Lovely Writer (2021)

Calls out toxic tropes in the BL industry

DAMN. Did I really just watch a healthy BL drama? It has (almost) everything what one could ask for, without being toxic. And it’s so REALISTIC.

I LOVE how it’s such a SLAP to other BL series. Especially TharnType. But it also reminded me of FUTS; or at least what they weren’t able to tell.

The way LW is calling out other romance shows – AMEN – by literally letting the characters say, “you know that this was wrong, right?”, instead of just letting it pass and romanticize toxic behavior.

Let me give you some aspects of what this has:
- characters asking for consent for a kiss
- both people in a relationship making sure the other one is ready for sex and not forcing anything
- parents acting like an actual married couple and not just letting the dad be the boss
- people actually talking about stuff, showing once again that communication is the key
- showing that toxic fans really can’t differentiate between work and private life of actors
- a bisexual dad
- guys who are less masculine, doesn’t mean they’re gay; and clothing doesn’t define sexuality
- authors who write BL don’t have to be gay themselves; just like crime authors aren’t serial killers, either.
(- Bonus: remaking of classic fairytales (like Snow White and Cinderella) but it’s gay 🌈)

Also the cinematography is amazing.
You can really tell the talent of the director, writers, camera team, actors, and all the other bts staff! Props for them for making such an awesome series, especially because some toxic fans really need to hear this!

I really hope it gets the popularity it deserves!

-02.12.21

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Honnêtement

Alors, je ne sais pas comment parler de cette série sans être trop dure dans mes mots. Je ne sais pas ce qui m'a plus déçue, le fait que l'histoire principale soit plate ou que la secondaire le soit aussi. Le plot reste le même que pour beaucoup de série BL.

Je vais commencer par Gene qui est à mon sens celui dont j'ai moins perçu les émotions à travers son jeu d'acteur, j'avais beaucoup de mal à comprendre son personnage. Ok c'est un écrivain contraint d'écrire des BL car ça cartonne, mais il souffre du syndrome de la page blanche etc. mais en dehors de ça j'ai été plusieurs fois mal à l'aise avec son acting. Même quand il commençait à développer des sentiments pour Nubsib c'était difficile de voir quelles motions le traversait.

Quant à Nubsib, je ne sais pas trop quoi en penser, il est un jeune acteur qui postule pour l'adaptation en série du livre de Gene mais qui a l'air d'avoir des sentiments pour lui dès le début. Il respecte beaucoup Gene d'après ce que j'ai pu voir mais il a aussi un côté espiègle et n'hésite pas à flirter (lourdement) avec lui. J'ai trouvé cette dynamique intéressante au début mais on en fait vite le tour et j'ai trouvé ça un peu lourd à un moment.

Je suis encore plus mitigé avec Aoey qui au début donnait l'impression d'avoir des vues sur Sib mais qui au final en après Gene. Je ne sais pas si c'était volontaire mais à aucun moment il n'a montré d'attirance envers Gene donc j'ai été vraiment confuse quand tout à été découvert. Je me suis dis que Sib a du s'en rendre compte et que c'était pour ça qu'il ne l'aimait pas beaucoup et qu'il faisait en sorte que les deux aient le moins d'interactions possible 🤷‍♀️.

En conclusion je n'ai pas vraiment aimé cette série mais je la recommande, c'est léger et idéal pour passer le temps

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Genuinely funny

Typically, jokes in BLs don't land well. Whether that's due to translation errors or the constant sound effects in unclear, but this one actually made me laugh. The humor in it was well done and the storyline felt super fresh. Having a show that tackles the toxicity of the BL industry while keeping the show mostly light and fun is impressive.

Gene is an author who is convinced into writing BL, even though he doesn't want to. To his surprise, his novel is such a big success that it's being adapted into a series. Gene is asked to come to the casting call where he meets the man who will play the lead in the series, Nubsib. Nubsib immediately falls for Gene. However, Nubsib is supposed to be acting as if he is in love with his costar Aoey - both on and off camera. This conflict between Nubsib's career and love life, as well as Gene's wish to stay out of the spotlight, cause tension between the developing relationship between Nubsib and Gene.

