When I discovered the Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young starrer K-Drama What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?, I was obsessed! It was funny as heck, delivered all the kilig without fail, and had surprisingly compelling drama around the last act, too. This is why I was pretty apprehensive when I heard it was getting a local adaptation. But now that the pilot week of ABS-CBN’s version is free on Viu Philippines and the show has garnered quite a positive response, I had to check it out. And the next thing I know, I’ve watched all the available episodes and started contemplating getting a Viu subscription. Why? Here’s everything right about Secretary Kim.

The right beats

The first two weeks of Secretary Kim PH are paced so well that they’re perfect for a binge. Every episode opens compellingly and ends with a cliffhanger, effective enough to make you click on the next episode. And it doesn’t hurt that the show’s actors, Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu, are pretty easy on the eyes, too!

They said polish!

The show got its K-Drama filter on. This isn’t to conflate that with quality, for sure, but the show’s colors, set, and wardrobe certainly succeed in setting its tone: bright, colorful, and fun. It’s just, all in all, great to look at! 

Brandon

Speaking of great to look at, breaking news: Paulo Avelino is swoon-worthy as Kim’s narcissistic boss. But listen, I haven’t seen Avelino play a character I can laugh at or laugh with since Status: It’s Complicated, which was literally 11 years ago! So to say that watching him in this is a refreshing and most welcome change of pace is quite an understatement. And his chemistry with Kim Chiu? I was not prepared.

Secretary Kim

Kim Chiu was an obvious choice to play the titular role. But if you know the character and have seen Chiu’s past works, you might not exactly think of her for this. Chiu’s been known to play many quirky, goofy, comedic characters in the past, making her great for the rom-com genre. She’s incredible with physical comedy, but Secretary Kim is more reserved and collected and not exactly the source of the show’s laughs. And I think that’s why I love her in this.

It’s such a joy to watch her ace this role despite it not asking for any of her usual tricks. She’s not crying buckets, waving her hands around, never raising her voice, or doing her hilarious improvised bits. Secretary Kim is the paragon of reliability that holds the office together. I’m so glad to witness Chiu be a leading lady who’s just as reliable in delivering.

The colleagues

Thankfully, Secretary Kim’s surrounded by a reliable cast of characters, too. The office workers are a joy to watch, but Angeline Quinto and Phi Palmos are undoubtedly the standouts here. While Chiu and Avelino are the show’s melody, hitting every romantic note at every beat, the colleagues provide the runs and the ad-libs.

Quinto’s physical comedy is so effective, and Palmos’ zingers are frickin’ hilarious. “Wag mong idamay si Donna Cruz dito” is the best line of the show so far. And now you have to watch it to learn the context!

Zaddy Romnick and fam

As Secretary Kim’s sisters, Kat Galang and Cai Cortez are great casting choices, too! Even Romnick Sarmenta has no business looking that good while being the father of three grown adult women, but there’s a warm presence he lends the screen that makes it immediately believable that he’s the head of such a warm family.

Janice de Belen’s blue hair

And finally, a rich teleserye mother who knows how to have fun. It’s been ages since the last! I hope we get more of Janice de Belen and her blue hair in the coming episodes because her interpretation of this character is one of my favorite things about this adaptation.

BINI!

Another one of my favorite things about this series? The theme song. I had no idea they got BINI’s Lagi for its soundtrack and the immediate boost of kilig I got the first time the needle dropped! I hope we get more of their songs soon. No disrespect to Moira, but we really could use some rest from her breathy voice telling us that we’re supposed to fall in love now. 

The local version of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? is an effective adaptation of a beloved Korean material and successfully incorporates very Filipino elements. I really hope they manage to keep this momentum because this has the potential to be up there with Got 2 Believe and On the Wings of Love in the list of Philippine TV’s best rom-com teleseryes.

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