You’re Beautiful’s passionate cult following
At this point, I feel like I’m just your crack dealer. Enjoy your next fix:
Why You’re Beautiful isn’t crumbling against IRIS
SBS’s You’re Beautiful is putting up a good fight against the blockbuster in the same time period, IRIS.
You’re Beautiful got off to a start on October 7 with a 9.2% rating (ABG Nielsen Media). However, when KBS’s IRIS premiered on the 14th, its numbers dropped to 7.5%. Considering IRIS’s hype and that its first episode rating was over 20%, this could have been predicted. As IRIS looks toward the 30% ratings mark, one suspected that You’re Beautiful would face falling ratings.
But a strange phenomenon occurred. Even with IRIS’s swift onslaught, You’re Beautiful’s ratings steadily grew. Its episode on October 29 rose to a 9% as it faced off against IRIS, which had received a top rating of 27.7%. Where did You’re Beautiful’s latent force come from?
Maintaining popularity with mania viewers (i.e., a cult following)
You’re Beautiful’s secret for maintaining a safe level of popularity can be found in its solid mania viewership. As befits a drama about the growth of an idol group, the drama has plenty of appeal through casting young stars like Jang Geun-seok and Lee Hong-ki, as well as fresh faces like Jung Yong-hwa. From the makeup of the cast, mania status was understandable.
Park Shin-hye also attracted notice for her crossdressing role. As members of the fictional band A.N.JELL who sing the songs themselves, they are creating their own fandom phenomenon that resembles a real idol group. As such, it created a passionate viewer fanbase that was heavily populated by teenagers and young twentysomething women.
Also helping is the way that even with the drama’s strong sensibilities, it also has a solid structure. Writers Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran of Fantasy Couple, My Girl and other dramas have captured the new generation with their characteristic lighthearted style. On top of that, PD Hong Sung-chang directs with a witty touch. They were able to charm the young generation with trendy-drama features that haven’t been seen much in Korean dramas for a while.
In the early part of the broadcast, these parts were also detriments. Viewers weren’t able to easily adapt to the artistic style and editing, which recalled Japanese dramas. At the time, one rep from the production of You’re Beautiful said, “Until Episode 2 aired, there were a lot of viewers who felt that the drama’s style was awkward. However, after Episode 3 when the story settled in, those concerns were alleviated.”
Fandom phenomenon on the online forums
One can easily see the fandom phenomenon for the drama when looking online at the forums. From the afternoon of the drama’s first broadcast, viewers posted messages in anticipation. Comments like “Today is a happy Wednesday, I can meet Jeremy [Lee Hong-ki]” and “Finally I can see Shin-woo [Jung Yong-hwa]” flooded the board. One poster who watched IRIS but transferred her interest to You’re Beautiful was met with a rash of welcome messages.
Discussion arose online regarding what fans could do to raise the ratings. After every episode airs, there’s a clear comparison between the online forum’s debate about the story development and IRIS’s forums. Seeing them in action, they seem less like earnest drama fans and more like the fan club of a real idol group. Ultimately, the fandom of You’re Beautiful doesn’t convey the feeling of merely “watching” the show, but can be understood better with the word “enthusing.”
The recent rise in the ratings corresponds to the drama’s melodramatic storyline coming into full swing. Chief producer Jo Nam-kook expressed his confidence: “Our drama has fierce support among female teenage students. Thanks to them, we’re better off than I’d feared and continuing to fight. If I could get my wish, I’d like to raise the ratings to about 13%, but in order to achieve that, we’ll need the support of thirtysomething women viewers, too. With the recent introduction of the melodramatic line, I don’t think that’s an unreasonable wish.”
A couple things: The article gives too much credence to the whole demographics issue, in my opinion, because I resist the whole rationale that you can market something to an entire category of people on the sole basis of a few criteria like “idols” and “young actors.” I understand the need to classify viewership into definable groups for the purpose of articles like this, in analyzing drama trends, and I’m sure the overall tendency of youngsters to prefer one type of drama over another is true. I just draw the line at overly simplistic arguments about why something appeals to a person purely based on age or gender.
Frankly, I think that You’re Beautiful’s main appeal is NOT actually its youthful subject matter or hot young stars, but the fact that it’s just well-written, period. If anything, I think that the subject of idols and pop stars may actually be turning people off the drama before giving the writing a chance. Those who recognize the drama’s strengths may skew young because those are the people who would give an idol drama a chance in the first place, but I seriously doubt that the cast or idol setting are the main reasons fans are so passionate. (I’ve read lots of comments (here and elsewhere) about why this drama is similar to stuff like Boys Before Flowers or My Fair Lady, but personally, I think this drama is nothing like those two — not in tone or humor or story. Those two had appeal despite bad writing; You’re Beautiful’s charm is enhanced by solid writing.)
Via Joins
RELATED POSTS
- Small dramas stay afloat amongst blockbusters
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 8
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 7
- Jang Geun-seok flooded with CF offers
- Park Shin-hye is tired but happy
- A.N.JELL’s music is a hit
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 6
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 5
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 4
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 3
- Behind the scenes with You’re Beautiful’s cast
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 2
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 1
- FT Island’s Hong-ki ready to return to acting
Tags: drama ratings, Jang Geun-seok, Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Hong-ki, mania dramas, Park Shin-hye, You're Beautiful
Woo hoo….I’m first on the comments page………..eternally grateful JB…..can’t get enough of YB……Wednesday seems a long way off…………..
Please continue to be our crack dealer!
I hope ratings rise a bit just so the actors won’t be discouraged.
Who can’t love this??
YB all the way!
“At this point, I feel like I’m just your crack dealer.”
You are so incredibly right. Thanks for this article; sad as it is, I needed something to tide me over til the next episode, or at least the next preview.
Ditto on the last sentence. I managed to watch BOF halfway the series and got bored because it was too draggy for me. This drama however, has exceptionally many ROFL moments. i’m loving it
LoL on Meru’s comment!
Seems to me that IRIS caters to a slightly different audience than You’re Beautiful.
But I still think You’re Beautiful cast should be proud, because they’re putting up a good fight with pure quality screenwriting, casting and great acting. IRIS has power star cast, high budget for expensive location footage and explosives that You’re Beautiful doesn’t have. Personally, I find every character in You’re Beautiful well developed and the story is “stickier” than IRIS. I don’t check online all the time for IRIS, but I sure do for anything related to You’re Beautiful.
Thanks Dramabeans!
(I’ve read lots of comments (here and elsewhere) about why this drama is similar to stuff like Boys Before Flowers or My Fair Lady, but personally, I think this drama is nothing like those two — not in tone or humor or story. Those two had appeal despite bad writing; You’re Beautiful’s charm is enhanced by solid writing)
LOL, I agree those 2 dramas are nothing like You’re beautiful
somehow I tell myself that
Jihoo hould be like this
Hyena should be like this
Geum Jandi (the 1st reason why I stopped watching BOF) should be like this
hahahaha
hands down YB!!!
PS : maybe they should do a real performance on stage, it will gain a lot of viewers
anyway… I don’t even care about the rating as long as it’s entertaining
I can’t wait until this drama is finished and subbed completely. It seems to be really good and a great way to wrap up this year.
Oh btw, what in the hell is Jang Geun-seok wearing in the first picture. Did he get lost in his mother’s closet?
When YB was announced, it was hot on the heels of BBF’s success and it was touted as Korea’s first ‘idol drama’. I was immediately turned off. Idol dramas are mainly cast for good looks to attract teenagers IMO, and the plots normally lack substance and the acting sub-par. Plus I’m not really into JGS.
But I watched the first ep out of curiosity and I’m loving it. It’s FAR better than BBF (I loved HYD, but couldn’t stand BBF because of GHS’s Geum Jan Di). Except, uh-oh… they’re introducing a melodrama element?
I’m also currently enjoying Creating Destiny starring Eugene & Ki Tae Young!
please continue to be our crack dealer.
uh…………
No melodrama please!!!!
but I will alwalys watch this every week
XOXO
@r
yeah me too, I couldn’t stand BFF because of her
wtf she is twenty something and she acted like a cute girl which I found out that it’s not cute at all hahahaha (with all her wrinkles bah!!!)
hehe, a nice fix it is. but not enough to last till wednesday. more, i need more please!
I don’t mind melodrama elements as long as the drama is still well balanced =D Personally, I like my drama to have a bit of melodrama, it makes the show more exciting.
I agree…You’re Beautiful is great b/c of the solid storyline and even more so of the solid acting of the whole cast. I’m actually surprised that there is so much worry over YAB being cut, because there’s just so much positive reviews about it. And I’m sure SBS must’ve thought about the fact that they were going to go against Iris. So they probably weren’t expecting high ratings. Kind of like changing the hour for Angel’s Temptation b/c it would’ve gone against QSD.
Ratings don’t matter much to me (some of my favorites fall into low ratings category), though I understand why they do to the production companies. But seriously? I’m sure the companies that PSH, JGS, etc are spokesperson for are seeing lots profit b/c of this drama. The other day I was wondering why there wasn’t an Etude House here in the States b/c think I’ve seen all the CMs JGS and PSH did together and in a moment of YAB weakness was totally checking out Etude House’s English site. And I can’t deny thinking briefly that unfortunatelly they don’t sell the new Samsung Haptic phone here either…I would love to “Just Drag it” like JGS in his CM. See? The powers of YAB are indescribable!
Too bad, it’s a lot more difficult to check ratings online. But I’m sure SBS is keeping track of viewing of episodes on their site. Thanks for the article JB!
(For what it’s worth, I don’t think the “melodrama” comment means there will be new, dramatic changes of direction from the current plot. I believe it’s just referring to how the drama’s angst — Tae-kyung’s mother issues, Mi-nam’s growing feelings, the jealousy in various love lines — is hitting its stride now. I’m pretty sure we can expect the same mix of drama and comedy in the future…)
I agree.
I actually can’t stand idol dramas, but I love YB because the idol aspect is campy and not taken seriously, and the “hot” guys are dorky and strange. (Shinwoo who is the least flawed is also my least favorite character.)
I can’t stand melodrama either, so I’m crossing my fingers that there won’t be too much of it to come. Older women don’t necessarily like melodrama. The older I get (and I’m not really old T.T), the more I roll my eyes when some actor is bawling over some stupid thing that would never happen in real life. The only kind of crying I don’t mind is JGS looking broken… he brings out the sadist in me. o_o;;
I love this drama! and yes, it helps that every week, I get to feast my eyes on the eye candy of the actors that are before me but its really that the story line is really interesting and halarious. Every character has its own unique personality and I find myself laughing at nearly every single scene. Its written in a really witty kind of way and it never fails to make the audience anticipate what’s coming next. I also love the supporting characters aswell-to the manager’s somewhat obscure and troublesome romantic/ pornesque fantasies to the “CEO’s random outburst of English phrases…its a really really enjoyable drama to watch. The director has done some awesome casting and the costumes, scenery and the camera shots are really well executed.
One definition of addiction is “The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something.” You’re Beautiful really IS crack…one hit is all it takes to get hooked. And just like with any addiction, all you can do is chase the next fix. Wednesday junkies, every single one of us.
That’s why we love our crack dealer! Thanks JB!
Good because the word “melodrama” scares the hell outta me…. >_>
But I totally agree about the demographics issue….that and because I would be considered too old to be watching this! lol.
Thanks JB for posting this article! It is really nice that a lot of people are very concerned about the ratings of YB. But to those who are addicted to korean
dramas like me, all that matters is its entertainment value and YB has tons
that!
To the creative team of YB, fighting!!! The best is yet to come!
I thought I’d stopped my k-drama addiction but You’re Beautiful restarted that addiction. I appreciate the drama for its good looking men of course, but I really do enjoy the storyline & how all the conventional plots that are used are given a twist. I want to thank you & let you know I’m really glad you’re our k-drama crack dealer because we only get the best of best.
You pointed out 2 strong points… I agree with you completely. I have enjoyed watching several dramas but I could count on my fingers those that would make me want to watch again and again (My Girl included – my all-time favorite). I am so addicted to this drama that I watch every episode twice!
I love it when you post stuff about YAB. (:
Thank you for being my crack dealer.
Thanks for the YB crack!!
I am overobsessed with the drama… so much so that I think in terms of YB!!! fR Ex: That guy in _____ drama has Shin-woo charm or that hairstyle is sooo Jeremy.. etc.
LOL
i’m with you JB i kind of scoffed at this article. this shouldn’t be a mania drama. i started watching this drama knowing NONE of the cast besides lee hongki. and i don’t even LIKE hongki i think he seems like kind of a douche from what i’ve seen of him in shows and i was annoyed to see him. that being said the script made him cute and the script made all the characters lovable. the writers are what keep this drama afloat. what lies that it’s some famous people bla bla bla although i think JGS is doing a fantastic job.
I have to agree with the writing aspect…While watching Boys over Flowers and My Fair Lady ~ which lost it’s charm pretty soon ~ It’s Beautiful seems to be getting better and better. It’s been a while since I’ve watched an ENTIRE episode of a drama…I’m prone to skipping parts.
I agree with you JB..the Hong sisters are a great writer
OMG! I think im fix til wednesday.
Thank you Javabeans.
Bring on the crack… T-3 days until the next fix!
Thanks, Javabeans!
I agree with you, JB, fully that demography is not the sole factor for the passionate following of YAB. Just in the last couple of days at the Soompi YAB forum, there is the ‘come out’ of female viewership in the 40-50s. A lot of ajummas including myself!
Its appeal comes squarely from a very well-written script and the on-par acting of an endearing cast from the charismatic JGS down to the fine performance of Manager Mah. Every character, main and supporting, stands on his/her own very well. All these are underpinned by a solid script with good balance of fun and angst, the sophisticated set (of ANJELL’s home and the record company), and of course the great music as an idol band drama should have. It is drama fantansy land at its best. Simply enchantment that one cannot resist!
Oh PSH you lucky lucky girl (in the second and third pics). Sigh…
Here’s hoping that YB picks up on its ratings! A well-written drama deserves at least that much.
Dear JB,
you ARE my crack dealer.
I live for Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Thanks for the excellent service.
=D
Thanks so much for posting, I’ve been hitting up your page for this post ever since you mentioned it from the last YB post. You really are my crack dealer lol. I have nothing else to add since everyone already said it, but I would like to say that I liked that the article mentioned the Director. Everyone keeps praising the Hong sisters’ script, though deserving, I thought that what we see on screen was greatly enhanced by all the extra touches of the director. All in all, from casting, screenplay, down to directing, the choices were extremely well chosen.
JB, I’m glad you’re a crack dealer, otherwise, how do we get our fix! This drama not only appeal to youngsters but also ahjuhma like me. Yes, I’m belong to the thirtysomething group and I’d fully grown out Pop Idol.
