My first thought was: does this person have more analysis comments like this? Then my second question was: Does bro have to write an essay in English or something? bc of the end mb it's just funny.
Only a few. It really has to move me and include “show, not tell” moments that I want to mention and analyze.
Essays are fun :D
I also like having interactions and hearing other people’s views on things...do u maybe wish to add smth you noticed ^^ I would love to know
My guy no one is grading you i promise, whats up with this MLA Format essay
Pls grade me :D
MLA Format is peak!
Yess, I fully agree with you I love how you laid everything out, both their traumas, the miscommunication, the way their growth has to be earned. It’s so refreshing to see someone acknowledge both sides instead of acting like only one character is to blame. I also agree about your comment about Dohu's hair, I think he also kept his hair long because he's hiding, but I also think its bc hair holds memories and that he kept his hair that long to symbolize how many years he longed for Juheon.
And omg the weekly updates and hiatuses are pure torture .
We already waited so long for S3 to return and now every chapter leaves us hurt and wanting more. I want to let it marinate, but I genuinely can’t. This story is too good and the slow burn is slowly killing me.
I just hope the payoff is as big and beautiful as the buildup has been. Because after all this pain, these two deserve the softest healing ever.
I should have expected this I forgot this community is just as crazy as me
Thank you so much!! <3
It’s crazy how one person always gets blamed. I guess people pick and choose who to side with depending on who they feel more connected to and who they can relate to. Many can’t see the full picture and think there is always one person who needs to carry the full weight of blame.
I, for example, can relate to Dohu a lot... but because I get him, I also see his flaws and what he has to do and needs to step up for. Nobody is perfect and everyone has room for growth.
AH HOW COULD I BE SO BLIND, IT WAS SO OBVIOUS. HAIR HOLDS MEMORIES!!! YOU ARE A GENIUS! This is 100% it, because the options I thought of are possible, but the memory of hair is smth very precious and he yearned for him for 4 years. I think I was thinking a bit too complex, so your thought is most likely it.
Yeah, I’m actually so glad it is back, but at what cost (T - T)
I agree. I currently rate it a 4/5 but if the payoff is weak and rushed, it will sadly have to drop to a 3/5 :’(
If nothing gets rushed it will be 5/5 <333
Many people write in the comments that they want them to finally make up... but I think these things take time. Rushing it will ruin it and both of them have been hurt.
I wish for the story to handle the characters with grace and not have them act out of character. I will be so glad if we get an amazing reunion with depth, emotion, and the understanding they deserve. A reunion at the beach, or maybe the first thing they do after they talk it out is spend their day at the beach.
I kinda want them to have a talk sitting across from each other, holding hands and talking as they pour their hearts out... maybe even some crying. But I wish for that at the highest peak of their conversation. A girl can only dream.
I have big expectations and I just hope it doesn’t get rushed. And like you said, the softest healing!!!
Do you have any wishes or thoughts on how they could reunite/face each other?
True there aren't many manhwa author's who put in the effort to make changes but that's mostly bc most readers don't care about them unfortunately. Time skips are usually seen as a bad thing too but honestly sometimes it's just needed when the couple doesn't necessarily end up together within one year （￣へ￣）I rarely analyse manhwas unless I can see how the author is different from others (bc Korean authors have a specific mindset when it comes to mlm sadly.) I actually agree to most of the stuff you said I didn't start with the new season though so I can't really add or disagree to anything rn lol I only know they have a conflicting reuniting (or smth like that) after 4 yrs which I saw a TikTok about. I read green flag stories because it's good for my health lol it's hard to wait for chapters when there is a conflict yk
thank you so much
And EXACTLY , when people pick a side, they stop seeing the story the author is actually telling.They decide that one takes the blame but, both of them are hurting, both made mistakes, and both deserve a chance to heal together, not apart.
And YES, slow and meaningful!!
Rushing a reunion would ruin everything they’ve suffered through. I love the pace its at right now, like it hurts, but the author is doing a good job at giving a well thought out story and if they rush the reunion, it wouldn't match the pace.
I do. I honestly think dohu should disappear for a bit. Not to punish Juheon, but to put himself first especially after holding the weight all these years. I want Juheon to panic and realize he does still love him and admit his feelings. That Juheon will search for him and find him at the spot they met or where they went on their first date.
Dohu finally apologizes and gives Juheon that reassurance he needed years ago, but also how the apology will lift that responsibility of his shoulders.
