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This review may contain spoilers
Self-acceptance message derailed by bad writing and worse men
The central idea, that an unattractive girl desires to be perceived as beautiful, is not an original concept. Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder; we all know this cliché, right?
Although the message of self-acceptance was important, the execution fell short due to poor scriptwriting. I thought Ahn Hyo Seop did an adequate job playing the lead, Park Se Gun; however, the character itself was not well-developed, and I did not find him particularly engaging. His redemption arc felt manufactured and lacked authenticity. I think his affection for FL stems not from genuine love, but from a sense of ease and comfort he experiences in her presence, leading him to perceive her as “lovable.”
To Se Gun, who was used to a certain type of girl, Nan Hee was a refreshing change, a novelty like a shiny toy that stood out from his previous dating experiences. In addition, his concern appeared to be keeping Nan Hee’s best friend from getting the FL, and therefore, I am inclined to believe that he was only settling for Nan Hee until someone better comes along.
Speaking of shiny toys, Nan Hee is no different. While her preoccupation with appearances was understandable, given her low self-esteem, it frequently became intensely infuriating. The so-called “best friend” Mi Joo was no better. She just uses Nan Hee as a prop to highlight her own beauty, like how she uses Tae Hyun when it’s convenient. The only redeemable character here is probably Nan Hee’s mother, who is trying to teach her daughter a lesson in a roundabout way.
By the time I finished watching this drama, I couldn't care less about any of the characters and just felt relieved that I can tick this off my list.
Although the message of self-acceptance was important, the execution fell short due to poor scriptwriting. I thought Ahn Hyo Seop did an adequate job playing the lead, Park Se Gun; however, the character itself was not well-developed, and I did not find him particularly engaging. His redemption arc felt manufactured and lacked authenticity. I think his affection for FL stems not from genuine love, but from a sense of ease and comfort he experiences in her presence, leading him to perceive her as “lovable.”
To Se Gun, who was used to a certain type of girl, Nan Hee was a refreshing change, a novelty like a shiny toy that stood out from his previous dating experiences. In addition, his concern appeared to be keeping Nan Hee’s best friend from getting the FL, and therefore, I am inclined to believe that he was only settling for Nan Hee until someone better comes along.
Speaking of shiny toys, Nan Hee is no different. While her preoccupation with appearances was understandable, given her low self-esteem, it frequently became intensely infuriating. The so-called “best friend” Mi Joo was no better. She just uses Nan Hee as a prop to highlight her own beauty, like how she uses Tae Hyun when it’s convenient. The only redeemable character here is probably Nan Hee’s mother, who is trying to teach her daughter a lesson in a roundabout way.
By the time I finished watching this drama, I couldn't care less about any of the characters and just felt relieved that I can tick this off my list.
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