True Beauty - Blog Posts

The trope I hate the most.... Love Triangles.

Who has time for that crap??? All the unnecessary angst and worry. This is a book, no need to follow social constraints. Pick both of them. Why would you choose when you could have both????? Maybe reading True Beauty wasn’t the best idea. I’m spoiled on polyamorous relationships.

Just binge watched True Beauty. Shbssbdbjd!! I’m obsessed. I’m in love with Seo Joon. I wanna punch him most of the time but also his pretty face. I fan girl every time I see him. Honestly I started watching bc I saw a clip with his face in it. And Su Ho is so adorable. 🥺🥺 He’s just so soft for our beautiful lady. I melt every time he melts does for her. I love it. Love it.

Love Triangles & Tropes

I have to talk about love triangles for a moment and it is all Light on Me’s fault. 

Most BLs don’t employ true love triangles. Instead they throw in a faen fatal as a plot device who is obviously not a real threat to the main couple for various reasons: 

They’re an underdeveloped character with little back story. 

They’re the wrong gender. 

They enter late in the narrative and/or have very little screen time. 

They engage in no significant romance tropes with the lead. 

With a faen fatal we all know that our two boys will end up together. 

A love triangle is different. 

In a love triangle the audience actually believes the second lead has a good chance of winning over the main character. The second lead is given back story, is the correct gender to be competition, and has significant screen time. And, of course, tropes are used to make the burgeoning romance believable. 

Guess who is great on love triangles and even better at giving audiences bad cases of Second Lead Syndrome?

Why yes, that would be Korea.

When I posted about Korea’s history with BL, I talked about how strategic and clever they are with tropes. I think this is one of the reasons they are so good at believable love triangles. 

But so far they haven’t given us a love triangle in BL… until NOW. 

Light on Me is the Perfect Love Triangle

For the purposes of argument (and because of various elements like the lingering gaze, romance narrative conceits, focus of the camera lens etc) I am going to go with the following:

TaeKyung = our POV or main character (uke*)

ShinWoo = Lead (seme) 

DaOn = Second Lead (seme)

* In addition to specializing in soft low heat BL, Korea likes a slow burn romance and a weak seme/uke dynamic. So we are going back to the original definition of uke: basically the character the others are pursuing and want to take care of. 

Light on Me is using heavy hitting BL tropes to weight TaeKyung’s options fairly. Almost every time the director doles out one significant trope to SinWoo they will then give the same trope to DaOn or vise versa. It’s so smart and fun to watch I started keeping score. 

Crash Into Me AKA Proximity Alert 

(Camera then shows ShinWoo watching this, when it’s a trope he already got to have with TaeKyung.) 

Messy Eater

(Camera then shows DaOn watching this, when it’s a trope he already got to have with TaeKyung.) 

Meet Me In The Library 

Head Touch

(Honestly I am Team ShinWoo solely based on this neck grab.) 

Wound Tending

Light on Me is a master class in how to use tropes to manipulate audience sympathy so they can’t decide which pairing they prefer. Basically, this is how you infect fans with Second Lead Syndrome. It’s SO GOOD. 

Also, did you notice how they spaced this flip-flopping out at first, but then it got closer together? Crash into me with seme 1 then not with seme 2 until a few episodes later. But as the series progresses and the tension increases, the same trope for one seme comes closer in time to the same trope for the other seme, until finally at the end of episode 8, both semes want to wound tend TaeKyung in the same scene! Which mean’s this show is also pacing its tropes to amp up love triangle tension. 

This is clever enough to be mind boggling. I can’t even. 

On the other hand, they will dole out specific tropes to each seme (that the other one doesn’t get to have). So ShinWoo got to tie the shoelaces. But DaOn loaned the umbrella. SinWoo gets to grab and physically demonstrate interest. DaOn gets to flirt and verbally indicate interest. 

Partly this is because TaeKyung is on an enemies-to-lovers arc with SinWoo, but on a friends-to-lovers arc with DaOn (see True Beauty). But also it’s because the two semes are very different personalities. 

