It cannot be just me who thinks this is unexpectedly well-written? I honestly didn't have much expections but there were far too many instances of Chekhov's Gun being used. Each little symbolism was actually used as a plot device in a later event, I kept thinking about the part where he shouldn't ever cut his hair and, well, lo and behold he did and not soon after he lost his life from a series of unfortunate events. To be honest the haircut isn't even the only thing, there were a lot of foreshadowing and I'm really impressed by the way how each arc were written so cleanly executed.
Yes, the storyline/plot may not be anything revolutionary, it's another class divide seme/uke, another forceful seme/pliant uke relationship, and whatsoever. But I must give credit that the build up of everything was actually good. Not to mention, every character was well-integrated. No one felt forced, and no one felt too lacking. They all served their parts whether minor or major and I appreciated that a lot because it deepened the loneliess our protagonist began to feel. The more heartwarming it was at first, the harder the heartbreak would be when it falls apart.
Anyways, I did expect them to die. The haircut was just one of the blaring red flag symbolisms. I also expected some sort of reincarnation element because Ms Granny kept emphasizing that Ahjin should be "someone so well-loved" and that "he could've been a noble", indicating that in the next life Ahjin should be well-loved and well-off.
I just didn't expect that it had to be Ahjin remembering everything honestly. I don't think Ahjin has anything to do because he was the one wronged, he was the one kidnapped and tortured, and he was the one killed in their previous life - all because of that damned Kang (damn it to the Kangs!). I'd expect Kang to be the one remembering and doing everything to beg for Ahjin's affection and forgiveness honestly, but we'll see.
The fact there's a class swap means that Kang must be living kind of middle class or lower if ever. So he's definitely had quite the rough upbringing. Still, I don't think that kind of weighs the same as the time Kang blamed, imprisoned, drugged, and raped Ahjin in their past life. I'm curious how Kang right now is going to develop feelings for Ahjin, or if there are, how will he act upon them?
Because Ahjin is very self aware now. He has feelings for Kang, complicated yes, but still romantic feelings with sexual attachment. I hope Ahjin isn't the one trying to get Kang's attention... Ahjin was the one who bore the brunt of the pain, nothing could genuinely heal that.
Or maybe Kang actually recalls everything? He's just never acting on anything as his repentance? Kind of a Beyond Memories moment where it was the Seme who remembered everything and does everything to look after Uke, and he Uke only recalls midway. For this one, we started all from the past then went to the modern which I also have to comment about.
Most transmigration stories actually begin at the transmigrated life with only bits and pieces of the past elaborated. A few popular ones are different such as Beyond Memories and Eternal Covenant where a whole season was dedicated to the past After the Modern. It really depends on the author on how you want to narrate and lead the build up of your story, and either way are risky.
For example: Eternal Covenant has had backlash from the SUPER long backstory. The number of chapters was literally so much for a backstory it's probably a record breaking for manhwas (hyperbole intended). That kind of story has it spurpose but still draws a lot of critiscm on your writing management and pacing management. Furthermore, Eternal Covenant established the Modern So Well that the past, being too flesh out, almost overshadowed the main timeline. It's a tough thing for writers in my opinion, sometimes you want to detail and explain every little thing in the past and sometimes it ends up dragging out. In my opinion, I also have some criticism against that long backstory - in a way it was too much that it overshadowed our protagonist leaving his "past self" becoming a whole different identity. When you make a protagonist, you ensure that they are the sole star of the show. By weaving a "past life" version, you take full responsibility in ensuring that the past self supports the protagonist in shining even brighter.
Next example: Beyond Memories, it's another popular one regarding past lives and reincarnating/regressing to the start. I'm not gonna lie, I'm actually surprised that the entire "past" wasn't like 30+ chapters. It genuinely felt longer than that. I mean it in a good way, not bad at all, it was so well written. In a few amount of chapters, the depth and the sheer gravity of trauma and helplessness in that past arc was so well-written. The small details that was left as a question at the start of the story slowly unraveled itself there. For this kind of story, there were also risks on the imbalance of relationship. At the start, people would really root for the main couple, but with the revelation of everything, it feels difficult to root for the couple. When you place the past arc in the middle of a segmented modern timeline, the author has to make the extra effort in making the second half to be fulfilling, cleanly executed, absent of loopholes, and crisp development of relationship and a clear-cut redemption arc. Because, obviously, the point of such stories is for the 2 characters to end up together in the end. The author just has to make sure all the puzzle pieces fit together at the right moment.
Now back to this story, I liked that the "past" isn't actually too historical. It was just vintage era. It might be because of that it was a lot easier to digest the modern era. But also it felt sort of off that their deaths were just so close. It wasn't even a whole 100+ years and yet they already reincarnated. My one small weird feeling is that the transition felt a bit lackluster. Almost like the rollercoaster of emotions in the past life just came crashing down to a lukewarm temperature.
I heard that there is a novel for this, I assume it's a lot more detail and well-written there. The transition and the rise to the climax of the modern life. This kind of plot is a bit more straight forward because the past is where all the emotional weight is so there has to be some sort of anchor to ensure that the depth of the relationship still floats and sails.
Anyways, overall it was an unexpectedly good read! I can't wait how we see how Kang actually remembers everything. If he does or doesn't or whatever. I just hope Ahjin just won't beg for Kang's affection (please).