This show was a fun watch that never had me at the edge of my seat, but always kept me entertained. It was light, the romance was cute, and the actors did a great job portraying their characters. However, the classic episode 11 curse ruined the ending a bit for me, but mostly because I think it's over done and just not an enjoyable conflict to watch. Still, the show was worth the watch and a nice break from the university/engineer BLs.

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Gets more relevant with time..

It happened by pure coincidence but I came to this series in a time when the BL industry is being accused of romanticizing toxic relationships and I found Lovely Writer to be extremely relevant and thought provoking because of it.

Not to make this into a debate-review, but I feel like the show did a decent job of showing both sides of the spectrum. The big question seems to stem from "who is to blame for the way the industry does business?" and, while the show leans toward the corporate side as the main bad guys, it does a good job at showing how the fans demand things to be done and how the corporations have to deal with public outcry. The issue is, in order to give the fans what they want, the corporations need to sell lies and this show does a great job at showing how it is all connected and the lives that are effected on both sides of the argument.

With that heaviness aside, the show still managed to be fairly light and fluffy with lots of comedic moments. I loved how they essentially took the piss out of product placement nonsense while working their actual sponsors into the show.

The acting was really well done though I can't say anything stood out to me as outstanding. It was pretty typical, to be completely honest.

Some of the pacing seemed off at times but part of that I think was due to the writing being a bit all over the place in some parts, especially in the earlier part of the series. I think, for a long time, the writers were trying to figure out what to do with Aoey's character. Is he a bad guy or is he supposed to be part of a secondary couple with Mhok? For me, I felt like he didn't really do anything bad until he made the Instagram Live and, even that, I feel like he did it partially because it was what the industry wanted. He was like the devoted son of the Industry since he was the disgraced son in his home life. Either way, he always got the short end of the stick, just by doing what everyone else wanted from him, sacrificing his own happiness in the process. I would have preferred to see a happier ending for him, especially when the series practically made the viewer sympathize with him for 70% of the time.

I would highly recommend this series and I think it has a decent re-watch value. I can see how multiple views could bring to light more revelations and questions. Is there really a right answer with the amount of people and opinions involved?

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STAN KaoUp for a clearer skin?✨

OMGGGGG!!!! Where should I start from!?!!!!!
First of all I'm sooo annoyed at myself that I did not watch this BL sooner!!!
Just wanna say that I'm proud that this BL is my first BL that I've watched and completed in 2023🤭✨
...
Okay so first of all, this is literally my first ever BL that is starring Up. I knew Kao from UWMA(I'm sure of y'all are familiar with that beautiful series❤️) . So yeah, I was already familiarised with Kao's Handsome face🤭✨. Little did I know that it would not just be Kao's Handsomeness that'd catch my attention! Let me just say that this BL is one of the best BLs with an amazing beautiful cast line.
Second of all, the chemistry!😩 Wow the chemistry between KaoUp is off the charts! I literally kept screaming every time they were together and acted all cute and stuff in the series. Up is so cute I'd die🤭, and I love how he was able to perfectly match the character (Gene) in the series.
Thirdly I loved how they portrayed the BL industry, and what went on behind the scenes.
I wished that we could see how Tiffy and Tum's relationship would grow but other than that I'm still satisfied.
In conclusion, this BL series was refreshing and a great way to start the new year. I loved it! I loved ittt!!! Lol tried my very best not to binge watch it in one go, but it was just too good.

