'Birth of A Beauty' Is A Revenge Makeover Drama

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Han Ye Seul
Birth of a Beauty
Joo Sang Wook
Wang Ji Hye
Jung Kyeo Woon

There are plenty of k-dramas about revenge and there are quite a few makeovers in dramas. But "Birth of a Beauty" could be described as a revenge makeover drama.

It's a drama in which the makeover is the first step to revenge.

Makeovers in dramas usually help reveal the true worth of the heroine. A little makeup and some new clothes help others see the heroine in a more positive light and help the male leads recognize her value in the eyes of others.

But "Birth of a Beauty" starts out with a makeover, made for revenge, and examines the reality behind both the goal and the results. A nip, a tuck and a new hairdo can help a woman feel more self-confident and take control of her life. But it doesn't always work. It won't work if the lack of self-confidence is more than skin deep.

The opening scenes of "Birth of a Beauty" open with a glimpse into the world that opens up before a beautiful woman, Sa Ra, played by Han Ye Seul. People gasp when she walks past. They stare in awe. She's every man's dream and she makes woman jealous. A face reader predicts a wonderful future for the woman with perfect features.

But inside the perfect exterior is a woman who has been miserable about her looks and has a poor sense of her self worth.

Because once upon a time, Sa Ra was Sa Geum Ran, a woman was overweight and less than stylish. But even worse than her so-called physical handicaps was the fact that she was a doormat. She let her husband and her in-laws use and abuse her. Her reaction to the world was beyond good-natured. She did not believe in herself enough to stand up for her own needs.

So when Sa Geum Ran is hurt and asks the plastic surgeon played by Joo Sang Wook to transform her, she is asking for armor. She wants a new look and a new body to use for revenge. She wants the power that comes with being beautiful so she can punish her cheating husband, played by Jung Kyeo Woon and his fiancee, played by Wang Ji Hye.

But given that confidence and being empowered by her new look, Sa Ra quickly finds that revenge is not quite as satisfying as she thought it would be. Her plan might have been to win back her cheating husband but is he worth it? Now that she is beautiful, she could have anyone and the most important quality in a husband may be a kind and faithful heart.

Are you watching this drama? What do you think of it and the questions it raises.

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