Singing Their Hearts Out: Watch This Show If You're Missing Julie and the Phantoms

I don't know if Netflix expected Julie and the Phantoms to become such a hit when it premiered on the streaming service in the fourth quarter of 2020. Helmed by acclaimed director (and choreographer) Kenny Ortega of High School Musical and Descendants fame, the show was based off a popular Brazilian series that showcased a talented young singer-songwriter and her three ghostly bandmates. The Netflix version is not too off the mark with each episode clocking in at about a half-hour over its first season of nine episodes. The eponymous Julie is joined by her three phantoms Luke, Alex, and Reggie—all of whom have vibrant personalities that mesh well with each other as they interact together and with Julie. Their antics on- and off-stage manage to be engaging and uplifting as they navigate their performances (usually at least one an episode) and their existential crises of the waiting afterlife.

And guess what? The show's a whole lotta fun.

But let's say you already know how endearing and enjoyable this show aimed at preteens and teens is. What show could possibly measure up to the entertainment that is Julie and the Phantoms?

(Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...)

You're Beautiful (2009)

What could a Korean drama from the late 00's, following a popular boy band, possibly offer today's viewer, especially if that person has never seen (or potentially even heard of) a K-drama? Well, let me explain the logistics to you, dear reader.

Meet the Boys (and the Girl-Dressed-as-a-Boy) of A.N.JELL

Jeremy (played by Lee Hong-gi)

Jeremy is the funny bone in this boy band. His loves in life are his drumming and his golden-haired dog named Jolie (after mega-star actress Angelina Jolie), but he finds something else to care about in the realm of newcomer-to-the-band Mi-nam (whom we'll get to later). He is bright and bubbly, easily charming fans with his demeanor and personality. What's not to love, really?

Kang Shin-woo (played by Jung Yong-hwa)

Shin-woo is easily the one who can make all the girls swoon—well, the ones who aren't oblivious, that is (we'll get back to that). He's an obvious fan favorite of the band, likely due to his gentlemanly vibes and friendly disposition. Do we stan him? Absolutely. (Well, most of the time.) Is he forever doomed to and locked in the friendzone? Er, about that...

Hwang Tae-kyung (played by Jang Keun-suk)

Don't let the good looks fool you. Tae-kyung is not the most approachable social butterfly. In fact, he spends the first few episodes sneering all around (and some watchers even affectionately call him Murderbot), and he is just about as cuddly as Severus Snape on Parent-Teacher Conference Day. Even so, he is the standoffish leader to the group, and he expects respect (and distance) for his role. Basically? He just wants to be left alone much of the time.

But Tae-kyung's social issues are no obstacle in the face of...

Ko Mi-nam (played by Park Shin-hye)

I know. I'm not fooling anyone by trying to say, "Here's the newest boy in the boy band." But the show requires that everyone think "Mi-nam" really has a good shot at making everyone believe "he" is really a "he." And, in the show, it works. Everyone plays along (despite the fact that I highly doubt Park Shin-hye could ever be misconstrued as a member of the male species)...until Mi-nam's cover gets blown. It happens. Gender-bender stories never really have the "secret" stay a secret. But "Mi-nam" has to abandon her life as a nun-in-training to cover for her twin brother who was chosen as the newest member of A.N.JELL. (Got that? I know, these K-dramas can get convoluted...) And she does her best...or, at least, as much as she can, being the naïve little duckling she is (especially when it comes to her bandmates)...

The Music

Before BTS was the biggest thing coming out of South Korea, there were a slew of other bands and groups that were making big names for themselves within the country and experiencing greater success in other Asian countries such as Japan and China. It's not hard to see how the "Korean Wave" came to be. You're Beautiful is obviously a by-product of the cultural explosion, even in the ways the show seemed to predict the eventual fan hysteria that has become a cloud over many Korean entertainers' lives.

But a good chunk of the show is how music interweaves and connects people's lives—even if that means as a bridge between a particular group's members. We saw this in Julie and the Phantoms, and it's apparent in You're Beautiful as well. Music ties these people together. Music matters. Music can be magic. And it doesn't always have to be about fame, popularity, or money. Music is art, and all the singers and musicians are creating their truth through the music they make and perform. And that's a beautiful thing.

And so we compare one more thing...

Like any good K-drama, of course, there are romantic elements to You're Beautiful—though they're not as overt as, say, an American show like Gossip Girl or Riverdale would be. And that's fine, because even Julie and the Phantoms (which seems to be aimed at young girls) isn't explicit in any of its romantic twinges.

I mean, there are undertones in both shows...

...but there's easy deniability there too. If that's how you roll. Me? I like seeing chemistry for the actors even if that doesn't mean that we see full-blown make-out sessions (or more) from them. That's not the aim of either show anyway.

The verdict overall? You're Beautiful is for anyone—boy band fan, pop culture enthusiast, social media reviewer, what have you—who likes seeing a show that thrives on characters, their interactions, and the beautiful insanity of it all. No show is perfect, but You're Beautiful carries with it a legacy of trying to craft something special out of familiar parts. You may make Frankenstein's monster, or you may just find yourself with a gem worth cherishing.

And? It's just a hell of a good time.

You can watch You're Beautiful in all its glory over on Viki.

If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on other Korean dramas, feel free to check out my romantic drama recommendations. Any and all support is much appreciated.