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A nice, sweet adaptation
Kanojo wa Kirei datta (She Was Pretty) is shorter than the Korean version, so expect the drama to be less draggy, more fast-paced, and more fun in general. Downside is that it is indeed fast-paced, even until the end. The final episode is so eventful and rushed to the point that there is no time to fully comprehend their thoughts and actions. However, this can also be viewed positively as it is also the reason why the angst is never prolonged. But true to any other Japanese adaptations, the story managed to exactly follow the original drama.Overall, this Japanese remake is memorable because of the main leads. Hasebe Sosuke is less of a douchebag than the original Ji Seung Joon, while Sato Ai is much calmer, more loveable, and less of a doormat than the original Kim Hye Jin. None of the overly loud screaming from the female lead too.
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If you are interested in a self-aware romantic comedy that doesn't take itself seriously and is refreshing in its use of cliches, then this is the drama for you. If you ain't about that life and don't like anything silly, best to walk away now. This drama is truly a pleasant surprise! I thoroughly enjoyed every episode and felt each one had something to offer. The FL and the ML, of course, are the absolute best part of this drama as they keep you interested in the story and their overall developments. You see growth in a lot of characters, some smaller than others. But hands down the love between FL and ML is true and true. There was a cliche Noble Idiocy moment, but for me, it worked better than most because the situation was calling for it. What I truly loved was how they solved their problems. The ML was not a complete idiot with Tsundere Syndrome, and the FL wasn't an idiot either. I adore the FL, she is a scared-y cat who when it matters most won't let you down. ML is also one to root for as he falls for her and starts changing his way of thinking. He was LOYAL to his love even when he doubted her actions, you knew his love for her wasn't shallow. This couple is who you freaking ROOT for.
Now on to other things....Of course, you do have you classic SFL (aka was suppose to be the originally FL in the novel this takes place in) but you slowly watch her descend into her crazy. I feel many viewers were rooting for her to change her ways, but other than admitting that she was wrong near the end, don't be too hopeful!
SML was legit annoying as fuck. I actually found him more annoying than SFL, who had at least reasoning behind her. This guy got rejected time and time again and still tries to get close to FL with his love. He also keeps believing ML doesn't love the FL which an intelligent person can tell you that HE FUCKING LOVES HIS WIFE. So he was frustrating to deal with but I did like that he changed the prejudice and became Minister.
There are so many side characters who played their roles, and the story really doesn't giving you much care for them because they are the side characters and in a breaking the fourth wall kind of way, tells you "Nobody cares about the side characters". It still gives you side character stories and development, nonetheless. It is just up to you to see if you like it or not. I enjoyed some of them.
The FL & ML are so freaking good though, that its hard for others to compete, at least, it is hard for me. THAT ENDING, thank you.
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Aesthetically beautiful and good acting but what a frustrating romance story
I am a massive fan of Guo Yu Xin. I have only started exploring Liu Xiao Xu's dramas and so far I enjoy his acting. This drama was released after My National Husband so I expected Summer Rose to be as good as My National Husband. However I was disappointed once I finished the drama.What I liked:
1. Framing - Beautifully shot drama that reminds me of a small but well-written indie film I used to watch. Directors certainly knew how to capture scene that are aesthetically memorable.
2. ML characterisation - It was endearing to see a stuffy ML who wasn't able to articulate his feelings. His personal struggle is different from other CEO MLs I have seen.
3. Acting - Both LXX and GYX employed a lot of "restraint" in their performances for this drama. They had magnetic chemistry which was more evident in the behind the scenes clip.
4. FL characterisation - I liked that her personality contrasted with ML's personality. She expressed most of her feelings including desire freely.
5. Supporting characters - I liked ML's grandmother and guest characters played by He Jian Qi and Wang Ge Ge.
6. Styling - What a gorgeous pairing of LXX and GYX. Beautiful outfits worn by both FL & ML. I am a fan of pyjamas and I loved the pair worn by GYX.
What I disliked:
1. FL's actions - She was stringing two men along when she broke off the engagement and pursued other man. I didn't like her at this point.
2. Writing - There was too much time spent to tell this story. I'm sorry to say some parts are draggy and boring and I struggled in the final hour of the drama. I must say that the writer and director wasted the talents of LXX & GYX.
3. Romance - Unfortunately I didn't buy their romance. There was too much push and lack of honest conversations. By the time they got together I already lost interest in this drama but just pushed through to mark this drama as complete.
Favourite scene
When FL seduced ML and succeeded.
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Is based On Real life , that tell story about daily life situation that we can face that in real life , that time what kind of thoughts cames in mind and how to deal with it...
