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The Hia Awards

if Cutie Pie won the award of Most Hia's Per Second, and Between Us has the Most Emotionally-Charged Hia Usage, then My Stubborn has earned the BEAT DROP HIA LET'S GET IT ON HELL YEAH THIS IS DEFINITELY A PART OF THEIR FOREPLAY FROM NOW TILL FOREVER

mauls him

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wish I worked at the My Stubborn office. i'd be so good at their company, which specializes in... carrying various binders from location A to location B. heck yeah, I can do that. Will even refrain from sleeping with a coworker on company time, to the relief of their nonexistent HR.

i know for sure that 1. binders are essential and 2. the office bathrooms had normal lights until this particular company moved in and switched to dive bar lighting.

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So... we like the red flag BL mcs, huh? 😈

What kind of red are we talking here? Just a lil' dash of paprika? Are we out for actual blood? Or are we looking to end up in a ditch somewhere?

Well, whatever your preference, here I am to deliver something medium rare and nobody asked for 😅. Inspired by Revenged Love's freak4freak energy, and all other BLs out there whose characters love to sing Britney Spears' Toxic and Lady Gaga's Judas at the top of their lungs, here are:

10 toxic Thai BL mcs in order of increasing Threat Level 🚩🏴🏴‍☠️

For the connoisseur who doesn't know what to watch while we wait for Revenged Love to finish airing.

(Yes this post is for spice and the funsies. If you haven't seen any of the shows I'll be mentioning on here, and you love you a tall glass of Bloody Mary, I highly recommend watching these. Trigger warnings for some themes, spoiler warnings for everything else.)

Anyway, on to the poison!

Bachelor No. 10: Looking for a pretty little liar, as a treat? 🥀

Name: Stalker!Cir (not to be confused with other Cir incarnations)

Series: The Boy Next World (MeMindY)

Threat Level: That neighbor who keeps singing karaoke at 3 AM

Dude will enroll in the same university you're in, live one floor below your actual apartment, memorize your schedule, your classrooms, and your friend group, follow you to the supermarket, send his friend out to check on what you're doing, defend your car from thugs, and never, ever, EVER talk to you.

And when the universe finally bullies him into talking to you, he'll lie and insist you're boyfriends in a parallel world. Then use that to get into your pants. What happened to the casual "hi-hello"? Bachelor No. 10 needs charisma lessons.

Yeah yeah, the face and bod is a 10, but he's one screw away from starring in American Psycho. Well, at least he won't cheat on you. Deadly loyal this one, to a fault; good luck breaking up with him. Even when you're not together, he'll always, ALWAYS be there for you, equipped with his own theme song.

Bachelor No. 9: How about a guy with the emotional intelligence of a cactus? 🍒

Name: Sorn

Series: My Stubborn (MFlow Entertainment)

Threat Level: Playground Bully

Dude will mansplain, manipulate, malewife you into a dodgy friends-with benefits-setup, but he's not inherently evil-- just emotionally constipated. He's a misguided playboy with an unfortunate past, who's not actually as good in the sack as he thinks he is. But that won't stop him from jumping your bones any time he sees you. Loyal once he decides to go exclusive, and you'll never go hungry again with the way he keeps feeding you, but will reply with a "thank you" every time you tell him you love him.

Mostly, this boy is toxic because he is such. an. IDIOT. Everything you tell him will take 2-3 business days to process-- it's gonna get exhausting. If you're idiot-sexual, or just have a lot of time on your hands, then this is the guy for you.

Bachelor No. 8: Your best friend's boyfriend? REALLY?! 🪆

Name: Fighter

Series: Why R U? (DMD/Mandee)

Threat Level: Identity Thief

So he's dating your best friend, and he's doing an AWFUL job at it, but that's not stopping you, eh?

A closet case who's being relentlessly abused by his own father, so he decides to take the bullying out on you instead. But don't worry, he won't actually hit you. Might kiss you at your best friend (and his girlfriend)'s party though.

He's rolling in money and is generous in giving it to you, but he won't admit to feelings (feelings? eugh), especially if it means coming out to his family. Dumb as a doornail but somehow taking up Engineering-- the only consolation here is he'll take you out to an all-expense sexcapade at a random resort. But he won't clear things up with his girl until AFTER he's sexed you up. At which point, it's up to you, you rascal you, to patch things up with that poor, neglected best friend. God, the dumbest boys really do have the prettiest faces.

