This review may contain spoilers
A drama that I think was created by the writers to really make the audience think about what we think about beauty and how we treat people who we think have it, and how we treat those people who we think do not have it. The characters in this drama really speak. Mi Rae gives insight into the deep pain and hurt of those who have suffered rejection, abuse, and torment from the prejudice and cruel behaviors of ignorant people who reign down hateful comments and behavior on people who look very different from others. The character of Do Kyung Seok is the exemplar of what a true friend is and how a boy can love a girl completely, honorably, and benevolently and not just because of her looks. Do Kyung Seok is the hope that we should all have in regards to what true love should be and how it should behave. Soo Ah shows us how the pursuit of beauty can go badly wrong and can cause self-infliction as well as social drama by employing undermining behaviors on others to maintain high status among peers. The drama does a good job in showing just how ugly, demeaning, and disgusting it looks to objectify women as only sex objects. Finally, I think the writers delivered an overarching message that seeking only to be beautiful on the outside is superficial compared to being healthy and well on the inside. Do Kyung Seok, Soo Ah, and Mi Rae were the three most beautiful characters in this story in regards to their physical appearance, yet they are the ones that had the most issues in regards to their own happiness and health----more so than any of their peers.Due to the complexity of the topic and the many messages that I think the writers were trying to convey, the drama has a very slow start for those who are looking strictly for a good romance story; however by the half-way point of the series, the romance part of the drama kicks into high gear and I binged watched the last 8 episodes. This is a drama that has a satisfying ending and a great message.
I want to take a moment to say how proud I am of Im Soo Hyang who I first saw in the drama "Five Children". I loved her role in that series and I thought she was a wonderful young actress who I felt would only get better as she would eventually receive bigger and more complex roles. She did not disappoint in her performance as a female lead in a K Drama and I will continue to follow her career. Finally, I would like to say how much I loved the actors who played the parents for the character Mi Rae; they were realistic in their emotions for each other and for their daughter and so loving with each other and funny together. I also have to give a standing ovation to Park Joo Mi who played the mother of the character Do Kyung Seok. What a great performance she delivered. Her character was someone who truly exemplified beauty both outwardly and inwardly. Her character would also be the best example of someone to emulate in life because she became successful through hard work, determination, and keeping her values and integrity intact. She managed to find her success and regain the trust of her children in spite of the many obstacles, scars, disappointments and regrets that she faced.
If you can get through the beginning episodes spent on laying a foundation for the multitude of messages and stories lines that needed to be developed, then I think you will enjoy the second half and the ending. At the end you will have an overall feeling of contentment and gratification for having watched the show.
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This review may contain spoilers
AHHH! Where do I start? Firstly, I enjoyed watching this drama immensely and would and will rewatch it. I definitely recommend to any and everyone, as well! <3>>>>>Story<<<<<
The plot to "My ID is Gangnam Beauty" was one that I never really saw before. I've seen dramas with plastic surgery, but not like this. When I first read the synopsis to the show, I thought it would be a shallow show about good looks, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Yes, the plastic surgery played a major role in the show and how the characters developed, but not in a negative way. And there was so much more! It's a story about loving yourself before you can love someone else, or before you can even believe that another person can love you. It's truly beautiful. And personally, it hit home for me. I have incredibly low self esteem and hate the way I look and weigh, which just made me love this show and the message it carries even more! My ID is Gangnam Beauty is a story that will make you cry hard enough for people to think your strange, laugh hard enough to be yelled at by the other people in your house, and smile hard enough to make you look like a complete idiot.
