“True Beauty is a super fun comedy! You will laugh a lot with all the crazy things that happen and also the crazy characters, no doubt about that.”
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First things first
The following review has no spoilers.
This drama caught my attention because it was long waited by fans, so I couldn’t wait and watched two episodes per week. At first, it always seems like a good idea, then I’m suffering the entire week waiting for the next episode…
I must admit that I had lots of fun watching this series. It’s 100% cliché, but it also covers issues about the pressure faced by teenagers due to the “beauty” standards in society, and also their academic achievements. It’s sweet, romantic, it makes you laugh a lot, it makes you scream of excitement too. So, I had fun watching it!
True Beauty is a Korean series of 16 episodes, released on December 9th 2020 and its genre is romance and comedy. It is also based on a Webtoon under the same name.
Synopsis
Lim Joo-kyung is a teenage student, very insecure about her appearance, and also victim of heavy bullying at school. When her family has to move to a different neighborhood, she takes the opportunity to change her looks using lots of makeup, and that’s how she becomes the goddess of her new Highschool.
On the other hand, Lee Su-ho is a handsome (he is soooo beautiful!!!) student with excellent grades, and a total loner. He doesn’t get along with anyone and hides a deep pain in his heart.
When both meet and casually learn each other’s secrets, they start a friendship based on complicity.
In general terms
This drama touches a very sensitive issue: Bullying. In my school days that word did not exist, but the action did, and it is a problem that hasn’t disappeared.
True Beauty is a romantic comedy, but it also has many sad moments that made me cry. Well… If you have read my previous reviews, you will arrive to the conclusion that I am a crybaby.
As I’ve mentioned before, this drama is based on a Webtoon under the same name. People on social media has inevitably made comparisons, because obviously, the story is not the same.
I’ve started to read the Webtoon out of curiosity, and it’s nice, but I prefer the drama; first, because it’s the first one I saw, and it caught me right away; and second, because I feel like the Webtoon is too long (I love the illustrations though!). But one of the reasons I adore K-dramas, it’s actually because most of them have 16 episodes (a few have 20 ep). Which means, they are intense and concise.
Why do I recommend True Beauty?
The awareness about mental stress on children and teenagers
Bullying
This matter really got me. If you think the kind of bullying you saw on this drama is violent and exaggerated, then I am really glad you didn’t have to go through something like that, or witnessed it in your entire life, but it does exist.
It is a very polemic subject, and also seems endless. During my school years I witnessed horrible things, and was a victim of a few of them; so, to me, it is very important that people acknowledge bulling and don’t take it for granted because it can break a person inside, and it is very hard to get out from that kind of depression and insecurity. I’m glad this series shows a reality that many people prefer to ignore.
It is very hard for Joo-kyung to be brave and show her real face; even if you think it’s too much that she tries to hide her skin, it is logical she feels that way, because they destroyed her self-esteem.
Suicide
This is another matter that people avoid talking about. I’ve read more than once, that South Korea has a high rate suicides, in some cases due to hateful comments and negativity they receive from fandoms. I wish those people would stop with that attitude towards people they don’t actually know, and yet they think their lives belong to them because they’re fans and spend money on them. Not only celebrities are victims of such hate.
A human being must be extremely strong, to be able to put up with such negative energy and hate, and not everyone makes it through.
The 3 main characters
There are two amazing guys in love with Joo-kyung: Su-ho and Seo-joon.
Both were close friends in the past, but a tragic event occurred and Seo-Joon can’t stand Su-ho. To make things worse, both end up in love with Joo-kyung, but her self-esteem is so low, she has no clue about their feelings. To her, both are her friends and she just accepts the fact that they will never set eyes on someone like her. I loved this dynamic, as cliché as it was.
The 3 of them have a beautiful personality and you get to love them easily.
Even before the drama began, there was a debate on social media about who should stay with Joo-kyung. I love them both, but, since it’s not ideal to have two boyfriends, we just have to respect her true feelings.
A very important factor in the story is the close friendship between Su-ho, Seo-joon and Se-yeon, a very strong and beautiful friendship that ended up destroyed after Se-yeon’s suicide. It is too hard for both of them to overcome the loss of their friend, that’s why they can’t fix their relationship.
Hwang In-youp (Han Seo-jun)
Without a doubt, the big surprise of this drama has been Hwang In-youp’s acting, he did an excellent job giving life to Seo-jun.
Seo-jun is many fans’ favorite, and there’s a good reason for that; his personality is magnetic, he is a tough guy with a golden heart. He is always serious, but melts around his mom and sister. I think the most beautiful side of Seo-jun is that he is a great friend; also, his love for Ju-kyung developed little by little and he lived it and suffered it in silence, always respecting her feelings. Sigh…
It’s very funny!
True Beauty is a super fun comedy! You will laugh a lot with all the crazy things that happen and also the crazy characters, no doubt about that.
You will meet a cliché Highschool couple, but also a very fun and unconventional couple: Hee-kyung and Jun-woo, Joo-kyung’s sister and teacher, respectively. You will laugh a lot with those two.
The locations
I really liked the setting of the series. My favorite locations were the comic book store, it’s charming; Su-ho’s apartment, it’s elegant and I loved the colors; I also liked Joo-kyung’s room, it reflects her personality 100%.
The clothing
Su-ho’s wardrobe is my favorite. His clothes are beautiful, well, he looks good in everything, but in this drama his outfits are divine.
The variations and accessories of Joo-kyung’s Highschool uniform are lovely, her style is sweet and classy.
The music
The OST is very cute. My favorite song is I’m in the mood for dancing, by YUJU and you can listen to it on this YouTube video. I also liked Love so fine, by Cha Eun Woo and you can listen to it on this YouTube video.
A little ending note
True Beauty is a beautiful cliché love story, but it also touches sensitive issues that are worth considering. I like that it creates awareness about youth-related problems that are quite serious and can leave a mark in their lives.
It was very hard to watch the bullying scenes, but showing them was a right move.
In conclusion, beauty doesn’t have a specific mold; each person has a unique charm. Besides, It is the attitude and good heart of a person what determine how beautiful she/he is.
If you watch True Beauty, I’d love to know your opinion!
Xoxo,
MJ
*Pics taken from Pinterest
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Mi terapia es escribir. Me desahogo escribiendo sobre la vida, mis aficiones, aprendizajes, bienestar, historias, libros y recetas. También me hace feliz conectarme contigo.