Bachelor No. 7: Want someone who'll friendzone you for Blackpink tickets? 🎈

Name: Khai

Series: Theory of Love (GMMTV)

Threat Level: Insurance Fraudster

We all have that one friend who's too hot for his own good, but when another person asks us for his number, we'd never give it out willingly, just because we want to spare this person THE HEADACHE of being with our gremlin of a friend. Non-committal, inconsiderate, and conceited to a fault, this guy will eat the last dumpling in your lunchbox without asking if you're still hungry, use your e-mail to subscribe to busty Only Fans content, share your Netflix password to his Flavor-of-the-Week, and ask you to answer for him during roll call so he won't fail his classes. Oh, and he'll make you buy Blackpink tickets that he'll never pay you back for.

With the emotional intelligence of a single fried peanut left in the brown baggy at the theater, you'll be relegated to the friendzone until you prove to him that you're desireable for other people. At which point he chases you, and swears he's a changed man, pinky promise. Let's see how long that'll last.

Bachelor No. 6: Seriously, you want the serial cheater? 💔

Name: Vee

Series: Love Mechanics (Rookie Thailand & WeTV Originals)

Threat Level: Adulterer

If Bachelor No. 7 promises to be a changed man, well this guy right here might not be able to keep that promise. But you'll still give him the benefit of the doubt right? *gives you bombastic side eye*

He will take advantage of you when you're drunk, and have sex with you while still being in a relationship himself. Then he'll act all shocked and heartbroken when he finds out his partner is doing the exact same thing. That's the pot calling the kettle bloody murder.

He will move in with you even though you're technically his side piece, fight with anyone who shows any interest in you, and will keep promising to break up with his ACTUAL girlfriend soon. Like, real soon. Just as soon as he finishes this infinity bagel...

God, if this character wasn't being played by Yin Anan, I swear he'd score higher on this list. Alas, op also has her color-blocking goggles on.

Bachelor No. 5: How about the guy who keeps stealing your job promotions? 🥊

Name: Nott

Series: War of Y: New Ship (Copy A Bangkok & AisPlay)

Threat Level: Labor Code and OSHA Violator

I get it, you're bored of the usual playboys. Let's find you someone scarier to mess with.

This guy right here isn't just your worst nightmare-- he's also the one guy who can destroy your career in one fell swoop. An actor with an ego the size of the MahaNakhon building, he'll sleep around with all the top bosses to get ahead and bypass you, but he'll also sleep WITH you as a lil' treat for himself.

He'll use you for popularity and better work opportunities, and will even steal your solo fans and your solo projects to get more famous. He'll drop you like a hot potato once he gets a better offer from the company YOU'VE been trying to join, and he'll take credit for the talent you've been showing to your shared audience all along.

But don't you worry, he says he loves you. He swears, ya'know? He just, um, *accidentally* slept with the guy who's blackmailing you. Oops.

Bachelor No. 4: Okay, let's try the brat who has too much of daddy's money. 🧨

Name: Yai

Series: Big Dragon The Series (Star Hunter Entertainment)

Threat Level: Drug Trafficker

What happens when a spoiled, selfish, entitled demon child gets too much access to daddy's black market money? He starts refusing to take no for an answer, forgoes consent, and just DRUGS people to submission.

Bachelor No. 4 is someone who was raised to get everything his heart desires, even at the expense of others. If his family wouldn't give it to him, his bodyguards certainly would. He will subject you to a constant parade of ME ME ME, where you and everyone around you must bend over backwards to give him what he wants, otherwise his billionaire father will definitely hear about this, Draco Malfoy-style.

He'll place you in the most dubious BDSM dungeon play this side of Bangkok, where he and his bodyguards don't exactly know what drug dosage they should inject you with, and which drug does what. But hey, at least you can trip on the fumes while this manchild tries to deal with his unresolved mommy issues.

Bachelor No. 3: Yes, Big Daddy (that's it. That's the tag) 🚩

Name: Kinn

Series: KinnPorsche the Series (Be On Cloud & IQIYI)

Threat Level: Mafia Boss

This dude has enough money to own you, your parents, your Aunt Chompoo, your second cousin Praew, and your neighbor's dog, so you shut the hell up and do what he says. He has no concept of consent, personal space, or boundaries, but every time you're upset he buys you a new car. Holidays and anniversaries are a logistical nightmare, because what do you give a guy who has everything?

(Um, your grand, beautiful body, DUH).

Anyway, you are now fully immersed in the sugar baby lifestyle. Forget about having your own dreams or aspirations, your life is now dedicated to running the shady family business, sleeping with your husband, and raising your children (wait, this ISN'T an omegaverse? Alright).

