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It's sad when really good stories and complex characters get reduced to a love-triangle rivalry by fans. This story had so much more going for it, great writing, layered characters, and a compelling plot.
I love Jo, but the way some fans infantilize him is weird. He's a grown man who, honestly, in my opinion, came out ahead in the end. YW and TJ's history runs so deep and dark that I don't think someone who grew up in a loving, stable home like Jo could ever truly understand it. And the way Jo's obsession with YW was starting to take him down a darker path was honestly not good for him.
Also, part of the reason YW even started becoming interested in Jo was because he saw the same obsessive look in Jo's eyes that TJ once had. That parallel felt very intentional. And to me at least shows that TJ was always end game.
Overall, I thought it was a great story, and I hate seeing fans tear apart the author just because their favorite didn't end up being chosen. Personally, I was rooting for YW to find peace on his own, but whether he ended up with Jo or TJ didn't change how good the story was!
I like your understanding and thought.
People don't get it that a normal happy ending is not possible for Ian and Jo .
Excellent analysis. To add onto your post, I think fans shoukd remember that the title is literally Wet Sand, which is quicksand.
Quicksand is something that sucks you in and becomes more difficult to escape the harder you struggle.
I felt, from the beginning, that Ian and TJ's relationship/gangster background was the titular quicksand. By getting involved, Jo was setting himself up for heartbreak--because Ian likely couldn't or wouldn't completely break free from his path, so Jo would inevitably get sucked in.
The only way for Jo to "escape" the quicksand was to let go.
I think this is a really interesting, complicated, and nuanced love triangle that is more realistic than many other love triangles in webtoons. And I think some fans unfortunately are missing the deeper meaning of the story just to argue over ships.
In real life, love can be painful, and love can involve "losing" the person you want to be with. I think Jo would definitely be better off with someone else in the future. If we could get a side story or sequel for him, I'd be really happy.
Excellent analysis. To add onto your post, I think fans shoukd remember that the title is literally Wet Sand, which is quicksand.
Quicksand is something that sucks you in and becomes more difficult to escape the harder you struggle.
I felt, from the beginning, that Ian and TJ's relationship/gangster background was the titular quicksand. By getting involved, Jo was setting himself up for heartbreak--because Ian likely couldn't or wouldn't completely break free from his path, so Jo would inevitably get sucked in.
The only way for Jo to "escape" the quicksand was to let go.
I think this is a nuanced love triangle. Some fans unfortunately are missing the deeper meaning of the story just to argue over ships.
In real life, love can be painful, and love can involve "losing" the person you want to be with. And sometimes, that's for the better.
Ily
I just reread the whole thing up to the official translation and OMG, this has such a great flow. I feel like when you’re reading the chapters as they update, because of all the breaks in between, you don’t fully appreciate just how well written it is.
I LOVE how the author treats Shin and Jake as equal partners and, most importantly, as actual grown adults. They literally match each other’s freak in the most consensual way possible, and I LOVE IT!! I love when characters are on equal footing and there’s no babyfication of the bottom. I hate when authors write grown-ass adult men like children!
I also love how we slowly see Jake get softer throughout the chapters without his character doing a complete 180, and the same goes for Shin. They both stay true to who they are at their core, even as they realize there’s actual love and real feelings between them.
I seriously can’t wait to see how they navigate living “normal” lives together. I really hope we get to see that!
I just finished re-reading the whole thing for the first time since it came out and I can say the same! Only after reading it in one go I can see how amazing it actually is. It was great even while I've followed it chapter by chapter, but this way it's so much more noticeable how characters change over time while still being themselves, just better in a way. And you worded it so well, I really love how author wrote both Shin and Jake as full grown, equal adults too, the way they both enjoy and are both equally active while intimate is so refreshing.
Thissss I agree with you a lot, I especially love how the conflicts in this story were never about simple misunderstandings that you can actually just talk out with your partner, numerous bls have this type of plot and the authors just drag it out by making them have sex. When Shingun was upset with Jake he was never locked up, drugged, or raped or held in such a possessive manner, Jake allowed him to be on his own and respected that he has to stay away from him at that time because Jake did lie/was not honest about who he was. And then he didn’t expect to change for Shin but he accepted it and is willing to possibly forget his life of an agent where life and death is at your hands just so he could spend a lifetime with his lover. Shutline is a popular bl manhwa but it’s storyline is so under appreciated and I will never shut up about this.