Latest / Daebak K-Rambles Podcast: K-drama Reviews / True Beauty | Full K-drama Review / Ep. 62

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True Beauty | Full K-drama Review / Ep. 62 · Daebak K-Rambles Podcast: K-drama Reviews

0:18
I'm Jessica and this is Tiba Kay Rambles, where a couple of
0:20
friends review Korean dramas. And welcome to the first
0:24
official episode of season five. We are back.
0:28
We are ready to talk about dramas again, and for this
0:32
episode I am joined by Bina at Bina Hearts on Instagram.
0:37
The Soompi writer and editor who has been stealing our hearts for
0:41
a very long time and putting out so much wonderful K Drama
0:46
content. She's also a writer for K Pop
0:49
Map. She's written a book called K
0:50
Pop A-Z, The Definitive K Pop Encyclopedia.
0:53
Bina, how Are you today? I am good.
0:57
Thank you so much for having me, Jess.
1:00
This has been like kind of a long time coming, but I'm so
1:04
glad to finally be here. Yes, I'm so glad that you're
1:08
here. Like she said.
1:10
Like she said, it's been a really long time coming.
1:13
You were supposed to come on last season and then I had to be
1:15
like, let's rain check it because I got burnt out and I
1:19
just had to. I was like, I need to take a
1:21
break. The holidays are coming up and
1:25
we, I'll tell you, we were supposed to review another drama
1:29
and it actually has a little bit to do with the drama that we're
1:32
going. To review.
1:34
Yeah. So maybe we like the writer.
1:35
I don't know. Yeah, So it's like full circle.
1:39
It comes, comes around, it comes around full circle.
1:43
But before we do, before we get into true beauty, if this is
1:47
your first time listening, go ahead and subscribe on your
1:49
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Shout out to our patrons Janet, Curtis, Bale, CD, Alana, Grace,
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and Camila. Thank you guys so much.
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on Patreon. So come and join them and be a
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patron. OK, Are you ready to talk about
2:42
true beauty, Vena? I am always, always ready to
2:47
talk about true beauty. OK, so we'll start with the My
2:52
Drama List synopsis. It reads True Beauty is a
2:55
romantic comedy about a high school girl, IMG Yung, who rises
2:59
to Beauty Girl. This synopsis I can't even
3:02
already rises to Pretty Girl fame after she masters the art
3:07
of makeup from YouTube, she learned.
3:10
What? It's great she turns into a
3:14
goddess. A goddess because of her makeup
3:17
skills but would rather die than reveal her bare face to anyone.
3:21
It tells her love story with the only boy that saw her without
3:24
makeup, East Hall. East Hall is an attractive and
3:28
hand attractive and handsome. Boy who appears.
3:33
Cold because of his dark past, but is actually very caring.
3:37
They grow when they meet each other, share their secrets and
3:41
find love with each other. But can Sue will make Du Pyong
3:44
find her true beauty. All right, This was adapted from
3:50
a webtoon, as a lot of people know or are familiar with it.
3:55
The webtoon is by the same name. True beauty.
3:59
I want. I feel like I'm gonna butcher
4:01
this name. But yeah.
4:04
Yeah, it's exactly. Yes, Yang Yi.
4:08
And then it aired. The show aired from December
4:11
2020 to February 2021. It is 16 episodes long, and it
4:18
is directed by Kim Sung Yob. He's also directed things like
4:23
Melancholia. OK, OK, so he directed.
4:26
Extraordinary. You didn't write it.
4:27
Directed Extraordinary you. So this was the show that we
4:31
were going to review originally. Amazing.
4:34
Yeah, I love that show. It's good.
4:37
It's good. I loved it.
4:39
But yeah, we're supposed to, but it's like 20, just 20/19 was a
4:44
long time ago. But this is only 2020 but then.
4:49
I know. True Beauty is 2020.
4:51
I know, but like, I don't know, Extraordinary You is a bit more
4:54
complicated, the storyline, do you know what I mean?
4:58
Oh, OK. You can remember it forever
5:03
because it's just, you know, which is what you get.
5:06
But extraordinary You was a little bit more complicated.
5:08
And I was like, I don't even really remember exactly what
5:10
happened. But it was a great show.
5:12
Loved it. And did you watch Melancholia?
5:15
I have not watched Melancholia. OK, it it was OK the I don't
5:20
know if you know about it but it's like about a student and a
5:22
teacher. So it's a little bit.
5:26
Yeah, it sounds. Familiar.
5:28
It's a little bit scandalous, but I watched it.
5:31
It wasn't that wasn't that great, but extraordinary.
5:34
You amazing. And then it was.
5:40
Yeah. Written by Ishiun.
5:43
Did you watch any of this, the dramas on her list?
5:47
So hold on, Ishiyan wrote. Run away with Sanjay on
5:51
Piggyback Top Star U Top, Sorry Her Name, Top Star Ubek, Ugly
5:58
Yoga, Season 12, High Kick Three and all my love for you.
6:02
I have not watched any of these. OK, I tried watching TOP * UBEK
6:09
was not for me. It's like a, you know, it's a
6:12
countryside kind of trope like, you know, like 2 Countryside
6:17
Girls, 2 Countryside Boys like Fall in Love, whatever.
6:20
I couldn't really get into it even though I love the cast.
6:23
And High Kick three I think is the the highlight here because
6:28
she wrote this is a huge sitcom. It was like, I don't know, I
6:32
want to say like 150 episodes. And I think it was like a she's
6:36
one of the writers. Oh yeah.
6:38
So this is probably, like, her big step into K drama writing.
6:43
I feel like, 'cause it was huge, huge, huge, huge.
6:47
You had every single. It's kind of like equivalent to
6:51
Disney Club, Mickey Mouse Club, you know what I mean?
6:54
So, like, you get all these rookie startup, like actors and
6:57
actresses who get their foot in the door.
7:00
Yeah, like Yi Jung Zok Ya Yun Chun Ya, Shin Sei Yun Ya, all
7:03
these, like, stars starting us. So, like, I didn't watch all of
7:06
it, obviously, 'cause it was just, it's so many episodes,
7:08
right? It's just like, it's like an
7:10
ongoing every week, 30 minute episode.
7:13
But yeah, I feel like this is the her biggest probably claim
7:16
to fame. Oh, and True Beauty, obviously.
7:19
I was like, yeah, true Beauty. Yeah, exactly.
7:25
So actually, do you know True Beauty is the top streamed K
7:29
drama on Vicki of all time? No, but that doesn't surprise.
7:34
Me it doesn't? No.
7:35
OK, that doesn't. I think some people would be
7:37
surprised, but OK, I'm glad you're not surprised.
7:41
No, this doesn't surprise me. Good, good.
7:43
Good. OK, rough to good start.
7:47
OK, so let's talk about our cast.
7:49
So we have Munkayung. As to Kyung, she's been in the
7:54
interest of love, Most recently Link E Love Kill Find Me in Your
7:58
Memory Welcome to Waikiki 2. Tempted Live Up to Your Name,
8:02
Heartstrings A lot of bit parts. But she has just kind of wrote
8:07
Risen Up the Ranks because she was a child actress starting in
8:10
2007. Yeah, she is actually massive
8:15
now. She like her following has grown
8:17
so much and I'd like to think it's mainly because of true
8:21
beauty. But she has like over 1,000,000
8:24
followers, which is crazy considering like her, you know,
8:29
her dramas aren't like crazy popular, you know what I mean?
8:33
And people hate that. I actually kind of liked
8:36
interest of love her recent one, people are love to get angry at
8:39
me about that one, but I thought she was great in it.
8:42
But I definitely think it was true beauty that put her on the
8:45
international map, you know? What I mean 100% when I totally
8:49
agree with you that true beauty like was the star making role
8:53
for her. Yeah, like her other.
8:55
Yeah, her other ones weren't that.
8:57
They're yeah, they're not that popular.
8:59
Or weren't. That.
9:00
Good, I would say. Before I had seen her in True
9:04
beauty, I had seen her in Tempted from 2018.
9:06
Did you watch the? Show I did, 'cause, like, I
9:09
don't know if you watched. Have you watched Cruel
9:11
Intentions The American Girl? Yeah, right.
9:14
You know who you're speaking to. I don't know.
9:16
I don't know what you're like. You know, Americans.
9:20
Yeah. So I and that it definitely gave
9:23
off those vibes for me. And so I was very, you know,
9:28
excited to see it. But when I watched.
9:31
It I think it's based on. Is it?
9:33
It's what? Cruel Intentions is based on,
9:35
which is a French novel, and I the name escapes me.
9:39
But yes, OK, so that's why it's it's a basically a a.
9:43
Yeah, an adaptation, yeah. Remake of it or something,
9:46
right. But I don't know.
9:47
I I wanted I feel like it could have been so much more but I I
9:52
for me I was like Oh no I don't really like the way that the the
9:57
main couple their relationship was going.
