This show needs a lot of work
Once I finish this show I’ll post my full thoughts and opinions (with full spoilers) about the characters, story, and lore + the romances. There will be some minor spoilers below!
But what I have to say currently is that nothing in the span of six episodes has endeared me to the main couple or the side ones.
Phurit comes across as a Neanderthal who desperately wants to get in Nawa’s pants (to which he harasses him constantly until Nawa finally throws him a bone) and the chemistry between their two actors isn’t really that good to warrant you wanting them to get together outside of plot reasons. Even outside of Nawa there’s nothing that endears me to him + the actor’s performance isn’t the greatest to really sell that he’s actually interested in Nawa romantically.
Speaking of Nawa, he’s such a nothing burger of a character… he’s kind of just there and does nothing but either let others make decisions for him or stand there looking like he’s not even thinking or simply staring into space and looking confused/lost. Idk if it’s because of the actor’s performance of the character or that’s just how the writers wrote him but I don’t really care about him or anything related to him since he doesn’t have much weight to him outside of his backstory and being one of the main characters.
Phraphai is a mixed bag for me. Some of his actions I do understand but then there are others where I’m like why did you do this? What do you gain from doing this? Him being protective bordering on overprotective, i understand because of how the narrative is framed with the history between merpeople(?) and humans, especially with what happens at the end of episode six. However, I will also say that some of his actions regarding Nawa are a bit odd? Another unpopular opinion but is actually popular with what has been said in the comments but the reasons why Phraphai and Nawa would have been better suited for one another is because:
1. The Actors have more chemistry than the actual main pair. Even with how the show tries to frame their relationship.
2. Phraphai actually shows that he is interested in Nawa romantically and doesn’t see him (at least through the acting) as a simple lay. Yes, Phraphai does act weird at times and make even weirder decisions regarding Nawa, I can see where he’s coming from even if I don’t agree with them.
The side characters, okay so minor spoilers but there was no point in giving Phana a girlfriend if you were just going to pair him with Ping… but even then while there is chemistry between the two, they’re very boring and underdeveloped. The third couple… idek why they were introduced, like how are we developing this in the last two episodes? I do like how the show frames Ping’s secret as an allegory for homophobia.
The shows lore/worldbuilding is contradictory and incredibly counterproductive… like why aren’t there mermaids? Why are there only mermen? If the island is trying to be protective and secretive of the last mermen… why is the island such a big tourist attraction/destination?
Lover Merman could be a better show if more effort and time went into it. I’m not saying it’s unwatchable but it’s not the best show either and it’s not even because of the special effects and costuming with the tails (even though that in and of itself is kinda bad but it seems like this show had a budget so work with what you’ve got) but the acting performances from most of the main cast outside a few, the writing and pacing, and uninteresting romances are what makes this one of the lesser BLs to watch this year. Most of the actors are good to look at though!
But what I have to say currently is that nothing in the span of six episodes has endeared me to the main couple or the side ones.
Phurit comes across as a Neanderthal who desperately wants to get in Nawa’s pants (to which he harasses him constantly until Nawa finally throws him a bone) and the chemistry between their two actors isn’t really that good to warrant you wanting them to get together outside of plot reasons. Even outside of Nawa there’s nothing that endears me to him + the actor’s performance isn’t the greatest to really sell that he’s actually interested in Nawa romantically.
Speaking of Nawa, he’s such a nothing burger of a character… he’s kind of just there and does nothing but either let others make decisions for him or stand there looking like he’s not even thinking or simply staring into space and looking confused/lost. Idk if it’s because of the actor’s performance of the character or that’s just how the writers wrote him but I don’t really care about him or anything related to him since he doesn’t have much weight to him outside of his backstory and being one of the main characters.
Phraphai is a mixed bag for me. Some of his actions I do understand but then there are others where I’m like why did you do this? What do you gain from doing this? Him being protective bordering on overprotective, i understand because of how the narrative is framed with the history between merpeople(?) and humans, especially with what happens at the end of episode six. However, I will also say that some of his actions regarding Nawa are a bit odd? Another unpopular opinion but is actually popular with what has been said in the comments but the reasons why Phraphai and Nawa would have been better suited for one another is because:
1. The Actors have more chemistry than the actual main pair. Even with how the show tries to frame their relationship.
2. Phraphai actually shows that he is interested in Nawa romantically and doesn’t see him (at least through the acting) as a simple lay. Yes, Phraphai does act weird at times and make even weirder decisions regarding Nawa, I can see where he’s coming from even if I don’t agree with them.
The side characters, okay so minor spoilers but there was no point in giving Phana a girlfriend if you were just going to pair him with Ping… but even then while there is chemistry between the two, they’re very boring and underdeveloped. The third couple… idek why they were introduced, like how are we developing this in the last two episodes? I do like how the show frames Ping’s secret as an allegory for homophobia.
The shows lore/worldbuilding is contradictory and incredibly counterproductive… like why aren’t there mermaids? Why are there only mermen? If the island is trying to be protective and secretive of the last mermen… why is the island such a big tourist attraction/destination?
Lover Merman could be a better show if more effort and time went into it. I’m not saying it’s unwatchable but it’s not the best show either and it’s not even because of the special effects and costuming with the tails (even though that in and of itself is kinda bad but it seems like this show had a budget so work with what you’ve got) but the acting performances from most of the main cast outside a few, the writing and pacing, and uninteresting romances are what makes this one of the lesser BLs to watch this year. Most of the actors are good to look at though!
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