Chemistry (loyalty) speaks louder ?
Best c-drama of 2022.Lin Gengxin and 7 Tan brings out a very natural portrayal of a boss and a secy. Their acting were phenomenal in this drama. They had got a very lovable chemistry even though they express less towards each other. All the other supporting cast were outstanding in their given roles. Ending ost was really soft and melancholic in tune, i really loved it so much?
Acting; 10/10
Romance: 10/10 (you don't see much but you feel it)
Story: 10/10
Rating must be above 8.5 atleast, this seems underrated.
Conclusion : A must watch drama for all drama lovers. Very motivating and lovely. I have no interest in investment or anything like that but this drama really is a gem and it sparkles.
Was this review helpful to you?
satisfy screenplay writer
I was very much surprised!!! without any romantic scene or intimacy, the story able to tie us , keep following everyday till the last episode.. Each episode well composed . The cast was good enough to make us stick on it.. Showing a strong Female lead inspires. Well done to the screenplay writer. The writing makes us involved which each character .. since FL and ML is my favorite , i knew they will nailed the character., especially Kenny... OMG. he look handsome . Seven Tan , keep on moulding her acting skill in each of her serial. Anyhow, overall in was a good show. Thanks Mr. Director , to gave such a warm drama... Really love it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Amazing Story of Self Actualisation and Character progression
This drama had my favourite features...a strong FL who believes in herself and is undaunted by adverse circumstances, a ML who is cold and arrogant but changes to total mush later on, supportive parents, sismance in workplace ( not easy to find it) and an ending which makes me happy and well assured that things do turn out for the best. Of course, Kenny Lin and Seven Tan were the stars of the show but the side characters had quite a bit of contribution in increasing the appeal of the drama. i never had even one boring moment with this drama and enjoyed it thoroughlyWas this review helpful to you?
Female Lead Saves The CEO
I wanted to watch this drama because both of the leads are in my top 10 actors that I admire. When it first started, I quickly started to love the FL because Tan Song Yun was strong, smart and great charisma. I like how she stay calm when her boss would try to insult her. But I could not understand that her boss is the character that she would end up with. As a women I would never feel love for someone who insult me or belittle me and disrespected me. I can see him giving her orders at work and being tough but not the way he treated her and disrespected her. Maybe I demand more of my boss. Lin Geng Xin, he was spoil and arrogant and just because he was good at his job and was talented, to me he just like belittling people underneath him. The story was good and it even got better as she starts dating and becomes a great investor. Her boyfriend did leave me with suspicion, especially when he became angry. The FL had to save the CEO and his family. That is so good to say. But then came the ending and it left me with a sad look. I already had lost a bet because I said they would kiss by episode 30. The first touch of lips did not count that was not a kiss. I figure that the writer would give them 2 episode to really show romance between them and falling in love but no. 2 cold ducks that kiss and END. No sorry, that was not good for me. The actor performance was great and I like the story line except the end.Was this review helpful to you?
You go in expecting a rom-com but leave the show inspired by the female lead in the end.
I only started watching this drama thinking it was a rom-com, but it never turned out to be that.Although I was a bit disappointed in the beginning since most of the men in show are just a**holes, however each woman in this show was impressive. Their strength to fight for their own right, ability to stand up for fellow women and following their dreams, instead of just following men was what makes this drama a good watch. I have seen the female lead in 'Go Ahead' and I really liked her then, but I completely fell in love with her in this drama wand was rooting for her during the whole whole show.
I will definitely look out for all her dramas in future.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Could have been a great Drama.
There is a lot to like about Master of my Own, great production values, strong female lead and a story of female empowerment.....but the whole drama is destroyed by the Toxic ML character who is abusive, controlling, treats the FL like his chattel, then when she finally had enough of his constant promises of promotion to the Job she was interviewed for eventually walks out to a competing company so he makes his mission to destroy her career to force her back.No abuser like that deserves the redemption he achieved at the end, he should have ended up in prison!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
"Lemon, what happened in your childhood to make you believe people are good?”
Starting my review with a quote from another drama with a Lemon character. Lizz lemon- 30 Rock ;)Beyond 30 Rock:
Similar to 30 Rock, we have a bright eyed newbie in a corporate world having to deal with a boss who starts off as cynical, conservative, un creative, racist, arrogant, but this is where the parallels end. In 30 Rock Liz was used to humanise Jack who was not at all a nice person. This is not the case with Lu Ji Meng. He is ambitious but also conscious of the responsibilities of the investment field. He is an excellent mentor to Ning Meng and I'm glad that the romantic relationship wasn't based on her total dependence on him. His character growth was impressive- from arrogant to pitiful to humbled.
Working in the Corporate world:
This drama showed me a different side to capital markets and investment- which it goes in details with - without making it seem too wolf of wall street types- atleast that's the stereotype I have of this industry. Even though I am not in the field, I have worked in corporate and Ning Meng's experience was extremely relatable.
I liked the way they show subtle difference in work spaces that are dominated by men and workspaces that have more female workers but who are also supportive of each other. The drama is aware of these social dynamics and is able to convey it without being preachy and obvious.
On Nostalgia:
Interesting how the romantic interests of the respective leads tried to manipulate them with nostalgia. The FL was most pragmatic, she got over her childhood crush but was still easily influenced. Nostalgia is never a critical place, it's purely emotional. Goes to show how easy it can be to control someone using sentiment of the past.
