I like the broken exhausted look and the stark contrast of the morning. I also like that to Rian it's still just a job and he gets stuff done regardless.
I actually like that we arent on a "speedrun" to romance, which all the other BL's do already. I'm here for the slowburn, the plot, and how long it takes for each character to unmask their heavy facade.
Everytime people complain, I also want to reinforce my interest in this series. Honestly to me it is not like the other BL's, and Im happy the timeline seems long.
Often I feel the romance is too rushed, then the couples have absolutely zero problems ever. But these two have alot of problems and alot of challenges. That's what makes it interesting to me.
Morality in fiction is whatever, I am here to explore the dark concepts you cannot otherwise get in reality.
If you hadn't included that first part in your comment, your take would have been totally fine.
It's perfectly valid not to want them to fall in love right away (in fact, I'd prefer that too !) And it's perfectly fine to enjoy dark, unhinged concepts in fiction, they're cool when well handled they make you think.
But saying that you like seeing Rian's broken, crushed state after he's been r*ped and worn down nonstop is honestly disgusting.
Well, because we're strangers on the internet you can say whatever you want, but you dont know what kind of life I have been through. You misunderstand that everyone who sees it this way likes it because theyre a sadist. I on the other hand like it because I can relate to it. No one is willing to explore the devastation and emptiness that this type of thing brings. However, this type of mediate let's me re-explore things that have happened to me, and gives me a character I can latch unto and see spring and back up despite it all.
Fiction is an exploration, sometimes into things the real world shuns and hides. Perhaps people will shun me again for liking it, even when they dont know why so.
I understand your explanation, and I wouldn't want to misread your motives. Also, I don't think you're necessarily enjoying it out of sadism.
That said, I still don't share this particular preference. To me, having gone through something awful would make me hope a character avoids that kind of suffering whenever possible. I can understand wanting fiction to explore trauma and devastation honestly, cause these themes are still very interesting to watch and discuss, but I personally find it a healthier and more compassionate mindset to root for characters to be spared that pain rather than wanting them to go through it.
So my issue isn't that you relate to the character's suffering. I understand why someone might connect with those themes.
I think where we differ is that I don't look forward to see them go through even more suffering, especially when it feels like it’s being prolonged rather than serving the story in a meaningful way at this point.
Like, the scene where Rian finally breaks is genuinely hard to take in. Even just his expression afterward was very saddening, with how the r*pe was disgustingly drawn-out, etc Like just how far everything had gone and how messed up it all became. So I can understand that a dark concept could be portrayed for many reasons but still find the whole thing utterly disgusting.
But nonetheless, I mean it without any hard feelings.
Hope you get better ~
Finally someone who actually likes this show for what it is
girl make up your mind, is it fine to enjoy dark concepts or is it disgusting?
It's perfectly possible to enjoy dark themes without enjoying the suffering itself.
For example, someone can love horror movies because they enjoy the atmosphere, suspense, adrenaline rush, or psychological elements, while still finding the gore and the characters' suffering disgusting.
It's not contradictory...
Appreciating a genre or exploring dark concepts doesn't automatically mean taking pleasure in pain or violence.
Sharing my thoughts! I actually think its a good thing that the road is now project to be complicated and long (as in how to reach the goal of mutual/reciprocal love). It's as if saying there is no way to solve this easily, watch how it will become!
Often people mention the concept of enemies to lovers, but I've personally found they were never "truly" enemies in these stories, just reluctantly on opposite sides. But what exactly is an enemy? It's the clash isnt it? The offense. The unwillingness to lose to this person, or this idea. In chp 33, we are presented with exactly that: their ideas are not aligned and they are being forced to fight till one of these ideas actually legitimately die. Love? Sex? Possession? It is the very fact that Uno refuses to agree and Enzo is determined to eliminate Uno's idea of how this should be... I really thought to myself, omg, this is it... this is what ive been looking for. To absolutely, vehemently disagree, and yet be forcefully shown a completely different viewpoint that you're unwilling to accept. A complete and utter turnover of the concept, of him, his position, everything. This is... domination.
I want to see them fight. I think that's what makes BA so intriguing for me. Even more mysterious is that Hanse has clearly not shown us all the answers. Liars, liars everywhere. Vague knowing smiles. Bluffs on bluffs on bluffs. Traps everywhere. Acting, faking, submitting, scheming, catching... If you're not careful, and you believe what you see, the other wins. Via's earring. Uno's cigarette.
It is a bed of roses filled with traps, and you better get up quick, or theres punishment waiting on the other side: one where you start to lose your "life" or what you imagined of it.
I actually really like the newest chapter. I wanted it to go a bit harder. We get teased a bit, since after Enzo intentionally made him feel the discomfort, he then flipped it and showed him the opposite. The panels start to turn a darker shade of red and you could feel the heart thudding of of Uno as he starts reaching a breaking point.
The contrast of what Uno defines as sex (and love, almost) in the first few panels versus the jarring drop back into reality is so good. Enzo, as if reading his mind, tells him exactly what this is (submission), implying he knows what it isnt.