Well, it has been quite some time since K-drama, best known for their melodramas, was this infectious! Unlike my mom who caught in the Korean wave and worshipped any sort K-drama, I’m pretty selective and only watch few good one, which only a handful so to speak. Tearjerkers absolute is absolute no-no for me. It has been 2 years since I last stumble on a good one. That was ‘Coffee Prince’ which I almost give up after episode 1.
The last time I was this fixated with any was with Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) – that was like 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my second baby, so much so everyone alleged that my second son looks a bit like Korean now (which wasn’t bad). Back then, I was rushing to video rental shop every alternate day like a mad woman to check whether new episode of that drama is released.
The new wave of drama queen is very different from the past. We watched online through video streaming. The whole process is in fact very engaging now. While watching, you can check out the trailer, the drama OST. It doesn’t matter that I can’t comprehend Korean language because you have a lot of volunteers out there that volunteered their time with segmenting the video, review, subtitled it into English and of course people like Javabean who recap the episode. And while you’re watching, you can rant what you like and doesn’t. What made K-drama so interesting? It doesn’t matter that they are not original. The formula must be crude appeals to emotions – when she is sad, you’re be sad with her, when she’s in love, you’ll feel delighted and so forth. YAB have all that magic that is touching to the core of all emotion which is a great escapee for ppl who is stressed out. It even alleviate to cult following with young great looking actors, smart dialogue and hilarious scene. I hope the rating will gain steadily…
Its rating is quite steady. At least it doesn’t have that much competitions (just IRIS), Heading to the Ground is crashing anyway. Then, there’s HERO. We’ll see how this battle goes.
I actually like YB more than I thought but it’s not obsessive stuff.
Sometimes I’ll watch the episode then wait for your recaps other times I just read yours. It covers almost everything anyway.
oooh! I love the red doc martens she is wearing. I just love her outfit in this picture. This is how Jandi should have dressed. Still not crazy about JGS’s tops.
Totally agree….it’s all about good writing.
I totally agree!
Here in the Philippines, my classmates and I are really anticipating every episode and really really love Tae-kyung, Shin-woo, Jeremy, and Mi-nam….
woooohhh!!! great job!!! ^^i
yes!
iris is poo! YB is much better!!
I agree….if it were really just idol status, then I think ‘Heading to the Ground’ would’ve done ALOT better considering YH has MANY MANY fans of all ages…..I think that the script and the way that a show is produced is the main factor on whether it does good or bad….of course the acting and eye candy helps too, but it’s definately not the deal breaker.
thanks for being our crack dealer JB!
I was actually thinking of re-watching YB’s episodes again while waiting for the new ones! Good heavens! this show is addictive!!!!
thanks again!
@ koolio 8: “Oh btw, what in the hell is Jang Geun-seok wearing in the first picture. Did he get lost in his mother’s closet?”
Ha! So funny. Actually, I think that every time any one of the 3 boys turns up… it’s like watching Full House all over again (greeting Rain in each scene with “What the @#$^@ is he wearing??!!!) but x 3. And the hair. I better not get started on the hair.
I can attest with my confession of ahjummah status, that this is definitely an ahjummah-friendly drama. The thing about the “idol-drama” thing is, they’re making fun of idols. And it’s damn funny. Oh, they’re also making them human, and vulnerable, and all that, but for me the bottom line is good dialogue and out-of-the-blue laughs; when it’s funny, it’s hysterically funny. How many times have I watched the tai-chi/pig scene?? I am ashamed to tell you. And I howl with laughter every time. Plus, PLUS, the actors are very good (by and large); I adore the manager, he’s fabulous. Even the not so fabulous actors (and we know who they are) have still managed to convey charm and personality and I’m prepared to indulge them in ways I was not prepared to do with BBF. And JGS, who I have to say I did not find remotely attractive to begin with has become a highly magnetic, charismatic actor in my eyes. Even wearing lip gloss. Which for an ajummah, is a pretty big thing to get over.
PS JB: you are our crack dealer, but remember, you’re our FAVOURITE crack dealer.
I think ratings are still important for the YB production team and cast. If the ratings can be on an up-trend, it will certainly give great encouragement to them.
Actually this drama’s description on idol activities are not too much. It focuses more on the love story amongst the main leads. The scripts are really well-written. I have never encountered a k-drama which is so full of crazy imagination. And I like this a lot. Hong sisters get a good sense of humours. And they make fun of a lot of advertisements – like the pig chasing scene, the 007 James Bond scene (which resemble UEE and KHJ’s phone advertisement).
I think the cast should have laughed a lot when they read the scripts. It must be fun to make all the scenes. I guess the BTS and NGs should be full of laughters….just want to watch them.
Thanks for the fix of crack!
Oh, So. Addicted.
Javabeans:- You know, ladies normally aren’t that keen to reveal their age! But to prove a point, I’m turning 42 in a matter of days and I’m enjoying YB so much. Although i can’t understand Korean and rely on eng subs and of course your recaps to follow the series. It has not stopped me from enjoying this drama immensely!! It’s the flow of the storyline, the oh-so-good dialogues and the knock-you-off-your-chair refreshing and memorable scenes (eg. the star & moon) etc. So you are right-on to say, yes, YB is definitely well-written!! That’s a main appeal + the well-casted characters + charisma of the casts +just how the whole thing flows together nicely with hardly any awkwardness. I even enjoyed their stage acts! So cool, JGS can sure act like a pop idol to a ‘T’! PSH is simply lovely and adorable. So believeable. If only the 30s and 40s something can also see what joy it is to follow this series! I mucho like so much. I’m following you to the next recap.
This, indeed, is a great fix.
I can hardly stand the wait till Wed & Thur roll along.
I’m addicted to YAB, obsessed is more like it. Longing to see JGS, PSH & co…..
JB, thanks for the fix, and please, please continue to be our dealer.
JB, you are the best crack dealer I know! Thank you for translating and posting. MOAR!!!
It’s so nice to see this YB love being tracked in news stories!
See, the section on online following now makes me feel even more frustrated that I cannot register and post on SBS! I wonder if the production guys have any idea what the international online craze is like. They seem to be tracking viewership pretty carefully — and if IRIS team is aware enough to send a cease and desist notice to Viikii, surely YB peeps are not unaware of what is happening on the international front…
Also, if they want the 30-something demographic, they really need to play up JGS’s pretty face and cute body. Put him in nice edgy rocker clothes and stop playing with the hair! The atrocious tops gotta go! Other than that, everything is perfect — they should keep doing what they are. As President Ahn would say, “Okay! Let’s go! Fun-tastic! Jackfot!”
What I other like about the Hong Sisters’ dramas, aside from that they are all well-written, is that they are also very appealing to guys. Yes, I’m a guy. ^^
And thanks for being our crack dealer, Javabeans.
I also posted it under episode 8 recap. But just in case for YAB fans who didn’t see my post over there.
Episode 9 Preview
Credit: Cephas7 from soompi & ciella from viikii
MN gives TK hot coffee and wishes him a happy birthday. And she tries to give him other birthday gifts. Hae Yi picks on MN but gets caught by SW. She quickly fakes it but is in a bad mood. Additionally, she takes MN’s hair clip but TK recognizes it and tells her to give it back b/c he bought it. MHR (TK’s mom) contacts MN’s aunt and says she wants to meet the twins…
I’m in official mode of saying: YHY go DIE!
Loving this drama and yes I agree with the comments about the script being really well written but you can tell the actors have done their home work as well! (JGS and his OCD tendencies is really well thought out to name one)
I, like lots of people have watched the episodes twice over and certain scenes over and over (one being the pig chasing JGS through the field – I couldn’t stop laughing!
) They seem to balance the silly with the sweet moments really well and there isn’t too much in each episode.
They shouldn’t really be competing with IRIS anyway as they are completely different in every way!
YB is a great way to escape twice week and there isn’t enough of that around – so what if it isn’t completely believable as long as we, the viewers, are entertained!
Thank you to our crack dealer!
Fighting You’re Beautiful!
Thanks for the crack!
“Frankly, I think that You’re Beautiful’s main appeal is NOT actually its youthful subject matter or hot young stars, but the fact that it’s just well-written, period.”
Yes, this. BOF was popular because of its youthful subject matter and a hot young stars. Not because of the excellent writing. Again, quality doesn’t always equal popularity.
There are similarities in the story, though: Tae-kyung is a spoiled, angry prince; his mom is an evil wretch, Tae-kyung’s gentle right hand falls for the girl as well. Etc. But, the plot is different, the writing is 1000x better, and I actually like the lead actress.
So, it’s actually irksome that the article finds those reasons for the show’s popularity. Please promote quality, not packaging!
after few episode of iris, i feel like that something that i would see later when the serie end.
you’re beautiful, i will support you guy
Crack dealer? maybe. But for me I like to think of you as my pleasure pimp.
“Frankly, I think that You’re Beautiful’s main appeal is NOT actually its youthful subject matter or hot young stars, but the fact that it’s just well-written, period. If anything, I think that the subject of idols and pop stars may actually be turning people off the drama before giving the writing a chance”
How right you are. I haven’t seen BOF or My Fair Lady except to read some of you satirical recaps which is entertainment in itself and I don’t think I’m the type to watch anything about pop stars unless its done as a satire with great writing but I’m watching YB due to circumstance of having time on my hand from getting the flu, your good word and because its by the hong sisters. Its my perfect storm and what kept me engrossed is the writing and performance from 3-4 key people.
yes, please continue to be our crack dealer JB…
when BOF or MFL forst came out i was eager to watched it online and after several episodes, i gave up. i rather read your recap than to waste my time and my internet connection to download those dramas…
it’s different when it’s YB, now i can’t wait for Wendnesday and Thursday (and Thursday + Friday morning for your fabulous recap), if i had the time before work i would watched the raw episodes fro YT, and then at noon i read you recap, when i got home, i watched the subbed videos from viikii while downloading the said episodes and wait for the subtitle too come out. it’s crazy, i never behave like this for a drama, it’s like i was an A.N.Jell avid fan or sumthin, i didn’t even behave like this for my KPop idol, being a KPop fan myself
i do agree with your last paragraph, YB is very well-written with great cast, and interesting twist here and there, i feel kinda ‘offended’ with the tone of the article that basically saying that the viewer of YB watched this drama because of the good looking cast…
well…I ‘m part of the ajummah following, I’m in my mid-30s…I think YAB is so refreshing, it makes me feel like I’m 20 again, and that’s a good feeling! I think there should be a new slogan “wanna feel young again, watch YAB!” I wish I could look young again too, but hey…I’m happy where I am (but of course could always be happier next to JGS!). So thanks JB for another dose of YAB!
The comparison to BBF just speak to the fact that Korea doesn’t make a lot of idol or youth-dramas. Disagree if you must, but spend a year in the world of TW-drama and you’ll see the contrast. The more appropriate comparison would be to draw from other Hong Sisters shows or even Beethoven Virus, since that show was also about music and JGS’s character really is a bit like Kang Mae. YB isn’t a Cinderella drama like BBF. YB is a young girl’s coming-of-age drama, more like what you see in shoujo. Well done coming-of-age narratives have strong universal appeal, if enough people pick them up.
To me, the main appeal of the show is that it’s an idol show, a really well done idol show. It’s a vicarious boy band experience, and the writing really nails down all that. It has an episodic structure similar to J-drama, and reworks gags we’ve seen in TW Idol-drama for years. (Then again, from reviewing some of the Hong Sisters work, their overall style is similar to how TW rom-coms are done.) You’re Beautiful is derivative (then again, most dramas are), but it affirms the pleasures of good craftsmanship. And sometimes it really nails a good joke.
“Everyone keeps praising the Hong sisters’ script, though deserving, I thought that what we see on screen was greatly enhanced by all the extra touches of the director.”
The direction has been excellent, but in this situation, it still comes down to the quality of the writing. I mentioned that MFL that it used a lot of locations without working out scenarios. What the Hong Sisters did in the country village was ingenious. Not just the obvious pig joke, but in how they set up jokes and thematic tropes about grandmas and teens, as well as the media saturation and the lonesome freedom of the country. When you have that kind of detail in the writing, the direction is so much better. It doesn’t have to substantiate the scenario on its own.
I definitely think it’s time for some YB headers, Java!
The demographic of YB is wide.
My mother-in-law, who came a very long distance to be with her lovely daughter and first ever grandson during this very precious and special time, watched all 8 YB episodes over two days, stopping only to help feed, wash and change our baby. LOL!
I mean, put it this way. I’ve not yet seen all 8 episodes…
From baby Ji Hoon, who watched YB Ep 4 almost all the way through and only cried during the really tense moments, to my mother-in-law, who couldn’t get enough of Tae-Kyung (lol)… this drama has legs enough to carry it against IRIS.
And the reasons are the writing and the actors. Get one but not the other, and you have Full House, and get the other and the one, and you have Goong S. Get both… and you have something special.
And you can tell. I didn’t think I was going to like it, and I didn’t even plan on watching it because I’m not a huge fan of trendy dramas, AND, I rarely, if ever, watch a drama series while it is being broadcast. But I had to do a few spots, and I was just going to fast-forward until I got to the approximate locations….
…and then I found myself watching…
more crack please, JB.
There are so many wonderfully earnest crackheads on this website.
It CRACKS me up. hahahahaha
“Comments like “Today is a happy Wednesday, I can meet Jeremy [Lee Hong-ki]” and “Finally I can see Shin-woo [Jung Yong-hwa]” flooded the board.”
Hahahah.. Spookily me. But I’m not into either of them so I usually update my facebook with “Wed and Thurs are the best days of the week” kinda thing hahaha. I’m too old to giggle about teenage pop idols
So THANK YOU, JB for the update! It’s good to read something bout YAB! And yes, you’re our fav crack dealer ever.
When I read the article, I was like.. hey.. I’m not in ny 20s anymore, nor that I’m into boy bands or pop groups. When I first read about YAB on your blog JB, I was NOT interested at all to watch the drama.. I thought it wouldn’t suit me at all.
But alas, like u said (and many others before me), the main attraction of the drama for me is all about the writing. And how it is directed. I’m a fan of Hong sisters so that’s the only reason I first watch the drama. But of course, I do welcome having good eye candy casts too.
omg! jeremy’s hair in the first pic! so weird! but now i want some plaid pyjamas like that.
love, love YB and keep crack-dillin’ us JB! muchas appreciatus!
@ langdon813
“That’s why we love our crack dealer! Thanks JB!” lol
Agree with you.
I am not in the demographic targeted. i’m 45 yrs young
what i like about the drama is the flow of storytelling. everything is in sync :
the writers – interesting characters , imaginative plots, good dialog, parody and a flowing story line. I can give examples but then this post is going to be long indeed. anyway, i cannot write half as good as JB. you’ll be bored to tears.
actors – able to act out the many layers of personalities. esp JGS. I’m in awe.