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Una de mis favoritas

He leído reseñas muy buenas y otras muy en contra de esta serie. No entiendo porque algunas personas se quejan de que la serie tenga buen puntaje, realmente se lo merece. Cada uno tiene distintas ideas y deben respetarse, y si a ti no te gusta la serie no debería parecerte raro que a alguien le haya encantado o no deberías pensar que la serie merece bajo puntaje solo por tus gustos personales. Estoy de acuerdo en que algunas cosas de la trama podían ser mejores, pero no considero que esas cosas sean tan graves como para arruinar la serie por completo. Desde el comienzo es muy entretenida y sumando las buenas actuaciones, es muy fácil de ver. Los protagonistas tienen muchísima química, son hermosos y saben representar muy bien cada emoción, por lo que me pude sumergir por completo en la historia.
Me parece muy original la idea de tratar la industria del bl, especialmente sabiendo como es en Tailandia. Para algunos podrá ser mejor y para otros quizás la forma de retratarlo no le hizo justicia, personalmente yo creo que lo hicieron bastante bien. Tiene algunas incoherencias o cosas que pienso que quizás las hicieron para agregar un poco de drama más que todo, pero al lado de otros bl que he visto, creo que este no llega ni a la mitad de eso y se agradece. Y de alguna manera, el drama que le agregaron (en algunas ocasiones) servía para hacer crecer a los personajes, así que me gustó.
Quizás haya gente que tiene expectativas demasiado altas, yo fui a verlo con la mente muy abierta y me sorprendí gratamente. No le exigí nada al bl, y me fue bien. Mi recomendación es que no se basen en estas opiniones y vayan a verlo sin grandes expectativas, de esa forma podrán sorprenderse y disfrutar de cada cosa que tiene para ofrecer.
Se tratan distintos problemas en la historia, desde la aceptación de ser homosexual. tanto personal como de la familia; la industria del bl en Tailandia y todo el tema del fanservice. entre otras cuestiones. En mi opinión estos temas fueron tratados muy bien y lograron su cometido.
No se tomen el drama muy seriamente, tómenlo con calma y con la idea de disfrutar un buen rato y verán que es algo agradable de ver.

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Light-hearted and funny, but manages to highlight problems of the BL Industry

Nearly halfway into the series, I'm really enjoying it so far. The story may be quite simple, but the acting makes it worth it. The main leads have a lot of chemistry and the side characters are all great. The show is written very cleverly as it is both light-hearted and funny, but it has moments of seriousness when it brings to light some problems of the BL industry. It gives a very clear contrast between those elements which I quite liked.

Although it has it's cliches and coincidences, the show is very down to Earth and realistic. Gene and Nubsib have a very healthy friendship, and despite Nubsib's crush on Gene, understands content - which is a huge problem in BL. The show also touches on the media's expectations of BL, such as not having feminine leads, the NSFW scenes not being hot enough etc, as well as the pressure of coming out and sexuality confusion. The show has handled these issues well so far, so I'm interested to see what will happen in later episodes.

One major thing I've seen people talk about is the sound effects. Either people love them or they hate them. Personally, I don't mind them. Sound effects are used often in BL and Kdramas, but this show does it a bit too excessively at times. Like, did we really need to hear a poop splashing into the toilet? Definitely not. The majority of the time there's gulping sounds or squish sounds when Gene walks shyly. Really, it's down to personal preference if you're able to withstand them.

Overall, this show is a fluffy, light-watch. It's not plot-based enough to binge, so personally, I'd casually watch it. Again, it's down to personal preference.

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Started strong and then I just wanted it to end.

This series had a very good start, but went downhill fast.
I do not know or claim to be an expert in Thai BL's, but this was a wreck.
Gene started strong, but at the end of this series I just wanted him to grow up, or at least have a spine. (Even the actor looked bored.)

I can sum up this show in one word. Frustrating, and for you own sanity, skip it.

Nubsib carried the entire show. Kao was fantastic and I enjoyed his performance a lot.
I just wish there was more of Mhok!!
Ayoe was a one dimensional character, and on top of that, the most base caricature and stereotype. He had no redeeming qualities.
The dialog was stilted, the coming out scenes was just poorly executed. I had no idea what was going on.
Where they still allowed to speak to each other? Where they locked up in their rooms? What?
(Clearly the writers just wanted some conflict.)

