True Beauty / Ep. 62 - podcast episode cover

True Beauty / Ep. 62

Mar 21, 20241 hr 13 minSeason 5Ep. 62
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Episode description

On Episode 62 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and guest Bina from @binahearts on Insta start Season 5 off with a review of what Bina jokes is the best K-drama of all time—True Beauty, starring Moon Ka-Young, Cha Eun-Woo, and Hwang In-Yeop.Jess and Bina deep dive on this 2020-21 rom-com, discussing its enduring appeal, how it made its young cast overnight stars, a (loving) roast of Cha Eun-woo as an actor, the major second lead syndrome phenomenon for Hwang In-Yeop, the best parts of the show (hello, bromance!), major complaints and strange changes from the webtoon, and more!

GUEST: Bina Lee

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.


Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 6!

Follow us!Patreon - www.patreon.com/daekbakpodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/daebakpod/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@daebakpod


Transcript

I'm Jessica and this is Tiba Kay Rambles, where a couple of friends review Korean dramas. And welcome to the first official episode of season five. We are back. We are ready to talk about dramas again, and for this episode I am joined by Bina at Bina Hearts on Instagram. The Soompi writer and editor who has been stealing our hearts for a very long time and putting out so much wonderful K Drama

content. She's also a writer for K Pop Map. She's written a book called K Pop A-Z, The Definitive K Pop Encyclopedia. Bina, how Are you today? I am good. Thank you so much for having me, Jess. This has been like kind of a long time coming, but I'm so glad to finally be here. Yes, I'm so glad that you're here. Like she said. Like she said, it's been a really long time coming.

You were supposed to come on last season and then I had to be like, let's rain check it because I got burnt out and I just had to. I was like, I need to take a break. The holidays are coming up and we, I'll tell you, we were supposed to review another drama and it actually has a little bit to do with the drama that we're going. To review. Yeah. So maybe we like the writer. I don't know. Yeah, So it's like full circle. It comes, comes around, it comes around full circle.

But before we do, before we get into true beauty, if this is your first time listening, go ahead and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. We're on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, all the rest. If you like us, please give us a five star review on Apple Podcast and come check us out on social media to stay up to date on everything that we're doing. Our latest episodes and reviews. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok at Debac Pod.

And lastly, if you're a fan, please consider becoming a patron. It is such a great way for you to get involved. And sure you support for as little as $2.00 a month. You can check out the page on patreon.com/always Critic POD and thank you. Shout out to our patrons Janet, Curtis, Bale, CD, Alana, Grace, Lorna, Sammy, Caitlin, Michelle Tanayi, Aaron, Martha, Delphia and Camila. Thank you guys so much.

I love talking to you guys and putting out content for you guys on Patreon. So come and join them and be a patron. OK, Are you ready to talk about true beauty, Vena? I am always, always ready to talk about true beauty. OK, so we'll start with the My

Drama List synopsis. It reads True Beauty is a romantic comedy about a high school girl, IMG Yung, who rises to Beauty Girl. This synopsis I can't even already rises to Pretty Girl fame after she masters the art of makeup from YouTube, she learned. What? It's great she turns into a goddess. A goddess because of her makeup skills but would rather die than reveal her bare face to anyone.

It tells her love story with the only boy that saw her without makeup, East Hall. East Hall is an attractive and hand attractive and handsome. Boy who appears. Cold because of his dark past, but is actually very caring. They grow when they meet each other, share their secrets and find love with each other. But can Sue will make Du Pyong find her true beauty. All right, This was adapted from a webtoon, as a lot of people know or are familiar with it.

The webtoon is by the same name. True beauty. I want. I feel like I'm gonna butcher this name. But yeah. Yeah, it's exactly. Yes, Yang Yi. And then it aired. The show aired from December 2020 to February 2021. It is 16 episodes long, and it is directed by Kim Sung Yob. He's also directed things like Melancholia. OK, OK, so he directed. Extraordinary. You didn't write it. Directed Extraordinary you. So this was the show that we were going to review originally. Amazing.

Yeah, I love that show. It's good. It's good. I loved it. But yeah, we're supposed to, but it's like 20, just 20/19 was a long time ago. But this is only 2020 but then. I know. True Beauty is 2020. I know, but like, I don't know, Extraordinary You is a bit more complicated, the storyline, do you know what I mean? Oh, OK. You can remember it forever because it's just, you know, which is what you get. But extraordinary You was a little bit more complicated.

And I was like, I don't even really remember exactly what happened. But it was a great show. Loved it. And did you watch Melancholia? I have not watched Melancholia. OK, it it was OK the I don't know if you know about it but it's like about a student and a teacher. So it's a little bit. Yeah, it sounds. Familiar. It's a little bit scandalous, but I watched it. It wasn't that wasn't that great, but extraordinary. You amazing. And then it was. Yeah. Written by Ishiun.

Did you watch any of this, the dramas on her list? So hold on, Ishiyan wrote. Run away with Sanjay on Piggyback Top Star U Top, Sorry Her Name, Top Star Ubek, Ugly Yoga, Season 12, High Kick Three and all my love for you. I have not watched any of these. OK, I tried watching TOP * UBEK was not for me. It's like a, you know, it's a countryside kind of trope like, you know, like 2 Countryside Girls, 2 Countryside Boys like Fall in Love, whatever.

I couldn't really get into it even though I love the cast. And High Kick three I think is the the highlight here because she wrote this is a huge sitcom. It was like, I don't know, I want to say like 150 episodes. And I think it was like a she's one of the writers. Oh yeah. So this is probably, like, her big step into K drama writing. I feel like, 'cause it was huge, huge, huge, huge.

You had every single. It's kind of like equivalent to Disney Club, Mickey Mouse Club, you know what I mean? So, like, you get all these rookie startup, like actors and actresses who get their foot in the door. Yeah, like Yi Jung Zok Ya Yun Chun Ya, Shin Sei Yun Ya, all these, like, stars starting us. So, like, I didn't watch all of it, obviously, 'cause it was just, it's so many episodes, right? It's just like, it's like an ongoing every week, 30 minute episode.

But yeah, I feel like this is the her biggest probably claim to fame. Oh, and True Beauty, obviously. I was like, yeah, true Beauty. Yeah, exactly. So actually, do you know True Beauty is the top streamed K drama on Vicki of all time? No, but that doesn't surprise. Me it doesn't? No. OK, that doesn't. I think some people would be surprised, but OK, I'm glad you're not surprised. No, this doesn't surprise me. Good, good. Good. OK, rough to good start. OK, so let's talk about our cast.