And Juheon finally lets himself feel instead of punishing himself and everyone else around, and also apologizes as well, for leaving and basically escaping from the problem or not giving themselves closure before he dissappear without a trace.
And maybe Dohu says softly:
“The cicadas didn’t leave… they were waiting for you too.”
If we get that level of healing??
I will cry fr. They deserve the softest reunion after all this pain.
The song they remind me of right now is Take a Bite by beabadoobee, because they’re both terrified of being hurt again, but even more terrified of losing each other forever. They’re still hungry for love, just afraid to take another bite.
I really love people like u in a fandom
Keep this up
True, finding good stories is rough. I happen to find more mangas with compelling and impactful stories that include small details. There are some webtoons that have amazing stories too, but they are not always BL/GL.
It really depends on what the author values.
I avoid anything that has rape in it. It is extremely unnecessary and unredeemable for my morals. I also find too many stories that follow the plot of: “in order for this to happen or for you to reach your goal, you need to have sex.” This is flat-out boring and lazy writing.
But for some, it is nice, because all they wish to see is just rabbits in heat.
Which isn't bad, everyone can enjoy what they please.
We sadly have too many authors who just write sex with no plot, or plot that is shallow. Seeing how 'Low Tide in Twilight' is very beloved by many, even though it has the worst writing and character actions, proves again that many don’t really care for good plot and even root for an abusive character just because it is fiction.
Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy complex, twisted, and flawed characters, but they should be written well and not be forced into a new personality without making them go through hell. Or at least not force them to be together with the victim.
As for the time skip you mentioned:
A time skip is usually fitting at the very beginning of a story or at the close end of a story. Arcane Season 1 is a good example of a time skip at the beginning.
Since Season 3 started with a time skip, it fits well, especially since the author would have needed to cover four years of story and there is no time for that.... and it is kind of pointless for such a long time frame. Like you said.
If the author wished to include the time, they could have dedicated one chapter to showing Dohu passing his days. Small things like how his hair grows slowly, how he has nightmares, him holding the soft toy keychain, staring at the chat with Juheon and looking at the last message, how he can’t see the profile picture anymore, and how he spends most of his time in silence or drunk and wandering to the old apartment. Maybe the chapter could have ended with Dohu’s sister visiting him or picking him up from Juheon's old apartment, telling him what a mess he is and how he needs to get his act straight. Or they could have had a talk about the fallout and how she gave him advice before (very weak advice lmao).
But even without that, I find the time skip good. It doesn’t break the momentum, especially since it is at the start of the season and the readers jump back into the story after a long break.
Ah, I see!
So you want to binge it. That is valid ^^, especially if you can’t handle the conflict right now and want to read it in one go.
If you want, I can recommend you some BLs/GLs with interesting plots, green flags, and no angst if you want it only fluffy.
thank u ^^
I'm just a yapper ~
Wow! THAT'S COOL!!! Him disappearing after the five times of meeting and during those five reunions they slowly get close, only for Dohu to keep his promise and leave... that is really interesting. I can totally see Dohu do that, since he respected Juheon’s wishes before and didn’t reach out to him for 4 years. He keeps his promises. Juheon and panic go hand in hand frfr.
I’m pretty sure Juheon is aware that he still loves him. He did those things because he loves him and felt deeply betrayed by the one he trusted the most. He was always shielding himself and he allowed only one person in... and that was his first and last as well. The trust is broken and he has every right to act the way he does. He longs for Dohu, he mentions that several times.
>>>I just wish to add my thoughts too, so please don’t feel like I’m trying to correct you. I just analyze it to the extreme.<<<
So yeah, I think Dohu should succeed with those 5 times of meeting, to really explain himself and get his feelings and love for Juheon across to him. To really prove they are real and that even though it started as friends to sex buddies, it then developed into romantic love. Him then keeping the promise and leaving… and Juheon feeling the full effects of the heartfelt confession, wanting to connect again on his side. Not fully ready to trust again, since he has his doubts and needs reassurance that Dohu still has to provide. But Juheon being willing to connect as well and chase after him.
Betrayal is terrible. It really takes more than just showing up and words to be able to trust again. More actions and willingness are required. So yeah, apology and reassurance like you mentioned!