But Wait!
After going through all this, getting the support of their respective families (even after insulting his father), Gene then walks away, he won't fight for his relationship or Nubsib, who clearly states that he does not care about the show and only did it to re-connect with Gene.

Why Nubsib even went back to Gene is a mystery. Gene treated him like a child, and his continued 'inner conflict' became a joke.

Some reviewers even see their relationship as healthy? Seriously? It was toxic. Gene's constant dismissal of Nubsib and his feelings where painful to watch.

I would have loved an explanation of what happened in the four month period that they where apart (or any explanation!), but hey, as long as there was a happy ending? Which by the way was just bad.

According to other reviews this show is a 'parody' or 'social commentary' about the 'toxicity' of BL's.
It failed spectacularly. Make a documentary then, but don't sell this as a 'romance'
You invalidate the entire premise if you end the show with 'Oh! look there is the 'STRAIGHT FEMALE' writer!' scene.

If this is an example of one of the best Thai BL's, I think I'd skip the rest.

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One of the best Thai BL series ever made.

Already I must say congratulations, it's one of the best Thai series I've ever seen.

The story begins with Gene who is a professional writer, and his work usually focuses on thriller/horror (if I remember correctly), however, he try writing a genre-Boy Love which end up being acclaimed and commercially successful.
So successful, in fact, that it gets adapted into a BL drama. Despite the fact that he attaches little importance to this novel and its adaptation, Gene is invited - or rather forced by his publishing house - to attend the auditions and to give his opinion on certain actors for the main role.
This is where he meets Nubsib, an actor, who right from the start shows his affection to Gene.

I have to say this series is a great slap in the face to all Thai BL series that have been produced for years now and the fans.
First, this series strips away all the clichés that are so synonymous with BL dramas, like kissing when you're unconscious - and even more so, saying that your partner is playing the role of "woman", the control scenes and of aggression that are romanticized, the "I'm not gay but it's just you".
All these clichés, the series does not only get rid of them but in addition it highlights and denounces them, as when it comes to rape or harassment, which is not romantic, at all.
It also sheds light on the fans who can't separate real life from fiction, and how it affects the lives of actors, the invasion of privacy, fetishization, the fact that the leads actors outside the series are really hard shipped and that even the most banal looks or gestures are taken as signs of a secret relationship.
But also the mentality of the productions, which focuses on the show off therefore the sexual scenes rather than on the characters and their development, which advocates fan service above all else even at the expense of the actors.

This series shines a light on these industry practices, the heinous behaviors of fans who are entitled.

So really, I think that's why this series takes the top spot of all-time BL series, because I'm sick of watching series that are just romanticizing dangerous and problematic behaviors.

Here, the character of Gene is mature, not only is he kind and sweet, but he knows how to set his limits and make sense of things in critical situations.
He changes from the clichés of the weak and enamored lead who accepts everything from his partner, including abuse. Here, he places his limits very firmly on what his partner can or cannot do with him.

Nubsib is also refreshing in his role as the lead who is confidant. He is caring and not afraid to express his feelings, he knows how to respect his partner and even give him the space he needs. He is very far from the leads who are borderline homophobic and who are jealous, violent and abusive.

I think the scene that really shows their difference is when Gene gets into an unfortunate position with Aoey, and Nubsib steps in, he doesn't throw a tantrum or get vile from jealousy, but just silently helps respectfully his partner, and once they get home they have a calm and mature discussion with empathy for each other.

Their couple is so soothing and rewarding to watch, it shows the positive and how gay love should be portrayed.

The secondary characters are also just as great, the best friends who are supportive and loyal, the family who despite the complicated news (you need the context of the series to know) to know their children are gay manage to communicate and make it positive despite their fears.
The only problematic character was Aoey, in addition to embodying a jealous being, he is also manipulative and petty. And although he represents one of the obstacles in the love story of our characters, his character is really not correct, he also represents these actors who want to succeed at all costs, even at the cost of the actors with whom they play.
I'm thrilled that his character and his actions are being called out by his loved ones, even if he doesn't take responsibility for those and doesn't wish to make it right, at least it shows that also the loved ones around these people can draw the limit.
And it shows that if a person is ready for anything including pushing good people away and ruining people's lives, they must be prepared to have the success they certainly wanted but they will have to enjoy it alone, is it really worth it ?