So we have Munkayung. As to Kyung, she's been in the interest of love, Most recently Link E Love Kill Find Me in Your Memory Welcome to Waikiki 2. Tempted Live Up to Your Name, Heartstrings A lot of bit parts. But she has just kind of wrote Risen Up the Ranks because she was a child actress starting in 2007. Yeah, she is actually massive now. She like her following has grown so much and I'd like to think it's mainly because of true

beauty. But she has like over 1,000,000 followers, which is crazy considering like her, you know, her dramas aren't like crazy popular, you know what I mean? And people hate that. I actually kind of liked interest of love her recent one, people are love to get angry at me about that one, but I thought she was great in it. But I definitely think it was true beauty that put her on the

international map, you know? What I mean 100% when I totally agree with you that true beauty like was the star making role for her. Yeah, like her other. Yeah, her other ones weren't that. They're yeah, they're not that popular. Or weren't. That. Good, I would say. Before I had seen her in True beauty, I had seen her in Tempted from 2018. Did you watch the? Show I did, 'cause, like, I don't know if you watched. Have you watched Cruel Intentions The American Girl? Yeah, right.

You know who you're speaking to. I don't know. I don't know what you're like. You know, Americans. Yeah. So I and that it definitely gave off those vibes for me. And so I was very, you know, excited to see it. But when I watched. It I think it's based on. Is it? It's what? Cruel Intentions is based on, which is a French novel, and I the name escapes me. But yes, OK, so that's why it's it's a basically a a. Yeah, an adaptation, yeah. Remake of it or something, right. But I don't know.

I I wanted I feel like it could have been so much more but I I for me I was like Oh no I don't really like the way that the the main couple their relationship was going. But anyways I did think she was when I first saw Herns I feel like I didn't remember her and live up to your name or heartstrings to be honest. Like I've watched both of those I don't remember her at all in it but tempted. I obviously remember her and I remember thinking like, Oh my God, she's like gorgeous, you know?

And. Yeah, and unhinged. Yes, exactly. Which was amazing. She yeah, she did it so well. But yeah, after that, like, I don't feel like she did anything really, really memorable until obviously true beauty, but yeah. Yeah. I love her, though. Like true beauty, is her magnum opus. Even like to this day. I hope she can like find another role though to like I it's going to be hard though. I feel like just because of true beauty is just so huge internationally.

But I'm hoping, you know, I'm hoping that she'll find something that's bigger because she's she's better than that. She's super intelligent and elegant, you know what I mean? But yeah, I'm hoping that for her. Yeah, and then Chaonu plays Suho. We all know. We all know. OK, so he's an idol turned actor. You might have known him as part of the group Astro and then he has segued into an acting career. He has been in shows like Hit the Top Steve Revenge.

My idea is Kongam Beauty rookie historian Kuhei Yong Island. Good day to be a dog. This later the show who this year he'll be in wonderful world. Talk to me about Chaungu and how you feel about this man because I said some things online recently. Did you I? OK, well, before we before we get to that 'cause I do want. To hear, I want to hear your opinion first. OK what?

How do you feel about Chaunu? Like Chaunu, I probably feel the same way as a lot of people, unless you are a hardcore fan girl of Chaunu from Astro, but I I think he's obviously very, very good looking, right? Oh yeah, he's stunning. He's. Stunning. He's a perfect and they obviously call him. He has a perfect visual, right? If not, I feel like he is the best looking Korean celebrity right When I see him I don't know if acting is his Forte. I don't think singing or dancing

is his Forte either. But I think because he's so smart, because he has like I know he's like he's he's got a very high cue. He speaks English very well. To considering like he's never studied English. So I know he's got the brains and so for him to have brains and locks, that's huge, right? I don't know if I consider him a phenomenal actor or a phenomenal dancer or a singer and that, but it's OK Like, we can forgive it because he's so good looking, right? Because he's so pretty, he's.

So pretty. But you know what? Can I say? Something Wonderful World, Wonderful World. I have a feeling it's gonna show a totally different side of him that I feel like might be like, oh, wait a minute, OK, maybe he just wasn't doing the right genre, you know what I mean? Because Wonderful World is a melodrama. Slash matang kind of a drama. Feel like, you know, and there's a lot of gonna be a lot of crying from him. There's gonna be a lot of angst and emotion. It might.

I don't know. I feel like it could be hit or miss. I'm hoping it'll be a hit. But yeah, I I totally like. I know everyone was saying for ID Khannam Beauty. They're like if you saw ID Khannam Beauty, you watch True Beauty. I don't think that's true at all. But it is similar. He did have similar. I don't know should. We have this conversation now Should we have this conversation? I don't know. OK. But anyways, I just wanted to mention it, but please tell me

what you said. OK, So what I said and this is with all the love in my heart because I don't want to. I don't wish I'll on him. Like I don't say this with any. I don't say this with any malicious I'm always here to have a good time. I'm always here to just like I'm so curious so and I introed my take which what I did what I've been doing on Tiktok Tiktok. Yeah. Is just posting like rapid fire K drama thought, stray K drama thoughts that I have and this one was pertaining to Child No

and this one was I said. Oh God, oh God. Already. Like I already know it because you had me at TikTok. If you're doing anything with telling you on TikTok. It is. It's like going into an alligator pen at feeding time. So what I did. So I said I know it's stupid. So I said again, I didn't. What'd you say? Just say. It so I said, OK, OK, wait, A. 2nd. As I said, look, I I love Chao and though he's so pretty, he's so high.

I think he's so it's like a perfect specimen, but but if he doesn't, he doesn't have it by now, then he's just never going to get it. So why don't we just cut our losses and give him the modeling gigs and just stop giving him these roles? Because by now, he's stealing roles from other people that are definitely gunning for these big tent pole like. So you went there? Yeah, I did. Yeah, I went there. So that was basically it. That was like, it was like 20

seconds. All hell broke loose in the comments. It was. It was as if I threw a grenade. And honestly, I didn't say he was. I literally did not come out and say he was a bad actor. I just said if he doesn't have it by now. But people knew. What you meant? I know, I absolutely I he's done 123-4567 roles and what? Six years, yeah. It's been six years. He doesn't have it, OK, I can. I can agree with that. I totally agree with it. He's. Been given a lot of chances.

Did you watch A Good Day to Be a Dog? I did not but. Here's what I heard. This is, this is something. So while while we're here, this is something that a lot of people were bringing up in the comments, Oh people, you're just doing this for clout to like. Yeah. OK, relax number one. It's second of all people were saying. It seems like you haven't watched all of his projects, so I need to have watch all of his projects to have an opinion.

OK, I watched almost all of them except the sweet revenge one. And he was playing a version of himself, a fictionalized version of himself, in sweet revenge. And he was actually a delight. Oh, is this the short one? The West. OK, you know what? I think I might have watched some clips of it on YouTube. Yeah. OK. I do remember this. You know what? Yes, That's why I I totally agree. I think you have to be very objective about this, right? It's not that deep. It's not that deep. It's not.

That deep he he doesn't have. He's not. Yeah. He's not a natural born actor. He is first an idol who became an actor and I totally. But why? Why take away the projects from him, Jess? I would want him to keep acting like just keep doing your thing. What I'm saying is he's and someone said this in the comment, I'm like, I'm going to use this. Someone said he's better in print and I was like, Oh my God, yes, he is so much. Better. Is she OK?

