All the credit for why this works goes to Woo-jin Yeon's portrayal of social anxiety and the lack of empathy he receives from the employees demanding empathy from him. No spoilers, there are characters who I utterly loathed from square one, and others who just reflect accurately societies lack of compassion and self centeredness. Just when I want to throttle the unforgiving for their spite, I am rooting for Hwan-gi's courage.
33 Reviews
Mixed set
Snootz21 July 2020
This show starts out very slow and even annoying. By the end of the third episode I was about ready to give it the boot. But I stuck with it and warmed up to it as the series went along.
This isn't the best K-drama ever, but it gets better with each episode. It's been said the final two episodes are unnecessary filler, but I didn't find that to be so. Those episodes tied up some strings and were well-done.
While there's something to be said for a show that deals with extreme shyness, at the beginning this series carries that concept to the extreme. How many times can a guy trip all over himself to avoid letting someone look him in the eye?. Fortunately after the 3rd or 4th episode that becomes less slapstick and more emotional in nature. The entire series remains under-keyed, but it has highlights and enough emotional and plot-twist intrigue to build interest as it goes along.
Just be aware that you may have to suffer through three or four episodes of "annoying" before the show even starts to get to the meat of the plot, and nearly halfway through before the series really gets down to the direction it's going.
As a side-thought: Do all these K-drama shows pick exactly two songs for the entire series? I got so sick of "Memories" and "Kiss My Lips" by the end of this series. I enjoy this genre in genral. I've sat through several longish series glued to the screen and once binged-watched a 45-episode series in 5 days. So it's easy to get hooked on K-com / K-drama. I wasn't so much glued to this one as "tolerant" of it, and in the end was glad I stuck with it. This doesn't seem to be as "binge-worthy" as other shows I've seen, but is still worth the watch.
This isn't the best K-drama ever, but it gets better with each episode. It's been said the final two episodes are unnecessary filler, but I didn't find that to be so. Those episodes tied up some strings and were well-done.
While there's something to be said for a show that deals with extreme shyness, at the beginning this series carries that concept to the extreme. How many times can a guy trip all over himself to avoid letting someone look him in the eye?. Fortunately after the 3rd or 4th episode that becomes less slapstick and more emotional in nature. The entire series remains under-keyed, but it has highlights and enough emotional and plot-twist intrigue to build interest as it goes along.
Just be aware that you may have to suffer through three or four episodes of "annoying" before the show even starts to get to the meat of the plot, and nearly halfway through before the series really gets down to the direction it's going.
As a side-thought: Do all these K-drama shows pick exactly two songs for the entire series? I got so sick of "Memories" and "Kiss My Lips" by the end of this series. I enjoy this genre in genral. I've sat through several longish series glued to the screen and once binged-watched a 45-episode series in 5 days. So it's easy to get hooked on K-com / K-drama. I wasn't so much glued to this one as "tolerant" of it, and in the end was glad I stuck with it. This doesn't seem to be as "binge-worthy" as other shows I've seen, but is still worth the watch.
Deeply Human Story of Overcoming Tragedy and Pain
fake_moviestar27 May 2020
This is a rare KDrama for me in that I actually really liked all of the characters (the main characters at least), and that every character's motivations felt genuine and made sense. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that for once, the main conflict of this romance made total sense and was very realistic. The story was deeply human, showing a range of emotions and different mental health issues in a way that was both raw and real.
I did take off two stars because some spots were a bit cheesy/cringy, and the ending was very drawn out (this could have easily been a 12-14 episode show). But the actors all did a wonderful job and the story was interesting and full of drama that was proportionate to the characters. Definitely worth a watch!
I identify with the male lead, but...
chilligrrl26 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I completely identify with the male lead and the storyline. It's a good one which portrays social anxiety very accurately, however that female lead was one of the most annoying characters I've seen and it made me drop the rating right down. She was annoying, became somewhat normal and relatable, then turned it on in the last two episodes as a whiney, complaining immature psycho little girl. How a mature, quiet, very anxious guy could put up with that monster was unrealistic. She acted it well, but her part was very badly written at the end.
I love how he overcame his issues and the storyline progressed though with every character. If you can get past the girl, it's a good show worth watching.
I love how he overcame his issues and the storyline progressed though with every character. If you can get past the girl, it's a good show worth watching.
Excellent!!!!
carinenienaber4 June 2020
Out of hundreds of k-dramas I've watched this is one of my absolute favourites. Having been in a bit of a drama slump, this has snapped me right out of it. Such an underrated show. The ratings for this series was pretty low and I somehow understand that the subject matter was risky to begin with. A show with a socially anxious hero is probably not something that the usual viewer would easily tune into. And his character climb was always going start at a pretty low point. So the first few episodes would be a little hard to digest. But within a few episodes I was properly smitten. Also, the dialogue was so plain and natural. Not the pretentious type where they spew sonnets that you have to wrack your brains to understand what the hell wisdom they are trying to convey. The funny parts were truly funny and cute and all the actors were excellent in both the comedic and dramatic scenes. The chemistry between the main leads were swoon worthy. I know there were some problems at the start of the series and there was a change in direction, but please do yourself a favour and watch this show. Totally worth it. Plus it's now available on Netflix. Yay! 20/10
Mixed feelings
Jessicat6628 March 2021
As someone who is introverted and is socially anxious it was really great to see this represented and I think this is what this drama did well in the way it is written and in the actors portrayal. The main male lead is very relateable to me and the development of his character is enjoyable to watch. However there are some problems with this show that really ruin that plot and the premise of the series. For one, there are some very problematic behaviours from many of the other characters in the show that really don't get challenged or addressed properly which did make some parts very difficult to watch. Also, towards the end of the series it feels like more and more drama and 'twists' are being added for drama sake or to drag it out for a few more episodes. It makes some of the events leading up to this just feel like a waste of time and also leaves a few confusing gaps in the plot that could have been resolved without needless extra drama. There are themes around mental health- suicide and self harm but I feel that these were not handled well at all in this drama- not well represented and kind of skimmed over. At parts the drama switches very quickly from dark and serious plot points and themes to overly lighthearted romance/ comedy which can make it difficult to be invested in the story when this happens. This series could have been much better of the focus had stuck with the main character and his development instead of drawing away from this with a storyline and characters that are muddled, problematic and not well enough explored. I know it's a drama but I would have liked to have seen a little less drama.
