it’s like watching a train wreck but in slow motion and the rails on purpose collide
SPOILERS!!! Also it’s been a while since I’ve read this so I might get some names places people things verbs nouns adjectives everything else wrong
I think this manga is rlly gorgeous. Story, characters, narrative ANYTHING aside, the art is pretty. However. That does not mean it’s good. I think I had a lot of issues with this manga, the first being that the ml never really proves his worth to curls. He keeps relying on his father, his family money, i don’t rlly rmbr but he never really proved himself to curls. Second, i dont think curls should’ve been the ml or deuteragonist or wtv the term is. He constantly vacillates between wanting to leave and wanting to stay (iirc) and doesn’t ever really make a solid choice. I’d argue that the real protagonist SHOULDVE BEEN the secondary character to curls. The wittier one who had much more to offer in terms of complexity and in character relationship variety. ALSO WHY DID THE DAD WANNA FUCK THE SON???? IDK IF IM RMBRING RIFHT BUT DIDNT THE DAD LIKE HAVE A CRUSH ON HIS OWN SON???? THAT WAS SO FUCKING WEIRD!!!!!!! LIKE WHAT LITERARY PURPOSE DID IT EVEN SERVE LIKE IS IT A MORAL CONUNDRUM IS IT EXAMINING A PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION LIKE WHAT NARRATIVE PURPOSE DOES IT GENUINELY SERVE TO HAVE THE FATHER WANNA KISS HIS SON????????
I don’t think this mangas good at all honestly, I think it missed a lot of marks and seems more to have more cheese than it should. Do I recommend it??? If you like shows where u can yell at characters and complain about them, this is for you! I like those kinds of shows so I did enjoy this (enjoy defined loosely)!
Kind of??? Spoilers
I js did a reread so I’ll add some of my changed thoughts below! Also that means this comment got even longer…
I personally don’t dislike either the MC or the ML. I think that they’re both making somewhat rational choices compared to what I would’ve expected (a little less rational for the ml ngl) and they’re both being like respectful to each other. But I think my big issue with their relationship is that I’m really struggling to understand how they’re gonna come back from this weird awkward relationship they have. As I understand it, mc WILL end up with the ml but I can’t see that happening like honestly.
I think they both social checkmated each other by following the other’s requests, which irl is a very normal and decent thing to do, but by doing so (at least in terms of the storytelling) it feels like they’ve limited their character interactions and now there’s no real stakes at play. They’ve both distanced themselves, at least in the others POV, and I don’t think ml is the type to beg for affection given what he’s experienced and (likely?????) thinks about the mc (but we don’t know anything because he doesn’t even change his facial expression).
But I don’t think mc will beg for his affection either, given that he’s done the opposite for like the entire series. Unless it gets cheesed with some stupid arc like “I’m moving away and u need to tell me u love me so I don’t” or smth.
Idk, I wanna know what u guys think of their relationship. I think they’re both decent people, it’s just that right now it really feels like they don’t click the way I thought they would. At the beginning of the series, I could definitely see their chemistry and stuff like I think they would’ve been fine then, but since those past 30 chapters, putting them in a relationship seems so like… forced. Like if I was in either ml or mc’s shoes, I would think the other guy lwk hated me like idk. I think that their interactions have really only worsened over time because mc is stubborn and needs answers while ml is stubborn and too fucking quiet all the time. I do need to add I do like both of the characters it’s just… they’re frustrating me these days….
This isn’t meant to be hate or anything, I’m still interested in the story and stuff and I really do wanna see how the authors gonna make them fall in love. Cause if the ml reveals that he saw the guys butt tattoo, that doesn’t erase how he treated the mc and didn’t tell him anything. Same with the mc, if mc discovers the butt tattoo, it doesn’t undo all the distancing (because he felt uncomfortable???? iirc) and walls he put up either.
I think I js wanna see what’s gonna happen that could possibly change the current situation. I do hope it isn’t cheesed out by like a memory loss arc or a “saved my life in an accident” arc or “I’m drunk and confessing everything to u and ur gonna pretend u heard nothing” arc or smth. Like idk reading it now js feels like im getting embrassment cucked idk. I wanna hear smn else’s thoughts though cause it’s been a while since I’ve read the beginning and I might’ve totally misunderstood their characters in the storytelling pls don’t attack me I swear I’m trying my best to understand the storytelling and authors mind ╥﹏╥
Post reread: I still stand by the fact that they’re both good characters. I think they’re both still interesting however I take back what I said abt decent human beings. I think the ml lwk shouldn’t feel this angry. I think it’s unfair for him to have treated the mc like an experiment (he literally is like “will mc still fall for me even though I made a horrible first impression”) which implies he 1. Wasn’t sincere towards mc for a long time and 2. Had way less to lose in the war that is social chess.
