Lovely Writer (2021)

obsession

Okay, this is going to be one of my less objective reviews, just because it is subjectively one of my favorite boy love series EVER. One I came into this series not expecting to like it but I enjoyed Kao in UWMA so I was willing to go through it for him. However, I ended up loving the series, Up, and all the other casts. Everyone in the series is wonderful at acting. KaoUp are truly perfect at playing the parts of their characters. Up and his character Gene don't even look the same to me, is how in character he was able to get. And as a 26 year old man Kao was able to properly portraying a 20 year old.

One thing I absolutely HATE in series is when drama drags on and on and on and is CONSTANT. However, Lovely Writer did an amazing job at handling each of its issues QUICKLY and in HEALTHY ways. Other series can't relate. Nubsib and Gene were amazing characters and honestly I enjoyed their storyline so so so so much.

My problem comes with side characters and their storylines. They seemed deadset on making Aey a villain and unredeemable (even though he's still very redeemable imo) and dragged on making him suffer for no reason??? Mhok really didn't need to be in the series ??? (maybe it was chap's schedule with y-destiny was a bit conflicting but idk) Tiffy and Tum were cute at first, but then it got weird with her questioning his sexuality and becoming really mean to him for no reason?? I HATE nubsib's parents. Gene's parents are on thin ice. I LOVED the brothers though and would have liked more of them and Hin throughout the series. Bua annoyed me and I didn't really enjoy any scene she was in. ALSO NUBSIB DESERVED MORE SCREENTIME. Truly I get it was Gene pov mostly, but random side characters had more screentime from their points of view than one half of our main lead.

Gene and Aey were my initial favorites in the series, and I still love both of them. But after finishing the series and being able to analyze Nubsib I have fallen for him. Anyways the cast is full of talented pretty tall bitches. Stan lwts.

Leggi di Più

very different from the rest

This show was just refreshing to watch, the storyline was interesting, the actors were on point and it makes you reflect as the chapters progress. Entertainment industry sucks, and artists are very much affected by it, so this series is meant to make you see the industry from another perspective, and not just as a fan. Also, Gene's father history really added spice to the show, makes you realise the hardships of being a non-heterosexual couple in real life and how society's prejudices can change someone's mentality notably. It was also a good reality check.

In brief, i loved this show and it's definitely a must-watch !

Leggi di Più

Watch it, it's SO worth it!

This just became my favorite BL Drama that I've seen and I'm gonna try to put in to words as to why:

TLDR: The series breaks of out the BL mold in it's own way, criticizes the toxicity of BL fan culture, it's cute and fun and smart and meaningful. The characters have believable chemistry and genuinely like each other, and work through their relationship. They break every toxic BL stereotype while also being every positive and cute stereotype, the best of everything.

***

In BL Dramas there are certain tropes and plots that we are all familiar with and love, it is its own small "BL bubble". When you start a new series there are things that are almost always included; they're engineers, they hate eacher at first, bed-sharing, stolen glances, dramatic plottwist that almost tears them apart, misunderstandings, kinda cheap settings, predictable plot etc etc etc. And we love to see it, it's fun and entartaining and cute.

And then there's Tale of Thousand Stars and I Told Sunset About You that both break out of that mold and do so beautifully, they feel more real in a way. ITSAY with it's outstanding settings and scenography, and TOTS with it's deep dual plot about self-love and self-growth.

Lovely Writer manages to exist inside the "BL bubble" while also being deep and meaningful and beautiful. Without spoiling anything major I can say this:

It's beautifully filmed, the settings and scenography are top notch. The story is interesting and cute. The main pairing's chemistry feels realistic. There's next to no cringy moments or characters which was quite refreshing, and those who were a bit cringy did it tastefully and in my opinion for the sake of the plot. Their friends are likable and supportive and not just there as background characters. The main pairing actually like each other and they talk and are open and face their problems together, they support each other.

The show is also very self-aware! It really is a critique of the BL Drama world and its fans/fujoshis which was really interesting to see!

They break every toxic BL stereotype while also being every positive and cute stereotype, the best of everything.

Don't spoil the ending before watching all the episodes, trust me! It's a happy ending but I think it'll hit so much harder and be so much cuter if you get to know the characters first. I loved the ending it was so fun and so cute, and so so so worth it!!!

Leggi di Più

The Best Thai BL this spring 2021

omg I want to say so much about this series. its so damn good. being a bl fan for quite many years watching many bls from many countries, I have never felt so involved & connected with a bl from Thailand, at an emotional level, like I did with LW. The matters they subtly yet skilfully touched upon are so important and often neglected. The praiseworthy highlights for me were,

1. Consent, they really perfectly showed the concept of a valid consent in ep.4

2. No to drunk sex

3. Calling out how (generally assumed) feminine traits of men are considered as gay in society

4. That coming out as gay is not a social obligation & people shouldn't jump at labelling someone's sexuality.

5. Toxic shipping/fans invading artists' privacy

6. Kind of calling out unnecessary portrayal/addition of NC scenes in bl dramas/novels for commercial purposes

7. Nubsib always being courteous and asking permission during intimacy with Gene (when they were not yet bfs & even after being official, that guy always make Gene comfortable)

6. The mutual trust between #SibGene

7. The fears and shocks of their parents and how we still need the older generation to accept their kids for who they are, so I didn't mind how (relatively quickly) they all agreed to their relationship. It may seem a bit fast but in a 12 ep drama this is to be expected. Also ig we needed that sort of positivity too, as it's basically a romcom.

