Business Proposal was cheesy, trope-y, and absolutely amazing. this is an example of how powerful it is when creators know exactly what they are going for, acknowledge that it is campy, and fully lean into that cheesiness aspect.

in addition to the perfect 12 episode story arc (seriously, I haven't seen such a well-paced rom-com before! no forced break-ups!), I am genuinely so blown away by how well done all of the K-Drama cliches were in this series. it was like a little homage to everything that makes K-Dramas what they are, from the silly tropes to the more serious drama (although I am glad we skipped the childhood connection trope, hah!). I loved the way they acknowledged this through the incorporation of the ongoing drama all the characters were watching. the creators of Business Proposal knew what they were making wasn't unique, or particularly fresh, but they let this guide the way to creating an absolute delight of a series that I think any K-Drama fan, old or new, will get something out of.

the characters were charming, and the cast genuinely had me smiling along with them. it was nice to watch something so fun. I knew things would work out, I knew people would fall in love surprisingly fast, but it wasn't boring or overdone, it genuinely somehow had me on the edge of my seat for each new episode. the 12 episode storyline also kept things from being too drawn out; I am truly impressed by how well-paced the story was.

I haven't enjoyed a rom-com like this in years. it is honestly a genre I tend to stay away from now because it has always felt a bit repetitive to me, and I find myself dropping dramas quickly because of it. I think my appreciation for Business Proposal comes from the fact they acknowledge many of their viewers will feel this way, and the show feels almost like an inside joke, in the most delightful way.

if you need a little happy distraction, this is the perfect drama for it.