol's father appeared and disappeared in a blink of an eye; the grandmother became strangely passive during some major moments), forgot what their relationships are ("Gangster Chairman" Cha suddenly doesn't approve of the heroine why again??? it didn't make sense), or that the characters were going to say something (Eun Seol promised Ji Heon to definitely tell him why she did what she did next time they talk....I was really waiting for it...it never happened); or that they have valid issues that need to be addressed (it would be nice if Ji Heon was shown to be as supportive of Eun Seol as she is of him).
That being said, Protect the Boss IS a good drama, one that defies many cliches and offers many hilarious moments, not to mention that:
+ the male lead acknowledges that the heroine is much more awesome than him, there is never the typical arrogant male lead moment "she is such a loser why do I have to like her?"
+ family dynamics of the rich family is unusual and entertaining
+ the antagonists are more pitiful and funny than villainous
+ the second female lead is really a precious cinnamon roll and she eventually befriends the heroine
Negatives:
- as mentioned, the last third of the show was poorly written and boring
- the main couple was nice and their chemistry was decent...but lacking, somewhat. I don't know why, maybe it only seemed to me that way because Choi Kang Hee who played the heroine looked like she could be Ji Sung's older sister (not that she wasn't pretty, she was!), they just weren't convincing as a pair - they were cute, but not the OTP of the century
ACTING/CAST 9/10
I've never ever heard before about this Ji Sung guy, but he was amazing, he made his character truly three-dimensional and believable, and I definitely became his instant fan. He was adorable! The rest of the cast was great as well.
MUSIC 7.5/10
Some catchy songs but nothing to write home about.
REWATCH VALUE 6/10
Big yes to rewatching my favorite moments, but I don't think I'll be able to get through episodes 14-18 as a whole ever again.
OVERALL 7.5/10
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