Pretendente Surpresa (2022)

Uma proposta viciante!

Pensem em um dorama que você olha a sinopse e conclui: "Hm, ok, vem aí um clichêzinho para passar o tempo". Quando comecei a assistir, eu não esperava NADA, inclusive, eu só comecei este dorama porque eu precisava de um "respiro" de '2521' e seus episódios com alta carga dramática. Assim como Kang Tae Moo, Cha Sung Hoon e Jin Young Seo, eu posso dizer: Foi amor à primeira vista. Os personagens são INCRÍVEIS, todos eles! Do quarteto protagonista, passando pelos engraçadíssimos colegas de trabalho, até chegar no nosso icônico vovô dorameiro. O roteiro, embora seja "simples" e até com alguns clichezinhos, funciona MARAVILHOSAMENTE BEM. Os episódios passam voando, você nem sente, e quando acaba fica aquela sensação de "quero mais"! Humor, romance e drama são um combo perfeitamente equilibrado na história. Não há enrolação, furos, foi tudo muito bem feito e caprichado. Até os efeitos visuais e sonoros são ótimos! A química dos casais é impressionante e se você assistir os bastidores, percebe quão introsados eles são, um show à parte! Ao Kang Tae Moo, um CEO charmoso e determinado, Shin Ha Ri, uma mulher divertidíssima, Jin Young Seo com sua espontaniedade e Cha Sung Hoon
e sua inquestionável lealdade, estendo o nosso "obrigada", vocês já entraram para o "hall" selecionadíssimo de personagens amados pela dramaland.

? Eu recomendaria?

SIM!!! É um dorama que serve para todos os momentos, seja uma ressaca doramesca, conforto, ou busca por uma história que valha à pena. Fofo, divertido, viciante e com um elenco de milhões, foi um drama que prometia absolutamente nada e entregou TUDO! Com certeza já é um dos meus preferidos de 2022, e ganha destaque na minha lista de favoritos da vida, virou um "xodó"!

Se você gostou, venha conhecer o meu IG. <3

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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!

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A cliche rom-com done amazingly well!

This was such a treat to watch. It actually had me looking forward to Mondays. The drama had me hooked from the very first episode. Sure it's a plot we have seen often, fake dating to real, and it had almost every cliche mentionable, but everything was done right and tastefully. Even scenes you would think to be over the top were done really well. I think the fact that it didn't take itself too seriously and fully embraced the comedy-style romance, worked in its favor. There's not one moment where I felt this is too cheesy or awkward. As a bonus, there were no silly misunderstandings that lead to over-dramatic break-ups and whatnot. Both couples had incredible communication and it was refreshing to see. Not to mention that their chemistry was off the charts. Even if I had to, I couldn't pick which couple I enjoyed watching more. The cast was absolutely fantastic. Everyone acted well and fit their roles perfectly. I already loved Kim Mingyu and Kim Sejong, but this drama decidedly put Ahn Hyo Seop and Seol In Ah on my radar and I couldn't be happier.

Apart from that, I enjoyed every moment the side characters were on my screen. Whether it be Hari's family, the chairman, or food development team 1, I laughed in joy every time. Sure there were a couple of annoying ones, but their screentime was minimal so I won't complain.

I am also super glad that they decided to only film 12 episodes. I think that's the perfect number. Because of it, they were able to get the pacing just right. I never thought that any scenes were unnecessarily dragged on, or even worse rushed through. Also, I wish there was a section to rate the production or editing because it was so well done in this drama. Whether it be the silly animations, the words, or flashbacks, nothing felt out of place or kiddish. The director and editors did a great job.

This was a great drama that had me looking forward to the week and was sure to put a smile on my face. Sometimes you need a sweet, fluffy, and funny drama. Not everything has to be deep and meaningful. This fills that purpose and it was a joy to watch.

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Humorous~

Story: The plot is easy to understand and just light. It didn’t go deep to every character’s issues and each was smoothen out good. The series is like candy when you feel like you don’t have enough sugar in your body. I didn’t expect anything apart from the negative reviews I found online but still quite enjoyed the drama. It was entertaining and the humor is just my type. It has this ‘what’s wrong with secretary kim ’ vibe.