T he director, music… everything. another reason why it appeals to the international audience is because it’s what Kdrama is. YB has IDENTITY. it’s like… if you want to watch anime, you watch Japanese anime. others haven’t got to that level yet. if you want to see spy and explosion, you can see it from Hollywood or even Hong Kong. or song and dance stories… Bollywood. so if you want to watch romcom… Kdrama it is. or melodrama… i usually wouldn’t touch this.
maybe that’s why IRIS got great rating in Korea because it’s something different from the usual fare. who wouldn’t be proud and happy that their own kind are able to produce world class action drama?
as i’m not watching for national pride or interest(i’m not Korean), i choose YB. the subject content might be idol group, but they are people with highs and lows in their lives too. THAT’S what made the drama interesting and make us relate to the story. it gets to your soul.
Love all the characters..
JGS – Thank You for your stellar performance. the many layers of HTK. ..it’s not easy, but you’ve nailed it. BRAVO! Standing Ovation. i love his acting like i love YEH performances in Goong and CP. they are the reason i watch these series. he made me cry, lol. always looking forward to what face he wants to present to the story. the end of ep 8… what can i say? watch it 3 times. cry each time.
Hong Ki (Jeremy)- TQ for the lol. seems like an airhead (love all his scenes – crack me up) but he’s honest with his feelings. the day he took Mi Nam out, the Indian restaurant scene … lol. the bus ride… really showed me how mature his thinking is. there are times in your life when you’ve got to accept and face how you really feel at the moment. it’s a start of how to solve any problems. he did that in the one hour bus ride. something to adopt in your own life too?
PSH – cute. just enough. not over. simply adorable. for that i thank you. i remember another drama where i cannot bear to watch after more than 10 episode watching because of the female lead trying to be cute. it’s a mania drama. but me and my teenage daughter really hate it. even thinking about it… blah. i’m sorry that i’m not able to continue watching it as i can see that the male lead was good.
Shin Woo(don’t know his real name) – nice guy. maybe because he’s new, his acting is ok. but he cannot top Bae So Bin performance in BL. THAT’s a second lead that i can root for. in fact much more interesting than the lead. he lights up the small screen. just like JGS and YEH. i lose interest in BL after the two main lead get together.
all the rest. excellent performance also. Standing Ovation!
But my most admiration goes to the Hong Sisters. THANK YOU for the writings. you made the stories memorable. it hits the spot emotionally. i’ll be re watching this a lot in years to come.
I’ll be buying the DVD. Hope the translation is Great. there are times when i cannot enjoy the stories because the translation is crap.
JB. need more crack! (TQ for your writing. Love reading it.)
@belleza
Agree. Something about YB reminds me of Nana.
i would also like to credit the stylist of this drama. I love the way everyone’s been dressed. It’s just not the usual generic boring trendy stuff. For instance, I just love the plaid suit the adorable blondie is wearing. Sorry I am too tired to look up his name. Tho’ much as I love JGS the blondie is adorable.
Tho’ I am not crazy about JGS’s tops, he has such a flair about him I can’t help admiring him for wearing something so gay!
JB is my first and ONLY drug dealer!
I know Iris is getting loads of attention because of the big-shot actors and the supposedly huge budget, but I think that because YB’s cast is less well-known, they can focus more on the storyline rather than having uneven screentime just because some actors are more famous than others. That’s what drew me in, the whole storyline and how evenly distributed it is.
Other dramas rely a lot on the fame of their actors and the hype that’s generated by them having bed scenes or going abroad and whatnot. They have to, because they really spend a lot of money just getting those actors and their entourage to sign up. YB relies most on plot, so I think if more people give it a chance, they’ll love it. Just bad luck that it wasn’t promoted all that well.
YB has universal appeal: it makes you either reminisce and fondly recall your twenties, hope your twenties is like those world of the A.N.gell gang, or can’t wait to hit your twenties to experience what you perceive to be the awesomeness of adulthood.
And you never need to check your critical eye at the door to enjoy it (which I have done many times for dramas I’ve enjoyed but concede is chock full of *what the h*lls?”).
It’s a wonderful drama – I just hope the hype mania doesn’t get overblown and then here comes the YB fatigue and backlash. I’m just lying low and enjoying the fun every Wed/Thurs.
You’re Beautiful is Awesome! Love JGS and the entire cast. Can’t wait for the next episode.
not a big fan of melodramas…
Hope despite the melodrama parts,there is still funny parts…
out of the 8 episodes i watch,i dislike 1 of them cos it is really melodramaic…
in fact i like my girl and fantasy couple but i hate the melodrama part…………….
That part simply spoil the drama……
Yeah. If you want proof of You’re Beautiful’s passionate cult following. Soompi’s forum thread is a really good example. People on that thread wish to show that You’re Beautiful viewership extends beyond the South Korean borders.
hi there!
I also dont like idols` acting because most of them are just pretty face…however, You are Beatiful has driven me crazy. The story line is really good, unexpected and full of many twists in every episode. Besides, the cast in general have very good interpreting their roles. I had read about the rating and also how much the actors are worried about this…that`s unbelievable. I think this rating is just because of prejuices, just as i had before starting to watch it, but i do believe this is just the beginning, this drama has been improving day by day and i`m pretty sure there wont be many happy faces when it come to its end.
We have created a blog to encourage the drama`s crew to keep doing it as well as now and to cheer them up.
come to visit us if you want, we`ll appreciate any comment you can share.
We love YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!
YOU RULE!
here is the address
http://anjelllovers.blogspot.com/
Ha!Ha! You are right about being my crack dealer! I love YB!
how i wish online viewers can play a part in these ratings! i couldn’t agree with you more in regards to the strong writing of this drama. i am the 30 over viewer and i’m sure if the older population in korea give this drama a chance, they will become one of the cult followers as well and increase the ratings in the process. YB is such a heart-warming drama. It just captivates you and the writers made the characters so lovable!
I’m seriously high on YAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you’re my dealer!!
I’m soo excited for the next ep I can’t eat!
I’m optimistic that this drama can reach 17-18 by the end…it deserves it with the excellent cast and storyline which is by far the best this year.
Oh Javabeans, I agree, I’m addicted to this like crack.
I love the behind-the-scenes pictures!!
Thank you for this!
And thank you for being our crack dealer! We need a fix before Wednesday/Thursday
javabeans, thanks for being our “dealer” and giving us
our “fix” of You’re Beautiful. The cast, the crew and writers
deserve praise for their hard work. I hope they stay strong
I personally will continue to support this wonderful
drama.
A.N.JELL FOREVER!!!
My heart skipped a beat when I read your post’s title. Everything about You’re Beautiful excites me. <3
I'm so restless waiting for Ep.9. Two more days…
@ Sonam,
“Agree. Something about YB reminds me of Nana. ”
Oh those are fighting words, Sonam.
NaNa is special territory for me (punk fashion too), and I’ve been to J-punk gigs.
But one thing I do like about YB is that An Jell is a proper rock outfit. Most of the sogns are either power pop ditties or power ballads, and on a very instinctive level, that’s what I like anyway.
YAB or not.. I come here for my daily fix… ^ _^
but it is definitely in the list of top 10 things that make me happy~ not since CP has a k-drama made me anticipate another ep like this…
I’m ok with a bit of angst/melo as long as there is no one dying of a terminal illness and real incest involved! And I’m sure nobody is going to tell Hong Sisters to change any plots to boost ratings!
@belleza
I agree with how the detailed writing makes this script so great… and the parodies/ref they put in – old boy, SJS cf etc, I bet more older viewers in the late 20-30s age bracket recognize those than teens… there is really something for everyone there.
If only it didn’t have to be up against IRIS… but I guess there will be more converts as people “accidentally” discover what a gem it is!
Plus with the soundtrack selling like Hotcakes I don’t think this drama will be “heading to the ground” anytime soon!
Can’t wait for wed!
i wholeheartedly agree with you Javabeans…. I love YB not only because it has Hot, youthful actors but because it’s well-written, and because they’ve grasped the “key” to keeping their viewers….which is LEAVING US HANGING WITH CURIOSITY at every end of the episode and planting that “I NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT” force in us.
LOL, i say, my imagination is constantly running here and there when it comes to YB. Seriously, this is the “FIRST” drama i’v watched *besides my other fav’s such as- My Girl, Full house ect…*, that’s not only got me so hooked, top to bottom, inside out but also keeps me up most nights, and has me checking in daily to see if there is anything “YB” that i’ve missed out on…..
I think, that the way to garner the attention of all age’s into watching a particle show/drama is to ” Have a perfectly good cast, and a Well-written story, that every age can identify with.” and YB defintely has those… Now i just hope that the ” older” ones would just look beyond the ” idols” “popstar” theme and try it…JUST once…! they just might like it….
BTW: Javabeans, i’ve been coming in and out reading your recaps, but never commenting… Thanks for being the “crack” dealer who always keeps us in check… i so do LOVE your recaps, you make my life so much easier when it comes in choosing which drama’s are good and which are worth to watch…..I’m a lurker who’s finally coming out………. And i must say, This is How much Power YB has…..It’s bringing out all those who would usually just sit back, watch and not comment..
i hope the ratings will start rising….. it’s not fair….AJA AJA FIGHTING YB…!
Reading this thread makes this 44-year old SO happy. I thought I was like the official noona/unni/ajumma of DB, but no! There are others!
THANK YOU FOR THE CRACK
Thank you! Thank you for bridging the gap from now till Wednesday night. We really appreciate it.
Sadly I’m not in Korea so I’ll wait a couple of hours after the broadcast. Patience is truly a virtue…
yes!!! i am a member of a cult!!!
i love YAB and i am very happy people are recognizing the drama for its worth. I agree to Javabeans comparison of YAb to BBF and MFL. YAB has charm and appeal, backed with solid writing, good directing and perfect casting!
again Javabeans, thanks for posting this article, because it definitely get me through until the next episode airs on Wednesday.. Gosh it’s a long week…
Honestly I didn’t think I would like this drama all that much, the main actor was totally unappealing to me, but the writing is rock solid, and it’s completely hilarious! After episode 3 I was totally hooked and I’m completely in love with every single character. I have to agree with everyone’s sentiments in saying it’s the best show since Coffee Prince. Totally true.
JB, the very 1st site I go to each & every morning is…dramabeans!!! & then again, before I sleep!!! Thank you so much JB…for being my KDrama-Crack-Dealer!!! I’ve been an avid reader for almost 3 years now …I love your articles, recaps, opinions,the open thread…in fact, i LOVE everything about DB!!! Keep it up!!!
I agree with Javabeans about the oversimplification of demographics in this article. I realize that I can only speak for myself, but I’m in my early twenties and the idol aspect of this drama was a total turnoff. I wasn’t even planning on watching it, but after giving the first two episodes a try, I was impressed by the writing and the acting.
I’m in my 30’s and I love it. Make feel young and now I know what’s it like to be on crack. hahaha.
Thank You Dealer.
I am in the over-30 crowd, and I am a big YB fan! I have not watched a K-drama that had me this hooked. My all time favorite was My Girl, and this has certainly surpassed it, in my opinion. Thanks so much for your recaps! I started watching this gem because of your recommendation, and I am SO glad that I did!
@ 62 sam
Another ahjumma speaking up here. I’m clearly way outside of any demographic that marketers would imagine. At 45, I’m old enough to be the mother of most of these characters, and yet I find YAB the funniest thing around.
It actually reminds me of GLEE in some ways. It’s got music, parodies, fantasy sequences, teenage angsty subplots, improbable happenings, and a wicked sense of humor. It’s the sense of humor that keeps me totally hooked. Honestly the only two scenes from TV that have literally made me laugh to the point of tears in recent times are the scene in Glee with the football players dancing to Beyonce at the line of scrimmage, and the one in YAB where MiNam imagines Mother Superior stepping out of a locker to give advice on how to escape from a locker room of nekkid men.
A smart and funny comedy can be appreciated by anyone.
“I agree with how the detailed writing makes this script so great…
That’s what really sticks out for me. Well executed slapstick is still rooted in character motivation. In other words, if you see a “ONOS” moment, you can really see this character doing that, and/or you learn something about that character. The trick is in the details. To demostrate diligence in setting up the punchline. To establish plausible motivation and therefore concord with the audience. And then to execute that punchline.
It could be something as simple as HTK chasing after GMN in a truck. For example, the standard drama strategy is to go straight into “Help me!!! Help me!!!” and then “Go Mi Nam!! Go Mi Nam!!” And that’s a funny joke.
But this drama takes time in setting that up. First, HTK doesn’t go right after her. And GMN doesn’t go right into asking him to bail her out. Instead, we see GMN freaking the crap out. We get pleasure in watching this innocent, unassuming person being tortured by her foible. Moreover, this affirms our developing perspective that she’s a well-meaning, but rather clumsy and silly human being. She’s like a whiny little puppy who’s never been let out of the backyard. Then, we see HTK actually pausing to think about whether he should really go after her. THAT is hilarious. Why? Because, at that point, we are reminded that HTK really doesn’t want anything to do with this person, and that even though she’s in big trouble, he REALLY REALLY doesn’t want to be bothered. So, we have the setup, we both get to know the characters a little more, and finally we have the internal as well as external conflict. Only then do we see him chase after her. And at that point, the relief of him doing “the right thing” enables us to enjoy the joke and laugh hysterically.
The show reaffirms the visceral pleasure of a joke told well and the vicarious pleasure.of front-row seats to an idol group living in the idol narrative of their own music and imagery, where all relationships can be expressed and moved through a song, and where all character development can be built on the holy architecture of Faboo Hair. And, see, to execute that well, requires the same old serious virtues like good writing, good acting, and good story. You’re Beautiful is the luxury drama of the idol genre, and it almost makes you believe in unicorns and underwear made of clouds.
You’re Beautiful is a comedy about the luminous.
Thank you for the translation! And yes, this is most certainly like crack – I’ve never been so interested in a drama to explore forums and various BTS before =]. Hopefully, this small but loyal viewership will encourage all those involved in the production, despite the ratings!
It’s crazy–i think i’m becoming crazy!–a total fangirl maniac! I’m getting totally unreasonably and irrationally upset at Iris…and their ratings…not anything to do with Iris, in reality, but just because this wonderfully written and well-acted drama deserves 20+ ratings! I think this drama would appeal to any true kdrama fan if they gave it chance, it doesn’t need disclaimers about how it appeals to a certain demographic, its just GOOD GOOD GOOD and cream always rises to the top!
Totally agree with JB, way beyond better than BOF, which I didn’t love as much as others did, and (don’t shoot me please), I never liked Coffee Prince all that much either.
