[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Radiant Office" Episode 2

"Radiant Office" is shaping up to be an office drama with a touch of chaebol, medical, and fantasy thrown into the mix. While the tone was peculiar, it wasn't unpleasant. The chemistry of the three contract workers, Ho-won, Gi-taek, and Kang-ho, is absolutely delightful. They start to navigate the murky waters of the hierarchical Korean workplace and find many similarities to the real world.

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Ho-won has it the worst because she is a woman, literally disregarded for a position because of her gender. Korean business culture is not the kindest to women.The highest ranked woman on the team is considered an Ice Queen, probably because she had to become that way to swim in a sea of testosterone. Ho-won will have to battle this and the gossip that goes alone with her sex. Gi-taek's vicious ex, Ha Ji-na (Han Sunhwa), is looked down upon for seeming to care overly about her appearance. Whatever may or may not be true, these women all have to deal with the misogyny inherent in the workplace and I'm sure the show will tackle their role.

Luckily the trio has a connected fate, and they keep getting through together. Fate has a name in "Radiant Office" - Seo Hyeon. He is, of course, the son of the company's CEO and a doctor. The very same doctor that the trio snuck out on when escaping their hospital bills. Hyeon definitely has plans for the bill jumpers. His inclusion in the story highlights office place nepotism and gives Manager Kwon (Park Sang-man) a chance to display how well he grovels in the face of power.

I did not expect "Radiant Office" to include so many fantastical elements. At one point near the start of the episode the job hopefuls at the group interview break out into a allegorical gun battle, mimicking their inner desire to fight and win the job. It was well-filmed and quite fun to watch.

Of course, the end reveals that our heroine has the incurable disease, adding in a medical twist to this office drama. Will it become something like "Scent of a Woman" with the love story and the slow deterioration of health, or will it focus more on the workplace? Will she turn out to be misdiagnosed?

Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Radiant Office" is directed by Jeong Ji-in and Park Sang-hoon-III, written by Jeong Hee-hyeon, and features Go Ah-seong, Ha Seok-jin, Lee Dong-hwi, and Hoya.