A Tale of Potential and Missed Opportunities
"Cutie Pie" holds the promise of a truly exceptional show, one that could have earned a perfect score with its intriguing character profiles and captivating premise. While it does boast notable strengths, a few significant missteps prevent it from achieving its full potential.A standout aspect of the show is its unwavering stance against homophobia. "Cutie Pie" admirably challenges this harmful attitude while refraining from providing it any space, reinforcing a message of inclusivity and acceptance.
The central relationship between Kuea and Lian goes through significant growth, transitioning from a dynamic defined by Kuea's perception of Lian as a family figure to a more equitable and romantic partnership. This evolution in their relationship arc shows promise in terms of character development.
One notable highlight is Lian's gradual departure from his manipulative and scheming behavior. While this growth is evident, it's unfortunate that the show failed to consistently condemn these actions. A few lines in the final episode hardly rectify the normalization of such behavior throughout the series.
A noteworthy lesson learned by Lian is the understanding that marriage involves sharing both joy and sorrow. It's a sign of maturity when characters recognize that protecting their partner from distressing news isn't always the best approach in a relationship.
However, "Cutie Pie" struggles with pacing issues that impact its overall delivery. Rushing through the tension surrounding the unique dynamics of the central couple while dragging out generic conflicts creates an uneven viewing experience. To truly shine, the show should have found inventive ways to translate the unique tensions into relatable themes for a wider audience.
In conclusion, "Cutie Pie" showcases moments of brilliance intertwined with missed opportunities. While its firm stance against homophobia and character growth hold promise, the show's inconsistency in addressing problematic behavior and pacing challenges hinder its full potential. It's a show that could have achieved greatness, yet settles for being a mix of highs and lows.
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Really cute and great acting
I don't think the overall story line is amazing, it's fine though. The actors are great, music/actors singing is beautiful, and both are attractive though! Worth watching and better than most shows I've seen. This is probs in my top 5 fav bl shows. I love the mains and the second couple has their own show. Going to watch that soon!! I don't think this show would ever be worth it to watch again but I love keeping up with the main actors in real life as they are amazing singers.Was this review helpful to you?
Don't judge the show off of other reviews. It has a lot of potential
Initially, I wasn’t planning to watch it after seeing all the negative reviews. But after watching the trailer, I decided to give it a shot—and I’m so glad I did. I fell in love with the storyline right from the first episode and was genuinely captivated all the way through. I’d recommend giving it a chance rather than dismissing it based on the reviews alone.Was this review helpful to you?
"I've loved you since the day you were born" ❤️ MUST WATCH
I personally loved this series so much. I have never written a review but I felt like I had to because of all the negative reviews and comments going on about this, yes everyone is entitled to their opinions but I'm writing this review for those who like to keep an open mind.First off I believe the negativity is because Most BL viewers are so addicted to the same old High school/University plotline that they can't comprehend anything different.
That aside I'll get into why I loved this
LIKES.
1.Plot : I really loved the plot, Age gap couples are real and deserve proper representation too, I believe they are even more real than school sweethearts but people don't like to talk about it.
There is usually miscommunication at the start with such relationship because both parties are really focused on pleasing the other and feel a certain sense of insecurity so there'll be a level of acting or trying to portray yourself in a way that your partner would like. It's annoying and not healthy but eventually you'd work around it and get to a healthy place. I've lived this story myself and it can be chaotic and that's what this truly portrays, you have to get to the end and putting yourself in their shoes to be able to understand the story being told.
At the end of the day, not everyone can do that and we like what we like but please keep an open mind.
2. The acting. The actors did really good. Very good actually. Foei was the comic relief, he gave life to every scene he appeared lol
The friends of Kuea would also a really cute and funny moments ☺️
3. The couples. I loved all the couples. And the Chemistry with all of them was on fire! ZeeNuNew got the most screen time so their issues were explored more than the other couples although NuerSin were pretty cut and dry to me, very predictable but they are cute that's for sure. MaxNat needed more screen time on going into their backstory like in the novel but the actors did really well with what they were given
4. The Visuals are out of this world, on every scene! They've had the best visuals I've seen in any BL tbvh then of course ITSAY!