“At this point, I feel like I’m just your crack dealer” <—how sweet…|:-)
Keep up a good work to YB casts and staffs…
Don't feel bad or sad…coz we (FANS) cheers on your guys…..
Gambare…..
TQ..Javabeans…
You’re a sadly underpaid crack dealer, then.
see, i’m confused how bof had a ridiculously high rating when it wasn’t even that good
and you’re beautiful, which is such a good drama, can barely hit 10%
are people that obsessed with iris?
this really IS like my new crack! ……….. err….. not that i ever had OLD crack… *coo coo*
LOL
thanks, crack dealer! ..—i mean, JB! ;p
JB, your are the bst crack dealer. You know when to give us that dose we need it.
I am in my 30s and thoroughly enjoy this drama. In fact, I love it and totally addicted, based on langdon’s definition of the word.
i totally agree with dramabeans about YB solid writing…
.When I first read synopsis about this drama, “oh its the same idols drama n crossgender theme again” I’ve got that feeling esp when this drama comes after boys over flowers, n coffee prince, not to forget hanakimi (both jdrama n kdrama)…Honestly dont u feel bit tired of it…
So I’ve been hesitate to watch YB till one day I’ve got nothing else to do So I juz give d first episode a try, n im glad I did….I realise d way the story unfold is totally different than other drama….
I love to anticipate whats gonna happen next…full of suprise elements, scenes that oh i never thought they would write d story to be this way…..The story really captivate my interest…Two thumbs up for hong sis..Love them..
If not bcoz of d story n d story just relies on d cast’s popularity to actually push them forward I dont think they are going to make it far…Popularity does help of course especially to attract viewers on the first start, but not 2 keep it going…
Just like love at first sight, u fall in love at the moment u saw her, d feelings was great but its not enough to pull d r/ship through..There are many other factors involves…many other things needed to keep it going…
@ langdon813, i’m a 40 something kdrama enthusiast here too!
@ samsooki (for your mom-in-law: you go girl!)
who said this drama only appeals to the teens, tweens & thirty somethings?
i totally agree with Javabeans that YB’s main appeal is NOT its youthful subject matter/young stars, but because it’s just well-written!
looking forward to your future recaps.
I do agree that You’re beautiful has more interesting storyline, more funny parts, nicer OST, and much less cheeessyy scenes then BOF! And i cant figure why BOF was really a huge hit….. (am so over BOF…, but still love kim hyun joong! ^_^)
Cant wait for the next ep!!!
@ 60 Alert:
I was in the same boat as you….blergh, not interested, who cares about boy bands and teenagers (I watched precisely 3 episodes of BoF and decided it just wasn’t for me) but watched after JB’s first recap because she raved about it. Soooo glad I did. I absolutely agree with the others here…perhaps some people tuned it for its young and hot cast, but that is not where the charm of this drama lies. As JB said, it is the solid writing and wonderful acting that is keeping me on tenterhooks week after week.
I was very excited for MFL…and so very disappointed. I still need to watch 6 or so episodes and want to finish it out of principle but what a bland drama.
I’ve been trying to get a couple of my girlfriends to watch….but trying to explain the premise has been pretty damn funny. “Well, its about a girl who dresses up like a guy and joins a boy band…okay that sounds really bad, but its so good, trust me!”
Its sort of embarrassing….the other night my bf came in while I was watching episode 7 raw (when viikii was holding back the subs) and was just shaking his head at me, like “are you thirteen?”….Plus he was way confused because even though I’m a halfie, I don’t speak Korean at all (child of an adoptee) and was like “Uh, you know you can’t actually understand Korean, right?” I had to give him the SHUT UP face pretty hard.
Just glad I have my fellow DBers to gush with.
Thanks for the fix, JB!
I am part of the ahjumma demographic of Your Beautiful. I like because the writing for the drama is solid. The acting of the cast so spot on. And helps that the visuals make it enjoyable. Plus it has a killer OST, I like the songs they feature in the drama. Proud to be addicted to this drama..what can I say!
Who says YB is for teen generation only.. with 33 years old i think I fall under ajumma group already but i enjoy YB ver much. What keep me liking this drama is obviously the script and the refreshing storyline. I can’t compare much with IRIS because i haven’t seen all the episodes, I watched ep 1 and stopped there..well it wasn’t bad but at this moment I’m just not in the mood with such storyline. I also disagree with the fact that power stars will make the rating higher. To create the hype and buzz, yes but to keep the audience stick to the drama, No. See for example The Worlds Within, it has 2 power main leads there but i lost my interest after a couple of episodes.
so kudos to Hong sisters and the drama crews for giving us such entertaining drama. I do hope the rating will get better and better. I can’t believe i’m so looking forward to Weds & Thus…:(( this show made me wish i was in my twenties again
i think the beauty about YB’s storyline is that it really gets you more….. involved– invested, almost– while IRIS is more flash, and not so much like like YB, where you get to love each character and find yourself invested in seeing ALL the characters through to the end.
Here, here!!!!! I totally agree with you on the fact that I am enjoying this series mainly because of great writing and smooth storyline flow. It’s just a plus factor that the lead actors are good solid artists and great looking as well. I was never this hooked with BOF and with MFL I never even bothered. YB is definitely a well written series with solid acting. Loving it still and thank you for dealing us our dose of YB. Thanks JB.
Hi JB,
Thanks to be our crank dealer…lolz. You’re actually making my day complete if you have news about YB. One week of waiting for the new episode makes me sick. It only lessen my loneliness when im reading comments and news about them in your blog.
I believed that YB really got a cult…a very strong force driving fans to be together and follow them in their journey till the end of the drama. My cousins actually keep on joking with me why im into this stuff knowing im a noona already…hehehe…
You are right that its not because of the YB stars (though keun suk makes my eyes sparkle, hehehe) but the flow of the story which credited to the writers. They made the storyline very light yet captivating. When you watch it…it will easily goes to your heart and mind and stayed there like a virus…It’s also like an addictive drug which others commentors said… you cannot remove it in your system when you got into it…that’s YB…its like a drug, poisoning me in a very nice way!
I hope that you continuosly share news about YB till the end as we will not even lift a hand to leave YB for IRIS. Thank you for sharing nice thoughts everytime…
I have to admit that being a teenager myself, You’re Beautiful did not appeal to me at all before it came out. The idea of watching an idol group behind the scenes didn’t seem like an interesting concept at all to me and I didn’t think the cross-dressing aspect would make it any more interesting. That said though, I still don’t completely agree with what you said about giving the demographic too much credit. I’m pretty sure that whoever wrote this probably hasn’t watched You’re Beautiful, no offense to them, but has probably seen similar dramas aired in other countries that have been able to maintain popularity. For instance, the Hana Kimi drama in Japan was popular because it had famous actors among teenagers, a cross-dressing storyline, and a setting that appealed to teenagers, not to mention the story itself was a manga popular amongst teenage girls. However, the whole drama was a mess, but still popular. For that reason, I think the author of the article ignored You’re Beautiful’s good writing style and good acting, and just depended on what he/she had seen or heard about before. So, I believe that the story has something to do with influencing the age demographic, but for me personally, the writing/acting/directing is what makes the drama so addicting.
By the way…Am I too old to love YB? Im 31 yet You’re beautiful makes me feel teenager again…hahahaha…I love the feeling of being young when im watching it…Am certainly a fan of this cool drama…
It’s seems that ahjumma and noona…are fan of YB now…i myself is one of thme…hehehe…Im 31 years old here…saying, i love this cool drama that makes me feel like a teenager again!!!! Thanks to YB… that when im watching it my problems in life as a 31 y/o mother…take note!!!mother lessen….
LOve you guys!!!
Thank you JB:-) You made my day:-D More power to YB:-)
I have to share my sweet victory today
).
). Anyway, because right now I am in ‘live to watch YAB’ mode, I kept asking her to give it a try, and she finally agreed. Today her husband texted me that she is watching it since morning non-stop, she hasn’t left computer since she woke up and she laughs hysterically by herself.
). It also took some time and reading this website for me to come to terms with fact that I am so addicted to kdrama.
))) I did like JGS in HGD and BV, there was always something about him..
There is a back story – I am Russian, married to Chinese. My sister in law is Korean (married to my husband’s brother). I’ve been trying to get her to watch Kim Sam Soon for last 3 years without any success (or any other kdrama for that matter). I had everyone around me see it besides her. If she sees this post, she will kill me
It took me 3 years to convince her, I am so happy
Another funny thing is that I decided to watch it after Samsooki endorsed it. And I specifically wanted to watch only one episode, so I would not get sucked in into a marathon, like I usually would. Little did I know… now I watch raw videos (there is first time for everything). And am I 35
Thank you, JB for crack. The longer/bigger the better
).
totally agree…YB is well written drama..t.v. rating is needed by the network and advertisers but for sure, there are much more Koreans who watched YB that does not have the devise they put in to know what kind of show that family is watching, i don’t what it’s called. If only they can include avid followers abroad in their ratings, YB surely will have double digit percentage
..SPREAD THE LOVE to this drama YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL
^ that’s a pretty cool story! I’ve actually been trying to convince my mom to watch city hall since about three mos ago but i haven’t succeeded yet. the only dramas she’s watched are the ones dubbed in filipino channels. I should try some more! hahaha.
anyways, I just wanted to say i love this drama and agree with most of the comments in here that its quality really makes it stand out from other dramas (won’t mention any)
and i’ve read that abs-cbn has already bought the rights to it and i’m very excited for that. this will gain them more fans (although i’m very aware they already got tons!)
thank you for being our crack dealer lol
anyways i totally agree with you i am hooked on this drama cause of the storyline
)
its really well written, and the cute guys is just a plus for me hahaha :1 anyways thanks for my fix…oh yea also your reviews about the eps are great it dosen’t matter how long they are i still like reading them before or after i’ve watched an ep
it makes me understand it even more thanks
I love you’re beautiful for it’s entertainment, which I missed greatly in recent Korean dramas. It’s not too much angst, it has the right amount of comedy, and the characters are all likable in their own way (Even the villain girl, she pisses me off but she makes the drama fun).
I think more than the ratings, they should be focusing on the quality and satisfying the core viewers. Cause if they make a quality one, they’ll be able to sell a good amount of DVDs, which would bring profit. And other roles that the actors may take up can become popular.
And plus there are many viewers who don’t even get counted such as the overseas fans. They should start taking us into account haha.
I seem to in total agreement with @belleza.
If YAB is our typical k-pop idol story, it wouldn’t keep us so intrigue. The typical storyline would be the lead even TK won adulation from loads of female fans but only has eye for one particular girl. Or that, he would fall in love after ‘the discovery’ and wanna to protect her silently (out of love) as in Hana Kimi and not out of necessity as in this case. It is not like your average k-drama where you can more or less speculate what the ending would be before the 3rd episode.
Even up to episode 8, we still not so sure what is his feeling for our MN. We may thought he will be jealous when Mgr insinuated MN’s uncontrollable emotional outburst on Kang Shin Woo. But no, TK is essentially belong to those ‘can’t-be- bothered’ kinda guy. To him, MN is a total inconvenience to his unruffled existence. He chivalrously suggests to MN to reveal herself so that he could push his burden off to Shin Woo. Or that with the appearance of Dong Joon in the MV-making scene, we may thought he is jealous watching the exchange of Dong Joon-MN, confessing his first love to her but no, just a tiny bit of distaste. He even jokes and goaded whether she has secure her position as a future pharmacist wife and…the hilarious part was when he jabs MN why didn’t they exchange shoes as sign of promise. That’s all the fun in watching YAB. The details in each exchange.
JB please keep on dealing! Longer and more frequent deliveries would be more than welcome.
I think where BoF and YB can be compared is the addictive nature of them both. Having marathoned 8 eps I revisted briefly BoF and in no way does it hold up to YB in terms of writing or style. While I still have a soft spot for the F4 boys (and gee that addiction was fun! and c’mon LMH and ‘JiHoon Sunbae’! ), it was the unevenness of the acting and writing that really shows up on a repeat watch.
Where YB holds strong is that in the story (so far) all members of the A.N.ELL help move the story along in their own way, that makes sense. They all ADD to the overall story. Unlike poor Kim Joon who was left to be no more than wallpaper (which was so unfair) towards the latter stages of BoF.
Add to the fact that the main lead JGS and PSH both add depth to their emotional scenes. It is believable. When they laugh I laughed with them. When they cried I cried with them too. Whereas in BoF I thought LMH carried the load most of the time, it was too one sided.
Let’s just say that YB is my BoF level crack for the latter end of 2009 – but this crack is Grade AAAA. Now is it Wed yet?
I’m with you JB, it is the good storyline that attracts all of us. Not to mention, the main leads together with extended leads are very well casted. It’s definitely a bonus when the 4 of them can sing as well, making the A.N.JELL just like a real band.
I hope YB ratings will continue to rise. Even though they don’t have a huge filming budget, all 8 episodes till now never fail to disappoint, this is how amazing YB is!
Simply can’t wait for Wednesday!
yay! more recognition for You’re Beautiful/ I’m glad it has such a great cult following. i find that those dramas and movies with a great cult following can usually last in the minds of people for a really long time. You can have a drama that has better ratings than You’re Beautiful- let’s say around 18%- there would be excitement and it will be good…but after a year, it would be sort of forgotten. In contrast, i think You’re Beautiful will be remembered well for years even with below 10% ratings. people will check it out after iris ends…
A bow to u, ” fearless Leader ” LMAO
i seriously rather prefer to watch this drama and smile than iris
i hope its ratings get better TOO!!!!!!!!!
Luv luv the behind the scenes photos tOO
thnks again for ur worK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
very grately appreciated!!!!!!!
^^
In the last paragraph I totally agree with you Java Bean!!!!!!
You’re beautiful Is different from those two…!!
Fighting..
“At this point, I feel like I’m just your crack dealer. Enjoy your next fix:”
LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO
This is why I come to your blog. Your comments make my day. Btw, the addiction extends to dramabeans. I check your blog multiple times on a daily basis. My day feels empty if I dont’ read an entry or two. You make me laugh, cry, contemplate. This is probably a first: mary me.
Yep, I’m definitely high. Ahhhhhhhh You’re beautiful.
thanks for another dose, JB!
reading all the 122 comments before me I felt like it’s compulsory to state my age in this post, hehehe…
so much love for this show, I hope our young leads & the rest know that
it’s monday, and still i’m glad i’m only +8hrs GMT
I also think this drama can’t compare to My Fair Lady or Boys Before Flowers. The plot, storyline & acting is so much different. Now BBF is just a bunch of eye candies & bad acting. (but I still loved it, SOEUL!) I don’t know about MFL, but You’re Beautiful is wayyy different. & I love it! JGS<3
I too am happy whenever it's Wed & Thurs, recaps! & Friday is when I watch the eps. XD
LOL, the commentsreally made my day! Everyone’s going open about their age today just because the article said the target audience is for teenagers and 20s. LOL! It’s amazing what YAB has done to us! LOLLL!!!
