Pretendente Surpresa (2022)

kind of disappointing

Now, I’m writing this as someone who read the manhwa the series is based on, I truly love the story and was really exited to hear it was getting a drama. But I’m so disappointed in what we got. I absolutely recommend reading the manhwa if you can, the first season is around 100 chapters then after that the second season starts.

Anyways, over to my review !
I love the actors who were casted but I don’t think the roles fit them. I generally thought Hari and Taemu were so annoying during the entire show in the way they were written. i get that its suposed to be a comedy, but i didnt really find any of the jokes funny. i love both Ahn Hyoseop and Kim Sejeong, but these rols werent really the best for them. infact, while reading the manhwa i never imagened Ahn Hyoseop as Taemu, i was more seeing someone like Jung Haein, Woo DoHwan, or even Kim Minkyu who portraied Cha Sunghoon i feel like woulve been a better choice for Taemu.

There were small cute deatails that were lost, like Hari's family chicken resturant was called "HaHa Chicken" in the Manhwa. and was named after Hari and her brother, Hamin. In the drama it was changed to "Goobne" (which is a real resturant chain, so im guessing it was advertisment... (?))
There were also bigger plot points that was changed form the manhwa to the drama which didn’t make sense (to me)

So, spoilers ahead for both the drama and manhwa !!
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Hari’s whole thing during the manhwa was that she doesn't want to marry Taemu. She said Taemu wasn't allowed to to even mention marrige if she didn't bring it up first, and told Taemu to not ask her to marry him, which he respected.
So the ending of season 1 of the manhwa, Hari was the one who proposed to Taemu, which was a huge part of the entire plot.
In the drama, Taemu proposed and Hari at the end of the first season and she just said, yes ? Without question, the entire plot of the manhwa was just thrown out the window. Why make that change ?


I did relly look forward for the addaption and i had huge hopes for the drama but I was honestly so disappointed.

Leia Mais

Funny but nothing memorable

GOOD;

- Silly tone and clichés well managed making the whole thing fun to watch.
- The main actors : if not for Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Se Jeong, I would have dropped this. Their chemistry is very good. physically I liked the couple they make: not siblings like. Different physical features. It made them magic on screen.
- The two main leads: Kang Tae Moo and Shin Ha Ri. Their interactions are silly and funny but also meaningful at times. A few cringe moments but they are so cute I will forgive that.
- Second couple is decent. They have their own story and challenges. They are a more mature couple compared to the main couple so I don't really mind their story closes with an "open ending".
- The parents and bro of Shin Ha Ri. They are the funny elements.
- Lee Min Woo and his gf: a rather realistic and sorry couple but I liked them. They are like some couple really are in real life.

NOT SO GOOD:
- No character's depth of psychology
- No character's development apart for SFL with a small one
- Team developpers 1 was ok but a bit too much at times.
- Grandpa and president Kang : a lot of potential wasted here. The last ep brought some fun moments but It could have been better.
- Ending a bit rushed.

OVERALL: A very silly and fun drama to watch if you want to smile and laugh but not a very memorable one. The story is full of clichés and there is not development to really make the characters stick in your mind. 9/10 for the fun ride.

Leia Mais

Full of Cliché

Hella Overrated... Maybe bcoz of netflix..& their new viewers ?
Honestly, I was excited to see this one but it was soo disappointing.
There wasn't anything new. Writer picked each part from different dramas like WWWSK, True Beauty, SLOMS, etc. Many scenes was easily predictable.
& Last but not the least, what's with that ending ?? Stupid social scandal & overseas business!!
First few episodes was interesting and but with time it lost it's track! It seemed like I'm watching a Cdrama! Like accidentally kiss, cold ML, fluffy FL,fireworks, parents disapproval, childhood trauma... ML's character was so similar to WWWSK's Park seo joon. My heart didn't fluttered while watching Lead couple's chemistry. Second couple were better though.

Overall, this drama is only for new watchers, if you're also one of them who've watched so many dramas, you'll probably get disappointed. Coz it's full of fillers & cliché. Even cliché's aren't that old these days, it seems like my expectations from kdrama's are decreasing these days. Waiting for some good one's.