The tone was already set in various incidents beforehand.
When Theo asks are you in a relationship? We pan to a rather vague smile that neither answers yes or no. Implying he has other thoughts and won't reveal himself yet.
Uno asks, did you think we were in a relationship? Enzo says no, it is an ownership.
We get yet again Uno saying man this is definitely not sex. Enzo says instead in reply, implying no. This is "submission".
They tickle my brainworms so much and I think this is absolute cinema. Author knows what we want. We want the development, we want the mutuality. We want the reciprocal love. Author basically teases "aha, not yet."
And I sit here in front of my phone like damn..! Im being edged cause I want it so bad when they fall in love and Hanse-nim got me on my KNEES begging. I can't wait for the next chapter. The writing is phenomenal.
Remember guys, this is my personal opinion. I love it and think the writing and development is great. I've read so many webtoons and so many dark ones. I love the psychological aspect of this. I think its really fresh. FOR ME.
Enzo first chapter: I want you to say "I want you to fucking destroy me"
Is this it? Enzo is destroying Uno has built up about himself. Wow. He is remodeling Uno inside out.
Uno, who usually fits/adjusts himself to his partner, for the first time, is resisting changing, but Enzo is making him change anyway.
WOWEEE I want to see more and how far they will go. What is the ultimate limit and what are the consequences of these actions? Will it break Jno? Or will Uno break Enzo???
AHHH im so excited BA is so good
No, I agree that the main plot is pretty tight, but at some points the execution hasn't been on par with the pervious season. It really feels to me like some panels were omitted, because the real intensity isn't there.
I'm not talking about the sex panels, there were too many, it started to feel like the same thing. I'm talking about the expression panels, like the red ones, or better, the first panels from ch.30. That was genius! But again, and considering that scene is also from season 2, knowing that it's just one chapter, the follow up, or even their memories might contain the lost bits, the missed information and emotions. So, I might be wrong, the sum of the next couple of chapters could be it... or not.
I really like a good story, and I think the first season was perfect. That's why I'm nagging about all the nagging, since it feels what's really affected by all of that is the quality of a story an author can say. They have to omit themselves.
I really like Hanse-nim's usage of parallels. Nearly every "incident" has an equivalent.
Uno grabbing Enzo's face after playing him with the microchip incident and basically warning him that "you shouldve thought of this/shouldnt have done that" (fountain incident) S1
Enzo grabbing Uno's face after playing him with the earring incident and then basically warning him in the same way "you should've thought of this/shouldnt have done that" (cock ring incident) S2
Enzo slapping Uno, Uno slapping Enzo (roofie incident)
Uno kicking an underling, Enzo kicking an underling (desert salon incident)
So many switched mirrored scenes of staring at each other...
I kept thinking this everytime people posted parallel pictures on twitter... so crazy good... and it feels like so much foreshadowing
I bought all the chapters on lezhin since I love bad apple so much Im mainly here for the comments Didn't expect the doodle translations, thank you so much translator-nim. This is really good to see it all consolidated together.
Awww im jealous
For the ones asking why people find this hot (or me personally): it's because this is a dynamic where they actually push each other's boundaries and test their limits, which is exactly what I'm looking for. (More explained below)
People were drawn in thinking they were "equals" but tbh this is a serious misreading. They never were. It has been imbalanced since the very beginning.
Uno literally only has himself and occasionally shadow. We see him complain all the time that he usually works alone and doesnt get any help anyway. He has what? 1 butler and 1 island. He's not specialized in close combat and his tools are primarily information gathering through seduction, and sometimes sniping from far away. His key skills are his people reading skills, and the way he can disarm people, making people vulnerable to his strategies with his charm. Without knowing any better, they allow him to steal information one way or another. He is primarily, an information thief, not a combat specialist.
Enzo on the other hand, has beyond far more assets. The Chicaro outfit. His own team. Businesses, land, entire organizations. People he can automatically call on to do his bidding. Not only that he is a very good combatant, extremely observant and especially versed in "traps". No one has ever stolen information from him that he did not already plan out himself to destroy or manipulate as pawns (see June). He traps people, and creates plays with very specific intentions, such as the murder of the organization members — this was already planned beforehand (see "merely their role"), even the "showing" of Umbra to the "connector" was also meant to be a trap.
They were never equals in the first place. But what intrigues Enzo to Uno is specifically because DESPITE all his machinations, Uno managed to slip through and take something that Enzo didn't expect. This is the precise moment when Enzo's "trigger" was flipped.
Enzo is a predator, and his primary instinct is to squish or kill. Which is why we see him TRY VERY HARD not to kill Uno (see when Uno gets roofied). He is giving Uno far more grace than he would any of his subordinates, who even despite working for him (see desert salon incident), he would kill, merely for getting his order slightly incorrect. We see this again when Arturo warns the squad chasing after Uno in the construction site, that if anyone makes an error on his order, it is them who will get a bullet in them. The restraint he shows when handling Uno is uniquely special. He even researches the dishes Uno likes to eat. He himself knows how dangerous he is. This is why he warns Uno repeatedly, over and over and over again (see trigger, cock usage, same "method", weapons warnings, etc). Honestly other people wouldn't even receive such a warning, they just get whacked with zero excuse (see June's information buyer).
