Janice
This review may contain spoilers
Like Instant Ravioli: Fast, stuffed and satisfying but could cut down on the cheese
A Business Proposal is a fast-paced, comfort drama. A quick, easy and shut-off-your-brain type of watch! If it were a comfort food, it'd be like instant ravioli. Stuffed and fulfilling, but maybe could cut down slightly on the cheese.
Packed with a series of humorous challenges, it follows the main character, Shin Hari, as she finds herself wound up in surprising encounters with the CEO of her company, Kang Taemoo, after going as a replacement for her friend on a blind date with him. Right from episode 1, I was drawn to the show's refreshing portrayal of old school tropes and those butterfly-in-stomach generating moments, the key nutrient that many recent dramas have been deficient in.
It's like the creators sat down and said, "It's 2022, let's create a K-drama that crams in every popular cliche that's ever existed into one show filled with good-looking actors and actresses!" We got the: the chaebol guy-poor girl relationship, blind dates gone wrong, fake relationship bound contractually for mutual benefit, the angsty love triangle and, imo the most cliche of them all, love at first sight (and more!). Sounds a bit formulaic, right? Yeah sure, but can't deny that it DELIVERED on the substance and presentation! The humor was well-executed in a funny, over-the-top way that many scenes got a good laugh out of me again and again. It's the ultimate chef's kiss!
Those were also the reasons why I looked forward to every Monday and Tuesday just shutting off my brain and going along for the ride. I was eager to see where each new episode would take me with Hari, desperately trying to keep her GoFood employee identity a secret as if her life depended on it, and Taemoo, falling head over heels over a girl he barely knows but is oddly attracted to. How they plan to resolve this crisis and make it work out is what I had a burning appetite to find out.
Sad to say, somewhere down the line, maybe around episode 8, I couldn't help but sense that the overall quality of the drama tapered off, my final rating suffering a decline from my initial as a result. I felt that many character development opportunities were presented but not taken advantage of, and certain plot points could have been better more deeply explored. You could tell with this drama, breadth was prioritized over depth, with many sudden jumps, cuts and scene changes, which worked initially as they began establishing the narrative and setting. But the coverage remained this way even in the episodes leading to the finale. When we got to episode 11, new conflicts were still being introduced when it would've been an appropriate time to start tying together loose ends so that episode 12 wouldn't feel rushed. For example, we never explicitly saw Taemoo's grandpa's final approval of or interaction with Hari. Could've been a heartwarming wrap-up scene to watch to experience along with him his internal reconciliation of Hari/Geumhee. Also hoped for a more resolute ending for Yoojung (Youngseo's cousin). She just disappeared on us. She was way too interesting a character to just use as a plot device for Youngseo, then abandon right after. And as much as I love Hari's character, the one thing that bothered me at times was her unnecessarily anxious reactions, being placed in a difficult or uncomfortable situation. Her first impulse every time was to run away or hide. You see this on multiple occasions in restaurants, bathrooms, and the elevator. Understandably, this was probably meant to spice up the tension and awkwardness, but sometimes it got to the point where I didn't think it was even worth feeling anxious about. (I'm talking about those two bathroom scenes)
Though the positives of the drama definitely can't go unmentioned. GoFood seemed like the most awesome place to work, can't lie. Much creative freedom, benefits, awards and work-life balance for the food researchers. Absolutely loved the carefree dynamic of Hari with Team 1. Their interactions always put a smile on my face and made me wish I had co-workers just like them. Agree with everyone saying that the second lead couple was super cute and a good match for one another! Really glad it worked out for them in the end. Compared to that couple, Hari and Taemoo's chemistry skewed innocent and sweet, but contained a spicy and passionate hidden flavor viewers were able to get a taste of too. Lastly, just wanted to quickly shout-out Sejeong, whom I've supported since the Produce 101 days. This is the first drama of hers that I've watched and I have to say I was pretty impressed with her acting skills, considering she's an idol-turned-actress with a vocalist background. Can't wait for her to take on more diverse roles in the future.
