Pleasantly surprised!
I read a few reviews that said the synopsis sounded promising but they had a hard time getting into it. I had sort of the opposite experience. While the synopsis did sound really promising, I put this series off for a long time not just because of the lower ratings but because I was afraid I would hate Chae Ro Woon's character. I finally decided to give it a shot anyway and was hooked from the very beginning. Chae Ro Woon isn't loud and obnoxious like I thought she might be. I thankfully didn't find her annoying, she's cute! Yes, I did prefer her in her quieter moments and the last episode took a bit of my appreciation for her away, but I still liked her. They're not making it into my favourite pairings but I was definitely rooting for them!I didn't expect the wacky editing (that doesn't last the whole series, though) and was a bit put off by it at first but once I leaned into it, the series has some really funny moments.
The story is a bit flawed in some aspects but I did like it. It's full of twists, none of which I saw coming. One thing that really didn't work for me though is Ro Woon not realizing who Hwan Ki is for so long. At least have Hwan Ki wear a mask, it would fit his character and help with the realism.
In terms of the characters, in the beginning, I was particularly gripped by trying to figure out what kind of man Woo Il is. I wish there had been even more of Hwan Ki and Woo Il, actually; their relationship was one of the most interesting aspects of this drama. I loved Hwan Ki, he was the sole reason why I couldn't stop going back and think about whether or not I should give this series a try. Gyo Ri and Yi Soo broke my heart the most.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this, maybe more than most because I kept my expectations low but either way, I really liked it.
Major beef for how their end credits spoiled a major kiss that one time I forgot to pause as the last scene of the episode ended. Why would you do that? Why should I have to pause so that I won't be spoiled? Argh...
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This review may contain spoilers
So, I started watching this drama a couple years after its release and got up to episode 3 before life got busy. Recently decided to pick it back up and enjoyed it a little less than when I first had in the beginning and here's why.First off, the female lead was super invasive and annoying. She was supposed to be portrayed as a happy go lucky type of girl who didn't have a care in the world despite all that she's been through. With dreams of becoming an actress and a singer, she drops it in order to pursue a revenge on the people who killed her older sister ; her older sister, who was seemingly perfect in every way - obedient, soft-spoken, bright and friendly and easily got along well with others. This aspect of the story reminded me too much of 13 Reasons Why in that there is someone who killed herself and someone who loved her seeking for answers and some type of revenge. This part of the story was the only thing that really bugged me though.
The male lead, on the other hand, was, like the title says, introverted and shy, and came off as rude and scary. This, of course, was different from every drama or movie male lead I've ever seen and was a promising conversation starter for social anxiety and other mental health aspects in Korea (much like that of The Good Doctor). The interactions with him from other characters, really shows us how (Korean) society treats these kinds of people and how we can easily start assuming things about people without really getting to know them, thus spreading all sorts of unwanted rumors - which, for a person with social anxiety, is already unwanted.
I also really enjoyed how they showed with Yi Soo (Eun Ki's little sister), that someone who is bright and cheery and comes from a wealthy family, might have a dark story to tell that they're hiding. In sum, it shows that you really don't know what somebody else is going through no matter how close you are to the person. The drama painted a very dark picture revealing her suicide attempts and for her reasons why.
The story is supposed to be how Ro Woon changes Eun Ki for the better and does exactly that, but of course, a lot of effort from Eun Ki was needed. Of course, as other typical Korean dramas, Ro Woon just so happens to be the younger sister of Eun Ki's former and deceased secretary AND happens to be the girl he runs into on the first day Ro Woon is to show up for work at his company (Brain).
The love story and story in general, itself was quite slow, but, I actually really did enjoy the character development. Characters that you hated, in the beginning, become characters you easily start to understand or fall in love with and it is definitely a roller coaster of emotions. The drama shows that sometimes, things aren't exactly what they seem and that there are multiple sides to the same story, as we learn that Ro Woon's sister fell in love with Eun Ki, who was the love interest of Woo Il, who was the love interest of Yi Soo (Eun Ki's little sister). Fate can be dark and twisted and this drama was definitely a twist of events by the end.
From this, we learn that we should learn how to listen to others, to do something for others as it might bring a shining light into their life or into their day and be kind to others.
All in all, I definitely would suggest it to anyone who is into psychological drama and mental health.
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DON'T HESITATE TO WATCH THIS DRAMA
It's a masterpiece.. you may feel bored for few episodes but after some episodes the drama kick start's then till the last episode it will be very interesting funny cute and heart fluttering..