If there’s one thing “define popularity” taught me, it’s that the one who cares more always has more to lose. I think that’s what currently happening. The mc can’t make up his mind on whether he even likes the ml while the ml seems to be putting up either a facade AND/OR dealing with conflicting emotions post 6month internship. So the ml’s role/value in the mc’s life didn’t necessarily change, arguably it actually lowered due to his actions post mc apology.
However to the ml, things seem to have changed. I think his distancing (said this in a reply also) is an external result of trying to retain the status quo. The ml’s friend says that ml never tried to win over anyone like this before. I think the ml’s attempts to spark jealousy or hurt or whatever are his attempts at “winning” over the mc, emphasize winning. I don’t think the ml understands courtship nor do I think that currently he genuinely wants the best for mc.
I’m pressed to argue he’s angry at the mc for multiple reasons, but the biggest one being that he has lost his value in mc’s life. Mc has a bf, mc ghosted him for 6 months, mc didn’t console him post breakup, like etc etc. I think the ml is indeed a bad person but I don’t think his actions r necessarily irrational.
Now for mc. I think because he has such an aloof, bag of rocks eq nature, he actually hasn’t changed much. I will say his adoption of ml values (especially of the dating one) is prolly pissing the ml off and also I think, a really good storytelling technique to show us he still does care abt what the ml thinks! BUT, big but, he hasn’t rlly changed how he thinks of the ml. iirc, it was his friends who thought the ml was trouble not the mc. The mc is still agonizing over whether he even likes the guy as a friend! Idk the mc frustrates me sm BC WDYM U HAD A WET DREAM AND “idk if I like him like that tho” I THINK U DO!!!! Idk I’ll add more later maybe
You wrote and explained it very well
That's what I'm think too ╥﹏╥
thank you!!! I was so worried I got smth major super wrong like if the blue hair told him abt the butt tattoo 8 chapters ago or smth </3
Nope
Mc still doesn't know about the name
That's what angers me even more
Ml wants mc to date him but he's not even telling him about the name
Well the only thing that kind of manages my temper ia that they both are doing what they want and what they think is right and are pulling each others tongue cuz
In most of the times mc just doesn't get back to ml for the things ml do
You wrote it so well and I feel the same way I hope the author writes their future interactions well and like you said at the end not make it "cheesed out for some cliche trope" since it feels like if they use those tropes the stiry's quality would decline drastically
Tho my hopes isnt high since again its a popular drama trope for korean authors
i agree! i think the characters individually are pretty deep [(?) though, to go on a tangent, just remembering mc's backstory, i truly don't understand why he's so emotionally dense. i haven't reread so i could have a gap in my memory] but when you analyze the relationship, it seems more like a stale ping pong match. when the ball is in their court, they hit it in the most lackluster, socially acceptable way that i'm afraid the only way to add level to their relationship is to make it somewhat dubious / morally gray.
i also want to point out that the mc is so emotionally constipated that he doesn't even understand that his bf, at this moment, is trying to take him out on a date and it should inherently be just the two of them. this leads me to believe that this manhwa could go and nosedive into the misunderstanding trope to the extreme. whatever the case, i'm interested to see how the story turns out albeit i am worried about how the author is going to handle the final project arc.
More like for the korean audience
Cuz authors write tropes that will sell well
And people idk how like this things
I'm so bored and annoyed by these things and endings
I agree definitely, sorry for the late reply I was js rereading it lol
But no I agree, I think the fact that the mc is more confident and willing to stand up to the ml is very refreshing. Like seeing a ml get put down and get their shit served back to them omg so fire, same with the parallel of mc hassling ml over the named partner and the ml hassling mc over the name mark.
TEXT WALL JUMPSCARE!!!
I think the reason mc is so dense (at least forgiveably at the beginning (I did a reread)) is because his parents were so kind and also gave him things at face value. What I can’t excuse is how he can’t seem to figure out his own feelings. I think that’s what both characters are really struggling with, and I agree, I think they’re both very complex.
The ml has his own issues with seeing the mc as an experiment and his stance on love. Like I think that’s fucked up of him to do, why would he treat anyone like an experiment. What pisses me off more is the ml being so blasé abt the mc like they weren’t close friends???? Why would u do that??? To hurt his feelings???
