OKAYYY so I genuinely do not wanna hear anymore people hating on jinx and other mahwas that I've read where the male lead is definitely giving orange flag bc based off of what some people have said and the reddit threads with spoilers too, if they gloss over this confinement arc then just bc they try to keep it fluffy afterwards then this male lead should get JUST as much hate bc all of the signs he has been showing has DEF been off putting and not remotely green lol
im sorry, but jinx isn't hated solely because jaekyung is a terrible male lead. the bigger issue is that the story itself suffers from weak characterization and a narrative that often prioritizes shock value over meaningful character development.
in boredom advisory, kwon taeshin is also a red flag, but the difference is that he feels like an actual person rather than a plot device. from the very beginning, the story is transparent about his flaws, motivations, & ugly sides. readers are not asked to wait countless chapters just to understand who he is. taeshin's actions, while frustrating and often questionable, are rooted in an established personality and worldview.
more importantly, the characters in boredom advisory have depth outside of the romance. they possess individual motivations, insecurities, contradictions, and personal growth wch i personally like. even when they make bad decisions, those decisions feel consistent with who they are as people.
with jinx, i, as a reader, know exactly what jaekyung does, but not necessarily who he is. for a significant portion of the story, his characterization revolves around being possessive, aggressive, and emotionally immature. those traits alone do not create complexity.
a character becomes compelling when the narrative explores the person beneath those traits.
that is why many readers like me can tolerate or even enjoy a red-flag character like kwon taeshin (and other worse MLs in BL history like Ilay, Zhenya, Seoin && a lot more) while remaining critical of jaekyung. the issue for me is not morality, it is the execution of the story.
a toxic character can still be well-written if the story gives them enough psychological depth, internal conflict, and development to feel human.
so taeshin may be a walking red flag rn, but he is written as a layered individual. jaekyung, for much of jinx, is written more as a source of conflict than as a fully realized character, and that difference is what i am responding to.
wish i can like replys
THERE LITERALLY BETTER BE SIDE STORIES WITH A SHIT TON OF SMUT, DATES AND MARRIAGE PLEAAASEEEE
UGHHHH THE WAY I WAS FAST FOR THIS UPDATE MAY OUR BABIES ALWAYS BE THIS HAAAAPPYYYYY