I need to do a study

I binge read this series a couple weeks ago in one sitting, so the details are still pretty fresh in my mind.

I figured with the high rating and how majority of the people in the comments were going gaga for Sa-yan that there'd be some sort of redemption or at least emotional catharsis and reconciliation between the two. Instead, I'm confused 'cause Sa-yan is still a piece of shit and Ilic is still living in captivity, thinking about wanting to kill himself almost every other thought lol

It literally starts with Sa-yan blackmailing and raping Ilic for killing a man that attempted to rape him.

I'm not dissing it or anything seeing as I get off on fucked up shit in general or it just straight up doesn't faze me lol I just need to know why this series has such a different crowd opinion compared to others that are only half as bad.

It’s easy: Sa-yan has depth and uniqueness to him (including visuals), plus his sexual torture of Ilic was made so Ilic could also take pleasure from it (mostly). Seme from Jinx is just flat and boring, rehashed version of all rapist-semes in other BL.
And yes, in this particular case it helps that characters look pretty much like characters from Berserk.

Maybe is because they feel good reading about a 'feminine looking guy' being in control of a conventionally masculine guy, it probably scratches that itch for femdom content without it being actually that..

I'm sorry, but I don't think being raped and forced to endure what's basically sexual torture 'cause your inbred hunny is fighting the demonic voices in his head that want you dead is any less egregious than Jaekyung being an oblivious asshole with a huge cock lol

And since we're pulling the BERSERK reference out of our asses, Griffith is also leagues worse than Jaekyung or any standard asshole seme 'cause he rapes and murders the people Gutz cherishes the most while he's forced to watch, screaming out in blood curdling rage.

That, and judging by the people complaining about how flat or "boring" the ending of the main story for this series was, I wouldn't say that these characters are that much more appealing other than Ilic is a beefy bottom.

This is basically a regurgitated "blackmail then rape till they fall in love" plot crossed with historical British royalty lol except Ilic isn't ((and from what I heard from the novel readers he won't ever)) falling in love with his abuser, but instead just coming to accept that he won't be able to escape him unless he dies.

I mean, I get that I guess? If you don't squint at it too hard or don't know shit about BDSM and its adjacents lol

I figured that was the only reason why this series was getting such a hard "OK in my books" from readers despite how psychotic and abusive Sa-yan is towards Ilic lol make the seme a pretty twink who fucks a beefy bottom and anything gets a pass, I guess.

Sorry, I also forgot that people seem to excuse sexual violence if it's directed towards someone who is larger than their abuser.

The only reason why Jaekyung catches so much heat is 'cause Kim Dan is an UwU soft bean angel so if someone is just slightly mean to him people rally in defense.

Ilic literally blackmailed a man for defending himself against a potential rapist just so he could rape the man repeatedly and sexually abuse him lol but it's OK 'cause he looks like Griffith and Ilic is built like a shit brick house.

I won't deny the appeal. I play DoL and actively put my PC in various dangerous situations ((like being sent to the asylum just so they can get raped by Harper)), but I'm not the one committing mental gymnastics to justify which one is the lesser of two evils nor crashing out on someone who says they like a series even if the seme is an arrogant dickhead lol

I think both characters are just as bad. It's just that Jinx is more violent when it comes to the rape scenes while here, it's more romanticized. It has something to do with how the artists draws the scene and how the dialogue flows. Hence, it is easy for people to turn a blind eye since it is quite a "norm" (which I dislike) in these manhwas. In the end, both are rape in my opinion and Illic is your case of stockholm syndrome.

My theory is that it depends on the context of the plot. I notice a pattern and it's that people like toxic tops when it actually makes sense for them to be toxic! A king from the Ancient Age, a tyrant, a mobster. I feel like it's harder to love a toxic character who is... an ordinary man, like Jaekyung. Yes. He's famous. But he doesn't have to be like he is. I feel like BL readers (mostly women) hate seeing ordinary men being toxic, because that's what they see every day with the men around them.
We love the toxic king, because it's fantasy, we could never imagine something like that. The popular man in his 20s who treats everyone badly because he's an idiot, yes, he's everyone's ex.

Pd: this is only my theory bc personally I do love jaekyung and I do love modern bastards but i can understand why most people don't

It's nice to see someone articulate an actual point that isn't just "Jaekyung rape bad. Sa-yan rape good." Lol

I also have a theory that a lot of people are excusing or shrugging it off for this series 'cause Ilic isn't a dainty lil petite thing that looks like the wind could snap him in two. The power imbalance isn't physically visible in this series till Ilic takes a swing at Sa-yan and his guards come rushing in.

