(may contain spoilers)
Douban rating: 7.4
Director: Kim Young-hoon
Starring: Lee Han-byeol, Nana, Go Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong
Douban Comments: “I originally thought it was going to be a shallow, feel-good show where the main character gets plastic surgery and then dominates everyone around her. And yes, it is about someone getting plastic surgery and becoming powerful. But starting from the second episode, it exceeded my expectations. The supporting characters push the main character out of the spotlight, and the story unfolds like a domino effect. It shows a well-structured, yet naturally flowing life story. It feels very much like a movie, similar to “Secret Sunshine”, “Lady Vengeance” or “Thelma & Louise”. If you like any of those, you’ll probably enjoy this too.”
“This show is so good, and yet it only has a 7.4 rating? It goes against the usual tropes and political correctness. The characters that seem hateful on the surface turn out to be pitiful, while those who seem pitiful also have their hateful sides. The female characters are all powerful, and the main character is an absolute badass in prison. I love this kind of fierce determination where revenge is a must, and they never let go of a grudge.
Beneath all the intense drama, the show addresses many social issues: anxiety over appearance, discrimination based on looks, emotional longing, school bullying, problems with family education, and hatred. The scene where the main character takes a bullet for her daughter made me cry, transforming all her toughness and fierceness into the most natural expression of emotion. Personally, I’d give it an 8.5!”
“Episode 4 deserves five stars. Revenge is always a central theme, and it’s impressive how Korean dramas have moved from focusing mainly on love to exploring a variety of topics. If the story ends with revenge on the boy’s mother, it would feel too shallow. The root of the tragedy lies in the hierarchical and patriarchal society. The logic that beautiful people receive special treatment and harassment, while less attractive people are bullied, is the same. It shows how a patriarchal society judges people based on their looks.”
“At first, I thought it was going to be a feel-good drama like Ugly Betty – a story about a woman anxious about her looks who gets plastic surgery and then dominates the world. And yes, she does start dominating after the surgery.
But starting from the second episode, it went far beyond my expectations. Supporting characters begin to push the protagonist out of the center, and the story unfolds like a domino chain – each piece falling into place, each moment naturally flowing into the next. It paints a life story that feels both segmented and seamlessly connected.
The cinematic quality is undeniable. If you liked films like Secret Sunshine, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, or Thelma & Louise, there’s a good chance you’ll like this too.
I’ll admit I’m biased: when it comes to revenge stories, I think they’re best told through women. If society’s going to label you a crazy woman anyway, you might as well go all in. Hysteria is her story.
A great, morally gray, endlessly unfolding female tragedy.
It’s like taking a bite of something unexpectedly fresh and bloody from the Korean Netflix revenge drama factory line.”