Can't leave the compound without Big Daddy, oh no. Your life is under constant surveillance and danger. Who are you talking to again? Why do you even need a phone anyway? All you'll ever need is next to Big Daddy over here. Friends? Family? They either move in, or they stay out. Remember: You. Cannot. Leave. This House. Without. Big Daddy. (Got it? Great, thanks, love you bye)

Also, you gotta be related somehow? That's... questionable, but eh, money is money.

Bachelor No. 2: In the mood for a sweet and psycho? 🏴

Name: Tonkla

Series: 4 Minutes (Be On Cloud & Viu Original)

Threat Level: Psychotic

With all this talk about toxic behaviors and red flags, you might be asking yourself, am I... also, a red flag?

If you're a character in 4 Minutes, well, you probably are. It's not your fault though-- you're a victim of the narrative.

Bachelor No. 2 just wants to curl up in his favorite chair, do his job, and have domestic sex with the love of his life for the rest of his living days, like a sweet ginger housecat. But the narrative had to go and kill his beloved brother, so off HE goes with a knife of his own to do some stabbies. In one psychotic-induced fit, he managed to upend the life of one mafia clan, one police officer, one homicidal student, and this random doctor who doesn't know what he's doing here anyway, and that's... very sexy of Bachelor No. 2. If you were gonna go psycho, might as well go FULL psycho, right? Don't worry, he'll still have time for you in between all the scheming. But you gotta scheme with him, okay? And you gotta accept the throuple, or else HE'LL DIE. Bet you didn't see that coming now, did you?

And finally... THIS BITCH

Bachelor No. 1: The demon the scriptures warned us about 🏴‍☠️

Name: Ming

Series: My Stand-In (YYDS Entertainment & IQIYI)

Threat Level: Beelzebub himself

Look, I know this list started out funny. But this is serious advice now: I beg you, if you ever have the misfortune of meeting a Ming in real life, please just RUN. Run and do not look back. No take-backs, no guilt, no "ooh, he'll change"-- NO. Run away. Do not give him an inch because he will 100% ask you for a hundred miles. In fact, running away may not be enough for this demon. You gotta do what you can to fully escape him.

Bachelor No. 10 (Stalker!Cir) and Bachelor No. 1 (Ming) actually have one thing in common, and may be closer to each other than any on this list-- it's impossible to break up with them because they WILL. CONSTANTLY. FOLLOW YOU. But if Stalker!Cir might be content to gaze at you from afar, Ming...

Ming WILL HAUNT YOU BEYOND THE GRAVE.

He will live in your home. Use your stuff. Work at your previous employment. Keep in touch with your family members and friends. Take ownership of all your properties. Track and interrogate everyone who's ever met you. Destroy the people who wronged you (absent of him, of course. He does no wrong). Hire a shaman to contact your soul. DO A SEANCE TO TALK TO YOUR SOUL.

PHYSICALLY STOP YOU AT THE DOORWAY TO HEAVEN AND CONVINCE YOU TO RETURN TO HIM. BIND YOUR SOULS TOGETHER SO YOU WILL ONLY RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER IN ALL REINCARNATIONS.

You know, demon shit.

I am convinced that the reason why Joe reincarnated into another body, despite actually desiring to be free to join his departed parents' souls, is because Ming ORDERED HIS SOUL TO RETURN through that creepy shaman. Ming is Beelzebub confirmed.

No good can come from interacting with a man who can control souls. His money, his influence, his power means nothing if it means your soul is incarcerated with his for eternity. Even the supposed immortal vampires over at Thai gay twilight couldn't do that, why in the Supernatural can Ming?

Then again, maybe you're into that shit. Maybe an eternity bound to this motherfucker sounds like heaven to you.

Maybe you like the headaches and the tears and the constant guessing whether you'll make it until the next sunrise, like the world's longest game of Russian Roulette.

In which case, you do you friend 😁 Happy sippin' and see you on the other side! 😈

P.S. Yes, I did not include Vegas on this list, not because I don't think he's a red flag, but because, to be honest, compared to some of the characters on here, I don't think he's... that bad. 🤣🤣🤣 When he kidnapped and tortured Pete, he wasn't looking to get a boyfriend out of it unlike the entries on this list-- he was initially interrogating an enemy. It's not his fault he and Pete have so much trauma they Stockholm Syndromed each other into a relationship. And the sex was consensual, even in his relationship with Tawan, who was also using him to extort fortune from their clan. This is a step above many of the characters on here, who took advantage of their partners vulnerabilities, and SA-ed or downright R-worded them at some parts of the narrative. So no, Vegas, a murderer, is not that bad as a boyfriend (look at me defending actual killer Vegas 🤣🤣🤣 Guess I like arsenic too.)