People also seem to think that just 'cause Ilic has given up on escaping that means that he's finally "falling in love", but it's like you said; it's an actual case of Stockholm syndrome wherein his brain is just adjusting to the fact that his situation is hopeless. He's realized a long time ago that he'd have to die in order to rid himself of Sa-yan so he's just resigned himself till they inevitably die together.

I don't even think Sa-yan fully loves Ilic, either. His mind his warped due to incessant inbreeding which has basically ruined his ability to think like others. It's evident by the way he has to take concoctions in order to quiet the mad voices in his head.

It's certainly an interesting read whereas some plot points go, but if you boil it down to the basics-- like most people do with Jinx-- it's basically a series about blackmail, rape and the eventual Stockholm syndrome that comes with it.

I would kinda agree with this, if it wasn't for the fact that even in series with kings, yakuza or even gods also didn't get a pass for having asshole semes lol

Between this site and mrm I've read well over 5,000 bl titles and have read probably millions of comments atp. The pattern recognition with this kind of incident is when the power imbalance isn't so physically evident or we have a pretty top x beefy bottom scenario-- mostly.

And in the case of Jaekyung he's actually like a housewife's wet dream lol he's like Dorian or whatever from 50 Shades if Dorian was actually hot ((imo ofc that book series was absolutely laughable and I only read it for comedy sake)). Jaekyung isn't just famous. He's hot, rich, very built and has an arrogant/asshole personality. I know more women who would absolutely wet themselves over having a man like than your standard rich dude. It's evident *by* how popular 50 Shades was with middle aged to older women. That and trashy dimestore romance novels that are filled with kidnapping, rape, coercion and so on lol

I think in this case it's what I stated in my second point and the fact that people just don't like Mingwa for some reason even tho compared to the shit *I've* read Jaekyung is hella tame lol

Are you giving them suckers or something??

Tf is this supposed to mean lol

you were fuckin doing your sTuDy and I'm agreeing on their theories and arguments because upvoting is not allowed in replies..???? the fuck LMAOOOOOO

get a fuckin ice or something and cool down your puppy ass LMAO well understandable for you to get so triggered with fuckin EMOJIS when you're out here over analyzing fictional stories when you're reading in a pirate site chill yo ass. yikes (▰˘◡˘▰)

Crashing out this early in the game, hun? I just asked a question 'cause I couldn't tell what the emojis were lol

No need to get your panties in a twist. Maybe don't skip out on your nappies and snackies next time, kid lol it makes you cranky.

Just realized I put Ilic blackmailed a man instead of Sa-yan lol

Truly my greatest downfall.

I love what you have brought to discussion, because it IS a fair point to bring up. Why is Sayan’s actions more “acceptable” or redeemable compared to, let’s say, the main stream BL’s that cover similar tropes?

You brought up Jinx for a fine example; I actually sat and pondered on that, obviously there are very blatant differences between the two. Jaekyung is a very vocal, physical, abuser compared to Sayan who is quieter—more analytical about his approach on manipulating Ilric and trapping him, essentially. I think what attracts people to Sayan more than Jaekyung is

1) (this one is blatantly obviously, but) his deliberate docile, warm, choice of character design. He was easily crafted to make the audience look deeper at his visuals rather than his actions. However, with Jaekyung everything about his character is sharp, rigged, and cooled. His character design already gives the audience an already negative image as to what his character is to be; which brings me to, 2) Sayan’s cruel, abusive, actions are not 1-dimensional, but multifaceted I would say. As stated before, his abusive actions seem to cater to Illric to please him. To make Illric come only to him. But with Jaekyung, his actions are not. He saw Dan as exchangeable, a usable body to cater to his favors (or jinx) without caring for Dan. He actively rehashes these views; His job field even amplifies his aggressive behaviors.

But, those two characters are also arguably alike, hell, ALLL MLs that are written in these, what many call, “dark romances” are similar. So what really makes a good rapist?! LIKE FR, IM SO— LIKE—YO. It really has me thinking this absurd question with these types of stories because like, what truly excuses these toxic behaviors if not a character being designed to visually distract the reader FROM his behaviors. Wow. This is terrible. I also would say that many writers and illustrators have these fairly large gap—hiatuses—that I really am starting to think is to make readers to recall the full extent of how abused the MC had been because they all have this stupid thing where SUDDENLY the ML realizes his twisted ways and does a full 180. And SOMEHOW the MC can look past it. I guess—you know what—it’s truly because these writers have this full idea and scope as to what they want their abusive, toxic, fucked up, MLs to be at the end of the story, but never care to expand their MCs because, if doing so, why would the MC stay?!????? UGH IM SPIRALING, YOU’VE MADE ME WANT TO WRITE A THESIS ABOUT THIS.

I turn a blind eye to problematic pretty boy's

YESSSSS! I agree with you