What a fun and spicy little C-Drama! Definitely one of the better ones I've seen in recent years. I rate it 9.5 (rounded up to 10) stars.
While the plot starts out like a typical C-Drama, filled with plenty of the usual /unrealistic tropes (bad-boy, chebol heir working undercover at his parent's company, hardworking, staight-laced woman who brings him to heel, love rivals, overbearing parents, corporate crises, etc), that is as far as the "typical" bit goes. There is no drawn out angst, the love and corporate rivals are painted as human rather than evil, and the tit-for-tat exchanges between the ML and FL are evenly balanced, so the power doesn't feel one-sided (and OMG, his pranks...).
In addition, while the age gap is acknowledged as a concern, the FL doesn't spend all her screen time ob-stressing over it as is common in many age-gap romances (though you get the impression that maybe she worries off screen). And since the overall pacing is quite a bit faster than the usual C-Drama, the storytelling is also kept quite a bit lighter. And the little "candid interview" snippets at the end really add a whole new level of entertainment to the larger story!
On top of that, it is solid from a technical standpoint, with beautifully done cinematography, great acting by a gorgeous cast, and a lovely soundtrack which, though a tad repetitious, features some very emotional and memorable ballads.
ROMANCE RATING: * * * 10/10
It's rare to find a C-Romance that doesn't shy away from sexual tension /romantic contact, but this one delivers beautifully. Yes, it takes a while to get rolling, but once it hits (ep 19), you get all your payoff at once! WZY and JC have fantastic chemistry together, which translates as both adorable and hot (depending on the scene), with plenty of prolonged kissing scenes and some very exciting bedroom moments. It was refreshing to see a FL who isn't afraid to initiate or say what she wants (rather than wait for the guy to make all the first moves).
In short, if you are looking for a "fresh" or avant garde sort of film, this one might not do it for you. But if you are a romance junkie, this film is almost sure to tickle your fancy! Highly Recommended!
