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Review by Daryl: Script [Forest]

Character Development: 8/10

Let's start with the protagonist, Reese. She's a very realistic persona and that makes her quite likeable. She doesn't fit into any stereotypes because she's her own person. Her likes and dislikes aren't banal. I love how they seem to be a mixture rather than a definite group. They aren't what you would expect of a cliché female protagonist. Similarly, she has an unpredictable behavior especially when it comes to her reactions to some situations. That's how to make an original character.

I'm not sure I can call Connor the antagonist because the entire cast hasn't been introduced. He doesn't even seem to be against her. He's more of a limitation: a stumbling block to overcome. I'll just settle for saying he's the opposer. Adding him gave the cast a great boost. No one wants a story where everyone is made of vanilla and sunshine. That's not real life. There will be bad people. Connor's a representation of that hard truth. I love how his possessiveness is portrayed: the way he acts like he owns not just her but her world and everything in-between. He truly believes he's in the right. He's Connor, after all. He can never be wrong. That's the vibe he gives off. Well done for showcasing it properly.

I do have a suggestion pertaining to him. It's nice that he's the way he is. Inspite of that, I feel like we weren't given enough of the other side of his personality. How do I mean? Controlling people are bad. Yes, you know that. I know that. Everyone knows that. Controlling people never know they're bad while the people they hurt are always the last to know. I would have loved a more gradual change that could constitute a character arc for Connor. He doesn't have to start off good or stop being a pain. He should remain as he is but some good characteristics should be introduced. When he does one or two good things for Reese, we're given a good reason to give him the benefit of a doubt as Reese must have done at some point. It'll explain why she didn't realise how terrible he was until they got to this bad point where she's even scared of leaving. No one starts a relationship with an abusive person. There must have been some good she was drawn to.

Chandler: doting Chandler. I'm really loving the tension he brings into the plot in terms of his affection for Reese, and ability to stir trouble due to his strong-headedness. I won't be surprised if he gets into some nasty situations in the future in a bid to protect her. He's very endearing. Every story has one character everybody just has to like. Chandler is that loveable character in your story.

The story is written from Reese's pov but it's quite surprising that he's the most developed character so far. That's another thing I like about him. It's easy to tell who he is because he's so bold that you must notice his quirks. He doesn't back down from a fight whether emotional or physical. You bring him down, he'll rise right back up. He's a bonus that brightens your cast. In addition, he's a character that has the potential to fuel many changes in the plot. Such characters are very important. I would love to see how his actions affect the story.

His most important role is highlighting Reese's weaknesses. This brings me to the aspect of strengths and weaknesses. I like how he and Reese contradict each other: not conspicuously yet not vaguely. An example is when she was scared of cutting her hair even after deciding to shorten it. That showed her indecisiveness. Chan contradicts this trait by being the picture of decisiveness. If he sets out to do something, he sees it through to the end. Another example is her inability to break things off with Connor. Chan provides a good contrast by practically being ready to end things on her behalf. The list goes on. It's a great technique to shed more light on your characters.

I won't say much about the minor characters. I'll need to digest more chapters to be able to dissect their personalities. Nonetheless, I will say that I like how realistic they all are. Her mom forgot where her phone was in a haste to leave. Every mom goes through that. Her brother made childish mistakes that were quite adorable like coloring water red. Toddlers always do that. Her other brother, Kai, appears to be on an escape of sorts to achieve a semblance of independence all young adults want. What's more relatable than the things I've stated? Portraying characters this way allows your readers to connect to them properly.