Your Dear Daddy — A Story Full of Good Ideas That Never Feels Complete
Your Dear Daddy is one of the most frustrating BLs I've watched in a long time. Not because the story is terrible, but because it constantly introduces interesting ideas without ever fully exploring them. I finished the series with the feeling that I had only watched half of the story. The foundations were there for something memorable, yet the drama never seemed interested in finishing what it started.The premise immediately caught my attention. The romance between Saitharn and Sila develops naturally, and the quieter atmosphere allows the characters to breathe instead of rushing from one dramatic moment to another. For several episodes, I genuinely believed I was watching another strong production from Studio Wabi Sabi. Unfortunately, the further the story progressed, the more unfinished it became.
My biggest criticism is the writing.
Too many important storylines are introduced and then almost abandoned. We never truly understand Saitharn's family. The story surrounding his ex-boyfriend's suicide is mentioned but barely explored, leaving one of the most emotionally significant events in his life without proper development. The complicated history between Sila and Maenmueang also deserved much more attention, as did Jakkrit's secret with Sila, which feels far less important than the series initially suggests. Those are only the largest examples. Throughout the drama, several supporting characters appear to have meaningful stories, only for the series to move on before giving them satisfying conclusions.
The casting also made one aspect of the story difficult for me to believe.
SaengNuea Jitaboon perfectly fits a 23-year-old character. His youthful energy, personality, and appearance all match the role naturally. Fluke Pusit, however, never convinced me as a man supposedly in his mid-thirties. The script keeps reminding us of the age difference, but visually it simply isn't there. Fluke still has a very youthful face, and no amount of dialogue can create a ten-year age gap the audience cannot actually see. Personally, I think the production would have been stronger if they had either adjusted Sila's age or cast someone who naturally looked older.
That being said, I don't think either actor is the problem.
SaengNuea fully embraces his character, and Fluke delivers a sincere performance throughout the series. Their chemistry is pleasant, and several emotional moments genuinely work. My criticism is directed at the casting decision itself rather than the performances. Both actors do everything they can with the material they're given.
Perhaps that's what disappointed me the most. Studio Wabi Sabi has produced or co-produced some of my favourite BLs, including Until We Meet Again, Love Mechanics, Between Us, A Boss and a Babe, Perfect 10 Liners, and Fourever You. At the same time, the studio has been handling an impressive number of productions, with When Oranges Fall currently airing, Fourever You Part 2 having just finished, and highly anticipated projects like Be My Player Two already on the horizon. Watching Your Dear Daddy, I honestly found myself wondering whether the studio is simply taking on too many projects at once. I obviously can't know what happened behind the scenes, but this drama feels like one that wasn't given enough time to refine its script before filming began. I'd much rather see Wabi Sabi produce fewer series each year if it meant every story received the same level of care that made the studio one of the most respected names in BL.
Technically, the production remains solid. The cinematography is attractive, the rural setting creates a peaceful atmosphere, and the direction is never amateurish. That's what makes the weak storytelling even more frustrating. Everything around the script works, but the script itself constantly leaves important pieces missing.
Final Thought
Your Dear Daddy isn't a bad idea. In fact, it's full of good ideas. That's exactly why it disappointed me so much. The cast is likeable, the romance has genuine potential, and several emotional moments really work. Unfortunately, too many important storylines are left unfinished, preventing the drama from becoming what it could have been. For me, this wasn't a failure of the actors—it was a failure to give an otherwise promising story the time and attention it deserved.
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Disappointed
The show started off interesting but quickly became something else. This is a GL show in disguise as a BL. Almost all screen time was dedicated to the two female characters who didn't have an exciting story to begin with, just two kind of bland characters.The corporate espionage plot felt contrived and was just flat out boring most of the time. The only really exciting part was the main character's trauma from his previous relationship which unfortunately for the show, they wrapped up and resolved pretty quickly in just one episode.
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Some stories just need room to breathe
I'll admit that one of the main reasons I started this drama was Fluke, and it was so nice to finally have him back on my screen. There's something comforting about seeing an actor you've missed, and he reminded me why I've always enjoyed watching him. I liked the idea behind Saithan and Sila's relationship, and the peaceful farm setting gave the story a warm, cozy atmosphere that made it easy to watch. Sila was much softer and more caring than I expected, while Saithan's determination to stand on his own made him easy to root for. My biggest issue, though, was the pacing. Everything, especially the development of their relationship, happened a little too quickly. I never felt like I had enough time to fully see their feelings grow, which made some emotional moments less impactful than they could have been. Even so, I still had a good time with it. It may not be one of the strongest BLs I've seen, but it was a pleasant watch, and having Fluke back in a leading role was definitely one of the highlights for me.Was this review helpful to you?
