RIGHT OMFG I completely agree with this, and it highlights something that’s become such a frustrating pattern in a lot of manhwas: the way toxic or deeply unhealthy dynamics are almost always reframed into romance by the end. No matter how manipulative, emotionally damaging, or imbalanced the relationship is at the start, the story will twist itself just to make it seem like everything has magically improved — and not only that, but that the very same relationship is now beautiful, redemptive, even ideal.
They paint it like the couple has “grown,” but in reality, there’s often no real accountability or emotional maturity. It feels disorienting. Like gaslighting—IT IS GASLIGHTING. You’re expected to root for something you spent the whole story recoiling from. And when you point it out, it’s dismissed as “complex” or “nuanced” storytelling, when really, it’s just toxicity being painted over with romantic tropes. And it happens constantly — to the point that it’s becoming normalized.
OMFG I couldn't agree more. This is exactly how I felt about Roses & Champagne as well. Such a let down
YES I MOURN TJAT MANHWA EVERY DAY BC I LOVED IT SM I LOVED THE PREMISE OF IT AND THE MC SOO SO SOSO SO MUCH AND ITS SO UGHHH I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH
But dear author, wdym they will spend rest of their lives paying debts to each other its not as romantic as you think, honestly they are exactly where they started from with no maturity whatsoever. Also I liked how uncomfortable ML made the parents by mentioning the cousin, do it more. Really reminded me that they never truly apologised and in turn made it feel like MC was responsible for going NC with them. They were horrible but its okay bcs they spent six months of their lives looking for MC??? As opposed to the 10+ years MC spent alone wayward doing illegal shit to keep himself afloat. Also why did ML bring MC to see his drug addicted brother so weird idk why