Reviews

I'll just be as straightforward as I can be right at the beginning of this review: Jang Na Ra and Daniel Choi are the only two reasons you need to watch this. Yes, there are other things you can enjoy about Baby-Faced Beauty, but those two are going to be what keeps you watching until the end.


STORY
Easily the weakest aspect of this show, the plot revolves around a perfect and adorable angel named Lee So Young, played by Jang Na Ra, and a sweet-but-dorky man named Choi Jin Wook, played by Daniel Choi, as they attempt to be normal nice people in a sea of selfish morons in the fashion industry. While these two start off their relationship like a cat and dog, they eventually grow closer to each other through your typical dramatic happenstance. While there are a handful of other likable and interesting characters, where the Story really struggles is with its villains, their motivations, the pacing, and the supporting characters.

The villains here are horrible, and not really in a good way. There's no dancing around it. They are evil just to be evil. If they had mustaches, they would twirl them in every single scene they're in. There's no deep exploration of the villain's motivations. In fact, the following is a paraphrase of a conversation with the villain toward the end of the show:

Good guy: "Why did you do all those horrible things?"
Villain: "I wanted to."
Good guy: "That's it?"
Villain: "Yep."

So expect to be furious and frustrated with all of the scheming going on in this story, especially when it's directed toward Lee So Young. While shallow villains can work, there need to be truly good characters there to balance it out and give the audience a break from the villainy. Unfortunately, this show's truly good and unselfish characters can be counted on one hand. Almost everyone does something stupid and/or mean at some point. And to make things worse, Lee So Young is constantly scolded, humiliated, and punished at every turn while the villains simply do not face any consequences for their actions whatsoever. While I can tell you that the payoff is nice, getting there is an exercise in self-control.

But the Story isn't all bad. Far from it. Enter: Ji Seung Il, played by Ryu Jin. His character absolutely shines here, and you could argue that his is the most interesting character to follow, since he exhibits some of the most growth. His character becomes embroiled in one of the most effective and interesting love triangles I have seen in kdrama. Even though you'll root for the OTP, you WILL be conflicted every time Ryu Jin is onscreen.
Cliché-wise, you'll also have a little bit of Noble Idiocy to torture you toward the climax of the show, but it won't come in a way you would expect. It's interesting and will keep you hooked.

But really what the story comes down to is two insanely adorable people growing into one of the most insanely adorable couples you're likely to see on television. If you like cute romance, ignore everything I typed above and make this your next drama.


ACTING/CAST
Believe all of the comments you've read about this show being worth watching just because of Jang Na Ra and Daniel Choi. Believe all of the hype. These two are not only precious together, they're hilarious. Daniel Choi brings a sense of humor and a childlike charm to the leading man role that I have never seen in a drama before. He is legitimately funny. Jang Na Ra, of course, exhibits everything that has made her famous: those emotional eyes, that sense of vulnerability, that unique face. You'll get all of it in spades. No Jang Na Ra fan should miss her performance here.

The rest of the cast works, although I insist that Kim Min Seo simply gets repeatedly miscast, as she is here. Ryu Jin is awesome, despite not needing to do much with the role. Ahn Seo Hyun will grow on you quickly. Kim Mi Kyung is a gravitational force all her own. And you'll really enjoy Hyeon Yong and Yoo Tae Woong, too.


MUSIC
Really, the music here is largely good enough to receive at least a 9/10. As with any good vocal tracks, you'll find yourself humming along to a lot of the songs, or singing them out loud to yourself at times while inventing your own lyrics. They're quite good. Not only that, but the incidental music stood out as well. Rather than being "mood noise", the incidental music had distinction and personality.

Special credit goes to Jang Na Ra for singing more than one of the songs on this OST. She actually sings a song in character in Episode 8 and it's one of the best scenes in the show. Obviously Na Ra herself has a lot to do with that, but the song stands on it's own merits. It's lovely and adorable and you'll want to hear it again and again. Although I can't link you to any of the exceptional incidental themes, a few of them will have you bobbing your head and feeling warm just at the sound of them.

However, I ended up docking BFB a half point here because some of the incidental music was misused. There were a handful of scenes where basically nothing of consequence happened, but the music was overly dramatic. Took me out of the moment. This was rare, though.


REWATCH VALUE
This is definitely the kind of drama that bears rewatching. When all you want to do is feel warm and fuzzy and see cuteness again, Baby-Faced Beauty has you covered. Whether it's going back to an early episode and seeing So Young and Jin Wook fighting comically or rewatching how they slowly become close, none of it is boring. The terrible villains and wildly overdone plot devices hurt it here, but ultimately there's going to be plenty here that you wouldn't mind seeing twice.


BOTTOM LINE
Baby-Faced Beauty gets an 8/10 from me, and 6 of those 8 points are for Jang Na Ra and Daniel Choi. For any fan of either, this is a must watch. For rom-com fans, this is a must watch. For anyone else, there's honestly not a lot here for you.