5. OST. I have every one and they all fit the scenes and moments precisely. NuNew's voice can literally save lives!! 🥺
6. Rewatch Value. Well I've seen it 50 times since it came out. I'll prolly see it even more times till I get more projects from them lol
7. The styling of everyone was also very good, everyone dressed really well for whatever character or moment it was needed
8. I like that they were also advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and they still do even out of the series
DISLIKES.
Like everyone I would scream when they were pretending or lying or hiding this. Like we know you love each other but how about some COMMUNICATION! But if all the problems were fixed all at once well then there won't be much of a story to tell would there and besides, its also not easy for all the changes to happen so quickly or so easily.
Everyone was having an inner battle waiting for the other to fold but they got to learn there's no winning in love in very catastrophic and heart breaking ways which shouldn't have been.
Other than the lack of communication. I loved everything about this
Okay, Thank me later xoxo
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OMG it's so fluffy
A lot of reviews don't like the storyline, but I think the storyline is just meant to be about navigating ones personal feelings in an unconventional situation and the importance of communication in a relationship. Yes there are weird leaps of logic (but it's a 12 ep BL based on an online BL novel, of course there is going to be leaps in logic).The arranged marriage plot could have been flushed out more for dramatics but the minimal drama and amazingly fluffy moments were more to my taste and a palette cleanser from the other series I watch. This series is so fluffy. Even the not so fluffy scenes are fluffy.
The side couple's stories needed to be developed, I Hai Yi and Diao's story was a giant question mark. Syn and Nuer just kind of happened out of the blue.
Zee and NuNew did an amazing job with their roles and their on-screen chemistry is phenomenal. The scenes were amazingly choreographed and nothing about it was overly sexualized or raunchy which is like taking a breath of fresh air in this industry.
The music in this series was some of the first from a Thai BL that I genuinely like and listen to regularly.
Overall, if you like fluffy things with some spice I would definitely recommend. If you want a complex plot and drama, you might want to sit this one out.
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Beautiful romance with amazing actors
This show is very beautiful both zee and nunew are fantastic and show real emotion and have a believable romance that is beautiful. The love scenes are some of the best I have ever watched with consent and a lovely soundtrack, they are very sweet and extremely romantic. There is nothing toxic about this series.It is wholesome and has some sad moments but they are resolved. I am in love with this series, It is so perfect and rewatchable because of the beautiful story that breaks stereotypes with an arranged gay marriage which is the first of its kind I have seen in a drama. You will love this if you want to see a beautiful drama with sensual love scenes and wholesome relationships with great chemistry! The main couple and side couples are lovely to watch as they progress in their relationships and begin to trust each other. This is my top series of 2022 so far.
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Definitely flawed but worth your time.
When Cutie Pie was first announced, I got into my head that it would be a bit more... serious, perhaps? Instead, it's heavy filters, flawless makeup, clichés, and a cute soundtrack. I didn't mind, though! Once I got my head around the fact that it would greatly differ from my expectations, I was good to go. I actually quite liked all of those aspects, but it's undeniable that Cutie Pie is very flawed in the plot department. It's quite slow, often nonsensical, and the back and forth is at times really annoying. I really wanted Cutie Pie to answer my craving for a good arranged marriage trope, but the end result definitely didn't do that for me. Despite all that, they still managed to keep me pretty hooked.What actually bothered me, though, was the incredible potential in Nuea and Syn. These two genuinely had more room, more depth, to their story than the actual second couple. There's a lot of nothing happening in Yi and Diao's scenes...
Overall, it's absolutely worth the watch but you'd have to keep in mind that the plot is pretty weak... It's really sweet, Nunew's voice in that soundtrack is insanely good, the outfits are great, Nuea and Diao's friendship is such a highlight of the series, and Zee and Nunew's chemistry is off-the-charts. It remains true that I would watch anything with Zee in it. He was the perfect choice for this character.
I'm gonna keep a fond memory of Cutie Pie, I'm sure, but my heart is desperately in need of more Syn and Nuea...
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This review may contain spoilers
Some reviews are overreacting and being mean, this series is actually good!