9:58
But anyways I did think she was when I first saw Herns I feel
10:02
like I didn't remember her and live up to your name or
10:05
heartstrings to be honest. Like I've watched both of those
10:08
I don't remember her at all in it but tempted.
10:11
I obviously remember her and I remember thinking like, Oh my
10:14
God, she's like gorgeous, you know?
10:15
And. Yeah, and unhinged.
10:17
Yes, exactly. Which was amazing.
10:20
She yeah, she did it so well. But yeah, after that, like, I
10:23
don't feel like she did anything really, really memorable until
10:26
obviously true beauty, but yeah. Yeah.
10:31
I love her, though. Like true beauty, is her magnum
10:34
opus. Even like to this day.
10:37
I hope she can like find another role though to like I it's going
10:42
to be hard though. I feel like just because of true
10:45
beauty is just so huge internationally.
10:46
But I'm hoping, you know, I'm hoping that she'll find
10:50
something that's bigger because she's she's better than that.
10:52
She's super intelligent and elegant, you know what I mean?
10:56
But yeah, I'm hoping that for her.
10:58
Yeah, and then Chaonu plays Suho.
11:04
We all know. We all know.
11:09
OK, so he's an idol turned actor.
11:14
You might have known him as part of the group Astro and then he
11:20
has segued into an acting career.
11:23
He has been in shows like Hit the Top Steve Revenge.
11:27
My idea is Kongam Beauty rookie historian Kuhei Yong Island.
11:33
Good day to be a dog. This later the show who this
11:35
year he'll be in wonderful world.
11:38
Talk to me about Chaungu and how you feel about this man because
11:43
I said some things online recently.
11:45
Did you I? OK, well, before we before we
11:50
get to that 'cause I do want. To hear, I want to hear your
11:53
opinion first. OK what?
11:55
How do you feel about Chaunu? Like Chaunu, I probably feel the
11:58
same way as a lot of people, unless you are a hardcore fan
12:03
girl of Chaunu from Astro, but I I think he's obviously very,
12:09
very good looking, right? Oh yeah, he's stunning.
12:12
He's. Stunning.
12:13
He's a perfect and they obviously call him.
12:15
He has a perfect visual, right? If not, I feel like he is the
12:18
best looking Korean celebrity right When I see him I don't
12:23
know if acting is his Forte. I don't think singing or dancing
12:25
is his Forte either. But I think because he's so
12:30
smart, because he has like I know he's like he's he's got a
12:33
very high cue. He speaks English very well.
12:36
To considering like he's never studied English.
12:39
So I know he's got the brains and so for him to have brains
12:43
and locks, that's huge, right? I don't know if I consider him a
12:48
phenomenal actor or a phenomenal dancer or a singer and that, but
12:53
it's OK Like, we can forgive it because he's so good looking,
12:57
right? Because he's so pretty, he's.
12:59
So pretty. But you know what?
13:00
Can I say? Something Wonderful World,
13:02
Wonderful World. I have a feeling it's gonna show
13:06
a totally different side of him that I feel like might be like,
13:09
oh, wait a minute, OK, maybe he just wasn't doing the right
13:14
genre, you know what I mean? Because Wonderful World is a
13:18
melodrama. Slash matang kind of a drama.
13:22
Feel like, you know, and there's a lot of gonna be a lot of
13:25
crying from him. There's gonna be a lot of angst
13:27
and emotion. It might.
13:28
I don't know. I feel like it could be hit or
13:30
miss. I'm hoping it'll be a hit.
13:33
But yeah, I I totally like. I know everyone was saying for
13:38
ID Khannam Beauty. They're like if you saw ID
13:40
Khannam Beauty, you watch True Beauty.
13:42
I don't think that's true at all.
13:44
But it is similar. He did have similar.
13:48
I don't know should. We have this conversation now
13:51
Should we have this conversation?
13:52
I don't know. OK.
13:53
But anyways, I just wanted to mention it, but please tell me
13:56
what you said. OK, So what I said and this is
13:59
with all the love in my heart because I don't want to.
14:01
I don't wish I'll on him. Like I don't say this with any.
14:04
I don't say this with any malicious I'm always here to
14:06
have a good time. I'm always here to just like I'm
14:09
so curious so and I introed my take which what I did what I've
14:15
been doing on Tiktok Tiktok. Yeah.
14:19
Is just posting like rapid fire K drama thought, stray K drama
14:23
thoughts that I have and this one was pertaining to Child No
14:27
and this one was I said. Oh God, oh God.
14:33
Already. Like I already know it because
14:35
you had me at TikTok. If you're doing anything with
14:38
telling you on TikTok. It is.
14:42
It's like going into an alligator pen at feeding time.
14:45
So what I did. So I said I know it's stupid.
14:52
So I said again, I didn't. What'd you say?
14:57
Just say. It so I said, OK, OK, wait, A.
15:01
2nd. As I said, look, I I love Chao
15:09
and though he's so pretty, he's so high.
15:11
I think he's so it's like a perfect specimen, but but if he
15:15
doesn't, he doesn't have it by now, then he's just never going
15:19
to get it. So why don't we just cut our
15:22
losses and give him the modeling gigs and just stop giving him
15:27
these roles? Because by now, he's stealing
15:30
roles from other people that are definitely gunning for these big
15:36
tent pole like. So you went there?
15:39
Yeah, I did. Yeah, I went there.
15:41
So that was basically it. That was like, it was like 20
15:43
seconds. All hell broke loose in the
15:45
comments. It was.
15:47
It was as if I threw a grenade. And honestly, I didn't say he
15:52
was. I literally did not come out and
15:54
say he was a bad actor. I just said if he doesn't have
15:56
it by now. But people knew.
15:57
What you meant? I know, I absolutely I he's done
16:01
123-4567 roles and what? Six years, yeah.
16:09
It's been six years. He doesn't have it, OK, I can.
16:14
I can agree with that. I totally agree with it.
16:17
He's. Been given a lot of chances.
16:20
Did you watch A Good Day to Be a Dog?
16:22
I did not but. Here's what I heard.
16:24
This is, this is something. So while while we're here, this
16:29
is something that a lot of people were bringing up in the
16:30
comments, Oh people, you're just doing this for clout to like.
16:35
Yeah. OK, relax number one.
16:41
It's second of all people were saying.
16:43
It seems like you haven't watched all of his projects, so
16:48
I need to have watch all of his projects to have an opinion.
16:52
OK, I watched almost all of them except the sweet revenge one.
16:58
And he was playing a version of himself, a fictionalized version
17:01
of himself, in sweet revenge. And he was actually a delight.
17:04
Oh, is this the short one? The West.
17:06
OK, you know what? I think I might have watched
17:08
some clips of it on YouTube. Yeah.
17:10
OK. I do remember this.
17:12
You know what? Yes, That's why I I totally
17:14
agree. I think you have to be very
17:16
objective about this, right? It's not that deep.
17:22
It's not that deep. It's not.
17:23
That deep he he doesn't have. He's not.
17:28
Yeah. He's not a natural born actor.
17:30
He is first an idol who became an actor and I totally.
17:35
But why? Why take away the projects from
17:37
him, Jess? I would want him to keep acting
17:40
like just keep doing your thing. What I'm saying is he's and
17:44
someone said this in the comment, I'm like, I'm going to
17:45
use this. Someone said he's better in
17:47
print and I was like, Oh my God, yes, he is so much.
17:52
Better. Is she OK?
17:56
You know, I would like him to sell me anything he can, just
17:59
not a plot. I know, I know.
18:08
Sell me cosmetics. You know what though?
18:12
We're talking Korea here. We're talking the entertainment
18:14
industry. Looks will get you so far.
18:18
Oh yeah. So far.
18:19
And it's gonna keep he's gonna keep riding that wave.
18:26
But I honestly, OK, I'm gonna give him the benefit of the
18:28
doubt here. Wonderful world.
18:30
OK. Yeah.
18:32
I am. I am hoping for him for that.
18:37
I'm hoping for so many people said that to you.
18:39
They were like, let's give him one more chance.
18:41
One more chance. No.
18:44
But you out of your mind? OK, alright, but to be?
18:47
Fair. All these other roles were very
18:49
like he was very typecasted into like, this ROM com kind of role.
18:57
OK, you know what? Let's just wait, you're.
19:01
So you're with that commenter. That's like.
19:03
I am the several commenters that I like.
19:05
You know what though? If wonderful Will was in the
19:06
picture, I would totally agree with you.
19:08
Or, but like would I? To the extent of saying no
19:10
dramas, period. I don't know.
19:12
I I wouldn't mind seeing him here and there, but like a good
19:15
day to be a dog. Oh man, that was like, I had
19:18
such high hopes for that one and it just it was his exact
19:22
character. Am I gonna have to lock my doors
19:25
after this? OK, so it was the exact
19:27
character. This is a safe space.
19:29
I can't guarantee what happens this airs.
19:32
But I'm just saying, you gotta be, you gotta be De Lulu to
19:37
think that he was not the same character in ID Kangnam and True
19:42
Beauty and a good day to be a dog.
19:45
Thank you. And like.
