This deserves its high rating. I have some criticisms, though, but let’s start with the good stuff. The story (guideverse=forced smut) may be generic, but Taegun and Eunsung’s individual backstories are good, and the way their pasts connect to the present romance plot is done amazingly well.
I also love how they are on equal footing. They are both the best at their respective fields. It’s not like most BL manhwa where the MC is poor and drowning in debt while the ML is some powerful CEO or chaebol.
My main criticism is the art. It's good but..
Whenever Taegun gets emotional or teary-eyed, the artist shows his back or uses a far-away perspective instead of actually showing his expression. I can understand doing this a few times, but at the end, when he woke up in bed and saw Eunsung holding his hand and then rubbed his eyes (seemingly crying) I really wished the artist had shown his face or used a front perspective. They could have just had him cover his face with his arm while wiping his tears. It would have made the moment so much more emotional.
There’s also a small criticism about the writing (novel). It would have been much more satisfying if Taegun had actually cried when Eunsung told him that he could cry and be vulnerable with him. That could have been the moment where Taegun finally let everything out and unburdened himself from all the emotions he had been keeping to himself: his anger toward Jaeha, his fear of Eunsung dying, and everything else he had been carrying alone. It would have been such a good full-circle moment for his character. It wouldn’t undermine the theme of Taegun being a whole and capable individual on his own. Rather, it would reinforce the theme that Eunsung doesn’t make him weak or complete him. He simply gives Taegun someone he can finally be vulnerable with.
Don’t get me wrong, the art is pretty, but I think the artist could have done much more with Taegun’s reactions to Eunsung’s disappearance, their reunion, and their confession. Those are supposed to be the emotional peaks of the story, but the art didn’t fully capture the weight of those moments. I just wish those scenes had been given more attention, especially Taegun’s facial expressions and emotional reactions, because they could have hit so much harder.
The story actually has the emotional buildup for these moments, which is why it’s a little disappointing that the execution didn’t fully match it. There are plenty of sloppier BL manhwas that somehow manage to make their most dramatic moments more emotionally impactful.
If you’ve read the BL manhwa "Reunion", you’ll understand what I mean. When the MC and ML reunited and made love for the first time, it was so emotional and amazing. It felt like you had finally reached the peak of everything the story had been building toward, and the art really made you feel the weight of that moment.
That’s what I wish this manhwa had done better. The story had the potential to make those moments just as emotional, and I wish the art had done more to bring out everything the characters were feeling.
Anyway, this is still a 5/5 for me. I’m just disappointed that better execution of the art could have made those dramatic moments and emotional turning points hit so much harder, because the story itself is absolutely good.
This deserves its high rating. I have some criticisms, though, but let’s start with the good stuff. The story (guideverse=forced smut) may be generic, but Taegun and Eunsung’s individual backstories are good, and the way their pasts connect to the present romance plot is done amazingly well.
I also love how they are on equal footing. They are both the best at their respective fields. It’s not like most BL manhwa where the MC is poor and drowning in debt while the ML is some powerful CEO or chaebol.
My main criticism is the art. It's good but..
Whenever Taegun gets emotional or teary-eyed, the artist shows his back or uses a far-away perspective instead of actually showing his expression. I can understand doing this a few times, but at the end, when he woke up in bed and saw Eunsung holding his hand and then rubbed his eyes (seemingly crying) I really wished the artist had shown his face or used a front perspective. They could have just had him cover his face with his arm while wiping his tears. It would have made the moment so much more emotional.
There’s also a small criticism about the writing (novel). It would have been much more satisfying if Taegun had actually cried when Eunsung told him that he could cry and be vulnerable with him. That could have been the moment where Taegun finally let everything out and unburdened himself from all the emotions he had been keeping to himself: his anger toward Jaeha, his fear of Eunsung dying, and everything else he had been carrying alone. It would have been such a good full-circle moment for his character. It wouldn’t undermine the theme of Taegun being a whole and capable individual on his own. Rather, it would reinforce the theme that Eunsung doesn’t make him weak or complete him. He simply gives Taegun someone he can finally be vulnerable with.
Don’t get me wrong, the art is pretty, but I think the artist could have done much more with Taegun’s reactions to Eunsung’s disappearance, their reunion, and their confession. Those are supposed to be the emotional peaks of the story, but the art didn’t fully capture the weight of those moments. I just wish those scenes had been given more attention, especially Taegun’s facial expressions and emotional reactions, because they could have hit so much harder.
The story actually has the emotional buildup for these moments, which is why it’s a little disappointing that the execution didn’t fully match it. There are plenty of sloppier BL manhwas that somehow manage to make their most dramatic moments more emotionally impactful.
If you’ve read the BL manhwa "Reunion", you’ll understand what I mean. When the MC and ML reunited and made love for the first time, it was so emotional and amazing. It felt like you had finally reached the peak of everything the story had been building toward, and the art really made you feel the weight of that moment.
That’s what I wish this manhwa had done better. The story had the potential to make those moments just as emotional, and I wish the art had done more to bring out everything the characters were feeling.
Anyway, this is still a 5/5 for me. I’m just disappointed that better execution of the art could have made those dramatic moments and emotional turning points hit so much harder, because the story itself is absolutely good.