You know, I would like him to sell me anything he can, just not a plot. I know, I know. Sell me cosmetics. You know what though? We're talking Korea here. We're talking the entertainment industry. Looks will get you so far. Oh yeah. So far. And it's gonna keep he's gonna keep riding that wave. But I honestly, OK, I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt here. Wonderful world. OK. Yeah. I am. I am hoping for him for that. I'm hoping for so many people said that to you.

They were like, let's give him one more chance. One more chance. No. But you out of your mind? OK, alright, but to be? Fair. All these other roles were very like he was very typecasted into like, this ROM com kind of role. OK, you know what? Let's just wait, you're. So you're with that commenter. That's like. I am the several commenters that I like. You know what though? If wonderful Will was in the picture, I would totally agree with you.

Or, but like would I? To the extent of saying no dramas, period. I don't know. I I wouldn't mind seeing him here and there, but like a good day to be a dog. Oh man, that was like, I had such high hopes for that one and it just it was his exact character. Am I gonna have to lock my doors after this? OK, so it was the exact character. This is a safe space. I can't guarantee what happens this airs.

But I'm just saying, you gotta be, you gotta be De Lulu to think that he was not the same character in ID Kangnam and True Beauty and a good day to be a dog. Thank you. And like. That's all I. Need. You know what? You know what's weird? You know, hit the top. I don't know if you watched that. I haven't, but I've seen so many clips and I'm like, he looks like he's doing, he's cooking in that way he was. Great. And I think it's because, and I feel like his vibe was a bit

different. I don't know if it's if it was his first role. He was just like, oh, I'm just going to do it just to do it. And like I'm, I'm not an actor, so who cares? There was. Something about it that I was like hold on and then everything after downhill, downhill. Yeah, exactly. So I have to give him cry for hit the Top to be honest because was very different and. I I will agree with you. And that's just based on all the clips that I've seen with him,

yeah. There wasn't much of a Mini, to be honest. Like not. The clips that I've seen are probably no. That is actually pretty accurate. But yeah, not much to analyze there. But yeah, he was anyways one. Let's give him a chance. One more chance. OK, wonderful world. I have high hopes. OK, here is my assessment of him really fast. Is that because because so many people like came for my throat, I was like, well, maybe let me stop, take a take a step back. So he has.

This is my assessment of his acting. Oh God, why? Real, real fast. Real fast is that Tao Nu has a standby mode and it's just wooden, expressionless Chao Nu. Usually everything's going on, all house breaking loose. He's he could be happy, sad, whatever. It's the same. But then when he really is is cooking, is when there's an emotionally demanding scene. That is, he's has to cry. And then I'm like, OK, there's something like he's sad and in

true beauty. There's scenes of that, like when he's confronting his dad and he gets like heated and emotional and he starts crying. That's when he's like, Oh my God, something. You see a. Glimmer. You see a glimmer of something? OK, yeah, yeah. So that's exactly how I feel about. OK, so we're a wonderful. World, Yeah, that's exactly how I feel.

And I feel like that's why I think Wonderful World is going to be good for him because there's going to, there is a lot of crying from on his part judging from the preview, so. Right. Yeah. Like, I don't know what he taps into. Yeah. But, and then I saw, and then because people were invoking a good day to Be a dog as being like a good outing for him. So I watched a bunch of clips of a good Day to be a dog. Yeah. So that's. I'm not. I'm not the one that's bringing this up.

The people, the populace, the, the trolls on Twitter. I'm not Twitter. The trolls on TikTok. So I watched a bunch of clips and the ones that really worked were the ones where he was crying and blubbering and emotional. And I was like, OK, that's his bag. Yeah, so that's why I think. I think he just. Has been. He's not a micro expression dude. Like, he's not the person that's like, you're believing his day-to-day, No? OK, give him also like a give

him a bad boy. Role, you know, I want to see it. Give him a bad boy role where he's angry and just hates the world and like give him a forget the drama. Maybe give him like a Netflix original or like a movie where he can swear and stuff, you know what I mean? Yeah, and I think he wants that especially. Because he just announced he could do it, yeah. I think he could do it. He just announced like his new album, right? Or a new mini album or something like that.

The image is. He wants that. Yeah, I definitely think he is. He wants to be a bad boy. Yeah, I don't. Yeah, he doesn't want this clean cut look. Yeah, So let's just wait because he he's, I think it's going to be a bit of it in Wonderful World, Like he rides a motorcycle. He's got the leather jacket going. I'm hoping for it. So let's hope this is like a little step into the whole Bad Boy Challenge side. Because I think so. Island was another one that

people were like this. Roland Island was amazing. So I watched a bunch of clips of Island. I'm doing my homework here, like people are like calling me out for not watching his shit. And I'm like, fine. So I watched a bunch of clips of Island, which I heard wasn't that good. I'm not going to sit here and watch an entire drama just to prove your point. So watch clips. I was like, OK, I see a lot of

improvement here. But again, it's a it's a bad boy priest, he. Does play priest which I thought was like promising, right. Because like bad boy priest. Like, that's so out of town news, like. It's not. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, I have a whole other issue with that drama. But yeah, it's. No, I'm sure I'm. Not going to say yeah, but anyways, he. But acting, his acting was like the whole thing of it. But that, that's my take on Chalonnu. I will not be taking questions about it. I will.

Not. I think it's fair, though. I think it's fair, yeah. Like the criticism is fair. It's fair. It's fair. Yeah. I totally. And I think anyone else would agree with you. Any other. Sorry, like not to Lulu, you know what I mean? I'd agree with you. Yeah. Because here's the thing. Taleno is here because he has pretty privilege. 100%. And a lot of stars are here because they have pretty privilege. But. His looks is what put I hate to say it is.

His looks, though, helped propel Astro's fame. Absolutely so. And I think even Astro knows that to a certain extent. And and every time when when China first started acting and going on variety shows for his looks and all and getting invited, he was the only one right that would get invited, which is awful. But he even said my goal and dream is to make my group popular and make my group successful. And he did it. He did the job right because he was always loyal to his group, right?

So got to respect that, got to respect the hustle. He worked hard or didn't work so hard. I don't know. Whatever. All right. All right. So let's, I guess, let's get back on track. So, like his the second male lead of the show, let's talk about him so. My heart. Play Souljun and he's been in stuff like Tale of Milk Do 18 again. Sound of Magic Wire Prefabricated family. So how do you feel about this dude he like, is Absolutely. Perfection. Perfection. He's perfection.

I think he is like, honestly, I came for the ROM com vibes and I honestly like hanging up, stole my heart and he still has my heart. Like he's like, he's one of my top, top favorites and true beauty. You know, I always joke that it's the greatest K drama of all time. Do you really? Yeah, I kind of joke. Not really joking, though, right? But I'm like kind of like, and it's all because of hanging yolk. Like, I absolutely loved him in this role.