I really enjoyed this one
tay-sedai22 June 2020
It was great to see a show featuring a character who struggles with anxiety, as you don't see that very often. The story was really tragic and so aspects of it were hard to take. I felt so bad for the main guy being so misunderstood by everyone, but it was great to see him gradually come to have a little circle of people he trusted, who trusted him too.
I think this show highlights how people with anxiety and similar conditions can so easily be misunderstood. I didn't think of the other characters as jerks, the way some reviewers apparently did - because I could see things from both sides. They had no reason to know that their boss wasn't a jerk, especially as his family worked so hard to hide the fact. There were of course plenty of moments where I wanted to shake people till they came to their senses. But every character was dealing with their own "stuff".
I think this show highlights how people with anxiety and similar conditions can so easily be misunderstood. I didn't think of the other characters as jerks, the way some reviewers apparently did - because I could see things from both sides. They had no reason to know that their boss wasn't a jerk, especially as his family worked so hard to hide the fact. There were of course plenty of moments where I wanted to shake people till they came to their senses. But every character was dealing with their own "stuff".
May be a bit triggering for the socially anxious
gee-1526 May 2021
Overall, this series about a boss with severe social anxiety is watchable and interesting. They certainly get social anxiety right. Someone with this issue is not all cute/quirky, smiling hesitantly and stumbling in a charming manner over their words. Such individuals are often mistakenly thought of as cold, aloof and uncaring (which is the mistake made about the series' protagonist). In addition, they also portrayed accurately the "overthinking" that the socially anxious engage in and how it becomes almost paralyzing. The timeline of a series was nice as we didn't see an overnight change but a more gradual reengagement of the boss with his team and the world around him.
That said, narratively, the series is, at times, incoherent. Supporting characters seem to change their basic natures to meet the demands of the plot (particularly the best friend character). The hardcore mocking that the protagonist receives from society at large as he attempts to improve himself does not seem realistic. I'm not familiar with Korean culture but I have a hard time believing such widespread lack of compassion to be realistic. It seemed over the top. (And speaking of over the top, the protagonist has a pair of the most despicable parents I've ever seen in any program. Though, sadly, that's probably not completely unrealistic).
If you focus on the evolving nature of the main character and his romance with his outspoken employee (and ignore all the plot twists and unnecessary narrative detours), you'll enjoy the series.
That said, narratively, the series is, at times, incoherent. Supporting characters seem to change their basic natures to meet the demands of the plot (particularly the best friend character). The hardcore mocking that the protagonist receives from society at large as he attempts to improve himself does not seem realistic. I'm not familiar with Korean culture but I have a hard time believing such widespread lack of compassion to be realistic. It seemed over the top. (And speaking of over the top, the protagonist has a pair of the most despicable parents I've ever seen in any program. Though, sadly, that's probably not completely unrealistic).
If you focus on the evolving nature of the main character and his romance with his outspoken employee (and ignore all the plot twists and unnecessary narrative detours), you'll enjoy the series.
Excellent drama. Highly recommended!! 10/10. A+++++
nikvik-1293120 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is my first K-Drama I ever watched I really liked this drama. Just finished it and want to watch again...But the sad thing is, it has come to an end although its a happy ending.. Supposed to be more episodes for to satisfy more :D..However its very excellent.. The female lead (Park Hye Soo) is so cute.
Gotta make it passed the first five edisodes
ofthunder27 July 2020
If you can make it passed the first 5 episodes, it finally becomes a pretty watchable show. I don't know what else to say except that I'm glad I didn't give up on it. It was hard to keep going in the beginning. Korea seems to kind of glamorize suicide which I wish they wouldn't. It's a problem. There are much better ways to handle things rather than suicide. Anyway, once I struggled past the first 5 episodes, I found that it was worth watching the rest to the end. Please try.
Enjoyable show!
misswritercreates30 March 2019
This show was great! The storyline was interesting and kept me going to the next episodes. The actors did a great job and the entire show was entertaining. I'd recommend! Definitely not boring and you shouldn't be disappointed. It's great!
I tried really hard to get this painting
alaningle727 November 2020
A young girl goes to work for the CEO of a PR company, the CEO is linked to her sisters suicide 3 years earlier and she is out for revenge. The problem is that to take her revenge she needs to get the socially awkward and painfully shy boss to come out into the open. A romantic drama with a convincing romance, it seemed a little flat at times and the story is predictable but overall an enjoyable series with some light moments.
