REVIEW: ‘The Potato Lab’ Episodes 1-2

From the beginning, the charm of The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2 is immediate. As a major fan of potatoes and kdramas, Netflix’s The Potato Lab feels personally curated to my special interests. This latest addition to the kdrama roster might confuse potential viewers at first. With its title alone, it’s a headscratcher. But after The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2 introduces us to its main characters and its fusion of heart and comedic shenanigans, it becomes clear this is a humorous workplace drama with a penchant for some serious romance.

In The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2, writer Kim Ho-soo wastes no time establishing the characters. Paired with highly committed hilarious performances from its cast, it’s clear that viewers are in for a treat. This is made apparent within the show’s opening scenes, which introduce us to the Potato Research Institute’s team via a horribly dated and awkward ad for their company. We then immediately pivot to Kim Mi-kyung (Lee Sun-bin), a researcher of all things potato-related at the Potato Research Institute.

Arguably, Episode 1 is Mi-kyung’s episode. She’s vibrant and over-the-top, but there’s a balance to Lee Sun-bin’s delivery that keeps things from going too far. Mi-kyung cares deeply for her research and her job, and no one should dare cross her path.  Unfortunately, Wonhan Retail becomes enemy number one for her and the team when the company acquires Potato Research Institute. Everyone’s unsure of where they stand, with rumors of an executive coming in to see where things need to improve, but Mi-kyung and co are ready to confront him head on.

Mi-kyung is the star of The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2, and it’s thanks to Lee Sun-bin.

First, though, she has to get over whatever baggage she has left from Wonhan. While it’s not deeply explored, The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2 show us that there’s some history between Mi-kyung and the barely explored Park Ki-se (Lee Hak-joo). Whatever it was, likely a breakup, knowing how these things go, both still harbor some resentment, resulting in some particularly laugh-inducing physical comedy from Lee Sun-bin. Regardless of the seriousness of a situation, jokes come in to soften the intensity.

To balance out Mi-kyung’s high energy is the calm, cool, and collected So Baek-ho (Kang Tae-oh). Though, as is slowly revealed throughout The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2, he can be painfully awkward in unfamiliar situations. This becomes apparent when he starts working at the titular lab, and a magpie comes swooping in and attacks him. His panic and flailing show a different side of him. This presents a stark contrast from a scene prior when he takes down a disgruntled Wonhan employee with effortless finesse.

In his first role after his military enlistment, Kang Tae-oh is operating at all cylinders. Baek-ho gives him the opportunity to poke fun at a typical suave character-type with a dash of physical comedy. As a character, Baek-ho has worked his way up the ladder to achieve executive greatness. But, thrown into the unfamiliar potato farms and countryside politics, he faces an uphill (and at one point, a literal downhill) battle. And it immediately makes this male romantic lead endearing.

No time is wasted in peeling back the layers on Baek-ho.

What helps is the character’s resilience, which presents a challenge for the stubborn Mi-kyung, who wants all things Wonhan Retail out of her life. However, she can’t deny that this executive interloper is attractive. Her friend and roommate, Lee Ong-ju’s (Kim Ga-eun) encouragement doesn’t help things either. This later influences how the imaginative Mi-kyung sees Baek-ho in a dazzling dating sim-like vignette.

It’s no surprise then that, despite Mi-kyung’s misgivings about Baek-ho’s intrusion in her work life that Episode 2 ends the way it does. The work established in quick time by both Kim Ho-soo’s writing and Lee Sun-bin’s performance helps to get us to Episode 2’s final moments. While it may seem a smidge too fast, it’s not entirely surprising. It will also set up the stakes and further silliness moving forward in this series. And, with these two characters being such awkward ducklings, it will make for some titillating workplace drama.

Right out the gate, The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2 prove that we’re in for a hilariously fun time in this workplace rom-com. Don’t let its oddly boring and generic title fool you. This kdrama holds lots of promise, and with what we can see so far, it is likely to be the sleeper hit series of the season. That is, if it can keep up the zany comedy and nail its romance.

The Potato Lab Episodes 1-2 are now streaming exclusively on Netflix, with new episodes releasing every Saturday and Sunday.