A Business Proposal (2022)

Old romcom tropes in 2022 outfit work just perfectly

Finally, 3 weeks since finishing the drama, one haircut and one trip later, i had some time to gather my thoughts on A Business Proposal.
Overall, it was so incredibly fun watch - it's been a long time since i've watched such a self-indulgent and fun show.
Amazing chemistry between the leads, unashamed use of classic romcom tropes AND perfect execution, on point acting, dynamic camera and storyteling… this drama is by the same director as Suspicious Partner and let me just tell you – he does his job so well.

Business Propsal had amazing start and for a long while all components were right - the main star are the characters of the drama – you love the main leads, you love hating the antagonists, you love the sidekicks… the story is simple but all the characters just click together and they are joy to watch. Sejeong in particular is a delight to watch. Once you put on this show, your brain just voluntarily switches off and enjoys the ride. The problem is when you start thinking about the story below surface.

First 8 episodes are 11/10 - absolute banger. But the last 4 episodes just felt like they were written by a completely different production team. The ending was, i dare to say, unsatisfying. 6/10 at best. Even now, i am still baffled how the show turned so… disappointing. Really...
The grandfather/Geumhee (Hari) storyline was teased for such a long time, until it ended underdeveloped and flat. The sizzling chemistry between the second couple? Gone and whats worse - once you think about the couple - what made them stay together after initial attaction? They had nothing in comon, Youngseo never let the dude finish his sentence (honestly, i found Youngseo absolutely annoying the more i thought about her). Sibling-like relationship between male leads was also not explored enough--- yada yada yada.

I could continue but i guess i'll stop. If i were petty (pettier than i usually am), i’d give this a 7/10 but since i loved the drama so much at the begining and the comedy and production was so so so good i will give this a 8,5/10 and add Business proposal to my ever-growing list of guilty pleasure dramas.

Lire davantage

The poster child for a cliche rom-com, but in a good way

As a K-drama, Business Proposal isn’t exactly anything profound, the fake dating plot, love triangle, and poor chicken shop girl with rich CEO romance are all plots we’ve seen a million times before. But I swear we still eat it up every time, and with Business Proposal, I absolutely did.

This was actually my first K-Drama ever, but I’m going back after watching over twenty others, and my opinions still remain the same. Business Proposal took a tried and true formula and executed it well.

The casting is probably one of the biggest highlights of the show, good acting and a good cast can make almost any basic plot enjoyable, and Business Proposal is undeniably a pretty basic plot. I’m not complaining though because I loved every second of it.

Both the lead couple and the second lead couple were perfectly cast, and the chemistry with both pairs was on point. I usually only care about one couple in a show, but in this one I loved them both. Plus, they’re all hot so that’s always a bonus.

It's pretty cheesy, but not too cringey, and the show is mildly unhinged, but I think it’s exactly what a good brain rot Rom-Com should be. I actually found myself laughing out loud several times while watching it, and not many shows get that out of me.

While not one of my favorites ever I did really like the OST and it added to the show in all the right ways, so no complaints for me there.

There isn’t much more to say about the show plot wise, but it’s got great romance, genuinely funny jokes and makes for an enjoyable time.

It's not a masterpiece but it’s exactly what it’s supposed to be.

Lire davantage

It’s just boring

Contract marriages are just that, rich people who contract poor girls and then fall in true love and love each other and I don't like the SF, why didn't she come and say she didn't want to get married instead of begging like that to be replaced even though it wasn't FL fault to cancel the marriage. the storyline is predictable and very boring but it helps because their acting is all good and the shooting is decent but the storyline is boring it is very difficult to continue watching even though in the end I was able to watch until the end overall I give it 4 stars if you want waste time go watch but if you think this is 10/10 big no.

Lire davantage

This Rom-Com had me smiling through the whole thing!

***I just had to add something to my original review. I just re-watched this show, because I had just finished watching a couple of no-so-great shows and I needed something I knew I would enjoy. Upon re-watch, I think I enjoyed it even more, and this is why. The development of relationships was very evident, of both couples. I loved seeing even the most seemingly insignificant conversations, you could really understand why they felt the way they did about each other. So many shows, you never quite understand why the people like each other. It was just as much fun the second time around.

What a fun show!

Let's be honest, there's nothing too terribly original about it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, if the things that they are doing are what you enjoy. And enjoy I did. It's full of the typical rom-com cliches, but it's put together in a very endearing way. The identity confusion didn't go on too terribly long, the main leads were strong characters that didn't let their families walk all over them, and I can ALMOST forgive the obligatory time jump. There is a lot of heart, a lot of humor, and a lot of fun to be found in this show. I also appreciated the fact that there weren't misunderstandings just to push the show along and keep the couple apart. We get to see an actual development of a relationship here, which I really enjoyed.

ACTING: Ahn Hyo Seop as Tang Moo - I had a bit of trouble with him toward the beginning, because it seemed he was trying to channel the lead from What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, but then a couple of episodes in he seemed to hit his stride. I ADORED him as Yoo Chan in Thirty but Seventeen, but whereas there he reminded me of a gangly puppy that hadn't grown into his body, here you can see that he has definitely grown into himself and is full of that cool grace of a romantic male lead. I thought everyone in the show did a very good job.

CHEMISTRY: Wonderful chemistry between both the lead couple and the second lead couple. No fish kisses, which is a nice change. Both couples had healthy relationships and there was time spent in honest, everyday conversations. I loved the scene of the lead couple when she went back to talk to him at the hospital when it was raining. there was a good balance between sadness, support and love as they discussed survivor's guilt.

The bromance was okay but tempered by the fact that they were employer/employee.
Sismance - amazing! While watching these two women from such completely different backgrounds interact, they were always supportive of each other. I love to see healthy friendships in the shows that I watch.
The ending was okay, a little more rushed than I like, but definitely better than most.

I have so many shows on my list to watch, I'm not normally one to re-watch anything, but I may revisit this one again soon, because it's an easy watch and it left me smiling.

Lire davantage

An overall enjoyable show hampered by a terrible character

I get that it's a drama and there's some suspension of belief necessary, but Kang Tae Moo was the worst. Like, run, Shin Ha Ri, run. If I found out that a friend was seeing someone who had done even a fraction of the stuff Kang Tae Moo had done, I would have been hosting an intervention.

The second leads were way better and I really enjoyed their story! I would have much rather seen more of them.

I thought that the show did a good job of showing friendship though! Shin Ha Ri and Jin Young Seo were adorable together and Kang Tae Moo's most redeeming stuff was with Cha Sung Hoon.

Lire davantage

I struggled so hard to get through Business Proposal. I skipped so many scenes because I was determined to finish it so I could rate it. I don't hate cheesiness or tons of tropes, there was just something about this that really didn't work for me.

I know a lot of people loved the second leads, but there was a conversation related to consent that bothered me so much I could barely watch the two of them after that.

The main couple I did not find very interesting and there were a couple points at which I feel that relationship would have been over. Spoiler: at one point he kicks her out of the car in the middle of nowhere, at night, without a phone while they are supposed to be on a date. Regardless of the reason, she could've died! The love triangle was also incredibly boring and I didn't care about it in the slightest.

I think the character relationships just all had deal breaking moments for me that really put me off the show. There were parts that I enjoy, because there were some scenes where the main couple had good chemistry. Her team at work was pretty entertaining to watch.

While there were some entertaining and humorous parts of the story, I found the characters shallow and relationships problematic.

Lire davantage

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!

Lire davantage

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.

Lire davantage