Beauty (2022)

This glorified advertisement is accidentally queer and needs more tarot.

If you're like me, you're probably wondering what the title "The Witch's Eye" means.

Yes, there is a character who could be considered a witch, she is the proprietor of a tarot shop where she reads her customers to filth (as the cards often do), and she occasionally demonstrates her powers when posed against supernatural threats. And sure, there are some cool glowing eye special effects here and there, but what does HER eye specifically have to do with the plot?

But then you start to notice some recurring details.
Da Bit is an influencer who starts her day advertising colored contacts.
Supernatural characters' eyes glow when something significant is about to happen.
Several characters wear glasses and we even get a look at Do Hee's gorgeous collection of frames.
And the breadcrumbs start to fall into place just in time for Davich Optical Chain to rise up from the shadows like the final boss and slap you with the "IT WAS ME ALL ALONG!" dramatic reveal.

The writer(s) tried so hard to incorporate it organically into the plot, but poor Sung Jun's out here sounding like a PSA for eye exams all of a sudden. I thought he was about to drop another tragic backstory on us when he hits us with a pitch for why optometry is an important career path instead. Joke's on you, Davich Optical, I was squinting at my laptop screen for the entire 1hr17min runtime instead of wearing my glasses like I was supposed to!

Overall, the plot is compelling and the mystery it introduces was built up rather well so that it makes sense seeing the pieces gradually come together. While the female leads have far more mutual chemistry than the relationship with the love interest, this story is sadly not a queer one... even though other characters almost seem to acknowledge that it could have been.

So, if you're interested in series that explore karma, past lives, and meddling deities - and you don't mind being shamelessly advertised to when the story comes to an awkward temporary halt about halfway through - this one may suit you pretty well. In spite of every other nitpick, my one true complaint is that there was not enough tarot in that tarot shop. The tiny glimpse we got of the cards looked so good! I need more!

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