Now streaming on Netflix, Plastic Beauty is a Japanese-language psychological medical drama series directed by Yuki Saito and written by Junya Ikegami. Mayu Matsuoka and Riisa Naka star as two talented doctors with opposing stances on medicine that cause them to butt head in the intense, high-pressure industry of cosmetic surgery, leading to the investigation of intense intrigue, ambitions, and subject matters.

Opening Shot: We see shots of bustling Tokyo, plastic surgery ads, and people celebrating physical beauty interspersed with a doctor and her team working hard to get a patient into the operating room and give her the help she needs.

The Gist: What surgeron Fumi Numata (Mayu Matsuoka) lacks in bedside manner she makes up for in exemplary technical skill and strong moral compass that drives her to do everything possible to help the sick and ailing. But when supposed “natural beauty” influencer Kana Kokobun (Hina Kagei) comes in with an abscess under a silicone breast implant, Fumi makes the judgment call to ignore Kana’s pleas to leave the implants in so that she can save her patient’s life. After the surgery, Kana is so upset to lose an implant that she takes her own life and holds Fumi responsible, thereby putting Fumi’s career and livlihood in jeopardy.

Behind Kana’s risky breast implant surgery is the “Hand of God” director of Tohyama Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, Rin Tohyama (Riisa Naka), whose popularity, wealth, and status make her widely admired and nearly untouchable. Not one to back down without a fight, Fumi is determined to take down Rin and Tohyama Clinic in order to protect her mother (Hiromi Nagasaku), step-father (Naozumi Masuko), and beloved younger brother (Sosei Takeda) from loan sharks, but Rin’s fame and power mean that no one will dare to testify against her.

A desperate Fumi seeks out aspiring voice actor Yoshiko Tanaka (Hana Amano) to testify against Tohyama Clinic after witnessing Kana’s health issues first-hand while working at a botox-fueled party celebrating Rin. Yoshiko, however, refuses to help, instead selling her body and soul to afford going under Rin’s knife for looks that will earn her opportunities in the entertainment industry. Rin backs Fumi even further into a corner by essentially buying Fumi’s silence with a job offer at her clinic, offering to pay off the Numata family debt if Fumi betrays her own ideals to work in the intense cosmetic beauty industry.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Plastic Beauty may call to mind other cosmetic surgery centric series like Nip/Tuck and Botched. The dystopian vibe also reminded me of The Hunger Games movies, namely concerning the attitudes and people in The Capitol.

Our Take: Plastic Beauty challenges viewers with its unflinching portrayals of plastic surgery, public pressures, and the beauty industry. With eight episodes that each clock in around an hour, the show devotes plenty of time to depicting cosmetic procedures, uncomfortable situations, and taboo themes in a way that feels much more raw and real that the title implies. Plastic Beauty truly does go deep with strong, dedicated performances all around from its large cast, forcing you to think seriously about the troubling, unsightly truths about the beauty industry.

While the show takes place in Tokyo, its lessons and stories feel universal, even as they occur in this slightly unreal, almost dystopian reality. While parts may feel farfetched to the everyday viewer, there are still overarching ideas about identity and societal expectectations that culminate in this thought-provoking show worth the investment for anyone who’s not too put off by somewhat graphic visuals, heavy (occasionally bordering on melodramatic) storylines, and one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles.

Performance Worth Watching: Hana Amano delivers a striking, evocative performance as aspiring voice actor Yoshiko Tanaka as she consistantly pulls at the heartstrings while depicting a complex mix of warring aspirations, grief, and obligations.

Sex And Skin: There are multiple shots of bare breasts (mostly on the operating table), as well as a brief, somewhat unsettling scene depicting covered-up sex all in the first episode.

Parting Shot: Fumi chases after Rin’s car, swearing as she fails to outrun both the vehicle and mounting pressure to take Rin’s job offer and hush money.

Our Call: Plastic Beauty is an artfully shot, well-acted, and intentionally crafted Japanese series whose candid portrayal of the cosmetic surgery industry culminates in a compelling story that’s more than just skin deep. Embrace this emotional exploration of beauty, medicine, and humanity, STREAM IT!

Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.