Agency

K-dramas show the same story, say revenge/ Will They Won't They Romance but in different settings like School, Office, Courts, Police Station etc.

The premise here is an advertisement agency and the protagonist is a single woman probably approaching her 40s. There is unlikely to be a romance as the main lead is a single woman and second lead is married woman. While the main heroine is serious and melancholy, second heroine is the cheerful one.

There are attempts at humour, but they are stale, seen many times on k dramas. So, the environment remains serious or heavy to be exact. Such premise can not be endured for long, it needs to be balanced with either comedy or romance or emotions.

The pilot is just okay but shows potential as the series goes on.

After watching the pilot, have to watch till 3rd episode before recommending it.

Having lived and worked in Korea for 9 years, this series reveals some of the deep and dark secrets within Korean chaebol. Misogyny, autocratic leadership, family intrigues, suppression of talented women in business all come into play. Superbly acted by Na Eun-son and Han Joon Woo, this is the story of two women from opposite ends of society who are pitted against each other in a world of competing unscrupulous men. Plot twists and cliff hangers abound and as viewers, we say, "just one more episode." One can empathize and indeed get emotionally involved with the cast members as the story unfolds.

Great K-Drama, for a change starring a FL who is slaying all the men making her way up the ladder in the competitive advertising agency field. The FL,fought her way up all the way from the bottom copywriter to the top CEO beating cheating networking males that wouldn't let he in the good old boys club. She is more cunning and smart in the long run - grew up by herself, basically mostly an orphan who had to fend for herself, she is relentless in finding ways and never giving up. Took off 1 star as they could have developed more of a romance with the guy who showed interest in her a few times which never really materialized although they had great banter.

A wonderful portrayal of corporate Korea led by deeply explored personal characterizations.

While the setting is centered around an advertising agency, the title reflects the underlying core theme of self-determination, of agency as a fundamental source of motivation - the need to be in control of one's own destiny. Each character throughout the series demonstrates how they fight for personal agency and the attempt to cast off the oppressiveness of corporate control.

A wonderful and enthralling series with characters both good and bad that evoke a feeling of understanding and empathy. This is a real highlight in Korean drama. Worth re-watching a second time.

And yes the acting is superb and the visuals are stunning. This is great viewing.

Go A-In (Lee Bo-Young) works at an advertising agency where she is promoted to director but there are reasons behind the promotion and the powers that be plan to sideline her after a year. The series looks at her struggles in the male dominated agency and the lengths she has to go to as a female to survive. The cast are superb and we have many other characters who's stories are also interesting and entertaining. I really enjoyed the plot and may well have given it a nine but various aspects of the story fell short for me. Some of the lesser side characters like her mother who abandoned her as a child are forgotten as soon as the story is resolved and also a competitor who's life is saved seemed shoehorned into the series. That being said it is still an entertaining ride in which you cheer for her success.