I want to say that even here, in the MDL page, the comments show how much this series is THE best.
Many comments say they got bored while the show is very entertaining and the love story building is one of the best, it just shows that without toxic actions and storylines, these BL fans are bored, which highlight what they are really looking for in a BL series.
These fans are problematic, and I'm glad this show is calling them out.

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Was I Just Bamboozled??

So I just finished watching the series. And I have a distinct feeling that I was just bamboozled. Some people might not be familiar with that word. Basically to be tricked, fooled, deceived, lied to, to be led to believe one thing while the truth is another.... and it kind of makes me feel empty. Let me explain.

From the get-go the series has been straightforward about its meta-ness and the BL industry. At times quite a harsh eye-opening reality for us BL lovers. Of the sacrifices to integrity and artistic expression that a writer may feel, the lie that actors may live in order to appease demanding fans, the overall sacrifice that people in the entertainment industry have to make when it comes to their family or relationships. The veil of fantasy and reality of the industry was constantly being lifted. So it’s not like that wasn’t always there in the back of my mind.

However, as I got more invested into each episode of the series I think I was slowly losing cognition of that fact. There was the realistic portrayal of facing your fears, facing the disapproval of your family, having the courage to defend a love that you believe in, and even going outside your own comfort zone. All of the scenes that the lead, Gene, went through started to feel very real. A testament to the actor’s skills, for sure. But it made me forget about the story that was within the story. This is where the bamboozled part comes in.

Up until the end of episode 11 and the beginning of the final episode 12, I would’ve said that this is probably one of the best BL‘s that I ever watched. Heck, I would go even further to say one of the best Thai love stories that I’ve ever watched. And then the writer, producers, director, whomever was in charge, ruined it. They ruined the whole drama for me.

They took all the real feelings that I had from these characters, and their story, and they reduced it down to one big meta-moment. The “gotcha!” moment. The wink-wink, tongue-in-cheek...bamboozled moment.
You ruined it for me Wizard. You shouldn’t have pulled back the curtain.

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AH WHYYYYYY

Okay so I want to start off by saying I did not, by any means, dislike this series as a whole. I just disliked things about it. I really thought it was good and I also enjoyed that it was a bit longer than some others I've seen. I like a good 12-17 hour series. However, with it being a 12 hour series, wth was that ending? I appreciate that the two main characters had their happy ending but there was SO much left unanswered. I mean, Aey is an extremely unlikeable character(emphasis on character, the actor is great) who spends 90% of the series causing drama for the main characters and then crying about it... which is annoying. Despite that, there are parts of me that felt bad for him and felt he deserved a better ending than what was given to us. It just felt so rushed towards the end like they didn't care and wanted to get the series over with. A little disappointing. Also I'm assuming the character at the very end is just the author/writer of the ACTUAL series but it was so confusing. It felt like they were going to set up for a second season but I don't think that's the case. It was just weirdly thrown in there out of nowhere.
Overall, I liked it a lot and it's still better than most BL's I've watched. I enjoyed the drama and the relationship between the main characters. I loved the humor that some of the side characters had. I liked the plot, I haven't seen many plots that involve making a series inside a series lol. I really would've rated this higher if it weren't for the things mentioned above.
Though, I really don't know if I'd ever re-watch it unless it got a sequel or a spin off. I'm just a little too disappointed in the ending, which is so unfortunate considering how much time goes into watching a series this long. I wanted more answers, which isn't a bad thing. It means people are genuinely enjoying what they're watching. However, ending a series with almost no answers revolving around a specific character is just a little frustrating. I hope they make a spin-off or something of the sort. I'd watch it.

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