>>>>>Acting/Cast<<<<<
I fell for these characters SO HARD! From the very first episode I was already in love. I just have to say Cha Eun Woo, who plays Do Kyung Suk, the main male lead, is THE most adorable human being. His smile is one that you cannot help but smile back at. This drama had me smiling like an idiot to myself so many times! Not to mention Kyung Suk played the perfect boyfriend as girl could only imagine in her dreams. Not only was he handsome and kind, but he never had a shallow moment. He didn't care about looks at all, which, to me, meant so much! In addition to that, the other actors and actresses were great, as well. I really loved Kyung Suk's mom! I thought she was exactly the type of mother character that should be in every drama. Every Korean drama fan should know the typical "your not good enough for my son/daughter" type of parent, but she was the complete opposite; she was loving, kind, funny, and an all-round good person. I also really enjoyed seeing Kwak Dong Yeon in another drama. He was amazing as always! The combination of him and Eun Woo was SO MUCH for my heart to handle! The bromance was great there, as well. This drama has characters you will love and characters you will absolutely despise, but in the end, when you finish the show, your not left with strong negative feelings; which is something you don't see much (at least I don't). It might just be me, but when I watch these shows, I WATCH these shows! I get so invested in the characters and hate the bad guys, which was also the case for this one. But the difference is, the main antagonist had her reasons for being the way she was and acting the way she did. I'm not saying I loved her character by the end, but I didn't hate her anymore. But there was one character who I found incredibly disgusting and annoying throughout the entire show, that didn't change at all, but I don't have any terrible feelings towards the show because of him.
>>>>>Music<<<<<
I enjoyed listening to the music while it played, but they weren't the type of songs that got stuck in my head. They were really nice songs, but not the kind that I downloaded on Spotify. They definitely fit the show and the scenes very nicely, though.
>>>>>Rewatch Value<<<<<
Would I watch this show again? 100%!!! This show was so good that I actually started it, put in on hold, waited for more episodes, then finished it. That might seem like I had the opposite feelings towards it, but that's SO not the case! Personally, I easily get obsessed with shows before they are completed, then, after having to wait so long for the rest of the episodes, just never go back to watch them. This show was good enough for me NOT to do that! I've dropped so many shows I rated a 10 because I do this. Not only that, but this is a Rom-Com type of show, which I usually get sick of and drop eventually, or it takes me forever to finish. Anyhow, I recommend and love this drama completely! <3
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It was lacking in a lot of aspects
Not sure if it was on purpose but the acting of the lead girl was weird. I wish they got someone younger since she stood out way too much but I guess that was part of what made it obvious that she got things done.I also find it funny that it was obviously based on a webtoon since all webtoon turned drama stories have the same vibe. One part of the story kept me hooked tho. I kept trying to figure out why she was the way she was but I felt like they didn't give enough answers before the show ended.
I wish they did something more with the ending.
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Mi Rae is an amazing lead. At first we see a woman judging other women on her train ride. Rating and ranking their faces. What a shallow person! The writing wastes no time in sharing the fact that Mi Rae is on her way to get plastic surgery herself, and she's not a shallow person. The flashbacks tastefully start as she is going under the knife. The life threatening risks all laid out before her. She was a "fat" child and withstood viscous bullying. She wasn't a weakling and didn't just take it standing down. She stood up for herself. Until the bullying became so intense she used her super strong will to lose the weight. Thinking she would discover the true beauty underneath. Only to find that her face was ugly. In a bold move we never get to see Mi Rae's old face. In many beautiful shots her face is avoided and in bold moves we get a look of her eye/eyelid. Or her own preference of only seeing the back of her head. Personally I believe it's so that viewers couldn't judge Mi Rae. Instead we're going forward with her into her life with her "new face".
It's horrible to see the intensity of the bullying that Mi Rae struggled through. Even to the darkest place a mind can go with such treatment. Even though she was the top student in grades and had many secret talents because just the right horrible people deemed her worthless that's what others treated her like. So to see her be able to show off her dancing talents because she became beautiful was such a joyful thing. While being sad. Soon it becomes apparent that because she had plastic surgery she now has to face that criticism. She's on a journey discovering that everyone deals with bullying and their own worries. Soon it's clear she might have been subjected to horrible harassment because of her old face, but now her new face is open to judgment. It's not just that all women are. Even the most beautiful superstar in looks is judged.