I didn't expect it. When I saw it in the previous, honestly, I was like, OK, whatever. It's like, you know, it's a high school drama. How, how much, you know, emotionally involved can I get? And yeah, he totally won me over. Wow. Everything about him but like Sound of Magic Wiper. Oh God. I I mean, he has a bit of a a the same thing going as Moon Kayong where his best thing is. True, I know. And I hate to 18 again. I don't know. I love 18 again and until until no dude.

He was also amazing, but it was a very minor role. But in 18, again, he played a similar role. To be honest, he was like kind of like a bad boy bully, but you know, not as like strong of a presence in that drama, but in true beauty. Yeah, for me, he was the reason that the show was so, so good in my opinion. And it went. From good to great. Yeah, I think if if Pineapp wasn't in the drama, I have to say, I don't know if it would be, you know, that great to me

to be honest. I think he brings something, OK, so he brings something different because I think he's, he's older, right? He's older than the other two. He's in his. I think he's much older. He's much older, 32, yeah. 31 He's in his 30s, he got a much later start than the other 2 and so I think that he is just brings a different vibe to the show. I liked the edginess of it. I think every high school drama needs a bad boy, right? Like, I need some sort of, like

a a little bit of edge. And I think, yeah, I felt like, you know, you know, the butterflies and the, you know, whatever those feels are. I didn't get it so much from Chaonu as I got it from hanging up. And I'm being totally biased here, and I'm aware of that. But yeah, the love lines, the love vibes with Chown New and Munguang were like, we're cute, but I think the scenes with him in it were a lot more impactful, you know? So you had second lead syndrome? Yeah, totally.

Big time, yeah. But like, story of my life, like always, always. I always like, yeah, it's always a second lead for me. But yeah, I I thought he was amazing in it. But yeah, it is the same thing as Munguayang. I think this is his biggest claim to fame. Like his Instagram following went from like, it went to like from like. I think it was under 500,000 followers because he was a hardcore rookie and it went, it was catapulted to I think like 9

million in this series alone. And I think now he has, like, I don't know exactly how many, but I just remember seeing it, and I remember seeing it grow. And everyone was commenting about how insane it was that it grew so quickly. Yeah. And even to the extent where his younger brother was like getting, he has like, yeah, my God, hang up his 19.5 million followers. Whoa, yeah. Which is insane, right? And what has he done? For what? What has he done for what I know?

Yeah, he he wasn't true beauty. Like, that's insane to me. Right. OK, so when I watched True Beauty, I did not get second lead syndrome. I'm like one of the few that didn't get secondly, but I never almost never get second lead syndrome. Oh, really? OK, so you're the awesome to. Me, Yeah. So I'm just immune, but I could say I just thought he was the standout of the cast and I love that bromance that happened between him and talent. Agree, Agree. I did like.

I did like that a lot actually. Yeah, I think that was one of the highlights like that was I put it in my notes actually for like the one of the best parts. But yeah, maybe we'll get to that after, but the bromance for sure. Was well, let's get to it now. Like, what were some of the best parts of the show for you? Like this I guess goes we already know that you love the show.

So I'm not going to ask you like what do you think of the show greatest, but what were some of the best parts for you? So for the best parts for OK, obviously it was a hanging Yelp scenes. I I liked all the little, I don't know if we're gonna go like super detailed. But there were certain scenes where where hanging up was like going to confess to Mungayang, like they were eating food and

then he wanted to say something. And she was kind of like, you know, oblivious to it, you know, those little parts also when they're doing the photo shoot and they're getting really close with her. And then, you know, he's like, obviously, like totally in love with her.

No, he's whipped. Yeah, and like just like, yeah, everything about that whole relationship, you know when she was doing the, when he first fell in love with her, the whole like RAR, you know, like he was, she was like a sake, she was making fun of his underwear and she was doing the tiger sounds and then he like totally fell in love with her and he's like, can you do it again? Then he's asking for it. Yeah. And I was like, oh, it's just so sweet. You know?

There isn't anything like that with Mungayang and Chow Nu's character. Inside jokes. Yeah. And even at the end when he's, like saying, oh, when he, like, kind of decides to, like, let her go, I just felt so much more emotional about it, you know? But yeah, so like, all obviously the highlights were that. But I also loved. I don't know if you remember means him these characters. So it's like her sister Yungayung sister. Yeah. I it was. She's the best. Yeah. I love her.

I did another video of of her about her on TikTok because I think she's such a highlight. Love. OK, so like, after the show aired, I I remember I did some sort of, like live on my on my Instagram, and I was totally riding the emotional wave. But I put her as like one of my top five favorite Korean actresses, Just 'cause I think she's so like, I feel like she's just like a ray of sunshine in the drama. I appreciated her romance.

I it was a little goofy and it was a little, The whole show was silly. It was, it was like, put the eyebrows, though, with the guy with her, you know, her love interest. Was embarrassed, was embarrassed because his eyebrows were non existent, basically. And so he had to get a tattooed, right? I don't know. I was like, what? What is this? Yeah, yeah. But I loved her like how she was so open with her love for him. And she was so she was the one chasing him, right? Yeah, the. Gender flaw?

Exactly, exactly So I loved, loved, loved her character. So she was a highlight for me for sure in the series. Yeah, like, she changes this tire and she's very, she's sort of forthcoming and she knows what she wants and she's a go getter. And she has this wonderful, thriving career. And she had no beef with her younger sister, loved her unconditionally and sort of was a nice addition to the family that was like no animosity there. And I love that about the sister

that she was just like. No issues. Also like when she would show up drunk and like you know and chow and it was like what's wrong with your sister? Like this is so so like reckless but like, yeah, I I appreciated her character was so down to earth. But yeah it was it was, it was good to see. I also liked her father. The role really, I kind of did because it was, it was kind of a reflection of what she was going through. Like because he was supposed to

be the eye candy. Yeah. Out of the him and the mom, right. The mom is supposed to be the non quote UN quote ugly. Yeah, quote UN quote ugly one. And he's like all the women think he's so good looking. So I was like, this is kind of like what the daughter's going through, right. Because she's with this really, really handsome guy who like loves her unconditionally. I don't know. I just thought it was really cute. But I liked, I like Paco Zan, though.

Like, I like his him as an actor, and he usually plays like kind of more edgier roles. So this was very, very. He was, oh God, what's he? Prison Playbook. Yes, he was with. The list with the list, yeah. And then I think, was he a brother in my Mr. in the Brothers? Oh, he was, Yes. Yes, that was. That was also a big one. I forgot about that one. Yeah.

I really like him a lot. So for me a lot of the same stuff for me. But let me see, I had like there was a lot of scenes in like like obviously the the second male lead rocking out and his boxers in the bathrobe to Okie Dokie O like that's iconic and funny. The This sounds terrible, but I think it's Episode 10 them getting hit by the car Or is it? Is it a car or bus? I vaguely remember that, yeah, that's why they ended up in the hospital. That's why they ended up in the hospital.