19:46
That's all I. Need.
19:47
You know what? You know what's weird?
19:48
You know, hit the top. I don't know if you watched
19:50
that. I haven't, but I've seen so many
19:51
clips and I'm like, he looks like he's doing, he's cooking in
19:54
that way he was. Great.
19:55
And I think it's because, and I feel like his vibe was a bit
19:58
different. I don't know if it's if it was
19:59
his first role. He was just like, oh, I'm just
20:02
going to do it just to do it. And like I'm, I'm not an actor,
20:05
so who cares? There was.
20:06
Something about it that I was like hold on and then everything
20:09
after downhill, downhill. Yeah, exactly.
20:12
So I have to give him cry for hit the Top to be honest because
20:15
was very different and. I I will agree with you.
20:17
And that's just based on all the clips that I've seen with him,
20:20
yeah. There wasn't much of a Mini, to
20:21
be honest. Like not.
20:23
The clips that I've seen are probably no.
20:25
That is actually pretty accurate.
20:28
But yeah, not much to analyze there.
20:29
But yeah, he was anyways one. Let's give him a chance.
20:32
One more chance. OK, wonderful world.
20:35
I have high hopes. OK, here is my assessment of him
20:38
really fast. Is that because because so many
20:41
people like came for my throat, I was like, well, maybe let me
20:45
stop, take a take a step back. So he has.
20:47
This is my assessment of his acting.
20:50
Oh God, why? Real, real fast.
20:53
Real fast is that Tao Nu has a standby mode and it's just
20:58
wooden, expressionless Chao Nu. Usually everything's going on,
21:04
all house breaking loose. He's he could be happy, sad,
21:07
whatever. It's the same.
21:09
But then when he really is is cooking, is when there's an
21:15
emotionally demanding scene. That is, he's has to cry.
21:20
And then I'm like, OK, there's something like he's sad and in
21:27
true beauty. There's scenes of that, like
21:28
when he's confronting his dad and he gets like heated and
21:33
emotional and he starts crying. That's when he's like, Oh my
21:36
God, something. You see a.
21:37
Glimmer. You see a glimmer of something?
21:39
OK, yeah, yeah. So that's exactly how I feel
21:42
about. OK, so we're a wonderful.
21:43
World, Yeah, that's exactly how I feel.
21:45
And I feel like that's why I think Wonderful World is going
21:47
to be good for him because there's going to, there is a lot
21:49
of crying from on his part judging from the preview, so.
21:53
Right. Yeah.
21:54
Like, I don't know what he taps into.
21:56
Yeah. But, and then I saw, and then
21:58
because people were invoking a good day to Be a dog as being
22:01
like a good outing for him. So I watched a bunch of clips of
22:05
a good Day to be a dog. Yeah.
22:07
So that's. I'm not.
22:08
I'm not the one that's bringing this up.
22:10
The people, the populace, the, the trolls on Twitter.
22:13
I'm not Twitter. The trolls on TikTok.
22:14
So I watched a bunch of clips and the ones that really worked
22:18
were the ones where he was crying and blubbering and
22:22
emotional. And I was like, OK, that's his
22:24
bag. Yeah, so that's why I think.
22:27
I think he just. Has been.
22:28
He's not a micro expression dude.
22:30
Like, he's not the person that's like, you're believing his
22:34
day-to-day, No? OK, give him also like a give
22:37
him a bad boy. Role, you know, I want to see
22:41
it. Give him a bad boy role where
22:42
he's angry and just hates the world and like give him a forget
22:47
the drama. Maybe give him like a Netflix
22:49
original or like a movie where he can swear and stuff, you know
22:52
what I mean? Yeah, and I think he wants that
22:54
especially. Because he just announced he
22:56
could do it, yeah. I think he could do it.
22:58
He just announced like his new album, right?
23:01
Or a new mini album or something like that.
23:03
The image is. He wants that.
23:06
Yeah, I definitely think he is. He wants to be a bad boy.
23:09
Yeah, I don't. Yeah, he doesn't want this clean
23:12
cut look. Yeah, So let's just wait because
23:15
he he's, I think it's going to be a bit of it in Wonderful
23:17
World, Like he rides a motorcycle.
23:20
He's got the leather jacket going.
23:22
I'm hoping for it. So let's hope this is like a
23:25
little step into the whole Bad Boy Challenge side.
23:28
Because I think so. Island was another one that
23:30
people were like this. Roland Island was amazing.
23:33
So I watched a bunch of clips of Island.
23:37
I'm doing my homework here, like people are like calling me out
23:39
for not watching his shit. And I'm like, fine.
23:43
So I watched a bunch of clips of Island, which I heard wasn't
23:45
that good. I'm not going to sit here and
23:47
watch an entire drama just to prove your point.
23:49
So watch clips. I was like, OK, I see a lot of
23:53
improvement here. But again, it's a it's a bad boy
23:57
priest, he. Does play priest which I thought
24:00
was like promising, right. Because like bad boy priest.
24:04
Like, that's so out of town news, like.
24:07
It's not. Yeah.
24:08
Yeah. But yeah, I have a whole other
24:11
issue with that drama. But yeah, it's.
24:13
No, I'm sure I'm. Not going to say yeah, but
24:15
anyways, he. But acting, his acting was like
24:18
the whole thing of it. But that, that's my take on
24:21
Chalonnu. I will not be taking questions
24:25
about it. I will.
24:27
Not. I think it's fair, though.
24:28
I think it's fair, yeah. Like the criticism is fair.
24:33
It's fair. It's fair.
24:35
Yeah. I totally.
24:36
And I think anyone else would agree with you.
24:39
Any other. Sorry, like not to Lulu, you
24:43
know what I mean? I'd agree with you.
24:45
Yeah. Because here's the thing.
24:47
Taleno is here because he has pretty privilege. 100%.
24:54
And a lot of stars are here because they have pretty
24:56
privilege. But.
24:57
His looks is what put I hate to say it is.
25:00
His looks, though, helped propel Astro's fame.
25:06
Absolutely so. And I think even Astro knows
25:11
that to a certain extent. And and every time when when
25:14
China first started acting and going on variety shows for his
25:18
looks and all and getting invited, he was the only one
25:21
right that would get invited, which is awful.
25:23
But he even said my goal and dream is to make my group
25:29
popular and make my group successful.
25:32
And he did it. He did the job right because he
25:35
was always loyal to his group, right?
25:37
So got to respect that, got to respect the hustle.
25:40
He worked hard or didn't work so hard.
25:43
I don't know. Whatever.
25:46
All right. All right.
25:46
So let's, I guess, let's get back on track.
25:48
So, like his the second male lead of the show, let's talk
25:51
about him so. My heart.
25:56
Play Souljun and he's been in stuff like Tale of Milk Do 18
26:00
again. Sound of Magic Wire
26:01
Prefabricated family. So how do you feel about this
26:05
dude he like, is Absolutely. Perfection.
26:07
Perfection. He's perfection.
26:11
I think he is like, honestly, I came for the ROM com vibes and I
26:16
honestly like hanging up, stole my heart and he still has my
26:20
heart. Like he's like, he's one of my
26:23
top, top favorites and true beauty.
26:28
You know, I always joke that it's the greatest K drama of all
26:30
time. Do you really?
26:33
Yeah, I kind of joke. Not really joking, though,
26:36
right? But I'm like kind of like, and
26:38
it's all because of hanging yolk.
26:41
Like, I absolutely loved him in this role.
26:43
I didn't expect it. When I saw it in the previous,
26:45
honestly, I was like, OK, whatever.
26:47
It's like, you know, it's a high school drama.
26:50
How, how much, you know, emotionally involved can I get?
26:55
And yeah, he totally won me over.
26:59
Wow. Everything about him but like
27:03
Sound of Magic Wiper. Oh God.
27:09
I I mean, he has a bit of a a the same thing going as Moon
27:14
Kayong where his best thing is. True, I know.
27:19
And I hate to 18 again. I don't know.
27:21
I love 18 again and until until no dude.
27:23
He was also amazing, but it was a very minor role.
27:26
But in 18, again, he played a similar role.
27:29
To be honest, he was like kind of like a bad boy bully, but you
27:35
know, not as like strong of a presence in that drama, but in
27:40
true beauty. Yeah, for me, he was the reason
27:43
that the show was so, so good in my opinion.
27:48
And it went. From good to great.
27:49
Yeah, I think if if Pineapp wasn't in the drama, I have to
27:52
say, I don't know if it would be, you know, that great to me
27:56
to be honest. I think he brings something, OK,
27:59
so he brings something different because I think he's, he's
28:02
older, right? He's older than the other two.
28:04
He's in his. I think he's much older.
28:06
He's much older, 32, yeah. 31 He's in his 30s, he got a much
28:11
later start than the other 2 and so I think that he is just
28:19
brings a different vibe to the show.