I made a profile for this review
kannibuskhronicles4 June 2020
I was so excited for this series to come to netflix. Unfortunately I am on the 4th episode and the leading lady is so extremely unlikable and obnoxious. She's quick to jump to conclusions and she doesn't even try to find proof to back up her ideas. She's adorable but the character is so revolting I don't even want to continue with the series. Even when she sees something contradictory to what she thinks she still holds on to her wrong ideas. I gave this show 4 stars only for the leading male.
good
reginas-387661 August 2021
O.M.G
klara-persson5 September 2020
Love this! I read a lot of so-so reviews of this drama before watching and so there was som apprehension on my part before starting out. But MAN was I rewarded! I've treated Korean dramas as opium for some time now and although I have watched a respectable number of them I can honestly say this is a favorite! I am also a sucker for the difficult and introverted personality so I guess this really suited me! It helps that the male lead is crushingly handsome and the chemistry between the two leads are amazing! Some people say this drama is slow, but Since I watched a lot of dramas in this category I can honestly say this drama is not slow at all. I am also a sucker for happy endings and this drama sure has a very happy ending! This is a Series to binge and enjoy!
No chemistry between leads
kjshell21329 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I thought the story was good with lots of twists and turns. The male lead was fantastic and so beautiful to look at. I loved the way he portrayed the shy introvert. Such a great actor with so many different facial expressions and emotions. He was so funny at times. I loved his dancing and, wow, can he kiss! But there was no chemistry between him and the annoying, pouting child they paired him up with. She ruined it for me. I was almost rooting for the ex. But I still enjoyed it because of him and all the other supporting characters. The last two episodes almost felt like fillers. Not much there. But, (can you tell?) I definitely became a fan of Yeon Woo-Jin.
Was Getting Mad Near the End but Finally was Worth it!
PalmBeachG15 April 2022
"My Shy Boss" on Netflix in the US. I wanted so badly to rate this higher because of the male actor. Yeon Woo-jin who played Eun Hwan-ki the shy boss who had a tramatic event happen in his office that caused him to hide under his hoodie and not talk to anyone finally being known as the "Silent Monster". His character is developed so well and he plays the part perfectly. But the romance he finds that helps bring him out of his shell is so frustrating as the episodes go on it was hard to watch. All my stars are for him and kept watching because I was sure this romance was going to get better soon and kept waiting and got really mad near the end at the last couple of episodes, but the last scene made it all worth it and was the best scene of the whole series and I would hate for anyone to miss it.
Eun Hwan Ki Storyline Works...The Romantic Dynamic Does Not!
spasek29 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There is actually a difference between an introverted person and a shy person. An introvert is someone who tends to be more within himself/herself. They usually don't have any problem being alone. While they can struggle to interact with others, it's not always the case. They have no desire to be the center of attention or be placed in the spotlight. More and more psychologists are finding that being able to be alone is a strength rather than a weakness. It's not the same as hiding oneself away out of fear. That would be shyness.
My Shy Boss is a decent romantic drama at best, with two characters who stand on a mountain of integrity among a sea of supporting characters who struggle to find any at all. Eun Hwan Ki is a master of ideas, and while he doesn't realize it, he's also a master of dealing with people. However, he's also a bit of a recluse who prefers the quiet solitude of his penthouse apartment rather than handle the day-to-day interactions with employees and clients. He's immensely creative and has a knack for seeing things that others fail to see. He's also a great listener, but his biggest problem is that he always puts others ahead of himself. He's the guy who's going to take the hits, put himself in front of the bus, and do whatever it takes to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. In many ways, he's the true hero of the story, and he has the humility to do so without asking for anything in return.
Seo Yun Jung is other. This is a woman that others should try to emulate. She's no wallflower, and she has absolutely no problem pursuing what she wants. She's also the only other character who is perfectly comfortable with herself. The scene that made me stand up and cheer for her was when she turns the tables on Eun Hwan Ki's father. This isn't a woman who can be used, bought, or sold. And she had absolutely no problem taking issue with the despicable actions of Eun Hwan Ki's father and telling him straight to his face. While I understand that Chae Ro Woon is the love interest of Eun Hwan Ki, I was really hoping (even though I knew it wasn't going to happen) that he would have ended up with Seo Yun Jung. She's a pillar of strength, who isn't just someone who can be a romantic partner, but one who will easily stand with Eun Hwan Ki no matter what. Chae Ro Woon cannot say that. I lost count how many times she oscillates back and forth, back and forth. And Seo Yun Jung is far more mature as well.
You'll need a clipboard of names to keep track of all of the "who likes who" at any given moment. I've never seen a drama with so many dynamics; so many that you just might get a headache.
Most of the characters are people who are looking for love and attention in all the wrong places. They truly believe that they cannot be happy unless they are with someone. What they fail to realize is that it is literally impossible to find happiness in someone else if you fail to find it within yourself first. Why? Because you cannot give what you do not have.
If you love yourself, you will never contemplate suicide as an answer to being denied/rejected.
If you love yourself, you will never harm yourself or use it as a means of getting attention.
If you love yourself, you will never feel empty by being alone. In truth, you will find it empowering.
If you love yourself, you will never allow anyone to use you for their own selfish reasons.
