Pretty Boy (2013–2014)
8/10
Good looking guy learns what is important in life...
20 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
In Pretty Boy (aka Pretty Man) a good looking guy goes from almost gigolo to responsible business man and human being that sees the worth in others.

Based on a Japanese comic book series "Yebbeun Namja" by Chon Kye-Young this series is more layered than advertised.

Ma-Te is good looking and he uses his looks to leech off wealthy ladies for a life of leisure. When Yoo-Ra blackmails him to follow her plan (she's got a hidden agenda) that includes learning the special powers of select women. Ma-Te is steadfastly supported by his neighborhood friend Bo-Tong who has loved him for many years. Through his journey Ma-Te makes mistakes, and learns not to use people for personal gain but rather each person has value. He finds his parentage is NOT what he thinks with the wicked witch of the west as his birth mother.

What I liked about this series:

1. Our couple was cute and adorable. Our hero, Ma-Te, played by Jang Keun-Suk (You are Beautiful, Mary Stayed Out All Night), starts out selfish but evolves into a person who realizes that others matters. I've enjoyed the actor Keun-Suk in other series, and thought he did a good job finding nuances in the character. Our heroine, Bo-Tong, played by IU (Dream High), is so darling and draws others to her with positive energy and goodness. I loved her in Dream High. Their relationship gradually evolved from friendship to more. There is limited physical contact between these two, the romance takes a back seat during the birth mother from hell story but revives in the final 3 episodes. So if you are looking for a traditional kdrama romantic comedy, this show won't hit the mark for you.

2. Layered story. Originally I thought this was a story about 10 women that would be seduced by Ma-Te per the promos. That was not the story at all. Ma-Te evolves to realize that a friendship with a woman is possible and valuable. Ma-Te's own birth mother from hell is astonishing self-centered, power hungry who will destroy family and friends to maintain her status. She seems to live by the mantra "I'm top dog and if I'm not happy no one else can be too".

What I didn't like:

1. Birth mother from hell and Yoo-Ra who initially blackmails Ma-Te to go along with her plan were more alike than you'd think and were bigger users of people than Ma-Te. They got repetitious, with little redeeming value.

2. The ten different women sometimes seemed forced into the story with a here today gone tomorrow impact on the series.
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