Hello, API Romance Authors!

We are here to share with you the first of our many renditions of API Media Reviews! Our goal by sharing this media you will be inspired to go off and write a delightfully fluffy or spicy romance story with API characters. This month's review is provided to you by favourakpofure.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

Title of Work: True Beauty

Author: Yaongyi

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Slice of life, Coming-of-age story

Duration: 16 episodes

Type: Drama

Synopsis: Based on the Line Webtoon of the same name by Yaongyi, it's a fantastic story about a high school girl who faces bullying and discrimination due to being considered unattractive. But she doesn't let that bring her down. Instead, she learns the art of makeup and undergoes an incredible transformation that turns her into a stunning "goddess." It's a story of perseverance, self-discovery, and embracing your true beauty.

Opening Hook

The first scene is well thought of and intriguing. However, I firmly believe that Hwang In-Yeop's central second lead syndrome deserved a different ending. I was left unsatisfied and disappointed with the way his character arc concluded. In my opinion, the writer should have taken a bold step and deviated from the script to deliver a more fitting and rewarding conclusion for his character.

Plot/Pacing

The main character has a developed story that makes you understand the way they are. However, it was very predictable towards the end, as the drama progressed because I already knew how it would end. Not only did I hear the words I also felt the emotions, because the actors did a good job portraying their characters. In a way it's a bit similar to a few other k-dramas, not excluding the second lead syndrome. Because each character was giving a weak and strong side to their characters, it was compelling seeing them have flaws and not all perfect.

Romance

I love that it wasn't love at first sight, I had to watch it develop into something. The progression was okay, not too forced that it covers the other aspect of the main characters life.

Character Development

Every character had a flaw and a story that made it interesting to watch. I love all the characters, they all made me crack up with laughter.

Overall Impression

My favorite characters were Lim Joo-kyung, Lim Ju-young, and Im Hee-Kyung. What I liked about the protagonist was she was kind, but I didn't like how much time it took for her to finally stand up to the bullies. She always ran away from her problems. My least favorite character was Choi Soo-Ah. 

Reasons for Recommendation: It's all about Lim Ju-kyung, a high school student who has always felt self-conscious about her appearance. To hide her insecurities, she started wearing heavy makeup and became an expert in cosmetics. Her skills are so impressive that she convinces everyone that her made-up face is her natural beauty. Along the way, she makes friends with Lee Su-ho, a wealthy but cold classmate, and Han Seo-jun, an aggressive student with incredible talents. Together, they navigate the ups and downs of high school and help Ju-Kyung reach her dream of becoming a cosmetologist.

You're in for a delightful surprise with this adaptation! I laughed more than I expected and was thrilled that it stays true to the Webtoon source material. The cast is ideally suited to their roles, bringing the characters to life. Overall, I highly recommend giving it a watch!

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

That's it for this media review! If you enjoyed it, be sure to leave a comment and tap that star button to vote! If you have any suggestions for other media we should check out, let us know in the comment section.

In the meantime, we recommend checking out the OST for the drama.

https://youtu.be/gGB1u8mT9XU