Similarly the narrative parcels out TaeKyung’s responses accordingly. 

So TaeKyung collar grab’s SinWoo. This is a trope that is always uke to seme in an agro relationship, because when an uke acts aggressively you know something is going down. It’s commonly used to give uke agency for the first kiss (see We Best Love). TaeKyung also rescues ShinWoo from bullies and gets hurt in the process, another aggressive move with relation to this particular seme and more common in enemies to lovers (see PeteKao in the Kiss series). 

Since DaOn is on a friends to lovers track, TaeKyung is a lot softer with him. 

In fact TaeKyung keeps trying to take care of DaOn, and even performs some seme acts of service (even though he’s the uke character), which is Korea being unbelievably clever with their love triangle. I mean how can we not root for them as a couple? 

Look, I’ve seen the seatbelt trope a million times but only PeteKao have ever flipped it so far as I can recall, and that’s just because Pete keeps getting beaten tf up. This is the kind of proprietary behavior (see also buckling on a safety helmet) only performed by seme on uke. 

Also TaeKyung took care of DaOn when he was sick, remotely, but still he used the umbrella to tell DaOn who was doing it. This is playing with the idea of mutual responsibility and partnership which is very unusual in BL, and makes me like them as a couple all the more because they act on an equal footing. Mutual care is adorable. (See Oxygen for more of this kind of exchange.) 

The interesting thing about DaOn as a second lead is that we know more about his back story than we do our mains. We know he is a neglected child, a people pleaser, and the ultimate caregiver. We watch him fall in love with TaeKyung because TaeKyung is the first person to give DaOn care back. Of course he wants to hold onto that. Also it makes DaOn very very VERY sympathetic to watchers. 

It got bad enough in episode 8 that I begin to wonder, despite all the many narrative clues, if DaOn actually might win TaeKyung in the end. 

See what I mean? 

Second Lead Syndrome! 

I know this has been a praise post, but flipping heck do I hate a love triangle. Because ARGH I want them both! 

Bravo, Korea. 

I love him, this soft bad boy stole my heart. Through this I wanted to show his character grow, from friendship, to death of friend and new begging. I hope this boy will find his happiness

Jugyeong's moodboard. This one was tricky to do but I hope it suits her well. For me I feel pretty/unpretty(glee cover) fits her character perfectly

Soojin's moodboard. I love her

Am I the only one who screamed like a seagull with some attack when Suho hugged and lifted Seojun. I am still waiting for their reunion. For me this whole episode looks like me and my gay boys. Also Taehoon dating advises, I love him.

I think I may ship them. Maybe I am a hoe for angst.

Watching new true beauty episode is like wtf is happening. Like for one moment it is cute and bubbly and then baaam everyone is dramatic. Also they show as cute moments with Suho and Jugyeong and after it, let's make Suho a jerk(I am not saying he isn't but you know) and everyone depressed. Also when he has panic attack Seojun just stands and watches like what the hell was that, he just standt there and then went like meh I don't care(I guess he cares). Oh, and people are acting like they need to protect Jugyeong from Seojun, Idk why they want to make him look like a total bad guy, maybe he eats pizza with utensils. As you can see I would choose our motorbike boy. While Suho acts kinda abusive, he followed Jugyeong on her blind date etc. and tells biker that he musn't contact with her becouse of him, like bitch this looks weird. (I don't like Suho but Eunwoo is just so handsome and cute). Moral of this story is that Jugyeong should date Sujin. I think I will write more later. Sorry for possible mistakes, have a great day.

P.S. Sooa and Taehoon are super cute together.💜💜💜

❤

Kang Min Ah as Choi Soo Ah in TRUE BEAUTY (2020)

binge watched xo kitty this week (to make fun of it) (the joy of rage. the joy of rage) and minho and kitty give Such similar energy to seojun and jukyung in true beauty... ah...

all these pix of the world's sexiest women posted up but without any information,. No name, no nada. . I just saw this one and WOWA, am I in looove (yet again) but who is she? I couldn't tell ya.

Please like my post on insta 💕...will mean a lot !

