Soapy melodrama and Latinx representation have never been as hilariously real as in Ugly Betty. It’s been 15 years since the airing of the series finale and, upon rewatch, the show never stops feeling fresh or funny. The late Silvio Horta’s adaptation of the Colombian telenovelaYo Soy Betty, La Fea succeeded by taking the best elements of its source material and putting them into a tighter serialized format. By airing on ABC, Betty’s story was told this time around through mainstream media, singling it out as one of the most memorable adaptations.
As America Ferrera’s Betty Suarez navigates the seemingly superficial world of fashion, she discovers there’s more than meets the eye to even the most vapid people at Mode Magazine. By exploring Betty’s professional and personal lives, Ugly Betty balances drama and humor perfectly. But it’s the latter that takes the spotlight thanks to the show’s clever writing, paired with Ferrera’s interpretation, and the amazingly talented supporting cast.
America Ferrera Crafts a Complex Lead Character in ‘Ugly Betty’
The premise of the Betty multiverse, across its several adaptations in different languages, is having a central character that doesn’t fit into the common pre-established beauty standards. By exposing the multiple Bettys to a hostile world, their qualities shine through by reminding us that there’s more to them than meets the eye. The same critique of beauty-based privilege is also the backbone of Ugly Betty. It’s through this uphill climb at Betty’s workplace — Mode Magazine — that Ferrera masterfully crafts her own version of the character.
The Betty Suarez we meet in Season 1 of the show is naïve and clumsy, but with a noble heart. Her looks clash with the status quo of the people who work at Mode Magazine, making her work harder than everyone else. There is an interesting and unfortunate dynamic during the show’s first season, where jokes are made at Betty’s expense. But, instead of taking a toll on her, she holds up by acknowledging and demonstrating her true worth. As the seasons progress, Betty learns to fight back. By slowly building up her confidence, Betty not only gets new opportunities at work, but also in her love life.
Gio (Freddy Rodriguez), Henry (Christopher Gorham), and Matt (Daniel Eric Gold) all fall for her at different moments in her life, effectively demonstrating there’s enough beauty on the outside, as there is within her. All these experiences flesh out many sides of Betty, letting her evolve and not stay as a one-note caricature of a person. It’s in this earned balance that the show, and Ferrera, build Betty up as a tough but charming and lovable character.
Betty’s Work Life Is As Tough as It Is Hilarious in ‘Ugly Betty’
Mode Magazine’s hostile staff not only builds up Betty’s resilience, but it also lightens up the mood. Her coworkers, personal assistant Marc (Michael Urie) and receptionist Amanda (Becki Newton), start off as her main bullies and antagonists. Their rude remarks about her appearance make up the show’s humor. Fortunately, their relationship evolves through the seasons, keeping the comedy sharp by eventually transforming into familial bickering. But not everyone is against Betty at Mode Magazine, for she finds a fierce ally in Christina (Ashley Jensen). The Scottish seamstress serves as a role model for Betty, while also teaching her to not take things so personal, making her career path a bit smoother.
Employee drama apparently is Mode Magazine’s overall culture, as the higher-ups also perpetuate it across the four seasons of Ugly Betty. Nepo-baby-turned-editor-in-chief Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius) finds himself in a constant power struggle with creative director Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams). It’s strange to find this level of comedy in the corporate relationship that Mabius and Williams portray, but somehow, they do. The first, through his unearned job position that boosts his confidence, and the latter through her deserved entitlement. This role is a particular standout for Williams, as she’s Miranda-Priestly-level hilarious with a strong character arc that ends with her learning to appreciate Betty’s qualities and see her as an equal.
‘Ugly Betty’s Family Life Keeps the Show Both Grounded and Hysterical
While her work life might be hard to relate to at times — thanks to her brushes with the likes of Naomi Campbell and Adele — Betty’s personal life ultimately keeps her grounded. Coming from a family of Mexican immigrants, Betty’s real struggle is that of combining both worlds. Not only does she have to prove herself at work, but also prove to her sister Hilda (Ana Ortiz) and her father Ignacio (Tony Plana) that this job is a stepping stone to ultimately fulfill her ambitions in publishing. It is her family side that actually becomes more melodramatic over time, as Hilda faces the death of one of her boyfriends and Ignacio risks being deported due to his undocumented status.
Family drama notwithstanding, the Suarez clan also provides many of the laughs in Ugly Betty, particularly because of the cultural and generational clash. The first is perfectly summarized in the very first episode of the series when Betty, in trying to fit into the world of fashion, wears a poncho to work. While this should make for an appropriate accessory, hers was a flashy and traditional Mexican one, with the name of the city Guadalajara all over it. The generational clash is explored through Betty’s nephew, Justin (Mark Indelicato), who goes through an arc of self-discovery when he accepts his identity and orientation. While the Suarez family tries to be supportive, they end up coming across as pushy. The unexpected help of Marc sets them on the right path to give Justin the right amount of backing — but all at his own pace.
At the time, Ugly Betty was a groundbreaking piece of comedy. Upon rewatch, it still is! But perhaps its impact has been slowly fading away as the years pass by. It’s important to never forget what the show brought to the table at a time when diversity in mainstream media was closer to nonexistent. The way Ugly Betty successfully meshed Latinx melodrama with sitcom tactics was the key to it being a stellar comedy, and thus, to its well-deserved success.
- Release Date
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2006 – 2010-00-00
- Directors
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Silvio Horta
- Writers
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Silvio Horta
