7.6
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Ugly Betty (2006)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.6
Overview
Betty Suarez is smart, tough and tenacious, but also sensitive and loving. She hopes these skills will help her to get a job within the Meade Publishing Corporation. The fact that she isn’t traditionally attractive initially keeps her from getting hired by fashion bible, Mode. The magazine, however, is in flux, with power-hungry executives vying for dominance. Hoping to control the situation, the publisher gives his inexperienced son, Daniel, the position of Editor-in-Chief. He hires Betty as Daniel’s assistant after catching him in a compromising position with his secretary on his first day on the job. After a tough start, in which Daniel tries to force Betty into quitting by treating her terribly, he realizes her worth and the two pair up to be an effective team.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Trans: Positive
Race Swap: Yes
Christianity: Positive
Overview
Betty Suarez is smart, tough and tenacious, but also sensitive and loving. She hopes these skills will help her to get a job within the Meade Publishing Corporation. The fact that she isn’t traditionally attractive initially keeps her from getting hired by fashion bible, Mode. The magazine, however, is in flux, with power-hungry executives vying for dominance. Hoping to control the situation, the publisher gives his inexperienced son, Daniel, the position of Editor-in-Chief. He hires Betty as Daniel’s assistant after catching him in a compromising position with his secretary on his first day on the job. After a tough start, in which Daniel tries to force Betty into quitting by treating her terribly, he realizes her worth and the two pair up to be an effective team.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The show's central narrative critiques the superficiality and elitism of the fashion industry, champions an underdog from a marginalized background, and challenges conventional beauty standards, aligning with progressive values despite the protagonist's individualistic path to success.
The series features a visibly diverse cast, with its central character being a Latina woman, which is integral to the show's identity. The narrative strongly critiques traditional beauty standards and the elitism of the fashion industry, often highlighting the challenges faced by those outside conventional norms.
Secondary
Ugly Betty offers a largely positive portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. Through the nuanced arcs of Marc St. James and Justin Suarez, the show depicts their journeys of self-discovery, coming out, and finding love with dignity, complexity, and strong familial and social support, affirming the worth of queer lives.
"Ugly Betty" features Alexis Meade, a prominent transsexual character whose journey from secret transition to open acceptance by her family forms a significant plotline. The show portrays her with complexity and agency, framing the family's initial struggles with acceptance as their own challenge. Ultimately, the narrative affirms her identity and worth, contributing to a net positive portrayal.
The American adaptation "Ugly Betty" features several characters, such as Daniel Meade, Amanda Tanen, and Wilhelmina Slater, who were originally portrayed as Latino/Latina in the Colombian source material "Yo soy Betty, la fea." These characters are depicted by white or Black actors in the US series, constituting multiple instances of race swapping.
The show portrays the Suarez family's Catholic faith as a foundational element of their identity, providing strong family values, community support, and moral guidance. Despite comedic situations involving character interpretations, the narrative consistently treats Catholicism with respect, affirming its positive influence.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Ugly Betty is an adaptation of a Colombian telenovela. While the show features original characters, including one who undergoes a gender transition within the narrative, no pre-existing characters from the source material or prior canon were portrayed with a different gender in this adaptation.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.8
6.4
Critic Ratings
9.7
7.5
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