That's the heart of this show and why it's for women. Mi Rae want to go under the radar. At the start she's very traumatized by what others will say about her. Mi Ra was so shaped by how people judged her she judged every girl around her by their looks. Not by who they were. Until the male lead, Kyung Suk, points it out to her. Soon she is aware and starts to see how the other women around her are bullied. Women she thinks are beautiful are talked down by other male student in their department. Too skinny, to fat, too old, tomboy, childlike, doesn't smile enough, women are meant to serve, it's the tradition of women to be in certain roles and so on. Even adult issues are pulled in through Kyung Suk's mom. The concept of how a woman should put being a housewife first and she shouldn't have dreams such as work. That even working moms, all moms, are great moms. It also deals with the strength of independent women and getting out of abusive relationships.
Everything about My ID is Gangnam Beauty could have easily been average. Every character is a stereotype we've seen before. Soon the skills of the writer become spotlighted as characters are expertly balanced and revealed as complex people. So complex that I didn't find myself with second lead syndrome. Usually I suffer it because the second lead is an amazing warm and wonderful person. Which Woo Young is. In fact, his qualities for being kind, respecting women, and being worldly gain popularity with other women in the show. In contrast everyone is dazzled by Kyung Suk looks and status. Though as we and others get to know him it's clear that he doesn't have social skills. What is usually advertised for cool and aloof in a male lead is actually awkwardness and as mentioned lack of social skills. Kyung Suk soon isn't an uninteresting male lead his story is just as much a part of the drama. From his rift with this mother and dealing with just as much gossip and bad mouthing as Mi Rae. He dealt with it differently.
The wicked female lead, Soo Ah, destined to be jealous of Mi Rae had a tragic past and if you think about it under went both sides of bullying. From being undesirable to the switch and attention of beauty. Stalking and body image issues just as much as someone who is perceived as ugly. Soo Ah's character reveal was slow to come, but still powerful. Every character was explored and balanced well through out the 16 episodes. Only one was left as a mystery, but I understand that you can't explore everyone though she became such a pivotal character at the end. The biggest message is how the women could become friends and all stand together. Rivals in love, both male and female, can be friends. That people can be hurt and left with scars by other people. However, that same person can be healed by a person as well.
With all the deep issues My ID is Gangnam Beauty is bringing to the table it incredibly balances a wonderful since of humor and warm heartedness that I LOVE!! LOVE-LOVE-LOVE and need in a drama. Many times things could have gotten dark and many times a drama has lied to me and went from warm story of love and comedy to dark angst. My ID is Gangnam Beauty never does that. Even with concepts of suicide and bulimia it keeps things feel good. True the usual drama plots are here, but all the connections feel good. Nothing is overly dragged out. Such as the truth behind Kyung Suk's mothers story and his family. Kyung Suk's mother's connection to Mi Rae. It is such a relief not to have storylines dragged out to the point were you're just over it. (You know what I'm talking about.)
The romance is beautifully balanced. Kyung Suk is so understanding and patient with Mi Rae. They both learn from eachother. Not to mention they have REAL conversations!! Kyung Suk is so straightforward and doesn't ever hide his interest in Mi Rae. He goes forward. He lets Mi Rae take the lead and do her. Be her. He's proud of her when she stands up for herself, let's her stand up for both of them! Let me tell you I haven't wanted a couple kiss this bad in ages!! Boy does that kiss deliver as well. I won't say it's the best and wildest, but it isn't a dead fish one and the emotions feel so good.
Refreshing is the word of this show. As the pacing, drama, story, and almost every aspect of this drama felt so effortless. Many might say at many points things slowed down, but I loved all the connections and characters. The balance was perfect. It was such a blessing to have Mi Rae have a great girlfriend who stood up for her and they were actually best friends and were shown that way. Kyung Suk's mom liked Mi Rae and supported them both! Mi Rae's parents were wonderful as well! My ID is Gangnam Beauty is a drama that has something to say for all women. Deep and complex messages all while keeping a lively plot and story. I loved the warmth from this drama. From it's strong start to it's perfect drama ending!