I do think the actions from the ml post 6-month job are some sort of either apology or coping. I think it was his attempt to return to the status quo, he returns back to feeling in control. And/or he doesn’t enjoy that the mc had to run away from him for 6m so he steps back even farther. I think this is a fine line of thought, but the actions he does js don’t make sense like why would u call him “smn u don’t need to pay attention to”????
I completely agree the mc is rlly a bag of rocks sometimes, and the fact that the ml is so roundabout with his actions is so frustrating because half the time the mc is still wondering if he wants to be friends with the ml. Like he’s not playing the 5d chess the ml is playing, so there’s no stakes in a game with no opponent!
Again, I agree I think the characters are complex and interesting but currently I can’t see a way that they’ll come back from this. The ml seems too pissed at his “wasted time” to consider a third chance from mc without like some cheesy sex favor trope or smth. I think the mc also won’t admit to himself that he LIKES the ml. HE HAD A WET DREAM ABOUT THE ML OH MY GOD CAN IT BE MORE OBVIOUS. Idk sorry for the long wall of text but after rereading I had some extra thoughts
Thank you! I did a reread and I think I might’ve jumped the gun a little (a lot) bit lol but I do agree, if the author has to use a cheap trope to get them to even talk abt their feelings again I do think story quality will suffer. Honestly I don’t think the ml is even gonna wanna talk abt his feelings like he seems PISSED… I think they’re both gonna skirt around the issue for a while before either break up or mc gains enough “dating experience” to realize a wet dream probably means attraction. I live for the drama ヾ(☆▽☆)
Oh my god did me editing the post delete all the replies. I’m gonna lose it I’m so sorry comrades I didn’t mean it I js didn’t wanna yap in ur replies
OMG WE R GOOD NVM
I want to save this comment
Fr, just gotta keep expectations with a grain of salt and enjoy rn We're always free to drop and put it all behind us once the character developememts truly show if its even worth seeing the ending and epilogues (づ￣ ³￣)づ
Spoilers for the stuff duhon idk his name blue hair does
I FUCKING KNEW HE DIDNT KILL THEM NOR DID HE STEAL THE PHONE OR ANYTHING ELSE I WAS A BELIEVER I KNEW FROM DAY ONE HE DIDNT DO THAT SHIT DUDE OMFG CAUSE HOW WOHLD HE KILL THEM IF BOTH HIS ARMS R IN CASTS AND OF COURSE HIS PHONE HAS SCRATCHES IT FELL TWO FUCKING STORIES OMFG DUDE DAY ONE BELIEVER I KNEW HE DIDNT DO THAT SHIT
anyways how r both of their lives so astronomically chopped cooked like dude call this hogu hagyeonsu or stalkers game or hells kitchen the way that their both so chopped in every single regular person ability (I say this lovingly (ish))
keep reading you’ll be surprised lmaoo
WHAT HAPPENEDDDUGHHH TELL MEYY
So its yuwon? Pls spoil
Dohun did kill them, but he also got help from his big brother i believe, he killed the first one by locking him into the warehouse, second one i think he followed him around and the guy was so scared of dying he tripped and fell down the stairs, third one i don’t remember exactly how he died. But his father knows that dohun committed murder, and he knows he did it for Yuwon. His father knows who Yuwon is, he knows everything about him.
And the father just let it slide? Or that want he really want, his son to get revenge
I’d have to read it again but from what i remember his father told him to always “give back as much as you get”, when his father learned that Dohun got locked up into a warehouse he asked Dohun whether we was planning on doing what he taught him to. Later in the story, Dohun asks for a house form his dad, the appartement Yuwon and him will share for a short while, but in exchange Dohun would have to do something for his father. At the end of the childhood flashbacks we learn that the thing he has to do in exchange is be his heir to the company and listen to everything he tells him and asks him. In a way Dohun is held in a shackle by his own father.
Hate this manhwa so much it’s so shit I cried like a bitch every 3 chapters fycmung hate wanan i hope they never write again thsi was so beautiful omg it has a dedicated crash out page in my diary i can never forget this story ever
couldnt have explained my feelings after finishing it better
bro yohan needs to get out rn assaulting smn over being called helpless like sit back down PLEASEEEE
Spoiler warning for side couple stuff
Pls tell me I’m not the only one who absolutely despises the side couples being presented rn. Like red head and blonde make me mad they’re so lacking in chemistry they look like me taking a chem class like I can count all the conversations they’ve had on 3 fingers
AND ALSO THE COUSIN SUBPLOT LORD SAVE MERCY FOR US WHAT ☹☹☹☹☹ why r we thirsting over our cousin red head like why idk i feel like im going insane like downvote me into oblivion if im on my own with this idk
This isn’t meant to yuck ur yum but idk why anyone would enjoy the side couples
Or just let people enjoy their sht and just skip these parts, why are we being so dramatic ?