Each and every character has a story and is portrayed beautifully..
It's the reality about how something or somepeople or even us (the individual us) hide the real us and Don't speak up for ourselves which not only put us in the difficult times but also the ones that are close to us and also to the people who are involved..
This drama is really a MASTERPIECE.. THE MASTERPIECE.. storyline and the acting of each and every character in this drama is loveable.. you can't even hate single character in the drama..
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You may have spoiled yourself, but you do not know why and how. That is just one part...there are more to go. Anyways, their chemistry was amazing. It's astonishing especially the TWISTs. Waw. I did not expect that at all. That was crazy yet remarkable. The crazy self lesson was good. I like how it is also a real-life lesson for people who are dealing with difficulties. I wish there was more romance between the second couple in the end but their ending was good. Better than what I expected.
Overall, everything about this drama was tremendous. Their romance was on point. HE’s such a GOOD KISSER. Y'all! He's A GOOD KISSER. HAHAHA.
Back to the topic. Hehe. Him being a shy boss and changing into a new person but still keeping his personality the same was logical. You can't always change everything about a person.
Their ending tho...was CUTE. SANA ALL. HAHAA.
BUT... HWAN-GI THO..HE SOO MF HOT. There may be a gap between their age...since some of y'all are so paranoid about such thing but the way they acted towards their characters makes it surreal. I love it.
Their cuteness was awe. Their funny moments, sad moments and everything was just wonderful. I would definitely watch this drama again and go through their romance and comedy parts.
If you're in a wow-twist with a cute and hot romance I would definitely recommend this drama. It's on NETFLIX. So...REALLY RECOMMEND IT.
I just finished watching this while camping cuz I just can't wait to see them again. And to see how the drama will turn out.
AND IT TURNED OUT GOOD!!
2:31AM 6/13/20
(6/14/20 10:56PM) - when I posted it here <3
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This review may contain spoilers
Interesting Drama…
I want to first say that I did enjoy this drama. I’ve actually watched it twice. Don’t get me wrong, I love both the main characters and their chemistry with each other. And most of the side characters are hilarious (love so many of the Another Miss Oh! cast being in this), but the backstory is… intense in an almost unbelievable way. This was my first kdrama backstory that was almost too much for me to handle in order to finsih the show. Trust me, I’ve watched shows with tragic backstories but this was… intense and didn’t really make sense for me??But the show is HILARIOUS and I love the love story between the main characters. Just ignore the other stuff and this is a great drama lol.
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Solid Story
The CEO (ML) in this one is more realistic to me than most dramas surprisingly. Not everyone can speak in front of people, yet his mind behind the scenes was extraordinary which I loved. The FL was a bit much, but you start to warm up to her after a while. The trauma element was layered, and I feel that the writers went overboard with it. The twists made you want to cringe and yell 'really', but the turnaround was nice. Seeing the ML start to open up was refreshing. I enjoyed the dynamic the ML brought with his nonverbal communication. The chemistry was sweet and believable. This is a solid series.Was this review helpful to you?
Overall, I highly recommend this to all those who enjoy dramas exploring real-world problems.
Also, to anyone who just likes a good laugh every now and then.
Go ahead and watch (available on DramaCool).
And E N J O Y.
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Acting is better than the story
I haven't actually finished this show but nothing I've seen so far suggests to me any major changes lie ahead. The show is carried at a stumbling pace by the warmth of some genuinely nice characters in that no-one is really rotten. The three main characters have some endearing qualities to them but it's their flaws that make this a show that's about killing time rather than enjoying.Let's start with Hwan-gi. The socially awkward introverted boss was a concept I liked and I found him a very sympathetic character. It's clear his problems came from being emotionally tormented by his father's relentless drive for perfection. I thought his relationship with Jhi-hye was surprisingly beautiful in the flashback episode - which for me was easily the standout episode and built on some great writing - partly because it was platonic and not romantic. She being the only person who understands his introverted difficulties and helps him really conveyed a sense of what she meant to him as a friend.
But the show struggles because of his relationships with his teammates. We see at different points he lets his guard down with them individually and shares some poignant moments, yet in the next scene, they remain awkward and fearful of him. It made no sense that having had a touching moment with his secretary early on in the show, that she remains super awkward around him and doesn't even try to help others understand him. I thought they could have built a great platonic bond but the show didn't tap into that.
