Secret Makeover

weirdly addicting

when i started this drama, i thought that i wouldn't like this drama but i grew quite fond of it (to drop it). the setting was unlikely to average jdrama. this story is centered around two women: imai natsu who accidentally inherited a huge sum of money as a care taker, and motomiya mitsuko who is helping her to gain leading role over the company. the story ends on a good note for both of the leads. now, one thing that bothered throughout the series was camera work and whatever kind yellow filter they were using. if there are more than two people on the scene this japanese style directing doesn't work. in my opinion, acting was the highlight of the series, especially the leads. the major issue that i have with writing were the lack of intelligence of some characters (natsu has the intelligence of a four year old), and poorly executed plot twists (that also might've been on director). regardless of everything, i couldn't look away.

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Nonstop Plot Twists But very Addicting!

Secret Makeover is engaging and addicting from beginning to end, but they sure take the “Who Done it?” Concept to a whole different level. I kind of reminds me of Burn the House Down, another J drama about a fire and a young woman who turns up to investigate, and literally everyone and their cat becomes a suspect and starts acting fishy. So many red herrings I don’t even know which way is up or down and who to trust anymore! The show stars Haruka Fukuhara who was the bright eyed bushy tailed junior realtor from Shōjiki Fudōsan/The Honest Realtor and the female lead from that show plays Mitsuko’s sister Mariko.

Secret Makeover had me crying at many points, and drooling at both of the male leads, but alas Mitsuko doesn’t care for either of them even though they are both in love with her… sigh, I don’t know why that makes it feel bittersweet to me, but Mitsuko is surely a headstrong woman who doesn’t actually need a male romantic figure at all. She stands on her own. She brings Natsu from the depths to the highest of heights through a total makeover inside and out- she transforms this single mother and both of her grown kids into self assured, confident characters. The show makes you feel the bond that develops between all of them- the Natsu family and the Kujo family.. Haruto is adorable from beginning to end, and so is Tomo. I love show- it shows that the total makeover goes right down to the soul. Heartwarming, shocking, suspenseful.. and gorgeous scenes and settings that look like they’re out of a storybook.

“If you change yourself, you change the world.”

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