Chae Ro Woon-much like Eun Hwan Ki-is an outcast within her own family. She's the outgoing one, and nobody knows how much her older sister is suffering until it's too late. The sad thing about suicidal people is that you cannot save someone who does not want to be saved. If someone is bent on killing themselves, they will find a way. Chae Ro Woon is very much like a kid. She's immature, selfish, and she doesn't realize the mess she's made until it's too late. Rather than trying to find out the truth about her sister, she reacts emotionally, and irrationally, and hellbent on revenge.
It's always hard to hate someone once you get to know them. Chae Ro Woon begins to wonder if she has it right as she gets to know Eun Hwan Ki and realizes that he's not the monster that she thinks he is.
There are a number of cowardly and despicable characters in this series. Eun Hwan Ki's father is about as vile and violent of an abuser as you'll ever likely to find in a "parent." He's ashamed of his son for being quiet and shy, and he has no problem being abusive-both physically and mentally-toward him. Such a person has no business calling himself a parent.
There are several problems with this series. First, people who are that suicidal and prone to hurting themselves as Eun Yi Soo (Hwan Ki's sister) can miraculously heal themselves. Most people need some kind of professional help. Hwan Ki makes a grave mistake by not helping her get the help that she needs. The writers should have taken this far more seriously than they did. I've known people who have attempted suicide, and it's no quick fix. However, Eun Yi Soo at least seems to understand that her problem stems from not loving herself, which is true. That's a good first step. Given that Korea has the 3rd highest suicide rate in the world, I would have hoped for a more thoughtful and realistic approach to this part of the story.
The romantic dynamic between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon just doesn't entirely work. First of all, the two actors have good chemistry together but NOT good romantic chemistry. Again, I thought the Eun Hwan Ki/Seo Yun Jung was better from a romantic chemistry standpoint, even though they didn't really share any romantic scenes. The romance between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon was like watching a grown-up and a kid. Park Hye Soo just doesn't have the chops to act out romantic scenes realistically. She tries to flirt, but comes across more like a child wanting attention, which was annoying more than just once! This is largely due to Park Hye Soo being miscast. I would have had Park Hye Soo play Eun Yi Soo (the sister) and Gong Seung Yeon play Seo Yun Jung with Jang Hee Jin taking up the role of Chae Ro Woon Jang Hee Jin was fantastic in "Flower of Evil". Jang Hee Jin has far more range and acting prowess than Park Hye Soo. And as I've said, the constant back and forth between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon became tedious and unrealistic very quickly. Soon, they're kissing, and next they won't even touch each other. That was just silly.
By episode 15, I was just waiting for the series to end. It loses much of its steam in the last two episodes, and the story feels like it's treading water, trying to limp toward the finish line of the last episode. Of course, we get another childish scene with Park Hye Soo because she doesn't get a Christmas card from Eun Hwan Ki. Chae Ro Woon is what we call a "high-maintenance" girl.
I found myself far more intrigued with Eun Hwan Ki and how he was able to empower his small team of "misfits" to start believing in themselves. While they each helped him to develop more courage to stand in the spotlight, we also see what he's done for the members of his team. Eun Hwan Ki is also a man-much like Atlas-who's caring the weight of everyone on his own shoulders. He's noble and courageous. We only wish he'd use just an ounce of that strength and belief on himself. If they had left the romantic aspect out of the story, this would have been a far more compelling series because the strength of the story is Eun Hwan Ki, and Yeon Woo Jin did an absolutely fantastic job with the role. My only issue was that his "shyness" was handled with a lot of inconsistencies, but that is a small issue.
Overall, the series is okay at best. If there is a central theme to this series, it's for people to start putting themselves first. Learn to love yourself before you decide to share that with someone else. "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" is still the best drama series yet made on people who are psychologically and emotionally scarred. And just because you have feelings for someone, doesn't mean that they should automatically reciprocate. And, yes, love is about courage; about taking risks and putting yourself out there. The quiet ones who never tell others how they feel will always live a life of regret.
And if you know someone who's attempted or might attempt suicide, get them professional help! Sometimes, you have to acknowledge that you love someone so much that you cannot help them, but you will find someone who can!
My Shy Boss is a decent romantic drama at best, with two characters who stand on a mountain of integrity among a sea of supporting characters who struggle to find any at all. Eun Hwan Ki is a master of ideas, and while he doesn't realize it, he's also a master of dealing with people. However, he's also a bit of a recluse who prefers the quiet solitude of his penthouse apartment rather than handle the day-to-day interactions with employees and clients. He's immensely creative and has a knack for seeing things that others fail to see. He's also a great listener, but his biggest problem is that he always puts others ahead of himself. He's the guy who's going to take the hits, put himself in front of the bus, and do whatever it takes to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. In many ways, he's the true hero of the story, and he has the humility to do so without asking for anything in return.
Seo Yun Jung is other. This is a woman that others should try to emulate. She's no wallflower, and she has absolutely no problem pursuing what she wants. She's also the only other character who is perfectly comfortable with herself. The scene that made me stand up and cheer for her was when she turns the tables on Eun Hwan Ki's father. This isn't a woman who can be used, bought, or sold. And she had absolutely no problem taking issue with the despicable actions of Eun Hwan Ki's father and telling him straight to his face. While I understand that Chae Ro Woon is the love interest of Eun Hwan Ki, I was really hoping (even though I knew it wasn't going to happen) that he would have ended up with Seo Yun Jung. She's a pillar of strength, who isn't just someone who can be a romantic partner, but one who will easily stand with Eun Hwan Ki no matter what. Chae Ro Woon cannot say that. I lost count how many times she oscillates back and forth, back and forth. And Seo Yun Jung is far more mature as well.