That is hysterical. To me, OK, yeah, I thought it was cute with them in the hospital, like how they had to help. Each other. Oh, my God, We're going into spoiler chair. Hold on, hold on, are we? Sorry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, no, no, no, I know. So what we'll do is we're gonna pick back up right here after the spoiler bumper. OK, OK, OK. But but why don't you give me your your score? Like out of five soju bottles? Like, how? What would you rate true beauty? I think I know the answer.

You know what though? OK, I have this thing OK where I I have my favorite K dramas of all time. I have with like my favorite traumas of all time from my heart. From your heart, OK. And then from like realistic, like from my head, you know, like. I know I'm following you. Do you get? What? I mean like I have the ones that I'm like, oh, these are masterpieces. Like perfectly done. Can I wash them again? No, never. Once was enough. But it was absolute perfection.

And then I have from my heart where I'm like, I love this drama for no reason. It's not that deep. Like, everyone will disagree with me, but I still like, I will recommend it till the end. You know what I mean? Like, so if I had to be totally from my heart, it would be, yeah, give it, give it five out of, give it 10 out of five, right. Like, it's the greatest. Like I said, it's the greatest K drama of all time.

Speaking from my heart, right. And this is from somebody who's watched K dramas since the day I could walk because of my mom, right? So, like, I've watched crap ton of K dramas. But again, a lot of it has to do with my infatuation with hanging up, right? But yes, five out of five. But like, and it's not that deep. So if I had to like grade it from my, like, you know, rational standpoint, I'd still give it still like a four 4.5 out of five, OK, you know?

What I mean So for me, I this when I watched it, I really liked it. It came after I watched Move to Heaven, so I really needed a light K drama. Wow, that's perfect. I feel like that's a perfect, like balance. So I've watched it. Yeah. So I watched it. And I was like, oh, this is like, just what I needed. I needed like a turn your brain off K drama. And that's what this is. However I can, I have to be

honest. Like, now that we're here and we're being honest and I just like Roasted Child. Though it took me 3 days to rewatch episode one. Oh, OK. So I cannot say that this is rewatchable for me. I don't think that this is a favorite of mine at all. When I'm recommending dramas to people, I almost never recommend true beauty. And I can positively nailed down all the flaws that are like and I will name the flaws actually like when we get into the spoiler section too, if you'll allow me.

Yeah, I actually have a couple too. OK, perfect. So we'll have like a little section where we can roast your beauty for like a couple of minutes. Yeah. So I will say that it for me it's like a 3 1/2. OK. That's not fair. Yeah, three and a. Half pair. Yeah. And you know what's funny? I get it. Yeah, like it. It's fine. Like I. Get it? Yeah, I totally get it. Yeah, yeah, so that's me. But we are going to pick up on the car crash right after this. Excuse me.

I can't turn. I can't turn up. Yeah, No. I have no tango. Oh, sorry. Swear this crossing. Shit. What? OK, we're on the other side of spoilers, so anything goes. Anything went before 'cause I think we just kind of figured everybody, everyone and their mom has seen true beauty. So this is kind of a free flowing episode. It is definitely a Kay rambles this time around.

But what I found hysterical was that car crash scene because they had, they put them on I think wires and telling them was like he had his back arched and he was flying through the air. Oh my God. Hysterical. I could not get enough of that scene. It's so stupid it. Is I actually like I think I remember seeing the behind the scenes and I remember thinking oh I didn't remember being that like I don't like that dramatic do. You know what I mean? But it came out of nowhere, right?

Like the dramatic nature of it, it literally came out of nowhere and that's why it took a lot of people by surprise. And it it's totally, totally different from this, like the rest of the show. It is very different but the after effects of it. No, because then you have these great hospital scenes and more bromance between the two of them, Sojun and Suo. And there's that scene, My favorite one of them too in the hospital is I think it was.

I was doubled over laughing when soju needs to, he needs help to pee. And Sewell like he jumps on the phone as if to call for a nurse's help, like to get a nurse to help him to pee, but instead he dead ass requests to have his room changed. And I was like, Oh my God. I didn't even pick up on that. So you were like, you're led to believe that he's asking for help, but he's like, you got to Get Me Out of here. He's like, can I get my room, Jake? I was like, Oh my God, that's so

good. But also not surprising considering no. Yeah. No. Yeah. No. So, yeah. So you had the hospital reconciliation. You have high jinks, I think. I think the female leader also like hides under his cover like. Oh yeah, that's right. Cover. I remember that. Point Yeah. So that's all in there as well. Mm hmm. There's a cameo like early in episode 4 from the. It was like Ichiuk and Kimayun from Extraordinary UI. Remember that? Yeah. And they're in character from

Extraordinary U as well. So that was fun. Because of the director. Yeah, OK, same director. So that makes a lot of sense. What other comedy is there? Those. Oh, she did like a huasa dance early on in the show. I don't remember that for some reason. She she thought she was on some sort of like an elimination. No, not like a a talent show. OK. But she ended up dancing in front of the teachers and it was like a very sensual. I I don't know why I do know. I remember that.

Oh, OK, so this happened like early on in the show? For some reason it doesn't ring a bell, but. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oops. Yeah. And I mean, there's a lot of comedy. Like, even in episode one, there's a ton of things. There is like, I feel like there was a lot of stuff that was very over the top that it's so it didn't really surprise me. But I know this is like totally not about the comedy part, but like the 1 downer I feel like.

One downer I will. When we get into the roasting of this, I feel like there's a lot of down. I have one main one, but OK, all right. OK, go. We'll get there. Go. For it. Yeah, it's fine. It's fine, OK. So like, my my thing is like, I really didn't like the Mungayong's friend Chung's friend Kung Zujin. So she's like she was the overture. Was it the natural beauty? Yeah, I guess so, I guess. I did air quotes when I said that no one can see that, but I

did air quotes. But yeah, the one that she liked Suho as well and she was always competing with Suho because she was getting you know crapped on by her dad at home, right. We're not getting good enough grades. I I did not like her character and I thought she was like ruining the whole feel good vibe of the show. Like, I just. I'm so sick of the girl best friends. Like being turning out to be so, like, not great. You know what I mean? It's a. Cliche. It's a cliche. I don't like it.

I feel like, why does she have to be so mean to everybody else if she's going on through, like going through all this stuff in real life? I just wanted to be the supportive, like really good best friend, you know, like. And it was just sad to see that, you know, she was trying, you know how she took Isuo's cap or whatever. And then like hugging or not really hugging, but like there were, you know? Yeah, she was like, actively trying to get. Get with him, yeah.

And to separate them and a foster miscommunication. And exactly. That he was like, close to her and all of this stuff. Right. And I was like, this is just not a girl's girl. And not like, Oh yeah, she's not a girl's girl. No, I just. I didn't like that at all. So that was frustrating. And then she's the one who blows a little out, blows the lid open on the secret that she is A2 faced person that junky on has. Oh. Right. That's right. At the camp or whatever I think it was.