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The beautiful camera work to the storytelling and detailed set designs, Northward sets a high bar for production quality. One viewer said, “It’s not often you find such a well-made drama these days. Every part—direction, writing, camera work, art, and lighting—has put in a lot of hard work. Each scene helps tell the story and pulls viewers into the characters’ journeys.”
The camera work of the show has been especially praised. It strikes a balance between real life and artistic style, capturing the spirit of the time. A memorable moment—the long shot of young Feng Hua and Xiao Siyi moving through tight alleyways—has been noted as an excellent example of skilled filming, showing impressive techniques and depth in the story.
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I am definitely for dramas with character development, and this one does it pretty well for the main male character. Yihan transitioned from being a spoiled obnoxious celebrity to someone who actually cares for people around him and matured towards the end of the drama. Pei Youyou, the female lead, is an independent woman, who basically stays the same throughout the drama. In the beginning, Pei Youyou believes that she has a "lower status" compared to him, which prevents them from actually loving each other. This is further cemented when Yihan constantly does everything for her without consulting her. Pei Youyou has lived all her life as an independent, so she does not need a rich husband providing everything for her. But in the end, she learns that husband and wife should try to face everything together and that she should only be mad at him for a short time, which I think is the sweetest moment in the drama. The writers also did a very good job with the side characters and their stories, especially Lin Tian Nu and Kandi, since both characters are very passionate about their work, yet they find love for each other.
I started this drama with skepticism and thought it was just another short romantic comedy drama. However, it turned out to be pretty unique with a great cast and good writing with the last few episodes being the best.
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Story: True to its title, it has a continuous money-maneuverings blending with intrigue, humor, suspense; add a sprinkle of makjang elements, touching moments and lastly, a smartly-written revenge plot that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. The way the story handled prosecution battles and conspiracy within characters themselves will keep you engaged. It is funny, cute at times in the romantic side and can be felt more on the 2nd half of the drama. For me it was never boring throughout because there is a variation of tone the writers know how to execute in the story: if it’s funny, you’ll laugh and when it gets serious, you’ll like it best as it’s more solidly- awesome. The farther you get, the more gripping it gets. The ending gave me a huge smile on my face. All in all, Mission accomplished, plus more!
Acting/ Cast: Different in the sense that there is a minimal number of “real” good people here. At least 2-3 people and our lead is not even included. In this drama, the characters seemed realistic though. In terms of acting, I can say that all the characters are very well-portrayed by the casts and I felt connections on their characters from the start. Apart from Kang Ji Hwan who did great in his role – his expressions are loveable here; I also the loved the mom a lot played by Park Soon Chun, she simply shined in this! Though likeable from the start, Hwang Geung Eums’ character warmed to me also on the 2nd half, mainly because her character is stronger there. The supporting casts did a great job also, I loved the sidekicks! You'll love to hate the villains here, very well-thought characters written as well! Their battle of wits is one of the best things on this drama!
Music: It’s fitting. The instrumentals on the cliffhangers can really deliver the suspense!
Rewatch Value: Again, unlikely for me, simply because I rarely rewatch.
Overall: IoM marks my very first great and satisfying drama from the ones that started airing on 2013. If revenge is in your liking, don’t miss this!
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Zeng Lei is so underrated in this drama but I guess everyone just loves a cute and innocent girl T_T
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The Devil Wears Boudoir
The Art of Sarah follows the glittering yet slippery life of Sarah Kim, a woman who wants to embody luxury even if it means building it on a foundation of lies. Her name echoes through high society as the head of a high end brand’s Asia branch, but no one seems to truly know who she is. When she suddenly becomes the victim in an unidentified murder case, the illusion begins to crack. The person in charge of her case is Park Mu Gyeong, a sharp and persistent detective from the violent crimes unit, who starts tracing the footsteps of a woman who may not even exist. As he digs deeper, Sarah Kim unravels into multiple names, ages, jobs, and backgrounds. The question lingers like an expensive perfume in the air. Who is the real Sarah Kim, and what is she hiding beneath all that silk and satin?From the very first episode, I could not help but think of Inventing Anna. The premise, the social climbing, the audacity of it all, it gave me that same deliciously scandalous vibe. I kind of knew the general direction the story might take, but I was still curious to see how this version would paint its own portrait of deception. How exactly did Sarah Kim scam her way to the top of the social ladder? What made her tick? That curiosity was enough to keep me seated and sipping my drama tea.
