I told myself no more longer posts on the merits of the show. And I hung up my unofficial review apron in order to save my juice for the final permanent review of Cutie Pie.
However, this week several people have called into question the opinions of people who leave negative commentary on Cutie Pie. Depending on how vitriolic or petty the comments were, I've have given those posts more or less rough handling, while consistently defending the idea that understanding the negative criticism isn't relevant. And this is still true. Why we feel the way we do has no bearing on the merits of our posts or the right to post them here.
However, your post caught my attention in a different way. First, you didn't insult anyone. So brava for that. (Or bravo. Not sure which. I don't know your pronouns) Second, you didn't criticize our opinions, and you followed with the reasons you felt the show shouldn't be criticized. And I can definitely work with that.
So A) forgive the length of this. And B) keep in mind this is with all due respect.
The first thing you mentioned is that this is unrealistic fluff. That might be what CP was intended as, and certainly the arranged marriage between men is unrealistic in Thailand. But the framework is very realistic and not fluffy at all. Elements in the story where Lian works to control Kuea and force secrets from him while absorbing his existence... This happens in the real world. And it's not fluffy there or in fiction. Nor are certain other elements in the show fluffy, such as Yi and Diao's relationship problems. Characters experience real anguish over some of these moments. And while there is sometimes an element of comedy, it's not the prevailing tone. Even episode 11 is dealing with a very NOT fluffy situation that is quite possible in the real world and very serious. So if they intended this to be fluffy, they missed the boat.
An example of a fluffy drama is La Cuisine. That thing is fluffy as fuck. Cutie Pie, on the other hand, has some consistently serious and even harsh moments, all throughout.
But whether this is fluffy and unrealistic isn't important really. I am presuming due to the placement of the "unrealistic fluff" statement in relationship to your assertion that you "don't get all the negative comments", that you think a show being fluffy exempts it from being criticized for content. And I disagree. Every show, fluffy or not, can be judged for whether it is well done or badly done. And to many, myself included, this show was judged to be kind of crap.
I don't think it's hard to figure out the negative comments. Most of us have been very detailed at one point or another about the many things wrong with the show.
But let's approach your reasoning and see if that helps you understand our perspectives. You raised two main points.
1.) You said the main couple's chemistry is enough to keep you going. OK. Excellent. Glad you think so.
But to many, the chemistry between Zee and New isn't anything special. No one is denying that chemistry exists. But is it special in any way? That is very much a matter of debate. To me, Zee and New definitely have adequate chemistry to act in a BL CP. But it's no more incredible than the chemistry Zee shared with Saint. Or the chemistry that PP and Bilkin have. Or that of Mew and Gulf. Or that of many CP partners. Zee and New's chemistry is literally the very base requirement of their job.
2.) You say no other BL has managed to make consent look so sexy.
And I get you here, I think ALL BL's should have a conversation where the characters discuss consent, and even each others limits and interests in bed. Or even concerns and fears about what's coming. Can you imagine how more intimate a scene could be if the characters talked things out as a prelude? So I agree that the dialog acquiring consent was good. But I also felt it was less about sexiness and more about offsetting the fact that just prior to the sex Kuea had been drunk and therefore unfit. Regardless, the operative element in their consent dialog is communication. Communication is sexy.
But is it really that special? Consent need not be expressly verbal, much as I would LOVE if it always was. Unless the scene is non-consensual for some reason, then consent is implied when two (adult) people engage in physical intimacy. So any hot scene where the two characters are both of adult age, sober, in their right minds, and willing is "making consent look sexy".
The sex scene between between Sky and Jao in the latest episode of SCOY, which involved a very tiny moment of quiet consent, was THE single hottest thing I've ever seen in a BL. But I would never argue that this scene between Sky and Jao redeems the fuck-ton of shit that is wrong with that drama.
Likewise, a single moment of sexy consent is not enough to compensate for Cutie Pie's numerous problems.
I will throw a third one in just to help out and because I do think #3 is very true.
