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May 27, 2012

Ugly Betty is making my eyes bleed

by Annie Wu, posted May 22nd 2009 5:12PM
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty has just wrapped up its latest season, and I feel like there are some matters that need to be addressed before they move forward. A lot of things about the last season have confused me. Like, was Daniel's dangerously painful singing super-necessary? All the clumsy footwork around Justin's extra-gayness? What about Marc and Amanda's little make-out session? Okay, that last one was pretty great, I'll admit, but some things have happened this season that have really stripped the show of its original charm. Because I am a shallow person that often cattily judges people by their appearance to cover up my personal insecurities and self-loathing, the biggest problem I had with this season was with the clothes. I thought Betty was supposed to be the tackiest one on the show.

It's been a recurring problem since they changed up their costume designer and threw the reins to Patricia Field during the show's move from LA to New York, but I was so stunned by Willie's outfit in a recent episode, I had to screencap it (see above). What happened to the super-fox constantly clad in varying shades of sleek champagne? This is what Season One Betty would have worn as a hilarious joke. From the sparkly purple pear holder head thing to the Hot Topic assistant manager sleeves... I don't even know where to rest my terrified eyes.

I can understand the show's candy colored aesthetics, but I am still astounded by the costuming. The first two seasons pulled off the quirkiness beautifully. I remember marveling at Marc's bold pattern combinations and confident colors, but now all I can visualize is that extra-weird tree bark sweater he wore in one episode that made him look like Treebeard's sassy BFF.

Everything was bright and borderline seizure-inducing but at least it was well-coordinated. Fingers crossed the characters next season will look a little less Betty-like. Well, except Betty, of course.

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Donna

Let's just forget the American version altogether and go straight to the original -- "Yo Soy Betty La Fea" with Ana María Orozco. It airs on Spanish TV here, but I'd like to see it with English subtitles for those of us who don't understand Spanish well, like me.

May 24 2009 at 5:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sarah

extra-gayness??

May 23 2009 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fruit_loopz

Also, Silvia Horta has said that they're gonna get rid of some of the Ugly from Betty's look next season. I'm excited to see where they go with that!

May 23 2009 at 9:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fruit_loopz

Well, its already been greenlighted for another season, so I don't think this will be the last.

I've been really confused by Willy's behaviour this season. She's supposed to be this high-powered Meryl Streep type business woman in The Devil Wears Prada, but this season first she got all googly-eyed with Connor and acted like a little school girl, and now she's winking at Marc and reminiscing about the good times (out loud in front of him) that she's going to miss with him. I mean - that is just SOO not Wilhelmina. That is not who she is and that is certainly not how she got to where she is.

And I totally agree about the costumes - Patricia Field is great for a show like SATC where they are *attempting* to be fashion forward (attempting being the key word), but in a show like Ugly Betty she is not a good fit at all. I want Wilhelmina's fierce, classical look back with clean lines and uncluttered colors.

And we wouldn't be on here criticizing the show if we didn't love it so much and wanted it to succeed. Get a grip people.

May 23 2009 at 9:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dottie

I love Ugly Betty, but this season finale was WAY TOO LONG (2 hours) and WAY TOO BIZARRE. I am beginning to see this show going the way of other good comedies....writers becoming desperate for story lines for a show that is beginning to fade. Why have they moved the show to its new time slot? Because the people aren't watching. If I were in charge, I'd get rid of the new costume person and bring in some new writers who can refresh the show and bring it back to its original quality. Otherwise, I predict this will be its last season.

May 23 2009 at 12:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Saurin

Betty should become Sexy Betty for one season. Have the rise and fall of Betty and have her write about it as a features editor. Matt then would become super jealous as Betty starts dating hotter and more famous people, only to fall back into love with Matt and Sexxy Betty becomes Ugly Betty yet again.

May 22 2009 at 8:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Saurin's comment
deebopalula

Awesome idea - I'd love to see that play out!

May 22 2009 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
J

think you're looking for "threw the reins"

May 22 2009 at 7:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ilufyoo

if you dont like ugly betty, why do you even watch it? why keep watching it if your eyes are about to bleed..
i love the show so stop complaining.

May 22 2009 at 6:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
5 replies to ilufyoo's comment
wader

I totally agree. When I saw that I said out loud, "what the hell is that?! Is it pirate day at Mode?"

May 22 2009 at 6:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lover

That outfit is horrid!! Willy would never wear something like that.
I haven't watched since the second season. The show went downhill fast.

May 22 2009 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to lover's comment
deebopalula

Ridiculously horrid, April Fool's Day horrid, BLEEDING EYES HORRID!!

Patricia Field has a unique style and there are places and people in the show where it may fit, but a costume designer's primary responsibility should be to remain true to the character they are dressing and that outfit is so NOT "Wilhelmina"!

May 22 2009 at 11:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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