[TF Focus] Will 'Familiar Flavors' Work... MBN's Box Office Challenge with 'The Boss's Overt Taste'

Based on the web novel and webtoon of the same nameBroadcast every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:20 PMMBN's new Wednesday-Thursday drama 'The Boss's Explicit Taste' is drawing attention to whether it can capture viewers' hearts with its 'familiar taste'. / GADIN MEDIA[THE FACT|Choi Soo-bin] The meeting of a chaebol man and an ordinary woman, and a love that begins with a contract. A familiar romance formula is once again coming to our screens. 'The Boss's Overt Preference' is ready to offer viewers the charm of what is known as 'familiar taste.' Attention is focused on whether it can establish itself as a new box office hit for MBN's Wednesday-Thursday drama, armed with familiarity.MBN's new Wednesday-Thursday drama 'The Boss's Overt Preference' (written by Nam Ji-yeon, directed by Kang Sol), which airs its first episode today (11th), depicts the romance between chaebol boss Kwon Do-hyuk (played by Sung Hoon), who sets out to find a woman from an album, and indie band vocalist Lee Eun-chae (played by Oh Se-young), who appears as the only variable in his perfect life.The work is based on the web novel and webtoon of the same name. It is expected to offer a different kind of fun by preserving the unique, charismatic characters and uninhibited emotional lines of the original work, while adding new interpretations by the actors and a fast-paced development.In the drama, Sung Hoon plays Kwon Do-hyuk, the CEO of Oh Yes Entertainment, who strictly adheres to classical music. Oh Se-young portrays Lee Eun-chae, a job seeker with a bright and confident personality. The two, who are polar opposites in personality and taste, begin to get entangled through a chance encounter.Facing a crisis due to his partner's betrayal, Kwon Do-hyuk is forced to normalize the company in exchange for his father's help. He decides to develop an AI singer instead of a celebrity, but he discovers a woman named 'Su' who looks exactly like his AI singer in an album by the indie band 'India Red', which he stumbled upon.Kwon Do-hyuk visits the club to confirm the identity of 'Su' and reunites with Lee Eun-chae there. Lee Eun-chae, who lied to her family about getting a job at a large corporation, is actually active as 'India Red's' vocalist 'Su' at a small club in Hongdae every Wednesday. A subtle tension forms between Lee Eun-chae, who tries to hide her identity, and Kwon Do-hyuk, who tries to uncover it.'The Boss's Obvious Taste' is a romance between conglomerate boss Kwon Do-hyuk (played by Sung Hoon), who sets out to find the woman in a single album, and indie band vocalist Lee Eun-chae (played by Oh Se-young), who appears as the only variable in his perfect life. / GADIN MEDIALater, Kwon Do-hyuk proposes that Lee Eun-chae, who had previously posed as a doctor at a hospital, work as his secretary for three months, using her past as leverage. Surprised by the unexpected offer, Lee Eun-chae eventually accepts the contract, and the two begin working together as CEO and secretary.This way, 'Boss's Explicit Taste' prominently features the familiar romantic comedy formula: a chaebol male lead and an ordinary female lead, polar opposite personalities, and a relationship that begins with a contract. While the novelty might be somewhat lacking as it's a setup already used in countless works, it also has the advantage of allowing viewers to easily immerse themselves.The process of two people from different worlds bickering and gradually falling in love is a representative box office formula for romantic comedies. Ultimately, the key is how charmingly the familiar story is told. The chemistry between Sung Hoon and Oh Se-young, and the direction that convincingly portrays their emotional changes, will likely determine the success or failure of the work.The differentiation from the original work is also noteworthy. In the web novel, the contract period between the two characters was one month, but it has been extended to three months in the drama. This will allow for a more diverse portrayal of their process of getting to know each other and growing closer. Additionally, the narratives of their families and the indie band have been strengthened to more richly depict the characters' relationships and emotional arcs.However, it remains to be seen how effectively the bold settings and dialogue unique to web novels and webtoons can be naturally incorporated into live-action dramas. This is because exaggerated expressions or unrealistic developments could potentially hinder viewer immersion.Above all, "Boss's Explicit Taste" is significant in that it will once again test the box office success of MBN's Wednesday-Thursday dramas. MBN has presented various Wednesday-Thursday dramas since "Suspicious Family" in 2012, but not many have achieved significant box office success. Then, "Elegant Family," aired in 2019, created a turnaround.'Boss's Explicit Taste' will meet viewers on the 11th at 10:20 PM. / GADIN MEDIA'Elegant Family,' starring Im Soo-hyang, Lee Jang-woo, and Bae Jong-ok, is a mystery melodrama that depicts a story surrounding a secret hidden within a chaebol family. It premiered with a viewership rating of 2.7% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide paid households) but showed an upward trend with each episode, concluding with a final episode rating of 8.5%. At the time, it also set a record for the highest viewership rating in MBN drama history.However, subsequent Wednesday-Thursday dramas failed to continue this box office success. 'Sponsor,' which aired in 2022, and 'First Lady,' released in 2025, also failed to achieve significant ratings, leaving disappointment.Amidst this, 'The Boss's Explicit Taste' emerges as a new hit card for MBN's Wednesday-Thursday drama. Unlike previous works, it is noteworthy whether it can receive viewers' choices as it presents a light and pleasant romantic comedy.Of course, familiar romance formulas don't necessarily guarantee success. Even with a predictable plot, the characters' charm must be highlighted and resonate with viewers. In particular, it must offer new enjoyment to readers who have already encountered the story through web novels and webtoons.Ultimately, the key to "Boss's Overt Taste" lies in finding differentiation within familiarity. Attention is focused on whether the charm of "knowing the taste" can transcend staleness and lead to excitement, and furthermore, whether it can bring a new wave of success to MBN's Wednesday-Thursday dramas."The Boss's Explicit Taste," consisting of a total of 12 episodes, will premiere on the 11th at 10:20 PM.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]subin7134@tf.co.kr