You'll need a clipboard of names to keep track of all of the "who likes who" at any given moment. I've never seen a drama with so many dynamics; so many that you just might get a headache.
Most of the characters are people who are looking for love and attention in all the wrong places. They truly believe that they cannot be happy unless they are with someone. What they fail to realize is that it is literally impossible to find happiness in someone else if you fail to find it within yourself first. Why? Because you cannot give what you do not have.
If you love yourself, you will never contemplate suicide as an answer to being denied/rejected.
If you love yourself, you will never harm yourself or use it as a means of getting attention.
If you love yourself, you will never feel empty by being alone. In truth, you will find it empowering.
If you love yourself, you will never allow anyone to use you for their own selfish reasons.
Chae Ro Woon-much like Eun Hwan Ki-is an outcast within her own family. She's the outgoing one, and nobody knows how much her older sister is suffering until it's too late. The sad thing about suicidal people is that you cannot save someone who does not want to be saved. If someone is bent on killing themselves, they will find a way. Chae Ro Woon is very much like a kid. She's immature, selfish, and she doesn't realize the mess she's made until it's too late. Rather than trying to find out the truth about her sister, she reacts emotionally, and irrationally, and hellbent on revenge.
It's always hard to hate someone once you get to know them. Chae Ro Woon begins to wonder if she has it right as she gets to know Eun Hwan Ki and realizes that he's not the monster that she thinks he is.
There are a number of cowardly and despicable characters in this series. Eun Hwan Ki's father is about as vile and violent of an abuser as you'll ever likely to find in a "parent." He's ashamed of his son for being quiet and shy, and he has no problem being abusive-both physically and mentally-toward him. Such a person has no business calling himself a parent.
There are several problems with this series. First, people who are that suicidal and prone to hurting themselves as Eun Yi Soo (Hwan Ki's sister) can miraculously heal themselves. Most people need some kind of professional help. Hwan Ki makes a grave mistake by not helping her get the help that she needs. The writers should have taken this far more seriously than they did. I've known people who have attempted suicide, and it's no quick fix. However, Eun Yi Soo at least seems to understand that her problem stems from not loving herself, which is true. That's a good first step. Given that Korea has the 3rd highest suicide rate in the world, I would have hoped for a more thoughtful and realistic approach to this part of the story.
The romantic dynamic between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon just doesn't entirely work. First of all, the two actors have good chemistry together but NOT good romantic chemistry. Again, I thought the Eun Hwan Ki/Seo Yun Jung was better from a romantic chemistry standpoint, even though they didn't really share any romantic scenes. The romance between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon was like watching a grown-up and a kid. Park Hye Soo just doesn't have the chops to act out romantic scenes realistically. She tries to flirt, but comes across more like a child wanting attention, which was annoying more than just once! This is largely due to Park Hye Soo being miscast. I would have had Park Hye Soo play Eun Yi Soo (the sister) and Gong Seung Yeon play Seo Yun Jung with Jang Hee Jin taking up the role of Chae Ro Woon Jang Hee Jin was fantastic in "Flower of Evil". Jang Hee Jin has far more range and acting prowess than Park Hye Soo. And as I've said, the constant back and forth between Eun Hwan Ki and Chae Ro Woon became tedious and unrealistic very quickly. Soon, they're kissing, and next they won't even touch each other. That was just silly.
By episode 15, I was just waiting for the series to end. It loses much of its steam in the last two episodes, and the story feels like it's treading water, trying to limp toward the finish line of the last episode. Of course, we get another childish scene with Park Hye Soo because she doesn't get a Christmas card from Eun Hwan Ki. Chae Ro Woon is what we call a "high-maintenance" girl.
I found myself far more intrigued with Eun Hwan Ki and how he was able to empower his small team of "misfits" to start believing in themselves. While they each helped him to develop more courage to stand in the spotlight, we also see what he's done for the members of his team. Eun Hwan Ki is also a man-much like Atlas-who's caring the weight of everyone on his own shoulders. He's noble and courageous. We only wish he'd use just an ounce of that strength and belief on himself. If they had left the romantic aspect out of the story, this would have been a far more compelling series because the strength of the story is Eun Hwan Ki, and Yeon Woo Jin did an absolutely fantastic job with the role. My only issue was that his "shyness" was handled with a lot of inconsistencies, but that is a small issue.
Overall, the series is okay at best. If there is a central theme to this series, it's for people to start putting themselves first. Learn to love yourself before you decide to share that with someone else. "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" is still the best drama series yet made on people who are psychologically and emotionally scarred. And just because you have feelings for someone, doesn't mean that they should automatically reciprocate. And, yes, love is about courage; about taking risks and putting yourself out there. The quiet ones who never tell others how they feel will always live a life of regret.
And if you know someone who's attempted or might attempt suicide, get them professional help! Sometimes, you have to acknowledge that you love someone so much that you cannot help them, but you will find someone who can!
A new favorite
leahcubed14 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
10/10 is my rating. This is a 2017 South Korean romantic comedy drama television series with 16, 60 minute episodes.
