caliban
This review may contain spoilers
The right way to end the series
Special episodes have traditionally been fan service with no real story -- an epilogue of sorts meant to simply reward fans with a little extra sweetness between its two leads. They're a slice of life, showing them get comfortable in their relationship and faced with a minor conflict that's easily resolved within 45 minutes or less. But if a special episode is presented as an almost two-hour movie, one that you have to pay for to watch, we should expect for there to be stakes that could make or break a relationship.
Lovely Writer Special Episode spends most of its runtime on two elaborate schemes. We see Nubsib do what he does best -- avid viewers know what this is so no spoilers needed. Just like in the main series, we see Gene in situations he was forced (or coerced) into. But this time around, both characters have shown growth. They're more nuanced -- by the way, props to Kao and Up for showing those subtle nuances with restrained facial expressions -- while still retaining their season one personalities. It only has been two years since, after all.
While the episode could've used its time more efficiently and showed a more complex story, I feel it didn't have to. Gene and Nubsib are, for the most part, an unproblematic pair and what is shown is really probably the most realistic conflict they can have as a couple. And it's already a much better narrative than the series finale (episode 12).
There's also something to be said about a sequence late into the episode, which delves into separate character arcs. These were told in such a succinct (and effective) manner that there's room for speculation, interpretation, and potential for exploration in a future season or spin-off. One, in particular, involving Aey, is a story that should be told as it deals with another one of the "open secrets" of celebrity life.
Finally, we get to the end, which is the best ending I could ever ask for. It's a quiet one, but packs a punch, especially now during Pride Month. In it, aside from the usual things you'd expect from an ending sequence, they managed to sneak in an important message about a key queer issue -- and did so seamlessly and naturally. And the final frames just sealed the deal, providing a truly satisfying end.
Lovely Writer Special Episode spends most of its runtime on two elaborate schemes. We see Nubsib do what he does best -- avid viewers know what this is so no spoilers needed. Just like in the main series, we see Gene in situations he was forced (or coerced) into. But this time around, both characters have shown growth. They're more nuanced -- by the way, props to Kao and Up for showing those subtle nuances with restrained facial expressions -- while still retaining their season one personalities. It only has been two years since, after all.
While the episode could've used its time more efficiently and showed a more complex story, I feel it didn't have to. Gene and Nubsib are, for the most part, an unproblematic pair and what is shown is really probably the most realistic conflict they can have as a couple. And it's already a much better narrative than the series finale (episode 12).
There's also something to be said about a sequence late into the episode, which delves into separate character arcs. These were told in such a succinct (and effective) manner that there's room for speculation, interpretation, and potential for exploration in a future season or spin-off. One, in particular, involving Aey, is a story that should be told as it deals with another one of the "open secrets" of celebrity life.
Finally, we get to the end, which is the best ending I could ever ask for. It's a quiet one, but packs a punch, especially now during Pride Month. In it, aside from the usual things you'd expect from an ending sequence, they managed to sneak in an important message about a key queer issue -- and did so seamlessly and naturally. And the final frames just sealed the deal, providing a truly satisfying end.
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