It cannot be just me who thinks this is unexpectedly well-written? I honestly didn't have much expections but there were far too many instances of Chekhov's Gun being used. Each little symbolism was actually used as a plot device in a later event, I kept thinking about the part where he shouldn't ever cut his hair and, well, lo and behold he did and not soon after he lost his life from a series of unfortunate events. To be honest the haircut isn't even the only thing, there were a lot of foreshadowing and I'm really impressed by the way how each arc were written so cleanly executed.
Yes, the storyline/plot may not be anything revolutionary, it's another class divide seme/uke, another forceful seme/pliant uke relationship, and whatsoever. But I must give credit that the build up of everything was actually good. Not to mention, every character was well-integrated. No one felt forced, and no one felt too lacking. They all served their parts whether minor or major and I appreciated that a lot because it deepened the loneliess our protagonist began to feel. The more heartwarming it was at first, the harder the heartbreak would be when it falls apart.
Anyways, I did expect them to die. The haircut was just one of the blaring red flag symbolisms. I also expected some sort of reincarnation element because Ms Granny kept emphasizing that Ahjin should be "someone so well-loved" and that "he could've been a noble", indicating that in the next life Ahjin should be well-loved and well-off.
I just didn't expect that it had to be Ahjin remembering everything honestly. I don't think Ahjin has anything to do because he was the one wronged, he was the one kidnapped and tortured, and he was the one killed in their previous life - all because of that damned Kang (damn it to the Kangs!). I'd expect Kang to be the one remembering and doing everything to beg for Ahjin's affection and forgiveness honestly, but we'll see.
The fact there's a class swap means that Kang must be living kind of middle class or lower if ever. So he's definitely had quite the rough upbringing. Still, I don't think that kind of weighs the same as the time Kang blamed, imprisoned, drugged, and raped Ahjin in their past life. I'm curious how Kang right now is going to develop feelings for Ahjin, or if there are, how will he act upon them?
Because Ahjin is very self aware now. He has feelings for Kang, complicated yes, but still romantic feelings with sexual attachment. I hope Ahjin isn't the one trying to get Kang's attention... Ahjin was the one who bore the brunt of the pain, nothing could genuinely heal that.
Or maybe Kang actually recalls everything? He's just never acting on anything as his repentance? Kind of a Beyond Memories moment where it was the Seme who remembered everything and does everything to look after Uke, and he Uke only recalls midway. For this one, we started all from the past then went to the modern which I also have to comment about.
Most transmigration stories actually begin at the transmigrated life with only bits and pieces of the past elaborated. A few popular ones are different such as Beyond Memories and Eternal Covenant where a whole season was dedicated to the past After the Modern. It really depends on the author on how you want to narrate and lead the build up of your story, and either way are risky.
For example: Eternal Covenant has had backlash from the SUPER long backstory. The number of chapters was literally so much for a backstory it's probably a record breaking for manhwas (hyperbole intended). That kind of story has it spurpose but still draws a lot of critiscm on your writing management and pacing management. Furthermore, Eternal Covenant established the Modern So Well that the past, being too flesh out, almost overshadowed the main timeline. It's a tough thing for writers in my opinion, sometimes you want to detail and explain every little thing in the past and sometimes it ends up dragging out. In my opinion, I also have some criticism against that long backstory - in a way it was too much that it overshadowed our protagonist leaving his "past self" becoming a whole different identity. When you make a protagonist, you ensure that they are the sole star of the show. By weaving a "past life" version, you take full responsibility in ensuring that the past self supports the protagonist in shining even brighter.
Next example: Beyond Memories, it's another popular one regarding past lives and reincarnating/regressing to the start. I'm not gonna lie, I'm actually surprised that the entire "past" wasn't like 30+ chapters. It genuinely felt longer than that. I mean it in a good way, not bad at all, it was so well written. In a few amount of chapters, the depth and the sheer gravity of trauma and helplessness in that past arc was so well-written. The small details that was left as a question at the start of the story slowly unraveled itself there. For this kind of story, there were also risks on the imbalance of relationship. At the start, people would really root for the main couple, but with the revelation of everything, it feels difficult to root for the couple. When you place the past arc in the middle of a segmented modern timeline, the author has to make the extra effort in making the second half to be fulfilling, cleanly executed, absent of loopholes, and crisp development of relationship and a clear-cut redemption arc. Because, obviously, the point of such stories is for the 2 characters to end up together in the end. The author just has to make sure all the puzzle pieces fit together at the right moment.
Now back to this story, I liked that the "past" isn't actually too historical. It was just vintage era. It might be because of that it was a lot easier to digest the modern era. But also it felt sort of off that their deaths were just so close. It wasn't even a whole 100+ years and yet they already reincarnated. My one small weird feeling is that the transition felt a bit lackluster. Almost like the rollercoaster of emotions in the past life just came crashing down to a lukewarm temperature.
I heard that there is a novel for this, I assume it's a lot more detail and well-written there. The transition and the rise to the climax of the modern life. This kind of plot is a bit more straight forward because the past is where all the emotional weight is so there has to be some sort of anchor to ensure that the depth of the relationship still floats and sails.
Anyways, overall it was an unexpectedly good read! I can't wait how we see how Kang actually remembers everything. If he does or doesn't or whatever. I just hope Ahjin just won't beg for Kang's affection (please).