Race Season 1 Review – Another relatable & entertaining K-drama

Episode Guide

Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 7 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 8 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 9 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 10 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 11 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 12 – | Review Score – 3.5/5

Many K-dramas are relatable in one way or another but few workplace dramas strike a chord like this one. Centered around a work setting, Race paints a clear picture of what many people go through in the work environment, whether good or bad.

Race follows the lives of the show’s two main characters, Park Yoon-Jo, and Ryu Jae-Min, as they navigate working in a big company called Seyong. The show starts with Yoon-Jo working at a different company, PR JOA, before being hired to work at Seyong, which takes place in episode 3.

Yoon-Jo is excited to be employed in a big company, as most of us would be. However, she quickly realizes there are way more obstacles to deal with in a big work setting like that – especially if the administration is full of people who are after nothing else but their personal interests. Classic case of the adage “All that glitters is not gold.”

Yoon-Jo, who’s one very determined lady, finds that many people at Seyong don’t share the same values as her and don’t recognize her potential. She was employed based on experience and not her qualifications, which makes it hard for her at Seyong. That is, until a well-known PR consultant called Goo Yi-Jung, is employed in the company and things start looking up for Yoon-Jo. But, she still faces various challenges, even with things looking more favorable for her.

The show also explores just how many big companies operate. And as you may have guessed, Seyong doesn’t operate in the most ethical of ways. From corruption to poor administration and unhealthy competition strategies, Seyong operates on not-so-good ethics. Dwarfing these ideas are the personal lives of Yoon-Jo and Jae-Min, and that is where some of the supporting characters are introduced.

This show guarantees suspense and romance, especially around the lives of Yoon-Jo and Jae-Min, while there’s also a dash of comedy.

What’s endearing about this show are the lessons to learn from each episode. I know many people watch shows purely for entertainment, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn a thing or two from them. Race brings out issues that are typically uncomfortable to talk about, making it even more interesting as a result. The storyline also flows seamlessly from one episode to another, which is another big draw.

However, as a nitpick, it would have been nice if Yoon-Jo and Jae-Min’s romance wasn’t as shallow as it ends up becoming. I know this show was centred on the work environment of Yoon-Jo and Jae-Min, but it wouldn’t hurt if we saw a little bit more about their romance than what we get. All we know is Yoon-Jo liked Jae-Min since they were young and confessed her feelings to Jae-Min at some point. But why did she confess her feelings to Jae-Min after she seemingly dated him before? It’s kind of confusing.

The situation with Yi-Jung, her daughter Yoo-Jin, and Eun-Seok was also not as clear as I would have liked it to be either. We were left in the dark about why Yi-Jung left her family until the end of the series, and the explanation given isn’t all that satisfying.

However, those gripes aside, Race is a good drama that’s certainly worth checking out. With a really nice structure and a great balance of slice of life and light romance, if you’re looking for a show you can relate to, this should whet your appetite.

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