4
10
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
I really wanted to like it
Overall: I was super excited when the series was first announced to have a lead in a m/m romance series love to wear high heels, be confident, etc; however, the mediocre writing let the actors down. This is based on a webtoon that I haven't read and I am reviewing the series on its own merits. 13 episodes about 50 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/i-m-the-most-beautiful-count-episode-1-1hwby7xm14c?lang=en_us and YouTube (not in North, Central or South America, the Caribbean, U.K, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia or Australia) https://youtu.be/JW3Sni7GJK0?si=Rn-vf6SAfAvJ1lRe
Content Warnings: slaps/hits, attempted murder, multiple murders/deaths, blood, drugging, queerphobia, violence, manipulation, past bullying
What I Liked
- that the lead wore stilettos, had long nails and was sassy
- historical setting
- styling
- talking about queerphobia, inequality
- sweet moments
Room For Improvement
- the switches between slapstick comedy and massacre of innocent people was jarring
- a common stereotype of effeminate men/trans women in media is hypersexualized/handsy and comic relief but in the 'laugh at you' and not 'laugh with you' kind of way. Unfortunately, the writers reinforced both of these with their lead character. Even more jarring is that the series is trying to call out inequality and queerphobia yet engages in writing stereotypical characters. I do not blame the actors at all.
- the writers were maybe trying to portray Kosol as stoic but he came across as abusive and violent especially in the first few episodes
- it was supposed to be a comedy but I rarely laughed, it has many comedy sound effects that didn't enhance the humor
- love triangles/love rivals/jealousy (the main one took 10 of 13 episodes to resolve)
- I liked the side couple a bit but not how the one with more power commanded the other guy to do things on several occasions
- no one told 1 character a plan in episode 11
- the fake out in episode 13
- note: at 7m 30s in episode 6 when the character said 'kathoey' it was translated as trans woman. They should have left it as 'kathoey' or maybe used 'ladyboys or him say "I am a queen" because trans woman was not an accurate translation.
Content Warnings: slaps/hits, attempted murder, multiple murders/deaths, blood, drugging, queerphobia, violence, manipulation, past bullying
What I Liked
- that the lead wore stilettos, had long nails and was sassy
- historical setting
- styling
- talking about queerphobia, inequality
- sweet moments
Room For Improvement
- the switches between slapstick comedy and massacre of innocent people was jarring
- a common stereotype of effeminate men/trans women in media is hypersexualized/handsy and comic relief but in the 'laugh at you' and not 'laugh with you' kind of way. Unfortunately, the writers reinforced both of these with their lead character. Even more jarring is that the series is trying to call out inequality and queerphobia yet engages in writing stereotypical characters. I do not blame the actors at all.
- the writers were maybe trying to portray Kosol as stoic but he came across as abusive and violent especially in the first few episodes
- it was supposed to be a comedy but I rarely laughed, it has many comedy sound effects that didn't enhance the humor
- love triangles/love rivals/jealousy (the main one took 10 of 13 episodes to resolve)
- I liked the side couple a bit but not how the one with more power commanded the other guy to do things on several occasions
- no one told 1 character a plan in episode 11
- the fake out in episode 13
- note: at 7m 30s in episode 6 when the character said 'kathoey' it was translated as trans woman. They should have left it as 'kathoey' or maybe used 'ladyboys or him say "I am a queen" because trans woman was not an accurate translation.
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