This is why I hate motorcycles, girl.
If there's one life lesson I always seem to forget is the one that says that I should not judge a book by its cover.Honestly, as a gay man, I have always abhorred fujoshi and, most importantly, shipper culture. Usually, these two cultures tend to have the bad habit of shamelessly romanticize people and behaviors that should NEVER be romanticized for their own sick fetishes. So, that being said, my original reaction to this series wasn't very pleasant, but I still decided to give it a chance out of pure curiosity due to a Japanese drama I recently watched with a similar topic and that turned out to be an absolute masterpiece.
~Story:
Here is where it gets confusing to explain. It is a well-known plot and I feel like most of us at some point have read, watched, or even imagined a similar story out of our own volition. And it is not a bad story, but what is important here is not THAT specific plot, but the twist the author(s) added to it. It is important to know that the series becomes stale very quickly, with some unnecessary events getting dragged for too long without providing nothing interesting to the continuity of the story but, if you manage to survive that slow segment, you will be greeted with the best plot twist that makes of this a good show worthy of being remembered by the audience.
I have read some reviewers that shared displeased reactions to this twist and I'd like to differ with their opinions. They say that a twist like this isn't a very "BL" thing to do, but I personally think this is the best part of this series. After so many BL series that are relentlessly reusing the same plot and tropes over and over again, it IS good to have a series that breaks these tiring patterns every once in a while. This was, in my opinion, one of the BEST and most successful ways of making sure the audience remembers this drama.
Going off the topic for a bit, I would like to give this drama the award for the best love confession coming out of a Thai BL. It was, in lack of a better word, heartwarming. Like I said, don't judge a book by its cover. Once we start finding out the real truth, this becomes a very emotional and the most heartwarming moment of the story. Everything else that connects these two characters suddenly turns into a beautiful love story. It made me wish we could have a short second season placed within a parallel universe that dwells into the what-could-have-been.
~ Acting and Cast:
Acting was not the best, but it wasn't the worst either. It is sort of a comedy style acting that I personally didn't like. I preferred those moments where the actors were more natural because it didn't feel forced. Let's talk about some of the actors:
- Pan: I was never a big fan of her. I remember her from "Theory of Love" and that was not a very good memory. She was quite stiff and barely, just barely made it better this time around.
- Way: He grows on you very nicely. Specially because he gradually becomes more involved with the story and develops at the the same pace this is happening.
- Kim: Yes and no. I appreciate that he tried to give you more Pan, but it came out a little too forced and it was obvious he wasn't fully into that "funny" side of her character. His serious moments were a lot better, more believable and natural. Honestly, #WayKimForever. His chemistry with Way was really, really good as both Kim and Pan.
- Khett: A little forced, but passable. I am a fan of this actor from some of his previous works, so I already knew what to expect.
- Angel of Death: Jennie!!! I'm a huge fan of hers and I think she brought good vibes into the series as an actress. She has that good entertaining personality that shines through anything.
If I could change something about this drama it would be the writing itself. Like I previously said, it got stale very quickly and I feel like if they had shortened down the number of episodes and only focused on what's actually important for the story, this would have been delivered more successfully and consistently.
Sis, this show has everything: Problematic fujoshis, school drama, forbidden relationships, tasteless school uniforms, toying with life, body like an angel, gestures like an idol, good inside and out, legendary love confessions, that weird kiss, and ugly facial hair. This is not a masterpiece, but I still recommend it. Good shit.
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The Standpoint of a Shipper
In the following content, I shall review from the storyline / screenplay, acting and OST these 3 perspectives.I. STORY
From the 1st teaser which shows that this is a story featuring a shipper, I've been interested in it. Because the shipping culture has existed for a long time, however, the fujoshi or the shippers are mostly seen as customers or consumers. The works always depict them as young girls who scream when seeing 2 males being intimate. What digs deep in their minds and life is very rare.
About 2 years ago, I met a 12-year-old girl and she shared with me her favourite BL manga. It occurred to me that with the development of Internet, there will be more and more fujoshis starting at a much younger age, an age that their values are not yet built, and no one can tell what differences will be made.
So The Shipper which tells the shipper, Pan to pursue her own love, is a timely production in my opinion.
This series actually reminds me of my senior high school life, during which stage I shipped my crush with his best friend. Of course it's absurd, but why didn't I just go and tell him "I love you"? I guess it's my low self-esteem, which makes me especially resonate when I hear Pan say that she cannot be compared with Phingphing after she recognized how deep the bond between Way and Kim is in EP10 (or 11) but luckily at the end her ship / crush makes her realize where is her love.