Was it happening? I thought she like, posted to the forum. Oh yeah. OK, OK. OK. Of her getting bullied. Yeah. At the first school. And so now everyone knows that she's. This doesn't make sense. That literally doesn't make sense that people are upset that she's wearing makeup. They're like, you're lying. It's makeup. I know, but like. A lot of the stuff here in this show was like, are you serious Like. Oh, no, it's it's. It's like a Clark Kent, the Superman thing.

It's like, OK, glasses with glasses, without glasses. And it's like, for real. Like, for real. Yeah. And it's like they're like you have. Bad skin and you lied about it. It's like. Did I? Yeah. And also, like without, you know, people with acne probably know, but you can have hundreds of pounds of makeup on your face. You're still going to see acne, right? Like the? The texture. Thing. Yeah, exactly. But for her, it's like photoshopped.

It's magically gone, right? I'm like, I don't care how good you are at makeup. It's not, you know, so. Don't work like that, babes, You know? OK, so I guess we're we're veering into this territory anyway, but like, what are some of the problems that you have? What's the true beauty? So, you know, I don't have that many issues with it. And I did mention the whole sister, the sismance, like not being there. Another very, very, very small small thing.

I didn't like the soundtrack, like, or I didn't care. I didn't, I didn't care for the soundtrack, sorry. Not that I didn't like it. I loved I loved Sojun singing like hanging UPS. You know that song and I remember playing it over. He does. It's fantastic perfection. He can do no wrong.

But the overall OST I it's not something I listen to like I've never gone back to it to be like or if I were to hear you know how like certain OST you hear the beginning and you're like oh you know like Goblin is. Takes you right back. Yeah, huge, right? It's like monumental, right? For this, there's not a single song where I can hear the first few notes and be like, what? What is this like? I'd be like, Oh my God, this is true beauty.

I feel like they could have invested a bit more on the soundtrack, a little bit and it could have like or like. It adds to the scenes like none of that, you know, Like, I just, I felt like it was lacking in that sense. And I don't know this is a total like nitpick, but. No, no. Like, I'm a nitpick queen and I'll roast everything. Like, I people know this by now, but I'm an equal opportunity roaster. I will roast. Everything like my favorites, things that I. Oh, I'm like that too though.

Plus, like the things that I absolutely love. I can roast everything. I can roast my ultimate bias, which is home drinky till, like, the cows come home. I can do it all week. Like I can roast them. Yeah, I can tell that's a whole other episode. This is this is maturity. It is. It is, you know. Yeah, it is. It totally is. I I can't. I can't. I don't vibe with people who are who think their bias or favorite group is perfect. Oh yeah, because it it doesn't exist.

Right. And but there's been certain situations where I've been like, Oh my God, these people are these certain fandoms are crazy where they think that you know. But that's for another another episode. Yeah. Another. Another. Yep. No, we'll leave that for another day. So let's talk about how I think true beauty is overrated. So the I didn't think that. Come on. We'll just leave it at that. We'll just leave it at that, but it's. Underrated.

I'm kidding. I OK, so I don't like how Ju Kyung is, or rather, Mung Kyung's portrayal of the female lead. She sounded Ikio like the whole time. OK, I do agree. I hated the baby boy she kept. Grazing. As if she was a little girl. I just hated it. Hated it, hated it. It is so grinding and it's 16 episodes long. Why is it 16 episodes? It could have been 12 the last two episodes. What the hell is going on in those filler episodes we got to

talk about? I mean, I don't know if we have to necessarily sit here and like dissect it, but the whole thing of Sewell's father having a sudden stroke which sends him flying off the scene literally, plus the two year time jump radio silence for two years. From Can I? Let me give you some context though. This the web, so you know it was a web tune. Yeah, it is so long. No, it's long. It was ongoing. It was. Ongoing. Scary. Yeah, I think it ended recently. I'm pretty sure it was like it

ended recently. There are some things that I found out recently because I was talking about to some drama friends about true beauty and they so one of them had read the Rep the web tune and they told me some things and I was shocked, shocked, shocked to my core. So Suho is gone for two years and I was saying how the hell does the second male lead and true beauty blow A2 year lead? Yeah, I know. I know. How? The hell does he blow A2 year lead? It's not real it all.

Happens. It's not realistic that they never they never get together. And just when Suo comes back is when he finally works up the nerve to confess to Jew kill. That doesn't make a lick of sense, so my friend said. But they do date in the. Oh, that's right. They do date. I do remember. When Suho is gone. Yes, yes. They date and I was like I was on the. I like sliding down the walls. I was like, this changes everything. This changes everything.

Why the hell wouldn't they do that in the show? I know, I I feel like for drama writers, it's just that that one factor of the second lead can never be with the female lead. It literally. It didn't make sense to me. It's the. Formula, you know, because they. Made it so easy for you to push it in that direction because he was already buddy buddy with the family. I think he was sleeping over her house or something like that, like he was in ingrained. I'm I would have been here for

it totally. But I do remember, because I was so obsessed with the drama, I went online and I read the webtoon. And then I read it for a bit after the show. And I was like, oh, OK, so I don't know, Like, I know that there were certain things that they didn't incorporate, but I think they needed a foreclosure. No, for the They couldn't have like, Oh yeah, unless they did another season or which I would have been here for, you wouldn't have, but I would have been here for another.

It just didn't like. I think it could have been 12 episodes and you could have kept that giant ass like they dated for two, for two years or or for some. Don't you think you would have had to like prolong though? Like a longer? More episodes? No, just one episode you needed of them dating. Yeah. OK, that's. Fair of her. Kind of like you see their relationship and how she's maybe she's with him, but she's not like with him, with him like she is with Suo.

And you see like the differences in there, how they comport themselves together. You do get a glimpse of it, you know, when she's drunk and all the friends. Call him. And he shows up, and there's. That and that's when you think, Oh my God, they're together. That was the cliffhanger because they had the episode. And then she, like, leans on him. Yeah. He has like his arm around her. And she leans on him. Yes.

And then she, like, looks up at him like, and they're about to like it looks like they're about to kiss or something. And then, like, yeah, I told her I remember that it was. A So then they were like, psyched They're not together. Psyched. He still hasn't confessed to her. He's still in the friend zone. And you're like, what the what is this even like?

It's just all over the place. So in the webtoon they were actually dating the there was like a YouTube, like a famous YouTube that she learned all of her makeup prowess from. OK. I think her name was Selena, and at the end of the show she's like working for that brand, for the makeup brand. OK, that is Suho's sister in the webtoon. In like real life or. In the webtoon. Oh, that like that woman. That oh, the younger sister. The younger sister.

Is Suho's sister. And I was like, Oh my God again, that blew my mind. And I was like, why? Why don't we do that? Why don't? Why don't we have that? Because in the drama, true Young does her makeup and makes her kind of like pretty and stuff right in the drama. No, I'm saying suho like Taunu. Oh, wait a minute. He didn't have a sister in the drama. Exactly. OK, but no way. Now I'm thinking a Sojun sister would have made more sense, no? No. No. OK.

