REVIEW: ‘King The Land’ Delivers Predictably Delicious Rom-Com Vibes

With recent Netflix Kdrama releases, there has been a push to make romance dramas longer and more complicated than necessary. Sometimes you need a good and simple story. Predictable, yet hilarious. Something akin to comfort food. In the latest workplace romance drama, King The Land, thankfully, we get good ol’ predictable fun. Starring Im Yoon-ah and Lee Jun-ho, we’re led through the whirlwind enemies-to-lovers workplace romance, with a couple of controversial bumps along the way.

In King The Land, we meet hotel chaebol Gu Won (Lee Jun-ho) and hotel worker Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah). From the get-go, we see the class disparity and power imbalances between the two. As someone raised in wealth and privilege, Won has a level of over-confidence and ignorance that both endears and annoys. On the opposite end, Sa-rang has struggled and worked her entire life. Even lacking in education, she receives accolades within the King Hotel for her hard work and perseverance. It’s no wonder the two cross paths and butt heads.

It’s not long before Won develops feelings. The earlier comedic moments in the series come from the two butting heads but also Won’s attempts to woo Sa-rang. To Jun-ho’s credit, he leans into the social awkwardness of Won so well that you feel embarrassed for the guy. Sa-rang’s inability to pick up on what he’s putting down and Yoon-ah’s natural ability to bounce off of Jun-ho’s energy make for great viewing. This energy between the two leads carries consistently throughout the course of King The Land.

Supporting in the comedy department are Won’s and Sa-rang’s friends.  Sales manager, Gang Da-eul (Kim Ga-eun) and flight attendant, Oh Pyeong-hwa (Go Won-hee) are always there to support Sa-rang. This trio of friends bounce jokes off of each with the forthright bluntness of girlfriend groups. Ready to cut the piss out of each other at a moment’s notice, their tight bond is unbreakable. And when Won gets introduced to Da-eul and Pyeong-hwa, trying to keep his real identity a secret from them proves to be another pot of comedy gold.

Won’s friend and assistant, Noh Sang-sik (Ahn Se-ha), proves to be the most hilarious of the bunch. Whether paired just with Jun-ho or with the entire group, Se-ha always manages to find the right approach and timing to a scene before completely owning the stage. That’s not to say the others can’t hold their own, but there’s no denying that Se-ha knows how to milk the humor out of any scenario presented to him.

But it’s not all comedy and smiles. While romance is the primary driving force of the series, there are lessons to be gained from King The Land. An overarching theme in the series has been choosing matters of the heart over what is expected of us. That and not to sacrifice needlessly for those who’d cut you out the second they get a chance. Shown most in the corporate settings surrounding the King Properties, all of the characters have to grapple with the workplace culture’s brutal nature over their own needs.

While not exactly subtle in its delivery, it is a message that all of us need to hear in our post-capitalism era. The standards enforced by corporations are unhealthy, especially in pursuit of endless growth. Won sees and recognizes this, in part, because he’s grown up completely immersed in the environment. He’s seen what it has done to his family and, unlike everyone else around him, he has the easy ability to get out of the situation. However, it takes longer for Sa-rang and the others to find their own path to the heart. Because, without knowing anything else, it’s hard for them to separate from what is routine and what ultimately feeds their soul.

The comedy and romance of King The Land have been some of the strongest parts of the series. But not everything has been successful in the series. Controversy hit the series with the two-episode focus on Prince Amir (Anupam Tripathi). While Tripathi was excellent as the Arab prince, easily pulling the attention away with his bold and vibrant personality and comebacks, the writing was dripped with stereotypes.

This prompted a warranted international outcry. While apologies have been issued, it’s too early to say whether a lesson was learned here. For future productions, especially geared towards a more global stage, more care needs to be taken when tackling characters from other cultures. This note is applicable to everyone. Lord knows we’ve been guilty here in the States about that to this day.

Another noticeable issue was the product placement, particularly in the episode when the gang goes to Thailand. Looming in on the products like a nice commercial, nothing was subtle about it. It reminded me of Because This is My First Life, when Yoon Ji-ho is responsible for putting all the products into an episode in order to get the sponsorship monies for production. It’s understandable to make sure advertisers get their money’s worth. But we’re here to watch a show. Not a tourist ad. No matter how prettily it’s shot.

At the heart of it all, King The Land is a predictable, safe romance drama. Laced with prime-time comedic moments and gloriously schmoozy lovey moments, this latest Netflix Kdrama will warm the cockles of your heart. With the underlying message telling us to focus on what makes us happy overall, you can’t go wrong in adding this rom-com to your must-watch list.

All episodes of King The Land are now available on Netflix.