Eun Hwan Ki (Yeon Woo Jin) is about as shy and introverted as they come. He is the CEO of a top public relations firm founded by his father. Unable to speak publicly, Hwan Ki hides in dark clothes and under a hoodie while his long time best friend, Kang Woo-Il (Yoon Park) does all the public appearances and company presentations. People, including his father mistake Hwan Ki's extreme shyness and social anxiety for incompetence when, in reality, the brilliant ideas Woo-il presents are actually from Hwan Ki. Chae Ro Woon (Park Hye Soo) is a lively and outgoing stage performer and Hwan Ki is one of her top fans. Things get complicated when Ro Woon steps off the stage and takes a job with Hwan Ki's company to discover the reason behind her sister's sudden suicide. Her sister committed suicide by jumping from a high level at the company, and Ro Woon is determined to find out why. She is convinced it has something to do with the shy, socially distant CEO who earned the Knick name "silent monster".
Spoiler Alert!! I really liked the boss character and could identify as there are several people that I know that have extreme social anxiety. He was misunderstood by many people both inside of his family as well as his employees and others. I like the way the story unfolded and you understood a little how he got the way he was and also how his sister and his best friend both became the way they were. The male lead's sister's suicide attempts and desperate need to be lived traced back to her father's failure to properly show love. He was both physically and emotionally abusive and she used self harm to cope. The female lead sister's suicide was a bit harder to understand but seems to fit with what I understand of being "ruined" in the sense of being a relationship or marriage partner in terms of purity being tarnished in what I understand of South Korean culture from dramas (and it may not be an accurate reflection of the true culture). There was a time, perhaps 60 years ago in American culture when casual sexual encounters would have been viewed the same. I thought the female lead character was perfect as she was exactly the sort of person I could see being able to draw somebody with severe social anxiety out of their shell. I love that she told him at one point that he was OK and not to change. Some do not understand that social anxiety, shyness and being introverted by nature are often slow and/or hard to alter because it is a personality trait and thus is not something you can radically change. I also liked the friendship between the boss and his best friend and how his best friend supported him by being his voice and carried the company forward With his extrovert nature that fit so well in the public relations arena. One being brilliant but withdrawn and the other extroverted but not above level brilliant was actually a benefit for them both and made for two halves of a very effective whole. I thought it ended absolutely perfectly. Unlike so many dramas that leave things open to interpret or end with things unresolved, I was really happy it all wrapped up well and ended happy.
Eun Hwan Ki (Yeon Woo Jin) is about as shy and introverted as they come. He is the CEO of a top public relations firm founded by his father. Unable to speak publicly, Hwan Ki hides in dark clothes and under a hoodie while his long time best friend, Kang Woo-Il (Yoon Park) does all the public appearances and company presentations. People, including his father mistake Hwan Ki's extreme shyness and social anxiety for incompetence when, in reality, the brilliant ideas Woo-il presents are actually from Hwan Ki. Chae Ro Woon (Park Hye Soo) is a lively and outgoing stage performer and Hwan Ki is one of her top fans. Things get complicated when Ro Woon steps off the stage and takes a job with Hwan Ki's company to discover the reason behind her sister's sudden suicide. Her sister committed suicide by jumping from a high level at the company, and Ro Woon is determined to find out why. She is convinced it has something to do with the shy, socially distant CEO who earned the Knick name "silent monster".
Spoiler Alert!! I really liked the boss character and could identify as there are several people that I know that have extreme social anxiety. He was misunderstood by many people both inside of his family as well as his employees and others. I like the way the story unfolded and you understood a little how he got the way he was and also how his sister and his best friend both became the way they were. The male lead's sister's suicide attempts and desperate need to be lived traced back to her father's failure to properly show love. He was both physically and emotionally abusive and she used self harm to cope. The female lead sister's suicide was a bit harder to understand but seems to fit with what I understand of being "ruined" in the sense of being a relationship or marriage partner in terms of purity being tarnished in what I understand of South Korean culture from dramas (and it may not be an accurate reflection of the true culture). There was a time, perhaps 60 years ago in American culture when casual sexual encounters would have been viewed the same. I thought the female lead character was perfect as she was exactly the sort of person I could see being able to draw somebody with severe social anxiety out of their shell. I love that she told him at one point that he was OK and not to change. Some do not understand that social anxiety, shyness and being introverted by nature are often slow and/or hard to alter because it is a personality trait and thus is not something you can radically change. I also liked the friendship between the boss and his best friend and how his best friend supported him by being his voice and carried the company forward With his extrovert nature that fit so well in the public relations arena. One being brilliant but withdrawn and the other extroverted but not above level brilliant was actually a benefit for them both and made for two halves of a very effective whole. I thought it ended absolutely perfectly. Unlike so many dramas that leave things open to interpret or end with things unresolved, I was really happy it all wrapped up well and ended happy.
At first, it was hard to watch..
glorirod1 June 2023
First episodes are really hard to watch. I felt a little bit uncomfortable with the characters and their roles and acting skills. But probably after the half of the drama things change and became more easy to watch and continue. I made it to the end. And that's why it's difficult to rate this K-drama, I like and hate it at the same time. I continued watching it because I read some reviews and I kept trying to give it an opportunity. So at least 8 or 9 episodes are nice. I liked the end and how things were improving through each episode. It has their funny parts and made it valuable at the end.
