My Grandpa Is a BL Writer – Series Review

Sak is a retired author. His award-winning fantasy novel, Saming the Slayer, sold so well that he has been living off the royalties ever since. With that money, Sak opened the Saeng Karun Foundation. This orphanage has given many children a home over the years. Sak also built a family of his own. After losing his wife, he raised his two sons, Sorn and Sun. Now, he lives with Sorn's family, which includes his wife Mart, his son Save, and his daughter Snow. Sak's elderly mother also lives with them.

The orphanage has hit hard times. Saming the Slayer barely sells anymore, so the royalty cheques have dried up. Sorn works a delivery job, but his income isn't enough to cover everything. His brother Sun keeps pushing Sak to just sell the orphanage and move on. But Sak is stubborn. Years ago, he made a promise to keep that place open for children who need a home. Nothing is going to change his mind. Even though Sak is buried in debt, he believes it's his responsibility to provide a home for everyone.

Sorn and his wife Mart try to chip in by monetizing a secret family dessert recipe. Their first attempts are a disaster, but they eventually figure it out. They create a tasty treat that people actually want to buy. Save and his best friend Guy help promote the desserts on social media. Their natural on-camera chemistry turns out to be a selling point. It's a win, but it's not enough money. Despite creating a new revenue stream, the orphanage's debt remains too much.

Sak decides to come out of retirement and write a new novel. He figures a sequel to Saming the Slayer is the obvious move, but his publisher shuts that idea down fast. The market has changed. Nobody is lining up for more of his old fantasy story. After doing some research, Sak notices how popular BL fiction has become. He makes a bold call. Sak is going to write a gay love story that will hopefully save the orphanage. Save and Snow are fully on board.

The only problem is that Sak has no idea how to write BL. Snow and the orphanage kids try reading his early drafts, but they don't like his writing. His publisher tells him the story needs more spicy content to attract BL fans. As someone who has never written a gay romance before, Sak feels way out of his comfort zone. That's when Save comes up with a plan. He'll start dating Guy and feed his grandfather the romantic details. Sak can use those real moments as material for his novel.

Save and Guy are high school students. They have been platonic best friends until now. Guy had been carrying a secret crush and eventually confessed. Save turned him down, and things got awkward between them. But once Grandpa needs a love story, Save has a change of heart. He agrees to date Guy, but not because he has fallen for him. He's doing it to gather material. Guy has no idea. As far as he knows, Save finally feels the same way. Guy has no clue he's being used as a muse.

My Grandpa Is a BL Writer is a feel-good family drama about an old man trying to save an orphanage. Unless you're some evil Disney villain, you're obviously rooting for him. The series is full of those warm fuzzy moments. Aww, Grandpa's family is rallying together! Aww, the kids are bonding! Aww, everyone is trying their best! Many storylines are enjoyable. They deal with everyday issues, such as making money, growing older, and family squabbles. We can easily relate to the characters and their experiences.

I love stories with older protagonists, especially when the lead is as well-written as Sak. Don't expect a stereotypical wise grandpa. Sak is a colourful character with quirks, opinions, and one hell of a stubborn streak. While he has old-fashioned views, his growth is important to the story. He's listening. He's learning. I like that the series shows us it's never too late to change our thinking. The best scenes are whenever Sak and Save hang out. Grandpa is besties with his grandson. Oh, they have such lovely chats! Thankfully, the writing never gets too sappy. Their dynamic is just two generations enjoying each other's company.

I have nothing but admiration for Sak's actor (Suprawat). He handles the dramatic moments with so much conviction, particularly in the second half of the series. Besides, this man is in his late 80s and still headlining a BL series. If any of us have that stamina at his age, we're winning at life. Save's actor (Plan) also delivers a really solid performance. My favourite scene is when Save pretends to drown, swinging his arms around like an over-the-top goofball. I was cracking up! Guy's actor (Kong) isn't the strongest performer in the cast, but at least he looks cute.

The main plot is certainly unique. An old man writing his own version of Heated Rivalry? Sure, why not! The storyline can be a lot of fun. At one point, Sak reminisces about his "close friend" from his army days. OMG! This shocking chapter of Grandpa's forbidden attraction!? But I gotta admit, some moments make me uncomfortable. Early on, Sak and Save aren't cool with the gays. They're writing BL just to make money. Ugh… That doesn't sit well with me. I'm offended watching these homophobes profit from LGBTQ+ interests. Stay away! The genre isn't meant for you!

And then, the story gets even ickier… Save fakes a relationship with Guy, stringing along his best friend just so his grandpa has something to write about. Oh, hell no! THIS LYING SCUMBAG. If you don't like Guy, stop giving him false hope. It's gross to use his feelings as reference material for a story. I couldn't support their romance for most of the series. Save's antics pissed me off too much! But eventually, Save apologizes. Even though it's hard to forgive him, Save becomes so charming in the last few episodes. As he redeems himself, I finally start shipping this couple.

A few storylines bothered me, especially anything that goes beyond BL and into broader LGBTQ+ themes. There's a pattern. A straight character does something awful, making the gay guy feel bad about himself before he forgives them. If I had a dime every time that plot happens, let's just say I'd have enough money to save the orphanage! But ultimately, I choose to focus on the positives. The finale is so uplifting, where everyone becomes a better person. It's hard to stay mad at My Grandpa Is a BL Writer. This well-meaning series delivers such heartwarming messages.