The author did a very good job at convincing me that Taesung was a flawed yet likable character, I will give them that. But now that I think about I was always a dumbass for believing it lol not only did they meet in a fucked up way there were probably other subtle signs that this was coming. The cover itself is pretty telling with how Sooyoung is positioned at Taesung's feet. Not to mention the story has always been pretty heavy.
The way I see it I don't think this is necessarily supposed to be a positive story. I think this is probably one of those tragic love stories. Honestly it would probably be best if the story doesn't try to redeem either Minhyuk or Taesung since they both at the point of no return. The only real happy ending would be Sooyoung escaping them both.
With that said I don't get the sentiment that Minhyuk is now a better choice. The first thing he did once Sooyoung had his guard down was assault him. I'm pretty sure that says a lot about how he would treat Sooyoung if they actually got together. Of course we haven't seen his worse side yet, he hasn't been able to get to Sooyoung because of Taesung, why are we assuming he's better with no real proof? Why assume that when we have plenty of proof that he's 9 times out of 10 just as bad?
Last time I checked the story has shown him to be manipulative and possessive too. Not to mention when he thinks about Sooyoung the tone around his thoughts have become more obsessive and controlling as the story develops. Minhyuk is more of a snake than a wolf, he's good at lulling people into a false sense of security while hiding his true nature, of COURSE he's not going to go ham like Taesung just yet. Let's see what happens if he manages to get Sooyoung, I have a feeling Minhyuk will fully show his psychotic side and then people will probably complain about him.
Saying Minhyuk would objectively be the better choice is like saying "Well it's a dumpster but at least it's not on fire like that one over there." lmao. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's wrong to like Minhyuk better I'm just very annoyed by people trying to downplay the severity of his actions (which might end up hurting Sooyoung more considering the fact that he trusts Minhyuk and actually believes he's a decent friend unlike Taesung who's more openly abusive). You can think a character is more likable but excusing shitty behavior is unnecessary af.
Excellent pow (〜￣△￣)〜
I hate the best friend so much. I literally cannot stand whiny immature characters who yell every five seconds and has temper tantrums. There's nothing in his character that balances out any of these obnoxious traits (he reminds me of Yurio from YOI before he developed into a more balanced, likable, and adorable little firecracker). I pray that Sagold does not expand on the side couple like she did with Make Me Bark (didn't like that side couple either tbh) they have really pretty character designs but good lord the bottom's personality made my bussy dry up quick.
In Seo needs to chill. I'm so happy to read the comments and see that a lot of other people are also bothered by his behavior. Honestly didn't expect that from this website lol but it's obvious that it bothers Yi-Hyeok too. He's probably starting to feel used and I don't blame him. If my partner kept coercing me into sex after our first time I would be hurt and angered by that (especially considering the fact that he's beginning to disregard Yi-Hyeok's consent during sex more an more, it's starting to get rapey now which sucks).
I'm hoping that they have a mature talk about these things because it would be the perfect way to give Yi-Hyeok a chance to tell him off and make him realize a good partner cares about the agency of their lover and doesn't force things on them. It would be a good way to point out the flaws in In Seo's character. Not to mention you can't just sexually assault your partner and not expect some type of conversation to arise from it.
I predict that Yi-Hyeok is going to bring it up after a lot of hesitation (hopefully) and maybe they'll have a fight. Either that or Yi-Hyeok will start to distance himself and avoid In Seo due to his insecurities (I think this will happen even if he does confront him). Once he distances himself the creepy boss will probably swoop in and take advantage (like creepy niggas usually do lmao). I low key hope that happens and I hope it makes In Seo feel threatened because he needs a wake up call. It'll probably take a lot for him to be redeemed at this point.
P.S.
Y'all never heard of sex scenes where people fuck in the same room with other people? There's literally an entire kink based around that concept and y'all act like this doesn't exist in every type of porn. You read gay smut like this all day and somehow this scene got y'all clutching your pearls? Are you all virgins or something?? XD
Good plot but I'm not a fan of how the women are treated in this manga. If you can't write good girl characters w/o them being sexualized constantly then you're not a good mangaka. Can't get into shounen that depicts women in a shitty way tbh
I find it kinda funny how people are up in arms about this yet don't seem to care as much about all the popular BLs that have sugar-coated rape. Is it because this is not as pretty? Is it because a girl is doing it? I think it's worse when romantic stories with an actual plot try to convince you that rape is a good way to start a relationship. This is straight up hardcore porn for people with a rape kink that doesn't try to spin it as romantic.