3.) This show has amazing production values. It looks and sounds incredible. I'm sure you agree.
But production values only dress the heart of a story in extra pretty clothing. I've seen amazing stories told with almost no set and shitty sound on top of it. Stories that will always stay with me.
Now that we've nailed down what you (and I) feel the show did right, I'm going to address one hard fact first. Around each of those elements where you say the show did something right, there are enormous areas for criticism in places far more vital to the overall quality of Cutie Pie. Whether it's fair or not, the higher the production value on a project, the more pressure there is on a drama or movie to provide quality in all areas. It raises the bar. No one would cock a brow at a low quality production on a few poorly dressed sets if the story was also shitty. And the reverse is true. When a team goes all out on set, costumes, lighting, sound, location, props and FX, then there is also the expectation that the story being told will be amazing.
It was right and reasonable to expect the same amount of effort went into the story as went into everything else. And that just wasn't the case. The storytelling was really, really bad. And there's just no glossing over or diminishing the impact of this failing.
Unless it's a porn, sex does not carry a show. Without a good story chemistry between actors becomes fruitless to the audience. Coherent Plot carries a show. Consistent characterizations carry a show. Context creates the framework. Pacing enables the plot to flow in a way that engages audiences with a rhythm of emotion. These are the tools of a good show. These are the things Cutie Pie has serious deficit in.
Sure it had fanservice. Plenty of it. But as someone said a few days back, if the production, story and characterizations are the cake, then the fanservice is the icing. And this drama is all icing. I don't know about you, but for me the icing never disguises a poor quality cake.
So while it may be uncomfortable for people that many of us find major fault with the show, that doesn't mean that our viewpoint is unfathomable or unreasonable. Our critical observations on Cutie Pie make a lot of sense, even taking into account the elements of the show that you really connected with.
InTouch/Daisy moments are indeed necessary to give this series a proper ending š their moments from ep.1-13…
That topic was not only very serious, I feel like it was treated with gravity among Daisy's crew, but then robbed when it was given nothing meaningful between Daisy and Intouch. Daisy and Touch needed to have a real dialog about this. And it could have given their relationship form and substance without moving it out of sync with the other couples' developments. They've obviously worked past it. But we deserved to see what that looked like.
Just me scrambling to gather all the IntouchDaisy crumbs I can get
The look Intouch gave him this episode killed me dead. And when Intouch gently hit-up Daisy for a kiss (after the other two couples kissed for some fucking reason), he backed off easily and smoothly when Daisy appeared uncomfortable. Take notes, Mork (from Fish Upon The Sky). This is how a gentleman conducts himself when he doesn't get what he wants. He does not pressure and he does not punish the boi for saying no.
Intouch is a gentleman's gentleman. Daisy deserves nothing less.
InTouch/Daisy moments are indeed necessary to give this series a proper ending š their moments from ep.1-13…
Man, I never timed them. That is just so damn sad!
Meanwhile, we've got endless wasted moments of Professor Cow Eyes simpering and sighing over how hard it is to use his words at Nuea when he could just trophy hunt instead.
Pfft.
And Intouch is so sweet with Daisy! I will riot if we don't get a solid close for them.
This show is absolute shit when it comes to the main couple. They alternate between so cringy I want to die of embarrassment for them and the absolute ridiculous levels of awful at the root of their relationship. Episode 13 was no different. And I gotta be real, I will hear Toh's nasal whine in my nightmares forever. Worst noise in the world. Next to his simpering. Fuck. Me.
That being said, Sky/Jao swooped in and saved the day. That was hot as fuck. I meant it. Jao gave us a number of sensual faces I would have not thought that character capable of making. Surprise is an amazing actor. And Heng was right there with him. Sky was, as usual, just the right blend of silly, sensual and earnest. And this episode he knocked me over with the assertive sexual appeal. Heng and Surprise had such incredible chemistry this episode that if they don't get their own show after this I will personally drive to Thailand and kick Saint's ass.
