This review may contain spoilers
Overall this drama was good, there was nothing really special about it
The problem I had with this drama is that it had every romance cliche in the book:
- ML and FL knew met as children
- FL best friend betrays her because she in love with ML
- Everyone likes the FL or hates her no in between
- love triangle where FL is oblivious to SML's feelings
- love rival and ML used to be best friends but has fallen out
- ML and love rival end up becoming friends
- love rival helps ML with relationship
- and more
While these were executed well it felt repetitive to all the other romance dramas seen before, but this did not make it a bad show. It had its own specialties and fun moments that made this show enjoyable. The thing that truly bothered me in this story was the fact that they never really express that it's okay not to look perfect and to fit the standards of beauty. They just make it seem that everyone at her new school was just slightly nicer than her last which is why they didn't bully her for her "ugly" face.
The cast was great and the acting as a whole was good, there were some moments of questionable acting but otherwise, it was a very enjoyable k-drama.
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changes made to the story for drama version
●FIRST IMPRESSIONAn ideal adaptation of the webtoon. The cast is legit supremacy. A feel-good drama. This show has an ocean of rom-com dose for us from the start to finish. I went with the progress of the story without bothering about who should get the girl. The romance, bromance, friendships everything was so enjoyable. but near the end I got that writer managed to give an ongoing webtoon a cliche closure, not perfect but it was fine.
●PLOT VIEW
I still think the series could've been shot better. this series also missed some elements to make it perfect TBH it was so cliche in every aspect. Like turning a perfectly good character Kang Soo Jin into a troubled child.
The mean mother sudden change. In fact, I had the feeling that more than school bullying, Im Ju Kyung faced bully from family especially her mother.
Also if one doesn't wear the glass they don’t become blind, they can still see things although blurry but they will see. When I'm Ju Kyung glasses are broken, that scene was made beautifully but I had to say this its's a stupid scenario.
●ACTING/CAST
Everyone acted awesomely well as per the story. And I like all the characters.
CEW was handsome as ever but he needs to have more skills for expression. Just a cold face with glimmering eyes is one expression, and he needs to work on that. He looked cute in the scenes with his friends, which was comfortable and enjoyable.
HIY gave an amazing performance, I saw him in 18again and he shined in this drama too. He makes a high school student more enjoyable to watch with his sharp eyes.
MGY was beautiful and was a total fashion goal in terms of school uniforms. I didn’t see any school drama with such varied uniforms. When we were in school we had just one uniform the whole year. Maybe the budget of the show was giving such an idea to makeover the face as well as the uniforms.
●MUSIC
OST and BGM were amazing These songs were making the scenes enjoyable giving in a more energetic vibe. I enjoyed every single track and have updated my playlist with these 3 tracks “Call me maybe”, “Love so fine”, “It starts today”.
●REWATCH
It was a fun watch & I might watch it again in the long future
●AFTERTHOUGHT
The lesson learned from this drama is to make friends before you find love. Also how to not be a bad parent.
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True Beauty (2020) - The Ultimate Feel-Good Comfort K-drama! ?
First of all,this is a LONG review so if you want a quick small one, you can skip! Let's start!If you are looking for a drama that perfectly balances the fluffiness of a high school rom-com with the weight of real-life issues, True Beauty is an absolute must-watch. I just finished my journey with these characters, and I can honestly say I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. It is a rare gem that manages to be hilariously entertaining while remaining deeply meaningful.
💄 The Artistry of Makeup & The Mask We Wear
What I loved most was how the drama handled the theme of beauty. It wasn't just about "becoming pretty." It explored the psychology of makeup—how it can be a tool for confidence but also a prison of fear. Watching Lim Ju-kyung master the art of makeup was so much fun, but the real beauty of the script was seeing her realize that her worth isn't tied to her eyeshadow or concealer. The aesthetic of the show is 10/10; the colors, the fashion, and the "glowing" cinematography make every episode a visual treat.
❤️ Dealing with Trauma & Finding Deep Meaning
Don't let the bright posters fool you—this drama has serious depth. It dives deep into the trauma caused by school bullying and the immense pressure students feel to fit in.
[Slight Spoilers] The emotional weight of the story really hits when you learn about the tragic past of the three best friends (Suho, Seojun, and Seyeon). The scenes where they confront their grief and the guilt they felt over their friend's death are intense and very emotional. It shows that true healing only happens when we open up to those who love us. It’s a story about forgiveness—not just for others, but for ourselves.
🚫 The Perfect Cure for "K-Trauma" Avoiders (ㅋㅋㅋ)
We all have those friends who stay away from K-dramas because they don't want to deal with "K-traumas"—those soul-crushing, depressing endings that leave you in tears (ㅋㅋㅋ). This drama is for them!
While there are definitely moments that will make you reach for the tissues, the show never loses its "spark." It’s a feel-good journey through and through. The humor is top-tier (the "Okey Dokey" dance and the chaotic family dinner scenes are legendary!), and the ending is incredibly satisfying and warm. It’s the kind of show that heals your heart rather than breaking it.
