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One of the best GL series to date
The Loyal Pin is one of the most visually striking and well written of the GL dramas.
Acting was topnotch and they didn't hold back on ANY of the scenes. You really believe they are lovers with that level of chemistry.
Cinematography was beautiful and rich with Thai culture, and I was hooked despite it not being my type of story. TLP is very fluffy with minimal angst until nearing the end where it truly unfolds. I generally like plots where the angst makes the fluff fluffier, but here it's the fluff that makes the angst angstier.
The character development is well done. Anin is a strong-willed princess. She grew up in a place of privilege and taught to reach for the stars. She'll fight for what she wants no matter the consequence. Pin is a softhearted commoner. She grew up in a less privileged position and taught to be grateful and subservient, to always know her place. She's compassionate, understanding, and will dutifully do what she thinks is best for everyone even at the cost of her own happiness. Anin's strong will and Pin's softheartedness is the quality they love in each other but it's that quality that ultimately leads to disagreement. Their upbringing shaped them and their relationship helped them grow past that.
The story is well-written but suffers from a pacing issue and the overuse of jealousy. The overabundance of fluff is what makes the pacing off and the amount of times both leads got jealous of who the other is spending time with and needing reassurance over it is immense. A few scenes about their jealousy in a world where their relationship is taboo adds to the angst, but the sheer amount shown is unnecessary to the overall plot.
There are many side characters and the spotlight was always on Anin and Pin with each other. The ratio of Anin and Pin scenes to scenes between them and the cast is unbalanced and makes their world feel less connected. I found it jarring, but it also makes sense in the context of Pin's situation. On the scenes where there is interaction with the other cast, it's Anin who interacts with them while Pin never interacts with anyone outside of a few characters and if she does happen to interact with any of the other cast it's through Anin. Reflecting back on it now, it highlights Pin's lack of a support system and low rank. Anin's family, who Pin has known most of her life, treat Pin like a beloved, distant family member they don't know personally. The interactions are always initiated by them with a polite greeting or offhanded comment within a group settings. They never interact one on one. Despite being their niece, Pin doesn't dare get close to them and they have no reason to get close to her either. While Pin is the adopted daughter of an adopted princess, she is actually the social rank of a commoner. I hadn't registered the divide between social status, so I used to think their relationship was incongruous.
The last few episodes were my absolute favorite because the whole fluffiness of the series was building up to the angstier parts which made it all the more impactful. We really see the struggles noble women go through in that period. The Loyal Pin is definitely a top tier drama within the GL community.
Acting was topnotch and they didn't hold back on ANY of the scenes. You really believe they are lovers with that level of chemistry.
Cinematography was beautiful and rich with Thai culture, and I was hooked despite it not being my type of story. TLP is very fluffy with minimal angst until nearing the end where it truly unfolds. I generally like plots where the angst makes the fluff fluffier, but here it's the fluff that makes the angst angstier.
The character development is well done. Anin is a strong-willed princess. She grew up in a place of privilege and taught to reach for the stars. She'll fight for what she wants no matter the consequence. Pin is a softhearted commoner. She grew up in a less privileged position and taught to be grateful and subservient, to always know her place. She's compassionate, understanding, and will dutifully do what she thinks is best for everyone even at the cost of her own happiness. Anin's strong will and Pin's softheartedness is the quality they love in each other but it's that quality that ultimately leads to disagreement. Their upbringing shaped them and their relationship helped them grow past that.
The story is well-written but suffers from a pacing issue and the overuse of jealousy. The overabundance of fluff is what makes the pacing off and the amount of times both leads got jealous of who the other is spending time with and needing reassurance over it is immense. A few scenes about their jealousy in a world where their relationship is taboo adds to the angst, but the sheer amount shown is unnecessary to the overall plot.
There are many side characters and the spotlight was always on Anin and Pin with each other. The ratio of Anin and Pin scenes to scenes between them and the cast is unbalanced and makes their world feel less connected. I found it jarring, but it also makes sense in the context of Pin's situation. On the scenes where there is interaction with the other cast, it's Anin who interacts with them while Pin never interacts with anyone outside of a few characters and if she does happen to interact with any of the other cast it's through Anin. Reflecting back on it now, it highlights Pin's lack of a support system and low rank. Anin's family, who Pin has known most of her life, treat Pin like a beloved, distant family member they don't know personally. The interactions are always initiated by them with a polite greeting or offhanded comment within a group settings. They never interact one on one. Despite being their niece, Pin doesn't dare get close to them and they have no reason to get close to her either. While Pin is the adopted daughter of an adopted princess, she is actually the social rank of a commoner. I hadn't registered the divide between social status, so I used to think their relationship was incongruous.
The last few episodes were my absolute favorite because the whole fluffiness of the series was building up to the angstier parts which made it all the more impactful. We really see the struggles noble women go through in that period. The Loyal Pin is definitely a top tier drama within the GL community.
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