First Impression: Pretty Man/Bel Ami

Posted by Shai November 24, 2013

First Impression: Pretty Man/Bel Ami

I know it's pretty late so why am I writing this when 2 new episodes are suppose to air? Well I had no intentions of watching this drama, but I figured it couldn't hurt to check it out. I am so glad I gave in because it surprised me and was really good. I know it premiered with not-so great ratings, but they can go up. Besides, I don't watch drama based on ratings. If the story and acting are good then you have a happy and satisfied viewer. I wasn't surprised at Jang Geun Suk's acting, but I was with IU. I didn't see You're The Best, Lee Soon Shin so I had zero expectations for her skills.

Jang Geun Suk stars as Dokgo Ma Te, who is the most beautiful man in the world - well at least in Korea. He doesn't want for anything because there are hoards of thirsty women who willingly buy him things, which is where his current ~~sugar mama~~ girlfriend comes in. He's dating a.k.a. leeching off of Jaek Hee (So Yoo Jin) who is a rich woman in her 30's who spends money just to make Ma Te happy. We then have our 'average' lead in Kim Bo Tong (IU) who has had a crush on Ma Te since junior high, they're mothers were close friends so she's been around him for a while and he is aware of her undying love for him. She is kinda obvious about it.

Also stars Hoon from U-Kiss as Kim Dae Sik

Han Chae Young is Hong Yoo Ra, who has been following Ma Te around for years and becomes him mentor to help him become successful in order to overtake her ex mother-in-law, who forced her out of the family after her daughter was born. She instructs Ma Te to seduce 10 women in order to learn from them, then he would be able to be as powerful as her former family. His first women is Jaek Hee, who has earned her way through real estate. She's known for turning anything she buys into gold and as such, he's to learn what real money is from her.

So far, I do have to say that actual story is very interesting and kind of intense. At first I thought it was the everyday rich boy meets average girl and they fall in love. This is NOT the case. Ma Te isn't even rich, anything he gets he pretty much gets from women who fawn over him. Jaek Hee buys him an apartment and a car and almost anything he wants, but he doesn't really ask she just offers so he'll stay with her. So yeah he's pretty much just using women to get what he wants - which is money. He's not ashamed of his less than rich background because she's well aware that he's not rich, but his pretty face is enough for her. I think it's pretty obvious Jaek Hee has low self esteem and uses money to keep Ma Te happy, I actually feel sorry for her. But her always offering him things and worrying about him is quite hilarious especially when she goes to see a type of fortune teller known as the Electricity Fairy. You will never guess who plays the Electricity Fairy, it's none other than Kim Ye Won who played a shaman in Who Are You? this year. Instead of seeing dead people she uses electricity to tell fortunes and also to consult the spirits.

It's ridiculous and funny at he same time because Jaek Hee tenses up at the word there's another woman who can take her man away. That woman, as guessed, is Yoo Ra who has a history of taking away her friends' boyfriends. As of now, it's pretty clear that that isn't Yoo Ra's goal. My great guess is that she's using Ma Te's birth secret to get back at Na Hong Ran (Kim Bo Yun), her ex mother-in-law for kicking her out of the family and taking her away from her daughter. I'm 95% sure this is her motivation to start with, but she may end up falling for Ma Te later on. It is a drama after all.

Aside from Ma Te, I love Bo Tong. She's quite up front with everything and clumsy. Like I said, it's no secret that her one and only goal is to marry Ma Te. That's if she can become suitable enough for him. IU plays this role perfectly, I can't see anyone else who would play this like her. Aside from Bo Tong's quirkiness is her unique fashion sense which often consists of bright floral prints and a flower choker which changes with every outfit. She's more than willing to jump at the chance to work for Ma Te if that means she can see him everyday. She also has a very dirty mind like she's hot and bothered at random times like grocery shopping. I think this is somewhat different from other female leads who are average, they're usually seen as innocent but this girl has a self professed dirty spirit which she explains to a phone in fortune teller.

At the end of episode 2, we get another person to round out this love triangle/square or whatever in David Choi (Lee Jang Woo) who falls in love with Bo Tong. Well we see it happen in episode 2 when she tries on a hat/wig for him since he had bought it from her. While she's talking with David, Ma Te is trying to call her and is getting frustrated she's not answering. I think his ego has been bruised by this. Just a tad. Just wait until she starts spending more time with David, Ma Te won't be able to handle it.

The point that also sold me on this drama was Ma Te's emotional crying scene at his mom's funeral while hugging her picture. I nearly cried with him, it was just that sad. His mother succumbed to cancer and you can feel all the regret he's feeling by not being there with her everyday. I knew there was a reason his mother asked Bo Tong to take care of him if she were to leave. That's drama speak for someone is about to die. Even though I called it, it was still emotional either way. You can tell Kim Mi Sook (Yang Mi Kyung) loved her son and never wanted to worry him.

There's not a whole lot to say about 2 episodes, but I am on board with this one. I'm glad I didn't skip it and then possibly regret it like I did with Secret (I'll watch eventually).

More Stills