I suggest everyone checks this drama out! Don't miss it! It's a hopeful drama full of warmth and great messages for everyone. I know my review is big and that I'm missing a lot of important points that should be covered, but that's what my individual episode reviews are for!
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I'm sure some people feel (rightly) that plastic surgery is not the right way to go about gaining self-confidence which is why I loved that this show focused on the fact that the main girl was still very self-conscious and self-loathing at times even though she was now "beautiful." Rest assured to all the people worried about the plastic surgery message this show sends- the message truly shows "the grass isn't always greener" and that being beautiful comes with its own set of unique problems, just as being overweight or extremely bad skin would. I loved how sweet the main character was, I thought the actress did a great job maintaining her innocent and self-conscious personality that bloomed into a happy young woman.
Overall, a very very sweet feel-good show with themes I think any girl (or young woman) could relate to and find solidarity in at least some of the female characters struggles in the show.
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Don't miss PSY's New face
BEAUTY IS IN INSIDEThis drama presents the way which our society regards beauty, is ugly. The ugly truth about society that only love those who look beautiful from outside. This is so toxic that it can kill people just because the society thinks they are ugly . This realistic plot is quite gripping for me. Love the OST, it's so good and college environment just adds up to a delicious premise. I love the chemistry between leads as well. Even supporting characters had their own charm spelling Do kyung suk's mother.
The actress, Im Soo-hyang, is quite versatile and Cha eun woo does a decent job as well.
Reading other people reviews, they claim it's slow but for me it was not . As in other thriller dramas, there are not much ups and downs but love the pace as story moves forward just have butterfly in stomach and heart warming moments as well.
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i never really write a review, especially when the drama isn't good enough for me to review, but this time...i'm a little bit frustrated with this drama.
story : the premise was good, really good. the pace was okay, the whole story line was something new and happening in our society nowadays, especially in Asia (i'm Asian) with a lot of prejudice and gossiping about what to do, and what not. but...i still don't understand the background of some character they insert. i think some of it have a potential to be another whole story line, and some character is unnecessary because they just come and go. bottom line is : too many character involved, it looks busy.
acting/cast : this is where the drama go down hill, a lot : the leads
the lead actor, ugh...sure he's handsome as hell, and still looks good on screen even if he only stood there like a tree with beautiful eyes. sure sure....i'm not convinced and pleased with how he expressing things, or not expressing anything at all ? i don't know.
the lead actress is my main problem...she act like a robot, i don't like her laugh, it looks fake and her whole face was really stiff, omg....(only her eyebrow isn't) it frustrated me. sorry to say, but, her whole face look fake either...yes it suit the title, but still....omg....she's to stiff. every expression she make is unreal and unbelievable, not convincing.
i start to watch this drama after watching nam goong min and kim nam gil...so maybe half of it also my fault. the scale is to different.
on the other hand, i like jo woo ri. she look calm with something hidden inside her, she's really good compare to others.
i also like kwak dong yeon...he's expression is on point and believable, and sometimes funny. i think he and jo woo ri are really really good compare to the leads.
chemistry between lovers? what chemistry? i don't feel anything...at all...
i'm really frustrated about the cast since the main idea is good (in my opinion), there's a lot of possibility about the story, and there's a lot of beautiful people with superb expression in SK that have potential to be main lead.
AND...the score on MDL is above 8 ?? please? i consider that's good, but then i see this, hm.....
i should check other drama with Im Soo Hyang or Cha Eun Woo in it...i'm curious.
music was okay, fit in very well
no rewatch...i've got to many drama on my waiting list. even if i have time, i rather rewatch fiery priest or goblin or whatever else.
