I think most of the K-drama lovers would agree with me, all rom com dramas follow a set pattern: out of the MCs, one would be rich (either son/ daughter of a business giant or a celebrity) and one would be totally destitute. First 8-9 episodes go into developing the plot, their meeting and their bickering. These episodes generally bring the comedy element but at the end, start getting serious. 9-14 episodes are full of drama, all the tears and such happen in these episodes. And the cause is generally the same: a disapproving nagging mom/ dad or other family member or another love interest. 15 onwards is the happy ending. The MCs either end up resolving the conflict with their family or any one else involved or running away, giving a sense of gratification to the viewers.

This drama does none of them. There is a lot of hurt as usual but since the number of episodes is just 12, it doesn’t give much chance to develop the tear jerking drama. Although, the story starts with the MC resigning from her job (and reminds me of my days, a lot).

Plot: Also called Glowing She, the story goes like this. Jun Ji Hyun (So Yi Hyun) always gets her work stolen by her boss. She decides to work hard on an upcoming proposal and not tell her boss about it. When the time comes for actual presentation, she finds that she has been cut from the presentation itself by her boss yet again. She ends up quarrelling and throwing ice on her boss (you go girl!) and quitting the job to fulfil her life long dream of becoming a writer for education channel. Her new boss is a PD whom she had dated for 5 years in the past, No Young-Woo (Park Kwang-Hyun). No Young Woo broke up with her and married her best friend, divorcing that girl too, 2 years later. He tells Jun Ji Hyun straightforwardly that she is not fit for showbiz and he’ll make it a point to make her life hell teaching her about this dirty business. She is assigned to bring Kang Min (Kim Hyung Joon), a narcissist hallyu star who has a phobia of singing live, to PD No’s new programme, which she is able to do successfully but circumstances lead her to resign yet again. Her 31 years of age doesn’t help her either. She still persists through her optimism but yet fails in her endeavours.

After all this mess, Ji Hyun keeps getting involved with the two guys. Her relationship with her best friend also keeps dwindling. In the end, who she ends up with and whether she is able to reach her dream are two main questions.

*Spoiler* It’s an open ended drama, you won’t know who she ends up with. So watch if only you can bear a little disappointing ending *Spoiler*

Characters: While I love all the three main characters, there is not much actual development. The relationship between Ji Hyun, her best friend and PD No has been portrayed well, I don’t know if people forgive each other like this in real life. Also, the friendship between Ji Hyun and her female friends is something to be jealous and at the same time proud of. But again, Kang Min’s past, Ji Hyun’s family and many other things are, kind of, all over the place.

I personally identify with Ji Hyun and her best friend a lot, and I am sure many others will too. I really love Ji Hyun’s guts (I mean, despite giving her best, she doesn’t get what she deserves. At the age of 31, she starts over. Who would do that?). The most impressive thing is, the show brings out the problems in show biz well, especially in the context of South Korea. How a small mistake makes people lose their jobs at lower levels and how upper levels remain untouched. How much managers work and use dirty tricks to keep their idols popular and how, many a times, idols have to have their feelings trampled over. How their small secrets can be fatal to their career and how it impacts normal people around them.

All in all, I’ll give this drama a 6/10. It’s one of those love stories, where you don’t need to use your mind. It just goes on because there is not much complexity. Acting is all good and you’ll laugh your ass off on Ji Hyun’s curses (she looks so authentic mumbling and cursing XD). As I said earlier, the ending might disappoint some a little. But if you’re looking for a rather short story you can definitely watch this.

The drama I am talking about is different from Taiwanese drama of the same name.

It’s available on youtube on this channel: sunshinejunnie (I don’t own anything here) Hopefully they don’t remove it.

Pics credits to their respective owners