Of course, we need to talk about Shin Hye Sun. She is, without exaggeration, one of the finest actresses in the Korean drama industry. She does not just act, she embodies. Every trembling breath, every flicker in her eyes, every tear that falls feels painfully real. When she cries genuinely, I cry. It is almost Pavlovian at this point. In The Art of Sarah, she plays a woman made of layers. Sarah lies, schemes, climbs, manipulates, feels anxious, frustrated, never satisfied. She is ambition wrapped in couture. Shin Hye Sun handles these layers beautifully. Even her fake crying scenes look convincingly fake, which is a talent on its own. You can see when Sarah is performing and when she is breaking, and that distinction is delicious to watch.
Opposite her is Lee Jun Hyuk as Park Mu Gyeong. Visually, he fits the drama’s glossy, high fashion mood. He looks like he walked straight out of a luxury magazine spread. As a detective, though, he feels a little too polished, too well put together. I kept thinking, do violent crimes detectives really have skin this flawless? But then again, this is not a gritty back alley crime thriller. This is a story about fashionable schemes and curated identities. In that sense, his clean and chic presence oddly works.
The ensemble cast is a mixed bag in a good way. The older, more seasoned actors truly shine. Their facial expressions alone could tell entire backstories. They look like they belong in this world of power lunches and silent rivalries. Some of the younger ensemble characters are fine, though they do not leave as strong an impression.
I will admit, episode one had me slightly confused. There were so many names flying around that I had to pause and mentally sort them out. Who was the dead victim again? Who got scammed? Who reported what? It felt like being invited to an exclusive party where everyone knows each other except you. Thankfully, things settle down as the story progresses.
When the drama reveals Sarah Kim’s past as Mok Ga Hui, the illusion shifts. Unlike the iconic Anna Delvey from Inventing Anna, Sarah is not painted as this endlessly complex social experiment. Mok Ga Hui was simply a woman stuck at the bottom of the social chain. No matter how hard she tried, she could not climb. So she burned her old life, faked her death, and resurrected herself as Sarah Kim. In essence, she is an impostor born from desperation and desire. A regular con artist with a designer handbag and a chip on her shoulder.
That said, she is not entirely average. Driven by poverty and the hunger to rise, she cons her way up while quietly exacting revenge. Her success with Boudoir becomes her masterpiece. It is the one thing she genuinely wants to protect. When she eventually turns herself in, I found her surprisingly smart. She defends herself skillfully, finding loopholes and gray areas in every accusation thrown her way. The moment Park Mu Gyeong threatens Boudoir, you just know everything is about to collapse like a house of luxury cards. And it does. She is willing to give up her identity as Sarah Kim if it means preserving Boudoir’s integrity. That choice says a lot about where her true loyalty lies.
Still, the investigation itself feels somewhat amateur. I was genuinely surprised that it took Park Mu Gyeong so long to figure out that Mok Ga Hui faked her death to start anew. Maybe we as viewers are given more puzzle pieces, or maybe the writing just makes the detectives a little slower than they should be. Either way, it lessens the thrill.
One oddly satisfying detail is the casual name dropping of real luxury brands like Hermès, Dior, and Prada. Usually dramas create fictional brands to avoid trouble, so hearing the real names feels almost rebellious. It adds to the authenticity of the high society fantasy.
However, for a drama that markets itself as a web of schemes, fraud, and shifting identities, it feels a bit surface level. I kept comparing it to Inventing Anna, and in that comparison, The Art of Sarah feels less layered. It hints at depth but does not fully dive in. At its core, Sarah Kim is portrayed as a woman driven by scrutiny and ambition to climb higher. That is a common motivation for crime, not exactly groundbreaking.
The ending left me with a shrug rather than a gasp. Sarah Kim is not a cold blooded killer. She feels guilt over Kim Mi Jeong’s death, and what she did was tied to protecting Boudoir. But what truly frustrated me is that we never get to know her real identity. If you want an open ending, fine. Leave some doors ajar. But withholding her true identity feels like locking the most important room in the house and throwing away the key. That revelation could have added real depth and emotional weight, yet it remains a mystery.
In the end, The Art of Sarah is glossy, stylish, and carried heavily by Shin Hye Sun’s powerhouse performance. It is a drama dressed in haute couture, whispering about ambition and reinvention. Just do not expect it to peel back every layer of the woman at its center. Sometimes, the art is beautiful. Sometimes, it is just well framed.
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Drama Queens: A Cosplay
I asked two friends of mine, both old-school drag queens, and both with excellent make-up skills, to watch Cosmetic Playlover. Here is an excerpt of their conversation, edited for clarity.MANI: Is this for real? This show?
PEDI: What do you mean?
