This is actually a very funny and entertaining series with a host of characters both eccentric and appealing. A thirtyish woman becomes an editor at a magazine (see title of series) after being evicted from her apartment by its owner, a harsh and cold man whose motivation for purchasing the magazine is to advertise real estate that he owns.
The backdrop of this series is interesting: the high priced real estate market in Seoul with each of the characters having difficulties associated with housing. It also nicely pulls in the themes of "houses" vs. "homes" with Young Won focusing on buying her own home in contrast to Ja Sung's seemingly avaricious approach to real estate.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in this series: Eui Joo, the marriage-averse editor whose prickly exterior actually hides a loyal and compassionate nature. Sang Soon, her fellow editor, obsessed with getting a "subscription" to his own place (didn't really get this but I assume it makes sense in Korea) for himself and long-time girlfriend. Choi Go, the obsequious chief editor, who is high strung and volatile but still concerned about his co-workers. These three provide most of the comedy (and some of the more poignant scenes).
But my favorite has to be Ji-Seok Kim's portrayal of the harsh CEO whose true nature is actually warm and even a bit goofy. (Watch his reaction in the gym to Young Na's sincere compliment.) While certainly nice-looking, he lacks the pretty-boy attractiveness of many of his fellow Korean actors which is actually somewhat refreshing. And Jung-so Min as his romantic counterpart comes across as a kind of Korean Mary Tyler Moore...sweet-natured and kind and with a tendency to find herself in embarrassingly humorous situations.
There are some missteps. Shin Gyeom, the kind-hearted photographer, seems to get short-changed in the narrative. Then you have one episode where an odd copy editor suddenly appears only to have her disappear and never reappear. But these aberrations can be easily ignored (yes, even the inevitable break-up and reconciliation of the main couple that seems to be de rigueur of these series) until the final episode as the writers choose to break up the main couple ONE MORE TIME in a plot twist that strains credulity. Yes, they get back together but it's really not very satisfying and even seems to contradict the overarching message of the series about homes and houses being different things. It's a sloppy ending to what is a very superior series.
The backdrop of this series is interesting: the high priced real estate market in Seoul with each of the characters having difficulties associated with housing. It also nicely pulls in the themes of "houses" vs. "homes" with Young Won focusing on buying her own home in contrast to Ja Sung's seemingly avaricious approach to real estate.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in this series: Eui Joo, the marriage-averse editor whose prickly exterior actually hides a loyal and compassionate nature. Sang Soon, her fellow editor, obsessed with getting a "subscription" to his own place (didn't really get this but I assume it makes sense in Korea) for himself and long-time girlfriend. Choi Go, the obsequious chief editor, who is high strung and volatile but still concerned about his co-workers. These three provide most of the comedy (and some of the more poignant scenes).
But my favorite has to be Ji-Seok Kim's portrayal of the harsh CEO whose true nature is actually warm and even a bit goofy. (Watch his reaction in the gym to Young Na's sincere compliment.) While certainly nice-looking, he lacks the pretty-boy attractiveness of many of his fellow Korean actors which is actually somewhat refreshing. And Jung-so Min as his romantic counterpart comes across as a kind of Korean Mary Tyler Moore...sweet-natured and kind and with a tendency to find herself in embarrassingly humorous situations.
There are some missteps. Shin Gyeom, the kind-hearted photographer, seems to get short-changed in the narrative. Then you have one episode where an odd copy editor suddenly appears only to have her disappear and never reappear. But these aberrations can be easily ignored (yes, even the inevitable break-up and reconciliation of the main couple that seems to be de rigueur of these series) until the final episode as the writers choose to break up the main couple ONE MORE TIME in a plot twist that strains credulity. Yes, they get back together but it's really not very satisfying and even seems to contradict the overarching message of the series about homes and houses being different things. It's a sloppy ending to what is a very superior series.