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Papa & Daddy taiwanese drama review
Completed
Papa & Daddy
1 people found this review helpful
by labcat
Dec 1, 2021
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Deals with serious themes in a lighthearted way

The story isn't exactly very strong in this series, as the events are somewhat disjointed. Despite being cute and lighthearted, it deals with serious themes like coming out (or how not coming out could affect a gay couple's relationship), the public's attitude towards gay people and gay marriage, and how gay couples with children have to deal with the possible discrimination their children might encounter in school.

Some of the scenarios are clichéd--the way Jerry and Damian try to hide their relationship from Jerry's mother, for instance. And yet, there is sensitivity in the scenes. Damian doesn't pressure Jerry to come out to his parents (unlike so many characters in BL series), but Jerry's reluctance to come out to his parents inevitably strains their relationship. When Jerry's father eventually finds out about Jerry and Damian, his doesn't clearly accept or reject them. The father is not someone who is used to accepting homosexual relationships, but he understands that society has changed and acceptance is becoming mainstream. If nothing else, this highlights the importance of equal rights. If even the law does not recognize the rights of traditionally marginalized groups, then some people will forever be stuck in their antiquated views.

Although the conflicts are quite quickly resolved in the episodes, the series can be quite moving. We see how much something as simple as not being rejected by others can mean to a gay person. The series is filled with good intentions and positive messages. But this is also how it becomes weaker. In many ways, it is like a well-made and rather interesting educational video, but how about its artistic merits? The attempts to bring in themes and send a message seem a tad too deliberate, and there is little attempt at plot development or more nuanced characterization, so the series could have been better in many ways.
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