Some of you may know it as “Bel Ami” too, but Pretty Man was the official name when the teasers started. This drama marked the long-awaited comeback to the small screen of our Asia’s Prince, Jang Geun Suk.
My Thoughts on the Cast and Performances
To be honest, I think Jang Geun Suk did a better job in other dramas. Maybe it’s because it’s tiring watching him play the arrogant guy over and over again. Or maybe it’s because I enjoyed his role on Beethoven Virus so much that I’m hoping to see him like a romantic loser again. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good performance, but if you have seen his other dramas, you will find too many similarities.
IU (Lee Soon Shin is the Best, Dream High) plays the cute Kim Bo Tong. She is one of a kind, not only is she a colorful, silly girl, but she’s also kind of mischievous in her thoughts. Unlike many drama heroines, she’s tough and works her best to achieve whatever she wants, and she succeeds! I liked that this is one of the few dramas where the heroine doesn’t end up doing everything wrong.
BUT! Some feelings there were totally over the top. Especially her blindness for her “Pretty Oppa,” which made me hate her for a few episodes.
As for the rest of the cast:
- Lee Jang Woo: Brings the adorable David Choi to life. He falls in love with Bo Tong at first sight and tries hard to be part of her life. They share a goofy and lovely relationship, though someone’s heart will inevitably be broken.
- Han Chae Young: Incarnates Hong Yu Ra. Personally, I think she is incredibly beautiful, but she needs to loosen her body when she acts. Her whole expression feels stiff, something I’ve noticed in her recent dramas.
The Storyline: A Familiar yet Appealing Premise
The storyline is a new kind for sure, but it had something that whispered “Twelve Men in a Year” to me. The starting point is different, but the idea of a man “tasting” women to get the best of every experience sounded familiar. Despite that, when we start watching, it takes us somewhere we did not expect, and that’s somewhat appealing.
Synopsis of Pretty Man: The story follows Dok Go Ma Te, who is sought out by the ex-daughter-in-law of a big conglomerate to make him the heir of the company. To achieve that, she gives him missions: he needs to learn how to be powerful by dating all kinds of women. This becomes a double-edged sword for everyone involved, as misunderstandings and heartbreaks follow.
This drama is based on a manhwa called “Pretty Boy” and I’m pretty sure it’s inspired by Guy de Maupassant’s “Bel Ami” too, although the twists here are much softer and the sweet comedy makes it a much lighter watch.
Clichés and Conclusion
On the cliché side, we have the typical evil ahjummas, birth secrets, and fated encounters. However, there aren’t many ordinary places here.
I have mixed feelings about this one. Some characters have an interesting aura and nice chemistry, while others felt like they came from stories we’ve seen before. The problem isn’t the clichés themselves (we wouldn’t watch K-dramas otherwise!), but seeing clichés played by the same artists in similar ways.
Final Verdict: It’s a lovely drama to entertain you, with warm feelings and some hard-to-watch moments. The OST is totally beautiful, but it’s not going to be an inflection point in our drama fan lives.
Image Source: KBS
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