As much as one’s personality should stand out a lot more than their looks, people don’t always seem to think that way. A recently released Netflix series aimed at teens showcases the harmful impacts of discrimination based on physical appearance.
On December 8, Netflix debuted a new series called Lookism, produced by Studio Mir. The series is based on a webtoon comic created by Taejun Pak. This Korean anime series delves into how people are treated because of how they look. The show also touches on such issues as bullying and the bystander effect.
The first season consists of eight episodes, and audiences have rated this anime series 4.7 out of five on Rotten Tomatoes.
The main character, Daniel Park (Park Hyung-Seok), transfers to a new high school to escape the bullying he has endured at his previous high school because of his weight. On his first day at his new high school, Park awakens to find himself in a more attractive body — a slim, taller, muscular body — and with good enough eyesight that he no longer needs to wear glasses.
Throughout the series, he navigates through life in his new “attractive” body during the day and reverts to his original body at night. With his new body, Park learns more about himself, makes new friends and looks at life from a different perspective, as someone who is deemed attractive. When his new friends see him at night, they don’t realize that he is the same person.
The newer version of Park achieves popularity at his new school and becomes the crush of many female schoolmates. He is shocked by the attention, as he had never received this type of positivity from schoolmates at his previous school. Even though this attention has helped him feel confident, he averts allowing it to make him superficial by demonstrating good manners and sticking up for those being picked on.
As someone who had it rough before his transfer, Park instantly becomes humble and continues to show humility throughout the season.
When his female schoolmates witness Park befriending those who are viewed as less attractive, they swoon over him even more because he looks good AND has a good heart.
Understanding that one’s character stands out way more than looks is another big lesson in this series. The main character already knows how it feels to be mistreated by people who did not view him as attractive.
The bystander effect is also addressed when several students are seen either watching or taking videos or pictures of a short, chubby student, Duke Pyeon (Pyeon Duk Hwa), being bullied. Park, who faced bullying for the same reason, goes out of his way to stick up for Pyeon and later befriend him. He has empathy for Pyeon because he remembers what he went through himself.
At first the friendship is rocky, because Pyeon isn’t aware that Park was once a victim of bullying. Due to this missing piece of information, Pyeon thinks he and Park cannot relate because Park has a “desired” look and he does not. Things soon become positive when both Park and Pyeon find out they have something in common.
Upon discovering that Park has a great singing voice, Pyeon insists that the two of them perform as a duo at the school’s music festival, with Park singing and him rapping.
Park hesitates at first, as no one besides his mother has heard him sing, but he accepts Pyeon’s offer, and the two of them work together on an original song for the festival.
Producers from a record company attend the concert and enjoy watching the two of them perform. But they only want to make an offer to Park because of his looks. Park, who has developed an understanding of the value of teamwork, humbly declines the offer because he and his friend have both put in equal amounts of effort to create their song. Park doesn’t think his friend deserves to be denied the opportunity of a lifetime just because he doesn’t fit society’s view of what’s attractive.
Unbeknownst to them, a celebrity views a video of their performance and likes what he sees. This is where the first season concludes.
Lookism is a good series because it conveys to viewers that maintaining the right values can go long way, as something positive can always come out of it. None of us can ignore the fact that looks do stand out. But, at the end of the day, having decency and standing up for what is right will always triumph.