8. Love how they showed the inability of some fans/fan culture in bl fandoms as well as other fandoms in general, that they can't distinguish between reality and fantasy, and how it ends up hurting the artists and ruining their personal life/relationships(alot of the times).

9. The real issues that exist with talent companies/TV stations/productions. The way they can be too demanding from the artists.


Furthermore, the kisses are so so real and beautiful, they both are so pro at this, I must say. There are also soft face/hands kisses too which adds alot to the romance & softness. Overall for me, after MaxTul, KaoUp are the best at doing kissing scenes now. No wonder the OST is about kissing too haha. The casting is super perfect. I was familiar with Kao's work before but Up really grabbed my attention as Gene. He played an introvert writer so well, it is so believable, his micro expressions & body language for the awkwardness he feels at times, tho the character is very different from his real self yet he nailed it. Bruce, the actor who played Aey, he did a good job as well, since the character was layered & complicated and not at all easy to play.

[Also one thing I strongly felt, so wanted to get it off my chest is that Aey doing that livestream was also a diss to a specific livestream that happened in the past by an actor. (It may be just me, & I may be totally wrong but it was pretty much the same pattern, the whole crying & all)].

I guess I have written alot here, in the honest conclusion, the series is definitely worth watching and re-watching. And I guess for beginners as well who are reluctant to get into Thai BLs, this is the one series for ya'll!!

Leggi di Più

A BL That Serves Tea

Never thought a fluffy, cutesie BL could actually talk about things that matter. I was genuinely surprised by this. The story was on point imo and the leads were also topnotch (damn, Kao). Another thing I really liked was how similar young and old Nubsib was, especially how they called Gene's name, so adorable.

If I would nitpick, the breakup thing was an unnecessary drama (although I understand that's part of the story ofc). The last episode was also kind of a let down compared to the previous ones. But overall I think it still managed to stand out and is definitely one of the best (for me) or at least one of the good ones. I really hope this would be watched by a lot of BL fans, especially the toxic ones who doesn't know how to separate actors' public & private lives, as it not only entertains but also serves a lesson when it comes to these issues.

Leggi di Più

Does really well in what it sets out to do

Things i liked
1. Calling out thai bl industry(how it panders to straight females and the consequences)
2. Acting of all cast
3. Chemistry between Gene and Nubsib( Hightlight of the show for most people, both actors are very comfortable with each other and it shows.. no cringe and very sweet/hot moments)
4. Consent, consent and consent! Its sexy people!(a particular common trope situation in bl turns out differently and beautifully..personally my favorite episode.. wont tell which one since i dont want to spoil but you will know ;)
5. Interesting premise
6. Gene is so cutee... I honestly get Nubsib here
7. Very cinematic..especially towards the end
8. Personally, I really liked the comedy aspect, did not feel it was much at all.
9. Even though Nubsib is very mature.. there are scenes when you do feel his age.. makes for an interesting dynamic and the choices he makes

What i didn't like:(a bit spoilery in point 3 since my issue is with the story)
1. I do feel there were issues with editing.. some moments of silence really seemed to go on for too long, especially during tense moments and you just could not understand why characters are just standing there making the situation worse..
2. Tum's bathroom scene.... just whyyyyyy
3.a)Nubsib does not seem to have any other motivations in life other than being with Gene... as desirable as he is.. i would have preferred to see more of this character aspirations.. best direction would be that he actually fell in love with acting during the course of the show.. absence of this leads to my next point..
b)Their main conflict at the end does seem very manufactured... there really should be little to no stakes here for them.. if Nubsib actually liked his career.. i would feel the pain but with the story shown..meh...seems unnecessary... he has made his stance clear many times.. i dont even understand Gene's point of view.. and the resolution is also confusing..so not much emotional payoff when they do get through it eventually as tender as that moment was...

Would I recommend this:Definitely!100%... Despite issues mentioned, i reay loved this show and would rewatch..very memorable couple.. upbeat story, good message about consent.. boundaries.. the love story of a cute bunny and the sneaky wolf really does leave you with a big smile 😄

Leggi di Più

Realistic

Looking for something with high sexual content? LEAVE! Looking for cute fluffiness? WELCOME! Looking for something that tackles real life issues? LOOK NO FURTHER!
I've LOVED Kao since UWMA so it was only natural I watch his new series and I gotta say...it was well worth waiting weekly! Obviously, there's gonna be a few bits in the storyline that can be considered "basic" but I promise it's all worth it. I'd recommend to a new BL fan in a heartbeat! There's visuals all around and the kissing scenes are ON POINT! I can definitely sense good chemistry between everyone. The dark side of being an actor (especially in BL) comes to light here and in all the worst ways. Cyberbullying at it's finest and the things it can do to everyone involved shows it's ugly face and it gets pretty emotional but once again, WORTH THE WATCH!
Enjoy...