Painter of the Night starts out with abuse and brutal rape throughout yet it's still well liked on this website because "he has a tragic past and he can redeem himself, you have to feel sorry for him now!". Really? It's okay for a rapist to be randomly cured by love and have a happy ending with the damn rape victim...but a porno that pretty explicitly shows the acts as rape and doesn't try to spin the rapist into the sympathetic character is somehow worse? She's a literal demon and the manga is pretty honest about that.
Don't get me wrong I have seen much more people criticize rape in BL (which gives me hope) but I just notice a trend on this website where people are much more okay with rape if it has a rosy filter and a romantic plot haphazardly slapped onto it to lessen its severity. I think that depiction of rape is much more problematic and sinister, it sugar-coats it so much that people don't even see it for what it is, rape is hard enough for people to define as a crime without popular media sugar coating it.
I think it's because with yaoi some people get sick type of pleasure from it, especially because the rape is happening between two men not women.
true dat
I don’t think it matters the gender on who the story is about if you rape / sexual assault someone your a horrible person and nobody should defend you at all or something like that shouldn’t make someone horny yk? But idgaf about gender it’s all about the actions and I don’t take rape or / sexual assault for anyone or anything
1.) I never said certain genders can't be rapists, I simply pointed out the fact that people on this website are much more critical of female characters than male characters which is true.
2.) Please educate yourself on the intricacies of kink and rape kink before you blindly judge people for being into that type of thing, especially considering the fact that there are rape survivors who like it too. Rape kink and rape play do exist in healthy spaces.
We love a bad bitch smarts and sexual allure wins over brawn any day. Got these niggas wrapped around his finger lmao
My black ass got so angry thinking this was some slave x master trash but it's not. The Tappytoon summary specifically stated that the blonde dude is basically an abolitionist and his family were allies. Why would mangago leave out something so important about him and his morals? I wish there were more stories that pair the slave with an ally/abolitionist instead of some racist asshole who own humans. Nice to see the person in power be good from the /start/ for once, it makes more sense for a slave to fall in love with an ally.
Tbh the cover of the manhwa is pretty distasteful too. Not really cute to see an image of a white person erotically holding a chain and collar on a dark skin dude, kinda yikes, could've went for something a little less fetishizing but a least the plot ain't all that bad.
no because i had the same thoughts? I really almost dropped it after reading the promo cuz
Right? I've seen so many horrible Slave x Master stories that I'm very paranoid about even touching anything with slavery in it. Ppl who don't have slave ancestors generally suck ass at writing slave fiction without being ignorant and insensitive to the actual struggle. Tbh I'm relieved tho, I'm happy it wasn't as bad as it sounded, makes me feel better lmao
You must've been pleasantly surprised when you read it lol
You're right , although I'm not black but I'm an indian . So I kind of understand how hard it is to read such stories. It feels very terrible when you see things like these or even people fetishizing over slavery or master/slave thing.
I get that people compare every psychological BL under the sun to Killing Stalking but I can't blame them for mentioning it this time. It's not like it's an insult (Killing Stalking is that bitch and we must admit that it inspired a new wave of Psychological BL manhwas). This one does have a serial killer romantic interest and it does have a theme of two fucked up people being intertwined. And the most glaring similarity is the art, the art looks bloody similar and there's no denying that come on (especially considering that KS has a unique and distinctive art style).
I kind of see both sides though because the character designs are still different. The MC is much more mature and seductive than Yoonbum who more so borders on looking like a kicked puppy, completely meek and innocent. MC only looks innocent when he wants to manipulate others through that mask. The serial killer dude has that rabid dog thing going on like Sangwoo but he seems more depressed and juvenile than calculating and cold.
