A Business Proposal (2022)

One of the best ROM-COMS in KDRAMA Land.

I have watched and rewatched this drama many times, even after a year and a half after it has aired.
It is your typical cliche rom-com, but DONE RIGHT.

STORYLINE : is the one you would expect in this kind of drama, so nothing out of common.
ACTING : The cast has done a perfect job at portraying the characters CHEMISTRY is on FIRE, that's why they've also won BEST COUPLE AWARD.
COMEDY : 100/10 Really funny, there is no episode without a good laugh.
OST: Beautfiul, especially the popular "Love, Maybe".

So yes, watch it if you want a classic rom-com and a good laugh.
Remember : when it comes to dramas, it also comes to what you are in the mood for!

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A 2022 Drama, with a lot of late 00's energy

Starting of with my headline, this drama do remind me of a lot of the k-dramas that where released in between 2007-2012, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. First of all, the show is packed with tropes that where popular during this period (poor woman meets rich man, demanding/controlling parents, secret relationships, woman in love with childhood friend etc) and the fact that the show in it's essence is pretty simple and straight-forward. However this was quite refreshing as most new k-dramas tend too be slightly more serious (or at least have darker subject-matters to them). Because of this, Business Proposal is a super binge-worthy show, I was able to watch the entire show in just 2 days, something that is rare for me. I would recommend Business Proposal for anyone that is looking for something simple to watch at the end of a long day. Below I go in a bit more with the details...

Highlights:
1. The side-couple actually felt like a romantic relationship you could see in real life.

2. Good Pacing. Doesn't drag on too much, the second part is just as well paced as the first (A lot of k-dramas have this problem).

Aspects the show missed the mark on:
1. The music: Now this is ofc super personal, but the music in a show/movie can do so much for me. And Business Proposal simply doesn't have a memorable soundtrack for me.

2. I honestly wish we saw more of the friendship between Ha-Ri and Young-seo. It's almost like the show forgot about half-way through. In the same vain, I wished the show explored the relationship between Tae-moo and Sung-hoon.

3. The ending felt a bit rushed. I understand that the show only had 12 episodes but I just wished the show would maybe take 30 more min to wrap-up.

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A Super Fun Drama You’d Not Want To Miss!

I rarely watch k-dramas, but I finally made the decision to binge “A Business Proposal”, after it constantly appeared everywhere, and being recommended to me by the MDL community. I’m so glad I made that choice, because this drama proved to be one of the best modern dramas I’ve watched in a while!
I think what pulled me in to the drama so much, was the whole plot itself. I love dramas that include changing appearances (like “True Beauty”), and so I was basically hooked from the very beginning. However, I must add that I did loose a bit of interest near the middle/end, because the climax of the drama had ended. This was what made “A Business Proposal” go from a 9.0 to a 8.5 for me.
Next, I want to say that the whole cast was extremely well picked. Kim Sejeong’s smile and expressions perfectly fit her role as Shin Ha-Ri, and she has that playful side of her that showcased during her act as Shin Geum-Hui. Meanwhile, Ahn Hyo-Seop overwhelmed me with his stellar appearance and acting skills. He really made Kang Tae-Moo’s arrogance and bossiness come to life. The bonus was that the two main leads had an awesome chemistry that peaked my attention towards them even more.
Moving on to the second leads… they were just sooooo perfect! I have to be honest, I sometimes even loved them more than the main couple! Seol In-Ah’s acting was so on-point, and I can visibly see her development as an actress from “Mr. Queen”. Her chemistry with Kim Min-Kyu was all too good, I totally ship them in real life!

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Your typical rom-com, but with a few new jokes for your books

When I say typical, I mean that it has a lot of the common tropes from romantic comedy dramas that we see normally. The rich man, poor woman; the unhappy parents; the contract relationships; misunderstandings; and secret dating... so if you like something predictable and heart-warming this is, truly, for you!

Story
A common story but the comedy is pretty good. Some of the jokes in this drama are just iconic and must be seen! The story doesn't dwell on unnecessary plot points, which makes the pacing good. Thankfully, it does explore the second lead relationships, which is a big bonus towards the end of the drama.

Comedy
Have you met Rachel and Samantha yet? That will answer your questions about the comedy in this drama. The comedy does ebb throughout the series, but they keep a few tropes and jokes for you to enjoy in the end. It is mainly slap-stick comedy.

