Following on from a successful pilot is a challenge, and it’s one that ‘Ugly Betty’ took on with such grace. While the premiere was all about setting up the series and its colourful characters, this episode got straight down to business, establishing the formula that would become familiar territory for the majority of the first half of the season.
Betty has trouble getting her co-workers at MODE to accept her in 'The Box and the Bunny', who take one of her toys in a bid to scare her off. When a celebrity dealing with body issues is forced to alter her appearance to appear on the cover of the magazine, Betty attempts to console her.
Betty always remains true to herself, no matter how much temptation gets to her over her four years at MODE magazine, starting here when she faces unprecedented scrutiny from her cruel, taunting co-workers who take her toy bunny hostage. A lot of episodes focus on Betty and how she reacts and adapts to her new surroundings, but a lot of the series' better moments took the time to examine how Betty also changes and affects all those around her.
Betty always remains true to herself, no matter how much temptation gets to her over her four years at MODE magazine, starting here when she faces unprecedented scrutiny from her cruel, taunting co-workers who take her toy bunny hostage. A lot of episodes focus on Betty and how she reacts and adapts to her new surroundings, but a lot of the series' better moments took the time to examine how Betty also changes and affects all those around her.
Seeing the harsh realities of the fashion world, and what is and isn’t acceptable to be published on a magazine cover, she's compelled to speak up for what she believes is right. Though she fails in her goal of allowing a less emaciated female to grace MODE’s front cover, her bright positive attitude manages to change someone’s life in such a profound way. You’ve gotta love Betty for that.
Early on, the Suarez home drama is completely enthralling. They're a family who have so little, but are appreciative of every single moment they have together; the polar opposite to the self obsessed mannequins at MODE. This episode is one of the better ones, with the gleefully trashy fighting between Hilda and Gina meshing so easily with Betty’s work troubles.
Each of Betty’s love interests were just as annoying as the last, starting with the pathetic worm that was Walter. His struggles to win Betty back over the course of the first half of the season got increasingly aggravating, but he remains mostly bearable here, probably because of his short amount of screen-time.
The series constantly recycles a lot of this episodes message, and it works then too, but this first instance was a delight to watch.
9.5/10
I'm really getting excited to rewatch the whole series! I know I said this in your last review but Ugly Betty gives off such a warm cozy vibe that few shows replicated for me. Actually I'd put Charmed & Ugly Betty in the same box. Sure I have my true favorites such as Alias etc... but the above two also captured something special as horrible as they got at some points (that was more a criticism against Charmed obviously)
ReplyDeleteIt's pure escapsim. I'm all for a sense of realism every now and again, but my favourite series are ones that paint a unique and appealing world that's completely different to ours, and Ugly Betty really did that well. Thanks for reading!
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