The Fabulous review: A treat for your eyes

‘The Fabulous’ revolves around the lives of four friends struggling to get recognition in the fashion industry. The series is now streaming on Netflix.

Story

Ji-eun, Joseph, Seon-ho, and Woo-min are best friends who have known each other for a long time. Ji-eun and Woo-min used to date a few years ago, but they broke up and have been friends since then.

Ji-eun works at a luxury-brand PR agency called AUDREY. She is a hardworking employee who likes her job because it allows her to be around beautiful clothes all the time.

Joseph is a fashion designer, but he still has a long way to go. His fashion show gets ruined when a model he had earlier fired cuts off the power supply to get her revenge.

Seon-ho is a supermodel. Although she is considered to be one of the best, she is not respected by her juniors in the industry, who accuse her of sleeping her way to the top.

Woo-min is a freelance photographer. He went to Hawaii after Ji-eun broke up with him. Years later, when he returns to Korea, he realizes that he still has feelings for Ji-eun.

The four friends are determined to make their dreams come true, irrespective of the personal and professional hurdles that come their way.

Performances

Chae Soo-bin as Ji-eun was charming. She played the part of a positive character well, but she faltered when she had to depict emotions like sadness.

Choi Min-ho was likable as Woo-min. However, his portrayal of Woo-min’s character never seemed genuine.

Park Hee-jung truly convinced the audience that she is Seon-ho. She played her part with the grace and courage required of a supermodel.

Lee Sang-woon’s performance as Joseph was adequate. He managed to make Joseph’s anxieties seem very real.

Positives

The costumes and designs in the series are brilliant. It accurately depicts the fashion industry as the world of glamour.

The series aims to show that fashion is not a brainless occupation as it has been depicted in the popular media. It also shows that women who are only interested in fashion are not shallow; they are smart and have a lot to offer.

In the series, most characters have their moments of weakness; no character is entirely bad, which makes them seem human.

It is common knowledge that models have shelf lives, but the series shows how difficult it is for the models and those around them to cope with this, despite the fact that they have always prepared themselves for it.

Negatives

Woo-min and Ji-eun chemistry only lasts for one episode. The romance loses most of its charm as there is no chemistry between the two lead characters.

Everyone gets a happy ending in the series. While a fairytale ending is expected in a romantic drama, it is still hard to accept that all four friends conveniently get successful at the same time.

Verdict

This series would be perfect for viewers who are looking for a light-hearted show to binge over the holidays. While the plot is interesting, the costumes are certainly the best aspect of this show — a visual treat to enjoy during the holidays.

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Also Read: The Fabulous ending explained: Does Ji-eun accept the job offer?