Leia Mais

The classic romcom we were all craving for

I said in a comment prior of the drama that everyone was saying they hoped it would be as good as the webtoon.. and I said I hoped it would be better.
As I said before, the webtoon had a cliché story but good characters, so the actors could make it or break it - since it would depend a lot on chemistry and acting.

Fortunately... they gave us so much more!

For me the best surprise was the comical parts - specially in the early episodes - they were really funny and fresh. The actors did a superb job (special praises to the main girls duo, imo) and also overall writing and directing.

The only downside compared to the webtoon was the change in Taemoo's grandfather final storyline. Originally he supported Taemoo and Hari's relationship and also defended Sunghoon from Young Seo's father (this last one was really touching). Such a shame his character lost all depth...

Nevertheless, a must watch for romcom addicts like me. A Business Proposal, you will be missed! :)

Leia Mais

A typical kdrama rom-com that i may re-watch years later, up to episode 10, when i need a good laugh

A typical kdrama rom-com packed with cliches and super hilarious moments and an easy, light-hearted watch with just 60mins x12-episode run. I would say the second couple sizzled more than the lead couple after the lead couple got together, and the hilarious moments that made this drama also fizzled out towards the end, plus the 2-minute bed scene for the lead couple is totally unnecessary, spoiling an otherwise family-friendly drama, and totally trashed the credibility of this drama.

What happened to that bandaged hand that had the FML-SML’s bromance scene just a few scenes earlier? Doesn't the hand hurt when driving around looking for the FL and carrying the FL with her heavy-duty long shirt and skirt around in the room?

Good to see Im Ki Hong again in his comedic role, after watching Lawless Lawyer less than a month ago, and his hairstyle seems the same after 4 years!

Maybe i will re-watch it years later, up to episode 10 only, when i need a good laugh.

Leia Mais

|| OVERALL ||

A well executed textbook romantic comedy. I usually prefer when there is one main couple as I feel too many other storylines will take away from fully exploring the main couple's relationship. However, despite there being two prominent couples the second couple was well explored and did not take away from the main couple given they all know each other. The pace was faster as there are only 12 episodes, and I felt there were just enough of everything - humour, romance, steam, family bonding, work life. Among the cast, Kim Se Jeong was the highlight - her reactions and expressions are very funny and realistic.

**I recommend this drama to those that like light-hearted romantic comedies. It has all the components of a good romantic comedy and I felt it was interesting from beginning to end. I didn't fast forward much for this drama.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - To be honest the plot is nothing too unique. Mainly just a blind date that ended up being a happy mistake.
*Genre - A textbook romantic comedy that was well executed and definitely above average.
*Main plot - As the drama is only 12 episodes, I do like the faster pace and the less time wasted approach. There were just enough funny scenes and just enough romantic scenes of various intensities which I enjoyed. Also I found over the course of the drama there were multiple points in which I was surprised at the maturity of the romance and the funny twist to scenes that I anticipated cliché responses. It was also a nice touch to have the drama in a drama. That is not to say, typical of rom-coms there are over the top and ridiculous scenes, but already anticipating that before I start any rom-com, it didn't take much away from my enjoyment of the drama.
*Love lines - I didn't really care much for the main couple initially as there character seemed a bit too over the top, but they slowly grew on me, which I feel is exactly the aim. Usually they portray characters as very one dimensional then as the drama progresses viewers see that there is more to them i.e. why they act the way they do. Also I usually get annoyed with the secondary love line and want to skip their scenes, but I truly enjoyed this one. They were close friends and had their own funny and steamy scenes. It was clear they were secondary but they had a good amount of screentime too. I realized I enjoy the jealousy scenes much more when they are with insignificant characters as having them with second leads would drag the story too much.
*Ending - Simple ending, but in all honesty I found it rather abrupt. The whole episode felt slow until the very end when everything suddenly just ended or got wrapped up.


= Cast =
*Acting - I would have to say Kim Se Jeong was the best at acting. I think of all the dramas I have seen, among the younger actors and actresses her acting is so far the most realistic - the reactions , facial expressions, body language, and comedic timing are on point. The best acting is when the actor / actress can let go of their "celebrity baggage" and just be free and I feel she does that. Seol In Ha also does a great job. In contrast the guys didn't stand out as much in my eyes and were flatter, perhaps also due to their character profile. I couldn't help but compare the main couple to What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, and despite doing well, Ahn Hyo Seop was a bit lacking as a chaebol compared to Park Seo Joon. Otherwise, the supporting actors and actresses contributed well to the plot.
*Chemistry - Again, I couldn't help but compare with What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, and though they had good chemistry it felt a little lacking somehow.