The big issue is Chae Ro-Woon. Her motivations for joining the company are strong but never fleshed out to the point they become weak. I don't find it plausible that her inner mechanisms leading her to that company melt away within a few episodes. She never really seemed like someone in pursuit of revenge and was too easily sympathetic to Hwan-gi despite viewing him as the cause of her sister's death. This was so weakly developed it was disappointing. Having said that, I must also add that her character was still pleasant and the acting for the role was sublime in my opinion.
The music didn't often fit what tone the scenes required. I think this show tried to tell a serious story through a comedic lens and that was a bad mistake. It's no surprise that the flashback episode was really good because it was stripped away of all that extra gloss and was a bone-bare episode of human realism, hope and suffering.
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Great series but I do offer a gentle warning...
I loved the male lead actor. As someone who can relate very much so to him... I felt he portrayed the disorder he deals with very well. His character is very likeable.I didn't find the lead female actor quite as likeable in the beginning; maybe it was her acting, maybe it was just the character she was portraying. But she grew on me eventually.
I do have a warning though - if you are easily triggered by suicide or self-harm, please be careful. While neither of these subjects are brought up lightly, nor encouraged or looked upon favorably, there are instances/conversations of both in this series. So if self-harm is something you struggle with please be cautious. As someone who struggles with this, I admit I did have a little bit of a hard time after watching the series.
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Eun Hwan Ki Storyline Works...Romantic Dynamic Does Not
There is actually a difference between an introverted person and a shy person. An introvert is someone who tends to be more within himself/herself. They usually don’t have any problem being alone. While they can struggle to interact with others, it’s not always the case. They have no desire to be the center of attention or be placed in the spotlight. More and more psychologists are finding that being able to be alone is a strength rather than a weakness. It’s not the same as hiding oneself away out of fear. That would be shyness.My Shy Boss is a decent romantic drama at best, with two characters who stand on a mountain of integrity among a sea of supporting characters who struggle to find any at all. Eun Hwan Ki is a master of ideas, and while he doesn’t realize it, he’s also a master of dealing with people. However, he’s also a bit of a recluse who prefers the quiet solitude of his penthouse apartment rather than handle the day-to-day interactions with employees and clients. He’s immensely creative and has a knack for seeing things that others fail to see. He’s also a great listener, but his biggest problem is that he always puts others ahead of himself. He’s the guy who’s going to take the hits, put himself in front of the bus, and do whatever it takes to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. In many ways, he’s the true hero of the story, and he has the humility to do so without asking for anything in return.
Seo Yun Jung is other. This is a woman that others should try to emulate. She’s no wallflower, and she has absolutely no problem pursuing what she wants. She’s also the only other character who is perfectly comfortable with herself. The scene that made me stand up and cheer for her was when she turns the tables on Eun Hwan Ki’s father. This isn’t a woman who can be used, bought, or sold. And she had absolutely no problem taking issue with the despicable actions of Eun Hwan Ki’s father and telling him straight to his face. While I understand that Chae Ro Woon is the love interest of Eun Hwan Ki, I was really hoping (even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen) that he would have ended up with Seo Yun Jung. She’s a pillar of strength, who isn’t just someone who can be a romantic partner, but one who will easily stand with Eun Hwan Ki no matter what. Chae Ro Woon cannot say that. I lost count how many times she oscillates back and forth, back and forth. And Seo Yun Jung is far more mature as well.
You’ll need a clipboard of names to keep track of all of the “who likes who” at any given moment. I’ve never seen a drama with so many dynamics; so many that you just might get a headache.
Most of the characters are people who are looking for love and attention in all the wrong places. They truly believe that they cannot be happy unless they are with someone. What they fail to realize is that it is literally impossible to find happiness in someone else if you fail to find it within yourself first. Why? Because you cannot give what you do not have.
If you love yourself, you will never contemplate suicide as an answer to being denied/rejected.
If you love yourself, you will never harm yourself or use it as a means of getting attention.
If you love yourself, you will never feel empty by being alone. In truth, you will find it empowering.
If you love yourself, you will never allow anyone to use you for their own selfish reasons.
Chae Ro Woon—much like Eun Hwan Ki—is an outcast within her own family. She’s the outgoing one, and nobody knows how much her older sister is suffering until it’s too late. The sad thing about suicidal people is that you cannot save someone who does not want to be saved. If someone is bent on killing themselves, they will find a way. Chae Ro Woon is very much like a kid. She’s immature, selfish, and she doesn’t realize the mess she’s made until it’s too late. Rather than trying to find out the truth about her sister, she reacts emotionally, and irrationally, and hellbent on revenge.
