Netflix’s new K-Drama The Fabulous is just as it sounds: fabulous. The series follows a flirty and fun group of four friends in the fashion industry – and while it’s not a deep dive into their lives, it’s certainly a good time.
Let’s first break down the characters: Ji-Eun works for a fashion PR firm and used to date photographer Woo-min, played by K-Pop group Shinee’s Minho. Alongside Ji-Eun’s designer bestie Joseph and Woo-min’s childhood friend and model Seon-ho, these four make up the core cast that we root for during this series.
From episode one, The Fabulous has you hooked in a subtle way. It’s not an intense thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat, nor an exhilarating romance that will have you sobbing into your pillows. Yet, it’s a breath of fresh air as every twist and turn is exciting, while not being overwhelming.
The Fabulous is by definition a light drama, a quick and easy watch, and a feel-good show. Going in expecting a hard-hitting view of the fashion industry will leave you disappointed. Instead, it shows the ups and downs of four friends in fashion without giving you too much or leaving too much out.
Still, the leads have solid chemistry that makes you root for them to get back together. Joseph and Seon-ho are both interesting characters with something to say, so when the focus isn’t on the main couple, there’s still something compelling happening on screen.
Sure, the show may benefit from more episodes to give a fuller look at Ji-Eun and Woo-min’s old relationship before they dive into it again, focus on Joseph’s love story more, or highlight Seon-ho’s personal career journey. It feels like, at times, we get these things in bite-sized pieces, which makes you eager for more.
But this show’s real charm is that it’s truly fresh and fun. Many dramas don’t always focus on a group of friends and their individual pursuits, and sometimes, there’ll be too many things going wrong. Even if one or two misunderstandings will have you yelling at the screen, this drama is just a group of friends trying to make it big in fashion, and there’s nothing too angsty about it.
The Fabulous isn’t the most fleshed-out show as far as dramas go, but it’s a genuine, sweet fashion series that will have you ready to click on the next episode time and time again.