Netflix is finally headed in the right direction. It's somewhat interesting.
kmhlbeavis26 May 2023
The good: The lead actress is charismatic and cute, she also has nice legs but should have been casted as the one that jumped out the window instead of the other one. The one that jumped out the window. She was very attractive and should have been in the lead role. Then you have the introvert. Very unrealistice acting and they made him look like more a a psychopath from a horror movie. Then you have his friend or adopted brother whatever you want to call him. He looks and acts just like David Schwimmer from friends. This boils down to the story of a shy introvert overcoming his problem and the lead actress finally having something good happen to her as you can see how the mother treated her like an ugly duckling. The villain if you want to call him that was different. His end goal was to make his son into a man so that he can take over the company. He's funny as well especially the part where he puts his son in an mma lock on the floor when he embarrassed himself during a presentation. Now the bad: this could have been told in about 12 episodes not the 16 that they had, otherwise it was okay.
Worth hanging in for
LizaD700030 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I agree with another reviewer that this one starts slow. The first 4-5 episodes were a bit of a struggle to get through at times, and I even fast-forwarded in a few places. It was hard to believe that the male lead was both so socially introverted as to be almost mute while being capable of living independently, and it also seemed unbelievable that the female lead repeatedly mistook shyness for anger/unfriendliness and constantly jumped to the wrong conclusions. I almost stopped watching after a few episodes, but in the end I'm glad I didn't.
I thought it really picked up in episode 6/7 as the characters began to get to know each other, and I really liked seeing the Ro-Un stand to understand and accept Hwan-Gi and Hwan-Gi begin to come out of his shell as a competent and thoughtful person. I also liked that the side characters got a bit of character growth and particularly Gyo-ri.
Gong Seung-Yeon's portrayal of her character's mental health issues was really excellent, and I was so happy to see that things worked out for her. Bak Yoon did well well at making me dislike his character initially and then showing this own regret and struggles; at the beginning I'd assumed he would be the bad guy, but one of the things that I liked about this series is that there was no straightforward bad guy, just a groups of people with their own sadnesses and difficulties. I don't usually like love triangles but I really loved the character of Hwan-gi's ex too. She was funny and clever and had a life independent of the ML.
The plot had the usual twists, turns and flashbacks I've come to expect from k-dramas, but by the end I was invested in finding out exactly what happened to Ro-Un's sister. The dialogue was pretty good (once the characters started talking) and the relationship between the leads was sweet but not excessively. I liked how they were shown to have fun and laugh together - too often when characters get together they seem to spend all their time just gazing into each other's eyes.
I think I'd recommend watching, but be aware that it's a slow starter.
I thought it really picked up in episode 6/7 as the characters began to get to know each other, and I really liked seeing the Ro-Un stand to understand and accept Hwan-Gi and Hwan-Gi begin to come out of his shell as a competent and thoughtful person. I also liked that the side characters got a bit of character growth and particularly Gyo-ri.
Gong Seung-Yeon's portrayal of her character's mental health issues was really excellent, and I was so happy to see that things worked out for her. Bak Yoon did well well at making me dislike his character initially and then showing this own regret and struggles; at the beginning I'd assumed he would be the bad guy, but one of the things that I liked about this series is that there was no straightforward bad guy, just a groups of people with their own sadnesses and difficulties. I don't usually like love triangles but I really loved the character of Hwan-gi's ex too. She was funny and clever and had a life independent of the ML.
The plot had the usual twists, turns and flashbacks I've come to expect from k-dramas, but by the end I was invested in finding out exactly what happened to Ro-Un's sister. The dialogue was pretty good (once the characters started talking) and the relationship between the leads was sweet but not excessively. I liked how they were shown to have fun and laugh together - too often when characters get together they seem to spend all their time just gazing into each other's eyes.
I think I'd recommend watching, but be aware that it's a slow starter.
Enjoyable moments but frustrating
tpeyton-2765020 January 2021
For every 5 seconds of fun there is 5 minutes of bad writing and editing. The main couple is great when they're together and happy (with great chemistry during their kiss scenes), but every choice every character makes is very questionable. Although you always have to suspend your belief with kdramas, this drama has you questioning who in real life would behave the way these characters behave. Again, if you're looking for a show to binge or put in the background, this does the trick. The latter episodes are much more enjoyable than the beginning. This drama is not so bad that you have to stop watching, but I wouldn't recommend it first to anyone either.
There are no accidents ~π¦~ The Romance Of Turning Red Lights Green. Β°6.5Β° Β°GoodΒ° All 16Eps Rvw
50fiftillidideeBrain8 October 2021
On many levels, this is a wee bit Hallmarkish and possibly goofy, but it does touch on some difficult issues as well.
MSB is a reminder that if we aren't open and honest about unpleasantness or our vulnerabilities, people will fill in the blanks with some of their darkest thoughts. So often, what others imagine is way worse than the truth. That's a worthy message.
The protagonists, CRW (Ms Chae Ro-won) and EHG (Mr. Eun Hwan-gi), though completely opposite personalities, are each isolated by broken down families. EHG's father is coldly domineering. EHG and his sister are always grasping at a cover to cloak their scars from an unfriendly, unfair, and unfamiliar world. Unfortunately, they end up hiding, which feeds their isolation. CRW lives in a dead home. Her family died when her sister, Ji-hye, committed suicide.
CRW has always been suspicious about what led to her sister's death 3 years prior. Brain PR, her sister's employer, is hiding the truth behind it. She's βcertain. All the signs point directly at Ji-hye's immediate boss, EHG. So CRW, determined to expose the truth and give justice to her sister, obtains a position at the company.