It's always hard to hate someone once you get to know them. Chae Ro Woon begins to wonder if she has it right as she gets to know Eun Hwan Ki and realizes that he’s not the monster that she thinks he is.
There are a number of cowardly and despicable characters in this series. Eun Hwan Ki’s father is about as vile and violent of an abuser as you’ll ever likely to find in a “parent.” He’s ashamed of his son for being quiet and shy, and he has no problem being abusive—both physically and mentally—toward him. Such a person has no business calling himself a parent.
There are several problems with this series. First, people who are that suicidal and prone to hurting themselves as Eun Yi Soo (Hwan Ki’s sister) can miraculously heal themselves. Most people need some kind of professional help. Hwan Ki makes a grave mistake by not helping her get the help that she needs. The writers should have taken this far more seriously than they did. I’ve known people who have attempted suicide, and it’s no quick fix. However, Eun Yi Soo at least seems to understand that her problem stems from not loving herself, which is true. That’s a good first step. Given that Korea has the 3rd highest suicide rate in the world, I would have hoped for a more thoughtful and realistic approach to this part of the story.
The romantic dynamic between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon just doesn’t entirely work. First of all, the two actors have good chemistry together but NOT good romantic chemistry. Again, I thought the Eun Hwan Ki/Seo Yun Jung was better from a romantic chemistry standpoint, even though they didn’t really share any romantic scenes. The romance between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon was like watching a grown-up and a kid. Park Hye Soo just doesn’t have the chops to act out romantic scenes realistically. She tries to flirt, but comes across more like a child wanting attention, which was annoying more than just once! This is largely due to Park Hye Soo being miscast. I would have had Park Hye Soo play Eun Yi Soo (the sister) and Gong Seung Yeon play Seo Yun Jung with Jang Hee Jin taking up the role of Chae Ro Woon Jang Hee Jin was fantastic in “Flower of Evil”. Jang Hee Jin has far more range and acting prowess than Park Hye Soo. And as I’ve said, the constant back and forth between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon became tedious and unrealistic very quickly. Soon, they’re kissing, and next they won’t even touch each other. That was just silly.
By episode 15, I was just waiting for the series to end. It loses much of its steam in the last two episodes, and the story feels like it’s treading water, trying to limp toward the finish line of the last episode. Of course, we get another childish scene with Park Hye Soo because she doesn’t get a Christmas card from Eun Hwan Ki. Chae Ro Woon is what we call a “high-maintenance” girl.
I found myself far more intrigued with Eun Hwan Ki and how he was able to empower his small team of “misfits” to start believing in themselves. While they each helped him to develop more courage to stand in the spotlight, we also see what he’s done for the members of his team. Eun Hwan Ki is also a man—much like Atlas—who’s caring the weight of everyone on his own shoulders. He’s noble and courageous. We only wish he’d use just an ounce of that strength and belief on himself. If they had left the romantic aspect out of the story, this would have been a far more compelling series because the strength of the story is Eun Hwan Ki, and Yeon Woo Jin did an absolutely fantastic job with the role. My only issue was that his “shyness” was handled with a lot of inconsistencies, but that is a small issue.
Overall, the series is okay at best. If there is a central theme to this series, it’s for people to start putting themselves first. Learn to love yourself before you decide to share that with someone else. “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” is still the best drama series yet made on people who are psychologically and emotionally scarred. And just because you have feelings for someone, doesn’t mean that they should automatically reciprocate. And, yes, love is about courage; about taking risks and putting yourself out there. The quiet ones who never tell others how they feel will always live a life of regret.
And if you know someone who’s attempted or might attempt suicide, get them professional help! Sometimes, you have to acknowledge that you love someone so much that you cannot help them, but you will find someone who can!
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I liked the layer by layer reveal the plot/ reasons during last episodes. The Fmc is annoying at first but came on track later. I really liked the Fmc's sister Han Chae Ah . I wud have loved if she were the main lead instead of Park Hye Soo. She was more beautiful than Fmc in my opinion and her acting also very good than Fmc.
this might be a miscast. For whatever short time she had Han Chae Ah nailed it be it love or sad. Also the story stagnates after characters introduction. I mean it doesn't move forward and most of the story development, romance happens after 10th episode.
Also the Mc's friend, i mean come on i don't understand why he doesn't get sued for sexual harassment being touchy with almost every woman he comes in contact with, like they were his buddies. This is after what he had done before( you wud think he wud change)
Although there were flaws i enjoyed it becoz of Mc, romance, comedy (little) it is worth of 8 / 10.
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