I think this counts? https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/doku_wo_kurawaba_sara_made/
You really have to think of a lot of bl manhwas through the lens of the eastern hemisphere. purity/innocence is especially “likable” and a lot of the time the mc will feel self-inserty because that’s what it is. The bland/innocent/clueless trope is so prevalent because that’s what Asian readers (their main audience) tend to like or prefer. I’m sure not I’m completely right but that’s my guess
It’s kind of the same of how a lot of western romance novels has the “alpha male shadow powers” archetype LMAO it’s the same there just way more rapey.
as for recs: the coast of the waves, checkmate, hit me hard, boundary of delusion. These are ones that are mainly not clueless or innocent (morally or sexually)
I think you’re right! The origins of tropes are really interesting from a sociological perspective. Also, I don’t even dislike the trope, but an abundance of one thing means it’s harder to find the opposite, haha! Thanks for the recs!
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/saezuru_tori_wa_habatakanai/ - personal favourite of mine but ongoing. Uke basically runs the underworld and he's not some dumb idiot even though he sleeps around, he does it because sometimes it helps him business-wise
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/under_the_green_light/ - another personal favourite and mafia leader uke, again not some brainless guy just because he's the uke
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/vampire_homeless/ - another another mafia leader LOL. Atp this is the only way they're not innocent. Really short story but it's nice. The only downside is you notice how much potential it had to be a long story explaining more on the characters
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/honey_bear/ - uke isn't innocent, dude's a freak. Seme is innocent but uke still has the small innocent build ig
I agree with you about the sociological perspective! I don’t hate the trope either, but I do love when there’s something refreshing or different out there ^_^ Hope you found smth you liked!
I love Honey Bear! I laughed so much reading that one (and seeing how the latest chapter went I can tell I will laugh again in the future)
I really appreciate you giving some info with the recs, thanks for the extra effort <3
Np sorry I couldn't give proper summarises lol I hadn't read them in a bit so I was going based off what I remember
I think you'd like this list:
https://www.mangago.me/home/mangalist/290476/
The trope of the cold, mean or downright evil top and the good, innocent bottom is soooo common but I have rarely encountered one where the bottom was actually secretly the one who holds the power, manipulating the situation. Ex: seducing the top was planned from the start for political purposes, crazy top meets an even crazier bottom, a selfish bottom enthusiastically accepts the top’s interest to gain power/fame, etc.
Does anyone know any?
PS: I’m not really looking for ones where bottom has to do something for survival purposes, because that wouldn’t really be him holding the power in the relationship. Unless it starts like that but the balance shifts at some point!