OK. OK. Anyway, Sojun had the younger sister who was also struggling with acne. And right right image issues. And was also getting bullied. But wouldn't have made more sense for her to grow up and start this huge thing and then like, OK, OK, because Sue, that's so random. Suho's sister like having a makeup. Yeah, that Suho's sister was the one that had this, like, beauty empire. OK, that helped like. Find her. Look, yeah. Yes. Right, OK.

And so you wanted that, you wish they had that in. Drama. I was like, what? Why are we doing these misconnections? So that was another thing. And then the other thing I think was like, why is the stunningly beautiful channel News doesn't care about? Looks like he's like an anomaly that he does not give a shit about looks. And for the second male lead you have an explanation. Like his sister is also struggling with body image

issues. He has this like adorable sister who also has acne and he loves her to death and he has no issues with that. And so that you can see how that affects his reasoning and that how he views other people, how he views to kill for a Talanu, there's no such thing. And in fact, he's buddy, buddy with like idols. So you've kind of should think that he has more emphasis on how people should look. I see. OK. So you don't think it's realistic that? He That's not realistic.

But in the webtoon they they explain it. They explain it all. He is his background. He's half Japanese, Korean, half Korean and he was bullied from a young age because of that. So now because of that he determines like physical appearance as meaningless. Which is why he falls for Shu Young. Right. So, like, that's his reasoning for like why he doesn't care about. So you needed it to be more deep. Well, it's character development. It's part of his like foundation.

But I I don't know. I feel like with suho. Otherwise, it's just this little fairy of a man walking around doesn't care about appearances, even though he is literally like an Adonis. I know it doesn't make sense. Yeah, so you needed that little bit of like a little bit of a background, yeah, to get his character. Yeah. OK, I I would have wanted more of Sojun's background. That's good, but you love the 2nd. Medley. I know, I know, I know. See this whole Suho and Chuyong

and dynamic stuff. I'm just like. Yeah, so I went deep into my drama list to look at why 'cause the You can leave. People leave reviews, right? Oh yeah, did you go through them? Went through them. Oh my God girls, I don't think I ever read the reviews. My God, they are so funny. Because I would be. Curious. I would be curious. They started roasting this show so in valid ways too. Valid ways.

So people were like it was okay the setup with the male lead tormented over a friend's death and the female leads appearance were basically pointless. As soon enough this settles into standard fare. 1 pedestrians. Less car accident despite all the time in the world to avoid it. Check love triangle. Worse, worse center is oblivious In this case the female lead. Check me and mom suddenly overcome with grief when learning of child's hardships. Years too late and suddenly all is forgiven.

Check. Character disappears overseas for an extended time and returns with the no advance word? Check. Pointless breakup? Check. Hospital visit due to gastrointestinal issue? Check. Third wheel heroically gives up and helps main leads get back together after being annoying the entire show? Check. Best friend betrayal to return later to allow lead to forgive To show how wonderful the lead is? Check. You know what's crazy? OK, it's formulaic. Yeah. Hearing.

OK hearing this though and the reason why I don't really read the my drama, this is totally off tangent right? But like, I feel like the way Koreans see K dramas are so different from the way international people see K dramas. Oh, great point. You know why? Because international people, when they see K dramas, they can dissect it and analyze it. But for Koreans, it's like, it's good. It's entertaining. They don't really think of like, the whole, like, they don't dig deeper.

Yes, they don't because it's it's a way of it's entertainment, it's everyday, right? If I was an international person and I can kind of do this because I I guess I can do this with J Dramas and C dramas, I can be like, what? Why? Why is that like a thing or you know what I mean? But I think for an international perspective, I can see why these things would be like, OK, it's so dumb. It's the same reason why people hate on airs and why people hate

on boys over flowers. It's exact same thing. True beauty is under that category. It is in. Fact, it's very similar to boys. That's why exactly. And that's why I always say this. It is not, I promise you, K dramas are not that deep. They are not that deep, right. There's. So many there's. So. People said in my the same cliche and boring story. This drama has nothing new, neither fresh. It was funny, but that was their strongest point. Yeah, the tropes overtake actual

story investment. Totally. Are you? Yes. Are you kidding me? But to be fair, all K dramas are founded in tropes I've been watching. Yeah, like I can tell you the first K drama I watched when I was like, I don't know, 6-7 years old is in terms of formula and tropes is exactly the same as a K drama you would watch now, but it's just that more people are watching it. You know what I mean? Because it works.

But we are getting to because things, thanks to Netflix, we are getting to K dramas that are more out of the cookie cutter, which is like squid game and death's game. You know, like those kind of dramas that are for like have never been done before. Right. But again, this is for another conversation. But I that's why, like, when I see the reviews, I'm just always like, oh man, it's because, yeah, they they didn't grow up with K dramas or, you know, aren't part of the Korean

culture. So, you know, it's easy to analyze it. Right? But Koreans don't do that. They don't really analyze movies or K dramas to that extent where it's like, Oh my God, I'm so sick of this. I'm like, this is so overdone. They're so quick to just, like, watch it and just watch it for entertainment purposes. Not even like, you know what I mean? Not as a critic does that make sense, right? But if you're like watching from the outside, you're like, you can critique it because you're

not. It's not part of your culture kind of a thing. Absolutely. And I would say I would categorize true beauty as like a guilty pleasure. Totally. It's it's like a it's like America's version of love is blind or whatever. You know what I mean? It's like because Korean doesn't really have like variety shows or guilty pleasures. They are getting more so now with the reality shows. But yeah, it's a total, like just mindless, just watching it for the sake of watching it, you

know? But yeah, it's not like up there to be like this is, this is up for, it's just gonna be nominated for an Emmy, you know what I mean? It's not up for that kind of like deep discussion. Yeah, yeah. And I think that the problem is that there's, to me, there's levels of like ROM coms, and there's really good ROM coms that are so smart and sexy and

fun. And then there's some that are just like really baseline, like it's guilty pleasure, a lot of tropes, and they're not really done well and there's nothing new to add. And the people can't act very well and like, but there's something about it that you're just like, I could shut my brain off and watch this at 3:00 AM and, like, fall asleep. Totally. And that's what true beauty is. And if that's what you're in the

mood for, then great. But if that's not what you're in the mood for, then you know, so be it. Like that's fine. If you're looking for like, you know to critique something you know squid game or you know something like very, there's. High High Art and High Cinema K. Dramas now. And then there's True beauty. So, but I think a lot of like that being said, I think a lot of people were impressed by the production value on True Beauty when it came out. And like the high quality CG

scenes. And like, like they have her. Like flying through the sky with a blue screen behind her. Like in front of a blue screen when she's learning how to do makeup. And she's, I think I remember that. And then all the makeup makeup in the background, like, yeah, OK, OK, I. Like the graphics and stuff. The way that her room is like an intense set of in and of itself, because she's like a closet

horror manga fan. Maybe not closet horror manga, but her room is just like horror aesthetic Barbie horror, basically. OK, I OK, I totally forgot about that. But she was into like the they were both into horror manga, right? Kind of. Yeah, I mean, I don't believe that for a second. But OK, that's fine. Fine. Sure. What else? I think the message gets lost. Like the inner beauty is more important than external beauty

that gets lost. I I think the overarching, like how they even got to know each other how they met was because she was on the rooftop and about to commit suicide and then the boys are on the outs because of their a friend committing suicide. And this whole thing like that is very serious and they don't take it that serious in the show. It gets completely lost and overshadowed by like this love triangle and the totally at the school. I think that's like totally.