Acting: The only familiar face for me is Seol In Ah and she did really great in this, the rest were good but nothing spectacular. There were some scenes where I found awkward but still watchable. I do think the side characters did better than the leads, like Shin Hari’s parents, Tae Moo’s grandfather and the duo of Go food development team 1. The chemistry of both main leads weren’t the best to be honest but still convincing and cute at times.

Music: I only remember one song that I like and some cute sound effects.

Rewatch Value: Those laugh out loud ones. I like this drama because of the humor not because of the romance.

Overall: If a drama can make me laugh, it’s already a 7 for me, which is considered high or recommendable in my book. It’s not exactly art but a feel good drama that can give you good mood on a boring day. One of the ways to enjoy a drama is to not take everything seriously and appreciate the effort and acting these actors have made just to give color to their characters.

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Perfect vanilla fluff!

After a lot of shows lately that have erred on the side of serious, tense, and deep... A Business Proposal was a breath of fresh air!! With a lot going on in the world these days, this show brings us joy and levity. This show proved that sometimes, all we need is a simple, straightforward romcom. It felt reminiscent of classic stories from the past, and as long as your expectations are set accordingly, you will have a fantastic time. Don't watch this show when you're in the mood for tears or reflections on life. Watch this show when you need a light pick-me-up, archaepteryx sound effects, fun mannerisms, and unexpected laughs.

Despite its simple premise and fairly straightforward plot, A Business Proposal is surprisingly engaging. It SOMETIMES subverts tropes, but more often than not, it leans into the camp. The writer was smart to keep the story tight at just 12 episodes — it prevented any situations from dragging out, and therefore felt excellently paced. I LOVED the drama-within-a-drama, explicit product placement, snappy lines, and unabashed cheesiness. Our four leads are all immensely root-able, and I love how all the women are driven, ambitious, and stand up for themselves.

The actors all played their parts well. Even Young Seo's cousin endeared herself to me by the end. No one was really a villain, and we all had a good time.

My only critique is that the ending felt a bit rushed. C'mon, y'all know what we're here for! Why didn't you give us a wedding and babies?! If you're going to do a time skip, at least make the future a bit more fulfilling. I'll kid myself and say it's so they can keep things going with a drama special or second season someday.

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Cuando el hipe juega a favor o en contra...

Un sabor agridulce es lo que me ha dejado este drama. Lo empecé en medio del hipe que tenía y además venía con ganas de ver algo ligero ¿obtuve lo que esperaba? Lo cierto es que no y quizás mi error fue empezarlo con las expectativas muy altas y es que esta historia tuvo y tiene a su favor el favoritismo en redes sociales y quizás solo quizás el no atreverse a ir contra la opinión popular...

Los personajes me parecieron adorables, con su dosis alta de cringe y problemas que muchas veces se resolvía hablando pero claro, a la falta de un conflicto estable era complicado mantener la trama durante 12 capítulos.

Pero no todo fue malo, no la pasé terrible mientras lo veía: me hacían reír, las parejas son agradables de ver y visualmente es muy brillante y bonito.

Mi problema fue lo inverosímil que se volvió a partir del capítulo 4 cuando la falsa identidad era insostenible pero por arte del guión: ni el protagonista, ni su abuelo ni nadie era capaz de darse cuenta de que una de sus empleadas era la prometida del CEO jaja...

Luego cada capítulo siguió el mismo patron: presentación, introducción a un posible conflicto, resolución. Para el capítulo 8 se volvió insostenible, repetitivo y tedioso de ver. La pareja secundaria era infantil y los personajes que aparecieron luego... bueno: de relleno.

Destaco los memes, frases icónicas, la química y los detrás de escena que son joyitas.

A la próxima intentaré ver dramas sin demasiadas expectativas o sin dejarme llevar tanto por la opinión externa.

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A lighthearted rom-com that's a little overhyped...