Not even his cousin, his UNCLE
If you can’t handle the freak, then you’re in the wrong heat.
Eunoh and Isak, side couple spice, a mix of messy and pure paradise.
They’re lonely and horny, wild and tough,
Their reckless charm is raw and rough.
Their appeal is their loser dynamic, can’t you see? It’s what makes them pure comedy.
If you can’t appreciate them, you can skip their chapters too, but if you can’t, that’s a you issue.
mic drop
Man i like eunoh and isak but this corny ass reply might just be enough for me to hate them
haha, XD, blame chatGPT
Any side couple with red head is going to be ass cause he's ass.
I think what really sells this for me is how insane everyone becomes. Abuse is a rlly hard thing to depict and (while I’m not at all saying this manhwa did it well) one of the many things it does to ppl is make them lose it. I think the characters r rlly… relatable. They rnt good but I can understand them well. I think the author had a lot more intention with their portrayal of this kind of insane situation. The mc for example is aware that the ml likes him. Very aware. And normally the mc is clueless and idiotic and stuff, but the author backs up this kind of naive mc with the very real reasoning of grief. The anatomy of mcs grief, so to speak, almost becomes hatred for the ml. But it morphs into guilt as well. The ml becomes quite literally the only living thing left from the mcs dead fiancé. The ml bears both an uncanny (intentional) resemblance and also the memory/connection to the dead fiancé.
So when the mc gets super dumb and super avoidant of what normal people would consider like horrible things, it’s somewhat understandable. Grief can make people go insane. I don’t think I’m wrong to say the mc didn’t ever rlly love the ml either, whether or not he knew it. The mc I think loved the image of the dead fiancé and so loved the ml. And at some point, that love interlocked with the grief and shame he felt post funeral, becoming his attachment to the ml, the only living remnant of his dead fiancé. And while in captivity he’s forced to confront this guilt, but he doesn’t. As the ml calls him, he’s a coward. Mc sees this horrible terrifying guilt and looks for the one thing that soothes it, an alive version of his fiancé, one that does not hate him nor blame him nor leave him alone.
For the ml, his story I think was very concise and very clear. I am curious why he liked the mc over the dead guy, and my only answer is that the mc resembled his mother while the fiancés taller build resembled his fathers. But idk if that even holds up. I really liked seeing the ml unravel near the end, lose his cool and his grip. Oftentimes, the victim is shown to have no power, to be the only one going insane while the abuser stays sane, maintaining this image of calm vs panic. However, seeing the ml genuinely get angry and reveal the “true” nature of himself was so liberating. Him lashing out at the mc and calling him stupid and all that shit, no yeah I do really think that’s the real ml when the dead fiancé act burns up. I think his act of kindness helping nari was bullshit though. I think he did that js so that when mc met her again, he wouldn’t hate the ml. But tbf idk. I think I come off rlly mean towards the ml and I wanna say I don’t mean it all. His abuse wasn’t chosen and some ppl rlly get overlooked by the system meant to help them and I think mc had a serious hand in how the mls personality was shaped. However it’s rlly hard to talk positive abt a guy who I js saw ejaculate all over his legal guardian's face so bear with me.
I think they both should’ve died. Either that or attended therapy on screen for several years. I’m very ml in the way that I think we should put things out of their misery. I don’t wholeheartedly agree with it, but sometimes confrontation is so much more painful than stalling. I think both the mc and ml embody that.
As for the side characters, I think nari is rlly interesting. I think if my friend was at risk of getting assaulted by the child they raised, I wouldn’t ask for their permission. I’m kidnapping them and never letting that happen. I appreciate her being so forward abt her hatred for the ml and also sensitive abt the MCs relationship to him. Not with the ceo guy. I understand that it’s hard to intervene in abusive situations, especially ones as complex as the batshit story I just read so sometimes it seems better to just bide ur time until the writing on the wall isn’t doom and gloom. But I don’t think that was the right move. So many people failed so many people in this story. Like finishing this felt like finishing hogu hagyeongsu. Everyone’s insane.
Would I reread it??? Not unless I get insanely bored. Would I read it for the first time ever??? No. I wanted to drop it when the plot slowed so that should tell u all abt the pacing and side stories.