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This film was really cute and not what I expected. I was wary because it was a short film, but once I got through a fourth of the short film, I couldn't stop watching. The actors don't say a single word, but their feelings can be easily seen. Their body language and facial expressions are open books to the plot. The plot twist really surprised me and made me really like the film.

Also, the only words really spoken are in a musical number. It may seem cheesy, out of place, and funny, but the lyrics have a really good lesson. It doesn't hurt that you want to clap or attempt to sing to it.

If you want a sweet taste of Korean LGBT films, I highly recommend this tidbit.

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This series is a masterpiece. Though it only has 8 episode, it'll still keep you on edge until the very end. This is a must watch for those who seek for a hardcore psychological drama series.

When I started the series, I actually got bored a little since the suspense was a bit slow, but as I continue watching it I just simply got hook since the development of the charas were drastically amazing, especially that they were all student.

I've been watching a lot of crime mystery series now a days, and I'm not quite satisfied with the ending like on Gapdong and Hello Monster, but this series is one of the exception since its ending was terrific. I love how the writer twisted the story like that, and though it was a bit tragic, somehow it was still a happy ending with a really big bang on your consciousness and brain.

So to finalize this review, I do hope that many people would watch this since it is also an eye opener not only to teenage, but also to the parents who raised them. :)

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This is not your average boys' love drama. It becomes more than that. Yes, it does revolve around the main gay couple, but it does offer more conflict than that. There are outside forces and many other things that make this series unique. The plot may sound goofy at first but once you get to the second episode, you are hooked on the story. The series also ventures into other storylines such as one of the main character's sister and her trouble with fitting in. It has a lot of comic relief and will make you laugh and cry. If you are new to Thai dramas or just Asian dramas in general, I highly recommend that you start here.

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It's not your usual suspense ,mystery or love affair drama!

If you say this drama is rip-off version of gone girl, its only episode 1-2 and the rest... leave it with your imagination lol.

I cant predict the story like another suspense drama. I was ready for sad ending but the ending is quity satisyfying and make your mind blown. The pace are quite fast but acceptable . The police not too dumb like another mystery drama.Kuddos to the scripwriter.

The cast are veteran when come to the acting even there still minor turn-off that you can forgive. Ito Hideaki executed the role of husband very well. Kimura Yoshino as the 'yabai tsuma' is quite fabulous as the princess-like wife. The supporting cast are have important roles to the story.

I enjoy the drama to the fullest!

At least this drama can be the best drama of year...for me.

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If you're looking for a tearjerker watch this! This is the type of movie i would watch alone, so i can really get into it and let it out (lmao I hate crying from movies.. when i watch things with my family i try to hold it in XD). Although the plot is nothing that unique, it's needed to bring this movie to life, the standard of the movie was great. The rewatch value wouldn't be high though because once you know how things will go.. its less of a 'rollercoaster ride' for your emotions (lol) BUT, as said, for a tearjerker MUST WATCH, & the cast really did a stunning job!

-- I watched it knowing that it would be sad and i still cried like crazzyyy, and the plot is very predictable. I really wanted to watch it though because of D.O. and So-hyun and plus I really felt like watching a sad movie. This movie was so sweet though.. like the alternative title for this movie.. 'Pure love' I wish someone loved me like that mannn.. just imagine. I kinda want more cutesy scenes between D.O and so hyun, but the level of romance fit just right in the movie. It shows how fast friendship can just be broken like that, because of misunderstandings and stubbornness, arguments occur, it really makes you cherish the friendship you have in life and just life in general tbh.

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This drama is absolutely engrossing. It is well made and the acting are solid from the main to the supporting actors. From start to finish I am amazed how the plot and storyline weave into one big picture seamlesssly and how it manage to tug at the emotions of the viewer. I am not a sentimental person, but. I cannot help myself being drawn into the emotional turmoil of the characters and ended up sort of feeling empty after I have finished the show. I hope there is a sequel, but, I am equally complacent with the ending if there is none.

I strongly recommend this series to all.

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God where do i start , for one i loved the music , the music was beautiful. I found this because i wanted to watch a movie with yoo yeon seok in it. I didnt really read what it was about , i thought it was going to be about just some singer and a guy. I really didnt know what i was getting myself into. For one , by the beginning you find out this is actually very tragic , angsty. I cried and cried, i thought it might have gotten better , but it got worst and i cried. Even by the end i couldn't figure out who i hated, or who i thought was in the wrong.But i couldn't blame so yool at all, i just couldn't . The beginning to end was so interesting and so tragic, im still crying.

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Personally, I loved loved loved this series. I think the actors are great, the story is captivating, and maybe I'm just an incurable romantic but still I am left without words. The series speaks on its own. I truly recommend this to anyone who likes romance and supernatural because I'm sure you will enjoy it. It's different from what I usually watch and that's what makes it so captivating. I don't know if it's too late but I really hope they make another season! It gets you so hooked you want to watch more. I haven't had enough it, so I really hope it doesn't get canceled and keeps on filming.

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