Details

  • Last Online: May 5, 2021
  • Location:
  • Contribution Points: 1,401 LV7
  • Roles:
  • Join Date: November 8, 2019

TheMaskedWarrior

TheMaskedWarrior

True Beauty korean drama review
Completed
True Beauty
16 people found this review helpful
by TheMaskedWarrior
Feb 4, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

Can beauty of "True Beauty" go beyond fan service?

If you are a fan of either the original webtoon or any of the cast member, this drama is a delightful treat. But if you are like me who didn't find the original webtoon with substantial content and good plot progression, then this will definitely satisfy you, even exceeding your expectations. But what if you are a general audience who is unfamiliar with both webtoon and the cast, is this for you?

At the start, it was difficult to get into the show. I was subconsciously comparing it with My ID is Gangnam beauty and how good it was. The thought that this is about a teen girl and her musings makes this feel very innocent and childlike in front of MIGB broke me free of comparison.

School dramas can be difficult to satisfy. There is bullying. Then, there is innocence in romance. There is unnecessary misunderstandings and overthinking typical of that age. True beauty has all of these. Yet, it continues to entertain, unlike classic school kdramas, be it Playful kiss, Heirs, Boys over Flowers with lighter characters. I was surprised that the characters convincingly look like and act like school going teens.

What sets this apart from the other school dramas is its perfect amount of interweaving of comedy and seriousness. I was tempted to drop if the whole "letting out the truth" would be very dramatic and teary but it didn't. Last four to two episodes had heavy plot progression. Especially the last 2 episodes felt like events were happening faster; so many, many things were happening. But luckily, there were enough comical moments like the secondary couple to make the mood light. Whatever issues happened were dealt with in the same episode or in the very next episode. Bonus, There is sismance, there is bromance. And there is The HSJ-LSH© level bromance.

Additionally, nobody is a jerk here. There is one or two but you can't hate that person and they get their bitter medicine as well. But what was best is the character transformation of MC coming out strong and bold. Of course, both the male leads were interesting. I'm gonna glide over the entire love triangle because talking about it means dealing with spoilers. LSH has more amount of screen time as a love interest with LJK, as opposed to HSJ, so for me, it seemed like an unfair love triangle for HSJ. Again, it's a kdrama. I am neither team HSJ or team SH because both are good. Let the timing do the work. Let the lady choose.

When I heard there was a production for this webtoon, I wondered how well it was going to be produced. I was surprised money went to all right places, hiring a good screenwriter to write a solid and tight plot, good imaginative scenes to give the webtoon-ish feel, experimenting different episodic narration styles, and good music. I think I love all the OSTs with top 3- I'm in the mood for dancing, Call me maybe, and I'm missing you.

And the best part is how true the casting is true to the webtoon. CEW's acting of subtler expressions is getting better. MGY is gorgeous as ever. I don't think I would rewatch it again except maybe comedy scenes.

Undeniably, True Beauty will become a game-changer by heightening expectations for future school kdramas. Yes, the story is nothing new but it keeps entertaining being light-hearted and hilarious.
Was this review helpful to you?