(JB now u know the demographic for your site too!)
I’m 31 by the way, and still giggle while watching the drama.
[...] Dramabeans NewsDrama Movie Music [...]
JB, can you plese help t translate this…i got the ling with soompi but its in korean…please post it in your site in english thanks…
http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200911020934571001
When I first heard about this drama that it’s about “idol groups”, I was turned off. I thought the acting would be bad and come on, what kind of storyline would “idols” have. That’s what I thought at first when reading the summary before more info and ads came out.
Then they revealed the cast and the Hong Sisters were the screenwriters >> I immediately considered it for the fall season. And now here I am, addicted like many of you. FYI: I’m 25. And I still need to watch ep2-on of IRIS, while I’m waiting for YB ep7-8 subs to come out and next week’s episodes.
aww.. JB you are deffinitly my FAVOURITE crack dealer!
You’re stuff is the BEST quality, I can’t even imagine to stop taking it!
@ 63 : Sonam
“he has such a flair about him, I can’t help admiring him for wearing something so gay!” — LOL
Your comment above just made my day. I was thinking the same too.
HTK outfit most of the time is so “bitchy” like, that if I see people wearing it in real life I might be tempted to come to that person and say “gee.. for a guy, you sure know how to work that cleavage”!
But as you mention, JGS has so much flair and swagger inside him, that just makes you think “sabrina collar” shirt is the new plain white t-shirt for boys!
and oh..eyeliner on boys is the way to look SEXY!
As for the story itself, it is a well written story line combine with sharp and witty directing enhanced by talented stars who acted the characters whole heartedly!
Need I say more! YAB is LOVE! ;D
oh but your my favorite crackdealer… i cant seem to get enough… spoken like a tru addict.
I agree with you that YB’s strength is based on a solid storyline ( HAIL TO THE HONG SISTERS!) unlike other trendy drama’s that were based on hyped that the interest fizzled out about 3/4 of the series because of the downspiral in the quality of the storyline and sometimes you just hang on because you have invested so much time in it already and its a wasteful to easily let go and that you secretly hope that it gets better but it does not…YB is different it’s editing and stroyline is consistently strong
Well the cast also does tremendous contribution to the storyline, they all bring charisma and the talent to give the script justice and hold everyone’s interest.
@47 Nom_Kitteh… lol, i’m so laughing out loud with your president ahn’s quotes. Jack-fot! is my favorite.
BTW, those who still want to leave wonderful comments for the YB cast and crew you can leave a message here : http://www.viikii.net/channels/goto/beautiful#TOPIC/1166
and here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=100000442998425&ref=nf
and participate here:
http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=318061&st=0
Speaking as crackaddicted cultmember, I LOVE Wednesdays &Thursdays. I am also way out of the so called age demographic. Good lord, my youngest son is 18. So put me for sure in the ajumma category. But that doesn’t stop me from putting on my super fangirly hat every week and cranking up the crack van and enjoying the ride that is YB. It of course helps to have an awesome dealer.
Oh, hell no, they did not just compare You’re Beautiful to Boys Before Flowers and My Fair Lady. That is just insulting.
Anyhooo, praise the Lord for allowing the existence of the Hong sisters & this drama!
Javabeans, I don’t think I’ve ever spent my money in a better way than buying your crack
Yeah, this is definitely an addiction.
It’s been a while since i thought about my week starting and ending with the release of an episode of a drama series :p
I did compare YB to BoF because YB just excelled in almost every single way to BoF, I couldn’t help thinking ah… they both define the polar extremes of a good and bad drama.
I wrote a comparison in the discussion under Episode 8
It’s true that I was actually put off by the concept of an idol group. It just seemed too cliche and there has been a little bit too much gender blender going around that i was getting tired of the idea. But it was soooooooooooo strongly recommended by Javabeans, I knew there had to be something in it. JB, i think you should demand referral fees from SBS. Many fans would never have been converted to YB if not for their trust in your excellent taste.
oh my! haha.. you just made my day! .. everyday im surfing the net waiting for another trivia AND episode of YB.. it really makes my day complete..
by the way im 18 and really hooked up by the drama… can’t sleep at night until i played park shin hye and A.N.JELL’s songs haha.. whoo so happy.. YB is one of the greatest drama i’ve ever watched…
I think YAB has the whole ‘package’ from good script, actors, directorship, well-paced, entertaining and what not to make a good drama.
I am 40+ and absolutely loving it – it’s like re-living my youth (its not so sad as it sounds!), it makes me want to put on the dark eyeliner (don’t think its even the craze now!), it drove me to the video shop to look for the OST (which I haven’t done in ages), it even drove me to Etude House to check out what they have!
I will definitely buy the boxed DVDs when its released. If only SBS has such realtime airing setup with Eng subs, I will be the first to subscribe.
The assumption on the age demographics is too simplistic. The actors (& everyone else) have done such a great job, therefore, eventhough I don’t agree with this rating huuhaa, I hope the figure will rise so these tired souls will get a boost to continue giving us good drama.
I think YAB has the whole ‘package’ from good script, actors, directorship, well-paced, entertaining and what not to make a good drama.
I am 40+ and absolutely loving it – it’s like re-living my youth (its not so sad as it sounds!), it makes me want to put on the dark eyeliner (don’t think its even the craze now!), it drove me to the video shop to look for the OST (which I haven’t done in ages), it even drove me to Etude House to check out what they have!
I will definitely buy the boxed DVDs when its released. If only SBS has such realtime airing setup with Eng subs, I will be the first to subscribe.
The assumption on the age demographics is too simplistic. The actors (& everyone else) have done such a great job, therefore, eventhough I don’t agree with this rating huuhaa, I hope the figure will rise so these tired souls will get a boost to continue giving us good drama.
And yes, thanks for the dose..more please!
JB, can you plese help t translate this…i got the ling with soompi but its in korean…please post it in your site in english thanks…
http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200911020934571001
@ ironmouse # 111
Kekeke
Looks like you are now a local “drug” distributor as well!
Crack! Crack! Crack! Javabeans’ business is doing good Lol!
I myself was not into this drama before. I read your post about this with the “angelic” poster, somehow it just passed me. It didn’t spark any interest. But wait! When i read your Ep 1 recap. Everything changed! Like everyone else, I got addicted!
Again with a good drama, I need to supply it to my mom. I’m now being a retailer on this part. Harhar! I’m such an enabler with her drama addiction and she herself got more addicted than I am. I tell you my mom is 58 years old and I’m 23 but she’s so into this kind of thing!
YB just makes a lot of people happy. ^__________^
I am a thirty-something man. Take that, demographics!
I have only one complaint. The actor playing Shin Woo needs to be more expressive. He sticks out like a sore thumb in the otherwise rock-solid cast.
JB, Thank you for all your posts about “You Are Beautiful”.
I really hope YB will get Higher Rating it deserves.
Thanks for the interview! And I gotta agree, I also don’t see any resemblance to Boys Over Flowers or My Fair Lady.
ahh, i see you have come to realize the true nature of your position, javabeans.
:D
your point about the appeal not lying solely in the idol genre is a really good one, especially since i felt the exact same way when i first heard about YB. i was all, “ew, an idol drama? sounds tacky.” but THEN…. addiction
i actually once read about this gang leader that organized his group in a pyramid structure [in an economics book, interestingly enough]. i feel that way right now. i have already gotten my friend addicted, and she, in turn, has gotten HER friend addicted…. and so it lives ^^
[...] Source: javabeans [...]
i agree with everyone regarding how this is an addiction. I’m the type of person who usually waits until a drama has finished airing before watching. But i was bored one day and decide to browse through the first episode of you’re beautiful. It was a HUGE mistake because i’m now hooked and having to wait a week for new episodes is pure torture. to make matters worse, my finals is starting tomorrow. yikes. i promise myself that i would not watch till my finals is over in two weeks time. hope i can succeed. but i can feel the withdrawal symptoms already. *dead*
omg if You’re Beautiful is the the good stuff call me a Crack-Whore! Hehe i totaly got my brothers hooked to this drama, coz they always found my addiction of asian things rather peculiar, especially Hello Kitty and Kdrama..anywho totally hooked on YB, as you would imagine, by the by YB is totally trumping IRIS in my books!, so my brothers asked me why im always glued 2my laptop or cellphone surfing the net for anything to do with YB, im not that OBSESSED lmao.. So i pleaded with them, for the sake of their baby sister, im 18 btw, from New Zealand! Yay home of kiwifruit! Anyway my brothers hmm lets say bro1 and bro2 thought i was the most pitiful creature in the universe, watched episode1 with me, it was my 7th time watching ep1!lol so there we were watchng and when it ended i asked what they thought and they actually enjoyed it, they thought it refreshing and hella entertaining.. So i suggested we watch the next episode, being guys i guess they had they male pride, i was totaly oblivious, was too busy marvelling at the cast..haha so we bro1 left to go back to his place bro2 turns to me and goes “so? What are you waiting for? Load the bloody next episode!” a little while later bro1 txts me and asks where he can watch the next episodes.. I was over the moon!lol next day i go to bro2’s room to ask how far he got on YB and i walk into the room and hes stl deep in sleep, so pull the screen back on his laptop and the last part of ep8 was up on screen!lol so i txt bro2 and ask if he finished the 2nd episode, he replies right away that he fell asleep early this morning halfway through episode5, and woke up unusually early to watch the remaining episodes with his partner and had just finished when i flicked him a txt.. Finally at family the same night, bro1 and bro2 found out about each others dirty lil secret lol and blamed me for whatever got into them… Aww fun times.. And lastly, bro1 and bro2 are 28 and 21 respectively.. Thanx javabeans your recaps are fantastic by the way! And omg can you believe i wrote this post on my celphone? I MUST BE ON CRACK! Hehe
YouR crack busineSs seems to do extremly well with over 147 comments in 24hrs
Thank you my beloved crack dealer!
YB and the cast, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!
ermmm, until wednesday come, i had a feeling this thread will grow to 200 unless we get another fix from our dealer…
in the meantime, someone should really compile a statistic of the convert/cult member/addict/enabler..
it would be very very interesting…
“Frankly, I think that You’re Beautiful’s main appeal is NOT actually its youthful subject matter or hot young stars, but the fact that it’s just well-written, period.”
AGREED.
There are like so many other shows that feature hot stars but are they as successful as YB? I think not. (: in fact I dare say YB is SOOO much better than BBF. Storyline… Acting wise… The viewers are smart ppl. We can differentiate between a good show from a bad show that only counts on good looking stars to win over viewers. (I stopped watching BBF halfway. It’s just too draggy and the plotline was so messy!)
muaaa to this crack dealer… this is one drug we aint going to rehab for
fighting…
Anw javabeans thanks for posting this up! Do you noe that after watching YB, I’ve been checking this site every three hours or so to see if there are any news regarding YB?! haha oh no I’m seriously addicted.
Anws, thanks for yr wonderful effort, I really appreciate it alot!!
JB, you’re an amazing dope dealer… we know we can count on only the highest quality stuff from you!
How much is as preview for episode 9… how about my first born child??
AND my soul?!
@147 jae
OMG I’m from NZ too! wow what part are you? I’m down in Christchurch. Never thought I’d see another NZ post on here! ^ ^
Representing NZ in the International You’re Beautiful Mania Club (haha)
With such a flood of comments, I doubt tis will get read but I still wish to leave me few cents here.
I agree with the part about the presentation style being refreshing and different from the typical Korean fare, and yeah, I guess it does resembles some jdoramas, which I totally dig, and perhaps this is why I started watching YB in the first place. It’s a light-hearted drama, and supported by solid humour, witty punchlines and plot twists that catch your breathe.
I can’t wait for Wednesday to come! And despite the modest ratings, it is still doing well given its big name competitors and storylines.
Hello crack dealer..
another addict here. I absolutely adore YB (every character and every scene), and if anyone in my neighborhood would actually watch kdrama i’d talk about it non-stop I’m sure. I agree with the article that it has a Japanese feel to it. Especially when i see Hong-ki I get reminded of Nakatsu in Hana Kimi. On the other hand they manage to mix it well with a Korean sense of humor. JB is right I think that it’s not about the concept of idols that this show is so addicting. The acting is mostly awesome (especially PSH and JGS), it’s hilarious and emotional at the right times. The only sad thing is: we’re already half way through the eps
Our crack is going to leave us in about 4 weeks.
Off topic but I had to share this.Old interview of JGS with eng subs.His frankness is so refreshing and hilarious:-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B3mBlBgCnw
And wow didn’t realise that a lot of guys also do watch YB:-)I’m enlightened:-)Thought it might be too froofy for u guys:-) Maybe its time I started bugging my guy pals to watch YB:-D
enhanced by SOLID WRITING — yah. absolutely true. love it.
I think YB’s appeal is in it’s unique storyline. Sure, the usual elements are there (love triangle, guy suspecting he has homo tendencies, evil scheming 2nd lead), but the basic premise of the drama is one that hasn’t been used up until now, which sets the show apart.
Also, many kpop fans (myself included) are probably drawn to the drama because it gives us a look (albeit, a rather self-mocking one) at what goes on behind the scenes in the korean music industry. The scenes showing TK running from the creepy paparazzi guy and the staff dealing with dating rumours were especially humourous perhaps because they so closely resembled the ‘real life’ of kpop stars.
Actually I feel that YB is better off not trying to be a manga-ish drama like Hanakimi (whether they are actually trying to achieve that style or not), because that kind of exaggerated style is quite hard to pull off. During the first few episodes I found the acting a wee bit over the top, but now that YB has settled into its own style I really like it! Or maybe I just had to stop comparing it to Hanakimi in my head haha
Thank you JB and please keep the crack coming!
i agree with you. This is drama isn’t as dragful as BOF. I’m now watching ep 7 and still hoping the series would be longer .Not like others..this drama is plotted nicely with no crappy scenes…The humors are fresh and unpredictable.HAHAHa. Don’t you love the ‘Pig chasing’s part ‘ ?
i am another 30 something here… and they got my vote too. =) too bad i am not living in korea if not i will be rally my entire chain gang to tune in to jack up the viewership rate!
<3 how the story is unfolding.
thanks for the crack..I …just love this show very much…
i totally agree with you JB that YB’s charm is its story being well written– also, the cast seems to be enjoying themselves that it does not show awkwardness in each episode….i loved how they can make you cry and then make you laugh…the timing is just right…
btw…its not only the 20 something that loves this show…I am 40..did they get my vote for watching this show…hehehe..
