First off - everyone's own opinions are valid and it's okay to feel the way you feel about this quasi ending! I was never an Ian or TJ fan, I just enjoyed seeing the story play out. I know this isn't the last chapter and idk if TJ and Ian are really really endgame, but I like it and i'm not mad about it.
I don't think many BL readers are familiar with hood romance. People hurt each other and go through horrible things together but at the end of the day they are the only ones who understand each others souls and lived experiences. Whether you agree with that kind of love is up to you.
Think about it, TJ and Ian are so intwined it's crazy. Together for 19 years, getting into the gang together, only people who know about each others childhood traumas, going through Ian's drug addiction, making sacrifices for each other, hurting each other, protecting each other, etc etc. TJ was the only person to stick by Ian when what happened with David went down. It's hard for someone to leave a person they love like that for someone new who doesn't get them on that level. They are literally a part of each other, every critical moment of their development was spent together.
Jo is a great person, but I think Ian needed this closure with the man he's loved for so long (even though he loves Jo too, just not in the same way). Jo showed Ian and ideal of a life he could have if he chose to leave everything behind and lived as a normal person. But Ian's not normal. He definitley wanted to protect Jo and not corrupt him, but I think being with Ian meant having to live while rejecting his past in order to accept a "good" life. Ian sees himself as corrupted because he's done bad things. But TJ was right there with him and accepts it all, he doesn't have to pretend with TJ. He can melt into him without feeling the need to hide or feeling like he might get him dirty.
And let's be honest, do you really think Ian was going to leave with Jo and never think about or yearn for TJ?
I don't think this particular decision is bad storytelling, it was just a decision the author made and an unexpected one - which I like. Now what's bad storytelling is the pacing and plotholes. I also think people would be more accepting of this ending if Doyak gave TJ more redeeming qualities besides being hot. I would have liked more flashbacks from his childhood, something to further flesh out his character. Especially if all along this was "Ian and TJ's story" like some are saying. Like why spend all this time on Jo and not develop TJ's character equally if he's endgame.
This is all IF they are actually endgame, I feel like the story isn't done yet. Just wanted to explore the rationale behind why someone like Ian might make this decision.
Don't know why I wrote an analysis like i'm on tumblr lmao.
you really ate with that conment about how ian would have to reject his past if he were to stay with jo. in the context of jo’s life, ian is not a good person. that’s a lot of shame to carry around. in the context of tj’s life, it was about survival without the judgment of how it was done. & although jo might’ve been able to create a safe space where ian wouldnt feel judged by his past, everyone else in jo’s life doesn’t live in that context. it would be a somewhat off-putting life for ian. yeah, he could make it work, but when tj loves him & accepts him without judgment, intrinsically, it’s the natural perfect fit. it’s also clearly what ian wanted all along.
great analysis, tumblr grl <3
Well golly gee if this isn’t the most relatable, funny, and sweet Yaoi I’ve ever read. This is the only story I have ever audibly cackled at at 3am for 10 minutes straight. I seriously love how hilarious this story can be. Gonna miss it when it ends :(. I hope there’s side stories!! ヾ(☆▽☆)
Seeing people going wild over this story is hilarious, if you really wanna get down you guys should read twittering birds never fly (saezuru tori wa habatakanai)! One of my all time favs.
Yoneda Kou fr