Now if we could just jettison Nuea/Toh next episode and devote it all to Intouch/Daisy and Sky/Jao. It would be a proper close to this absolute drunken zoo of a series.
I might just publish my comments verbatim, without any context other than date and time of posting. [If you want…
But do you really wanna whore yourself out to Mandee? Have some shame man! (Says the comic book artist that has done work for hire contracts for porn comic companies before)
I still feel like with CP I stumbled into a show that could have been really great but was gravely mishandled instead.
I told myself no more longer posts on the merits of the show. And I hung up my unofficial review apron in order to save my juice for the final permanent review of Cutie Pie.
However, this week several people have called into question the opinions of people who leave negative commentary on Cutie Pie. Depending on how vitriolic or petty the comments were, I've have given those posts more or less rough handling, while consistently defending the idea that understanding the negative criticism isn't relevant. And this is still true. Why we feel the way we do has no bearing on the merits of our posts or the right to post them here.
However, your post caught my attention in a different way. First, you didn't insult anyone. So brava for that. (Or bravo. Not sure which. I don't know your pronouns) Second, you didn't criticize our opinions, and you followed with the reasons you felt the show shouldn't be criticized. And I can definitely work with that.
So A) forgive the length of this. And B) keep in mind this is with all due respect.
The first thing you mentioned is that this is unrealistic fluff. That might be what CP was intended as, and certainly the arranged marriage between men is unrealistic in Thailand. But the framework is very realistic and not fluffy at all. Elements in the story where Lian works to control Kuea and force secrets from him while absorbing his existence... This happens in the real world. And it's not fluffy there or in fiction. Nor are certain other elements in the show fluffy, such as Yi and Diao's relationship problems. Characters experience real anguish over some of these moments. And while there is sometimes an element of comedy, it's not the prevailing tone. Even episode 11 is dealing with a very NOT fluffy situation that is quite possible in the real world and very serious. So if they intended this to be fluffy, they missed the boat.
An example of a fluffy drama is La Cuisine. That thing is fluffy as fuck. Cutie Pie, on the other hand, has some consistently serious and even harsh moments, all throughout.
But whether this is fluffy and unrealistic isn't important really. I am presuming due to the placement of the "unrealistic fluff" statement in relationship to your assertion that you "don't get all the negative comments", that you think a show being fluffy exempts it from being criticized for content. And I disagree. Every show, fluffy or not, can be judged for whether it is well done or badly done. And to many, myself included, this show was judged to be kind of crap.
I don't think it's hard to figure out the negative comments. Most of us have been very detailed at one point or another about the many things wrong with the show.
But let's approach your reasoning and see if that helps you understand our perspectives. You raised two main points.
1.) You said the main couple's chemistry is enough to keep you going. OK. Excellent. Glad you think so.
But to many, the chemistry between Zee and New isn't anything special. No one is denying that chemistry exists. But is it special in any way? That is very much a matter of debate. To me, Zee and New definitely have adequate chemistry to act in a BL CP. But it's no more incredible than the chemistry Zee shared with Saint. Or the chemistry that PP and Bilkin have. Or that of Mew and Gulf. Or that of many CP partners. Zee and New's chemistry is literally the very base requirement of their job.
2.) You say no other BL has managed to make consent look so sexy.
And I get you here, I think ALL BL's should have a conversation where the characters discuss consent, and even each others limits and interests in bed. Or even concerns and fears about what's coming. Can you imagine how more intimate a scene could be if the characters talked things out as a prelude? So I agree that the dialog acquiring consent was good. But I also felt it was less about sexiness and more about offsetting the fact that just prior to the sex Kuea had been drunk and therefore unfit. Regardless, the operative element in their consent dialog is communication. Communication is sexy.
But is it really that special? Consent need not be expressly verbal, much as I would LOVE if it always was. Unless the scene is non-consensual for some reason, then consent is implied when two (adult) people engage in physical intimacy. So any hot scene where the two characters are both of adult age, sober, in their right minds, and willing is "making consent look sexy".
