Protect The Boss has only one thing going for it: the funny. That is all that I got from this drama, laughs, which is not enough to make a drama good.
It's sad because it started out very good and had so much potential as it's breaking every cliche that is repeatedly used in drama after drama, which was refreshing. But unfortunately, somewhere along the way, it lost its charm. A decade later these cliches are nothing new we have seen a Chaebol with a weakness and A Struggling female lead many times but what makes this show different is the female lead is no cinderalla or damsel in distress !!
PLOT
The story could have been told in 10 episodes instead of 18. The only worthy aspect of this drama was the comedy, and the most enjoyable character was Na Yoon.
This had a typical kind of story, rich guys, poor girls etc. But there was just something different about this drama as this series seemed to turn korean drama tropes on its head despite being a chaebol romantic comedy. The chaebol in this drama (Ji Sung) isn't your typical cold and moody, hot lead, instead he acts like an immature boy. Also even how his body acts is noticeable, other chaebols have limited movement with their body but Ji Sung uses a lot of gestures, I guess portraying that he isn't cold, calm and collected but playful and dramatic. Also the female lead Choi Kang Hee doesn't act like the typical doormat assistant, instead she is a kick-ass girl and former thug.
Even though the story is basically unoriginal, the way the characters act/react is often refreshing, and not so typical. There is also a pretty standard subplot about business corruption, betrayals, and greed, which eventually took too much focus in my opinion.
The other noticeable difference was that there are no villains in this drama, I mean there are rivals but they're portrayed as normal people not your typical villains like in other dramas.
CAST
To be honest I watched this show for Ji Sung and this has to be one of his worst roles; there is nothing in his character except for managing to shake-off stage fright and public interactions miraculously. He have to play serious roles or something like in Familiar wife !!!
No Eun Seol was a perfect main character and well written female lead ; but i didn't like the cast Kang-Hee ; she felt too extra and I am not picking up her new drama Hello ! Me !
The supporting cast is made up mostly of fully developed characters, not just people meant to keep the main couple apart. Wang Ji Hye was really a stand out among the supporting cast although I would have personally liked less time spent on the secondary couple who's scenes started to feel too repetitive. I also liked Ha Jae Sook, and I loved the female friendship displayed on the show.
Performances by company president Cha Bong Man played by Park Yeong-Gyu, his mother and veteran actress Kim Young-Ok, sister-in-law Shin Sook-Hee (Cha Hwa-Yeon), Eun-Seul's friend Myung-Ran (Ha Jae-Sook and the others are all excellent. Each is given a few moments in the last episode to close their stories properly. It comes across as a bit unnatural, but it's alright by me.
VERDICT
I agree that this drama goes on too long. Compared to the pacing of the earlier episodes, the last episodes really started to drag the story out, and lost too much of the humor. The last scenes were underwhelming, and felt rushed. This is one of those kdramas that start with a bang and ends with a shrug. I still think this drama has more good going for it than bad, and would definitely recommend it for a causal watch.
Review by chillikunBlockedParent2021-03-09T18:04:37Z
It's sad because it started out very good and had so much potential as it's breaking every cliche that is repeatedly used in drama after drama, which was refreshing. But unfortunately, somewhere along the way, it lost its charm. A decade later these cliches are nothing new we have seen a Chaebol with a weakness and A Struggling female lead many times but what makes this show different is the female lead is no cinderalla or damsel in distress !!
PLOT
The story could have been told in 10 episodes instead of 18. The only worthy aspect of this drama was the comedy, and the most enjoyable character was Na Yoon.
This had a typical kind of story, rich guys, poor girls etc. But there was just something different about this drama as this series seemed to turn korean drama tropes on its head despite being a chaebol romantic comedy. The chaebol in this drama (Ji Sung) isn't your typical cold and moody, hot lead, instead he acts like an immature boy. Also even how his body acts is noticeable, other chaebols have limited movement with their body but Ji Sung uses a lot of gestures, I guess portraying that he isn't cold, calm and collected but playful and dramatic. Also the female lead Choi Kang Hee doesn't act like the typical doormat assistant, instead she is a kick-ass girl and former thug.
Even though the story is basically unoriginal, the way the characters act/react is often refreshing, and not so typical. There is also a pretty standard subplot about business corruption, betrayals, and greed, which eventually took too much focus in my opinion.
The other noticeable difference was that there are no villains in this drama, I mean there are rivals but they're portrayed as normal people not your typical villains like in other dramas.
CAST
To be honest I watched this show for Ji Sung and this has to be one of his worst roles; there is nothing in his character except for managing to shake-off stage fright and public interactions miraculously. He have to play serious roles or something like in Familiar wife !!!
No Eun Seol was a perfect main character and well written female lead ; but i didn't like the cast Kang-Hee ; she felt too extra and I am not picking up her new drama Hello ! Me !
The supporting cast is made up mostly of fully developed characters, not just people meant to keep the main couple apart. Wang Ji Hye was really a stand out among the supporting cast although I would have personally liked less time spent on the secondary couple who's scenes started to feel too repetitive. I also liked Ha Jae Sook, and I loved the female friendship displayed on the show.
Performances by company president Cha Bong Man played by Park Yeong-Gyu, his mother and veteran actress Kim Young-Ok, sister-in-law Shin Sook-Hee (Cha Hwa-Yeon), Eun-Seul's friend Myung-Ran (Ha Jae-Sook and the others are all excellent. Each is given a few moments in the last episode to close their stories properly. It comes across as a bit unnatural, but it's alright by me.
VERDICT
I agree that this drama goes on too long. Compared to the pacing of the earlier episodes, the last episodes really started to drag the story out, and lost too much of the humor. The last scenes were underwhelming, and felt rushed. This is one of those kdramas that start with a bang and ends with a shrug. I still think this drama has more good going for it than bad, and would definitely recommend it for a causal watch.