Buissness Proposal is exactly what you would expect it to be from the title and the cover picture ; a cheesy, lighthearted, rom-com. You don't go into expecting anything groundbreaking and by the end you find those expectations met.
The first few episodes are definitely much better, and much funnier, than the final episodes. At the begining of the series it's hard to stop watching but by the end it gets tedious.
The conflicts feel unnecessary and the the lack of any wedding by the end makes the drama end on an anticlimax.
Overall, its not a bad drama and it's a fun, easy watch, but is it anything new, exciting or unique? Definitely not.

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Pure and wonderful escapism.

Menu= Synopsis/Concept ~(8)
Ingredients/Recipes= Script Writer ~(9)
Chef= Director ~(9)
Flavors/Taste= Actors/Performances ~(10)
Restaurant/Decor= Wardrobe Production-Value ~(10)
Waiter/Service= Editing/Cinematography ~(10)

Starter/1st Act ~(9)
Main Course /2nd Act ~(10)
Dessert/3rd Act ~(8)

Pure escapism, warm and fuzzy. The lead actress where beautiful coupled with great acting.
I personally prefer simple straightforward storytelling, injecting over the top conflict for conflict’s sake is overrated.

Talking pictures are for unwinding after dealing with reality.

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The female stole everyone the show

One thing is sure , the FL could was a better kisser than the ML;)

They could really be a real pair ; totally convinced me with their natural acting .
One of best romance Korean dramas I’ve seen…no dragging scenes, entertaining, moreover no need for more episodes…..love these kind of stressless dramas to relax from daily stress.

The actress was perfect for this role , very talented and natural in her acting and mostly thanks to her outstanding performance the drama was s gooood. I’m looking forward to her next projects. She definitely gained a new viewer.

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Typical Cliched rich CEO, poor girl trope

I'm not gonna complain about the cliches in this show because that kind of provided a nostalgic escapism that we used to get from earlier kdramas like Boys over flower, What's wrong with Secretary Kim etc. This one is slightly fresh (just slightly). I was more invested in the 2nd couple though. Good, light, sweet drama with great clothes, houses and food. All great.
HOWEVER. (and this is the biggest pet peeve of mine)...

However, the sheer amount to dumbness the main characters showed was mind-boggling. The CEO ML is apparently a genius but cannot discern the overly-obvious similarity between Shin Guem Hui & Shin Ha Ri?!?! Even while attending the concert, when the same dial tone played, the same injury was seen on two different people on the same day?! Even when he was outright showed Shin Ha Ri on the video commercial BTS!? That was frustrating to watch...

Coming to Shin Ha Ri... by comically trying to run, crawl, make faces while attempting to hide your identity, you're bringing even more attention to yourself!!! Well thank god the CEO is dumb but my God this woman knew how to be centre of attention while trying to avoid being centre of attention.

I know this is supposed to be chill, sweet, funny romcom, but this is 2022...surely better job could've been done on writing out the characters. Even romcoms can be funny without making the characters overly dumb.

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Can you make cliches work? Yes, you can!

The series (so far) is one huge cliche -- yet it works!
While the acting is good, the reason the show comes together is the direction and editing (I think -- I am not educated regarding components of filming) -- HOW the scene is filmed contributes a lot to the overall humor.
And it is interesting how the cliches begin to be directly tackled and dismantled (in episodes 4 and 5).
I almost dropped the series after episode 4 because of the borderline-abusive behavior by the male lead -- fortunately I caught the teaser for episode 5 and, even though the borderline-abusive (and cliched) behavior absolutely did occur, the show handled it (reasonably) well -- it shows the heroine reacting in a way that would have been likely to happen -- as in, the behavior has real, negative consequences, and is not immediately forgotten. Thank you for acknowledging reality! However slightly :)

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Love doesn't depend upon status.

Shin Hari is a employ in GO Food company.Kang Taemoo is the president of the company. Hari's best friend Jin youngso was set in a blind date with Taemoo in which she doesn't want to go. Youngso tell Hari to go insted of her when Hari didn't knew that the date is her company president. She tries everything to get rid of Taemoo but Taemoo fall for her. But he didn't know that she is not youngso. The story continues as he get to know Hari and how they become lovers from employ and president. If you want comedy or office romance you can watch this. This drama contains 12 episodes which can be easily finished?Happy watching.

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