Romance is a bonus book (2019)

Books, writing copy, proofreading, book design, book covers… oooh… 

 

And so much more to look at as well…

 

Eun-ho’s (Lee Jung-suk) house is amazing, the Gyeoroo office is like an amazing, bright, airy library, the Gyeoroo ethic is amazing (very ‘developmental’ in approach), boss Kim Jae-min (Kim Tae-woo) is wonderfully supportive of everyone, the cafes and restaurants are amazing, and just look at this amazing parade of sweaters and jackets! 

Work life 

I liked how the newbies are given opportunities and responsibilities, and the bosses are generally tolerant of mistakes.  Even when Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) explodes over Ji-yool’s (Park Gyu-young) costly mistake, Ji-yool is allowed the space to make amends and encouraged when she works harder.

stuck overnight sticking stickers

One sore point for me is when Dan-i’s (Lee Na-young) idea is used and never acknowledged.  Even if it was the same as Ms Go’s (Kim Yoo-mi) idea, why couldn’t they recognise Dan-i’s effort?  

 

I liked how each person has a distinct family/personal story and how they all accept each other and meld as a team.  It is a good reminder of how you don’t really know what is in a person’s mind or heart until you dig deeper.  For example, we understand why Ji-yool is such a brat when we see her unbelievable mother!  It is when they have that ladies’ night and in their drunken conversation that the ladies learn of Dan-i’s divorce and daughter, Yeong-ah’s (Kim Sun-young) frustrations and Ms Go’s disrupted love life.

Romance… or is it friendship…

The romance was indeed a ‘bonus’.  Eun-ho and Dan-i are cute as a couple, and you can understand where the show is heading with their relationship, but it didn’t feel like it was the main point of the story.  

Furthermore, even after they become a couple, he still calls her noona.  Yes, it is clear he loved her for years but to the end, it sometimes feels like he has a mega crush on her (only).  What I liked very much, though, was the development of their friendship.  The hospital scenes with Eun-ho as Dan-i’s slave-book-delivery boy, rushing to bring her books, are cute (and far more engaging than the hospital scenes of Do do sol sol).  Well done, Kim Kang-hoon and Choi Da-in!  

I’d have preferred him with Hae-rin but she is a cute match for Seo-joon (well played by Wi Ha-joon), whose apartment and dog are amazing as well, too.

What happened to the dog along the way, though?  

We see less and less of it and worse, Na-young’s daughter Jae-hee (Lee Ji-won) practically disappears from the story, when she was Na-young’s life at the beginning.

 

Dealing with Alzheimer’s

One thing I did not like was the treatment of writer Kang Byung-jun’s (Lee Ho-jae) ‘retirement’.  Why does the man need to disappear suddenly because he is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?  While he is still communicative, he could address his readers and the public about the illness.  This was a lost opportunity to create awareness about Alzheimer’s.  

Dealing with women returning to the workforce

The problems of single mums and mums returning to the workforce were well explored, mainly through Dan-i’s struggles.  It is awful having to play down one’s educational qualifications and work experience just to get a job interview, and then to be assigned entry-level work when you are as capable as the bosses.  

lumped with the other newbies

Dan-i takes it all in her stride, motivated by wanting to provide well for Jae-hee.

nothing will get her down

The acting

Na-young’s veteran-ness shines clearly.  She portrays Dan-i’s pain, despondence, determination, joy and love so comfortably.  It feels like she’s playing each scene effortlessly.  Jung-suk is alright.  His acting feels a bit raw but he does make Eun-ho endearing as the most supportive friend in the world, and him looking forlornly outside Dan-i’s house whenever he gets drunk is heart wrenching.  Of course, his smile gives him many plus points!  It must have been a dream for him to act with Na-young, whom he had named as his ideal actress when he was younger, and so sweet of him to say recently that IU is like his Kang Dan-i… awww…

 

The supporting cast is competent, including when they have to be funny, except I didn’t find divorcing couple Yeong-ah and Ji-hong (Jo Han-chul) very engaging.

 

My favourite character is charming, affectionate, hardworking and honest Hae-rin (very well played by Yoo-jin), who also has the best clothes! 

This is light and fun, yet meaningful.  The friendship theme comes through strongly and the Gyeoroo team make wonderful friends!  

That’s why I think of it more as a friendship story.  After all, before and beyond anything, Eun-ho and Dan-i are best friends.

16 episodes, tvN