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Title is misleading I was expecting a 'daddy' kink & I'm disappointed.
No, but really, Saithan needed to call Sila "Daddy" at least once.The subtitles were a bit off in the beginning & on the site I watched at least, they didn't translate the Korean in the first episode.
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this series. I had positive thoughts going into it, but no real expectations, & I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself watching it without getting distracted. That being said, it probably helped that I sped through all the GL scenes like I was being paid to. I thought I would really like the pair at first, but they really had way more screen time than was needed, and I honestly didn't like Phae at all. I don't mind emotional or weak characters, but it felt like she spent half the series crying over something & doing nothing about it but seeking comfort from Gale. Some of their time should have been given to Saengla and Mok, who we don't really get a resolution for; technically, we don't even get a beginning, just a lot of hinting that the feelings are there.
I may have rated this series higher if the GL couple's screen time had been cut in half. Their parts added very little to the story that it could have easily been done, especially since they knew each other already and the attraction was already there.
My favorite character was Saithan. SaengNuea's acting was perfect in portraying a bratty but caring person with very little self-worth and plenty of trauma. (He's also adorable.) I was actually hoping that Sila would get to have a conversation with his mother & tell her about the damage she's mentally caused Saithan. Between the mother & the abusive asshole of a boyfriend, this boy needs therapy. He literally thinks that if anything bad happens, it's his fault; he doesn't like making mistakes, and his self-worth is in the trash, and he hides all of that behind a smile & a sassy attitude.
The plot twist was both obvious and a surprise. Wipa being a Spy for Khum Rimpha wasn't surprising at all; I kind of figured that out around episode 4 or 5, but her being Montri's illegitimate daughter actually caught me off guard. I don't see why any of the kids would do anything for this man; he treats them like they are disposable pawns that can never please him. Why do they want his acknowledgement? He's horrible. He's the kind of father who I would only stick around until I'm employed and able to stand on my own feet; after that, don't expect to see me again. The mom also just smiled and nodded like there wasn't a thought going on upstairs; the lady didn't stand up to her husband at all concerning her kids.
This was a short series that neither stands out nor fades into the background.
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This review may contain spoilers
Daddy Issues
Starting with this: Fluke Pusit is so handsome. Hahaha. I also loved Nuea's sassiness.Honestly, if we're going based on the title, it sounds pretty cringe. Because of it, I was expecting a super rich man who constantly spoils his lover. But there was none of that. He just wanted to be called "Daddy." I think the real daddy here is the villain uncle because all his kids have daddy issues... plus the secret child plot twist. 🤣🤣
I actually loved the first two episodes of this series. Then, as usual, my interest started to drift away. The story didn't feel solid. I couldn't tell if it wanted to focus on character development, the business storyline, or the romance. A lot of plots were introduced, but almost all of them were wrapped up in an unsatisfying way. For example, what happened to Saithan's relationship with his mother? And what happened to Manmeung?
I don't mind having a GL side couple, but at this point, I honestly didn't know who the main couple was anymore. The girls took up so much screen time, especially in the finale. Ironically, I was more invested in the kids because they portrayed the confusion of discovering their feelings in a very realistic way.
Fluke and Nuea had good chemistry, and their acting was decent. I just hope they get a much stronger story next time.
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The cast delivers exceptional performances across the board. The main leads, Nuea (Saithan) and Fluke (Sila), share effortless chemistry, with Fluke convincingly conveying how deeply in love he was through every look and gesture. Meanwhile, the side couple, Mok (Caesar) and Saengla (Defei Chan), adds a sweet, tender dynamic that brings balance to the overall story.
Beyond the visual appeal of the cast and stunning visuals, the show handles its emotional beats well. However, it falls slightly short on background depth regarding Saithan. While his grief over a past loss is clear, diving deeper into his family estrangement would have added extra resonance to his journey.
Verdict: An engaging, visually beautiful drama filled with charming romance, compelling acting, and a scenic change of pace that keeps you invested from start to finish.
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This series really surprised me. 🤍
I honestly didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but I was completely wrong. The story drew me in, and before I knew it, I was looking forward to each new episode.
Sometimes the series you expect the least from end up being the ones that surprise you the most. ✨
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Your Dear Trope!
This is saccharin-sweet story that is surprisingly entertaining for the right reasons, even if the premise is not necessarily a new one. It also has a few unexpectedly touching subplots that are effective from an emotional perspective. And, as of late, what is also happening, many of the supporting characters are just so much more entertaining and varied that they become the central figures. Unfortunately, the protagonists are becoming your standard-formatted tropes. There is nothing new or creative about them. It is not that they are not trying; there is just nothing in the script or plot to make them unique anymore. They are becoming, for lack of a better term – “ordinary”.Was this review helpful to you?