JGS–has improved a lot…his acting here is the best….i just hope he gets an award after this show–he deserves to be recognized…
I’m so glad to have a crack dealer like you! Please keep the goodies coming ^^
I never liked idol dramas, cos like what many of you have said (e.g. @128), they’re insubstantial fluff featuring supposedly young good-lookers (read: inexperienced), with crap acting and lame scripts. I only started watching cos of the unusual lightning speed at which JB posted all the recaps – usually the drama starts disappointing her as it loses steam. I pretty much trust her taste in drama, and so far I haven’t been disappointed. ^^
YB isn’t an idol drama in my opinion. The actors’ looks are secondary: TK has a permanent scowl etched on his face, Jeremy is monkey boy, SW is Mr Poker Face and MN is at best non-descript. The secondary characters are no more gifted in terms of looks. But the thing is, they have each crafted a character that is well-rounded and which people empathise with and relate to. So seriously, it’s an amazing team effort that has produced this – a strong script, a director with vision, good art direction, competent acting, on-the-ball editing… – every element is in place! I really can’t pick out any one flaw here.
I think this drama will draw lots of women in their 20s – 40s even as it appeals to teens – the more mature viewers can appreciate the nuances and relive our bygone youth, while the younger people can relate to the immediacy of the feelings and situations. I haven’t wept so much for a while. Very cathartic.
My only fear is that it will sink into melodrama-land and become infested with (in my opinion) the 3 cardinal sins of Kdrama -
1. siblings separated at birth (or thereabouts – possible o_O)
2. fatal illness (usually cancer)
3. memory loss due to accident
Keeping my fingers crossed…
That said, kudos to YAB, the best drama of 2009!
@165 cartesiancircle
can i add to the list of kdrama cardinal sins? 4. parents / grandparents who object to a couple’s romance ALA My Fair Lady, My Girl (though I loved this one) and all the other ones where the rich chaebol family objects to the rich, handsome boy (usually) falling in love with a common, cute and spunky girl
i am sad that we are going to be hitting ep 9 + 10 this week –> getting closer to the end… i know they mentioned this was going to be either a 16 or 20 ep drama, was hoping it would be 20 ep but since the ratings aren’t great (though they have officially started a cult, mania, obssession, addiction etc among all of us) – i doubt they are going to extend? sigh sigh sigh… i need more YB fix please!
PS: i was one of those who saw the poster and idol theme and totally wrote it off… then i read JB’s 1st ep recap, got convinced that this is worth a try, started watching and have been obsessed since!!!
i soooooo love Your’e Beautiful…its not the typical kdrama that you got…it has all the elements of a drama… from making you crack up with laughter to make you cry like a baby….it is strong and light…
one thing i can suggest to anyone who is curious…just watch the first 3 episodes and let’s see if you can get enough
my sis is already hooked after telling her about it
“Dear God, please do not let Dramabeans.com crash because of these You’re Beautiful’s passionate cult. Thank you. Amen”
Yay! There are many older fans here! I feel young now…thank you!
it’s certainly an addiction to me. My laptop had been on hibernate since I started watching YB 2 weekends ago. and I never close this webpage – so that everyday I can chk for any new update on YB. and speaking of age, I’m in my mid 30’s. what demographics!? hah!
JB you sure are a crak dealear cause just by posting this article u already got 167 comments and counting…LOL>>>>>
I’m 28 and I love this drama to pieces…is just perfect everything is so well balance….the HONG sister are doing an incredible job with this drama kudos to the whole cast and crew…..
I”M crossing my fingers that with the disaster going on over MBS? YAB could get the recognition and ratings it deserve….and good for YAB they are putting a hell of a fight against an overated IRIS…….can’t wait for the next episode……this drama brings out your inner teenager…..yeah!!!!! this drama is a 10…..
javabeans..i think i came here over at least 50 times the last few days..im officially hooked on your updates..! i found your site during the coffee prince days and been busy so haven’t been here for awhile..and “you are beautiful ” has brought me back..thanks for all your insightful updates!
Thanks JB, for today’s YB fix.
JB, hehe.
Just counting the above, do you know how many YB addicts you have?
“please continue to be our crack dealer”
“please continue to be our crack dealer.”
“hehe, a nice fix it is. but not enough…need more please!”
“That’s why we love our crack dealer! Thanks JB!”
“I’m really glad you’re our k-drama crack dealer.”
“Thanks for the YB crack!!”
“OMG! I think im fix until wednesday!”
“Bring on the crack… T-3 days until the next fix! Thanks, Javabeans!”
“dear JB, you ARE my crack dealer.”
“You really are my crack dealer lol”
“JB, I’m glad you’re a crack dealer”
“thanks for being our crack dealer JB!”
“JB: you are our crack dealer, but remember, you’re our FAVOURITE crack dealer.”
““Thanks for the fix of crack!”
“This, indeed, is a great fix”
“JB, you are the best crack dealer I know”
“And thanks for being our crack dealer, Javabeans”
“Thank you to our crack dealer! ”
“Thanks for the crack”
“Crack dealer? maybe. But for me I like to think of you as my pleasure pimp.”
“yes, please continue to be our crack dealer JB…”
“So thanks JB for another dose of YAB!”
“more crack please, JB.”
“JB. need more crack”
“JB is my first and ONLY drug dealer!”
“Ha!Ha! You are right about being my crack dealer! ”
“I’m seriously high on YAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you’re my dealer!!”
“Oh Javabeans, I agree, I’m addicted to this like crack”
“And thank you for being our crack dealer! We need a fix before Wednesday/Thursday ”
“javabeans, thanks for being our “dealer” and giving us our “fix” of You’re Beautiful”
“Thanks for being the “crack” dealer who always keeps us in check…”
“THANK YOU FOR THE CRACK ”
“yes!!! i am a member of a cult!!!”
“Thank you so much JB…for being my KDrama-Crack-Dealer!!!”
“I’m in my 30’s and I love it. Make feel young and now I know what’s it like to be on crack. hahaha. Thank You Dealer”
“You’re a sadly underpaid crack dealer, then”
“this really IS like my new crack! ……….. err….. not that i ever had OLD crack… *coo coo* LOL thanks, crack dealer! ..—i mean, JB!”
“JB, your are the bst crack dealer. You know when to give us that dose we need it. ”
“Thanks for the fix, JB!”
“Thanks to be our crank dealer…lolz”
“Thank you, JB for crack. The longer/bigger the better ”
“thank you for being our crack dealer lol ”
“JB please keep on dealing! Longer and more frequent deliveries would be more than welcome.”
“My day feels empty if I dont’ read an entry or two. You make me laugh, cry, contemplate. This is probably a first: mary me.Yep, I’m definitely high. Ahhhhhhhh You’re beautiful”
“aww.. JB you are deffinitly my FAVOURITE crack dealer! You’re stuff is the BEST quality, I can’t even imagine to stop taking it!”
“oh but your my favorite crackdealer… i cant seem to get enough… spoken like a tru addict.”
“Speaking as crackaddicted cultmember, I LOVE Wednesdays &Thursdays”
“Javabeans, I don’t think I’ve ever spent my money in a better way than buying your crack ”
“And yes, thanks for the dose..more please!”
“Crack! Crack! Crack! Javabeans’ business is doing good Lol! ”
“omg if You’re Beautiful is the the good stuff call me a Crack-Whore! Hehe”
“YouR crack busineSs seems to do extremly well with over 147 comments in 24hrs Thank you my beloved crack dealer!
“muaaa to this crack dealer… this is one drug we aint going to rehab for
fighting…”
“JB, you’re an amazing dope dealer… we know we can count on only the highest quality stuff from you!”
“Hello crack dealer..another addict here. ”
“Thank you JB and please keep the crack coming! ”
“thanks for the crack..I …just love this show very much…”
“JB you sure are a crak dealear ”
“Thanks JB, for today’s YB fix”
***
my fav comment:
“Crack dealer? maybe. But for me I like to think of you as my pleasure pimp.”
LOL.
Great article! Absolutely agree with the last sentence – You’re Beautiful’s charm is enhanced by solid writing. The cast is indeed appealing, but I tend to see the success factor lies in the excellent writing and creative directing that holds everything together. Perfect.
Not the typical idol drama one would have expected. I still remember telling myself “Nah, I’m not going to watch a idol drama!” Checked out the drama out of curiosity after reading the reviews here. And hey, glad I gave the drama a chance!
I simply got hooked after watching the first few minutes of Episode 1! And I find myself pleasantly surprised by the twists in the plot, the wit and humour in each episode. For once, I love Wednesdays and Thursdays. Haha!!
You’re Beautiful is THE DRAMA of 2009! *Thumbs Up*
Count me in as another ahjumma-for-YB; in fact, at 48 I may just out-noona everyone, LOL. I adore this show, and what attracted me from the very start was not only the young cast and the storyline, but the Hong sisters’ rep. I totally agree that you need the right combination of good acting and a good storyline for a drama to really work.
That being said, those marketers out there need some sort of solid numbers to hang their predictions, forcasts, and strategies on, and demographics and ratings are places where you can get solid numbers. Good writing/acting is ineffable – you know it when you see it, but it doesn’t always translate into ratings, and it floats beyond demographics, it can’t be codified and formulated and nailed down. It’s also hard to give good writing and acting its proper due when there are horribly written dramas that still manage to pull in huge ratings (cough BBF cough).
I couldn’t even get through the first 12 episodes of BBF, and I think I managed exactly one viikii segment of MFL, but then, from a Korean marketer’s standpoint, I am an Ancient Crone living in a cave somewhere. It’s so nice when, by some sort of magic, something comes along that is well written, well acted, sensibly produced and directed – it doesn’t matter where it falls in terms of style or demographics (I adore YB and City Hall and Story of a Man, all VERY different shows), I will like it.
Right on! You couldn’t have said it better! This drama is VERY VERY well written indeed! Its style captured me right from the very start! and btw, I love Park Shin Hye. and I MEAN I REALLY LOVE HER! LOL.. Is there anyway to let her know? hehe
@ Samsookie 173 :
That is one hell of a cut and paste job! Can’t believe you even attempted that. It’s an impressive list though, isn’t it?
… but don’t you have some nappies to change? or is this the procrastination equivalent of the very clean house that appears every time I have a deadline? In fact, I have something due tomorrow, which is probably why I am here right now. Signing off…
but first…
@ skelly 175 : I had wondered if (was afraid that?) I was the senior ajummah here but I see you are my unnie (just). Seems like there’s quite a crowd of ajummas here. Must be JB’s recaps and commentaries that bring us in… refreshingly analytical crack.
Now back to work.
Hello, I absolutely agree with your article.
I am 27 years old and I liked this gem from the very first episode, so way before the melodramatic chords were touched; cute faces and trendy clothes are a plus, but the solidity of the structure and the good writing are its bewitching points that captured me and make me stay loyal to this drama.
wow, this drama is amazing!!!
EXCITING writers + PLEASURABLE story lines + INSPIRING director + CUTE casts = EPIC drama
i watched from 1st episode to see what the hype was about, but the dialogues and expressions hooked me in.
tnx JB – you can be my “crack” dealer of YB anytime. (^_~)
I think you are absolutely right ‘Javabeans’. Its strength is in its storytelling and script. The acting is good too but not so much on it being a ‘pop’ idols drama. That in fact I believe has a reverse effect for me. It puts me off at first.
I do want the drama to do well. It deserves so much more!! All the best!!
More crack please!!!
I was reading through the comments and I agree with all of them You’re Beautiful is a very unique drama with an awesome plot…
You can’t compare BOF and My Fair Lady to this because You’re Beautiful is something much much better…
Well I guess since I’m finished reading this I should go rewatch the 8 episodes now….
Oh you make me addict to you^^
I really love this drama! and I love it when you write about it!
@ 137 yhamih
I think the news was related to JGS or his fan club bought the lunch to the YAB crew and cast members. (Credit: AnimeCrazy Forums)
I also attached the link where I read this news and there are soooooooo many pics related to YAB drama. I am so HOOKED ON THIS YAB!!!!!!!
http://www.animecrazy.net/forums/korean-drama/45696-youre-beautiful-16.html
Ahjumma #181 steps out of her closet here
Seriously I think part of the crack-affect is how it involves multiple parts of us, our minds as well as our hearts as well as our funny bones and maybe even causing curling of upper lips in attempts to look as cool as JGS….
But okay, seriously for real: It’s that half ironic, half earnest feel to the script that I love. It definitely is moving and angsty and involving, but at the same time invites your brain to participate and make fun of itself.
It goes from pathos to parody, moving melodrama to full-on-broadway-Spamalot- musical in a twinkle.
Heaven forbid you blink during the series, you might miss a key hint or a wildly funny line, or a sly pop-culture reference!
No! I’m NOT frothing in the mouth… that would be beneathe my thirty-something odd years of dignity and grace…
(Though lately I’ve had disturbing visions of myself going to the airport to be a crazy fan girl who throws flowers, gifts, underwear,… or whatever it is that fangirls these days throw, at a band that looks suspiciously like the AN Jells…. hmm….)
As a 50+ yr old father of two college aged daughters(one of whom got me hooked on this stuff), I seriously doubt that I fit into any of the target demographics of asian dramas…and, yet, here I am! *lol*
When I first heard of YB, I actually cringed a bit at the idea of an idol drama. I am sooo glad that I gave YB a try(thanks to Dramabeans!)…I am completely captivated by it. As so many others, including JB, have said, the writing and the rock solid storyline, the superb acting, the ingeniously imaginative twists, the amazing soundtrack, the perfect balance of heart wrenching angst and roflmao humor, and the heart and spirit that is evident in every single scene…these qualities have set YB apart as one of the finest(imho) romance comedy dramas to come out in a very long time. The drama that comes closest to my mind in comparison would be Coffee Prince, which was my absolute favorite…up til now. Imho, BOF was verrry enjoyable, but flawed, and over-rated. I honestly feel that BOF is completely outclassed by YB.
When all is said and done, JGS will be the recipient of the lion’s share of accolades…and he is deserving of high praise, given his phenomenal and powerful portrayal of Tae Kyung, a character of great emotional complexity.
~But…I hope that Park Shin Hye’s wonderful and touching portrayal of Mi Nam/Mi Nyu will also be given full and due acknowledgement. Her Mi Nam/Mi Nyu character is the perfect counterbalance to JGS’ Tae Kyung…and I think their tag team has much to do with what makes Your Beautiful so very special.
Thanks, JB, for all the excellent articles and recaps!
Oh my …. my … YAH addiction
At the beginning I did not expect this drama would be so good like this.
I just like Hong sisters and JGS , so I’m in .
I thought because of my crazy school works, I’ll just skim through each episode for 10 min only , then wait for the winter break to watch the whole drama.
And now, I watch each episode twice , no skipping, no fast-forward .
