Warning! Spoilers for Netflix’sUgliesand Scott Westerfeld’sPrettiesahead!
The twist ending in Netflix’sUgliesis entirely different from the book, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A screen adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s book series has been in high demand for nearly 20 years, and director McG has finally made fans' wishes come true. Of course, no book-to-screen adaptation can happen without changes, and those inUgliesrange from minor to relatively extreme. While some of Netflix’s adjustments could be considered a problem, the way the movie version ended is not only perfect but also makes a potential sequel that much easier.
Just as in theUgliesbook, the final few scenes of Netflix’s movie saw Tally realize that she must surrender herself to Dr. Cable to provide David’s mother with a test subject for her cure. It would be unethical to force an existing Pretty to take untested drugs that would alter their brains, so Tally proactively gave Maddy permission before going under the knife herself. Then,the last shot inUgliessaw Tally, newly beautiful in New Pretty Town, looking down at the scar on her hand. This revealed that she was still at least somewhat in her right mind, but this hadn’t been a feature in theUgliesbooks.
Tally Didn’t Keep Her Scar After Her Operation In The Uglies Books
Netflix’s Uglies Made Tally’s Scar Way More Important
The first big change in the ending of theUgliesmovie is Tally’s Pretty reveal.The book ended with the moment that she announced, “I’m Tally Youngblood. Make me pretty,” and the first “look” at Tally post-operation didn’t come until the sequel,Pretties.Of course, the change here makes complete sense since there’s no guarantee that Netflix will make a sequel. Seeing Tally as a Pretty is a more satisfying ending, so the overt change was necessary. Still, the more subtle alteration in the Netflix movie came down to Tally’s scar, which she is seen looking at just before the final shot of the movie.
Tally mentioned that she would give David a sign that she was still herself after being Pretty. If aPrettiesmovie happens, the scar will likely play a role here.
In theUgliesbook,Tally and other Pretties weren’t given the option to keep scars fromtheir Ugly days. While Tally was surprised to see that Peris no longer had his scar after becoming Pretty, she realized that she had been silly ever to expect it would be there—it wouldn’t have been Peris' choice. Then, when Tally became a Pretty herself at the start ofPretties, there was never any mention of the scar she had once shared with her friend. Its absence wasn’t a noteworthy detail, but Netflix’s choice for Pretty Tally to keep her scar was actually pretty clever.
Netflix’s Uglies Change Cleverly Fixes A Common Book-To-Screen Problem
Tally’s Scar Serves An Important Function
While the absence of Tally’s scar wasn’t a big deal in thePrettiesbook, theUgliesmovie featuring it in its ending served an essential purpose. Without this,it would have been unclear in the final scene whether Tally was still the same girl audiences had gotten to know as Ugly. The reveal here indicates that there is stillsomethingof her old self left since the movie had already revealed that Peris went back and had his scar removed after he became Pretty. Since Tally clearly didn’t do this, she remembers partly who she is and what is important to her.
In the Pretties book, Tally’s mental state is communicated by her inner dialogue, but this is far more challenging to get across on the screen.
In thePrettiesbook, Tally’s mental state is communicated by her inner dialogue, but this is far more challenging to get across on the screen. TheUgliesmovieneeded a way to show audiences what might be happening in Tally’s head, and the scar was an elegant solution. If Netflix continues with aPrettiesmovie, the scar will continue to be useful. In the book, Tally bounces back and forth between thinking like a Prettyhead and seeing the world like an Ugly. Her opinion of her scar from moment to moment can bring that across without audiences actually hearing Tally’s thoughts.
There’s A Small Problem With Netflix’s Uglies Change (But It’s Worth It)
The Pros Outweigh The Cons
Of course, Netflix’s scar solution inUgliesisn’t perfect. The fact that Uglies have the option to request that they keep certain scars after their operation doesn’t really make sense with the nature of Tally’s city.The whole point is that the 16-year-old wakes up completely flawlessfrom head to toe. The lack of individuality contributes to the lack of conflict and the general oppression of the citizens of Tally’s city. Still, this is a pretty minor thing when considering what Netflix’sUgliesgains by giving Tally back her scar. If it makes a potentialPrettiesmovie possible, this change is entirely worth it.
Uglies
Cast
In a futuristic society where everyone undergoes compulsory cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretty,” Tally eagerly awaits her transformation. However, when her friend goes missing, she embarks on a journey that challenges her beliefs about beauty, conformity, and rebellion, ultimately questioning the foundations of their world.
