Amazing analysis. Judging from the artist’s twitter there’s more novels from the og author that they could illustrate in the future, tje first probably being the story for mad cow boss/glasses cop. ^^^
Hello! thanks for thinking that. The twitter definitely has art for mad cow/glasses cop and me and my friends just want that story to be told. The biggest thing i love about Beware the Ides of March is the fact that it doesn't underestimate the korean mafia/gangster background. Prejudice is high and Nakwon acted violently in the first season, but it's never out of place in this setting. Much like how real people wish violence on actual criminals, Nakwon was acting on the same wavelength, not seeing mokwha as anything more to the. crimes associated to being in the mafia/organized crime.
He will forever be in the wrong and the rape emphasizes Nakwon's own lack of morals and corruptness. Mokwha's own non surprise to the action also speaks volumes of how this behavior is rampant in the gangster community. A power play was unfolding in order for Nakwon to assert dominance and get information that he needs to locate the criminal boss.
But Nakwon didn't just magically fell in love with Mokwha and shed being an asshole. That's the best part of this manwha. He saw mokwha's humanity, and that brightness shed light to his own ugliness and violence. He stayed true to who he was, still the asshole we know, yet attempted to make amends best he could. Shameless still for pursuing someone he acted violently to, but that was always in line with his personality. But he did what he could to let Mokwha grow, to expand his options, to make him see what Nakwon "eventually saw" because Mokwha always doubted the value of his own existence, regardless if Mokwha returned his affections or not.
And that is why this is such a great story. Nakwon acknowledges the wrongs he has made, and while he cant turn back and undo his wrongs, he's been present enough in mokwha's life, persistent even, to prove who he has become. And Mokwha's world did expand. Nakwon pierced through Mokwha's self doubts and made him see more of the world can offer. And so, it took 4 seaasons for them to get together with Mokwha letting nakwon know that he felt hurt and violated when he was raped, but mokwha also actively chose to love nakwon for what he has done for him.
Personally, Id probably contrast this to something like Netflix's 365 days that romanticized the mafia and took no steps to acknowledge its wrong themes, and had severe backlash. A lot of the controversy being screamed is that the story has rape but those that shout it lacks nuance.
That's why readers are divided. The nuance of glorifying rape vs having a story with rape allows readers to just fall in love to the way this story turned out.
I think it's fair for people to just assess what they can or can't handle because season 1 is meant to portray that the characters didn't see each other in equal footing, less than human really, and that resulted to violence, and that's ok.
For the readers who had an overwhelming reaction to the development and enjoyed its course, that's okay too and Im personally part of that.
I love this so much. Season 4 is the first time Beware the Ides of March will end with the main couple officially getting together, so there's an undercurrent of fear that the manwha will soon end, despite so many possible loose ends left to explore. And you know what, that clamor for more is also a reflection of the fans' enjoyment for this title. It would definitely be nice to hear of either season 5 or side stories to be announced in the future. What I'm very sure of is that the Mokwha's boss and Nakwon's subordinate have their own story together, and that seems like a fun avenue for side stories.
I loved how gutsy this story began. I definitely got invested since season one. It never romanticized the rape. It was there as power play. It doesn't underestimate its audience, giving us two big characters: a corrupt cop with a goal to persecute an evil gang's head x an exconvict gang member turned flower shop owner as he rediscovers who he is outside the gangster life.
Many seem to think that Mokwha's this innocent thing, but it's always been clear from the start that gang activities already included murder and rape. It's a whole world that mokwha's been a part of, and he understands the prejudice that comes along with that. He even depreciates himself when thinking of the life he has lead, but tries to make the best of the things he eventually got in charge of.
Sometimes, i think people read with their asses when they don't see the initial setup being made. We already have a plethora of manwha seeing how violent gangsters can be, even in this one itself where mokwha was almost murdered before being sent to prison. It's a whole setting that i think flies from the casual reader's notice.
And with the stage set, we had two characters with backgrounds that had all those complexities as they tried to interact with each other. Season 1 was great for me because it went all in. Nakwon's own prejudice for an exconvict lead him to violence to exert his dominance and get to his goals, sure that mokwha will lead him to the big fish. But as time went on, his own cynical nature gets challenged as he discovered who mokwha was. He saw the beautiful human inside, how kindness still lied underneath the tough exterior despite life screwing him over multiple times.
By the time Nakwon got face first with his own sins and ugliness, I WAS BUYING THIS SHIT. It has been like a serotonin boost following this manwha since season 2. I was locked in. And im so glad that Nakwon didn't change who he was just because he fell in love. He was an asshole through and through, yet strived to make changes and still pursued his wants. The rape getting tackled multiple times as a mistake was so good. Mokwha choosing love is his own choice and im glad the relationship took 4 seasons to actually solidify.
What's exceptional too are the side characters. I love them. When they enter the story it really feels like a lived out world.
There's so much more that Beware the ides of March can give. Nakwon's parents and family, their reaction to their golden boy son utterly in love with an excconvict, Mokwha's growing self confidence and finding joy after nakwon was able to give him options. Of course, the most important avenue to explore is still the boss. Im sure Mokwha still has unresolved feelings of being abandoned and get some closure, and discovering that his Boss left money for him and all that.
Relationship wise they're still at the "let's see how it goes phase." So many firsts for mokwha to experience, so many chances still to HUMBLE NAKWON who probably has a manwhore past given his looks and stature in life, but is just absolutely captivated by mokwha.
Regardless if we get more or not, it has been a pleasure reading and im just a few chapters shy of buying all chapters.