Leggi di Più

Excellent buildup, terrible ending

Let me preface this by saying that Lovely Writer is one of the best series I’ve seen. It has its flaws and inconsistencies, but all can be forgiven thanks to the magnetism of its two leads, and the progression of their cat-and-mouse game.

So you can imagine my disappointment when they gave us THAT ending. I’ve been trying to figure out what I hate about it, and there’s a lot, and I can go scene by scene explaining how they could’ve made it better.

SPOILERS AHEAD

But ultimately, I think it’s because the whole final episode was a disservice to the show’s characters. The last major decisions happened at the end of episode 11, where it all fell apart. We can think of episode 12 as simply the aftermath of all those terrible decisions.

While we see Gene and Nubsib actually end up together, it wasn’t because of their own decisions. Rather, it was due to a jump forward to a time when they were no longer newsworthy. It was business-as-usual after the time-jump.

My problem with that is that it invalidates everything that led up to it. There were no stakes. It was just a wait-it-out scenario that happens in real life, not in a finale episode of a fictional story.

In every story, character development and growth is important. Lovely Writer did not give any of its characters that privilege. Everything and everyone remained the same.

Gene, per usual, remained a pushover and just accepted the situation, no matter how it’s gonna hurt him. Nubsib, in his refusal to compromise, remained a childish character and seemingly did not learn anything from the experience.

This makes their reunion underwhelming and devoid of emotion — and it actually played out underwhelming and devoid of emotion. It was just the next logical step to neatly tie up loose ends.

But did it stop there? No. They had to include a series of imaginary ending scenarios, which I think were not there to serve as a nod-and-wink, but a cry for help that they actually had no idea how to end the story.

From the time-jump onwards, it all felt like betrayal after betrayal as they were peeling off the layers one by one. It was as if they were telling us that all our emotional investment was stupid and unnecessary, and it was, after all, just a novel that is adapted into a series.

Leggi di Più

It's ok sweet story

It started really good. I thought it was going to be a lot more different. Eventually it fell down to the same tropes.
I was expecting something like going against the industry and being in an open relationship, or don't know, something else.
They keep reinforcing the same stereotypes. Top/bottom, bottoming hurts. I know it's for girls, but you can at least depict real stuff. Bottoming doesn't hurt.
The end is happy but it's crap. Instead of fighting they just wait it out, and what for? There are no logical reasons, Nubsib wasn't bound by any contract. Then the Aoey dude, wasted scenes, no redemption at all.
I'd say watch it, I did like the acting, Gene and Nub felt real, but I think the story didn't do them justice.

Leggi di Più

Like 'Like In The Movies'

Like In The Movies was my number 1 BL from last year. Even if Lovely Writer is original, it is still obvious that it was influenced by Like In The Movies. And that is a good thing. The similar scenes from Like In The Movies made Lovely Writer a familiar watch, but still a fresh watch. It did not come off as a straight out copycat. Glaring plot hole though is that it was not mentioned during the TV network interference of the leads' relationship that they were childhood friends. What reporter would not find out about that?

I am giving music a 10 rating because it has English words at least.

I love the chemistry of Kao and Up. They are both really good actors. Kao is very easy on the eyes. And Up is also good looking. It is difficult not to root for them. Them both come off as likable.

This is my current number 1 BL for the year so far! With A Tale of A Thousand Stars as second, and Manner Of Death as third. I will definitely watch the whole series again from the beginning.

Leggi di Più

Best and Unique Plot

I believe this story is very unique, putting almost all BL's in shame. But I will say the very very end not the best, still #1. The art with parents is intense, but makes you think about reality as for the lot and how things role it shows how much ressure we ut on our actors and how we shouls know the differce between realty and a series. This will also be amaing starteer for eople who are just getting into BL. For the side couple is also amzing story and cemistry in all on sot amazing. For the only reason I lowered the part of acting is because of the sad scene with one of the series acotrs for it did not look good nor was it necery to have in the last video. but over all amazing.

Leggi di Più

Seriously, this BL is in my top 5.

The story is so amazing and finally goes out of the norm of all that engineering. It's fresh and well written. If any of you want an example of a real healthy relationship, this is the one. The plot twists happening truly baffled me, after everything, I did not expect that to happen. The respect they have for each other and the boundaries being respected is truly amazing. Not only is it a lovely drama, but a comedic one too, the add of all the sound effects just makes everything even more enjoyable.

The cast and the acting was unbelievable, you can see their chemistry is really strong from the start. Every character was so well interpreted, it amazed me how well the actors could do such thing.

All the songs played, the theme song, was so catchy, I could never skip the intro, I would sign along and just enjoy the moment.

The rewatch value is a hard 10 because it's such a great series that you can never get tired of it at all.

Leggi di Più