K-DRAMA FIRST LOOK: “The Potato Lab” – kdramadiary
In this opposites-attract romance, a fiery potato researcher clashes with a level-headed newcomer who unexpectedly becomes her boss. Their first encounter is anything but smooth, but with a little help from fate, love is bound to bloom.
It is chaotic, zany, and sometimes over-the-top, but the story has enough heart to keep it going.
Bunny S. watches The Potato Lab on Netflix
Opening Week Ratings:
The Potato Lab Opening Week Story
“I am going to have a potato named after me before I die.”
We first meet our heroine, Potato Researcher Kim Mi-kyung (Lee Sun-bin), as she makes a pitch to the villagers about her company’s new potato variety and sadly has a hard time convincing them to grow it on their farms because of budget constraints. Frustrated, Mi-kyung wishes that the company would go under. And we think she should be more careful about her wishes from now on as the company is about to go bankrupt and the only way out is to secure investment from another company.
Enter our male lead, So Baek-ho (Kang Tae-oh), a former special forces member and currently a director on the strategic planning team at Wonhan Retail, who effortlessly persuades the executives at Mi-kyung’s company to sign an M&A with his company after saving them in the nick of time from falling for a scammer.
[1-2화 스페셜 선공개] ‘정답은 정해져 있습니다’
답정너 얼음 감자의 온건한^^ 최후통첩🤨
(감자연구소는 원한리테일 품에 안길 운명이었던 거야..)풀버전은 👉🏻 #tvNDRAMA유튜브 #네이버tv
힐링 코믹 로맨스 <감자연구소>
3/1 [토] 밤 9:20 첫 방송#감자연구소 #ThePotatoLab pic.twitter.com/r73vjoxE9v— tvN drama (@CJnDrama) February 25, 2025
When Mi-kyung’s team hears of the takeover, they are shocked, especially Mi-kyung, who goes a long way back with Wonhan. As we come to learn, Mi-kyung used to work for Wonhan and was fired/forced to quit after getting betrayed by her ex-boyfriend, Park Ki-se (Lee Hak-joo). Given her reaction, it is safe to say that Mi-kyung still holds a grudge against Wonhan. Still, no matter how much Mi-kyung hates Wonhan, she won’t quit, settling to hold out until she achieves her dream of having a potato variety named after her.
“Are you saying I should have given you enough time to cover up your flaws?”
As his first move following the takeover, Baek-ho makes a trip to the potato lab for a surprise inspection. But it is wholly vacant as Mi-kyung’s team was called to the headquarters. We don’t know which is more annoying for Mi-kyung, though. Having to rush back to the lab or running into Ki-se in the lobby, who is now an executive director on the strategic planning team and recently divorced his wife, the chairwoman’s daughter. It looks like Ki-se got rewarded handsomely for betraying Mi-kyung.
Given how Ki-se frantically follows after Mi-kyung, we can tell he still has feelings for her. But he had better not use his position to play dirty or force Mi-kyung to get back to him. Though, it won’t be surprising if he does, as he already betrayed Mi-kyung once.
Anyway, the drama wastes no time having Baek-ho and Mi-kyung butt heads the moment they meet. Baek-ho accuses Mi-kyung’s team of wasting the allotted budget and producing no results. And a miffed Mi-kyung wishes for something to hit him in the head. Cue: Baek-ho funnily getting attacked by a magpie and rolling down the potato fields while trying to flee.
[1화 선공개] 원칙이 전부인 소백호 이사님과
참지 않는 김미경 대리님💢
이 둘.. 첫 만남부터 심상치 않다..풀버전은 👉🏻 #tvNDRAMA유튜브 #네이버tv
힐링 코믹 로맨스 <감자연구소>
오늘 밤 9:20 첫 방송 | tvN#감자연구소 #ThePotatoLab#이선빈 #강태오 #이학주 #김가은 pic.twitter.com/ofQeysZ5vy— tvN drama (@CJnDrama) February 28, 2025
Taking Baek-ho to the hospital, Mi-kyung makes her case about how crucial the potato lab is. And though he isn’t fully persuaded yet, Baek-ho promises to give Mi-kyung’s team a chance to prove themselves before deciding what to do. However, Ki-se beats him to it, firing the lab chief and hiring Baek-ho in his place. Cue: Mi-kyung has a breakdown and regrets trusting Baek-ho. (Side note: By then, Ki-se was still unaware that Mi-kyung worked at the potato lab and only sent Baek-oh there because of his inferiority complex.)
As icing on the cake, Baek-ho moves into Mi-kyung’s brother’s guesthouse where she is staying. Which means our leads are entangled 24/7. Needless to say, Mi-kyung isn’t pleased with this arrangement, but there is nothing she can do. Still, she drops by Baek-ho’s room to set up some ground rules. However, he is so rational that she can’t help but get angrier.
“If you won’t stand for it, what actions could you take against me?”
Earlier, Mi-kyung warned Baek-ho not to mess with the lab or else. But he counters that she doesn’t stand a chance against him, deeming her “warning” a tantrum she threw but can’t back up with action. In return, an exasperated Mi-kyung incites the village elders against Baek-oh. Initially, Baek-oh is unfazed by the villagers, but then he learns his lesson about how terrible it is to get on their bad side.
As we end this week, Baek-oh is dragged over by Mi-kyung to the potato field for pest control and ends up getting wasted despite his earlier bragging about never getting drunk. We don’t know what to make of this, but a drunk Mi-kyung pulls Baek-oh closer for a kiss. And it is here that we end our premiere week.
[2화 선공개] 팔다리, 오장육부 멀쩡하면 끌려가는 곳
👉감자밭🥔 그리고 꽤나 우아한 서울 출신 임시 소장님😅풀버전은 👉🏻 #tvNDRAMA유튜브 #네이버tv
[토일] 밤 9:20 | tvN#감자연구소 #ThePotatoLab pic.twitter.com/L0fNVjv8qC
— tvN drama (@CJnDrama) March 1, 2025
The Potato Lab Opening Week Musings
That was a fun watch and we like how the drama doesn’t take itself too seriously and focuses more on the characters than the business. Mi-kyung’s hot-headed nature and fiery temper contrast sharply with Baek-ho’s level-headed and cool demeanor, highlighting their differences. So, it will be entertaining to watch how they work around their differences and fall in love.
In addition to its chaotic energy, the drama has enough heart to get us invested in the characters. Mi-kyung might come off as over the top, but her backstory humanizes her and helps us connect with her more. Likewise, Baek-ho must have some sort of backstory that shaped him into what he is like today. This multi-layered approach we hope extends to Ki-se as a 1D villain is a trope we want going from drama land. Hopefully, he can come around and admit to his wrongdoings and get a decent redemption arc.
Photos and Videos: tvN Drama
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