Summary
The penultimate episode creates some conflict with a late heel turn, raising the stakes a little for the finale.
This recap of Business Proposal season 1, episode 11 contains spoilers.
The penultimate episode of Business Proposal has a clear objective, which is to create an antagonistic angle that allows Ha-ri and Tae-moo to commit to one another and the authenticity of their relationship after a season spent mostly duping people and playing pretend. It’s probably a necessary step, only really lamentable in how it requires a quick heel-turn from a character whose entire personality seems to have turned on a dime.
Business Proposal season 1, episode 11 recap
That character is Chairman Kang, obviously. Last week’s drama ended with him confronting Ha-ri, and this week’s opens with Ha-ri confessing her various deceptions to him. Naturally, he insists that she stop seeing Tae-moo immediately. When they both end up at the hospital after Tae-moo’s accident, he repeats the sentiment to his grandson. But Tae-moo – in a nice bit of character development given how he has been throughout large swathes of the season – really goes to bat for Ha-ri and takes all the blame.
This development weaves in nicely with the snippets of backstory we’ve received about the character. Tae-moo is carrying around a great deal of guilt around the deaths of his parents, worrying the accident was his fault and that they resent him for it; he begins to come to terms with the idea that they don’t with the help of Ha-ri, his willingness to open up dovetailing with his willingness to let go. It’s a nice bit of storytelling.
It’s not exactly original storytelling, obviously, since having Ha-ri and Tae-moo form a united front just in time for many others to turn against them is pretty standard fare. Ha-ri starts getting bad publicity on her promotional video with Min-woo, and with her and Tae-moo’s relationship spreading like wildfire, she’s lambasted at every turn. But her own close workmates have her back, which is another nice development. Meanwhile, Tae-moo remains oblivious to the repercussions, instead feeling emancipated by his grandfather’s knowledge of their relationship, planning to propose to Ha-ri just as the news about them is causing her so much grief.
Chairman Kang isn’t having that either. He wants to send Tae-moo to America for a couple of years so that he can reflect on the ramifications of being with Ha-ri, tries to strongarm Ha-ri into working elsewhere (or resigning), and threatens Tae-moo with the board demanding his resignation. But it isn’t enough. Tae-moo and Ha-ri end the episode together, with Ha-ri’s parents now aware of their relationship (Tae-moo called them “Mother” and “Father” while looking for Ha-ri), and everything to play for in the finale.
You can stream Business Proposal season 1, episode 11 exclusively on Netflix.
