Reel Tastes & Travels – a light dose of entertainment to wake you up

Quite a lot to unpack in the next 2 episodes so let’s dive right in:

The first part of episode 2 seemed like a re-tread of episode 1, substituting Mi-so’s rejection of Young-joon’s marriage proposal for her resignation as the reason for Young-joon’s angst. I was settled in for a (very) slow burn romance. But subsequently, their relationship actually took quite a big step forward across the 2 hours, and we’ve already reached a point where both leads are clearly demonstrating feelings for each other but are still unwilling to fully acknowledge it to themselves.

But a few scenes later, she is happy to go on a pseudo-date with him at the amusement park. Similarly, Young-joon transforms from a self-obsessed man-child who believes that every woman is ready to fall at his feet, to someone willing to go all out to woo Mi-so. And all this seemingly on the momentary advice from his friend and without being aware of his true feelings for her.

I like the chemistry between the lead pair, but they’ve not really shown us any reason why they would care for each other romantically other than because the plot requires it. If anything, they’ve repeatedly underscored what a stressful boss Young-joon has been, and how Mi-so has not had a moment to think about anything outside work. Doesn’t seem like the most fertile grounds for a romance to blossom.

But leaving aside the whiplash-inducing speed of their turnaround and with some suspension of disbelief, I can kind of see how a change in status quo could act as a trigger for them to realize that their feelings run deeper than merely a working relationship. For Mi-so, it’s seeing him turn to another secretary after years of being his go-to person for all questions, discussions and deeds. For Young-joon, it’s the realization that this person, who has been an integral part of his life for the last 9 years, is not going to be by his side much longer. On a related note, with the above-mentioned developments there are romantic moments a-plenty now. And sure, it’s cheesy and often formulaic (cue the requisite scene of the guy gazing at the girl against a background of fireworks and breathily exclaiming ‘Beautiful’), but the lead pair make it work.

We are also starting to learn more of the backstory of the central characters and see their personalities get fleshed out more. Just flashes as yet, but they clearly seem to be telegraphing that their childhoods are linked. Is Young-joon the boy from Mi-so’s childhood memories, and was it his kidnapping that she is trying to investigate? Seems like a fairly safe bet right now, although why they do not recognize each other is an open question. We also get to see a more human side to Young-joon, beyond his shield of self-adulation and unconnected to Mi-so. He has clearly undergone some trauma (likely the aforementioned kidnapping) which still haunts him, as evidenced by his nightmares and debilitating fear of cable ties.

I thoroughly enjoy Mi-so’s ‘Secretary Kim’ persona and how she calmly handles everything with a smile. But it was also great getting a glimpse of her at the start of her career, which highlighted how much she has grown into the role. While the new Secretary Kim seems awkward and at times inept, the flashbacks show that Mi-so was not too different herself when she started out. And so when she reassures the new girl, it is not just empty words that she shares, but the wisdom from her own experience. It’s not as clear why Young-joon would have kept Mi-so on at the beginning when she had no experience and was making critical mistakes. The first episode emphasized how harsh he is in his business dealings and how he doesn’t give second chances. It seems like a contradiction in his character. I suppose we could assume that he is more generous when it comes to genuine mistakes or that he was softer before and has hardened over time as he took on more responsibility. But there’s nothing really shown to support either hypothesis.

The secondary characters continue to have little development and seem to exist either as comic relief, or to give viewers a window into the main leads’ internal thoughts. However, the introduction of Young-joon’s brother promises to add more twists in the future. My (fairly safe) prediction? He’ll be the second male lead of sorts, adding some drama to Young-joon’s and Mi-so’s relationship which will ultimately serve to bring them closer together.

Final thoughts

So, take off your thinking cap, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy a pleasant escape from reality.