Korean Drama Review Beautiful Gong Shim

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Cast [1]
Namgoong Min as Ahn Dan-tae / Seok Joon-pyo
Bang Minah (Girl's Day) as Gong Shim
On Joo-wan as Seok Joon-soo
Seo Hyo-rim as Gong Mi

Initially it was titled as "Yasoowa Minyeo" ("The Beast and The Beauty") but subsequently changed to Beautiful Gong Shim.


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Girl's Day Minah as Gong Shim
When I looked at the title, I wondered if the story will be more focused on the female lead. I like Minah a lot, but this is a heavy responsibility. Almost towards the middle of the drama, it was obvious the focus was onto the 2 brothers than Gong Shim. (I really like Minah but) it's undeniable that the 2 brothers' story line was more exciting to watch. 

This isn't Minah first film. Previously, she had a lead role in the movie "Holly" and also acted in other movies. More recently, she appeared in the drama "The Savage Family" but Beautiful Gong Shim marked her first lead role in drama.

I came to know as Minah as part of Girl's Day and she always looked beautiful on stage apart from being a very good vocalist.

When I first saw Gong Shim (with her wig), I wasn't used to her appearance. In the beginning, it felt distant. After 2 or 3 episode down the road, the wig helped much more than I thought. It made me forgot about Girl's Day Minah and looked at Minah as Gong Shim. I really looked forward for her future films!!

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Namgoong Min as Ahn Dan Tae
It was really a wise choice to cast Namgoong Min as the male lead. Having acted in so many villain character for his previous films, this is the first time he shed off the fearful and scary side of him and showed the audience a complete different self.

The nature of Ahn Dan Tae is a bright and cheeky guy and Namgoong Min portrayed him well with his flexible acting skill. At some points of the show, I was reminded of him in "We Got Married".  Namgoong Min certainly looked comfortable in his role.

When the storyline moved on to where Ahn Dan Tae was trying to uncover the truth behind Joon Pyo's kidnapping, the transition in his emotion was well portrayed.

When he sobbed upon seeing Gong Shim's home-cook food for him, its really a superb acting!

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Beautiful Gong Shim [3]

About the story
The trailer portrayed how Gong Shim's older sister, Gong Mi, is always the focus of the family and getting the best of everything while Gong Shim is having a terrible life.

Gong Shim [2]
The drama started off with a brief idea how things are not going towards Gong Shim's way and she let out her frustration on her family and how they looked down upon her. She was looked down upon, but not mistreated by her family. She had to give up/give in on things for the sake of her family. She had a complete family, who was greedy for the rich but they cared for her. The bad luck and hardships Gong Shim encountered seemed to lead her to positive rewards.

Gifted in arts, Gong Shim is pretty skilled in many areas from her various part time jobs especially her character seemed to portray her as a keen and fast learner. All she really need is luck.

Although Gong Mi's despicable acts caused Gong Shim to lose out on opportunities to be closer with Joon Soo, Gong Shim eventually realize it was Ahn Dan Tae she had feelings for.
And Gong Shim became the key to help Ahn Dae Tae neutralize his pain with her smile and her sweet love.


Ahn Dan Tae [2]
Ahn Dae Tae's foster dad went MIA and he, himself, was framed when young. All that cultivated him to become strike to become a better man and better of all, a lawyer. It was a tough life for anyone. But he had the will to remain positive and fight for what he believe in.

An overly cheerful acting or one who is too reserve will make the character lost its balance. Namgoong Min's acting certainly give a boost to the character's will.

However, if not for the few scenes of him at the court, it would really make forgot about his lawyer profession and remembered him as a relief chauffeur.

Unlike other dramas where the secret goes down with one person and that one person only, Ahn Dae Tae had the best person to back him up upon confirming his identity, his Grandma.

There were certainly some parts towards the end of the drama the story plot felt heavy at heart but the sweet love between Ahn Dae Tae and Gong Shim quickly balanced it off.

Throughout the drama, it was clear that Ahn Dae Tae is good at analyzing, but when he almost got the wrong person, Seok Joon Soo, in trouble, it was difficult not to get mad.


Seok Joon Soo[2]
Seok Joon Soo seemed to be the most pitiful character of all. I wonder how he hasn't gone bad or crack with all the negative aura from his Grandma.

Despite being the most sought after bachelor, he somehow had eyes on Gong Shim. Even after he was rejected and found out Gong Shim liked Ahn Dae Tae, he still had eyes on Gong Shim only.

Hopefully the drama gave him another partner as Gong Shim had eyes on Ahn Dan Tae. 

Unless the scriptwriter decided to end the drama with an open ended ending?






Gong Mi [2]
Gong Mi took on the family's debt and wanted a better life. While the family gave in to her demands, Gong Mi seemed to be never satisfied with what she have.

Although one can sympathize her situation, having to provide for the family, it seemed she is never satisfied with what she have and what she can get with her current self.

Her despicable acts towards Gong Shim seemed like envy and jealousy.

Fortunately, these acts in the drama were kept to a minimal. We know there is bound to be karma and for her, it having to hide her family almost throughout the show.

If only she was less self-conscious, she won't have the pressure to hide and fear.



The Gong's family [4]
What a pity the storyline of both fathers (Gong Mi/Gong Shim's father and Joon Soo's father) came in so late.

I had a good laugh when they met up for the karaoke session. It's a filler in between the main storyline but yet totally worth the time.

If they had shown more of the fathers' interaction than the mothers'...

But who would forget the scene where Gong Mi/Gong Shim's mother threw Joon Soo's mother.. It was epic!








On the whole, the chemistry of the entire casts was great. It would definitely be fun if they could show more of the behind the scenes footage!


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Source: 
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Gong_Shim
[2] http://la18.tv/ko/korean-prog/pretty-ugly/
[3] http://www.koreandrama.org/beautiful-gong-shim/
[4] http://www.dramabeans.com/2016/05/namgoong-min-minah-are-all-smiles-for-beautiful-gong-shim/

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