beta
I think a lot of people are missing the point when they defend this relationship, so I’m just going to say it plainly: something can be framed as “romantic” in a story and still reflect unhealthy or non-consensual behavior.
The issue that me and many others are trying to speak about isn’t just THAT one isolated scene, it’s a pattern. You have a female lead who was abused her entire life, has little understanding of relationships, and has been conditioned to obey and endure. That kind of background heavily impacts how someone responds to intimacy, conflict, and obvious power dynamics.
When you put that kind of character in situations where she’s clearly uncomfortable, unsure, or saying “wait” or “stop,” and those boundaries are ignored, that’s where people start calling it what it is. Even readers who like the story acknowledge that there are scenes where consent is questionable or outright absent (look it up).
And that’s really the core issue:
Consent isn’t based on whether someone eventually “goes along with it,” feels conflicted, or even develops feelings later. Consent requires clear, ongoing willingness, and it can be withdrawn at any time.
I also think it’s important to recognize that this story reflects dynamics that exist in real life. People in abusive or imbalanced relationships don’t always react in obvious ways. They might comply, rationalize, or even blame themselves. Many, many women defend their abuser and their rapist, and many do things for their abuser/rapist that people might question "why did she do that for him if he did that to her?" That doesn’t make the situation healthy.... it actually shows how much manipulation and conditioning can affect someone.
You can still enjoy the story, analyze the characters, or even like the development, but denying or minimizing those dynamics entirely is where the problem starts. When we call their relationship toxic, we are not hating the series, we are trying to be honest about what's being portrayed.
I'm not going to be surprised if people leave replies that make it obvious they didn't fully read what I wrote, but at this point, it's concerning how some of you can't have a proper, mature discussion and understand your "opponents" viewpoints. It's literally not about opinions at this point. There are fundamental principles, like consent and bodily autonomy, that aren’t subjective. Ignoring a partner’s refusal or distress isn’t “debatable,” it’s a violation, and treating it otherwise only contributes to harmful misunderstandings. <3