Escritor Adorável (2021)

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.

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

A series that started with a promise and went into bleak and mediocre satirical storyline...

A series that started with a promise and went into bleak and mediocre satirical storyline...

I started this series and had enjoyed the first 3 episodes (barring the annoying sound effects that I find not cute). Silly me, I should have had noticed the red flags that this series is not for me. First, I really frowned upon how the masculine main is shown to be too controlling, but again, since he is cute I plowed through and watched it. Secondly, the feminine main was shown to be a fickle, having no bones of his own. After that realization... I cannot continue with this one.

I have to applaud them though for trying to shade the shady side of BLs, but ultimately, they are incapable of outrightly doing it.

Leia Mais

The Badly Written

The story tried to bring the behind the scenes of BL series to the small screen but failed to deliver a truly convincing narrative by resorting to the use of overly childish sound effects and villainizing characters for the sake of creating drama.

The main characters are a writer and an actor who fall in love in the middle of shooting the adaptation of said writer's novel. Their relationship is tested by their work; whilst having a way to simplify the issue and work around it, they instead choose to create even more drama, stirring the plot into an unwatchable mess that you could see coming from a mile away.

Now, the series had very strong footing with the choice of actors for the main couple, the chemistry between them was enough to keep me watching the show, just to see them together. But, most moments they have together usually become detrimental, because they take most of the running time of an episode. Time that could have been well spent with other characters that were left one-dimensional and not fleshed out, when they had a lot of potential.

Overall, the series is a good watch for any BL fan, but don't come in thinking that it's
this groundbreaking, extraordinary show some people make it out to be. It has a lot of flaws, that try to be compensated by fanservice and cute moments that largely don't add anything new to the genre and hurt the story at the end.

Leia Mais

How did yall sit through this

Whar made this unbearable was NUBSEEB. Not because of the character but the actor. In my opinion. I see everyone gave the acting a nine and... maybe im wromg, im not saying its an objective fact but his acting was so off. saw him in uwma and there he had a role where he had to look emotionally constipated at all times and THAT, he pulled off well. I was curious to see how hed pull of something which required more of a range of emotions. And I got my question answered, he made his best attempt but he can't. But has a nice face, if i were to be superficial about it. He kind of made the series hard to sit through simply with how odd his acting is. The constant !GENEE! And the constant smiling. It just weirds and creeps me out for reasons i cant explain.
The other guy was okay. Ish. I think nubsib could benefit from some more work in the acting department. Fighting.

I skipped to the scene where they do the deed because Im superficial like that and THAT was good. Proud of them.
I also really did appreciate that they were so all in our faces about the consent thing. As they should. I believe whoever worked on this worked on tharntype if im not wrong,and realises how garbage and dubcon it was. Hence this, to kinda counter that somehow. I like that, thank you. In fact that was the only reaosn i pushed myself into getting through that many episodes but at some point i had enough
I dont even remember how many episodes forced myself to sit through but yes, that.

Leia Mais

Shocked that I'm disappointed

This is an udpate to a review i made months ago, it was deleted.
I really liked this series but towards the end I no longer cared about the story or the characters so I stopped watching. I found the twist ( that nubsib and Gene were childhood friends) to be disappointing and not believable. I was kinda annoyed by it. I thought that it didn't seem like something believable in terms of the story. I dont know its hard to describe. It was too much of a coincidence and it felt kind of forced. I felt like the writers had so many options for a twist that what they decided on felt forced and unbelievable. This, and Nubsib pretending not to know Gene was completely unessecary to the plot. The writers could've stuck with the original idea of a director and actor relationship growing etc. This type of relationship was completely new and fresh to the BL industry. It sucks that they had to also throw in something so completely over-done and old just for a little bit of angst and conflict.

Leia Mais

did not live up to my expectations

when i first heard of lovely writer on twitter, i saw a lot of people talking about how it tackled the bl industry issues and so i was interested. the first episode started off really good and so did the second.. but then from then on i felt it was starting to drag off. The pacing is extremely slow and characters don't have much dialogue, its mostly them just doing things that really don't matter. i really liked how in the first few episodes they tackled issues such as unfair casting and how non consensual scenes are romanticized but later on it just felt like nothing was happening. Gene and Nubsib's relationships seems very stereotypical, with a flirty person doing things to make the "smaller" one more nervous. There's no plot to go off and it ends up being very boring to watch.


For a series that attempts to tackle popular tropes, it fails to notice the tropes its following.

Leia Mais

IT WAS JUST LOVELY

Having just finished "My Stand In," where Up (Gene) delivered a captivating performance, I was curious to explore his earlier work in "Lovely Writer." While both series feature Up in leading roles, "Lovely Writer" adopts a decidedly lighter tone. It's a charming and heartwarming watch, perfect for unwinding after a long day. However, when compared to the depth and complexity of "My Stand In," "Lovely Writer" feels a touch less substantial.