Romance
If you hate love triangles between the leads, you are in for a surprise...this one doesn't really have one. The sismance and bromance are strong and you would definitely appreciate them if you are a fan of strong friendships. Because this is only a 12 episode drama, misunderstandings are short-lived, so you don't have to suffer too long!

Pacing
The 12-episode format, and the developed second-lead storylines make this drama fly by. Though I can't say whether it will be good to binge, it is worth a watch for those that love to feel their hearts flutter.

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Funny, heartwarming romances, interesting characters but...

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2022 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 12, 60 minute episodes. It is known by the alternate title "The Office Blind Date."

Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) often does odd jobs for her friend and heiress Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah). This one is even a bit much for her but she still agrees to pretend to be her friend and go on a blind date, playing a vixen, in a deliberate attempt to "botch" it. Little does Ha-ri know but the blind date is none other than Kang Tae-mu (Ahn Hyo-seop), the new CEO of Ha-ri's company. Tired of the whole blind date circus, Tae-mu vowed to just get it over with and marry his next blind date. Tae-mu did not realize that the next blind date would be a deception and that he was not going out with an heiress, Young-seo, but an employee at his company. It is not long before he discovers that Ha-ri is not Young-seo but he is not sure who she is and when he asks for her real name she gives him another psuedonym she often uses with her friend's friends and not her real name which would have revealed she was actually his employee. Tae-mu still does not know Ha-ri works for him and hilariaty ensues as she hides the fact from him. Tae-mu's grandfather, Kang Da-goo (Lee Deok-hwa) has been pressuring his grandsone to find a suitable marriage partner as he is the heir to the conglomerate. Tae-mu bullies and bribes Ha-ri into pretending to be his fiancée in exchange for 800,000 won per date. While Ha-ri is not keen on this level of deception she agrees as she is constantly looking for money to cover her families' financial woes. Young-seo takes another route to escape the constant pressure of finding a marriage partner, she moves out of her father's house and finds herself next door to none other than Tae-mu's, Chief of Staff/like a brother, Kim Min-kyu (Cha Sung-hoon) who finds the heiress very alluring yet is angry at the way she deceived his boss/like a brother. The set up is ripe for laughter inducing moments and a multitude of misunderstandings. Can the four young people navigate the expectations placed on them and be able to find their own path to love?

I loved this and would definitely recommend others watch it and I would rewatch it. That being said, there are some flaws that exist when compared to the web toon it is based on. The web toon was more flawless in my opinion as it stayed away from some tropes that can be tiring where this returned to them and deviated. Spoilers* In the web toon the grandfather liked Ha-ri throughout and would chastise the Tae-Mu anytime grandfather felt Tae-Mu was not treating her right. In the drama rendition the grandfather was more of a stereotypical Korean wealthy parental figure and disapproved of the relationship. In the end, there was a very short piece about him not coming back until she accepted the ring which indicated she finally won his approval but it was way too short relative to the length of time he had disapproved. There was also the separation trope in the drama rendition that did not exist in the web toon. I am not a fan of the separations that are usually a year or more. In real life it rarely makes the heart grow fonder and more often just causes people to grow apart. It was not necessary and they could have stuck with the way it was in the web toon. The chemistry between the actors was really good. Kim Seo-jong reminds me of Emma Stone in both her looks and her voice. It is said we all have "twins" running around in people that have similar features and I see that in international stars. I think Kim Seo-jong was well cast in the Ha-ri role as she was a pro at carrying out the comedic aspects of hiding like she did whenever her secret was about to be discovered. As many have observed, 12 episodes did not feel like enough. There was still room to carry out aspects that were reflective of the web toon. In the web toon Ha-ri did not give in to marriage right away and he was insistent on marrying her because he vowed to marry the next person he went on a blind date with and carried that through despite the deception. There was a lot of comedy associated with that in the web toon. There is also the concern that Netflix is setting a standard of a shorter number of episodes and one thing many like about South Korean dramas is the depth of story and character development that can only be achieved in at least 16 episodes. In this case, 12 episodes meant they rushed certain aspects of the story and did not fully tell others. I loved the relationship of Ha-ri and Young-seo and it made sense how she came to do the blind date as they would do practically anything for the other. Tae-mu and Min-kyu's brother like relationship was also very enjoyable and heart warming. It went a bit more risque in the bedroom scene than was necessary and I felt it deviated from the way South Korean dramas typically portray intimacy. All of the characters were well cast and it was enjoyable watching the character and relationship developments. I thoroughly enjoyed this drama but hope that Neflix will not continue to deviate from a formula that works so well for South Korea drama. As a huge South Korean drama fan I do not want to see South Korean dramas "Americanized." I rarely watch American dramas for many of the reasons that make me love South Korean dramas. American dramas are typically too short, too risque, don't have a lot of character or plot development and unnecessarily introduce sad elements.