Uno ignited a spark, and because Enzo's reservoir of gasoline was far greater than he had ever expected (see "we should have never touched them" vulture meeting). The team is caught off guard, Uno, especially. Yet DESPITE knowing this, he came back. Again and again and AGAIN. With his leash in his own hand, staying close to Enzo, precisely with the intention to fuck him over and get more information, instead of bailing like the rest of the team. This is honestly his own demise, he knew the gravity of it. Then to top it all off, he ignored Enzo's warning. That's why he is getting punished and being shown exactly what happens to those who ignore Enzo's command. Yet EVEN DESPITE THIS AND THEN, Enzo, yet again, gives him grace he would never do for anyone else (cock ring, instead of the grim alternative, that he would 100% have done given the authors confirmation of surgeons present).
The timeline of events was so:
Uno initiates (actor).
Enzo plays Uno (fountain incident)
Uno initiates again (connector)
Uno plays Enzo.
Enzo, baffled and surprised (trigger)
Enzo, plays Uno (information selling nullification)
Uno, yet knowing this, INITIATES AGAIN (leash)
Enzo, now interested, accepts the proposal.
Enzo warns Uno.
Uno ignores Enzo and does the one thing he asked not to do, simultaneously planning to use the information he has gathered to fuck over Enzo (video recordings of Via and consortium members)
Enzo, irate, traps Uno.
Uno weasles his way out of his getting his dick chopped, by acting subservient.
Enzo falls for it. Cock rings him instead.
Uno gets a lightened version of his punishment.
Based on these events, personally I think it's only a matter of time before, Uno once again weasles his way out of Enzo's machinations and steals something once more.
This is precisely the dynamic and tension I wanted, and why I love this series so much. Everytime Uno squirms and finds a way to sleaze through all of Enzo's traps, I get really giddy. And when Enzo does manage to catch Uno under his paws, well, you know, Uno actually does get a taste of getting devoured.
That's really hot. Especially the obsession.
I have never ever thought this was going to be a cozy little story where everyone is consensual and in love with each other. If it was, I probably would not have been as interested because it doesnt have this complex dynamic I was looking for. I read red candy, but it was a bit too ideal for me. Agent tries to get information from a dude, but turns out theyre childhood friends and they love each other <3 The end
Erm, sorry it's not AS interesting to me as Enzo and Uno's little game of tag. In this case Enzo being the big cat and Uno is a bunny who is surprisingly adept at getting away. How it develops from here and how much they can possess of each other, whether by trapping or stealing... that is what Im excited for and looking forward to.
Plus, Uno's little brat taming really tickles me (laugh)
Damn my friend, love your summary and I hope other will enjoy this manhwa too ε=ε=(ノ≧∇≦)ノ
Post note: also, the consequence was dealt because Uno broke an established rule.
This is already ultimately different than the bottom getting random consequences because the top is angry for no reason at someone else (see Jaekyung from Jinx).
Uno knew it was a rule and very actively chose to ignore it in an established "working under me" dynamic. Again, this is different BECAUSE Enzo was already the owner in the first place. Uno was working UNDER him. Enzo set the rules because Uno CHOSE to work under him and CHOSE AGAIN to disobey it.
Honestly, well said
This analysis is so thorough and well done that I wish it could be pinned at the top. Thank you.
Preach!
Omg this is sooooo well explained, I need everyone to read this and understand how great this work is
So well explained, friend~ Now I wish to read the continuation with more of your comments ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~
If I wanted to read about a nice shy bottom and a secretly nice guy, I wouldnt be reading love/hate, enemies to loves, dark romance LMFAOO.
THEY ARE PERFECT AS IT IS. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. S2 just started and Enzo has the upper hand right now. Why can't people be more patient we're literally just starting. You expect them to be equals from the start??
i actually like how more fleshed out the discomfort is. If I everyone was comfortable its not dark romance LMAOOOOO. Why can we not have it exactly how this is? That's where the spice is. That's where the character growth is.. from the flaws and the imperfections. From everything that is "not quite right yet" and how they go from there.
I'm tired of seeing stories where the characters fall in love with absolutely no clash and are "immediately perfect for each other". Finally I can have some good food and some real tension.
Thank you, Hanse-nim.
Once again thinking about how these authors are so overworked... hope jakpil gets well soon...
I really can't stop rereading this series, something about it just hits all the right spots for me. It was made for melee. I also really like that theres peeps on Twitter microanalyzing the two I am in love with all the parallels and mirrors Hanse keeps doing
Someones analysis on Enzo's eyes brightening and Rian's darkening: https://x.com/i/status/2070199870162350397