The sex scene between between Sky and Jao in the latest episode of SCOY, which involved a very tiny moment of quiet consent, was THE single hottest thing I've ever seen in a BL. But I would never argue that this scene between Sky and Jao redeems the fuck-ton of shit that is wrong with that drama.
Likewise, a single moment of sexy consent is not enough to compensate for Cutie Pie's numerous problems.
I will throw a third one in just to help out and because I do think #3 is very true.
3.) This show has amazing production values. It looks and sounds incredible. I'm sure you agree.
But production values only dress the heart of a story in extra pretty clothing. I've seen amazing stories told with almost no set and shitty sound on top of it. Stories that will always stay with me.
Now that we've nailed down what you (and I) feel the show did right, I'm going to address one hard fact first. Around each of those elements where you say the show did something right, there are enormous areas for criticism in places far more vital to the overall quality of Cutie Pie. Whether it's fair or not, the higher the production value on a project, the more pressure there is on a drama or movie to provide quality in all areas. It raises the bar. No one would cock a brow at a low quality production on a few poorly dressed sets if the story was also shitty. And the reverse is true. When a team goes all out on set, costumes, lighting, sound, location, props and FX, then there is also the expectation that the story being told will be amazing.
It was right and reasonable to expect the same amount of effort went into the story as went into everything else. And that just wasn't the case. The storytelling was really, really bad. And there's just no glossing over or diminishing the impact of this failing.
Unless it's a porn, sex does not carry a show. Without a good story chemistry between actors becomes fruitless to the audience. Coherent Plot carries a show. Consistent characterizations carry a show. Context creates the framework. Pacing enables the plot to flow in a way that engages audiences with a rhythm of emotion. These are the tools of a good show. These are the things Cutie Pie has serious deficit in.
Sure it had fanservice. Plenty of it. But as someone said a few days back, if the production, story and characterizations are the cake, then the fanservice is the icing. And this drama is all icing. I don't know about you, but for me the icing never disguises a poor quality cake.
So while it may be uncomfortable for people that many of us find major fault with the show, that doesn't mean that our viewpoint is unfathomable or unreasonable. Our critical observations on Cutie Pie make a lot of sense, even taking into account the elements of the show that you really connected with.
Thankfully, I use a different pseudonym every time I hire out to do adult work. Because that storyline was utter shit.
Diao-- "We never talk. We need to talk."
Yi-- "OKay, here's a dog. And some salty noodles. Lemme smash."
Intouch is a gentleman's gentleman. Daisy deserves nothing less.
Episodes 10-12 especially had way too many wasted, drawn out minutes that could have been shaved down and used to give Daisy some luvin.
Meanwhile, we've got endless wasted moments of Professor Cow Eyes simpering and sighing over how hard it is to use his words at Nuea when he could just trophy hunt instead.
Pfft.
And Intouch is so sweet with Daisy! I will riot if we don't get a solid close for them.
That being said, Sky/Jao swooped in and saved the day. That was hot as fuck. I meant it. Jao gave us a number of sensual faces I would have not thought that character capable of making. Surprise is an amazing actor. And Heng was right there with him. Sky was, as usual, just the right blend of silly, sensual and earnest. And this episode he knocked me over with the assertive sexual appeal. Heng and Surprise had such incredible chemistry this episode that if they don't get their own show after this I will personally drive to Thailand and kick Saint's ass.
Now if we could just jettison Nuea/Toh next episode and devote it all to Intouch/Daisy and Sky/Jao. It would be a proper close to this absolute drunken zoo of a series.
I am shook. Now I'm like... What!
Poor Tofu, now my personal head canon is definitely that you survived. I need to get off my ass and do fanart for this.
And thank you so much for the long explanation. I will comb down and find the thread and read all of it.
I find soft stories are my super secret love. So university stories, while less deep sometimes, often give me the soft fix best.
Then Imma post a review over there!
Amen!