I Binged the Entirety of This Korean Series in a Week—Here’s Why It’s a Must-See

One of the biggest markers of a great show—at least in my opinion—is when characters evolve and become better versions of themselves by the end of the series. I definitely see this in each of the main characters, but I'm especially attached to Shin Ha-ri and Jin Young-seo's story arcs.

The former comes out of her shell and blossoms into a more confident, independent woman. At first, she goes with the flow and constantly molds herself to fit a certain image, but I love that there's a new version of Shin Ha-ri in the show's finale. After going through heartbreak, stress and a series of embarrassing situations (just wait until you see the toilet incident...), she matures so much and finally embraces what makes her unique. As for Jin Young-seo, she goes from depending on her controlling father to standing up for herself and finally establishing her independence. Talk about a win-win.

Romantic relationships can be messy, complicated and worse yet, seriously dysfunctional. But the romances in this show, while not at all perfect, are so wholesome that you can't help but grin—thanks largely to the strong chemistry between both couples. (I know I'm not the only one who Googled these actors to see if they dated in real life.)

My personal favorite pairing? Kang Tae-moo and Shin Ha-ri, hands down. Tae-moo is a self-absorbed CEO with a heart of gold and Ha-ri is an incredibly smart researcher who happens to be naive. The odds were stacked against them from the start, with Ha-ri pretending to be someone else and Tae-moo being forced to go on the date by his father. Yet, they complement each other so well and the romantic tension is palpable. (The same goes for Jin Young-seo and Cha Sung-hoon!)

As I devoured each episode of this show, I asked so many questions. What if Shin Ha-ri's boss recognizes her as an employee? And if he doesn't, for how long can she keep up the charade? When will Kang Tae-moo figure out the truth? And what about Shin Ha-ri's bestie, Jin Young-seo? What will become of her and Cha Sung-hoon?

Sure enough, these questions would get addressed and lead to other wild twists—many of which I didn't expect. I won't spoil anything here, but I'll tell you this: Getting through an episode without immediately moving on to the next was a serious test of my willpower.

As much as I appreciate the light-hearted tone, I like that the series also touched on more serious themes like childhood trauma, parental neglect, heartbreak and invasion of privacy. For instance, there's a painful flashback to Kang Tae-moo's childhood, which reveals why he typically has panic attacks during rainstorms. And Shin Ha-ri is hit with a harsh truth about her longtime friend. So, yes, cutesy, feel-good moments are abundant, and viewers will definitely get a few chuckles in. But there's just enough drama to keep viewers anchored in reality.

Business Proposal is now available to stream on Netflix.

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