28:21
I liked the edginess of it. I think every high school drama
28:26
needs a bad boy, right? Like, I need some sort of, like
28:29
a a little bit of edge. And I think, yeah, I felt like,
28:34
you know, you know, the butterflies and the, you know,
28:37
whatever those feels are. I didn't get it so much from
28:40
Chaonu as I got it from hanging up.
28:42
And I'm being totally biased here, and I'm aware of that.
28:44
But yeah, the love lines, the love vibes with Chown New and
28:48
Munguang were like, we're cute, but I think the scenes with him
28:52
in it were a lot more impactful, you know?
28:55
So you had second lead syndrome? Yeah, totally.
28:59
Big time, yeah. But like, story of my life, like
29:01
always, always. I always like, yeah, it's always
29:05
a second lead for me. But yeah, I I thought he was
29:09
amazing in it. But yeah, it is the same thing
29:13
as Munguayang. I think this is his biggest
29:15
claim to fame. Like his Instagram following
29:18
went from like, it went to like from like.
29:21
I think it was under 500,000 followers because he was a
29:25
hardcore rookie and it went, it was catapulted to I think like 9
29:29
million in this series alone. And I think now he has, like, I
29:34
don't know exactly how many, but I just remember seeing it, and I
29:37
remember seeing it grow. And everyone was commenting
29:41
about how insane it was that it grew so quickly.
29:44
Yeah. And even to the extent where his
29:46
younger brother was like getting, he has like, yeah, my
29:51
God, hang up his 19.5 million followers.
29:53
Whoa, yeah. Which is insane, right?
29:56
And what has he done? For what?
29:58
What has he done for what I know?
30:01
Yeah, he he wasn't true beauty. Like, that's insane to me.
30:04
Right. OK, so when I watched True
30:06
Beauty, I did not get second lead syndrome.
30:10
I'm like one of the few that didn't get secondly, but I never
30:13
almost never get second lead syndrome.
30:15
Oh, really? OK, so you're the awesome to.
30:17
Me, Yeah. So I'm just immune, but I could
30:20
say I just thought he was the standout of the cast and I love
30:25
that bromance that happened between him and talent.
30:30
Agree, Agree. I did like.
30:32
I did like that a lot actually. Yeah, I think that was one of
30:37
the highlights like that was I put it in my notes actually for
30:39
like the one of the best parts. But yeah, maybe we'll get to
30:43
that after, but the bromance for sure.
30:45
Was well, let's get to it now. Like, what were some of the best
30:47
parts of the show for you? Like this I guess goes we
30:50
already know that you love the show.
30:51
So I'm not going to ask you like what do you think of the show
30:54
greatest, but what were some of the best parts for you?
30:58
So for the best parts for OK, obviously it was a hanging Yelp
31:00
scenes. I I liked all the little, I
31:07
don't know if we're gonna go like super detailed.
31:09
But there were certain scenes where where hanging up was like
31:14
going to confess to Mungayang, like they were eating food and
31:17
then he wanted to say something. And she was kind of like, you
31:20
know, oblivious to it, you know, those little parts also when
31:24
they're doing the photo shoot and they're getting really close
31:28
with her. And then, you know, he's like,
31:31
obviously, like totally in love with her.
31:33
No, he's whipped. Yeah, and like just like, yeah,
31:37
everything about that whole relationship, you know when she
31:38
was doing the, when he first fell in love with her, the whole
31:41
like RAR, you know, like he was, she was like a sake, she was
31:44
making fun of his underwear and she was doing the tiger sounds
31:49
and then he like totally fell in love with her and he's like, can
31:52
you do it again? Then he's asking for it.
31:55
Yeah. And I was like, oh, it's just so
31:57
sweet. You know?
31:58
There isn't anything like that with Mungayang and Chow Nu's
32:02
character. Inside jokes.
32:04
Yeah. And even at the end when he's,
32:06
like saying, oh, when he, like, kind of decides to, like, let
32:10
her go, I just felt so much more emotional about it, you know?
32:15
But yeah, so like, all obviously the highlights were that.
32:18
But I also loved. I don't know if you remember
32:21
means him these characters. So it's like her sister
32:25
Yungayung sister. Yeah.
32:27
I it was. She's the best.
32:29
Yeah. I love her.
32:30
I did another video of of her about her on TikTok because I
32:33
think she's such a highlight. Love.
32:36
OK, so like, after the show aired, I I remember I did some
32:39
sort of, like live on my on my Instagram, and I was totally
32:42
riding the emotional wave. But I put her as like one of my
32:44
top five favorite Korean actresses, Just 'cause I think
32:47
she's so like, I feel like she's just like a ray of sunshine in
32:51
the drama. I appreciated her romance.
32:55
I it was a little goofy and it was a little, The whole show was
32:59
silly. It was, it was like, put the
33:01
eyebrows, though, with the guy with her, you know, her love
33:04
interest. Was embarrassed, was embarrassed
33:07
because his eyebrows were non existent, basically.
33:12
And so he had to get a tattooed, right?
33:13
I don't know. I was like, what?
33:15
What is this? Yeah, yeah.
33:17
But I loved her like how she was so open with her love for him.
33:21
And she was so she was the one chasing him, right?
33:24
Yeah, the. Gender flaw?
33:26
Exactly, exactly So I loved, loved, loved her character.
33:30
So she was a highlight for me for sure in the series.
33:32
Yeah, like, she changes this tire and she's very, she's sort
33:37
of forthcoming and she knows what she wants and she's a go
33:40
getter. And she has this wonderful,
33:41
thriving career. And she had no beef with her
33:44
younger sister, loved her unconditionally and sort of was
33:49
a nice addition to the family that was like no animosity
33:53
there. And I love that about the sister
33:55
that she was just like. No issues.
33:58
Also like when she would show up drunk and like you know and chow
34:02
and it was like what's wrong with your sister?
34:04
Like this is so so like reckless but like, yeah, I I appreciated
34:08
her character was so down to earth.
34:09
But yeah it was it was, it was good to see.
34:12
I also liked her father. The role really, I kind of did
34:16
because it was, it was kind of a reflection of what she was going
34:22
through. Like because he was supposed to
34:23
be the eye candy. Yeah.
34:26
Out of the him and the mom, right.
34:27
The mom is supposed to be the non quote UN quote ugly.
34:30
Yeah, quote UN quote ugly one. And he's like all the women
34:33
think he's so good looking. So I was like, this is kind of
34:35
like what the daughter's going through, right.
34:37
Because she's with this really, really handsome guy who like
34:41
loves her unconditionally. I don't know.
34:43
I just thought it was really cute.
34:44
But I liked, I like Paco Zan, though.
34:45
Like, I like his him as an actor, and he usually plays like
34:49
kind of more edgier roles. So this was very, very.
34:53
He was, oh God, what's he? Prison Playbook.
34:56
Yes, he was with. The list with the list, yeah.
35:01
And then I think, was he a brother in my Mr. in the
35:06
Brothers? Oh, he was, Yes.
35:09
Yes, that was. That was also a big one.
35:11
I forgot about that one. Yeah.
35:13
I really like him a lot. So for me a lot of the same
35:18
stuff for me. But let me see, I had like there
35:23
was a lot of scenes in like like obviously the the second male
35:27
lead rocking out and his boxers in the bathrobe to Okie Dokie O
35:32
like that's iconic and funny. The This sounds terrible, but I
35:40
think it's Episode 10 them getting hit by the car Or is it?
35:47
Is it a car or bus? I vaguely remember that, yeah,
35:50
that's why they ended up in the hospital.
35:52
That's why they ended up in the hospital.
35:54
That is hysterical. To me, OK, yeah, I thought it
36:00
was cute with them in the hospital, like how they had to
36:02
help. Each other.
36:03
Oh, my God, We're going into spoiler chair.
36:05
Hold on, hold on, are we? Sorry.
36:06
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, no, no, no, I know.
36:08
So what we'll do is we're gonna pick back up right here after
36:11
the spoiler bumper. OK, OK, OK.
36:13
But but why don't you give me your your score?
36:16
Like out of five soju bottles? Like, how?
36:18
What would you rate true beauty? I think I know the answer.
36:22
You know what though? OK, I have this thing OK where I
36:27
I have my favorite K dramas of all time.
36:30
I have with like my favorite traumas of all time from my
36:34
heart. From your heart, OK.
36:37
And then from like realistic, like from my head, you know,
36:41
like. I know I'm following you.
36:43
Do you get? What?
36:44
I mean like I have the ones that I'm like, oh, these are
36:47
masterpieces. Like perfectly done.
36:50
Can I wash them again? No, never.
36:53
Once was enough. But it was absolute perfection.
36:56
And then I have from my heart where I'm like, I love this
36:59
drama for no reason. It's not that deep.
37:02
Like, everyone will disagree with me, but I still like, I
37:06
will recommend it till the end. You know what I mean?
37:08
Like, so if I had to be totally from my heart, it would be,
37:16
yeah, give it, give it five out of, give it 10 out of five,
37:20
right. Like, it's the greatest.
37:21
Like I said, it's the greatest K drama of all time.