I said it yall, after reading some reviews, I decided to watch the series if it's actually bad or what but no! This series is outstanding, especially knowing that it's actually NuNew's first drama and he really did great for his first time. They tackle topics like same-sex marriage which is a very significant time to promote since the plot is about an arranged marriage between two men. Since some are saying it's the first time BL had this type of plot, it exceeded my expectations. The Casts, OSTs, and everything, all of them are good! Cutie Pie Series will always be in my heart. I'll be waiting for their Special EP this year!Note: I am totally in love with ZeeNunew, MaxNat, and TutorYim's chemistry on cam and off cam <3
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A series to listen to, not simply watch
I watched the official trailer of this series, and wanted to watch it immediately, simply because the plot was so outdated, yet so freshly taken by adding it into the BL world.And then... Originally, it was a disappointment. The story was too unrealistic and simple to the extreme, told in the first episode with nowhere to go, the turns easy to predict, the characters one-dimensional and difficult to understand. Overall, the whole show seemed to be just... empty, so I kept on watching merely for the beautiful pictures and the good-looking actors, as their chemistry is undeniable.
Then there came one episode, one scene, where I submerged into emotions so hard that I forgot to breathe for a minute, with my mouth open, not able to move, slipping down, literally almost falling off of my chair. I didn't understand what happened. I kept watching that scene over and over again, watching the actors faces, moves, body language with awe, taking in the beautiful music, feeling like a peeping Tom, looking at two people who just had their first moment truly connecting with each other. This was when I realized: hey, these guys really want to tell me something. Maybe it's me who did not understand something...?
So, I watched the whole series again. From the very beginning, questioning all of my previously formed opinions, and imagining myself into the place of each and every single character in the situations portrayed, listening to what the actors wanted to express with their plays (I basically paused watching like 50 times per episode). By every, I mean every. The kids, the parents, the friends, etc. What I found was pure beauty.
First, the story.
Original impression: undeniably outdated concept, and undeniably unrealistic and simple, no surprises, not progressing.
After re-watch: even if the concept is outdated, it is merely a frame to highlight what truly matters: the people who live through these stories. Grandparents and parents, who want their offspring to be in an emotionally safe relationship with someone they care for, is the single most basic wish of any responsible caretaker in a family. Same as respecting their intentions. I love how in the story everything seems to be settled for the main characters, but if you watch carefully, the elderly keep asking the young ones about their feelings and wants, implying that the story is actually not narrow at all, but is based on the characters' decisions - which is how real life writes a story. There are kids becoming adults, who want to meet their parents' wishes, whilst expressing themselves, living life in their own ways. Friends who change. Realistic people.
I understood that my feeling of unrealistic comes from the fact that two boys are engaged in a world where gay marriage is yet to be a fully accepted concept. So came my understanding: the source of this feeling is that we are yet to accept it as natural. Accept it as nothing extraordinary, and the whole story becomes cute and a bit naïve, but absolutely imaginable.
Overall, the plot is simply frame, which, on one hand challenges the viewer to rethink their own view on same-sex relationships with its unrealistic way (we need to give credit for the two grandpas here). On the other hand its simplicity does not draw attention away from the important thing this series wants you to focus on: people, emotions, connections.
The story is not progressing - because it doesn't have to. Unlike any other BL series I have ever seen, this one kicks the usual series dynamics in the teeth, and settles you in a fairly static plot, to make you actually watch, feel, live in the skin of the characters, instead of settling you in rather static characters for a longer-shorter series of events. You can literally feel yourself growing together with them in the slow story.
This series is not exciting because of the happenings. This series is exciting because of how the characters live through them. Note: This part I may need to edit later as the series end. :)
Second, the characters.
Original impression: one-dimensional emotions and drives.
After re-watch: Once I understood that I will not see their characters portrayed by their actions as the story progresses, I knew I needed to put myself into the characters' shoes. And it was so easy! I mean, who wasn't a young university student, who had no idea what they want with their lives, but knew exactly who they want? Who wasn't a child, who wants to please their parents, but find their own ways? Who didn't struggle with their own emotions they felt towards a friend? Who were not doing extreme things out of guilt, desire, desperation, wish for care?