The characters in "Lovely Writer" are a delightful bunch. Up portrays Gene, a university student who dreams of becoming a novelist. He's paired with Kao, played by Kao (Nubsib), a fellow student and aspiring actor. Their journey from initial misunderstandings to a blossoming romance is both endearing and entertaining. However, the series falters slightly in its character development. The central conflict, where their relationship faces disapproval from their parents, is resolved rather quickly, leaving some room for a missed opportunity in terms of emotional payoff.

Another character, Aoey, initially comes across as sweet and supportive of Gene. However, his personality takes a peculiar turn later in the series, bordering on cringe-worthy and out of character. This inconsistency could have been rectified by giving Aoey a more defined antagonistic role. Up's performance is commendable, though it leans towards a more reserved portrayal compared to his more dynamic role in "My Stand In." Kao delivers an acceptable performance, but his character could have benefited from greater depth in his expressions. The supporting characters, including Gene's and Nubsib's families, are portrayed by familiar faces from Thai dramas and add a touch of warmth to the narrative. Notably, the revelation about Gene's father having a boyfriend before marrying his mother sheds light on his initial resistance to accepting his own relationship with Nubsib.

The plot of "Lovely Writer" revolves around the blossoming romance between Gene and Nubsib, fueled by their shared passion for storytelling. The series incorporates the unique concept of their fictional novel reflecting their real-life experiences. This adds a layer of meta-humor and keeps the narrative engaging. However, some conflicts, such as the aforementioned parental disapproval, are resolved rather swiftly, diminishing the potential for emotional impact. The series also introduces the intriguing character of Mhok, who could have played a more significant role in influencing Aoey's character development. An interesting aspect of the drama is the inclusion of a scene where producers, directors, and the CEO intervene to discuss the future of Gene and Nubsib's relationship. This scene adds a touch of realism, reflecting similar situations that might occur in the real BL production world.

"Lovely Writer" is a light and enjoyable watch, offering a delightful escape into the world of BL novels and budding romance. While the series stumbles slightly in its character development and occasional pacing issues, it makes up for it with its charm and feel-good atmosphere. If you're looking for a heartwarming and relaxing drama, "Lovely Writer" is definitely worth adding to your watchlist. However, if you crave something with more depth and emotional complexity, you might find "My Stand In," featuring a more nuanced performance by Up, to be a more satisfying choice.

Leia Mais

I could rewatch 100 times over

I am so happy I took a chance to watch this masterpiece. I really enjoyed the depth of the series. The stress of the BL industry and Ship-culture puts on these men to uphold a fake relationship is disturbing. I understand it’s a responsibility but people have to be realistic. They are actors, this is their job but they have a personal life that should stay personal. Co-Stars date all the time, it’s nothing new but it should happen naturally.

Anywho, rant over! Chemistry ✔️Budget ✔️ Acting ✔️

Gene and Nubsib were such a treat to watch! Nubsib loved that man to pieces from a young age but I can see that Gene’s love morphed from brotherly to romantically over time. I see the age gap being mentioned but no lines were crossed, it was wonderfully written!

Leia Mais

a great portrayal of the BL business

I remember watching this every week and had to be tortured by the wait, but honestly, it was all worth it. a really great way to show the audience on how social media could effect someone's mental health. everyone has a really great acting tbh, and I love the chemistry between all of the couples. at the end of the series, I loved how they portrayed aoey being all alone because of his greed (HAHA DESERVED). I also loved the support roles, esp Tiffy because she's giving the "girlcrush" aura with that bold makeup look! she's the best girl in this series hahaha. I hope I would see them again in another series.

Leia Mais

Mediocre

I was hooked on episode 1. I was hoping for the story to be more serious relating to BL studios, but it got brushed off and focus mostly on the relationship. Gene was awkwardly funny and Nubsib is hot.
I find it weird how Nubsib liked Gene when they were little kids though because they haven't even hit puberty to understand what loving means. That didn't make sense to me.
What also doesn't make sense to me was towards the end when they were "forced" to break up when all they had to do was not be seen together physically. Just text each other or facetime. Meet up once in a while. It just seems like everyone made a big deal over an issue that can solve easily.
The biggest villain, Aoey, was just evil. He was just so manipulative and annoying and I think the producers wanted to make it seem like he was a victim.
Tum and Tiffy's relationship was okay at first, but then Tiffy's character was irritating when Tum confessed to her. Her reason why she didn't want to be in a relationship with him was because she thought he was gay even though he had the courage to confess so ??? Were we supposed to laugh at that joke? And then he starts rapping and now she's all like "lol okay you're cute." ??? Were we supposed to laugh at that too??? Their relationship just went downhill.
I don't really care about the music. It was just there.
There's a lot of confusion in this series. The producers shows the scene and expect us to feel what we're supposed to feel, but we end up feeling something else. Gene and Nubsib's love story, Aoey's evil intentions, Tum and Tiffy's relationship, and even the plot.
The series was entertaining. It kind of got boring in a few episodes towards the end. The ending was meh. I guess it was supposed to be cute and cheesy, which it was, but it was wrapped up so quickly like the bare minimum. Again with the confusion with what the producers wants us to feel vs how we actually feel.
It was an okayyyy series. It wasn't too bad, but I feel like I wanted more out of it.

Leia Mais