37:26
Speaking from my heart, right. And this is from somebody who's
37:31
watched K dramas since the day I could walk because of my mom,
37:34
right? So, like, I've watched crap ton
37:37
of K dramas. But again, a lot of it has to do
37:41
with my infatuation with hanging up, right?
37:43
But yes, five out of five. But like, and it's not that
37:48
deep. So if I had to like grade it
37:50
from my, like, you know, rational standpoint, I'd still
37:53
give it still like a four 4.5 out of five, OK, you know?
37:56
What I mean So for me, I this when I watched it, I really
38:00
liked it. It came after I watched Move to
38:02
Heaven, so I really needed a light K drama.
38:05
Wow, that's perfect. I feel like that's a perfect,
38:08
like balance. So I've watched it.
38:09
Yeah. So I watched it.
38:10
And I was like, oh, this is like, just what I needed.
38:11
I needed like a turn your brain off K drama.
38:14
And that's what this is. However I can, I have to be
38:18
honest. Like, now that we're here and
38:20
we're being honest and I just like Roasted Child.
38:22
Though it took me 3 days to rewatch episode one.
38:30
Oh, OK. So I cannot say that this is
38:34
rewatchable for me. I don't think that this is a
38:38
favorite of mine at all. When I'm recommending dramas to
38:42
people, I almost never recommend true beauty.
38:45
And I can positively nailed down all the flaws that are like and
38:51
I will name the flaws actually like when we get into the
38:53
spoiler section too, if you'll allow me.
38:55
Yeah, I actually have a couple too.
38:58
OK, perfect. So we'll have like a little
38:59
section where we can roast your beauty for like a couple of
39:02
minutes. Yeah.
39:04
So I will say that it for me it's like a 3 1/2.
39:08
OK. That's not fair.
39:10
Yeah, three and a. Half pair.
39:11
Yeah. And you know what's funny?
39:13
I get it. Yeah, like it.
39:14
It's fine. Like I.
39:15
Get it? Yeah, I totally get it.
39:17
Yeah, yeah, so that's me. But we are going to pick up on
39:23
the car crash right after this. Excuse me.
39:28
I can't turn. I can't turn up.
39:30
Yeah, No. I have no tango.
39:34
Oh, sorry. Swear this crossing.
39:37
Shit. What?
39:40
OK, we're on the other side of spoilers, so anything goes.
39:43
Anything went before 'cause I think we just kind of figured
39:46
everybody, everyone and their mom has seen true beauty.
39:49
So this is kind of a free flowing episode.
39:52
It is definitely a Kay rambles this time around.
39:55
But what I found hysterical was that car crash scene because
39:58
they had, they put them on I think wires and telling them was
40:05
like he had his back arched and he was flying through the air.
40:09
Oh my God. Hysterical.
40:13
I could not get enough of that scene.
40:15
It's so stupid it. Is I actually like I think I
40:21
remember seeing the behind the scenes and I remember thinking
40:26
oh I didn't remember being that like I don't like that dramatic
40:31
do. You know what I mean?
40:32
But it came out of nowhere, right?
40:34
Like the dramatic nature of it, it literally came out of nowhere
40:38
and that's why it took a lot of people by surprise.
40:40
And it it's totally, totally different from this, like the
40:45
rest of the show. It is very different but the
40:47
after effects of it. No, because then you have these
40:50
great hospital scenes and more bromance between the two of
40:54
them, Sojun and Suo. And there's that scene, My
40:59
favorite one of them too in the hospital is I think it was.
41:05
I was doubled over laughing when soju needs to, he needs help to
41:09
pee. And Sewell like he jumps on the
41:12
phone as if to call for a nurse's help, like to get a
41:16
nurse to help him to pee, but instead he dead ass requests to
41:19
have his room changed. And I was like, Oh my God.
41:25
I didn't even pick up on that. So you were like, you're led to
41:28
believe that he's asking for help, but he's like, you got to
41:30
Get Me Out of here. He's like, can I get my room,
41:32
Jake? I was like, Oh my God, that's so
41:35
good. But also not surprising
41:36
considering no. Yeah.
41:38
No. Yeah.
41:39
No. So, yeah.
41:40
So you had the hospital reconciliation.
41:42
You have high jinks, I think. I think the female leader also
41:46
like hides under his cover like. Oh yeah, that's right.
41:48
Cover. I remember that.
41:50
Point Yeah. So that's all in there as well.
41:53
Mm hmm. There's a cameo like early in
41:58
episode 4 from the. It was like Ichiuk and Kimayun
42:03
from Extraordinary UI. Remember that?
42:06
Yeah. And they're in character from
42:08
Extraordinary U as well. So that was fun.
42:12
Because of the director. Yeah, OK, same director.
42:15
So that makes a lot of sense. What other comedy is there?
42:19
Those. Oh, she did like a huasa dance
42:22
early on in the show. I don't remember that for some
42:26
reason. She she thought she was on some
42:28
sort of like an elimination. No, not like a a talent show.
42:33
OK. But she ended up dancing in
42:36
front of the teachers and it was like a very sensual.
42:39
I I don't know why I do know. I remember that.
42:42
Oh, OK, so this happened like early on in the show?
42:46
For some reason it doesn't ring a bell, but.
42:48
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oops.
42:50
Yeah. And I mean, there's a lot of
42:53
comedy. Like, even in episode one,
42:55
there's a ton of things. There is like, I feel like there
42:59
was a lot of stuff that was very over the top that it's so it
43:04
didn't really surprise me. But I know this is like totally
43:09
not about the comedy part, but like the 1 downer I feel like.
43:14
One downer I will. When we get into the roasting of
43:17
this, I feel like there's a lot of down.
43:20
I have one main one, but OK, all right.
43:22
OK, go. We'll get there.
43:23
Go. For it.
43:23
Yeah, it's fine. It's fine, OK.
43:25
So like, my my thing is like, I really didn't like the
43:28
Mungayong's friend Chung's friend Kung Zujin.
43:32
So she's like she was the overture.
43:34
Was it the natural beauty? Yeah, I guess so, I guess.
43:38
I did air quotes when I said that no one can see that, but I
43:42
did air quotes. But yeah, the one that she liked
43:45
Suho as well and she was always competing with Suho because she
43:49
was getting you know crapped on by her dad at home, right.
43:52
We're not getting good enough grades.
43:53
I I did not like her character and I thought she was like
43:57
ruining the whole feel good vibe of the show.
44:00
Like, I just. I'm so sick of the girl best
44:03
friends. Like being turning out to be so,
44:06
like, not great. You know what I mean?
44:08
It's a. Cliche.
44:09
It's a cliche. I don't like it.
44:11
I feel like, why does she have to be so mean to everybody else
44:15
if she's going on through, like going through all this stuff in
44:17
real life? I just wanted to be the
44:19
supportive, like really good best friend, you know, like.
44:24
And it was just sad to see that, you know, she was trying, you
44:28
know how she took Isuo's cap or whatever.
44:31
And then like hugging or not really hugging, but like there
44:34
were, you know? Yeah, she was like, actively
44:37
trying to get. Get with him, yeah.
44:40
And to separate them and a foster miscommunication.
44:44
And exactly. That he was like, close to her
44:46
and all of this stuff. Right.
44:48
And I was like, this is just not a girl's girl.
44:50
And not like, Oh yeah, she's not a girl's girl.
44:53
No, I just. I didn't like that at all.
44:57
So that was frustrating. And then she's the one who blows
44:59
a little out, blows the lid open on the secret that she is A2
45:06
faced person that junky on has. Oh.
45:09
Right. That's right.
45:10
At the camp or whatever I think it was.
45:13
Was it happening? I thought she like, posted to
45:15
the forum. Oh yeah.
45:17
OK, OK. OK.
45:18
Of her getting bullied. Yeah.
45:20
At the first school. And so now everyone knows that
45:24
she's. This doesn't make sense.
45:26
That literally doesn't make sense that people are upset that
45:28
she's wearing makeup. They're like, you're lying.
45:35
It's makeup. I know, but like.
45:39
A lot of the stuff here in this show was like, are you serious
45:43
Like. Oh, no, it's it's.
45:46
It's like a Clark Kent, the Superman thing.
45:48
It's like, OK, glasses with glasses, without glasses.
45:50
And it's like, for real. Like, for real.
45:53
Yeah. And it's like they're like you
45:54
have. Bad skin and you lied about it.
45:56
It's like. Did I?
45:58
Yeah. And also, like without, you
46:01
know, people with acne probably know, but you can have hundreds
46:04
of pounds of makeup on your face.
46:06
You're still going to see acne, right?
46:07
Like the? The texture.
46:09
Thing. Yeah, exactly.
46:10
But for her, it's like photoshopped.
46:12
It's magically gone, right? I'm like, I don't care how good
46:15
you are at makeup. It's not, you know, so.
46:17
Don't work like that, babes, You know?
46:20
OK, so I guess we're we're veering into this territory
46:23
anyway, but like, what are some of the problems that you have?
46:27
What's the true beauty? So, you know, I don't have that
46:31
many issues with it. And I did mention the whole
46:33
sister, the sismance, like not being there.