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A healing romance with some epic comedy

With such glowing reviews and high ratings I was worried that I would be disappointed. But fortunately this drama lived up to its hype for me. It’s not one of those deep, heavy, meaningful dramas. It’s more of a light funny sweet romcom that is so well executed that you don’t mind the clichés. After watching hundreds of Asian dramas I’ve come to the conclusion that cliches are inevitable. And it’s not the cliché storylines that make a drama bad but how they are carried out. Great acting and likable characters can make a cliché story feel fun and interesting. On the other hand, poor acting and bland characters can make a cliché story feel dull and monotonous. This drama was chock full of likable, relatable characters that made you feel like they were a part of your family. Pair that with some top notch acting and you have a great drama like this one.

The acting in this drama is above average. I was invested in every single characters storyline. The second male lead was a bit stiff in the beginning but got much better as the drama progressed. I was surprised by that because I’ve seen him in lots of other dramas and he’s a great actor. But overall the actors did a great job of getting me invested in the drama. And it didn’t hurt that the whole cast was gorgeous and very easy on the eyes.

The romance was done just right. It wasn’t insta love for the main leads but it wasn’t a slow burn either. I liked the pacing and chemistry of their romance too. The second leads had a cute romance that was a fun watch and added to the likability of the drama. Be prepared for lots of kisses, piggyback rides, hugs, and some sexy scenes. Both the main male lead and the second male lead go shirtless which is always a plus for me. And just let me say, the second male lead must live in a gym because he is one of the most muscular actors I’ve ever seen in an Asian drama. But as far as romance goes it was really very romantic with lots of sweet moments. And I liked that this was a healing romance. Both leads help heal each other’s emotional wounds. Watching their journey as they help heal one another and become better versions of themselves was a joy.

The female lead is a very likable character that’s talented, respected at work, confident, outgoing, and charming. She has a great family you’ll love, a touching sismance with her best friend and is a pretty balanced person. There’s only one area she’s lacking in and that’s in the romance department. Even though she’s very pretty, she’s had an unrequited crush on the same guy for 7 years. And it’s taken a toll on her confidence and self esteem.

The male lead is a practical no nonsense guy that is hyper focused on his job. He’s not mean or a bully at work he’s just a workaholic. Due to a trauma in his past he shuns intimate relationships with people other than his grandfather and his best friend (the second male lead). His interactions with the second male lead are so cute and endearing. I really enjoyed their bromance.

It was also quite refreshing to see the main leads have a healthy relationship where they communicate well and trust one another. I’m liking this trend lately where the main leads don’t have lots of silly misunderstandings but instead respect and have faith in one another. The lack of breakups, misunderstandings and noble idiocy made this drama so much better. And there weren’t any evil meddling second leads obsessed with the main leads either. I’m so done with that trend. So even though there are several clichés in this drama the lack of annoying second leads and unnecessary breakups more than makes up for it.

Now let’s talk about what I didn’t like. There’s not a lot to dislike about this drama. But there were a couple of things that kept it from getting a perfect rating from me. There was a lengthy separation at the end which was quite unnecessary (they didn’t breakup but were separated because one of them had to go overseas). I hate the old cliché ‘I have to go overseas for an extended period of time but I still love you’ trope. I never liked it and never will understand the overuse of this scenario in dramas. So I took off a full point for this. The other thing I didn’t like was the last episode of this drama. It wasn’t as bad as many have claimed in the comment section. The main characters are all addressed and have satisfying endings. I was happy with how everything turned out for everyone. But my main complaint (and everyone else’s) is that a lot of time is spent on some unnecessary angst that’s thrown in at the last minute for no apparent reason. It’s the last episode so you want some sweet moments, to see how everything turns out for everyone, even the minor characters. You want all of the loose ends tied up in a pretty little bow. You want to have some meaningful touching moments, not unnecessary angst just to hype things up. The angst would have been okay if there had been another episode or two. The fact that it happened in the last episode taking time away from those last sweet touching moments between your favorite characters is what I have a problem with. It wasn’t super bad just annoying , so I took a half point off for this.