🎭 The Legendary Love Triangle: Team Suho vs. Team Seojun
The chemistry in this show is off the charts.
Lee Suho: The way he loved Ju-kyung for her "bare face" and her soul was the definition of true love. His character arc from a cold, lonely boy to a supportive partner was beautiful to witness.
Han Seojun: My heart literally ached for him! The "Second Lead Syndrome" is incredibly strong here. Seeing him hide his pain behind a smile and a motorcycle helmet while being the ultimate protector was both sweet and devastating.
🌟 Final Verdict
True Beauty is a love letter to anyone who has ever felt "not enough." It teaches us that while the world might judge us by our covers, the right people will love us for our chapters. It’s a mix of comedy, heartbreak, makeup tips, and life lessons that I will never forget.
If you haven't started this yet, what are you waiting for? Grab your snacks (and maybe some tissues) and enjoy the ride! 💓
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my favorite character was probably Sujin
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This review may contain spoilers
I loved this!
True Beauty is now one of my fave K-dramas. I loved the main character Ju-kyung both before and after her make-up transformation. I liked that she was into horror comics and metal and her bedroom decor was too cool and not typically cutesy, imo. I enjoyed the fact that she kept the same interests even after becoming pretty.This was a series where I was really torn between the two males in the love triangle. I wanted both to be happy! I wanted them to be friends again! In classic K-drama fashion, this friendship rift was caused by a lack of honest communication and wrong assumptions.
I loved all the supporting cast of characters in this show. Her older sister and her school teacher were so fun to watch. It was refreshing to see her older sister as this strong female character who didn't conform to societal norms for a woman. And also Ju-kyung's mother was the same as the head of her household and sole bread winner.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a slightly different take on the classic love triangle drama.
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MORE THAN A ROMANTIC COMEDY!!
Honestly I won't lie, the beginning of this show is a bit boring and makes you think it'll be overly cliche. But honestly it blew me away especially towards the end around ep 10/11. I've watched a decent amount of kdramas and to be honest this is the first to make me cry. Jukyungs struggle with both her academic and school life really made me relate to her on a level I haven't felt in a while. The characters really do grow and mature in a way that is natural and doesn't feel rushed or awkward. Despite its overdramaticness it's still grounded and allows the sadder moments to sit and have its space. I do feel the last episode was a bit unnecessary but it's kinda just there to wrap up everyone's romantic story lines which was so whatever to me. But overall I seriously didn't expect myself to like it so much!Was this review helpful to you?
True Beauty has a really interesting plot. Even though the last few episodes seemed like a "filler" to me, at least for the first 10+ episodes, I actually enjoyed it and ended up binging the series. The casting, though I doubted it at first, was apparently excellent. Moon Gayoung was funny and cute, Hwang Inyeop was cool and mischievous, and Cha Eunwoo seemed to have had improved so much since I last watched him on "My ID is Gangnam Beauty". The side characters' casting was also excellent, from the parents and siblings, friends, to the teachers and all. The romance scenes are too corny for my taste, typical k-drama clichés where the main girl falls on nothing every 5 seconds and the main guy catches her. But I believe the highlight of this drama is the humor. It's so perfect. I laughed a lot and this drama brought joy to me.
However, for now, I don't feel like giving the drama more than 6 stars. It's just too cliché for me, and while the jokes hit right up my alley, I don't think it was meant to be that way by the production team...? So it's a good romance drama to watch because it gives you a lot of laughs. But it's not good enough of a romance drama because the romance is just meh.
After watching this, I feel like rereading from the first chapter of the manhwa. I'm also excited to see more of Cha Eunwoo and Kang Minah on screen. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Oppa choice disappointment
I heard True Beauty is one of those dramas that a respected k-drama fan needs to see along with Inheritors/Heirs, Gangnam Beauty and Boys over flowers. I've already seen two from this list, Gangnam Beauty one on the waiting list but the last one .... sorry but that is not going to happen 🙈 With all respect to the producers and fans of the drama but I cannot stand Boys' haircuts and clothing styles. I would die from laugh while watching. What is also special about True Beauty and what I found out while collecting pictures, is that the drama is based on WebToon! I heard so much about this platform and it's second time I see its drama and I must admit that both Mystic Pop-Up Bar and True Beauty made a very good impression on me. They have a very nice storyline and they take up serious problems and show it in a refreshing way.Because I way more prefer Ju-Kyung with Seo-Joon than Soo-Ho. I mean, I understand why she chose him – she can be herself with him, he saw her without make up at first and still felt in love with her, he was the one that lifted her spirit (and she did something similar to him). But I liked her and her behavior more when Seo-Joon was around. There was an obvious chemistry between these two! So many sparkles! Also Hwang In-Yeop’s (Seo-Joon) acting was on way higher level than Cha Eun-Woo’s (Soo-Ho). Even though both were quite natural with their acting, In-Yeop seemed to be in his place while Eun-Woo was sometimes robotic. In the WebToon, Ju-Kyung chooses Soo-Ho so of course the producers couldn't change that …. what a pity 😕
Based on that I wasn’t satisfied with the ending as Seo-Joon didn’t get his happy ending. At this point I share the frustration of other k-drama fans. Producers waited with him being rejected to the last moment and we couldn’t see how is he doing. Maybe if that would happened earlier we could have see him recovering from a heartbreak and would save me from the same feeling.
