I feel like the comment section is split into three camps:
1. People who expected this to be a super subversive BL drama critiquing the industry, bordering on a documentary. 2. BL fans who are offended at being called out for their toxicity, so they're latching onto other weaknesses the show has and beating them to death. 3. People who genuinely dislike something whether it's the sound effects or something else.
My response to the first camp is that this is the first BL drama on Channel 3 which is one of the big 3 channels in Thailand. It needs to be popular with BL fans and the general public which is why it's a bubbly satirical rom-com and not a grim gritty look at the BL industry where people are crying and toxic things are happening 24/7. People who watch BL dramas want to have fun when they're watching. Nobody wants to watch a depressing documentary. Besides, I'm 100% sure more direct critique will come in the second half of the season when Nubsib and Gene start dating. This was shown in the trailer.
This brings me to another issue: Nubsib. People seem to think that his creepy behavior is going to be OK in the show, and are using that as a reason why Lovely Writer is "just another toxic BL" when Gene is literally crying about Nubsib lying to him in the very first trailer we saw. Plots take time to come to fruition, guys. We're only on episode 2. People also seem to think Nubsib's stiff acting is a flaw when that's the point. Nubsib is purposefully stiff because he's acting. He's being inauthentic! He's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
My response to the second camp is: I expected BL fans to be overly offended and I expected that to be a reason this show wouldn't get very popular with International fans specifically. People don't like being called out or made fun of. This show only has 2 episodes out and it somehow has a lower score than TharnType SS2 on MDL, which was a trainwreck from start to finish. I've already spotted a popular TharnType commenter in this comment section acting overly offended on MAME's behalf but pretending they hate the show because of other issues.
My response to the third camp: Tee the director has heard the criticism about the sound effects and said he's going to take it into consideration so we should let them know any other criticisms in the hashtag on Twitter.
Personally, I like the sound effects because they added to the satire for me. Gene is trapped in a bubbly anime-like world with Nubsib to the point where it feels like a BL novel, but his fantasy is eventually going to end since that's not Nubsib's real personality.
My overall opinion on the series:
I love the subversion of having a cunning young male lead and a naive older male lead since usually the dynamic is reversed. There's a lot of comedy in watching Nubsib play with Gene and Gene being totally oblivious in giving into him because Nubsib plays "sweet" so well. I'm very excited to see what happens when Gene eventually finds out Nubsib isn't sweet at all so their dynamic can become more balanced.
I find Gene very relatable as a writer from his introverted nature in public to his crabby gremlin attitude once he's alone or in one-on-one interactions. He feels like a real person and Up's casting adds to it. He's cute but he's not a 21-year-old pretty boy model. He looks like he could be just some guy you know that writes. He's also the best actor in the cast and personally speaking, the best actor I've seen in BL. His microexpressions are really fun to watch.
Kao is very funny as Nubsib. He's a sweet guy IRL so it's fun seeing him play such a sneaky wolf. He's doing a good job but I think he'll shine more once Nubsib's mask comes off.
The production value of the show is really nice. I love the pink glow that seems to radiate off everything, the soft color palette and lighting, and the amazing opening song. It's so cute and bubbly! Tee did a great job with the nuts and bolts of the show—it's gorgeous to look at.
1. People who expected this to be a super subversive BL drama critiquing the industry, bordering on a documentary.
2. BL fans who are offended at being called out for their toxicity, so they're latching onto other weaknesses the show has and beating them to death.
3. People who genuinely dislike something whether it's the sound effects or something else.
My response to the first camp is that this is the first BL drama on Channel 3 which is one of the big 3 channels in Thailand. It needs to be popular with BL fans and the general public which is why it's a bubbly satirical rom-com and not a grim gritty look at the BL industry where people are crying and toxic things are happening 24/7. People who watch BL dramas want to have fun when they're watching. Nobody wants to watch a depressing documentary. Besides, I'm 100% sure more direct critique will come in the second half of the season when Nubsib and Gene start dating. This was shown in the trailer.
This brings me to another issue: Nubsib. People seem to think that his creepy behavior is going to be OK in the show, and are using that as a reason why Lovely Writer is "just another toxic BL" when Gene is literally crying about Nubsib lying to him in the very first trailer we saw. Plots take time to come to fruition, guys. We're only on episode 2. People also seem to think Nubsib's stiff acting is a flaw when that's the point. Nubsib is purposefully stiff because he's acting. He's being inauthentic! He's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
My response to the second camp is: I expected BL fans to be overly offended and I expected that to be a reason this show wouldn't get very popular with International fans specifically. People don't like being called out or made fun of. This show only has 2 episodes out and it somehow has a lower score than TharnType SS2 on MDL, which was a trainwreck from start to finish. I've already spotted a popular TharnType commenter in this comment section acting overly offended on MAME's behalf but pretending they hate the show because of other issues.
My response to the third camp: Tee the director has heard the criticism about the sound effects and said he's going to take it into consideration so we should let them know any other criticisms in the hashtag on Twitter.
Personally, I like the sound effects because they added to the satire for me. Gene is trapped in a bubbly anime-like world with Nubsib to the point where it feels like a BL novel, but his fantasy is eventually going to end since that's not Nubsib's real personality.
My overall opinion on the series:
I love the subversion of having a cunning young male lead and a naive older male lead since usually the dynamic is reversed. There's a lot of comedy in watching Nubsib play with Gene and Gene being totally oblivious in giving into him because Nubsib plays "sweet" so well. I'm very excited to see what happens when Gene eventually finds out Nubsib isn't sweet at all so their dynamic can become more balanced.
I find Gene very relatable as a writer from his introverted nature in public to his crabby gremlin attitude once he's alone or in one-on-one interactions. He feels like a real person and Up's casting adds to it. He's cute but he's not a 21-year-old pretty boy model. He looks like he could be just some guy you know that writes. He's also the best actor in the cast and personally speaking, the best actor I've seen in BL. His microexpressions are really fun to watch.
Kao is very funny as Nubsib. He's a sweet guy IRL so it's fun seeing him play such a sneaky wolf. He's doing a good job but I think he'll shine more once Nubsib's mask comes off.
The production value of the show is really nice. I love the pink glow that seems to radiate off everything, the soft color palette and lighting, and the amazing opening song. It's so cute and bubbly! Tee did a great job with the nuts and bolts of the show—it's gorgeous to look at.