"Red poppies, like flames in gloom; Their petals soft yet bold as fire, A symbol of bravery that will never expire; Forever enshrined in the poppy's red fire" ~Soham Jain

Is there a name for what I call the,, really? Them?,, Trope wherein the crusher realises their feelings and is in absolute disbelief over it because... It's them! That really stupid person! The one that always smiles like an idiot and trip on their own feet/ are cold as ice,

Everything is top tier

The 'ha! what a dumb bitch, But I love them' looks, top tier

The, 'youre ugly when you cry' (adoring) chefs kiss

The constant absolute roasts

The pining

THE PININg

🙏❤️💞

Sleeping Beauty Dreams...❤❤

i don't even know how to start this but uhhhh hi!! i'm not really new on tumblr but this is the first account i create intending to meet people and make friends so i'm not really sure about how to do like. anything at all

But i guess i should start by introducing myself a little bit ;)

➵ You can call me either Sylvie or Syl. I'm more used to people calling me Syl but both are fine.

➵ I go by any pronouns, she/he/they, you can use any of them

➵ English is not my first language, but Spanish! I'm from Spain but i'm trying my best

➵ I'm 17

➵ My account is a safe space for LGBTA+ people (i'm queer myself!!)

➵ I try to use tone indicators (/j /s /srs /p...) whenever i feel they're needed. However, if you need me to use them more often just tell me

➵ I'm a reaaaally anxious person. And i always have a hard time socialising or even talking to my friends. I feel like that's important info ahahah but i really wanna make friends just be patient with me please

That's pretty much everything i think. Soooo here are some of my main interests to complete the post!

🌻 C A T S. i am. so. totally. completely. overwhelmingly. IN LOVE with cats

🌻 Girl band/idol games, Bandori and D4DJ are my favs atm

🌻 Webtoons, currently reading Boyfriends, True beauty and Omniscient reader's viewpoint

🌻 Otome games, i'm really into The Arcana and Fictif

🌻 Cartoon series, i haven't watched many but i love The Owl House, i'm about to start Amphibia and i'd like to watch Steven Universe and Adventure Time soon!!

And that would be it, please let me know if you want us to be mutuals!! i'd very much appreciate any comments or likes <3

byeeeee!!

Sensitivity

Never apologize for being a sensitive person. The opposite of being sensitive is calloused and calloused assholes have convinced everyone else that being sensitive is a bad thing bc they are afraid if people knew the true beauty behind sensitivity then everyone would focus on what calloused assholes they really are.

~ If it isn’t obvious, I am shipping Lim Ju Kyung and Han Seo Jun all the way. ~ 💕💕💕

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GIF Credits: GIF 4: Pinterest | GIF 5 & 6: Tumbex | GIF 7: Amino Apps | GIF 8: Hey Bae | GIF 9: Soompi | GIF 10: You Are A Wonder | 

~ Hwang In Yeop a.k.a Han Seo Jun appreciation post ~

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GIF Credits: GIF 2:  nicoledrg, Pinterest | GIF 3, 5: Tumbex | GIF 4: pinterest.co.kr | GIF 8, 11: We Heart It | GIF 9: Tumbral | GIF 10: @princesshibanaa​ 

‘True Beauty’ Taught Me That You Have A Right To Be Seen & Cherished As You Are

Well, well. For starters, this was such a well-made show. Also, post gazillion discussions with my friend, we've concluded that K-dramas from 2019 have become more progressive, liberal and busters of their own stereotypes.

‘True Beauty’ was all of the above along with being funny, cute and addressing social issues head-on. Speaking of the last one, this show really puts into perspective the pressure of being conventionally 'pretty' and the nature of school bullying that leads to traumatic experiences in the life of young Korean adults. For this, I really applaud the show.

The story is about 'ugly' looking 18-year-old Lim Joo Gyung who is bullied by her high-school classmates for her looks and appearance. It is rather devastating to watch the first two episodes because man, they really open your eyes to the gruesome shit people do to other people.

Tired of being bullied and unloved, Joo Gyung decides to switch schools. In the process, she discovers make-up and its unruly power to help her transform her appearance from zero to hero(ine).

