Boss & Me was a cute office-romance drama that, while mostly stereotypical, had a few unique aspects that made it stand out.

To break it down—What I liked:

+ Hans Zhang as Feng Teng. He wasn’t necessarily original (seemingly cold but actually warm-hearted and lonely CEO) but Hans Zhang played Feng Teng’s expressionless demeanor really well which helped make his character all the more loveable as he slowly became wrapped around Shan Shan’s finger.

+ How the relationship dynamics between a boss and a low-level employee were played out. I feel like a lot of dramas have tried to do this well, but none have quite hit the mark like Boss & Me. Shan Shan has to deal with a lot of pressure at work (surprise) but the way it is presented and her inner monologue/awkwardness around Feng Teng felt really real to me. Early on, her constant annoyance with Feng Teng was annoying and long-suffering but after we get into the real meat of the story and how she has to deal with the pressure of dating a CEO despite her low status was really great.

+ The reason Feng Teng likes Shan Shan is nothing special, and he recognizes that. In the beginning this actually annoyed me, since I was wondering why he liked her when she basically tried to avoid him at all costs and was never all that nice to him. However, later when asked that question he responds with “There is nothing special…but one things for sure, she can really eat.” I found that to be really endearing. Shan Shan did not have to stand out to him in any particular way…he just liked her because he liked her.

+ Feng Teng’s family background. It was very refreshing for once to not have squabbling family members plotting to take over the business or scheming mother’s trying to set their sons up. Feng Teng’s family was very supportive and genuine.

Which brings me to what I did not like:

+ Shan Shan. While there where times when I did really like her (in particular, pretty much just the middle of the drama)…in the beginning and in the end she was not my favorite person. A lot of the way she acted and reacted I could understand at first, but then became annoying once they were drug out. For example, in the beginning she is hesitant to be around Feng Teng. Totally get it, I would be intimidated and uncomfortable too…but as she gets to know him and even laughs with him…I did not understand how she could so forcibly try to stay away from him when he was going out of his way for her. It just made her seem very petty and self-righteous. In the end, I never really felt like she loved him all that much, while on the other hand I could see that Feng Teng loved her completely unconditionally.

+ Typical plot devices. Some of those a-typical designs to keep the plot going were used here and it was just angsty and annoying. Totally unlike the author who wrote the original novel’s other work Love O2O, which was disappointing.

+ No chemistry. Maybe it’s just because I didn’t really care for Shan Shan but I just did not feel any chemistry between her and Feng Teng. Whenever they kissed it was just okay…and I never felt that heart-pounding anticipation for them to get.together.already. They were still really cute at times, just had no special magnetic pull.

All in all, there were plenty of sweet moments and a good dose of realism at times that made this watchable for me, but I doubt I will go back for seconds.