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Honestly this is why I despise the second fiddle trope of harbored love, I know ultimately the second couple are an official coupling, but the Blond Frenchie(Jooan) truly doesn’t deserve Seojoon. Even if you exclude the fact that Joo-an isn’t beholden in returning Seojoon’s feelings he clearly doesn’t “respect” Seojoon beyond what he serves in meeting Joo-an’s immediate needs. I know they’ll end up together regardless of my wants but I genuinely wish the author went the route of giving Seojoon a proper a love interest, and still let Seojoon air out his grievances of being taken for granted. The fact he’ll still end up with Joo-an still ultimately reads as rewarding Joo-an despite his much needed self reflection and maturity growth.
Couldn't agree more, I can't honestly wrap my head around how selfish Jooan sounds, does he even realize what he just said? He's willing to give Seojoon what he wants halfheartedly so he can have peace of mind and be comfortable again, without a second thought as to what that's going to do to Seojoon. He puts his needs first and Seojoon's feelings second. He won't even spare him the dignity of walking away when it's clear as day Jooan doesn't even understand how he feels about Seojoon nor how Seojoon feels or what he went through all the years he spent harboring an unrequited love for him. I don't know, there's something that doesn't sit right with me in how he's being all me, me, me right now. Yes, Seojoon definitely dropped something heavy on him, but you would think that having to do something so extreme as to literally run away from him would give him some perspective about how miserable Seojoon must have felt watching his beloved yearn over some other guy he hadn't even seen in years, when he was right in front of him, helping with everything he ever needed.
I find astounding how he could be so blind all along and so insensitive now. "How could you do this to me?", "You should have taken that decision with me.", "come back so you can continue working for me". I want to pluck my hair right off! Not once did he even ask how he was faring.
I don't think Seojoon running away was the right decision, I think it was cowardly and unfair to some extent, but seeing this guy's reaction was to try and keep everything business as usual for his own benefit makes me think it couldn't have happened any other way.
Seojoon needs to get to know a love that doesn't only take and take and take. Get this man a nice man who wants him and treasures him and doesn't take him for granted, Jesus
This. And while I know this is fictional is makes me so mad that this “type” of trope of being taken for granted is this kind selfless testament of love is seen as romantic. When learning to love YOURSELF is the m truest love story we’ve never been told.
What is the appeal of plots that center around ML character who’s defining personality is that they are fuckboy/ promiscuous, not that they have a sex life but rather the point of their personality is that they are very sexually experienced and somehow always “tamed” by a virgin love interest?
Idk Korean women might like fuck boys more
I’m just genuinely confused by the desire of such a partner. Is there an attraction of being objectified?
"I can change him"
I read western romance novels and that trope is popular too. Women like that they can 'change' him since they are not like other girls.
What is it about abuse and toxic relationships that people find sexy to read and watch? Why is it the number one utilized trope in most genres across the board, that continues to gather audiences from all ages and backgrounds?
I guess you haven’t been corrupted, yet.
Meh. Relationship? Hit and run is better.
Because readers find conflicts intriguing. We like seeing characters being challenged to overcome a situation (which may or may not be resolved). Most fiction is based on some element of conflict, all of which span every genres of manga:
man vs. man
man vs. self
man vs. society
man vs. supernatural
man vs. tech/machinery
We're all just there for the sex
Lmao
Honestly fluff is so boring. Like for 80 chapters all the uke and seme do is UWU each other, not even a fukin kiss. Blush here, Blush there…. UGHHHH So boring. I just want the Seme to pound the Uke so hard till he starts bleeding But Nope nope nope NOT in fluffy Mangas!!! That is the reason why I love hardcore and mangas with fuked up caracters.
I think in this case, the person is asking more why so many people gloss over toxicity and problematic relationships in vast majority of yaoi stories. A conflict/climax is needed in almost every story to keep interest flowing and have readers want to find out more. But in many cases of yaoi stories, the toxicity in the relationship is actually not even used as a conflict at all, in fact it always gets swept over as nothing, or a slight little "misunderstanding" between the two characters, when in reality it's HUGE problems such as non-consensual sex, rape, verbal and/or physical abuse. These types of situations aren't regarded as "conflicts" in these stories, they always get glossed over as "it was just a moment of jealousy", or "it's cause of his tragic past". It gives young readers this idea that if a man does or has any of these toxic characteristics, it's actually because he "loves you", and that right there, is a big problem in society because men or women won't leave their toxic partner since there's the thought that "he/she is only doing this cause they love me".