= OST =
I enjoyed the music - there were multiple renditions to "Love, Maybe" and I liked all of them.


|| A LESSON ABOUT OPTIMISM ||

Many unexpected situations happen in life. Shin Ha Ri's life has not been easy - giving up on her true passion due to her family's financial situation, having a crush on someone who she thought didn't reciprocate her feelings, falling in love with someone she knows she shouldn't, being gossiped about at work, being disapproved of by her boyfriend's family. However, one thing that seems to guide her through it all was her optimism and in the end it paid off. Not only does her optimism help herself get through difficult situations, she is also able to positively affect those around her.

Leia Mais

A romcom gem

If you’re looking for a short, fun and well executed rom-com then this is the show for you.
Recently I’ve been watching a lot of kdramas that are emotional and can be difficult to watch mentally, however ‘A Business proposal’, was the complete opposite.

First off this drama is absolutely hilarious somtimes I find it difficult to laugh at kdramas because so many are not my type of humour but this show surprised me. The special effects are probably my favourite from any drama I’ve watched and it really gave the show character. It’s full of cliches but the effects were definitely something that made the show unique. Like I said before the show is very cliche, stereotypical and full of tropes that are common in the world of kdramas but that doesn’t take away from how good the execution was.

The characters were great as well as the acting. Hari was a very likeable and Taemoo wasn’t typically mean, like male characters usually are in Boss-employee relationships. Sejeong is a great actress and I’ll definitely look out for her future shows. In terms of chemistry they were okay, sometimes I did find their kiss scenes a little awkward but it didn’t take away from how cute of a couple they were. On the other hand, the second couple definitely stole the show in terms of chemistry and I loved their storyline which didn’t drag at all.

Now, there were a few things I didn’t enjoy. The idea of Taemoo not recognising Hari and Geumhui were the same person was silly, although that storyline didn’t drag on for too long. Also the story about the pervert and Young Seo clearly effected by it wasn’t taken as seriously. I do understand that the show is a comedy and the light hearted element probably would have disappeared. But that storyline should have been handled with a bit more care. Yongseo was self conscious about using the toilet after being watched for days unbeknownst to her and then that was it. It would have been nice seeing how she handled overcoming that difficult situation. The last few episodes for me were maybe a little bit more draggy and boring and different from the previous fast paced episodes. I still enjoyed them but I just wasn’t as hooked. I do also think the second couples engagement was a little quick.

Despite me being pedantic and picking a few negatives the show was very enjoyable!! It was definitely a comfort show for a lot of people and a great form of escapism. It was light hearted, exciting and a breath of fresh air. Some times it’s okay to enjoy a drama that isn’t overly dramatic with important relevant themes and that is very simple. It really made me enjoy Mondays and Tuesdays.

I recommend this drama for people who want to watch something short and sweet.

Leia Mais

cliche mushy story with no plot

cold ceo? check
fluffy fl? check
ml with traumatic childhood? check
ml chases fl? check
parent objection on marriage? check


started off decent with the concept but became "that" contract relationship story in no time. the leads were cute and had chemistry, thats the only reason it was bearable. ngl i skipped a couple episodes of the second half cuz it was becoming way too cringe but i would be lying if i say i didnt have fun watching the other parts.
ig its nice to mindlessly watch something to just chill. MINDLESSLY.
even tho there was that spark, i wish the context was more passionate for romantic moments, somehow they just didnt hit the right spot. definitely overrated.
this review is all over the place so just watch it if u got nothing else to do, you'll have a couple laughs and aww's

Leia Mais

The classic Romcom cliché, AKA our guilty pleasure!

