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While a bit old school and cliché, Boss & Me is an enjoyable show with a great FL (Zhao Li Ying)
Is Boss & Me/Shan Shan Comes to Eat (2014) for you?
It's a feel-good show with a very simple plot and no big bumps or surprises on the way towards the main couple's HEA. However, the drama's tropes and the production quality feel kind of old-school from today's point of view.
If you are only starting with c-dramas, you might want to try something more recent, with faster pacing and more innovative approach to clichés (e.g. recent Gu Man's work "You Are My Glory"), while the more experienced among us will take it for what it is: a pioneer of low angst romantic comedies with minimal conflicts.
THE GOOD: NO BIG CONFLICTS AND ZHAO LI YING
+ This drama was such a surprisingly pleasant watch. While I did use fast forward button for some of the 2nd leads' scenes, I didn't have to abuse it too much otherwise. Even with limited plot, the show remained fun and engaging til the end.
+ If you are looking for a show with minimal angst and conflicts, this might be your cup of tea. True, the SFL stirs some trouble, but I wouldn't call it too dramatic and while she never grew on me, she mostly redeemed herself in the final third of the show. Other than that, families and friends of both leads are supportive of their relationship, although they are doubtful that it will last.
+ Instead of nonsensical misunderstandings or trouble stirring antagonists, the main couple faces rather realistic obstacles that mostly stem from the FL's insecurities and inability to communicate her wants and worries to the ML. On the other hand, the ML is someone who is very used to having his own way and doesn't realize that his cold and matter-of-factly demeanor might come off as uncaring. As their relationship progresses, they both become more comfortable around each other and get better at communication. (So no, I would not consider it a toxic relationship.)
+ From the first day when the leads get together, they hold hands, touch and kiss, they are not awkward about physical contact like in some other shows where adults in a serious relationship behave like a pair of shy teenagers (I am looking at you, Touch Your Heart!)
+ For me, Zhao Li Ying is truly the main star of this drama in every sense of the word. She carries this drama mostly on her shoulders and she manages to make Shan Shan shine like a star and never leaves you in doubt why the other characters like her so much. Her expressions are always on point and the FL's inner monologues are delivered with sincerity and make you relate to her instead of feeling annoyed. While Shan Shan is a bit naive, insecure and inexperienced, she is also reasonable, hard-working and down to earth, not to mention cute and funny. If you are worried that the show consists of a string of the FL's embarassing moments, I can assure you it's not the case.
+ Shan Shan's development is also very significant: at first she tries to improve her skills and education to become a better match for her boyfriend (not that he ever asked her to), but slowly she realizes she wants to evolve and learn as a person for herself and grows into a professionally succesful and confident young woman.
+ Pretty nice soundtrack and some memorable songs. The opening song "Wind's Promise" captures the mood of the show perfectly and I love the upbeat "Roll the Dice" insert song.
THE BAD: UNDERDEVELOPED ML AND ANNOYING BETA COUPLE
- Feng Teng basically embodies a cold, robotic type of the ML, whose hard life of a rich CEO has been suddenly brightened by the presence of a cheerful and naive FL. He is somewhat manipulative (makes the FL eat her lunches in his office, later rents her an apartment without her knowing it belongs to him) and emotionally distant. If it was real life, I would be vary of some of his actions, but in the world of dramas, he's a pretty decent ML.
- The problem with Feng Teng is, that since the story is so much concentrated on Shan Shan's POV, he doesn't get any development or real depth. It would be nice to see him go through some crisis and out of his comfort zone, to see how Shan Shan succeeds where he fails (unlike him, she is easy-going and likeable) or she could take care of him when he's injured/sick/depressed – but no such scenario ever happens in the show.
Alas, aside from his short monologue regarding death of his parents, he never really opens up; in the final episodes he is still the seemingly perfect robotic CEO he was at the start, so don't hold your breath for any big changes.
Compared to more recent rom-coms that tend to develop characters of both leads equally, Boss & Me is very much a Shan Shan centric show.
- I mentioned the antagonistic SFL before. Truthfully, Li Shu is not a badly written character. She is a woman originally from average background who has grown up priviliged due to her family's connection to the Fengs. Since she feels insecure about her own background, she takes it on Shan Shan. It's nasty, it's bitchy and the ML calls her out on her behaviour; but I thought it was pretty realistic that he tried to deal with her privately without Shan Shan knowing, as Li Shu is still a part of his small family circle AND his sister's best friend. She does somewhat redeems herself later, but she failed to get my sympathies. Maybe it's partially the actresses's fault, I don't know.
- In a way, I have a bigger problem with the SML: Feng Teng's friend Zheng Qi who is in love with Li Shu. I disliked that he never called Li Shu on her behaviour even though he knew she was actively sabotaging his best friend's relationship with a perfectly nice girl. That's just not what friends should be like and even as Li Shu's soul mate, I don't think it's right for him to ignore her moral failings just because he has feelings for her.
- The SFL and SML have a sidestory involving a fake relationship that develops into love (on her side), but honestly, they are just not likeable enough to pull it off and I didn't feel chemistry between them. I pretty much started skipping their scenes and have no regrets.
- The side characters are mostly treated as props...they are nice, but they have no depth or interesting stories going on. My favorite was Shan Shan's friend Lu Shuang Yi, who writes romances for living. For some reason, she disappears from the last portion of the show without explanation.
To sum up: as of 2021, Boss & Me still holds up as a very good romantic comedy, perfect for long winter nights when you just want to cuddle with your blanket and with something delicious to eat (which is a must for watching this drama! there's a lot of great food in it!) and you want to watch something comforting, uncomplicated and sweet.