Things like these shouldn't be overlooked, but the reality is that they almost always are, and authors and also readers almost always refuse to acknowledge in fact just how toxic the relationship actually is, because, like most comments above said, most people are only reading for the sex.
The love-hate trope differs from toxic/abusive relationships. The person is questioning why people overlook yaoi stories where relationships involve things like non-consensual sex, rape, verbal and/or physical abuse.
I love the hate-to-love trope, it's my personal favourite, but just because the two characters hate each other, doesn't excuse for non-consensual sex, or rape, there's absolutely no excuse that justifies any of those actions, but in vast majority of yaoi stories, that's exactly what happens, and the author and readers refuse to acknowledge how wrong those actions are, and it gets glossed over with a couple exhcnages of "I love yous".
Cause it’s yaoi. Lmfao. I
Lmfao, bleeding out on the sidewalk. So hot.
oof got me there my guy
I've said this before- it's a comic book, not a blueprint for real life. Characters/situations are overdramatised in an entertainment medium, so it's fine if readers cheer on the bad character of their choice. The Joker is cool, but a real life psychopath is not ok.
Yeah but the joker's character isn't painted to be this saint or portrayed as the correct form of morality, he's not a character that's glorifying psychopathy.
Toxicity or what you refer to as "entertainment" in yaoi is almost ALWAYS glorified or excused despite how wrong some of this stuff is.
I know rape is a fantasy many people have, especially women. Yaoi is able to give them that fantasy. I would argue that yaoi SHOULD not be read by young people. The ones that contain rape or abuse should be read by mature audiences.
In many cases, Joker is seen as a cool rebel hence why many want to be him (cosplay).
Joo-an is by no means at fault for not immediately reciprocating nor having initially having feelings for Seojoon what he is at fault for is taking for granting Seojoon’s willingness to go at Joo-an’s “speed” aka whims and believing that that is their normal rather than Seojoon defining himself by joo-an’s needs the entirety of their relationship. What’s sad is Seojoon decides to do this willingly. This thankless endeavor born from
a brief moment where Joo-an without prompting does something thoughtfully sincere through the gifting of the garden benches. This is what Seojoon hangs onto while we see Joo-an as also the spoiled rich man child that Joo -an actually is in contradiction. This is the whole crux of their issue more so than an unrequited love that is only now rearing its head finally. Seojoon shouldn’t have to be a secretary who is dragged across the world to help his boss woo a childhood crush, a crush mind you Joo-an at any point could have searched for on his own but rather only did so when it conveniently aligned with a work opportunity that would benefit Joo-an’s profitability and life. Seojoon shouldn't have to micromanage Joo-an personal life, emotional stability, and personal relationships. But he does this out of love and friendship and even as a friend it goes beyond. Joo-an has it realize this now and be confronted with this reality that others clearly see.
We know for a fact Joo-An dated others before his attempt at reaching out to Yoo Hajin so I’m sure Seojoon thought this was just Joo-an going through yet another whim that ultimately meant nothing given Seojoon had likely seen countless partners come and go but joo-an was different when it came to Yoo-hajin, it was the thoughtfulness that joo-An put in that same actual selfless care that he had one upon a time shown to Seojoon. The very actions that made Seojoon fall in love with Joo-an in the first place. This truly in my opinion is what made Seojoon realize his relationship with Joo-an was one directional in care and broke the fantasy finally. And this also what broke his reality with the realization that he had wasted his life over a man who never actually saw him, but saw him as a fleeting interest that eventually became background.
I genuinely wish Seojoon would just move on as he deserves more and the opportunity to live a life/identity not defined by someone else. I genuinely wish that sort of “ self love” was more present in the romance genre but that wouldn’t make for a status quo romance now would it? The author is going to likely for the next chapters have Joo-an really begin to see Seojoon as not only a single flower to eventually lose interest in but a rich garden of emotions and actions that is beautiful to not only observe but actually appreciate.
So beautifully written and well said! I’m looking forward to his and I love how your articulated the deeper struggle they have and how the author will hopefully develop their relationship!