In conclusion I’d say this is a very good drama that I’d highly recommend. It’s not for those who are looking for a deep drama that sends a message or teaches a lesson. But if you like super romantic romcoms that are full of gorgeous actors that make you laugh your butt off then this dramas for you. It’s short, sweet, sexy and funny. Seriously just go watch it!

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Humor and Romance Rolled into One

This romantic comedy contained many hilarious moments (stiches- in- your-sides humor). If you really want a combination of humor and romance, then this is definitely the TV series you want to watch.

There is a strong bond between the ML and FL. The ML does not waver in his feelings and devotion to the FL and not even pressure from his grandfather causes the ML ot waver.

The program is ligh-hearted and fun-filled. if you want to watch a series to help you unwind and relax then this is it. It's a clean romance so the whole family can view it together. Happy viewing!

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Was that the end?

My first time finishing an enjoyable drama with this question as the closing credits continued on instead of the “next episode” button. Partially due to my expectation of Kdramas containing at least 16 episodes but mainly because I felt these were so many loose threads hanging in the air.

Why did the grandfather suddenly consent in the end? No follow through on how the rumours of them dating played out - did running away to the US solve everything? Second FL’s relationship with the father just ends like that? Engaged for a year and no sign of marriage?

Such a pity to end the drama this way.

Other than the last episode, I generally enjoyed this cute romcom as the story telling was a fresh take on the classic rich-guy poor-girl romance. I liked how both couples acknowledged their feelings and got together relatively early without too much misunderstandings or annoying drawn-out love triangles. Kisses were not too stingy and the couples even slept together so this drama should satisfy those looking for a fair bit of romance in their drama.

There’s talk about some additional episodes so hopefully I’ll get my questions answered then but as it stands, my low rating reflects my personal dislike of dramas with rushed endings or unanswered questions.

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Must Watch, Best This Year

Great drama, great story, Great acting and directing. One of my favorite this year. No annoying old girlfriend who think that the ML belongs to her. Parents who tried to interfered in the relationship but these characters are adults and handle it very well. Both female leads were great. they were strong and independent, with their own careers and knew what they wanted. The second couple was my favorite they seem their relationship was very realistic of 2 people. The chemistry was great with both couples. I would have love a stronger ending but I am hoping for a second season. All the actors performance was great. Must Watched !!!!!!

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An Easy Watch No Depth

LIKES:
I really liked the production, cinematography, beautiful location/scenery shots. I also found the music to be pleasant and appropriate, although nothing truly stood out. Filming was well done, no shaky camera video and zoom ins were done correctly. I didn't notice any special FX to speak of. I did like that they showed the Team 1 workers doing their job, especially with Ha Ri working on recipes. Often office romances don't show the FL or ML actually focusing on their tasks. The comedic parts were okay and thankfully not too frequent, so they didn't become annoying. I liked Young Seo as Ha Ri's friend, the actress Seol In Ah was great. It was an okay ending, just barely acceptable.

DISLIKES:
They rushed the ending, but that I expected because it was only 12 episodes long. As usual there were the typical and over used cliches that South Korean dramas are known to follow. The product placements/endorsements were almost funny with how they were done, not smooth at all. I found the ML and FL didn't have much chemistry, however I did like the FL's character. Min Gue's character Sung Hoon needed more development, but as a 2ML he was okay. I don't know the webtoon that this was made from, so my review is solely based on the show. However I find a lot of people are over-rating it. A lot of this story felt like they ripped off parts from Boys Over Flowers (you'll know which parts if you watch it). There didn't seem to be any character growth from the ML, FL, 2ML, but there was a little bit for 2FL (Young Seo). The supporting characters and their romances were not needed and they could've used the time for the main role characters. It's a very PG kind of romance drama.

OVERALL:
It's a fun watch, easy to follow and not anxiety inducing because of the trials and tribulations of the characters. I would recommend watching it if you like the typical S.Korean drama formula. I wont bother watching it again.

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