As she learns to master make-up skills, she is shocked by how she can manipulate and hide what she really looks like. Plot-twist: she's already met our hero Lee Su Hoo by now, who's seen her 'non-pretty' avatar and since her transfer happens to be in his school, he's already dubious about her made-up self.

This is where the fun begins. Joo Gyung slowly discovers that with the help of beauty products, she can finally be a ‘normal teenager’ who has friends. Lee So Hu confronts her with his suspicions and upon them being confirmed, helps her keep her secret.

What follows is how Joo Gyung battles her own insecurities about herself, how the story displays with beautiful delicacy what it means to be truly beautiful and how, the people who love you will always be there, because they can see who you are, bone-deep.

Rather than using make-up as a crutch to keep running away from her lack of self-worth, we see how our heroine comes to terms with this and how she strives to be beautiful in her own might.

I cannot proceed without proclaiming my indefinite love for Lim Hee Gyung, Joo Gyung's older sister and a powerhouse of a woman. What's not there to love about her? NOTHING. 

I love how she's 'manly' enough to chase the person she's fallen for and I love her relationship with homeroom teacher Han Jun Woo, which is a complete power reversal than what is usually shown in K-dramas. She's the man here, she wears the damn pants and looks hot in them while she's at it. He, on the other hand, has no shame in being completely vulnerable and letting her take the lead.

Lim Hee Gyung is everything I want to see in female drama leads. She's funny, digs intense video-gaming, smart, independent and a boss of a career woman. On the other hand, Han Jun Woo is kind, makes for a thorough poet through and through, is calm, composed and very sure of himself.

There is no denying how much I love Hwang In Yeop in Han Seo Jun's avatar. Man, little did I know that the swordsman from 'Tale of Nokdu' was going to be a stellar second lead.

Seo Jun is everything Lee Su Ho is not: funny, understands and respects boundaries, isn't an asshole on purpose, loves Joo Gyung, respects her secret, respects her choice to love someone other than him rather than 'fight' for her by forcefully getting in her way, doesn't proclaim his feelings until he's sure she's not seeing anyone and is in general, SO MUCH MORE FUN than our boring, boring first lead. Sigh.

Women (heroines) of dramas, please wake-up. I'm kind of tired of looking at y'all throw away the most beautiful of men because you think being with a stuck-up-arrogant-cold male lead is 'true love'.

It isn't. Really.

Also, I want to highlight how the show has women running the entire storyline on the forefront.

Be it Lim Hee Gyung, her mother Hong Hyun Suk who's the primary bread earner of the family, or Soo-Ah or Kang Soo Jin. 

I loved how adorable, funny and cute Hyun Suk’s husband --- insert *one of my favorite K-actors* --- Lim Jae Pil is. Damn, I love gender-role reversals and what a success this drama has been with them. *happy tears and cheers*

Lastly, let's get on to my favorite learnings from the show:

1. Your healing is your responsibility. 

Something we see so beautifully through the characters of Joo Gyung and Su Ho. With their own respective healing journeys, we see them own their self-discovery versus piling it on each other in the name of love.

2. Stop hiding your light.

After losing his closest friend, we see Han Seo Jun shut his heart to music despite it being his first love. But with time, Lim Hee Gyung and Su Ho convince him that it is a loss to the world to keep his musical gifts to himself and we see Seo Jun share his light once again.

3. Your heart is what is the most beautiful thing about you.

Not your clothes, not your talents and not your face. Who you are, how you treat others and how you love is what determines how beautiful or ugly you are.

My last thoughts thoughts, “... the ultimate dumpling war.” 

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GIF Credits: GIF 1: @cafe330 | GIF 2, 4, 5, 18: Aghasewatchtv | GIF 3, 14: Soompi  | GIF 6: @youthofmay​ | GIF 7: Bitches Over Dramas | GIF 8: Xenews.net | GIF 12: @ohh!kdrama! | GIF 13: Unbothered Unnies | GIF 15: @allnightontum-blr-blog​ |