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Inconstant, Inconsistent, and Doing Burnouts on the Corners
I’ll start with the pacing. There is none. The tone, plot, and genre switched, braked, and hit top speed to the point of giving me whiplash. My neck aches.From romantic comedy, through melodrama, with an attempt to stop over in Thriller city for a meal, this is the kind of drama that makes me remember those mix and match books, with legs, body, and heads on separate strips of card, so you could put a ballerina’s legs under the body of a firefighter, and top it off with an old granny’s head. The changes in vibe were jarring, and turned me off the very sweet main love story, which should have been front and centre, but which ended up being an afterthought. Don’t even get me started on the second couple, who got truncated into a will they/won’t they brain fart.
The locations were great, they cast were solid, aside from the odd ham, and the photography was very pretty, but they were so badly served by the writing, that I feel like there should be grudges over this series.
The good news is that it was short. Eight episodes is a blessing, when a story is as incoherent and zig-zagging as this one. In all honesty, I don’t recommend it, but I will be keeping an eye out for future roles from the cast, especially the main couples, and the villain (senior). He was brilliantly despicable. I may check out his past roles too.
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It tried to do too much all at once and then did too little
I think the series would've been a lot more enjoyable and focused without the rival plot an an ex-boyfriend who offed himself. Characters don't need a sad backstory to be interesting. There is nothing wrong with a sweet country side romance between a bratty city boy and a handsome farmer daddy. A slow-burn about their daily lives on the tea farm would've been more than enough to entertain me. Sprinkle in a couple of cute and sexy scenes and we're all good. I really don't get why they tried to turn Sila into a typical CEO-character and had him quarrel with another company's heir. He's a farmer for god's sake. Instead of having him run around in a suit in his fancy hotel/office meeting room, show him topless while doing manual labor on his farm. Let him carry around barrels of tea wine, have him build a fence, pour cold water over his hot naked body idk There were so many options, but alas... And by the way, where was the daddy kink? I'm not the biggest fan of it personally, but given the name of the series, I really thought we'd get at least some kink-representation... That was pretty much the reason I even started watching the series.Oh well, all in all it was an ok watch. They tried.
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Was suprised by the whole overall, got me hooked on the 1st episode.
I first saw about this series from some clips on tiktok and that was when the series wasnt finished yet. Now i just binged watched the whole series and im genuinely suprised by it. With just checking out those few clips and then reading all these mixed reviews, i just thougjt to myself (why dont i just watch the 1st episode. Then ill see if it catches my attention). Thats what i do with any series. Alot of people kept giving bad reviews though. Some were being very nitpicky, some gave honset reviews, some say they still watch but theres potential, and some watch just for the actors. I think people judge series and actors by just tiny tiny little reasons way to quick. Yes this series story/writing might be different from typical bl series out there. Thats good though, its something new and fresh. I saw that people though the storyline was incomplete or missing something. Thats just your opinion. I believe this was a good series to watch, the actors visuals were top 100, and they all acted amazingly. The story was good and ran at a good pace. There was twist and turns and it left me wanting to know what happens on the next epsiode. I think that rice (director), nuea,fluke, and all actors, crew, etc; did very good with this series. A good watch 👍💙Was this review helpful to you?
I don't understand the low ratings...
This was a great drama, i am really puzzled why people are complaining so much.I loved the story, i was complete and very well produced and executed. The visuals were stunning and the music was good.
All the story parts were explained well. Why Saithan was sleeping around and running away from home and everyone close to him. The isseus with Maenmueang and his father and the conflict with Sila. The backstory of the girl couple.
I see people writing that the reveal of the spy came out of nowhere, while i allready saw that coming around episode 4-5.
I was also happy to see there was a complete complete GL story within this BL, i like it when there is a bit variation.
The whole cast did a great job acting. Fluke is an amazing actor and i am so glad to see he finaly got a main role. SaengNuea, also did an amazing job and i was shocked to see this only was his second drama in 3 years. This man deserves a lot more roles.
And Fluke and SaengNuea are a match made in heaven, OMG they have so much chemistry!! Their whole dynamics are just great. The kisses and NC scenes were amazing and loaded with great chemistry. I really hope to see many more drama's with them together.
I will definatly rewatch this several times in the future.
The only negative thing in this drama was the confrontation when the perpetrator was trying to attack Mueanphrae in ep. 8 That was really badly done.
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