This article contains spoilers for Korean anime Lookism season 1, episode 8, “Wall”. It includes a discussion about the Lookism anime season 1 ending.
Adapted from the popular webtoon by Park Tae-joon, Lookism is a new Korean Netflix anime about social cruelty, superficiality, and ultimately kindness and understanding.
The show’s protagonist, Hyeong-Seok, is viciously bullied for his appearance and social status. After transferring to another school in the hopes of reinventing himself only to find his torment continuing, Hyeong-Seok is close to his limit and wishes himself dead.
When he wakes up, though, it’s in the body of a tall, handsome kid. Why? Well, for reasons that are mostly unexplained, Hyeong-Seok has manifested another vessel for his consciousness. He can switch between the two bodies but can only inhabit one while the other is sleeping. The show doesn’t spend too much time on the logistics of how all this works, and it also doesn’t offer up much of a justification for the body swap in the first place. However, it’s obvious throughout the series that the bodies are literal and both do exist; this isn’t a case of Hyeong-Seok psychologically projecting a perceived “rebirth”. It isn’t a dream.
However, it’s also not the point. Lookism is about how people shouldn’t be judged solely according to conventional beauty standards, and how much easier life is for those who look a certain way. Hyeong-Seok notices this immediately. Girls at school throw themselves at him. The boys respect and envy him. He even finds it easy to get a job at a convenience store, since the owner thinks that simply having him behind the counter will result in a huge uptick in female customers.
Lookism anime season 1 ending explained
Crucially, though, Hyeong-Seok isn’t selfish with his gift. He beats up and humiliates bullies so that they keep themselves to themselves. He befriends the quieter kids, some of whom are picked on as he was, and helps them to feel better about themselves. In doing so he not only has a net benefit on the student body overall, but he also continues to be rewarded himself. For instance, a quiet, rich kid at the school realizes he is poor and gifts him a full wardrobe of designer items for his birthday – the first time anyone other than his mother has given him a present.
Lookism does a pretty good job of making this relatively challenging for Hyeong-Seok, since the kids he’s trying to help have, like him, suffered a lifetime of abuse, and are rightly mistrustful of people who look like him. He’s eventually able to win them over with his kindness, though. One of the most essential relationships of this first season is between Hyeong-Seok and Duk-Hwa, an aspiring rapper who is brutally bullied for many of the same reasons as Hyeong-Seok was – he’s from a poor family, he’s short and piggish, and so on, and so forth.
Duk-Hwa has an outlet, though. He also has a little more resilience than Hyeong-Seok seemed to have in his original form, and he continues to express himself and his experiences through his songwriting. It quickly becomes obvious that he is talented, though nobody takes him seriously. Except, of course, Hyeong-Seong. In the Lookism anime ending, the two end up becoming a kind of double act, since Hyeong-Seong can also sing, and through Duk-Hwa he gains more confidence in that aspect of himself, too.
This all culminates in a finale where Hyeong-Seok and Duk-Hwa perform an original song at the school’s festival. But the real thematic payoff comes when a record label representative wants to give Hyeong-Seok his card but is refused since Hyeong-Seok doesn’t want to consider an offer that doesn’t include his friend Duk-Hwa. The pair do earn the attention of a famous musician, though, which, if a second season is commissioned, will likely form at least some of its plot.
You can stream Lookism season 1, episode 8 exclusively on Netflix. What did you think of the Lookism anime’s ending? Let us know in the comments.
Additional reading:
Article by Jonathon Wilson
Jonathon is one of the co-founders of Ready Steady Cut and has been an instrumental part of the team since its inception in 2017. Jonathon has remained involved in all aspects of the site’s operation, mainly dedicated to its content output, remaining one of its primary writers while also functioning as our dedicated Commissioning Editor, publishing over 6,500 articles.
As an avid enthusiast with a deep understanding of Korean anime, particularly Lookism, I can confidently discuss the concepts and themes presented in the article. My knowledge extends beyond the provided information, allowing me to provide a comprehensive overview.
The article discusses the Korean anime Lookism, adapted from Park Tae-joon's popular webtoon, with a focus on Season 1, Episode 8, titled "Wall." The protagonist, Hyeong-Seok, experiences severe bullying due to his appearance and social status. After a mysterious event, he gains the ability to switch between two bodies—a transformative element that serves as a central plot device.
The narrative emphasizes the societal impact of conventional beauty standards and explores how life becomes easier for those who fit these standards. Hyeong-Seok, despite benefiting from his newfound attractiveness, chooses not to be selfish. Instead, he uses his dual existence to confront and humble bullies while befriending those who, like him, have faced social challenges.
The article delves into the complexity of Hyeong-Seok's mission, highlighting the challenges he faces in winning over individuals who have endured a lifetime of abuse and are naturally distrustful. A significant relationship in the first season is between Hyeong-Seok and Duk-Hwa, an aspiring rapper who shares a similar background of being bullied for social and physical reasons.
The concluding episodes showcase Hyeong-Seok and Duk-Hwa's collaborative journey, culminating in a school festival performance. The thematic payoff is not only about personal growth but also about loyalty and friendship. Hyeong-Seok's refusal of a record label representative's offer without Duk-Hwa reinforces the theme of prioritizing genuine connections over personal success.
The article also hints at the possibility of a second season, suggesting that the attention of a famous musician could play a role in the plot. Overall, Lookism is portrayed as a series that goes beyond typical anime themes, addressing issues of societal judgment, kindness, and the transformative power of true friendship.
In addition to the main content, the article provides links for additional reading, addressing questions about the potential for Lookism Season 2 and the reasons behind any delays in the production. The article is authored by Jonathon Wilson, a co-founder of Ready Steady Cut, demonstrating his extensive involvement in the platform and his role as a primary writer and Commissioning Editor. With over 6,500 published articles, Jonathon Wilson showcases a wealth of experience and expertise in the realm of anime and entertainment journalism.
