I'm tired of the rich chaebol stories and money loaded alpha CEOs and all that bullshit, it's a nice change to see characters from the lower working class (the product of the exact same chaebol class controlling the South Korean economy), struggling with life and trauma. It's a raw story with very fleshed out characters, and the more I read, the more I want to know and root for our beloved Baekhee and Illwoo.
The depiction of mental health struggles is very accurate and relatable at times, and especially the showcase of the abusive relationship between Baekhee and Gyom. Baekhee with his poverty, experiences and attachment style due to an abusive childhood is sadly the perfect victim for someone as manipulative and controlling as Gyom, who has made him dependent on himself and led him to believe he can't be helped by anyone else. He's trying to instill learned helplessness in someone who, in my opinion, is a very strong person, so it hurts to see Gyom constantly clip Baekhee's wings and tie him down by eroding his confidence piece by piece. The constant rape is, of course, also heartbreaking to see knowing it's probably, in Baekhee's mind, a "small price" he has to pay for getting a ticket out of a place covered in trauma, however this story portrays it very well, probably the best portrayal of that type of abuse I've seen in BL. It's not sensationalized, it's not made hot and wet, sticky and pornographically stylized, it's not romanticized or minimized, it shows just enough, and that alone hits you like a brick and you understand quickly - shit, that's abuse, and Baekhee is enduring it.
The way Baekhee is also trying to shield himself from the reality of what is happening to him, accepting this abusive dynamic as normalcy and a given, speaks to the depth of his trauma and the lack of self worth he must feel as a person. The more touching it is that the one person who loves him without conditions, who wants to treat him gently and cares for him, can't extend that care and love to himself, and wants to take his own life. Poetically tragic.
One wants to escape from trauma by enduring more trauma while the other wants to escape from himself because he can't deal with his own trauma. These two people find each other and, just as they start to entangle their needs to escape, maybe realizing they don't have to inflict pain on themselves to survive or stop the pain forever, the circumstances of poverty and abuse divide them. Baekhee can't receive love because he's learned he can only endure abuse and is now financially dependent on his abuser while Illwoo has so much love to give, but love isn't enough when money decides everything in fuck ass capitalism.
Gyeom, that nasty ass nepo baby, can spend all the money and give all the financial security he wants, but as Baekhee said it, he only feels secure with Illwoo, and this type of emotional security can't be bought. You're either a decent human being or you're an empty shell of a piece of shit.
Btw how deep of a bond will this be - Baekhee is the person who made Illwoo consider living being worth it. For someone suicidal, that means the world. This has the potential to be either the most beautiful or the saddest relationship ever. Ugh, SHOULD'VE LET IT MARINATE!!!
I'm tired of the rich chaebol stories and money loaded alpha CEOs and all that bullshit, it's a nice change to see characters from the lower working class (the product of the exact same chaebol class controlling the South Korean economy), struggling with life and trauma. It's a raw story with very fleshed out characters, and the more I read, the more I want to know and root for our beloved Baekhee and Illwoo.
The depiction of mental health struggles is very accurate and relatable at times, and especially the showcase of the abusive relationship between Baekhee and Gyom. Baekhee with his poverty, experiences and attachment style due to an abusive childhood is sadly the perfect victim for someone as manipulative and controlling as Gyom, who has made him dependent on himself and led him to believe he can't be helped by anyone else. He's trying to instill learned helplessness in someone who, in my opinion, is a very strong person, so it hurts to see Gyom constantly clip Baekhee's wings and tie him down by eroding his confidence piece by piece. The constant rape is, of course, also heartbreaking to see knowing it's probably, in Baekhee's mind, a "small price" he has to pay for getting a ticket out of a place covered in trauma, however this story portrays it very well, probably the best portrayal of that type of abuse I've seen in BL. It's not sensationalized, it's not made hot and wet, sticky and pornographically stylized, it's not romanticized or minimized, it shows just enough, and that alone hits you like a brick and you understand quickly - shit, that's abuse, and Baekhee is enduring it.
The way Baekhee is also trying to shield himself from the reality of what is happening to him, accepting this abusive dynamic as normalcy and a given, speaks to the depth of his trauma and the lack of self worth he must feel as a person. The more touching it is that the one person who loves him without conditions, who wants to treat him gently and cares for him, can't extend that care and love to himself, and wants to take his own life. Poetically tragic.
One wants to escape from trauma by enduring more trauma while the other wants to escape from himself because he can't deal with his own trauma. These two people find each other and, just as they start to entangle their needs to escape, maybe realizing they don't have to inflict pain on themselves to survive or stop the pain forever, the circumstances of poverty and abuse divide them. Baekhee can't receive love because he's learned he can only endure abuse and is now financially dependent on his abuser while Illwoo has so much love to give, but love isn't enough when money decides everything in fuck ass capitalism.
Gyeom, that nasty ass nepo baby, can spend all the money and give all the financial security he wants, but as Baekhee said it, he only feels secure with Illwoo, and this type of emotional security can't be bought. You're either a decent human being or you're an empty shell of a piece of shit.
Btw how deep of a bond will this be - Baekhee is the person who made Illwoo consider living being worth it. For someone suicidal, that means the world. This has the potential to be either the most beautiful or the saddest relationship ever. Ugh, SHOULD'VE LET IT MARINATE!!!