When the series were being aired, I can't help but notice some dissatisfaction about the disappearance of the main character Kim, such as how could he just show up in the 1st episode and then just lies in coma, all the stories about him are told by others.
Such a design, which tells the story of an absent person, reminds me of a gothic novel, Rebecca, though The Shipper is not crime mysterious fiction, this design helps to arouse audience's interest and curiosity. So I like it quite a lot.
There are also some tiny points in this series which make me surprised that the playwrights even paid attention to this?!
For example the "loyal" friendship of Phingphing. I like the reverse with this group: at the beginning, these 2 girls befriended Phingphing because they both tried to court P'Way but in the end they develop sincere friendship with their crush's ex-girlfriend. I've seen so much of the "mean girl" plot and learnt so much about how women fight against each other in some Chinese historical palace drama featuring empresses' power struggle that I came to wonder does there really exist true friendship between girls? The writer of The Shipper shakes my shoulders and shouts: "Certainly there does!!!"
Another point is also shown in EP 3 "Men's Universe". Pan is shocked when her male classmate spread the video
The standpoint of The Shipper's storyline is so good that it inspires me to write a novel in which an 11th grader fujoshi tried to pair her best friend, a boy, with her crush, which is of course irrational. This is just a beginning and I am still working on how it will unfold.
II. CAST
All the actors and actresses are lovely and impressive, Kim, Way, Pan, Angel of Death, cute Soda, attractive Phingphing along with her two "loyal" friends, the meow teacher Ms. Kana, Pan's stepfather, Off the bad guy.
In a interview, when the cast introduced themselves, First Kanaphan mentioned that he played the roles of Pan and Kim. I have to say First successfully handled these 2 different characters. His imitation of girl's emotion and expression is very impressive. I can see that he did learn a lot about the shipping culture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTv2WF_aKN4&feature=youtu.be)
Fluke Pusit also did a great job in his debut. Although his face is a little bit funny in the last episode where he is saying last goodbye to his lover, generally speaking, he depicted this righteous, naughty, affectionate Way very well.
An interesting thing is, Prigkhing who played the role of Pan in this series ships OffGun in the last minute in the 12th episode, but she also played the role of Fhasai in The Theory of Love. LOL
III. OST
As I've mentioned above, the series intrigued me from the beginning with the initial teaser. And in May, when the MV of the theme song, Care Glai Glai was aired, I was immediately attracted by this song. At that time I was guessing who is this song intended for? Khet's love for Pan? Or Shippers's care for their ship? Or what else?
And at the end of episode 5, which is the famous scene where we see Way set his photo with Kim(Pan) as the wallpaper of his phone, revealing Way's crush on Kim, another song was introduced. I have looped this song since then. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XKaeC5s2Ro) this "I belong to you every day" is a strong supplement to this main plot. It can be seen as both Way's and Khett's feelings towards their love. But I think the lyrics suit WayKim better.
All in all, Kim's pass-away is not so tragic as Lan Yu, Brokeback Moutain, Tea for Two, but sad still. But I'd keep his words of leading my own life in mind, and wish everyone who enjoyed this series instructions on leading one's life.
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Good and must watch!
The Shipper is one of those few BL series that I have watched that has less to no flaws at all. If ever you found one, you can easily get past through it. From the beginning to the end, everything was delivered clearly, each scene was stitched seamlessly. There is only one thing that I don't like about this series and that is the main character's death. I am all for happy endings and feel-good plots that's why I have reservations for main characters dying in the series. Like WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ??? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. I was crying when I found out that Pan changed her mind so that Way will have a full life and finish what he needs to finish here on earth. I was actually half-hearted about that, like, how would pan live for the rest of her life as Way? How would she fill in Way's shoes when he is such a perfect student. He even won a national science olympiad. Luckily she changed her mind. Although I was very heartbroken about that like WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ???, but I'm glad she did the right thing (but my heart was torn to pieces trying to rationalize this situation ????) Over-all, I am very happy with the series. This is one of those series that I am dying to have a season 2 and speaking of which, what was that scene in the end? Was that a teaser for a second season.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
I instantly fell in love with the characters and the story combined with the acting it's so freaking funny and cute at the same time, one moment I'm laughing my heart out and 5 minutes later I'm like "Ownnnnn". It's very fresh.
if I have to be honest the story is a little bit confusing because I can't tell where the story is going and I also don't know where I want the story to go, usually, when I watch a tv show I always know what I want to happen, who I want to end up with who, who I don't like, who I like, but in this one, I don't know and if I kinda like this feeling of not knowing and simply enjoying the ride.
The show only has 2 episodes out and I'm hooked I wanna know what's going to happen, what craziness awaits for me in the future.
By the way, check the MV of the OST is adorable!
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