Level Up

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

​An Dan Te is a master at restructuring companies. He is given the task to put back on tracks a game company called Joybuster. While doing so he is confronted with Shin Yeon Hwa, a strong-headed employee who stands up against the restructuring. 

My Opinion (No Spoilers)

I liked the idea of the drama, that’s why I started watching. Talking about restructuring is not a usual theme in Dramaland, so I really wanted to see how they were going to tackle that topic. Plus, Sung Hoon is an excellent actor so I was really pleased to see him in another drama. 

The plot was generally good, even though Han Bo Reum’s character was sometime quite annoying and the story went around in circles sometimes, creating either redundancy or boredom. 

Still, it was only 12 episodes! It’s quite funny for me to see how MBN is capable of providing viewers with incredible content such as Graceful Family as well as terrible dramas like Rich Man, Fluttering Warning or Best Chicken. So be careful when you try their dramas, choose wisely!

​Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

​The restructuring of a company: The drama tackles the hard topic of restructuring a company, that happens more than we think in real life. An Dan Te (Sung Hoon) is simply a genius. At first glimpse, he seems cold and strict, a consultant who is not the slightest interested in the company itself. He gives the impression that he has come to change the essence of the company just to make profit. That’s the reason why Shin Yeon Hwa (Han Bo Reum) hates him and constantly fights him. I have to say that I really understood the two point of views: on the one side you have the consultant, who came to save the company and put it back on track. His goal is to make sure that the company will make money. On the other side, the employees are scared of losing their jobs and also wish to protect the history and the background of the company. Considering the two sides, there is a clear confrontation between capitalism and profit and passion, loyalty and love for the company. So Sung Hoon and Yeon Hwa, who have two different mindsets, collide and crash one into the other. 

However, An Dan Te is not only interested in profit. Indeed, his love for each company he restructures is stronger and more profound than it seems. In fact, he is trying his best to protect the employees, make sure they keep their job, help the company produce the same kinds of games they used to. He tries his best to shelter everyone from the external competition and the tough environment, in which Joybuster evolves. 

Dan Te is thus not that cruel and col-hearted restructuring consultant. On the contrary!

Moreover, I really loved the numerous twists that happened throughout the drama. Dan Te was capable of pulling excellent tricks and incredible lies, that helped the company survive and thrive. In fact, without this storyline in the drama, there wouldn’t have been any real interest in Level Up. 

Level Up is by the way the epitome of the company’s evolution. It went from bankruptcy to one of the best in the field, while hiring valuable employees and using them as great assets. 

On the bright side, the restructuring was well-depicted, even though I doubt of its realism. Not every restructuring goes that smoothly and are that successful. Still, it’s a drama so it has to end well. 

The romance: Well, considering the fact that Shin Yeon Hwa was probably the most annoying employee you’ve ever seen, the underlying romance was nice. It was not really developed but the apparent hatred between the two main characters eventually turned into love, or at least an inclination toward the other. I was really expecting the last kiss at the end, closing the deal (to speak in business terms!). 

I have to say the chemistry between Dan Te and Yeon Hwa was really entertaining, particularly because they constantly ended up in awkward, improbable and unexpected situations, that brought laughter and joy to some more serious issues. 

Plus, the “love triangle” with Dan Te’s friend complicated their romance so much. Really made me think about the old dramas from the 2000s with complicated and insufferable love triangles, in which the supporting characters are greatly annoying. 

In a nutshell, nice drama to make time pass but if you have none, watch something else!