Summary
A chaotic episode keeps the pace up, if not necessarily the logic.
This recap of Business Proposal season 1, episode 9 contains spoilers.
As of right about now, Business Proposal is the most popular weekly k-drama on Netflix. And in a way, I can see why. It’s good knockabout fun, full of silliness and contrivance, and as it progresses it’s starting to develop its central characters and their relationship more rather than jogging in place. It’s also content to just lean against contrivances, improbable decisions, and out-of-nowhere ideas to keep things moving, which isn’t exactly commendable, but at the very least prevents the show from becoming boring.
Business Proposal season 1, episode 9 recap
And sometimes, not being boring is enough. Yu-jeong getting so much airtime here is at least different, and her pestering Seong-hoon is a laugh. It leads to Yu-jeong’s mother getting the wrong end of the stick and believing Tae-moo is dating Yu-jeong, so there’s plotting afoot.
Meanwhile, as ever, Ha-ri and Tae-moo continue to try and conduct a normal relationship without anyone else finding out. Neither relishes the idea of keeping their relationship a secret, but it is what it is, and it also makes for some decently funny setups, such as disguising a date as a work dinner. Business Proposal is pretty decent as using its storylines to tee up awkward moments and build humor from them – it’s admittedly a short-term laugh strategy rather than legitimate plotting, but it’s that kind of show, I suppose.
In the midst of all this, Chairman Kang is beginning to loom as a kind of villain. His wanting the best for Tae-moo means conspiring to set him up with someone other than Ha-ri, and he’s growing increasingly irritated by Ha-ri herself, who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s a semi-interesting dynamic, Tae-moo’s loyalty to family and business versus his new loyalty to Ha-ri, and it’s actually nice to see him lighten up a bit with her and her workmates.
Will Chairman Kang put an end to all this? The end of the episode, which sees him pull up on Tae-moo and Ha-ri and demand an explanation, certainly suggests so. But after a season spent duping people, surely they have some more ideas for subterfuge up their sleeves? We’ll have to wait and see.
You can stream Business Proposal season 1, episode 9 exclusively on Netflix.
