Lawton

Plastic Beauty on Netflix is a frustrating disappointment that earns a 5/10, saved only by a fantastic cast. The show starts with a great idea: a serious emergency doctor who hates plastic surgery clashes with a celebrity surgeon who loves it. This should have been a sharp, fast-paced psychological thriller. Instead, it copies the slowest Korean dramas by dragging out a short story into eight boring episodes. It constantly walks away from the main plot to focus on useless, dramatic side stories that add zero value to the show.
The pacing is incredibly frustrating. The director constantly forces the camera to stare at the actors' faces in long, silent close-ups. These long slots are supposed to create a deep emotional mood, but they fail completely. They are just empty pauses used as cheap filler. Because the show wastes so much time, the storyline eventually collapses into ridiculous, unrealistic soap-opera drama rather than sticking to its fascinating medical ethics debate.
Thankfully, the actors do an incredible job trying to save a sinking ship. The entire cast gives very strong, dedicated performances that almost make you want to care. However, even great acting cannot overcome the circular writing, cheap twists, and hollow pauses that ruin the entire experience. Skip this show unless you just want to see great actors do their best with a weak script.