46:37
Another very, very, very small small thing.
46:41
I didn't like the soundtrack, like, or I didn't care.
46:45
I didn't, I didn't care for the soundtrack, sorry.
46:48
Not that I didn't like it. I loved I loved Sojun singing
46:52
like hanging UPS. You know that song and I
46:54
remember playing it over. He does.
46:56
It's fantastic perfection. He can do no wrong.
46:59
But the overall OST I it's not something I listen to like I've
47:05
never gone back to it to be like or if I were to hear you know
47:08
how like certain OST you hear the beginning and you're like oh
47:11
you know like Goblin is. Takes you right back.
47:12
Yeah, huge, right? It's like monumental, right?
47:16
For this, there's not a single song where I can hear the first
47:20
few notes and be like, what? What is this like?
47:23
I'd be like, Oh my God, this is true beauty.
47:25
I feel like they could have invested a bit more on the
47:28
soundtrack, a little bit and it could have like or like.
47:31
It adds to the scenes like none of that, you know, Like, I just,
47:34
I felt like it was lacking in that sense.
47:36
And I don't know this is a total like nitpick, but.
47:40
No, no. Like, I'm a nitpick queen and
47:42
I'll roast everything. Like, I people know this by now,
47:45
but I'm an equal opportunity roaster.
47:47
I will roast. Everything like my favorites,
47:50
things that I. Oh, I'm like that too though.
47:53
Plus, like the things that I absolutely love.
47:55
I can roast everything. I can roast my ultimate bias,
47:57
which is home drinky till, like, the cows come home.
47:59
I can do it all week. Like I can roast them.
48:01
Yeah, I can tell that's a whole other episode.
48:03
This is this is maturity. It is.
48:06
It is, you know. Yeah, it is.
48:09
It totally is. I I can't.
48:10
I can't. I don't vibe with people who are
48:13
who think their bias or favorite group is perfect.
48:17
Oh yeah, because it it doesn't exist.
48:20
Right. And but there's been certain
48:23
situations where I've been like, Oh my God, these people are
48:26
these certain fandoms are crazy where they think that you know.
48:30
But that's for another another episode.
48:33
Yeah. Another.
48:34
Another. Yep.
48:36
No, we'll leave that for another day.
48:37
So let's talk about how I think true beauty is overrated.
48:41
So the I didn't think that. Come on.
48:47
We'll just leave it at that. We'll just leave it at that, but
48:49
it's. Underrated.
48:54
I'm kidding. I OK, so I don't like how Ju
48:58
Kyung is, or rather, Mung Kyung's portrayal of the female
49:04
lead. She sounded Ikio like the whole
49:06
time. OK, I do agree.
49:10
I hated the baby boy she kept. Grazing.
49:13
As if she was a little girl. I just hated it.
49:14
Hated it, hated it. It is so grinding and it's 16
49:18
episodes long. Why is it 16 episodes?
49:20
It could have been 12 the last two episodes.
49:24
What the hell is going on in those filler episodes we got to
49:27
talk about? I mean, I don't know if we have
49:29
to necessarily sit here and like dissect it, but the whole thing
49:33
of Sewell's father having a sudden stroke which sends him
49:36
flying off the scene literally, plus the two year time jump
49:40
radio silence for two years. From Can I?
49:44
Let me give you some context though.
49:46
This the web, so you know it was a web tune.
49:49
Yeah, it is so long. No, it's long.
49:53
It was ongoing. It was.
49:54
Ongoing. Scary.
49:55
Yeah, I think it ended recently. I'm pretty sure it was like it
49:59
ended recently. There are some things that I
50:01
found out recently because I was talking about to some drama
50:05
friends about true beauty and they so one of them had read the
50:08
Rep the web tune and they told me some things and I was
50:10
shocked, shocked, shocked to my core.
50:13
So Suho is gone for two years and I was saying how the hell
50:20
does the second male lead and true beauty blow A2 year lead?
50:24
Yeah, I know. I know.
50:25
How? The hell does he blow A2 year
50:27
lead? It's not real it all.
50:28
Happens. It's not realistic that they
50:29
never they never get together. And just when Suo comes back is
50:33
when he finally works up the nerve to confess to Jew kill.
50:37
That doesn't make a lick of sense, so my friend said.
50:42
But they do date in the. Oh, that's right.
50:46
They do date. I do remember.
50:47
When Suho is gone. Yes, yes.
50:50
They date and I was like I was on the.
50:52
I like sliding down the walls. I was like, this changes
50:55
everything. This changes everything.
50:58
Why the hell wouldn't they do that in the show?
51:02
I know, I I feel like for drama writers, it's just that that one
51:07
factor of the second lead can never be with the female lead.
51:11
It literally. It didn't make sense to me.
51:14
It's the. Formula, you know, because they.
51:16
Made it so easy for you to push it in that direction because he
51:20
was already buddy buddy with the family.
51:23
I think he was sleeping over her house or something like that,
51:26
like he was in ingrained. I'm I would have been here for
51:30
it totally. But I do remember, because I was
51:32
so obsessed with the drama, I went online and I read the
51:34
webtoon. And then I read it for a bit
51:36
after the show. And I was like, oh, OK, so I
51:39
don't know, Like, I know that there were certain things that
51:40
they didn't incorporate, but I think they needed a foreclosure.
51:43
No, for the They couldn't have like, Oh yeah, unless they did
51:46
another season or which I would have been here for, you wouldn't
51:50
have, but I would have been here for another.
51:52
It just didn't like. I think it could have been 12
51:54
episodes and you could have kept that giant ass like they dated
51:58
for two, for two years or or for some.
52:00
Don't you think you would have had to like prolong though?
52:02
Like a longer? More episodes?
52:04
No, just one episode you needed of them dating.
52:06
Yeah. OK, that's.
52:08
Fair of her. Kind of like you see their
52:10
relationship and how she's maybe she's with him, but she's not
52:13
like with him, with him like she is with Suo.
52:15
And you see like the differences in there, how they comport
52:19
themselves together. You do get a glimpse of it, you
52:22
know, when she's drunk and all the friends.
52:24
Call him. And he shows up, and there's.
52:27
That and that's when you think, Oh my God, they're together.
52:29
That was the cliffhanger because they had the episode.
52:31
And then she, like, leans on him.
52:33
Yeah. He has like his arm around her.
52:34
And she leans on him. Yes.
52:36
And then she, like, looks up at him like, and they're about to
52:38
like it looks like they're about to kiss or something.
52:40
And then, like, yeah, I told her I remember that it was.
52:42
A So then they were like, psyched They're not together.
52:45
Psyched. He still hasn't confessed to
52:48
her. He's still in the friend zone.
52:50
And you're like, what the what is this even like?
52:52
It's just all over the place. So in the webtoon they were
52:55
actually dating the there was like a YouTube, like a famous
53:01
YouTube that she learned all of her makeup prowess from.
53:05
OK. I think her name was Selena, and
53:09
at the end of the show she's like working for that brand, for
53:13
the makeup brand. OK, that is Suho's sister in the
53:18
webtoon. In like real life or.
53:22
In the webtoon. Oh, that like that woman.
53:27
That oh, the younger sister. The younger sister.
53:30
Is Suho's sister. And I was like, Oh my God again,
53:34
that blew my mind. And I was like, why?
53:36
Why don't we do that? Why don't?
53:38
Why don't we have that? Because in the drama, true Young
53:40
does her makeup and makes her kind of like pretty and stuff
53:44
right in the drama. No, I'm saying suho like Taunu.
53:48
Oh, wait a minute. He didn't have a sister in the
53:52
drama. Exactly.
53:54
OK, but no way. Now I'm thinking a Sojun sister
53:57
would have made more sense, no? No.
54:00
No. OK.
54:00
OK. OK.
54:01
Anyway, Sojun had the younger sister who was also struggling
54:03
with acne. And right right image issues.
54:05
And was also getting bullied. But wouldn't have made more
54:08
sense for her to grow up and start this huge thing and then
54:10
like, OK, OK, because Sue, that's so random.
54:13
Suho's sister like having a makeup.
54:15
Yeah, that Suho's sister was the one that had this, like, beauty
54:18
empire. OK, that helped like.
54:23
Find her. Look, yeah.
54:25
Yes. Right, OK.
54:26
And so you wanted that, you wish they had that in.
54:29
Drama. I was like, what?
54:30
Why are we doing these misconnections?
54:32
So that was another thing. And then the other thing I think
54:37
was like, why is the stunningly beautiful channel News doesn't
54:44
care about? Looks like he's like an anomaly
54:47
that he does not give a shit about looks.
54:49
And for the second male lead you have an explanation.
54:51
Like his sister is also struggling with body image
54:55
issues. He has this like adorable sister
54:57
who also has acne and he loves her to death and he has no
55:01
issues with that. And so that you can see how that
55:04
affects his reasoning and that how he views other people, how
55:07
he views to kill for a Talanu, there's no such thing.