Mmmm I don’t think Juheon should apologize for leaving and blocking Dohu. He was the one who got deeply hurt by all this. He also has trauma from his family... and he has been through abuse. He has a fragile soul that was in constant survival mode. He never healed his inner child and never learned to face things head-on. Dohu pointed that out as well, how he is afraid to face things. Juheon is afraid and the only thing he has ever done to protect himself is hide and run, and to feel sorry and blame himself (at least during childhood he was sorry and blamed himself).
He never had a healthy upbringing and never learned to value himself or how to talk things out. His way of escaping the hurt felt like the only option left to him.
I completely understand him. Do I think it was the correct way of handling the matter, especially with them being a couple at that time… no. Were the words he said to hurt Dohu really necessary or correct to say? I also think not. But I cannot blame him for doing or saying those things. He was hurt and just wanted to hurt him back. But him pushing and hurting Dohu pained him... and he didn’t want that after all. He still cares. We see that with the tea accident as well, he cares for Dohu. But what he needs is the talk and the explanation from Dohu, plus the reassurance. He cannot do anything since Dohu didn’t give him anything to work with. If you get betrayed and deeply hurt, you also wish for the other person to recognize their mistakes and reach out to talk it out.
Juheon gave him twice the chance to talk with him. The time of the confrontation and then the night he got drunk after the family talk. He went to hug and talk but Dohu didn't stay stubborn enough to get his feelings across and explain his side of things. Dohu was also not able to even explain, since he saw it pointless. He says it himself. He wasn't yet ready and he still needed to process what went wrong and how poorly he handled it and how the choices he made had those outcomes.
These were the consequences of his actions/choices.
Ofc Juheon was all those times stubborn himself, already decided to not hear him out.
Both are equally to blame and at fault. Both stubborn in their own ways. I cannot wait to see how they will make up.
Anyway,.... what do you think? I might have analyzed a bit too much, only the author can approve this but I see how much effort was put into their characters. A shame that the story treats side characters with less care, but I get why you wouldn't want to flesh out side characters.
The part with the cicadas is beautiful. That’s really cute and touching. I like it. Really root for this to be said!!!
I don’t know that song, but I’ll have a listen ^^ I also like the analogy you did with them and the song.
Omg I love how deeply you analyze this — this story deserves readers like you, you dont overanalyze, i think the author would love the well thought out comments, it means they did a good job at portraying each side very well.
And yes, those two chances could have helped resolve the misunderstanding, but neither of them had the emotional ability to use them.
When Juheon confronted Dohu, he had already decided the betrayal was real.
He came into that moment looking to confirm the hurt , not to understand. I think even if Dohu explained himself, Juheon had already shut the door emotionally.
And the drunk reunion after the aunt?
That was the first time Dohu finally knew how to comfort him, but they were both terrified, raw, and drunk.Their hearts were open but their words weren’t ready.
So yes, they had chances ,
but they didn’t yet have the language to speak their love. Specifically Dohu who didn't know how to properly apologize without sounding blunt, but thats just the way he's built.
They loved each other in the wrong way at the wrong time.
Juheon didn’t know how to face pain without running from it and Dohu didn’t know how to communicate love without male it sound blunt or cruel.
And now Juheon’s pain comes out as cruelty. "You don’t even understand people’s emotions.”
He attacks the wound that destroys Dohu, and Dohu's fear of not loving the “right” way.
When Juheon says “So the director gave you this job by coincidence? That’s trauma talking ,
because in his world, love always hides a knife.
So he pushes Dohu away first
before Dohu can hurt him again.
That’s why Season 3 matters so much:
They’re finally older.
Finally aware of what they did wrong.
Finally terrified of losing each other again.
They’re being forced to face each other again and again
and every time, another wall cracks.
This reunion has to be slow, soft, and honest —
or none of the pain means anything.
Because after four years of shared suffering,
they deserve to heal side-by-side, not alone. And Dohu will finally be able to apologize for Juheon actually wanted that day which was reassurance and that he did love him, he just didn't know how to say it with the right words or intentions.
And I agree, after readjn your point, Juheon doesn’t owe an apology for running from betrayal he felt from the one person he loved and showed his vulnerable side to. What he deserves is a chance to heal in a way he never got to as a child with someone who finally understands him.
But maybe one day
he’ll apologize for how long he kept stabbing and using harsh words to the heart that never stopped choosing him .
Especially after the cicadas,
his ice can’t hold forever.
