Protect the Boss

Protect The Boss Synopsis: (from DramaWiki)
No Eun Seol finally gets a job as a professional secretary at a large conglomerate after struggling with unemployment, only to fall in love with her boss, Cha Ji Heon, the immature youngest son of a chaebol family.

Cast:
Choi Kang Hee as No Eun Seol
Ji Sung as Cha Ji Heon
Hero Jaejoong as Cha Moo Won
Wang Ji Hye as Seo Na Yoon

My comments:
From the summary and the characters descriptions, Protect The Boss (SBS, 18 episodes) sounds a bit like Secret Garden. Eccentric male lead with a troubled past, competitive rival cousins and a kickass heroine in between them. I initially didn’t know if I’ll finish this drama or not. The first episode is overly wacky for me and the second episode reminds me too much of The Devil Wears Prada when Eun Seol has to deal with all the demands of Ji Heon. However, I immediately love Eun Seol because she’s righteous, is grounded and can kick some asses. Her 1 against 10 fight scene with only a high heel shoe is just priceless. Although Ji Heon can sometime be a lunatic, I did laugh [a lot, even] at his silliness. And let’s not start with his childish fights with his cousin, Moo Won. I LMAO at their so-called fights. (1,2,3,4) BROMANCE!!!

Once I finish the drama, I kinda already miss it even the later half was not as fun. The story dragged a bit towards the end with all the business dealing problems and Ji Heon and Eun Seol separated for invalid stupid reasons but Protect The Boss is a rare K-drama viewing experience in which I love all the characters including the “antagonists”. Even the “antagonists” are a hoot to watch. Once they did something bad, they will be stressed and tortured by their guilty conscience. How cute is that? It’s a great ensemble cast in which every character can steal a scene. I have to thank this drama for creating Na Yoon, an adorable secondary female character and it proves that it is possible to have a non evil and non manipulative second lead to make a drama good as well. I love Na Yoon, she’s hilarious, she’s a whiny crybaby but she’s not annoying. I find Eun Seol, Myung Ran and Na Yoon’s friendship endearing.

I love both couples but once Ji Heon and Eun Seol are set, during the later part, I was more invested to see how Moo Won and Na Yoon will end up together. Whenever, these four are on-screen, laughter ensures. Besides, the couples, I also enjoyed the parents and children relationships in this drama although they were a bit dysfunctional. The acting of the cast made this drama work for me. They have great chemistry with each other and it looks like the camaraderie is also there offscreen. I always have a soft spot for Choi Kang Hee ever since Alcohol Land (man, that was so long ago!). From previous Ji Sung dramas, he always played serious and intense roles but here he is hoot to watch as he was spot on physical comedy. Kim Jae Joong was awkward at the beginning (don’t kill me, fans!) but he eased at his role as the drama progressed and I so agree that Moo Won is God! From this drama, Wang Ji Hye washed all annoyance I have for her from Personal Taste.

The ending gave me so much satisfaction that I’m still grinning as I’m writing this. The ending is complete and it covers pretty much every character and I like that both dads still exchange dagger glances between them until the end and both moms still plotting whatever ‘conspiracies’ they want for their children’s benefit. Protect The Boss is a breezy, light and fun drama that made me laugh in every episode.

These were the last shots when the credits finished rolling, it made me miss the drama immediately...

* Opening credit of the drama