Glamorous Challenge (Skip Beat!) Episode One Recap

I have been an on and off reader of Skip Beat for years, and was a bit elated to find that a Taiwanese version was in production. So with the conclusion of Dream High 2, I have decided to give this drama a little bit of spotlight. 

EPISODE ONE: 

    Just like the book, things start with Gong Xi (Kyoko) running to and from jobs. In the midst of things she hears some girls talking about Bu Puo Shang (Sho Fuwa) and his new CD, and one even pulls out a near life-size poster of him. Gong Xi goes off about not having received one and flies out the door on her bike to demand hers. The show then exhibits her bicycling at superhuman speed to emphasize her earnestness while playing the opening theme song. By the looks of the quirkiness and awfully cheesy shots, it’s apparent that this isn’t the top of line drama and should be taken as fluff.

     She reaches her destination, scares the shit out of the employees, and walks out elated as she carries a life-size cutout of Puo Shang. She then scurries to her next job, where we are introduced to a friend and older couple that are her employers. Groundwork on Gong Xi is then laid; she has been living with Puo Shang since running away with him as a teenager and she works three jobs to ensure that he maintains the best lifestyle. Of course, no one except her knows this. Later she arrives home and practically jumps for joy when she spots Puo Shang sitting on her sofa. He however ignores her, and it becomes obvious that life isn’t as sugarcoated as Gong Xi believes it to be. As they watch TV, Shang’s rival appears (Dun He Lian - Ren) and he huffs and puffs. Eventually he gets agitated and leaves the condo.

     The following day Gong Xi sneaks into his agency to make amends, only to stumble onto a conversation with Shang and his manager. She learns that she has been used the whole time and is basically a maid to him. In result she goes crazy and declares that she will have her revenge by becoming a star that is ten times better than him; he laughs. True to her word Gong Xi goes off to get a make-over, buying overpriced heels and getting a new do. However the final result is not so pretty…I don’t know what the thought process for her new hairstyle was. She then relays to the older couple that she is going make it as a star and after a lot of hesitation they agree to support her; giving her a room to stay in.

     Later Gong Xi paces up and down the streets in a totally ridiculous outfit, one that screams prostitute, while her friend encourages her that that is how people get discovered. Yeah, pace back in forth on a street in a flashy get up. That will make you a star all right. Eventually figuring that things aren’t working she decides to run around with a poster promising that she will make a successful star. Say, what?!! Eventually she realizes it isn’t working either, but cheers up when she discovers that big talent agency LME is holding auditions. Once again determined she pronounces to the world that she will defeat Shang, but first she must get another haircut. 

     Some development on He Lian was given in the show, but I was kind of too lazy to write about it. Basically, he is loved by everyone however he can be a tight ass when it comes to work. 

REMARKS:

So far, the drama has been sticking pretty close to the manga. This is both good and bad. Good, because I liked the story the first time around and I think the whole setup makes for some good laughs and entertainment. Bad, because there is really nothing new, well, it does deviate now and the (the awful hairstyle) but nothing noteworthy. I think I was a tad bit hooked in the beginning because of the downright slapstick humor, but eventually the lackluster acting started seeping in. So if things keep going at this rate, this might just be a skip-to-the-good-parts drama.

On another note, I find the boys of Super Junior headlining this drama a bit odd. 

COMMENTS AS THE WRITER:

Please comment.

-Alyssa