When I reread the story, I noticed that Dohu is wearing caps and keeping long bangs in season 3, even though he dislikes caps because they narrow his field of vision, and he prefers short hair bc it feels more refreshing. This change in his appearance might be because something inside him has shifted. It feels intentional and not random!
There are several possible reasons why he stopped cutting his hair. Maybe the words he received from Juheon may have hurt him deeply, and he might be trying to “fix” himself by looking prettier or more likable. Which can also mean that he is following the suggestions of others and his sister, to appear more "normal". Or he may have simply stopped caring about his own needs, letting his self-maintenance slip....but he still dresses well and is keeping up with his hygiene.... So idk really about that.
Both possibilities show emotional struggle. What stands out is that he later trims his hair for the party, but not in the style he actually likes. This suggests he is trying to look the way other people want, because he believes no one likes him as he is. He was told many times that he should stay alone and that he is a robot and unlikeable.
His long bangs and cap may also symbolize hiding. Narrowing his field of vision could be a sign that he wants to protect himself from judgment or avoid being seen. Again,....even though he still dresses well and keeps his hygiene, the fact that he neglects the hairstyle he personally prefers shows that he is conflicted. He wants to appear better on the outside while also hiding behind something, almost like a curtain.
Dohu’s behavior fits traits that can appear in autistic people, though autism varies a lot from person to person, plus the author didn't mention it anywhere nor in the specials... so I don't want to assume but I'm pretty sure he falls under the autism spectrum, because:
Many autistic people understand emotions better through personal experience, struggle to understand why others like certain things unless they like them too and often need clarity in communication. Dohu is written as a character who processes things differently, he doesn't understand something unless he experiencs it too, we saw that in season 1 and 2.
It is painful to see the communication between Juheon and Dohu break down (TvT), especially since Juheon likely realized that Dohu might fall somewhere on the autistic spectrum... Or well at least he is aware that Dohu struggles a bit with emotions and needs clarity and communication!!!
>>>Communication is vital, yet both characters failed in their own ways.<<<
I do not place all the blame on Juheon. Dohu could have asked more questions, tried harder to understand what upset Juheon and shown more initiative in learning the boundaries and emotional needs of someone he cares about.
As for the conversation with Dohu's sister, it felt extremely weak and empty. As the older sister, and someone who knows her brother struggles socially, she should have asked him more questions and helped him understand where things went wrong. Her role does not require her to fix everything for him, but her behavior still reflects how much she understands (or doesn’t understand) about her brother. Since Dohu actively reached out for advice, the moment could have been meaningful, yet it was rushed and shallow. Like... What she said was so ?????????? I get it but THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY????????
??????????_(0_0)_/??????????
We ofc don't know their sibling bond, nor do we have any idea how they treat each other besides knowing she is a clean freak, cares about the appearance of her brother (clothing and styling) and that she comes by (no idea how many times) to drop off food.
As someone who falls under the autism spectrum, I speak openly with my siblings when something goes wrong. I ask what I did, how it came across and what the “normal” reaction would be. Growth must come from the person themselves.... but guidance is still important. My siblings help me see things differently and I can't thank them enough for their support and for being so understanding.
That is why I feel the author missed an opportunity to show deeper personal growth for Dohu and stronger support from his sister. Their interaction could have been a powerful moment....but it never reached that level. (-_- ) Watch her never appear again.
This is a very strong personal opinion:
Juheon’s family plot feels weak!!!
Mainly because it lacks emotional depth. Even though the grandfather wants a “perfect” grandson and the aunt has narcissistic tendencies, the conflict never feels serious or painful enough to be convincing. Their actions seem to exist only to push the plot forward, not to show meaningful character development. Idk, I just felt annoyed seeing them and they kept coming whenever it was needed... It didn't show family abuse in all its seriousness. I wanted family abuse to be better portrait, especially since so many of us live it.
Conclusion:
I like this BL a lot!
The art is neat, and the plot itself is interesting enough that I don’t think too much about how other characters are just picked up whenever the story needs them and then forgotten until they are needed again.
I’m very excited to see where their relationship will go and how they will fix this. Will they have a real talk?
Will they try to meet each other in the middle?
Will they face things head-on and explain how they see the situation?
Will the family trauma be talked about and will Juheon rely on Dohu?
Will Dohu give a heartfelt apology, ask questions, and show that he wants to grow and learn?
I must KNOW!!! THOSE WEEKLY UPDATES ARE GRILLING ME ALIVE!!!!