Brain PR was started by said domineering dad, Eun Book-dong. Mr. Eun had stepped down and passed leadership of the company to EHG and Kang Wu-il, his future son i/l, so that he could pursue poliβ¬icalπΆgoals.
Mr. Kang and EHG have been friends since childhood. Mr. Kang is polished and a veritable savant at making dramatically successful presentations, while EHG is shy to the point that it's a debilitating disorder.
While EHG knows the names, details, strengths, and weaknesses of every BPR employee, and while he would like to forge relationships with them, his employees only see a privileged rich kid when they look at him. They take quietness for condescension, and averted π for disdain. Most of the employees are terrified of him. The resplendent Mr. Kang is the leader that they want.
Enter The Can-Opener: Ms Chae. If anything, this singer/actress is too headstrong. She infiltrates Brain PR and rips the lid off, allowing light and air in.
Such is the premise. The execution is not bad. Their goal, obviously, was to make a cute rπmance: Nothing more, nothing less. They succeeded.
In typical K-drama fashion, two people are introduced to us that are extremes of themselves. Ms Chae is obnoxiously uber aggressive in the first couple episodes, and young Mr. Eun is agonizingly, and exasperatingly recoiled within himself. He is terrified of human interaction.
Some things they do well are the likable characters, the fun PR projects they take on, and an above average first kiss.
The actors were amazing at displaying character changes via physical manifestations. Some stand up straighter and become more attractive as they grow, as others start to slouch over, with drooped, pale faces from guilt weighing them down.
At other times, there's sloppiness, odd plot points, and a bit of wandering around that felt like padding. EP16 was strange. The last scene was satisfying, but there were many things that didn't happen that might have taken the viewers to deeper insights. MSB chose to remain in the shallows. That isn't the worst criticism. Entertainment should challenge us at times, but other times we need to veg.
Lovers of rπmance are likely to enjoy taking a mental break at Brain PR, but if rπmance is not your genre, close the door and apply elsewhere.
Quote: Being under the impression that you know everything is dangerous.
γ°π IMHO π¬7 π€5 π7 π7 π¦5 π 6 π¨7 π3
Age 13+
ππΊagain? β
π₯
MSB is a reminder that if we aren't open and honest about unpleasantness or our vulnerabilities, people will fill in the blanks with some of their darkest thoughts. So often, what others imagine is way worse than the truth. That's a worthy message.
The protagonists, CRW (Ms Chae Ro-won) and EHG (Mr. Eun Hwan-gi), though completely opposite personalities, are each isolated by broken down families. EHG's father is coldly domineering. EHG and his sister are always grasping at a cover to cloak their scars from an unfriendly, unfair, and unfamiliar world. Unfortunately, they end up hiding, which feeds their isolation. CRW lives in a dead home. Her family died when her sister, Ji-hye, committed suicide.
CRW has always been suspicious about what led to her sister's death 3 years prior. Brain PR, her sister's employer, is hiding the truth behind it. She's βcertain. All the signs point directly at Ji-hye's immediate boss, EHG. So CRW, determined to expose the truth and give justice to her sister, obtains a position at the company.
Brain PR was started by said domineering dad, Eun Book-dong. Mr. Eun had stepped down and passed leadership of the company to EHG and Kang Wu-il, his future son i/l, so that he could pursue poliβ¬icalπΆgoals.
Mr. Kang and EHG have been friends since childhood. Mr. Kang is polished and a veritable savant at making dramatically successful presentations, while EHG is shy to the point that it's a debilitating disorder.
While EHG knows the names, details, strengths, and weaknesses of every BPR employee, and while he would like to forge relationships with them, his employees only see a privileged rich kid when they look at him. They take quietness for condescension, and averted π for disdain. Most of the employees are terrified of him. The resplendent Mr. Kang is the leader that they want.
Enter The Can-Opener: Ms Chae. If anything, this singer/actress is too headstrong. She infiltrates Brain PR and rips the lid off, allowing light and air in.
Such is the premise. The execution is not bad. Their goal, obviously, was to make a cute rπmance: Nothing more, nothing less. They succeeded.
In typical K-drama fashion, two people are introduced to us that are extremes of themselves. Ms Chae is obnoxiously uber aggressive in the first couple episodes, and young Mr. Eun is agonizingly, and exasperatingly recoiled within himself. He is terrified of human interaction.
Some things they do well are the likable characters, the fun PR projects they take on, and an above average first kiss.
The actors were amazing at displaying character changes via physical manifestations. Some stand up straighter and become more attractive as they grow, as others start to slouch over, with drooped, pale faces from guilt weighing them down.
At other times, there's sloppiness, odd plot points, and a bit of wandering around that felt like padding. EP16 was strange. The last scene was satisfying, but there were many things that didn't happen that might have taken the viewers to deeper insights. MSB chose to remain in the shallows. That isn't the worst criticism. Entertainment should challenge us at times, but other times we need to veg.
Lovers of rπmance are likely to enjoy taking a mental break at Brain PR, but if rπmance is not your genre, close the door and apply elsewhere.
Quote: Being under the impression that you know everything is dangerous.
γ°π IMHO π¬7 π€5 π7 π7 π¦5 π 6 π¨7 π3
Age 13+
ππΊagain? β
π₯
Not unique
hannahstalavista26 April 2022
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