55:13
And in fact, he's buddy, buddy with like idols.
55:14
So you've kind of should think that he has more emphasis on how
55:17
people should look. I see.
55:19
OK. So you don't think it's
55:21
realistic that? He That's not realistic.
55:22
But in the webtoon they they explain it.
55:28
They explain it all. He is his background.
55:32
He's half Japanese, Korean, half Korean and he was bullied from a
55:38
young age because of that. So now because of that he
55:42
determines like physical appearance as meaningless.
55:47
Which is why he falls for Shu Young.
55:49
Right. So, like, that's his reasoning
55:51
for like why he doesn't care about.
55:53
So you needed it to be more deep.
55:56
Well, it's character development.
55:58
It's part of his like foundation.
56:00
But I I don't know. I feel like with suho.
56:03
Otherwise, it's just this little fairy of a man walking around
56:07
doesn't care about appearances, even though he is literally like
56:16
an Adonis. I know it doesn't make sense.
56:20
Yeah, so you needed that little bit of like a little bit of a
56:23
background, yeah, to get his character.
56:26
Yeah. OK, I I would have wanted more
56:29
of Sojun's background. That's good, but you love the
56:34
2nd. Medley.
56:34
I know, I know, I know. See this whole Suho and Chuyong
56:39
and dynamic stuff. I'm just like.
56:42
Yeah, so I went deep into my drama list to look at why 'cause
56:47
the You can leave. People leave reviews, right?
56:49
Oh yeah, did you go through them?
56:51
Went through them. Oh my God girls, I don't think I
56:57
ever read the reviews. My God, they are so funny.
57:01
Because I would be. Curious.
57:02
I would be curious. They started roasting this show
57:05
so in valid ways too. Valid ways.
57:08
So people were like it was okay the setup with the male lead
57:14
tormented over a friend's death and the female leads appearance
57:17
were basically pointless. As soon enough this settles into
57:20
standard fare. 1 pedestrians. Less car accident despite all
57:24
the time in the world to avoid it.
57:25
Check love triangle. Worse, worse center is oblivious
57:31
In this case the female lead. Check me and mom suddenly
57:34
overcome with grief when learning of child's hardships.
57:36
Years too late and suddenly all is forgiven.
57:39
Check. Character disappears overseas
57:41
for an extended time and returns with the no advance word?
57:44
Check. Pointless breakup?
57:45
Check. Hospital visit due to
57:46
gastrointestinal issue? Check.
57:48
Third wheel heroically gives up and helps main leads get back
57:52
together after being annoying the entire show?
57:54
Check. Best friend betrayal to return
57:57
later to allow lead to forgive To show how wonderful the lead
58:01
is? Check.
58:03
You know what's crazy? OK, it's formulaic.
58:05
Yeah. Hearing.
58:06
OK hearing this though and the reason why I don't really read
58:09
the my drama, this is totally off tangent right?
58:12
But like, I feel like the way Koreans see K dramas are so
58:18
different from the way international people see K
58:20
dramas. Oh, great point.
58:22
You know why? Because international people,
58:23
when they see K dramas, they can dissect it and analyze it.
58:27
But for Koreans, it's like, it's good.
58:31
It's entertaining. They don't really think of like,
58:34
the whole, like, they don't dig deeper.
58:36
Yes, they don't because it's it's a way of it's
58:39
entertainment, it's everyday, right?
58:42
If I was an international person and I can kind of do this
58:44
because I I guess I can do this with J Dramas and C dramas, I
58:49
can be like, what? Why?
58:50
Why is that like a thing or you know what I mean?
58:54
But I think for an international perspective, I can see why these
58:58
things would be like, OK, it's so dumb.
59:01
It's the same reason why people hate on airs and why people hate
59:05
on boys over flowers. It's exact same thing.
59:08
True beauty is under that category.
59:10
It is in. Fact, it's very similar to boys.
59:12
That's why exactly. And that's why I always say
59:15
this. It is not, I promise you, K
59:17
dramas are not that deep. They are not that deep, right.
59:22
There's. So many there's.
59:24
So. People said in my the same
59:26
cliche and boring story. This drama has nothing new,
59:30
neither fresh. It was funny, but that was their
59:32
strongest point. Yeah, the tropes overtake actual
59:35
story investment. Totally.
59:38
Are you? Yes.
59:39
Are you kidding me? But to be fair, all K dramas are
59:42
founded in tropes I've been watching.
59:45
Yeah, like I can tell you the first K drama I watched when I
59:48
was like, I don't know, 6-7 years old is in terms of formula
59:52
and tropes is exactly the same as a K drama you would watch
59:55
now, but it's just that more people are watching it.
59:59
You know what I mean? Because it works.
1:00:01
But we are getting to because things, thanks to Netflix, we
1:00:04
are getting to K dramas that are more out of the cookie cutter,
1:00:08
which is like squid game and death's game.
1:00:11
You know, like those kind of dramas that are for like have
1:00:14
never been done before. Right.
1:00:16
But again, this is for another conversation.
1:00:18
But I that's why, like, when I see the reviews, I'm just always
1:00:21
like, oh man, it's because, yeah, they they didn't grow up
1:00:25
with K dramas or, you know, aren't part of the Korean
1:00:27
culture. So, you know, it's easy to
1:00:29
analyze it. Right?
1:00:31
But Koreans don't do that. They don't really analyze movies
1:00:35
or K dramas to that extent where it's like, Oh my God, I'm so
1:00:38
sick of this. I'm like, this is so overdone.
1:00:42
They're so quick to just, like, watch it and just watch it for
1:00:45
entertainment purposes. Not even like, you know what I
1:00:48
mean? Not as a critic does that make
1:00:50
sense, right? But if you're like watching from
1:00:53
the outside, you're like, you can critique it because you're
1:00:55
not. It's not part of your culture
1:00:57
kind of a thing. Absolutely.
1:00:59
And I would say I would categorize true beauty as like a
1:01:02
guilty pleasure. Totally.
1:01:03
It's it's like a it's like America's version of love is
1:01:07
blind or whatever. You know what I mean?
1:01:08
It's like because Korean doesn't really have like variety shows
1:01:11
or guilty pleasures. They are getting more so now
1:01:14
with the reality shows. But yeah, it's a total, like
1:01:17
just mindless, just watching it for the sake of watching it, you
1:01:20
know? But yeah, it's not like up there
1:01:24
to be like this is, this is up for, it's just gonna be
1:01:29
nominated for an Emmy, you know what I mean?
1:01:32
It's not up for that kind of like deep discussion.
1:01:35
Yeah, yeah. And I think that the problem is
1:01:38
that there's, to me, there's levels of like ROM coms, and
1:01:43
there's really good ROM coms that are so smart and sexy and
1:01:46
fun. And then there's some that are
1:01:48
just like really baseline, like it's guilty pleasure, a lot of
1:01:55
tropes, and they're not really done well and there's nothing
1:01:58
new to add. And the people can't act very
1:02:00
well and like, but there's something about it that you're
1:02:03
just like, I could shut my brain off and watch this at 3:00 AM
1:02:05
and, like, fall asleep. Totally.
1:02:07
And that's what true beauty is. And if that's what you're in the
1:02:10
mood for, then great. But if that's not what you're in
1:02:13
the mood for, then you know, so be it.
1:02:16
Like that's fine. If you're looking for like, you
1:02:19
know to critique something you know squid game or you know
1:02:23
something like very, there's. High High Art and High Cinema K.
1:02:28
Dramas now. And then there's True beauty.
1:02:31
So, but I think a lot of like that being said, I think a lot
1:02:36
of people were impressed by the production value on True Beauty
1:02:40
when it came out. And like the high quality CG
1:02:44
scenes. And like, like they have her.
1:02:45
Like flying through the sky with a blue screen behind her.
1:02:49
Like in front of a blue screen when she's learning how to do
1:02:52
makeup. And she's, I think I remember
1:02:54
that. And then all the makeup makeup
1:02:56
in the background, like, yeah, OK, OK, I.
1:02:59
Like the graphics and stuff. The way that her room is like an
1:03:06
intense set of in and of itself, because she's like a closet
1:03:10
horror manga fan. Maybe not closet horror manga,
1:03:13
but her room is just like horror aesthetic Barbie horror,
1:03:19
basically. OK, I OK, I totally forgot about
1:03:22
that. But she was into like the they
1:03:23
were both into horror manga, right?
1:03:25
Kind of. Yeah, I mean, I don't believe
1:03:27
that for a second. But OK, that's fine.
1:03:33
Fine. Sure.
1:03:36
What else? I think the message gets lost.
1:03:38
Like the inner beauty is more important than external beauty
1:03:41
that gets lost. I I think the overarching, like
1:03:45
how they even got to know each other how they met was because
1:03:49
she was on the rooftop and about to commit suicide and then the
1:03:53
boys are on the outs because of their a friend committing
1:03:59
suicide. And this whole thing like that
1:04:01
is very serious and they don't take it that serious in the
1:04:04
show. It gets completely lost and
1:04:06
overshadowed by like this love triangle and the totally at the
1:04:09
school. I think that's like totally.
