Birth of a Beauty

Wow, that was a tremendously long and cumbersome drama to sit through. It tormented me to watch it from beginning to end, and I can't believe I stuck with it, but I invested so much already, that I felt I needed to finish it. The plot is quite different, actually. It had so much potential to be something bigger with all the scheming and twists they were introducing. The biggest flaw for me was the pacing and sequencing of events. For instance, the female lead's life was already in danger, yet they still had time to be romantic in between these tense scenes. Too many lovey-dovey scenes that are misplaced or wrongly timed. I appreciated the lead actor-very handsome and funny. I had no major problems with the lead actress, either. I just couldn't find myself to root for their love story. I wasn't feeling their chemistry. If the series were shorter I think my rating would have been higher, but there were too many flashbacks and unnecessary scenes. It would have benefitted from some heavy editing.

The very first episode starts you off on the wrong foot. Our leading lady is fat. Point and laugh at her everyone, she's fat!

Laughing yet? Well the show is. Every single person she meets is repulsed by her, her in-laws treat her like garbage and they keep having her fall, break the chair she's sitting on or sweat so much her armpits are literally see-through.

Because how dare she be fat.... laughing yet?

As repulsive as the first episode is the show finds it's footing after that. I thought it would be a simple Rom-com with her getting everything back after becoming beautiful... which was the intention of the first 5 episodes.

Then the plot become overly convoluted and twisted. It was trying to be Cinderella + pretty woman, then decided to be Count of Monte Cristo but ended up with something closer to a Jekyll / Hyde story with way too many character reveals and filler. What happened to the light hearted fluff I was watching?

I started off hating this show for all the fat shaming and cruelty that board lined on childish. More so because "fat" Sa Geum Ran was really cute as is. The plastic surgery thin = beautiful wasn't needed.

The show kept me interested once that part was over and we move pass it. I ended up loving AND hating everyone which just shows how good the actors are. The plot however is the weak causing the actors to work even harder to sell it.

I'm glad I watched it. However this is not something I'd watch again or easily recommend to others. It's an oddity, take it or leave it.

Honestly, this is as generic a plot as they come for soap.. or at least, the kind of parts you expect to see in several dramas.

Another reviewer said that "there is a twist after every couple of episodes", which is quite apt a description for a 21-episode series where the pacing is fast and there are too many ideas and developments! From fat shaming, to women abuse, corporate battles, fights over marriage, corruption, happiness and "getting what is coming to you".. and more. I feel that a shorter more efficient script would have helped a lot, specially considering how nothing really meshes together well. Still, it is well acted, and the leads seem to work well together! But it's hard to get invested in them due to the amount of absurdity and coincidences that happen all the time.

I personally would not recommend it, as it felt like a chore to me.

But I can see stans for these actors enjoying it, and the plots aren't so bad to be dislikeable.

This is not the only drama that put plastic surgeon as a solution to life problem. I do not think this is a good means myself.

But in regards to the plot and actors, I have no special complaint.

I fallen head over heels for this drama. Needless to say about the lead actors - Joo Sang Wook did an outstanding role in this drama and Han Ye Seul complemented him with her role unimaginably distinctive.

This drama is best example of "Rom-Com" Genre. Very interesting story plot and screenplay. There is twist after every couple of episodes. This drama totally captivated me. Joo Sang Wook is phenomenal in this drama. It is definitely worth watching for him.

The plot keeps you engaging and the chemistry between the lead pair is top notch. The script is very unpredictable and the screenplay have interesting classy elements that makes the show unique and worth watching.