It’s starting to sound like a broken record that I keep saying Pretty Boy (Bel Ami) is really not bad at all. Since the drama is ending tomorrow in a swish of happy rainbows judging from the just released kissing stills of leads Jang Geun Seok and IU, humor me one last time as I bid farewell to an inoffensive and surprisingly sincere little oddity of a drama. I’ve made no bones about being disappointed with Jang Geun Seok’s acting and musical career direction for the last two year plus his real life personality really is a little too far out for me. I’ve liked talented actors and actresses who don’t necessarily seem like people I care to hang out with so Jang Geun Seok really was one good role shy of winning my affection back. I’m all caught up on PB and I can safely say he did it. The early episodes were anchored by IU who was the heart of this drama and her performance impressively winning. It took awhile for me to really see the Jang Geuk Seok spark shine through since he came across as too forced and posing in the early episodes, but by midway point he was thrumming along and now we’re at the end he’s positively firing on all cylinders. This story turned out much funnier and sweeter than its synopsis. The overly constructed extremes of the characters and their so-called quest always peeled away to reveal a core nugget of humanity and a nice takeaway at the end. It’s a shame the central love story wasn’t the focus for so long because Jang Geun Seok and IU were precious together both visually and chemistry-wise. PB felt like reading a kid’s book you picked up to flip through while waiting at the dentist’s office to be called in and discovering an engrossing story that is neither childish nor pointless. I saw personality growth and emotional maturity from the two leads happen before my eyes and a believable romance blossom devoid of flashy tricks but built on learning to love. The cast looked happy in the wrap pictures and I wanted to give a thanks to the production for sticking with a drama so dismally rated and telling the story the way it was intended. I enjoyed this ride very much.  Continue reading →