Is True Beauty worth watching despite Oppa choice? Of course! 😁 It is an amazing drama that I will definately one day comeback to. There are many memorable scenes, catchy music, the cast that in majority has a great and deep development. It is definately fair to say that it was one of the cutes dramas I saw this year with a oryginal script that I purely enjoyed!
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webtoo was better
I loved the webtoon comic. I wish this had followed it better. It wasn’t nearly as good as it could have been. not saying it wasn't good, but the webtoon is what made me watch. love all the actors and actress. they did absolutely amazing. I had fun watching and definitely laughed quite a bit. again... I would have laughed just as much if it had followed the comic a lot more closely. close, but not right. either way it is worth the watch. the comic is worth the read too. then be the judge. the sister and little brother though...I swearWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I decided to watch this after seeing a lot of the reels from different moments of the show. I grew attached to the characters after seeing them in those little snippets so many times and wanted to watch the show. Unfortunately it felt like the reels that I saw were the best moments of the show. This just did not live up to the hype for me. It was enjoyable enough but missed the mark in other ways. Story: the basis of the story and the title is about how the main female lead Joo Gyung was always called ugly for having an acne filled red face, big glasses, and large eyebrows. She was maliciously bullied in school for her appearance until one day when she was able to transfer schools. At the new school she had learned how to apply makeup and wear contacts which changed her appearance so much that she was then considered a real beauty. Life was dramatically different for her because of the makeup and she was always worried that her true face would be revealed. Of course she meets someone that finds out about her secret and he ends up falling for her and not caring what she looks like with or without makeup. This concept last until about the halfway mark. Then the second half of the drama focuses more on the love triangle of the 3 leads where the 2 male leads are best friends and an unexpected event separates the main couple for years but the secondary lead stays by her side.
In terms of story it has a very simple concept that has been seen many times. My gripe with the concept however is that while makeup can completely transform your face, it can't change the texture so often when they show her without makeup and she has acne but somehow has perfect skin with makeup I tend to roll my eyes. Also when her secret finally gets revealed its like all of a sudden her 'ugly' no makeup appearance is not that different from with makeup. She adds a pair of glasses and her skin is slightly pink but that is it so calling her ugly for that seems offensive. While her new skin care routine would have helped improve her it was still annoying to watch everyone around her act like she was so dramatically different without makeup.
The love triangle. This is one of the shows where I fell hard into second male lead syndrome. While the main male was fine and everything, I still felt myself leaning far more heavily into the second. His character was so endearing and relatable that it is impossible not to like him. And while you understand the ending I actually found that I did not like it very much because it felt like the female lead did not care about his feelings at all. It felt callous since he has stayed beside her for 2 years and they had gotten so close that even all their friends expected him to care for her when she was drunk. But her care of his affection was not handled well at all. While she did not need to return his affection she could have handled it so much better. It left me mostly just feeling sorry for the second male lead all the way up until the end.
Acting: as far as acting goes it was acted fairly well. I was especially drawn to and impressed by Seo Jun. He was by far my favorite character throughout the entire series. The actor portrayed him so well and he was so entertaining to watch in all of his scenes. Su Ho was also acted well and the actor did a good job of transitioning the character from arrogant jerk with a chip on his shoulder to shy and nervous teenager in love for the first time to the more grown up version. The side characters also all held their own and did great. Joo Gyung was the one that got on my nerves the most. The actress often used this baby sounding voice that I really did not like but other than the voice she did act the part well. I also had a very hard time liking the character very much pretty frequently.
This series had several fun and memorable moments but the writing really let the show down. Joo Gyung was a very hard character to truly like for me so this show holds little rewatchability for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
BEST KDRAMA
I love True Beauty so much. I have rewatched it 5 times and i still havent gotten bored. Seojun deserved better but in the end he became an idol soo.. Honestly what Soojin did was NOT okay, But still lover her! The story and plot was literally so good. Acting was also great but my girl can be little cringe sometimes.. OST is still so good. Starlight and Love so fine are my favs for sure. Tae Hoon and Soo Ah on top for sure. Team Soo Ho and Team SeoJun because they were both so good for her but i literally cry everytime i watch episode 16. I dont get why people hate True Beauty, like just say you hate fun cutesy dramas 🙄Cha Eunwoo so fine 😍
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Cute
Moon Ga-young had great acting skills and was hilarious. And while Cha Eun-woo is one of the hottest kdrama stars, his acting was subpar for me. He had the same facial expression for about 90% of the entire show. The ending was really weird to me as well and felt rushed. I didn’t care for ANY of the side relationships.Was this review helpful to you?