This is overall a delightful drama that I don't think requires too much commitment going in. Can't guarantee it will be memorable or emotionally life-changing, but you won't want to stop watching it!
Packed with a series of humorous challenges, it follows the main character, Shin Hari, as she finds herself wound up in surprising encounters with the CEO of her company, Kang Taemoo, after going as a replacement for her friend on a blind date with him. Right from episode 1, I was drawn to the show's refreshing portrayal of old school tropes and those butterfly-in-stomach generating moments, the key nutrient that many recent dramas have been deficient in.
It's like the creators sat down and said, "It's 2022, let's create a K-drama that crams in every popular cliche that's ever existed into one show filled with good-looking actors and actresses!" We got the: the chaebol guy-poor girl relationship, blind dates gone wrong, fake relationship bound contractually for mutual benefit, the angsty love triangle and, imo the most cliche of them all, love at first sight (and more!). Sounds a bit formulaic, right? Yeah sure, but can't deny that it DELIVERED on the substance and presentation! The humor was well-executed in a funny, over-the-top way that many scenes got a good laugh out of me again and again. It's the ultimate chef's kiss!
Those were also the reasons why I looked forward to every Monday and Tuesday just shutting off my brain and going along for the ride. I was eager to see where each new episode would take me with Hari, desperately trying to keep her GoFood employee identity a secret as if her life depended on it, and Taemoo, falling head over heels over a girl he barely knows but is oddly attracted to. How they plan to resolve this crisis and make it work out is what I had a burning appetite to find out.
Sad to say, somewhere down the line, maybe around episode 8, I couldn't help but sense that the overall quality of the drama tapered off, my final rating suffering a decline from my initial as a result. I felt that many character development opportunities were presented but not taken advantage of, and certain plot points could have been better more deeply explored. You could tell with this drama, breadth was prioritized over depth, with many sudden jumps, cuts and scene changes, which worked initially as they began establishing the narrative and setting. But the coverage remained this way even in the episodes leading to the finale. When we got to episode 11, new conflicts were still being introduced when it would've been an appropriate time to start tying together loose ends so that episode 12 wouldn't feel rushed. For example, we never explicitly saw Taemoo's grandpa's final approval of or interaction with Hari. Could've been a heartwarming wrap-up scene to watch to experience along with him his internal reconciliation of Hari/Geumhee. Also hoped for a more resolute ending for Yoojung (Youngseo's cousin). She just disappeared on us. She was way too interesting a character to just use as a plot device for Youngseo, then abandon right after. And as much as I love Hari's character, the one thing that bothered me at times was her unnecessarily anxious reactions, being placed in a difficult or uncomfortable situation. Her first impulse every time was to run away or hide. You see this on multiple occasions in restaurants, bathrooms, and the elevator. Understandably, this was probably meant to spice up the tension and awkwardness, but sometimes it got to the point where I didn't think it was even worth feeling anxious about. (I'm talking about those two bathroom scenes)
Though the positives of the drama definitely can't go unmentioned. GoFood seemed like the most awesome place to work, can't lie. Much creative freedom, benefits, awards and work-life balance for the food researchers. Absolutely loved the carefree dynamic of Hari with Team 1. Their interactions always put a smile on my face and made me wish I had co-workers just like them. Agree with everyone saying that the second lead couple was super cute and a good match for one another! Really glad it worked out for them in the end. Compared to that couple, Hari and Taemoo's chemistry skewed innocent and sweet, but contained a spicy and passionate hidden flavor viewers were able to get a taste of too. Lastly, just wanted to quickly shout-out Sejeong, whom I've supported since the Produce 101 days. This is the first drama of hers that I've watched and I have to say I was pretty impressed with her acting skills, considering she's an idol-turned-actress with a vocalist background. Can't wait for her to take on more diverse roles in the future.
This is overall a delightful drama that I don't think requires too much commitment going in. Can't guarantee it will be memorable or emotionally life-changing, but you won't want to stop watching it!
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