The opening sequence, shot in Jordan, suggests we are in for 20 episodes of action. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Office politics in a large Korean corporation. But don't switch this off.
As a westerner, much of what goes on is, well, 'foreign' to me. The hierarchy, the Korean sense of what is proper and who is to be respected, how to address your co-workers - most of these are very different in the society I was raised in. And the subtitles need some interpreting. But I couldn't stop watching.
It doesn't matter that some of the episodes revolve around arcane corporate issues. What does matter is how the leading characters handle the situations they are thrown into. And the writing doesn't let us off with the facile resolutions we have come to expect. It also avoids the easy 'office romance' - basically there aren't any, and the series is better for it.
I have to wonder if there is really so much shouting at work, and as much sexism today, or if alcohol consumption in the Korean business world is as shown here - but maybe this is an accurate portrayal, and livers don't last for long.
By the last few episodes I was devastated by what was happening to characters I had come to care deeply about.
There's almost a happy ending, which also explains the strange opening sequence in Jordan. But that's not really what this series is about.
Try it. Give in to it. And you'll surprise yourself by falling in love with the most unlikely people.