I was not planning on writing a review but looking at all the hate against the cast and show, it feels like a necessity on my part.
A business proposal is a typical romcom with so many clichés. But what’s the problem with clichés? We all love some sweet romance and some REALLY good laugh! I wouldn’t call this drama a breath of fresh air but instead a feeling that takes us back to home. Watching this reminds me of kdramas from 2016-2018! It’s lighthearted, not so complicated, not dragged and well written at a perfect pace.
The plot is again, cliché but well written. 12 episodes are absolutely perfect for such a plot as it is not dragged at all and keeps us entertained throughout! The writer has tried to mislead us by putting in the typical romcom clichés and misunderstandings to only end them with a good laugh for the viewers. It’s not complicated and takes us on a trip filled with laughter and romance! The bromance, sismance, and romance are all a *chef’s kiss*! Both the parings are so perfect.
Now let’s start with our leads, Kang Tae Moo and Shin Ha Ri!
KTM has all the possible CEO qualities! Handsome, sexy, rich, appears to be cold but is not and of course, our beloved narcissist! His presence in the entire show is what makes it fun for us to watch.
As for SHR, she’s honestly one of the most loveable characters I’ve come across! Effortlessly funny, BEAUTIFUL, kind, caring and a great friend. Watching her is one of the best parts of the show! Kim Se Jeong has done a great job portraying SHR’s character!
Now for the leads chemistry, it’s spot on! Their personalities mesh so well. One of the admirable things about them is how they don’t become cringe with their over sweetness when they’re dating. They keep it real so it’s not a pain to watch 2 adults in love! So there are a few awkward scenes between them which is why I’ve voted the cast as a 9.5 instead of 10 but that’s mostly the camera angles! So it’s not really the actor and actresses fault.
Now as for the second couple,
SIA has done such a marvellous job in pulling off Jin Young Seo’s character! She, like her best friend, is effortlessly funny, a hot chaebol, sassy, smart and kind. The sismance between her and SHR is one of the best things about this drama!
As for Kim Min Gyu, he’s been pulling off all his recent characters with literal perfection. He’s so hot, mysterious, caring and once again, SO HOT. His affection and respect for KTM is so adorable. He may appear to be rude but he’s just being straightforward lol
Now for JYS and CSH’s chemistry- I think “sizzling” is the only way to describe it. Both their personalities collide only to form a bold power couple! I must say, their story will NOT disappoint you! And watching them drunk is literally the best!

The music is honestly so refreshing and pleasant! Love it!

As for rewatching, I’ll definitely be rewatching it soon! After watching those dark and thriller dramas and the bittersweet endings, this is something I need!

Overall, I highly recommend it to everyone! Do give it a go, you might end up loving it.

Leia Mais

Perfect Drama to relieve your stress and lift your spirits

Completed - 4/5/2022 - 8.75

I am liking the current K-drama trends of having only 12 episodes instead of the long-drawn out, draggy 16-episode drama format. This is especially true for comedies and romantic comedies. This drama is perfect if you want something light and funny, and a palate cleanser after watching something serious/tragic.

Setting/Plot - Personally, I am a big fan of the contract marriages and enemies-to-lovers tropes. The setting of this drama is right up my alley. Moreover, I also purchased dumplings from Bibigo and many other packaged Korean foods from my local K-mart. So, seeing FL being a food researcher and have that as the backdrop is interesting to me. There are many common rom-com tropes and cliches in this drama. But for the most part, the drama surprises us with not going along with the usual directions of these tropes. The drama also makes fun of these tropes/cliches by using the TV show within the the drama. It's so refreshing to see.

Likable characters - We have four very likable leads. You find them funny and sweet, and you root for their career and relationship success. ML might first appear as the classic narcissistic CEO. There are many comparisons of him to the ML in "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim". I actually like Kang Tae Moo here a lot more. His narcissism didn't really last long and he turns sweet quite soon in the series. The ML in WWWSK actually is a lot more annoying. Our two female leads have a great sismance, and are so supportive of each other. They are both independent and funny, and did not bow down to road blocks and challenges in life. Last but not the least, who doesn't like the dimples of our sweet 2ML and his kind character.

Romance - Our main leads have great chemistry, especially before they are officially an item. Once they are together, the sizzling chemistry changes to something sweeter. It's hard to find a rom-com where the secondary romance is just as interesting and fun as the main romance. There's just enough screen time for our 2ML/2FL to develop their romance, not overshadowing the main romance, and yet not so insignificant that we wish they don't exist. The two romance storylines co-exist really well in this drama and I am invested in both of them. In a way, they contrast each other pretty well: love at first sight vs slowly developed romance, theme park dates vs hiking dates, rich ML vs rich 2Fl, sweet romance vs hot/steamy romance. Additionally, we got amazing kisses in this drama with both couples. No fish kisses and the ladies also initiate kisses.