MANI: Did we really just watch a Japanese BL about two gays behind a Sephora counter?
PEDI: Who knew? Who knew they had such dramatic lives?
MANI: What dramatic life? Apart from whatever’s going on with Natsume’s hair?
PEDI: That *is* a disaster, isn’t it? He stares at a mirror all day long... Did it not occur to him, at least once, to think, "hang on, my wig looks like it was sheared by a British dentist"?
MANI (laughing): The tall one, Toma, is it? His ain’t much better. But he’s so gorgeous that he can get away with it. He can get away with anything.
PEDI: He does.
MANI: By the way, in what world does a former supermodel work behind a makeup counter? Can you imagine Naomi Campbell working for Chanel at Macy's or Harrod's?
PEDI: Or Romy Féerique... Fun fact. Féerique is French for fairy.
MANI: Now why would you know that?
PEDI: Because I’m a fairy, Mary.
MANI: Well, I'll tell you one thing, I'm not sure these two fairies deserve their own show. They are not funny, they are not sassy, they don't gossip... I'm sorry, but these are not interesting people. Beautiful, but not interesting. They take themselves way too seriously. And the show takes itself way too seriously.
PEDI: I mean, could the stakes be any lower? Let's face it. They're not neurosurgeons. Do you think the Gucci girl behind the counter has the time to take clinical notes on each woman who comes to her for free make-up? Also, silent callers? Hate mail? What is this, 2006? All because Ms Dimple Cheeks “poached” a “make-up client”. Who is this client? Sultan of Brunei?
MANI: If he did poach him, he’d be doing us all a favour. By the way, I don’t remember us taking an exam to become a “make-up expert”. Do you?
PEDI: Ummm, yes we did. Remember when we first went out in drag 20 years ago, and no one punched us in the face? That was the exam.
MANI (laughing): Do people in Japan really take make-up this seriously?
PEDI: The straight women who wrote this thing do. I’m absolutely certain... certain... that whoever wrote the manga wrote the first draft by imagining herself as the female lead, and then replaced herself with Natsume.
MANI: Which, I think, is how most BLs are written.
PEDI: I don’t think we, as drag queens, are in any position to judge that.
MANI (laughing): No, I will say though, I was surprised by the heat levels in this show. The kisses were quite hot.
PEDI: Yes. But the villains were not.
MANI: Except for the one skinny guy who now makes a regular appearance in JBLs. He’s in Smells Like Green Spirit, and that teacher-student BL. Whatchamacallit?
PEDI: I know who you mean. He’s good. He served some real camp goodness. He's very good. And hot.
MANI: Toma’s brother?
PEDI: Not.
MANI: Remind me again, why does he come between the leads?
PEDI: I... don’t know. I don’t remember. Something about their parents being in New York, and wanting him to run the family business... Listen, mama, there’s more drama between my fake eyelashes than there is in the entirety of this show. Here’s the thing. If I was a hot Japanese ex-supermodel, and my family lived in New York, I’m taking Ms Dimple Cheeks with me, getting gay married at the Plaza, and buying an apartment in Chelsea.
MANI: Are you kidding? You’ll be catnip for the polyamorous gays. Sniffies will crash.
PEDI (laughing): Exactly. These two though, they wanna play husband and wife in Tokyo. The vibe is very old-school JBL...
MANI: Ah, the monologues, the monologues... Because, you know, characters in JBL don’t believe in talking to each other, but they’ll happily talk to us, invisible people.
PEDI: Yes! And then with the pushing against the locker, the cartoon villains, and the "oh, but I'm a shy maiden" bullshit...
MANI: Again, because if there’s one thing we know about same-sex sex in BL world, it is that bottoms don’t want tops to top them…
PEDI: See, I don’t get that. I can't think of a single bottom in my life who won't jump on a hot top when he sees one. Hell, even a mediocre top! I don’t get that whole patriarchal “you belong to me” crap either.
MANI: I thought that went out with All About Eve.
PEDI: This is All About Steve.
MANI (laughing): I don’t mind the old-school vibe though. It’s fun. Loved that kiss against the background of fireworks... Ham-fisted symbolism? So sexy. Also, I kept imagining myself as Sponge Bob Hair Cut, and wanting to be pulled and hugged by the hot one and have my lips smashed. If that tall slice of meat were to come up to me and say, “you belong to me”, I’ll throw myself at him.
PEDI: Except you’ll cause an accident with those fake boobs of yours...
MANI: What if it turns him on?
PEDI: That means you've died and gone to heaven.
MANI (laughing): This show is absolutely ridiculous.
PEDI: And hot.
MANI: And ridiculous.
