'Undercover Miss Hong' is captivating viewers with a harmonious trio of narrative, chemistry and highly accomplished direction.
On the 25th, the tvN weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' (written by Moon Hyun-kyung, directed by Park Sun-ho and Na Ji-hyun, planned by Studio Dragon, produced by Celltrion Entertainment, Studio Dragon) — which aired up to episode 4 — rode a steady upward trend to set its own highest ratings. Set in Yeouido in the 1990s with a distinctive end-of-century sensibility, a pulse-pounding story and standout performances by veteran actors, it has electrified home audiences.
In particular, the chemistry among the characters centered on the drama's protagonist Hong Geum-bo (Park Shin-hye) has won great affection. In the drama, Hong Geum-bo, who transformed from a 35-year-old elite securities regulator into a 20-year-old low-level employee, is carrying out an undercover operation and, because of an unmistakable intense presence, experiences various big and small happenings with the people around her. Let's delve into Hong Geum-bo's relationship landscape, which ranges from warm womance and solid camaraderie to insubordination with superiors, push-and-pull and rapid back-and-forth banter.
▲dormitory room 301 roommates, womance budding amid shared hardships
Hong Geum-bo and the secret quartet of Go Bok-hee (Ha Yoon-Kyung), Kang No-ra (Choi Ji-soo) and Kim Mi-sook (Kang Chae-young), who gathered in dormitory room 301 for unmarried female workers in Seoul, each carry untold stories. Under a strange wariness, the four who became housemates under one roof grew close as they experienced various incidents and accidents at Hanmin Securities together. In particular, when Hong Geum-bo was implicated in an order error and faced dismissal, they all hatched a plan to anonymously create false public opinion through PC communication, and after the matter was safely resolved, they all toasted and celebrated as if it were their own affair. The sight of the reliable older sisters(?) stopping Hong Geum-bo from treating them and saying "where does the youngest pay?" as they reached for their wallets brought smiles, and the heartwarming chemistry of the four women creating an irreplaceable womance settled in viewers' hearts.
▲the misfits of Hanmin Securities gather and are reborn as 'Avengers,' special camaraderie in the crisis management headquarters
Crisis management headquarters, which included parachuted head Albert Oh (Cho Han-gyeol), the zero-ambition manager Bang Jin-mok (Kim Do-hyun) and computer expert Lee Yong-gi (Jang Do-ha), was a department shunned even within Hanmin Securities. But with the arrival of Hong Geum-bo, who values innovation and efficiency, winds of change began to blow and crisis management headquarters unintentionally improved its performance, beginning to shed the stigma of being a backroom department. Team members who had seemed mired in ennui stayed up all night together to watch each other's backs, and when the youngest, Hong Geum-bo, was referred to the disciplinary committee they secretly eavesdropped outside the meeting room in worry, showing subtle teamwork. While it's intriguing to wonder what kind of unity these people, who came to embody a 'one team' spirit amid fierce corporate life, will show going forward, attention is also focused on the process by which the four who had been labeled misfits at Hanmin Securities grow into the 'Avengers.'
▲by rank the top among low-level employees, fiery chemistry with superiors
Although Hong Geum-bo entered the company wearing the mask of a 20-year-old low-level employee, it was difficult for her to completely hide the unbridled work ability and confident attitude of the 'Yeouido witch.' Even in an environment surrounded by problematic superiors, from President Shin Jeong-woo (Ko Kyung-pyo), whose identity was at high risk of being exposed, to Research Department Deputy Manager Cha Jung-il (Im Cheol-su), who constantly snubbed and picked fights, Hong Geum-bo hid the truth with a brazen expression and directly refuted nonsense, showing her characteristic spicy edge. Though she engaged in insubordination and push-and-pull with her superiors and had fiery clashes, Hong Geum-bo provokes laughter with a pleasant back-and-forth chemistry with real superior Director General Yoon Jae-beom (Kim Won-hae). The two, who periodically meet secretly to report the progress of the undercover operation, seem to have the hierarchy erased as if the positions of superior and subordinate were reversed, showing mutual dependable trust and a sense of stability, offering a fresh source of amusement.
Park Shin-hye, who plays Hong Geum-bo in the drama, noted, Undercover Miss Hong is a feast of chemistry. The chemistry among the Financial Supervisory Service, Hanmin Securities' crisis management headquarters and, not to be missed, the room 301 roommates, will be unmissable fun. As the drama progresses, consecutive bursts of chemistry explode, so I hope you watch with affection, raising expectations.
Thus, captivated by the synergy of these lively characters, the tvN weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m.
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