I don’t necessarily have issue with the Joo-an and Seojoon plotline I just don’t find the yearning in secret and the oblivious love interest compelling enough a trope. The whole Joo-an will only develop romantic feelings post losing Seojoon after dragging him across the world to help woo a former crush-plus I’m sure other Joo-an’s previous lovers too-but before then being his confidant, secretary, and life coach in all things personal and professional makes this truly depressing to me. I couldn’t even imagine the humiliation. Seojoon has bore witness and suffered through loving a guy who never saw him as more than a friend, employee, and personal sound board. He never truly took interest in Seojoon beyond surface level interest that ultimately still benefited Joo-an and I can see that being attributed to Joo-an living a life privilege but also just never concerning himself with things that threw off his positive out look on life. To me Joo-an’s separation from Seojoon is a forced realization that often never works out in real life and if it does great, but I’m not exactly impressed that his self reflection is juxtaposed as “winning” Seojoon back ultimately reducing Seojoon as a prize for Joo-an facing a blemished reality he’s never been made to encounter without the aid of Seojoon in his adult life. Secondly that Seojoon’s life completely centers around Joo-an to the point he has no individuality or self worth except gaining Joo-an “actual acknowledgment” = love is just pathetic. Seojoon is finally doing something for himself, he should have to continue to self harm himself staying in a relationship with someone who’s never truly looked at him.
I pity Seojoon more than anything and I just wished this trope wouldn’t be seen as romantic as it’s presented in popular media especially when situated in queer relationships. It’s traumatic more than anything as most gay men are very familiar with this dynamic given often their first crush tends to be their very straight male friend.
I should also add I don’t blame Joo-an for not reciprocating Seojoon’s feeling nor was he beholden to them as Seojoon at any point could have advocated for himself and voiced his feelings. I just don’t like the best friends become lovers when one has lived their life as they should and the other lived their life purely dependent on the other. I bet Seojoon hasn’t even so much as kissed another person as well so it additionally feeds into the tried and true virgin x playboy dynamic additionally that I loathed but BL and romance genres in general are obsessed with. I mean the main couple fits this stereotype as well.
Valid points, pretty good analysis of the second couple. Honestly? I love both Seojoon and Joo-an, but tbh I only tolerate their future relationship bc I can't expect more from a nicely drawn but very cliché romance BL. As an aroace person, sometimes I feel uncomfortable while reading the second couple's story - if I were the creator I would give Seojoon a new LI and Joo-an would remain a single but very happy person.
Sorry for my little rant on your post lol, I just wanted to provide a differing viewpoint as to why someone
might not like the 2nd couple’s dynamics. And I’m gay myself so maybe that’s why I empathize with Seojoon.
Differing viewpoints are key in criticizing stories, so I pretty much enjoyed reading your analysis. :)
I loved reading your analysis and you write so beautifully and empathize with Seojoon's angst, I really hope to see more of their backstory and see when he fell in love/realized his feelings for Joo-an, why he never shared his feelings, how Seojoon felt seeing Joo-an date other people and pine after Hajin. I also found it so hard to wrap my head around the idea that Joo-an NEVER EVER ONCE wondered about Seojoon's romantic life or ever really saw him as his own person aside from a friend/secretary? How deep was their friendship really, what did they talk about, how does he really view Seojoon? More flashbacks please.
I loved seeing the little details - Joo-an ordering potato soup after Seojoon left, Seojoon removing his earrings in Ch 74 when we finally see him again. I would love to see Seojoon cut his hair or completely change his attitude finally being on his own, watch as Joo-an sees him in a new light, and slow burn rather than just jumping right into "I suddenly realized I loved you all this time". SO EXCITED FOR SIDE COUPLE, I don't care to see long scenes of Hajin and Geonwoo, PLEASE MORE JOOAN/SEOJOON.
Glad to see the Blondie hater comments gone. He's a lovely, bright and cute goofball who just hasn't realized his feelings yet. Hope the secretary will also be more articulate about his feelings towards Blondie and Geonwoo will stop crapping on Blondie bc it's lowkey annoying after a while. I love you Geonwoo and you are so right but just stop pls.