Tragic Past done well - It's not hard to guess that ML's tragic past will be part of the plot. I was initially concerned that this subplot will dampen the mood of this super funny drama. I immediately thought of how the ML's tragic/family story in "Her Private Life" is the weakest part of that otherwise amazing sweet rom-com. Fortunately, it didn't happen here. It was not dealt in a melodramatic way, but in a sweet way demonstrating how FL supports ML. The drama didn't drag this for several episodes. Instead, just several sweet scenes with flower shopping, lovely dinners and umbrellas, and a few heart-to-heart sweet conversations.

OST - lovely songs especially from MeloMance. The drama also incorporates some comedy-like noises during funny scenes.

Supporting Cast - Usually I would be annoyed with someone like 2FL's cousin. She is loud and overdramatic but for this drama, I found her hilarious. I love her craziness and her use of English in between her Korean words. Maybe I am in such a good mood enjoying this drama that she becomes tolerable and funny to me. However, others may be annoyed. Same goes to FL's mother and FL's male co-worker. They are both really loud and can be either funny or annoying.

Ending - I think the last episode is somewhat predictable. In a way, I am a tiny bit disappointed as it falls into the classic rom-com tropes. I don't want to give out spoilers, so let's just say the last episode is average compared to other episodes.

Overall, I haven't had so much fun watching a romantic comedy in a long time. I rarely give out a 9.0 to rom-coms, but I am feeling good and also in the right mood, especially while I am also watching "The Longest Day in Chang'An".

Other Observations:
1. Ahn Hyo Seop has really big hands. But why are they ALWAYS so red???
2. Hairstyle changes when you are not a narcissistic CEO anymore. AHS looks so much better when his bangs are down and not in hair gel.
3. Kim Se Jeong has such a BEAUTIFUL voice!
4. Here's a duet with Kim Se Jeong and Ahn Hyo Seop singing "Love, Maybe". So good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FemG1XPyvNI
5. I have those Bibigo dumplings in my freezer right now! Shown on TV in the last episode. LOL

Leia Mais

comédie charmante, sur un thème bateau mais qui navigue joyeusement en évitant les écueils !

Eh bien, j’ai vraiment aimé ce drama qui se joue (un peu !) des codes de la romance habituelle ! Si on a bien l’héritier riche et la fille du restaurant de poulet, les personnages se différencient des clichés psychologiques habituels. La fille riche est drôle, intelligente et pleine de bon sens, l’employée n’a rien de l’héroïne chichiteuse à laquelle les dramas/romance nous ont habituées. La psychologie des héros garçons s’est elle aussi améliorée, et l’héritier fait montre rapidement de l’originalité de ses goûts en matière de mariage ! Le grand-père chaebol est plutôt sympathique et assez marrant ! Les deux tiers ont été vraiment agréables à suivre, on ne s’attarde pas indéfiniment sur les rebondissements et Dieu merci on échappe au traditionnel « je-t’aime-mais-je-te-quitte » car les personnages ont assez de bon sens pour ne pas y tomber ! Cependant j’ai trouvé les derniers épisodes plus faibles, l’opposition du grand-père paraissant tout-à-fait artificielle (il devrait voir un ophtalmo, ne pas avoir reconnu Ha Ri !! ). De plus la toute fin est un peu en queue de poisson, tant qu’à faire de la romance, autant aller jusqu’au bout et j’aurais bien aimé un peu plus de détails sur le côté concret (réaction du milieu des affaires, des employés de la boîte, des parents de Ha Ri, et surtout leur rencontre avec le grand-père !
Mais il semblerait qu’il y aurait une deuxième saison, donc ça expliquerait cette fin !
En tous cas c’est un joli drama, un bon moment à passer sans pour autant sombrer dans la cucuterie intégrale ! Les acteurs sont très bons, particulièrement les femmes !! les dialogues aussi, c’est léger et drôle, et je le recommande pour se distraire d’une actualité désolante !

Leia Mais