Overall thoughts:
I would have preferred it to be entirely about Ning Meng's journey from secretary to director without the romance element. But I also liked her dynamic with Lu Ji Meng- felt similar to the chemistry of Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye- they're very comfortable being friends and are almost destined to end up together irrespective of the paths they choose.
I was lost in the middle when Yi Meng was introduced, felt her character was under developed compared to the rest.
Liu Chang's character was also quite two dimensional. Besides dining out and the predictable trope of a spurned lover, he didn't really add anything else.
I lived for the scenes with Shi Ying and Ning Meng, they were each others' fan girls and the chemistry was incredible. Yang Xiao as the secretary was too cute- her banter with Lu Ji Meng was pure comedy.
I haven't enjoyed a similar workplace drama since Rememberance of Things Past which also had a perfect fusion of almost documentary like detail of corporate work life along with drama and romance.
I might do a Tan Song Yun retrospective and re-watch this along with The Sword And The Brocade where she was also phenomenal
Was this review helpful to you?
Slow and long for some seconds of closure...
Just some thoughts just after watching the show...STORY - interesting story about a merciless boss that we, as the show progresses, discover the feelings and sweetness towards FL. Interesting stories, projects and a taste of investment in new ideas.
Great and powerful women also! Chasing the dreams is a wonderful way of living...
Some things didn't make sense to me like Su Wei choosing to go to the police, the extremely radical change in Lu Ji Min.
CHARACTERS / ACTING - wonderful acting for most.
MUSIC - didn't pay much attention to the music.
REWATCH - I think I will never rewatch this again, especially due to the abrupt ending.
OVERALL - I enjoyed watching this. For me, what downgraded the drama for me was the ending. After more than 30 episodes, a kiss is not enough for me.
I don't agree with lots of opinions saying this isn't romance. For me it is, all the movements and decisions of Lu Ji Min were for love, even if he didn't knew that.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not a rom-com, but a woman empowerment drama
I think if I didn’t have high rom-com expectations, I wouldn’t have been so disappointed. I went into this drama for the actors. I have seen almost everything Tan Song is in because she is just that good. I love her short stature, her bubbly personality and her smiles. She’s never lead me wrong. I’ve seen Ling Geng Xin in Princess Agents where I liked him more in that role.My main issue with this drama was the tone and pacing. The first 10 episode was the ML being a horrible person to the FL. He was not supportive, he didn’t do anything adorable or cute that made you think he had best intensions. Not only did he say she wasn’t good at anything, but she wouldn’t amount to anything, he didn’t really care that she struggled. He treated her so harshly for 30% of the drama, I was basically against him from that point forward.
I started to look at the drama in a new light, as in, this is a woman empowerment drama and I was simply rooting for the FL to get her awesome power back. I was so happy to watch her figuring out issues (with little to no help from the ML) and kind of letting all the people that doubted her that she is just as good as them.
There was hardly any romantic interactions between the ML and FL. I found them to be bickering people that are just friends. The ML is only two years older than the FL and he acts and looks beyond the years. I was very shocked by this.
I felt like a lot of entertaining and moving moments happened when the FL was speaking to secondary characters, like the second ML or her best friend or my favorite person in the drama, her second boss. I really liked the relationship between the FL and her second boss because, well that is how the ML should have acted.
Husband liked the financial side of the show since he is in finance and could understand all of that language. It was easier for me to understand when he explained everything about “margin calls”, “bonds” “liquidated stocks”, so just note, it’s very financial heavy in the dialogue.
I’m happy the drama is only 32 episodes and costume and sets were decent to look at. I would watch it for the actors if you are super fans, but don’t expect your typical rom-com or heavy romance drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Another masterpiece of Tan song yun.again proves her versatility ?
Its the one of the best office Romance for me in 2022...Rather than focusing on Romance mainly they focus on career development of a Girl from secretary to director.. it'll surely motivate you in many ways...Again i must say "Ning Meng" played by Tan song yun is a remarkable character..There is no doubt Seven is always do justice to her character.. she is really a hardworking nd versatile actress.. The ML somehow may irritate you in d beginning. but u'll b convinced by the character development later... But "Tan song yun" definitely steals the show...Love the ending also....so well managed ❤️
Was this review helpful to you?
Surprisingly good !
At first, i was attracted by the plot ''a young secretary who wants to be an investor", i adore strong female lead's plot. And this show is exactly that. The FL is so strong and brave, she speaks her mind and she doesn't care about haters.The love triangle, is for now, bearable. And the male lead, the bossy and annoying boss play very well his role.
I'm at episode 11 and for now, the romance is almost inexistant at first glance, but we can see the ML's love growing at each episode.
I'm very excited each day to watch this show ! Give it a try !
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Verbal abuse sugarcoated as love
For the first time watching a cdrama, I really hoped the ML and FL would not end up together. The ML was purely abusive, we can't sugar coat it. There is no amount of character growth that can wipe out how he treated the FL like trash, verbally abused her and crushed her self esteem like that . ML was just a horrible person. The writer made me hate the ML so much that when he started liking the FL I was not moved at all. Honestly not gonna say much more but dropped this at ep 23 as I just could not picture them together. There's nothing romantic about this.Was this review helpful to you?