I think I’m crazy because I’m already over 30+ , hahaha
This drama remind me so much of my younger times.
But I have to get back to study now .
I’m on high crack and thanks to JB . I now check your thread 2, 3 times daily hehe.
Thank you so much for this. I’m so in love with this drama. I always check here for updates ^_^ please continue to be our dealer Lol.
Yes , YB is my crack and I need my fix ,coming from a 50 yr. old ahjumma. JB thank you for your wonderful recaps and comments. Be our crack dealer everyday.
@langdon813, I love reading your comments. I also wanna join your club.lol
YB is the best drama for me in 2009. Kudos to the crew from the director, stylist,camera men, cinematographer,actors and esp. the Hong sisters.
Spread the love of YB. Fighting!
this drama is so great!
it’s funny and light and not so complicated like queen seonduk (i gave up by episode 16)
i love the men! jung yong hwa is gorgeous and honggi is adorable!
park shin hye is also sooo good at acting! i think she brings the innocent girl very well!
You are the best crack dealer ever, JB! ^o^
Thanks for this nice fix, but I must say that, from my pov, it was only due… If I hadn’t read your recaps of the first two eps, I swear I would have NEVER watched YAB. So, since you are responsible for my addiction (and not only mine, I see), it seems only fair that now you keep providing us the crack ^o^
So, for the sake of demographics, here is another ahjumma coming out…
The summary, cast info and the first pictures released for this drama left me completelly indifferent. Being 37 y.o., I thought I was well past the age I could enjoy something like YAB. Sooooooo wrong! I decided to give this drama a try because you seemed impressed by it, and it was love at first episode. I am not ashamed (oh well, maybe just a little bit;-)) to say that I am totally addicted to it. Even though I’ve watched my share of j- and kdramas, I’ve never been so hooked before.
I think YAB is really something special, a little gem. You, JB, and all the people who have commented here have already expressed what are the elements (writing, execution, awsome acting, well rounded characters, etc) that make YAB stand out. ITA.
I just wanted to add that, even before reading the article, I was thinking how the YAB phenomenon makes it painfully clear what a poor measurement ratings are.
Although I can perfectly understand why they are so important in the entertainment business, they cannot gauge the real popularity and viewers’ satisfaction with a show. Contrary to many other TV programs, in Korea or anywhere, YAB has a “passionate cult following” indeed and this is not something you can achieve by chance, or just thanks to smart scheduling to avoid competition.
I can only speak for myself, but never before I have found myself dying of curiosity to know what happens next, watching raw videos just because I cannot wait for the subs to be released, reading every single post related to a drama in the forums, every comment here, etc. And, I must say, no matter how much I’ve loved other dramas before this and enjoyed reading about them, I’ve always been a lurker… No other drama has made me feel compelled to write comments myself, and yet I am doing this now for YAB.
This is something ratings will never be able to measure.
Awww… YAB (and JGS’s fabulous portrayal of HTK) have totally converted this ahjumma in a fangirl, completely addicted – and enjoying every single second of this addiction ^o^
ewww why is that one guy blond?
Cannot wait to Wednesday.
This is truly my crack and you are my crack dealer !!
Thanks for this.
@191, Anonymous
Unfortunately, not everyone who was MEANT to be blonde was actually BORN blonde; Marilyn Monroe, Gwen Stefani…Lee Hong-ki.
It was just meant to be.
[...] 3, 2009 by jjnn An interesting article, hot off Dramabeans (reproduced with [...]
HELLO ADDICTS JUST WANT TO STOP BY HERE MY FAVORITE WEBSITE TO ANNOUNCE THAT VIIKII YAB CHANNEL HAS REACH 1 MILLION VIEWS
1 MILLION VIEWS AND COUNTING!!!! WITH JUST 8 EPISODES THIS DRAMA HAS EVERYONE SO HIGH AND ADDICTED IS BECOMING DANGEROUS!!!!!
“Those two had appeal despite bad writing; You’re Beautiful’s charm is enhanced by solid writing.”
Can’t agree more. I hate it too how they always compare Shinwoo to Jihoo. Well, I see why but… Ugh. Hehe. Anyway, can’t wait for the next scene. JGS and PSH are really great! YB have a huge following here in the Philippines. I wish they can count online viewers as well. KEKE^^,
I agree with you with what you have written at the last paragraph–… the story itself is well-written–that itself enhances the appeal to the viewers. Plus it has an ensemble of casts that doesn’t try to outshine the other but rather each of them has their shining moments and a great support to each of the character. The chemistry is very apparent, could be well felt, overflowing. They are neither confused with the characters they’re portraying. In fact, they have internalized it so well that they have ‘owned’ it. But among the characters that has really created a deep impression on me, that one character that was able to put me in such an awe is the actor who portrayed Han Tae Kyung. His outfits up until this point make me cringe alright and the eye liner made me say to myself “ohmigosh,isn’t that way over?!” and the smirk with those piercing eyes make me say he does have an attitude (add to that the hair style that is oh so PUNK). But that boy’s personality when you see him is the story itself. It’s not THE JANG GEUN-SEOK, the star, that I see but it’s Han Tae Kyung. JGS was not afraid to do a 180 degree turn in order to portray the character. I watch drama shows not based on the popularity of the actors starring on it but I read the synopsis,watch first few episodes, check out the actors’ acting then decide if it’s worth my time watching til the end. I have not had this kind of reaction & impression to an actor (regardless of gender) for a very long time now. He has really internalized the character that he was able to give life to Tae Kyung–that obsessive-compulsive, neat freak, self-absorbed, cold personality, full of angst hidden inside him — but in the end endearing as he starts to unfold his story. Among the main characters, he really stood out. He nailed it. Period.
I watched Boys Over Flowers but have to stop right in the middle of it. It made me feel so tired watching it. It’s adaptation alright but the chemistry among the main characters was somehow ‘forced’. I believe it was overrated. My Fair Lady fell flat in its story what with matching confusing portrayal of characters and disappointing acting of the main characters. I believe the flat acting was due to the fact that the story line seems to be heading nowhere, characters not well-defined (that in itself would be too confusing no matter how good you are as an actor) and they just have to have an ending.
An actor can be popular and can be cute alright but isn’t it a delight to watch a drama with a good storyline & believable acting as well?
Since I just finished watching QSD for today, I thought I’d stop by and see what was new over here on DB. Almost 200 comments on this post! What a riot!
Actually, I was trying to recall a few more subtle references to another movie or series. The scene where they are walking away from GNM’s highschool friend, left me snickering about JGS channeling Kang Mae from Beethovens Virus. But the one that has me stumped is Shin Woo’s legend. I swear this is from another series, where the guy rides up on a motorcycle and rescues 2 girls from the gang. It’s not like I’ve seen that many k-dramas, so it must be something obvious that is just slipping my mind.
@ 147 jae:
I’m like you, I still need to convert more people to this addiction. Haha. I showed my younger bro the first 3 episodes, but he said he wanted more comedy (I usually show him Japanese dramas with all its wacky sense of humor and fast pace). I guess the first 3 episodes wasn’t enough for him. But I did get him addicted to Story of a Man though. He hardly watches Korean dramas let alone romantic ones.
Since it just came out, I haven’t shown it to other family members yet, but when during the holidays, I’ll be sure to show it to my cousins. Same people who got addicted to BOF, will FOR SURE love YB more because it is much better.
YB has the whole package like Story of a Man does: exceptional acting, storyline, and directing.
THANK YOU JB for feeding us our weekly crack of YB and other Korean Entertainment news.
Wow – I was I really quite out of the age group here, feeling quite old for an idol like series – being almost 30 (at 29) – and I’m a mom as well and while working full time, I hardly have time to anything for myself much less watching a series. I have to pick and choose and often fall behind. But I’m hooked, after everyone else is asleep (which is perfect for asian dramas) – i can watch one episode. =) It’s awesome to see other moms and dads and everyone else in between, people of all age categories here and commenting too. It’s quite amazing.
JGS really has made me feel for his character HTG. And gosh – PSH often looks more like a guy than any of the other guys in the photos LOL. Although in the scenes, she is definitely more girly. I love the chemistry btw PSH and JGS. I do feel bad for SW but I am pulling for TG and MN because they do have some undeniable chemistry. Also – jealousy works quite well in idol related dramas… not in real life, but boy do I love watching a lead get jealous enough to knock some sense into him and realize that he really likes the female lead =) Don’t know why, but it almost always works in a drama.
JB – your recaps are so WIDE reaching. Great job.
Oops almost forgot. I don’t know if most of you guys visit the soompi thread too so I’ll just post it up here as well.
I’ve been gathering videos that has anything to do with You’re Beautiful. Do check it out and feed your addiction while waiting for the next episodes >> http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3ABD389D223A4EB7
Whoa. Apparently Jung Yonghwa’s usual travelling van crashed or something, but JY wasn’t in the vehicle. Eeps. BBF comparisons aside, please no injuries!!
“I swear this is from another series, where the guy rides up on a motorcycle and rescues 2 girls from the gang. ”
That was definitely a parody of something. (Like the pig scenes vaguely parodying BV, or the spy bits giving a go at Iris.) For some reason, I thought of My Tutor Friend, but I don’t actually recall a motorcycle in that movie.
we think I think we love them all…hahahaha to all the cast of YB keep fighting and just do ur job and don’t think that all of you not doing well to portrait ur character in YB…..Just remember this WE LOVE 2 WATCH “You’re Beautiful”….Ur #1…fighthingggggg……..keep up d good workzzz guyzzzzz….
JB, i’m not only enjoying your recaps (which help me understand the episodes better) but the comments (oh my…the entertaining, fun, witty comments!) help me get through my addiction to YB. TGIF is now officially changed to TGIW for me!
thank you, JB and all YB-holics! ~ xoxo
it’s marvellous.
评论写得好~~~！！！这出电视剧受欢迎就好像是博主所说~~~它不仅仅因为主演（我喜欢他们也不光是因为他们的外表，重要的是他们演技好~~~这是大家有目共睹的，事实胜于雄辩），还因为故事的本身的吸引力~~~希望他们加油~~~我会继续关注这部剧~~~还有博主的评论的~~~^_^
@195 – Thanks for checking my post in viikii…hahaha…im glad i can see you here!
Yeah…The Viikii views for YAB reached 1 MILLION and we are still aiming for 2 MILLION and more… before the end of the series…hope you can drop by at viikii also.
Check my topics there and leave a comment…lolz
you can find cute stuff also…
JB my crank dealer, when we will read new post about YAB?
@183 mm –
Thanks for the translation…i’ll check the link and maybe you could drop by at viikii for YAB….i have some post topic there maybe you can share your comments also…
I CANT BELIEVE IT…YAB ADDICTS ARE REALLY IN THESE DAYS…EVERY SITE YOU GO WITH FORUMS…YAB IS ALWAYS ON TOP…
what’s this?
i’m sorry~ 不知道这个是什么网站~~~~
不过很喜欢这部电视剧~~~~~~
@yhamih,
Yeah. I *think* YB is going to eventually land as the #2 most popular show ever in Viikii. YB has about 1M. By the time the show ends, I’m thinking it’ll be close to 3M (increase in views are not really linear during a show’s run. The more sections you watch, the more sections you also rewatch. That gets added too.
I think I rewatched the episode of 7 almost 15 times. Ah, squee. This Belleza loves the “Squee.”)
Let’s just say “You’re Beautiful” is going to do pretty dang good in the Hallyu market. Park Shin Hye and Jang Geon Suk already are rising Hallyu celebs in Japan and Taiwan for various prior projects. Watch for this show when it drops in the Philippines. And Taiwan is going to go nuts.
(To put this in perspective, remember The Show That Shall Not Be Spoken Of? Domestic ratings aside, that show did AWESOME business internationally. )
@ 47 Nom_Kitteh
“As President Ahn would say, “Okay! Let’s go! Fun-tastic! Jackfot!” ” Seriously, I almost died from laughing over your comment! “Jack-fot” is my favorite!
@ 111 ironmouse – LOL, way to share the crack!
@ 147 Jae – Awesome!! ^_^ I should try to get my bro to watch it, too…
@ 184 Fan
“maybe even causing curling of upper lips in attempts to look as cool as JGS….”
“(Though lately I’ve had disturbing visions of myself going to the airport to be a crazy fan girl who throws flowers, gifts, underwear,… or whatever it is that fangirls these days throw, at a band that looks suspiciously like the AN Jells…. hmm….)” ROFL
Now for my review of the drama:
I am so eager for Thursdays and Fridays (when the subs come out!), because I know that there will be 2 new episodes of YAB. This drama has made me laugh and cry so much. The writing is hysterical, especially when it takes cliche moments and turns them comedic. Brilliant! The actors and actresses are incredible! Each one is bringing their A-game week after week. I am often prepared to be let down, but I have never been disappointed! I really love that Hwang Tae Kyung is such a multifaceted character. We can see his lovable side, and his “cold” side, his narcissism, and the hurt, abandoned little boy of long ago. Jang Geun Suk portrays his character so excellently that I couldn’t help falling in love with TK – faults and all! The facial expressions keep me giggling long after the show is over. Park Shin Hye plays her extremely naive and gullible character so well. Jeremy is sooo cute! I love him and his crazy imagination. I like Shin Woo, but I wish he would be more straightforward. He has hinted, but it wasn’t clear enough for our naive little nun. Yoo Hye Yi drive me absolutely insane, so I know she must be working hard with her acting. The mother makes me mad. I hate that she always hid their relationship, and that now she wants to publicize it since he is so popular. I can’t wait to see what happens next, and what crazy twists and turns the plot will take. I want to buy the DVD when it comes out!
Thank you so much to all those who have worked so hard in making this drama possible!! Your hard work is much appreciated!!!
JB, looks like fans are arriving from all over the world. Have you gotten Chinese messages before? Just curious.
@belleza
Hope that it will land like that…Crossing my fingers tightly!
I love the YAB too much that all the forums i joined.
I read somewhere that Philippines got it…Correct me if i’m wrong….ABS-BN got it they said (not clear yet)
Hope that’s true…at least they penetrates International market which is good after all.
JB sorry this different topic…Just sharing them the new photage for tomorrows episode..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZPqdIdmfg
@210,211
歡迎
這是個介紹&評論韓劇的網站
有好多美男迷在這裡聚集
在search裡打上you’re beautiful
就能找到關於美男的文章
hey people! please refer to comment @130 and participate in the fan projects okay!
instead of fangirling about the drama here, we can directly take actions to encourage the cast and crew, we want to show them that ratings in korea is not a true reflection of the viewership, come on SO MANY people are watching this drama around the world!
so yep, hope you all can participate in the projects too, like what I did.
It won’t take up much of your time, just leave a message, take a photo, and you can SHOW YOUR LOVE for you’re beautiful through your actions!!!!
so, JUST DO IT!!
