actually im being way too nice 9.6 rating is crazy fucking work for a manhwa with a backstory twist as insane as a grooming subplot. lets raise our standards a little
I feel like people use the word grooming loosely though. Grooming is intentionally establishing an emotional connection to take advantage of an underage kid. Theres no such thing as unintentional grooming, therefore no grooming really happened. Because Taehyuk never really meant for Hyo-un to fall for him. So theres no grooming subplot.
Though i do find their past weird as well. But the one i find weird is Hyo-un. Cause tbh their relationship was forced from the beginning. Hyo-un forced Taehyuk in a sexual relationship. Even the orb thing. Taehyuk never really got a say in that cause well, he was literally dying. In all honesty, Taehyuk didnt even feel like he was inlove with Hyo-un in the past, he just gave in cause he was a pushover and Hyo-un was persistant. Both Hyo-un and the king were literally the same, theyre both obsessed and trying to trap him. The only difference between them is Hyo-un was successful and well, didnt kill Taehyuk's entire family so, plus points?
I think the author somehow tried to diffuse the fact that they were literally writing a grooming situation by establishing "oh but actually it was the child that was being raised that ended up forcing this to happen so taehyuk isnt at fault", but no matter what the adult in the situation is at fault, there should be no doubts about that.
Its very true though that Hyo un was VERY uncomfortably written as a result of that too, I think their backstory is what butchered both of them as characters in my eyes, pretty disappointing, I dont know how this manhwa ended up so popular and such a pinnacle of green flag bls when its truly not at all
Genuinely so glad to see someone else agree with this. I check in every now and again to see where the story's at, but the backstory just left an absolutely sour taste in my mouth. There was no need and it just set a really weird tone for the rest of the story. I said this last year and got absolutely dogpiled in the comments for it
i agree omg it changed their dynamic completely. and a 9.6 rating?? these people are insane what arguments did they even have against you like im so lost how would you defend this plot its grooming and incest but with 100 loopholes around it so that the people enjoying this can go "um well ackshually" to feel a bit better about it
as much as i think this manhwa is decently good plot wise and their relationship is healthy enough i really just cant get over how uncomfortable their backstory tgt makes me like genuinely even if he "was only a kid because he took the form of the first thing he saw" it doesnt change that 1) taehyuk himself thought he was a child and 2) ended up raising him. that shits weird im sorry i dont see how else im supposed to interpret their past relationship other than guardian/child they raised