I think that's in poor taste to be honest in very poor taste. So but that's also. Also Korea, right? Very. Then we can get into social commentary about the culture and their perspectives on mental health. Period. Right. But yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. For sure. But all to say, yeah, like we always come back to it, but it's it's not a it's a total light hearted watch. Right. It is. It is.

And again, I don't hold any animosity towards these actors for, you know, having one hit, being one hit wonders or having like no skills. But that's why, you know, that's fine. They at least they're they have a career and they're making bank and. And it's entertainment. At the end of the day, it's entertaining, right? Like whether it's good or bad, it's entertaining, right? Like, you know, you're, yeah, you're kind of like, oh, how is this going to go like And even

that's kind of like fun. I don't know. Yeah. Two closing questions for you. Is True Beauty a modern classic? No. No, it's not. Why? Why do you feel it's not a modern? Because it can't be taken seriously and like I said, like this is. It can't, no. It can't. Be it. Can't be this isn't going to solve any issues. It's not going to, yeah, it's not going to make people's lives better, Defining better, right. And like I said, this is, I

always joke about it, right? That this is the greatest K drum of all time. Same reason why I joke about airs. Like I don't care what people say. Airs was a phenomenon in Korea at the time. So whether you love it or not, it was massively in terms of brand, in terms of act. Like everything. All the above. It was huge at the time. Oh my God, everyone. Yeah, And whether. I feel about it. Yeah. An icon is an icon. Exactly. So like is true beauty.

I don't even say true beauty can be up to par with airs, to be honest, because it wasn't as big as airs as it was in Korea at the time. But yeah, I don't think it's a classic. I definitely don't think it's it's gonna people are going to be writing about it when it comes to best key dramas of all time.

But in terms of tugging out in my heartstrings, it being a ROM com doing its job of like, you know, being having lots of visual eye candy and you know, being predictable and having all those heartfelt scenes, like, I think it did its job. But yeah, it's not a classic. It's not a ROM com classic. For sure. What do you think makes true beauty so special? What is the secret to its enduring appeal? Why is it #1 on Vicky?

OK. When you say it like that, like I have like first thing, you know, I was like nothing really, nothing really. And I can be cheerful about this. There's nothing really. I think that makes it special per SE. I just think it's got like, OK, so the reason why it's number one on Vicky is obviously Chao Nu and Huang Ying Yu up. That's the reason why. OK like Chaonu is an international phenomenon and hanging up has become an

international phenomenon, right? And I feel like over the years, it's just a K drama that people will, that new K drama watchers will watch. So if you're new K drama Watcher, it's on your list of K dramas to maybe watch or not watch whatever, but it's on your list, right? And so, like, I feel like people are continuing to watch it and people are re watching it because it's just such a mindless show that you can just put on.

And for me, when I'm going through a K drama, I'll just put it on in the background when I'm doing stuff. Like it's just that kind of a K drama, you know what I mean? But what makes it special, girl? I don't know. But you know what? Like, OK, if I can be very rational about it, it's got a lot of elements that me as a girl who is a huge fan of ROM Coms like about ROM com. So like the whole, you know, the makeover aspect love that. Like I I've watched lots of American movies where you know

the makeover is fun to watch. I know it's like superficial, but it's it's fun like she's starting over. She was bullied. She was very self-conscious. And now she's like, I'm going to like, you know, do what I have to do to be the best version of myself. And that for her was makeup. So, like, I love that makeover part. And you're meeting the popular guy in school, you know, which is like an American version, I guess captain of the football team or something, you know.

So there's all these little things that like, you can't help but feel it makes you feel good, right. At the end of the day, exact reason why you would like any other ROM com. So I think this hits all of the tropes, yes. But it's kind of comforting in that sense, you know? Yeah, because it does hit those tropes and you know what to expect. I like that. I like that. Answer. So maybe it is a bit special, but you know, not that deep. It's.

It depends on each person I guess, and what they glean from it, because I think we've all every person has that moment where they're like, I think I want to change for the better. And in this case, like her impetus was, she was bullied mercilessly. And I don't think she necessarily wanted to change before this inciting incident in episode one, which was extremely cruel, which is really sad.

I think the makeover aspect is really aspirational because I think we all want to be the best version of ourselves. And she, you know, she does take start taking better care of herself and better care of her skin and she's using, you know, the face masks and stuff, but besides also using cosmetics and learning how to do our makeup and stuff right. So it is sort of a self-care aspect. Is is brought into play here. Yeah, it's a Wellness, right? Like. Wellness. Totally agree. But he is.

She is also at the same time super infantile and naive and she like doesn't like understand social cues and like it's it's bizarre. So a lot of like different things like at play here, because I think we all want to be very insulated like she is, but be beautiful as well inside and out like she is. Yeah, yeah, totally agree. And get like chow no as well so. Knight in shining armor. That's another thing. The knight in shining armor,

right? You. Come Absolutely. Saves her like she's getting bullied. He puts the hat on her, right? I know. Yeah, she has a face full of cake and her makeup is about to, like, slide off. And he. Covers her with his jacket. Come on. It's cute. It's cute, she. Said, Yeah, whatever. So thank you so much for coming on and talking about your favorite show of all time, the best new drama of all time, Bina Masterpiece. Can you quote that?

Masterpiece Chen Chen I had such a great time equally hyping the show up as much as we roasted it and this was so much fun. I hope you'll come back on. Where can we find you online, Bina? So I am most active on Instagram. My handle is Bina Hearts. I'm also here and there on TikTok, but mostly Instagram and you can find me also on Soompi and K Pop Map and you mentioned those links. Yes, yes. I I find myself going back to different Soompi articles and I'm like, I wonder who wrote that.

It's beena. And it's so much fun to see see you online like so much and see how much you've affected all of this content that is like so comforting. And like these, it's it's you're such an indelible part of like, the K drama community. So I'm so glad that I finally got you on Tibac. This has been so much fun. So that's it. Until next time, this has been our show. I'm Jessica and this has been the Tibac K Rambles podcast. And oh, I'm giving it up tonight. I'm in the mood for chance.

I feel like the sun. Oh so come on at home inside the sun. I'm in the mood thing, So let the music play. I'm in the grouping so good.

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