1:04:11
I think that's in poor taste to be honest in very poor taste.
1:04:15
So but that's also. Also Korea, right?
1:04:20
Very. Then we can get into social
1:04:23
commentary about the culture and their perspectives on mental
1:04:27
health. Period.
1:04:28
Right. But yeah, yeah, yeah, totally.
1:04:32
For sure. But all to say, yeah, like we
1:04:36
always come back to it, but it's it's not a it's a total light
1:04:39
hearted watch. Right.
1:04:40
It is. It is.
1:04:42
And again, I don't hold any animosity towards these actors
1:04:46
for, you know, having one hit, being one hit wonders or having
1:04:50
like no skills. But that's why, you know, that's
1:04:55
fine. They at least they're they have
1:04:57
a career and they're making bank and.
1:05:00
And it's entertainment. At the end of the day, it's
1:05:02
entertaining, right? Like whether it's good or bad,
1:05:05
it's entertaining, right? Like, you know, you're, yeah,
1:05:09
you're kind of like, oh, how is this going to go like And even
1:05:12
that's kind of like fun. I don't know.
1:05:14
Yeah. Two closing questions for you.
1:05:17
Is True Beauty a modern classic? No.
1:05:21
No, it's not. Why?
1:05:23
Why do you feel it's not a modern?
1:05:25
Because it can't be taken seriously and like I said, like
1:05:28
this is. It can't, no.
1:05:30
It can't. Be it.
1:05:31
Can't be this isn't going to solve any issues.
1:05:35
It's not going to, yeah, it's not going to make people's lives
1:05:40
better, Defining better, right. And like I said, this is, I
1:05:45
always joke about it, right? That this is the greatest K drum
1:05:48
of all time. Same reason why I joke about
1:05:50
airs. Like I don't care what people
1:05:52
say. Airs was a phenomenon in Korea
1:05:55
at the time. So whether you love it or not,
1:05:58
it was massively in terms of brand, in terms of act.
1:06:03
Like everything. All the above.
1:06:05
It was huge at the time. Oh my God, everyone.
1:06:08
Yeah, And whether. I feel about it.
1:06:11
Yeah. An icon is an icon.
1:06:13
Exactly. So like is true beauty.
1:06:15
I don't even say true beauty can be up to par with airs, to be
1:06:18
honest, because it wasn't as big as airs as it was in Korea at
1:06:22
the time. But yeah, I don't think it's a
1:06:24
classic. I definitely don't think it's
1:06:26
it's gonna people are going to be writing about it when it
1:06:31
comes to best key dramas of all time.
1:06:35
But in terms of tugging out in my heartstrings, it being a ROM
1:06:38
com doing its job of like, you know, being having lots of
1:06:42
visual eye candy and you know, being predictable and having all
1:06:47
those heartfelt scenes, like, I think it did its job.
1:06:52
But yeah, it's not a classic. It's not a ROM com classic.
1:06:55
For sure. What do you think makes true
1:06:58
beauty so special? What is the secret to its
1:07:01
enduring appeal? Why is it #1 on Vicky?
1:07:05
OK. When you say it like that, like
1:07:07
I have like first thing, you know, I was like nothing really,
1:07:10
nothing really. And I can be cheerful about
1:07:14
this. There's nothing really.
1:07:15
I think that makes it special per SE.
1:07:18
I just think it's got like, OK, so the reason why it's number
1:07:22
one on Vicky is obviously Chao Nu and Huang Ying Yu up.
1:07:26
That's the reason why. OK like Chaonu is an
1:07:28
international phenomenon and hanging up has become an
1:07:30
international phenomenon, right? And I feel like over the years,
1:07:34
it's just a K drama that people will, that new K drama watchers
1:07:38
will watch. So if you're new K drama
1:07:40
Watcher, it's on your list of K dramas to maybe watch or not
1:07:44
watch whatever, but it's on your list, right?
1:07:46
And so, like, I feel like people are continuing to watch it and
1:07:49
people are re watching it because it's just such a
1:07:52
mindless show that you can just put on.
1:07:55
And for me, when I'm going through a K drama, I'll just put
1:07:58
it on in the background when I'm doing stuff.
1:07:59
Like it's just that kind of a K drama, you know what I mean?
1:08:02
But what makes it special, girl? I don't know.
1:08:07
But you know what? Like, OK, if I can be very
1:08:10
rational about it, it's got a lot of elements that me as a
1:08:15
girl who is a huge fan of ROM Coms like about ROM com.
1:08:20
So like the whole, you know, the makeover aspect love that.
1:08:23
Like I I've watched lots of American movies where you know
1:08:27
the makeover is fun to watch. I know it's like superficial,
1:08:30
but it's it's fun like she's starting over.
1:08:33
She was bullied. She was very self-conscious.
1:08:35
And now she's like, I'm going to like, you know, do what I have
1:08:38
to do to be the best version of myself.
1:08:40
And that for her was makeup. So, like, I love that makeover
1:08:43
part. And you're meeting the popular
1:08:45
guy in school, you know, which is like an American version, I
1:08:48
guess captain of the football team or something, you know.
1:08:51
So there's all these little things that like, you can't help
1:08:54
but feel it makes you feel good, right.
1:08:56
At the end of the day, exact reason why you would like any
1:09:00
other ROM com. So I think this hits all of the
1:09:02
tropes, yes. But it's kind of comforting in
1:09:05
that sense, you know? Yeah, because it does hit those
1:09:08
tropes and you know what to expect.
1:09:10
I like that. I like that.
1:09:11
Answer. So maybe it is a bit special,
1:09:13
but you know, not that deep. It's.
1:09:16
It depends on each person I guess, and what they glean from
1:09:19
it, because I think we've all every person has that moment
1:09:23
where they're like, I think I want to change for the better.
1:09:27
And in this case, like her impetus was, she was bullied
1:09:30
mercilessly. And I don't think she
1:09:32
necessarily wanted to change before this inciting incident in
1:09:38
episode one, which was extremely cruel, which is really sad.
1:09:46
I think the makeover aspect is really aspirational because I
1:09:50
think we all want to be the best version of ourselves.
1:09:53
And she, you know, she does take start taking better care of
1:09:56
herself and better care of her skin and she's using, you know,
1:09:59
the face masks and stuff, but besides also using cosmetics and
1:10:02
learning how to do our makeup and stuff right.
1:10:06
So it is sort of a self-care aspect.
1:10:09
Is is brought into play here. Yeah, it's a Wellness, right?
1:10:13
Like. Wellness.
1:10:14
Totally agree. But he is.
1:10:16
She is also at the same time super infantile and naive and
1:10:19
she like doesn't like understand social cues and like it's it's
1:10:26
bizarre. So a lot of like different
1:10:28
things like at play here, because I think we all want to
1:10:31
be very insulated like she is, but be beautiful as well inside
1:10:35
and out like she is. Yeah, yeah, totally agree.
1:10:40
And get like chow no as well so. Knight in shining armor.
1:10:44
That's another thing. The knight in shining armor,
1:10:46
right? You.
1:10:46
Come Absolutely. Saves her like she's getting
1:10:50
bullied. He puts the hat on her, right?
1:10:51
I know. Yeah, she has a face full of
1:10:53
cake and her makeup is about to, like, slide off.
1:10:56
And he. Covers her with his jacket.
1:10:59
Come on. It's cute.
1:11:00
It's cute, she. Said, Yeah, whatever.
1:11:03
So thank you so much for coming on and talking about your
1:11:07
favorite show of all time, the best new drama of all time, Bina
1:11:12
Masterpiece. Can you quote that?
1:11:14
Masterpiece Chen Chen I had such a great time equally hyping the
1:11:22
show up as much as we roasted it and this was so much fun.
1:11:27
I hope you'll come back on. Where can we find you online,
1:11:30
Bina? So I am most active on
1:11:33
Instagram. My handle is Bina Hearts.
1:11:37
I'm also here and there on TikTok, but mostly Instagram and
1:11:41
you can find me also on Soompi and K Pop Map and you mentioned
1:11:43
those links. Yes, yes.
1:11:47
I I find myself going back to different Soompi articles and
1:11:49
I'm like, I wonder who wrote that.
1:11:51
It's beena. And it's so much fun to see see
1:11:54
you online like so much and see how much you've affected all of
1:11:58
this content that is like so comforting.
1:12:01
And like these, it's it's you're such an indelible part of like,
1:12:04
the K drama community. So I'm so glad that I finally
1:12:06
got you on Tibac. This has been so much fun.
1:12:10
So that's it. Until next time, this has been
1:12:14
our show. I'm Jessica and this has been
1:12:16
the Tibac K Rambles podcast. And oh, I'm giving it up
1:12:27
tonight. I'm in the mood for chance.
1:12:31
I feel like the sun. Oh so come on at home inside the
1:12:40
sun. I'm in the mood thing, So let
1:12:43
the music play. I'm in the grouping so good.