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Kang Mi Rae fixes her face but is still the same person: shy, insecure and socially inept. Instead of developing self-confidence, she tries to please everyone and panics at any negativity. Ultimately, she is drawn to the most handsome, outwardly self-confident guy in school . . . at this point I dropped the show. This is 2020, model healthy relationships please!
Granted, it's a realistic portrayal. Insecure people often do fall into relationships with very intense, stubborn and cold personalities. This is usually a very dangerous mix - there is often no space in such relationships to figure out who you are and who you want to be (indeed Kyung Suk's parents' relationship is a prime example of this).
Im Soo Hyang and Cha Eun Woo are very flat but it’s unclear whether that’s due to acting skills or the screenwriting. How many episodes can one take of an actress looking sheepish and the actor looking brooding?
Music is fine, I would not rewatch.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes: 6
Wasted opportunity to explore the disconnect between one's outside appearance and inner well-being. The three main leads all have this problem but for different reasons, and instead of exploring the why and how to get unstuck, they just repeat over and over. The show did emphasize that while being an attractive woman can have its drawbacks, it also comes with opportunities.
Character Growth: 4
None through episode 13. All the main characters are essentially the same as they were in episode 2.
Complex Women/Relationships between women: 7.5
Kyung Suk's mother and Mi Rae have interesting conversations around expectations for women, attractiveness and career. Hyun Soo-Ah was excellent as someone with borderline personality or some sort of narcissistic personality disorder. But, Mi Rae herself is very two dimensional.
Cinematography/Production Budget: 5
Barely competent for a modern K drama. Very low budget, same sets over and over.
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This review may contain spoilers
I never expected myself to actually sit and watch this drama simply because I never could get behind the plot device of the MC having such low body-image and self-esteem that she resorts to plastic surgery in the hopes of improving her life. This morally goes against everything I believe in. I too was *that* girl in school harshly ostracized and bullied for being the unattractive one. It was humiliating, degrading, and infuriating. And sure, numerous times I daydreamed about life-altering, body changing procedures in the hopes of being "perfect" in the hopes of becoming accepted, but as I aged and became a full grown adult (finished with college working in the professional career world) I matured and came to appreciate my differences and find myself beautiful. It was hard. It took a long time. Honestly, as we all do, I still have low days, but I was also fortunate enough to come to develop relationships and surround myself with the right people who love me with all my flaws and imperfections. These people help lift me up when I'm at my lowest.
There are still people, people related to me, who view me as undesirable because of my physical imperfections, constantly trying to recommend something I can do to improve myself and compare me to others they deem more attractive.... and after much deliberating, I chose to cut these toxic people out of my life because all they did was tear me down mentally. It wasn't healthy for me.
We all experience this in some form. Every single person does. It's the nature of humans all looking different and having opinions. And therefore, we all have our insecurities...
I say all of this because I really tried to give this drama a chance. I watched 8 whole hour long episodes! But the writers just couldn't seem to get it right.
My biggest gripe in this whole plot that I just can't excuse (even though I know it happens in real life) was the support the mother had in allowing her underage daughter to undergo such extreme plastic surgery. Now, I know that plastic surgery in South Korea is very common, but it is not common for plastic surgery to go to these extremes. If it was simply a double lid surgery, fine, I could get on board. But the fact that she was essentially given a whole new identity and no one, not even her father, could recognize her goes too far. It's denying who she is. Her genes. Her frickin identity. Her father had every right to feel so upset when he found out. I understand that the mother was trying to support her daughter and help her become happy, but obviously, by altering her face, she didn't help her accomplish happiness, as we see through the progression of the drama. What the poor child needed was help. Changing schools, seeking support in the schools (especially for bullying), seeking medical help for her suicidal tendencies, joining support groups, finding hobbies and extracurriculars that would foster happiness and passions through other facets in her life, experimenting with different make-up techniques to increase confidence, etc.
I don't think that the mother did her due diligence in supporting her daughter in finding happiness in a healthy way. By signing off on such extreme facial plastic surgery, it was like she was hoping to slap a bandaid on an infected wound and hoped it healed without a hitch.
