08 October 2012

아름다운 그대에게 To the Beautiful You


Title: 아름다운 그대에게 Aleumdawun Geodaeege
English Title: To the Beautiful You
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean
Year: 2012
Episode: 16
Cast:
  • 최설리 Choi Seol Li (설리 Seol Li)
  • 최민호 Choi Min Ho (민호 Min Ho)
  • 이현우 Lee Hyun Woo
  • 김지원 Kim Ji Won
  • 강하늘 Kang Ha Neul
  • 서준영 Seo Joon Young
  • 황광희 Hwang Kwang Hee
  • 유민규 Yoo Min Kyu
  • 기태영 Ki Tae Young
  • 이영은 Lee Young Eun
  • 강경준 Kang Kyung Joon
  • 줄리엔 강 Julien Kang



SYNOPSIS
제이민 J-Min - 일어나 Il-eona (Stand Up)
Kang Tae Joon is a professional high jumper who suffers an accident that could potentially end his career.

Goo Jae Hee lives in the US. She goes to South Korea to help her idol Tae Joon get back in shape and compete again in athletic competitions. However, he attends an exclusive high school for boys and Jae Hee has to cross-dress as a boy to transfer to his school.



REVIEW
I don't find cross-dressing as a very interesting concept, to be honest. I think it's ridiculous that a girl can cross-dress as a boy for a long period of time where she had to spend 24 hours of each day with boys.

Considering that the premise of the drama is outrageous enough to begin with, it would be better if the parameters of that premise are logical. To the Beautiful You failed in this account because Goo Jae Hee is a fan who decided that the only way she could provide support to her injured idol and crush Kang Tae Joon is to enroll in his all-boys high school.

Jae Hee's concern for her crush Tae Joon is understandable but it's absurd for any sane person to find her action acceptable because Jae Hee does not have any personal connection to Tae Joon, she did not inadvertently cause the injury, and she's not a medical expert that can actually diagnose health problems and provide treatment.

It's also strange that her goal when she went to Tae Joon is to watch him jump and compete again but she still stayed behind with no particular reason when he has already done both. I mean, Jae Hee could still stay in South Korea and go to a nearby school if she really wants to still be with Tae Joon. She won't be able to stay in the same dorm room and in the same school with Tae Joon but at least she doesn't have to lie about being a boy.



Alike:
jp - 花ざかりの君たちへ Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (2007)
jp - 花ざかりの君たちへ Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (2008)
jp - 花ざかりの君たちへ Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (2011)


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아름다운 그대에게 To the Beautiful You