:D:D
So I left a message at YAB site and tell them how much international fans love the show ^^
I am 30 yrs old and so proud to be in the ICOMYG club LOL, I told them we have fans over 30+, 40+ and 50+ as well, and the comment of #185, sukispop ^^
(oh, and I did not mention Viikii, so dont worry)
Thanks so much for sharing the comments, A.N.JELL fans.
JBs, thanks for feeding us YAB-holics
hahaha~ indeed a drug dealer hahaha… thanks for filling our YB’s hunger and thirst! LOL
I think I rewatched the episode of 7 almost 15 times. Ah, squee. This Belleza loves the “Squee.”)
It’s totally different when you say, “Ah, squee.” That’s like saying out-loud, “le sigh,” “le mew” and “le purr” like the french pussycat in the Pepe Le Pew cartoons.
Very haute. je sais quoi le squee c’est belleza.
I’m no astrologer but I can see how the upcoming week is gonna be for me:-):
Wed-Wait wait wait.Search You tube like a maniac till I see Episode 9 uploads).Never mind if it has no subtitles.Watch it anyways and try to guess what they are saying.Drool
Listen to the OST for like the millionth time.:-) Check out if JB’s recaps are out yet.
Thur-Make a beeline to Viikii:-) Yay subs are up.watch it.Go to JB and read the recaps.Go to soompi and gush.:-)Go back to viikii and rewatch my favourite bits.Back to trawling You tube for raw episode 10:-)Check out JB for recaps of Ep 10.Read the comments. Sleep with a smile on my face:-)
Fri-Double yay watch episode 10 with subs:-)Back to JB and her recaps.Drool over the screencaps for a while before digging ino her awesome recaps:-)Control my self from spamming everyone I know with watch ‘You’re beautiful’ e-mails.
Read the comments over at Dramabeans.Goofy grin on my face now:-)
Sat-:-(Hangover day.Wishing every day was a Wed/Thur.Over to Dramabeans,Soompi,Viikii in no particular order.Vicious cycle.:-(Check out Thundie’s and dwptommyrot’s recaps.(Don’t worry JB-you’re always the first I read;-))
Sun-Watch behind the Scenes and NG’s from You’re beautiful
Mon-Yayyy Preview’s for episode 11/12 out:-)
Tue-Go to Dramabeans.Soompi.Viikii. Try to close my eyes when I come to spoilers.But later end up peeping.:-S
Another week later -the whole cycle repeats.*Sigh* I need to get a life:-(
YB addiction is one habit I don’t want to get cured of…or even attend rehab for! It’s totally worth the wait and the watch. So excited for this week’s installment!
@222 Ana
Your week just sounds like mine…. vicious cycle indeed my friend!!!!!!!!!!!! its been a long time that a drama has got me so addicted…..not even BBF during its hayday was this crazy……….I mean this article got almost 230 comments that crazy!!!!
JB I think we all need another fix until tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! please continue to be our drug dealer and don’t short your recaps…..
In the meantime I’m watching Smile, You…pretty good but not as FABOULUS as YAB…..LOL….
I need therapy. Seriously. I saw them in my dream last night..
I just checked, my pulse is a little elevated and I detect a faint shaking in my hands when I try to hold them still…
… I think I’m starting to go cold turkey.
Can the awareness of the passage of time be excruciatingly wonderful?
Happy already-Wed-in-South-Korea (aka, Center-of-the-known-Universe) to all!
“you’re beautiful” gives almost the same touch and feeling as we had with “coffee prince” before… i’ve been watching “iris” from day 1 of its premiere but after doing a marathon with “you’re beautiful” last weekend… hmmm… now i’m confused which one to watch tomorrow night — i like the “alias kind of stuff” of iris but i also like the witty and romantic approach of “you’re beautiful” which is more lighter than “iris”…
well, i guess it will depend on the connection since i’ve been having a hard time streaming kbs even during MFL — so SBS it is then c”,)
thanks again javabeans! love your thoughts truly!
For non-mandarin readers, quick summaries of the Chinese posts:
#206
JB, s/he is agreeing with your great discussion. It’s not pretty idols, but good acting and a strong script that make it popular, and the good acting is evident to all! S/he will continue to support YAB as well as your recaps and discussion.
#211
Expressed support for YAB
#217
Welcoming #210 and 211 to this popular gathering for YAB fans. Also commented that this site is very popular – a simple “You’re beautiful” search will lead you right here!
Preview for episode 9
http://gall.dcinside.com/list.php?id=anjell&no=17425&page=2&bbs
I should mention — YB watching is crazy fun on viikii. You can break down the replies to the following . . .
1) “OMG SHIN WOO I LOVE YOU. Take me instead!!” or “SHIN WOO tell her!! Tell her!!”
2) “Han Tae Kyung’s lips/hair is SO hot!!!”
3) “Fake Faery needs to die!! Die!! DIE UEE you fat pig!!”
4a) “This is so much better than BOF!”
4b) “Stop comparing it to BOF already!”
And my favorite . . .
5) “Poor Jeremy, he’s SO confused lolololol”
@samsooki,
Yeah. It’s like when I say “Have I pout and wiggled to your satisfaction, Mr. Oppa Sir.” Just don’t have the knack for it, ya know?
it’s wednesday, nearly 2pm here – already making a beeline for sites w SBS stream, gotta be ready fr tonight ya’ll
and enjoying reading all fellow addicts comments!
nothing much to add except yesterday i called up one of the 2 local korean drama DVD distributors – they hvnt finalised any deal yet – they did ask abt its’ rating and i basically told them “screw the rating! it’s an international mania! go check the internet & you’ll be sorry if you let it go to the other company. and please get better editors bfr releasing it to Msian market since the subs is from korean master”
You are so right that this drama is attractive because it is well-written. After i read the summary of this drama, i didn’t want to watch it. One day i got so bored and i randomly chose this and since then, i can’t stop myself from watching and re-watching it.
@D,
Hong Sisters dramas do really well in Taiwan/China. I’ve seen My Girl twice on our Taiwanese channel and one time on the Vietnamese Channel. Delightful Girl and Fantasy Couple NEVER go out of stock at our local video store, and Hong Gil Dong is still very popular.
You’re Beautiful might seriously challenge My Girl in international popularity. The best guess is to, again, look at where it lands in the Philippines. It has a decent shot at becoming one of top 2 or 3 rated shows when it officially gets aired. Taiwan is going to NUTS over this show.
mmmm, The Belleze replying to me..
and totally honoured..
here in Malaysia, chances are it will be aired on 8TV but in mandarin (no idea when that will be) only J-drama’s shown in original language. the gov’s owned channel do show K-drama but it’s as rare as unicorn sighting
from past experience, most of my impatient Chinese friends will probably get the DVDs from Singapore (they do not like subtitles).
i know my Malay friends who loves Korean drama are always turn-off by the dubbed version shown on tv so they’ll definitely get the DVDs once made available to the local market – the english subs are not really good (e.g. My Girl – even my 7 yr old notice it)
the market is not that big, but the audience is there…
To 217 spiderwill
发现在这里写中文蛮醒目的，呵呵
@233
Yes! I hope You’re Beautiful will air in Taiwan and Singapore soon. I’m pretty sure the fangirls will just go crazy over this show.
I’m a singaporean. The period when Boys Over Flowers was airing here, people totally went crazy over it. Almost the entire country knew about it, examples: DJs talk about it on radio, magazines flooded with BOF pictures. If you are a teenager and you haven’t watched BOF, people would stare at you weirdly.
I really really really hope You’re beautiful will create the same buzz here! It sure has this ability. The plot is so much better than BOF. And Jang Geun Suk is the sexiest man alive. Not to mention Jung Yong Hwa and Lee Hong Ki! (jgs is still the best though)
“미남이시네요” 너무 재미있어요!
I am over 30 years old and guess what…I am totally hooked on this drama. I just love the casts. I love Tae Kyung’s aloofness, Shin Woo’s sensitivity and Jeremy’s cuteness!
I have already noticed Jang Geun Suk since he acted in Lovers in Prague and he had since matured into a fine young man…not only can he act, he can actually sing pretty well! Its difficult to show concern for Mi Nam while staying cool and aloof but he can portray the character very well…plus his eyes and facial expression are great! His acting is really good and his ever-changing hair style is very refreshing.
Jung Yong Hwa is so sweet in this drama…He always managed to rescue Mi Nam whenever she is in a tight spot. He is always there for her in times of need and he continue to show sensitivity and concern towards her even though he has been disappointed so many times…how I wish I have a guy like that! His acting is considered good for a first-timer and I like the way he rap for the A.N. Jell song – “Promise” (약속).
Lee Hong Ki is sooooo cute! His cheerful personality in this drama brings laughter everytime he gets confused over his feelings for Mi Nam. He also shows the sensitive side of him when he cheered Mi Nam when she feels sad. One of his hairstyles and some of his clothes in the drama looks weird but i guess he can carry that off quite well since he has such a cute face. This young singer from FT Island has great potential to act. I really hope to see him in more dramas. I just adore him!
Park Shin Hye is getting prettier! So far, I have seen her in sad dramas. This is the first time I see her in a romance comedy and I love it! She also looks good in short hair, the way she speak is adorable and she can sing well. This young girl is really talented.
All in all, this show has good script, great casts and many unexpected twists in the story line which makes you addicted to the show. Although A.N. Jell is a faux pop group, they may consider forming the group for real. These 4 people have great potential as all of them can act, sing and play musical instruments.
I am looking forward to see the rest of the episodes and hope that there will be a happy ending to this drama =D
i hope the ratings will go up, and eventually extended to 20 eps.
i think the network should also consider that the series has a much younger fanbase, who are more computer-literate and may just download and watch over the internet instead of watching prime broadcast.
even so, i think this has the potential to repeat the full house phenomenon. if full house, whose execution is less creative, and whose story is more simple than you’re beautiful (but still very enjoyable), can make rain and song hye gyo hallyu stars, i think you’re beautiful can make jang geun seok and park shin hye the same as well.
Once again, thank you so much for these You’re Beautiful related posts, recaps, etc – you are really my crack dealer JB XD
Oh I wish I was in Korea – so I could do my bit to help raise the raitings even higher! I get really bummed out after reading stuff about the cast and crew saying that the raitings are a bit of a dissapointment, and it’s nice to see articles that say no, it’s an ace drama and, considering the current situation with Iris, it’s doing great. It is such an addictive drama, better than Iris in my opinion. Although I loveeee TOP.. Geun-seok, Yong-hwa and Hongki together beat him by a tiny weeny bit.. so yeah, You’re Beautiful for the win! Hahaa, no, jokes.. but I do generally love You’re Beautiful more, it’s a drama that fits my taste perfectly. I agree that it is well written, and that the young hot stars isn’t its main appeal, but they sure do help — a hell of a lot
P.S. OMG, that picture with Geun-seok and Shin-hye.. I thought that was an actual still shot from the upcoming episodes or something. I didn’t realise they were off screen pictures, so I kinda hyperventialled for a sec there XD – Min-nam/nyeo and Tae-kyung <3
plz watch your beautiful so we can raise ratings, and make 16 episodes into 20! And give the actors encouragement!!!
我又来了~~~O(∩_∩)O~~
决定出完再一起看~~~这样看好纠结~~~~整天没心思做别的事咯~~~~~
生活还是得靠自己努力的~~~~
@ 234 D
I am in Malaysia too. Went to search for the OST, none of the music houses carry them. I didn’t went that far as calling the DVD distributor, but thanks for doing that – did you really tell them to ’screw the rating!’ – you are so funny, I was laughing as I read that!
Agreed – our local TV stations are slow and I hate the translation.
i believe bjy_angel is absolutely right. this drama is nothing like BOF or my fair lady…the story is solid and the humor is so different from the other dramas; it has its own taste! Another reason is how the acting is so well done on jang geun-seok’s part..he takes on his role seriously and does the job well..you can tell how much he has improved over time and how he manages to do different roles excellently…he’s pretty good for someone so young
I think the idea of these trendy idol dramas are trite and cliched, but still they are every teen’s favourites. I just can’t resist digging into them.
I was in fact quite skeptical about the show at first but decided to give it a shot anyways… I started watching it mostly for Park Shin Hye (noticed her from Tree of Heaven) and partly for Jang Geun Suk (believe it or not, from Lovers in Prague even though he had very limited scenes in that drama). Man, I am not regretting this. Okay maybe a little. There’s 3 weeks left till the show ends, and also about 2 weeks till my semester officially ends. It’s kinda a bad timing to be distracted by such an awesome drama in the midst of my upcoming final exams!
This show feels like a cross of Gung + Hana Kimi (Jap) + Boys Over Flowers + Coffee Prince (even though I’ve yet to watch this). And it totally reminds me of the comic Ichigo Channel by Mimi Tajimi.
“Frankly, I think that You’re Beautiful’s main appeal is NOT actually its youthful subject matter or hot young stars, but the fact that it’s just well-written, period.”
I completely agree with you *nods*
i really love this korean drama…
i’m excited with the outcome and thankful for all the uploader / subber.
love you all (”,)
woo sii este drama es recontra lindOOOO nO hay palabras
i m so much in love with this drama.. its been long since i watch such a good drama.. all the actors are fantastic…… they play their role so well… hwang tae kung and go mi nam have such a great chemistry… great storyline.. i dont know why people compare it to BOF and coffee prince …. have seen both n i can say that YAB is much way better than them. jang geung suk is great actor. i love ur acting…. hope u do great projects in future n earns lots of fame n success.. AJA AJA FIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried to watch IRIS just to see what the hype is about (and to see TOP of course). I was disappointed that he was a bad guy, but he’s awesome as a badass character. I tend to like romantic comedies when it comes to Korean movies and dramas. I think You’re Beautiful sorta reminds me of Coffee Prince/Boys Over Flowers. You can laugh and cry at the same episode, and the whole possibility of unrequited love/love triangle without the tragedy of death or eternal separation just makes me anticipate the next episode.
I wish I had SBS so that I can watch it on a bigger screen. I just have MBC where I live. Hopefully there will be dramas I can watch while I spend the winter break in Korea. If anyone knows where I can stalk Jang Geun Seuk, or watch concerts or bboys, please let me know.
This site rocks. It keeps me up to date with the latest happenings with my Korean idols.
i love ur drama when is ep 13 and 14 coming come on im despreate please hurry up
just wanted i love ur drama you have 100% votes come on u can bet the iris there drama is crap come on proove ur the best and please hurry up and realese episode 13 and 14 and 15… etc thx
I’m not surprised for this drama rating , this is just another Boys over flower , cute boys are falling for not so cute girl , ridiculous . Jang is handsome , good acting
but storyline is boring .