Office Girls

 Office Girls  40 Episodes 2011

When Roy Chiu and Alice Ko are together, both sparks and barbs will fly.

Nobody is as diligent as Hsin-Ren when it comes to grinding at her job at Taipei's fictional Jinshi Department store. She’s a model employee and works hard to scrimp and save so one day she can buy an apartment of her own. Growing up originally in the hinterlands, she lives like a pauper, seldom splurges, and diligently brings her lunch to work. In Taipei, these girls are known as "little resource girls" (xiǎo zīyuán nǚhái).   In the West, these girls would be known as members of the petty bourgeoisie. 

Now meet Zi-qi, the spoiled, pampered ne’er do well who’s heir to the department store. Freshly back from studying business in the states, he returns to a rude awakening. In order for him to someday take over chairmanship from his father, he must start at the bottom, with no advantages given to him. That means making ends meet on a US$1000 per month salary with $1000 a day habits. Oh, he also has to sit in a cube and report to Xing-Ren, who he dislikes at first sight.  If he can prove himself, then he’ll jump to the top. 

 

Being a Taiwanese drama, we know that they will get together….eventually. But the twists and turns, the misunderstandings, the jealousies, the familial challenges, the backstabbing coworkers make it a delightful 40-episode romp. 

 

Hsin-Ren, our fave frugal and feisty office girl. 

Alice Ko plays Hsin-Ren and does so to a tee: although she's thoughtful and sincere, she has a temper that can boil over when it comes to all things Zi-qi . Although she is teased for her plain-Jane looks, her personality, good manners, and spunk make up for her lack of traditional idol beauty. But that doesn’t mean she can’t attract some of the hottest guys in the show.

Roy Chiu is the perfect Zi-qi, always naughty, always charming--dressed to the nines and sporting a highly studied unkempt hair style. Hsin-Ren and Zi-Chi are perpetually butting heads. Chiu brings loads of charisma and screen magnetism to the role and you never feel put-off by the rich kid who needs to struggle a bit to grow up trope. In fact, you’ll be cheering for him to prove to himself, his coworkers, and his family throughout the entire story arc.

You can't have a Taiwanese drama without someone sporting a bandage.

Along the way, we’ll meet veteran comic actor Patrick Lee as Shih Te-Lung, the lazy, endearingly incompetent boss of the department, who has his eyes set on the adorable Le-Le, played by Shu-Yao Kuo. Kai-er (Tia Lee) is the leasing department lead, a super hottie who plays by her own rules, which are strictly below-board.  Her mission: to sabotage any chance Hsin-Ren has with Zi-qi and move herself up the corporate ladder.

Kai-er, the office super baddie. 

Supporting characters include James Wen as fashion designer Yu Cheng-Fung, who helps Hsin-Ren with her career and may or may not want something a little extra out of their working relationship. Janel Tsai is Yu’s long-time girlfriend, Min-Na, who we liked in the super-hit drama The Fierce Wife and Mad Doctor. Super rich, spoiled and hyper beautiful, she parades around the series in stylish outfits (remember, this is 2010) and plays her part in disrupting the proceedings. On a sidenote, Tsai was in a long-time relationship with Patrick Lee in real life. Other notable performances include those by drama legend Li-Yin Yang, who plays Hsin-Ren’s mother and Hsiu-Chun Lin, who plays Zi-Qi’s mother.

Office Girls is available on Netflix.