I don't blame people for comparing the theme and art style to KS but ngl it would be ridiculous to compare the characters to those two. The bottom is absolutely the more calculating and manipulative one, he surprised me with how assertive he is. He can go from cold to a sexy minx like it's nothing and it's clear he's more dominant and not here to be codependent on anyone (unlike Yoonbum).
The top is MUCH more morally grounded that Sangwoo, like holy cow he shocked me too. He doesn't seem to want to kill for his own sadistic gratitude and is doing it as a job more than anything. They both have a fixation with a certain woman but he seems much more emotionally co-dependent as a person so far. He doesn't hate women and seems to actually have a weakness for people he views as vulnerable (which is why he's a perfect target for the MC lol).
They're both incredibly intelligent and do have assertive personalities though which makes this super interesting as its own unique story. It's very unlike KS in that way and I must say I'm pumped to see more of their battle of wills. This is going to be a fun dynamic to watch and I can't wait to see more of the bottom's sultry manipulation ლ(´ڡ`ლ) I hope serial killer boi lasts.
/Dissertation over lmao
P.S. The comparison to Obey Me is kinda stupid though like whet? Kind of an insult imo
I agree with you completely, but a lot of people are saying they don’t like it because it’s a “killing stalking knock off” which I think is BS becuz a lot of manhwas have similar art styles. I think the author was going for more of those cooler toned colors (like ks does) becuz it’s a much darker manhwa. The MC looks like yoonbum, but other then that it’s nothing like ks, like you said. Sangwoo was a psychopath when this seme does it for a job. and clearly he planned to save the uke cuz why would he previously have a picture of him on his wall?? But yeah, anyways I read your whole essay and very much agree with you lmfao
Eugene is bae like a mf, definitely my ideal bottom. This is going to be spicy af but hopefully not too tragic in the end. The author is very aware of how batshit Eugene is and yet they still know how to make him sexy and appealing. The build up so far is well done and paced very nicely. I have faith that this one will have well written conflict throughout! Wonder if I could find this on lezhin.
After being disappointed by some of the new so called "psychological BLs" that's been coming out lately that never commit to the fucked up-ness of the plot (I'm looking at you POTN) this is the medicine I needed henny!! This is how you write a twisted and titillating BL couple, THIS is how you write a nuanced and compelling psychological horror.
This is some real mind fuckery and I'm here for it! It's so nice to see a legitimate horror BL bruh, I fucking love gay horror in general and this is really scratching that itch. I always knew Joon had to be twisted too but the way they confirmed it after all that clever foreshadowing is just *chef kiss* FUCK it's good. He had me feeling chills when he said what he did about Yeon-Woo's parents, and the part with the coach had me on edge like a mf. Something about that innocent doll-like face hiding such sinister thoughts is just even more terrifying. The way they highlighted the broken glass like he was close to killing the coach was just ugh, I love it.
It's feels good to read a couple that is realistically depicted as fucked up yet also have a level of moral grayness high enough that the reader can't help but feel conflicted about the main couple. You almost want to root for them in all their twisted-ness because they are also written in a sympathetic way that is actually believable. Too many BLs write these incredibly unlikable characters and don't do nearly enough to make that character gray enough to still be seen as sympathetic.
Too many stories have abusive assholes who are beyond redeemable with no real nuance yet the writer expects you to magically forgive them and sympathize with them because they had a bad childhood or something. This author fleshes out their characters throughout the story and set up sympathetic motivations for the horrible stuff they do. You feel conflicted because the characters are not just a black and white "good or evil", they feel incredibly HUMAN (which is ironic because Yeon-Woo is literally a monster I'm pretty sure lmao). They don't feel shallow and neither does their relationship.
This is so fucking good so far, the horror nerd in me is vibrating ლ(´ڡ`ლ)
so true, everything now seems like a rip off of something else or an excuse to romanticize abuse/ fetishes.
you write really well~ and i agree with everything you said !!! YOU EXPLAINED EVERYTHING CLEARLY uwu
Yes, yes and yes to this
For real tho omg so many BL just run with a trend. It's fucking lazy writing imo
Aww thanks <3 but honestly it's only speculation. I've been loud and wrong before lmao