I realized not only these characters are complex, but they are so beautifully everyday people! Which is ingenious, considering the anything-but-everyday plot. This controversial feeling, amplified by the characters captivates the viewer. Their emotional roller coaster is expressed in the most subtle things, visible if you really, but really listen to them. A pair of widening eyes, a narrow back walking away, tears, obviously, wide moves, anxious stepping from one foot to another, a furrowed brow, sitting calmly in front of the other... It struck me really hard when I understood that these actors, unlike in some other series including better and worse I watched, are actually ACTING. With capitals. They show me fully realized characters who they were able to connect with, even the ones who I originally thought are bad acting. They simply don't go over the top, but rather behave as a normal human being. I love how the expressions are not loud at all in this series, because when they are... Fireworks.
Third and last, the show overall.
Original impression: empty.
After re-watch: If anyone got to this point in reading, by this time you most likely realized my source of emptiness was my own shallow take. This series will not shout in your face what is happening and is felt, instead invites you to imagine yourself in the places of the main roles, and offers you a journey with a partner we sometimes forget to bring along: ourselves. A multi-dimensional journey and see, how different people, bonded by intention, love, sympathy or duty, in different situations, for different reasons can overcome difficulties by listening to, understanding and respecting each other. And this, in my opinion, is a story worth to learn from and remember to, by watching and re-watching a thousand times.
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CREEPS ME OUT!
I dont think I've HATED a drama this much in a long long time. I usually avoid dramas I suspect I would hate but this.... sweet gracious! I looked forward to this drama so much and was so HYPED at Episode 1. It went from 100 to 0 so fast!The plot is very very weird. I don't mind age gap relationships because duh what do i care? As long as they're happy and in a healthy relationships! BUT BOTH MAIN RELATIONSHIPS ON HERE ARE TOXIC AS HECK!
OMG! Where do I even start from? They keep reffering to Kuea as a "naughty kid". Boi is 20 or 21 years old. And make the relationship between him and his FIANCÉ weird by potraying Lian as this "ALPHA MALE".
Now it looks like a romantic relationship between a father and son.
Lian mistreats his finace and makes him beg for his love? Send people to spy on his every move, treats him like a 5 year old, have no regards for him, flirts with others on their date and doesn't correct people when they refer to Kuea as his "little brother". Forces Kuea to move in with him and even has a spy cam in their house. Completely disregard Kueas opinion, doesn't care that Kuea wants to break off their engagement while still not wanting to work on the relationship. Kisses him without his consent!
With the way things are going so far I wouldn't be surprised if this takes a HISTORY: CTY (second couple story) route and they include a RP! So far they're glorifying an abusive relationship and seem to be happy because of the remarkable views they're getting and ofc the money they're making from it.
As much as this is just a Drama its still makes me sick watching something like this. Wouldn't wish this kinda relationship on anyone in the world. Dropped it!
And Lastly; for some reasons all the Actors suddenly look like they cant act on here. Its surprising because I've watched them act well in their previous projects.
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Enjoyable BL Rom-Com
Cutie Pie is a classic rom com drama in Bl Version.And I personally like this series so much <3
With stressful irl problem right now, I need this kind of light hearted fluffy series with high quality production value.
Cutie Pie cinematography exceed my expectation (K-Drama level of cinematography) and the story is actually quite like het k drama trope but with two male leads.
The OST is all great and there are so many original OST for this drama which all sounds great. Especially with Nunew vocal ability <3
The Plot is pretty simple about engagement and miscommunication/ compromise in relationship. They also consistently advocating for marriage equality throughout the series even until the end.
The actors visual are all top tier and the acting is pretty good
There are some flaw for the plot/pacing on ep 10 & 11 but they wraps up nicely in eps 12. So Overall experience is still enjoyable. Especially if you binge watched it since you don't need to wait for one week on cliffhangers.
The aspect I love about Cutie Pie is it's sincerity in production we can feel all parties involved in the production (Crew, writerr and casts) put all their heart producing this. Especially when the production house is pretty small... Ofc there are many challenges especially on budget and all covid restriction when filming. And I would like to thank them for the dedication, for it resulting in my favorite BL series of all time.
Whatever people say, watching cutie pie brings me so much joy and it is the most important thing when enjoying entertainment content.
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