PEDI: And stupid.
MANI: And ridiculous.
PEDI: And surprisingly watchable.
MANI: Do you think Netflix will pay us to watch BLs like they do Trixie and Katya?
PEDI: Only if it’s a podcast.
Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Maybe she's born with it.
DON'T SAY: Maybe it's Maybelline.
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The best thing by far about this drama is the characters. Nearly every single one will make you fall in love with them (and also probably make you cry at some point), which is no small feat because there are quite a few important characters in this considering how short the drama actually is. I was so in love with so many of the characters by the end of the drama that I felt a tiny bit robbed to not know how every single one of their stories played out.
Be READY to fall in love with Luo Fei Fei, Bei Tang Tang, Xie Yan Ran, Chu Shang Nan, and Bai Wu Chen (and probably quite a few others).
One of the things I loved most about the characters was that you get to see so many different and fun relationships develop between all the characters, it's not just the leads that you watch grow and fall in love. There are multiple love stories, wonderful friendships (the friendship between the leading lady and the second lead lady is AMAZING), and great family and imperial relationships.
The story itself was really interesting, not a concept I have ever encountered before and it develops in a really interesting way. Though time travel is a common concept in dramas, the zodiac element made this one different. There is a ton of romance and comedy, I laughed (and giggled) a lot, but there is so much else as well, the fantasy plays an important role in the drama which I haven't always seen in every drama so that was great.
The beginning of the drama was a little rough (there were some very awkward or cringe-y bits) and some of the actors took a few episodes to stop being stiff and start being likable (which, given that it's an idol drama, wasn't shocking) but the leading lady is so adorable, funny, and cute that you pull through and it's worth it for the way the drama develops as you really get into the meat of the story.
The things that stop this drama from being just fantastically fun and fluffy, aside from the rough beginning, are the ending, which left me wanting and left a pretty big question mark, and the incredibly annoying minute or two of EVERY SINGLE EPISODE where they were literally just advertising face masks and it was just shoehorned in SO badly. But skip through those and it's bearable.
Even though the ending left me more unsatisfied the more I dwell on it and the beginning was a little rough, the interesting story and the fantastic characters made me really enjoy this fun little drama. It's fluffy and fun and cute and it will make you smile (and probably cry sometimes too).
My overall rating is higher than my rating breakdown because it kept me so interested and so many of the characters stole my heart. It's not perfect, the ending especially, but overall this drama made me smile so much.
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So.. I was wavering whether I should write a review or not as I'm really bad at expressing my opinion.. also it seems that most of the reviewers had positive opinions about this drama... but.. I'll try..To begin with, this drama had a lot of potential when it started airing. At first I didn't think that the cast for this drama was chosen wisely, but I was soooo wrong. All the actors were just amazing, and they suited their characters very well. The story was so captivating that it'd could have been used for a block buster movie! Cameramen did a great job too and the music added the thrill to each scene
BUT
it all changed. From a possibly block buster it went down to the amateur level after ~10/12 episodes (I'm talking about the writer's choices and the plot only). It became boring, lame and ridiculous. I hope this is not a spoiler but... come on!... A psycho serial killer going out from and back in to the jail like it was a hotel or something... A detective with a mentality of a 5th grader, getting himself into troubles wherever he goes... and many more....
I have to admit that after 15th episode I watched this drama just to finish it, just to see the ending. I'm not even counting how many dialogues or crying scenes I've skipped... And the ending... it was a huge disappointment...
They could have made and awesome drama with 16th episodes, but they were greedy and stretched it out to 20th. That was a mistake in my opinion. A mistake which ruined everything..
Anyway, if you want to see how bad can writers fail when they're greedy for the spotlight.. you can watch this drama.. otherwise... it's a waste of time :/
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So many of the things that I really enjoyed about the drama came to an end around episode 15 with still 35 more episodes of almost nothing really important.
There were so many scenes where the main character just stared "meaningfully" at the camera, or into space, or at each other.
The main character Princess started off as a strong willful and fun character, but then just fell into this "ugh" phase where all she did was act like every other woman in Joseon. I was so disappointed by her. Over all the acting was sub par and the story just got dragged out more and more. Then the "special armory" people who didn't even have a real role would just show up in a scene sitting and talking to each other like they had so much free time, it was so unrealistic. I really like King Gwanghye and the actor in that role but he is not in it long enough, it would have been really interesting if they had made it more about him than her, and King Injo.
It ends with them trying to pull at some heart strings but it just doesn't work, mostly because by that point I was just irritated with all of the characters I didn't see a reason to care. Over all I would not suggest this drama to anyone.
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