It's a feel-good show with a very simple plot and no big bumps or surprises on the way towards the main couple's HEA. However, the drama's tropes and the production quality feel kind of old-school from today's point of view.
If you are only starting with c-dramas, you might want to try something more recent, with faster pacing and more innovative approach to clichés (e.g. recent Gu Man's work "You Are My Glory"), while the more experienced among us will take it for what it is: a pioneer of low angst romantic comedies with minimal conflicts.
THE GOOD: NO BIG CONFLICTS AND ZHAO LI YING
+ This drama was such a surprisingly pleasant watch. While I did use fast forward button for some of the 2nd leads' scenes, I didn't have to abuse it too much otherwise. Even with limited plot, the show remained fun and engaging til the end.
+ If you are looking for a show with minimal angst and conflicts, this might be your cup of tea. True, the SFL stirs some trouble, but I wouldn't call it too dramatic and while she never grew on me, she mostly redeemed herself in the final third of the show. Other than that, families and friends of both leads are supportive of their relationship, although they are doubtful that it will last.
+ Instead of nonsensical misunderstandings or trouble stirring antagonists, the main couple faces rather realistic obstacles that mostly stem from the FL's insecurities and inability to communicate her wants and worries to the ML. On the other hand, the ML is someone who is very used to having his own way and doesn't realize that his cold and matter-of-factly demeanor might come off as uncaring. As their relationship progresses, they both become more comfortable around each other and get better at communication. (So no, I would not consider it a toxic relationship.)
+ From the first day when the leads get together, they hold hands, touch and kiss, they are not awkward about physical contact like in some other shows where adults in a serious relationship behave like a pair of shy teenagers (I am looking at you, Touch Your Heart!)
+ For me, Zhao Li Ying is truly the main star of this drama in every sense of the word. She carries this drama mostly on her shoulders and she manages to make Shan Shan shine like a star and never leaves you in doubt why the other characters like her so much. Her expressions are always on point and the FL's inner monologues are delivered with sincerity and make you relate to her instead of feeling annoyed. While Shan Shan is a bit naive, insecure and inexperienced, she is also reasonable, hard-working and down to earth, not to mention cute and funny. If you are worried that the show consists of a string of the FL's embarassing moments, I can assure you it's not the case.
+ Shan Shan's development is also very significant: at first she tries to improve her skills and education to become a better match for her boyfriend (not that he ever asked her to), but slowly she realizes she wants to evolve and learn as a person for herself and grows into a professionally succesful and confident young woman.
+ Pretty nice soundtrack and some memorable songs. The opening song "Wind's Promise" captures the mood of the show perfectly and I love the upbeat "Roll the Dice" insert song.
THE BAD: UNDERDEVELOPED ML AND ANNOYING BETA COUPLE
- Feng Teng basically embodies a cold, robotic type of the ML, whose hard life of a rich CEO has been suddenly brightened by the presence of a cheerful and naive FL. He is somewhat manipulative (makes the FL eat her lunches in his office, later rents her an apartment without her knowing it belongs to him) and emotionally distant. If it was real life, I would be vary of some of his actions, but in the world of dramas, he's a pretty decent ML.
- The problem with Feng Teng is, that since the story is so much concentrated on Shan Shan's POV, he doesn't get any development or real depth. It would be nice to see him go through some crisis and out of his comfort zone, to see how Shan Shan succeeds where he fails (unlike him, she is easy-going and likeable) or she could take care of him when he's injured/sick/depressed – but no such scenario ever happens in the show.
Alas, aside from his short monologue regarding death of his parents, he never really opens up; in the final episodes he is still the seemingly perfect robotic CEO he was at the start, so don't hold your breath for any big changes.
Compared to more recent rom-coms that tend to develop characters of both leads equally, Boss & Me is very much a Shan Shan centric show.
- I mentioned the antagonistic SFL before. Truthfully, Li Shu is not a badly written character. She is a woman originally from average background who has grown up priviliged due to her family's connection to the Fengs. Since she feels insecure about her own background, she takes it on Shan Shan. It's nasty, it's bitchy and the ML calls her out on her behaviour; but I thought it was pretty realistic that he tried to deal with her privately without Shan Shan knowing, as Li Shu is still a part of his small family circle AND his sister's best friend. She does somewhat redeems herself later, but she failed to get my sympathies. Maybe it's partially the actresses's fault, I don't know.
- In a way, I have a bigger problem with the SML: Feng Teng's friend Zheng Qi who is in love with Li Shu. I disliked that he never called Li Shu on her behaviour even though he knew she was actively sabotaging his best friend's relationship with a perfectly nice girl. That's just not what friends should be like and even as Li Shu's soul mate, I don't think it's right for him to ignore her moral failings just because he has feelings for her.
- The SFL and SML have a sidestory involving a fake relationship that develops into love (on her side), but honestly, they are just not likeable enough to pull it off and I didn't feel chemistry between them. I pretty much started skipping their scenes and have no regrets.
- The side characters are mostly treated as props...they are nice, but they have no depth or interesting stories going on. My favorite was Shan Shan's friend Lu Shuang Yi, who writes romances for living. For some reason, she disappears from the last portion of the show without explanation.
To sum up: as of 2021, Boss & Me still holds up as a very good romantic comedy, perfect for long winter nights when you just want to cuddle with your blanket and with something delicious to eat (which is a must for watching this drama! there's a lot of great food in it!) and you want to watch something comforting, uncomplicated and sweet.
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