**Please do not misunderstand, it is not plastic surgery itself that I necessarily have a problem with. I have a really hard time accepting the extremes of this particular instance of plastic surgery due to the circumstances of the girl's life.
Now, moving away from the female MC... I feel like I need to mention this because it got under my skin...
I was very happy to see some variety in female characters who were not the stereotypical thin and beautiful through the introduction of Kim Tae Hee who was classified as "chubby" and therefore deemed unattractive. I was really looking forward to her added view on the message of the drama. Which is why it really bothers me how the writers handled her story. She stood up for herself finally, starts to apparently date the kind senior and then the frickin bitch Soo Ah sweeps in with her egotistical and narcissistic tendencies to try to cause the new boyfriend to lose interest in Tae Hee. How unrealistic and insulting to men.
Men, unlike common stereotypes, do not simply ogle anything that breaths. They too have standards and characteristics that they gravitate towards (both physically and psychologically). So for the writers to imply that the senior boyfriend would have any interest in a woman like Soo Ah after making it so clear that he prefers woman like Tae Hee (ex, he even says he prefers rounder women at the festival!) is just an insult to male intellect. A little bit of attention isn't enough to sway the average man unless he's a pig, which the senior was not (he was portrayed as a very kindhearted, older brother-like figure).
Now, to discuss acting:
I do have to agree with the common opinion that the acting is very wooden in this drama, particularly with the MCs. I've not seen Im Soo Hyang in anything before, but I am not impressed with her acting - I hope it was her dry role in this drama and not a true demonstration of her skills.
Cha Eun Woo - I cannot be more depressed about how poor CEW appears as an actor in this drama. For those of you who haven't seen CEW before - he is a wonderful actor when playing more energetic roles. This was a horrible role for him. He didn't do a "bad" job, but he, as an actor, appears to struggle to demonstrate stoicism well. He simply hasn't mastered the facial expression nuances to portray different emotions while remaining stoic. This was a huge disappointment because in Hit the Top (The Best Hit) and Sweet Revenge (Revenge Note) (both of which came out before this drama) he did so much better with his roles - animated, sweet, engaged, tender, smiling, talking more. *sigh* Please don't let this 1 drama destroy CEW...
OST
I notice OSTs because they can really make or break scenes in a drama, especially emotionally ones. I cannot hate this soundtrack overall more. The instrumentals were alright, but the main OSTs were HORRIBLE. I nearly muted the TV every time they came on. In particular I hated Something by George and Kang Hyein the most - the tune and eeriness made me cringe and my skin crawl. D-Day by Junggigo was okay. The OST just didn't seem well placed/paired with the tone and atmosphere of this drama.
Aside from the moral issues mentioned above, the overall plot was lacking...
This drama moves reallllyyyyy slow. Nothing really progresses as the episodes go on. It actually leaves you feeling dissatisfied due to the lack of accomplishment....College life has so much more going on with so much more they could have displayed in their lives to mix things up a bit beyond mediocrity. If the writers were trying to produce a slice-of-life feel, they failed miserably. NOTHING happens of note. And there SHOULD be SOMETHING happening aside from the over dramatized banter between characters.
One thing I think the drama did well was illustrate the concept "the grass is not always greener on the other side." Everyone has a picture of what perfection is and society/people will try to impose those visions onto others. And when we finally embrace those standards and try to meet them you realize that the other side isn't greater. Having what others have does not make you happier. Happiness comes from within. This, the drama did demonstrate well. But, after 8 episodes, I'd seen enough of the drama to grasp that and drop it for it's above mentioned flaws.
Anyways, I know that this review will likely not see light under the 100 some odd other reviews of this drama, but since I have such an unpopular opinion compared to the overwhelming raging reviews, I just needed to put my 2 cents in the pile for those of you who need it. Hope this provides comfort for those people dissatisfied or unhappy with this drama.
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