Beauty Inside

So this is how it feels... My TV crisis seems to have had a breakthrough thanks to Beauty Inside. And I'm really glad for that, because I was missing that feeling where you just have to finish watching something, even if you sorely need sleep or have things to do the next morning. I honestly don't remember much of the film, even though I saw it as part of a festival, and I know I enjoyed it a lot at the time. I guess it made it that much better since I didn’t have to draw comparisons. There were many things about the series that I was happy with, from the well-written script to the great cameos to the extraordinary soundtrack. Min-ki Lee has always been good, but I was still a bit thrown by how mature he’s gotten. For me Hyeon-jin Seo will always be Oh Hae Young, but I have to say that she brought a charisma I hadn’t seen before and I noticed a great shift in her as well. She's fantastic at playing a strong woman who doesn't let herself get swept away. The second couple moved me at times perhaps even more than the first. Likewise the life struggles and loneliness of Da-hee Lee and her relationship with her brother. She brought me to tears at one point right at the beginning of the film during a rather non-exploitative scene, so I'll definitely remember her performance. And I'm reconsidering my dislike for Jae-hyeon Ahn after this performance. Although there were several subplots, I still don’t consider this a show that asks too much of the viewer and instead gives you what you want. That may be an advantage, or vice versa... I’m wrestling with that, but I'll still give it 5 stars. (30.03.2022)