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whether you liked or disliked Sorn's apology, can we all agree

that Sorn would absolutely be an Ex from Hell. In the scenario of him and Jun being legit ex's with a whole history, he would be the most entitled, smug, hanging-around-Jun's workplace, taking-every-chance-to-paw-at-him ex ever. This is quadrupled if Jun was the one to break it off with him.

Sorn already has no boundaries, is hellbent on getting Jun to move back in with him and its only been like a week and they aren't even officially together yet. He grabs Jun's phone out of his hands while Jun is on a call and finishes the conversation himself. He answers Jun's phone when he is not in the room, without permission, and uses the opportunity to try to scare off 'rival suitors'. He has zero hesitation in physically holding Jun to him. Is Jun not talking to him? Corner him while he is taking a shower so that he has no choice. He doesn't hesitate to follow and pin Jun down in what is apparently his hunting ground of choice - public bathrooms.

Come onnnnnnn look at this smug bastard man

In an alternate timeline, this exact scene is playing out except it's Sorn the Ex pushing all of Jun's boundaries with the intent on wearing him down until he agrees to take Sorn back. Which is pretty much what is happening anyway. and honestly Jun matches his freak, like, these two are made for each other

Someone pointed out in the crying reunion scene, Sorn was breaking down and finally admitting he likes Jun (between his pity party woe-is-me hot takes)- but when Jun responded by calling out his convo with Thanu, the tears stopped like that. Our pathetic simp man Sorn was, just that, pathetic and emotionally constipated. But Ex Sorn in all his manipulative glory would definitely turn the waterworks on and off to get his way.

Sorn the Ex would routinely pull the 'show up at Jun's apartment uninvited' card. He would lovebomb and gaslight in equal measures, with breaks for when he loses his temper/patience because this is still Sorn we are talking about and he has the emotional intelligence of a fruit fly. But his go-to move when he is experiencing one (1) emotion seems to be I Must Kiss Jun Right Now, so that just ends with more boundary stomping.

I want to see Boat in more things because he is doing great. give me manipulative Sorn the ex character in the most lakorn-iest lakorn to ever lakorn in all its melodramatic glory. He would have his own menacing theme music every time he comes on screen. The viewers know when he is actively scheming b/c he would put his hair up in the half bun to signify his manipulations are about to play out. "Wow, Jun, what did you ever see in that guy? Glad he's an ex haha" cut to Sorn with his hair down and that would be the only explanation we get on why Jun got with him in the first place.

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I didn't have 'jumpscare' on my My Stubborn watch bingo list, but I done did got got thanks to Monsieur Pubès

Boat is beauty, Boat is grace, Boat has -something- on his face

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Okay I figured out like 80% of wanting to see Sorn go through it is because I'm still specifically tilted at Jazz for Two. Seo-heon forgave Tae-yi way too easily, so now Sorn must suffer.

Sorry, Sorn. You must pay for the sins of a completely unrelated Korean BL with snazzy music and very pretty people.

I think I yearn carnally to see Sorn have to really work for forgiveness, really put in some good ol'groveling to get back into Jun's good graces because BLs tend to have the habit of 'Character A wrongs Character B and then with very minimum effort B forgives A'. Knock on wood, but it feels like maybe proper time and effort might be given to the lead up to reconciliation in My Stubborn?? Please?

I know it has to do with run time or even just the direction the actors are given- and there's the ever-present No Two Human Beings Would Ever Actually React Like This factor that is prevalent in all BLs.

So I am both eager to see Sorn suffer emotionally a bit and rooting for him to get his guy and be happy. He is such a great character. Boat did an amazing job. Fantastic acting. I want to see him cry.

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I think I yearn carnally to see Sorn have to really work for forgiveness, really put in some good ol'groveling to get back into Jun's good graces because BLs tend to have the habit of 'Character A wrongs Character B and then with very minimum effort B forgives A'. Knock on wood, but it feels like maybe proper time and effort might be given to the lead up to reconciliation in My Stubborn?? Please?

I know it has to do with run time or even just the direction the actors are given- and there's the ever-present No Two Human Beings Would Ever Actually React Like This factor that is prevalent in all BLs.

So I am both eager to see Sorn suffer emotionally a bit and rooting for him to get his guy and be happy. He is such a great character. Boat did an amazing job. Fantastic acting. I want to see him cry.

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I want Sorn to CRY and experience REMORSE and to GROVEL for forgiveness and CRY some more and then receive non-sexual AFFECTION and then definitely-sexual AFFECTION with intense prolonged EYE CONTACT hopefully not in an OFFICE BATHROOM this time

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Once Sorn makes the connection that dating Jun = unlimited makeout time/full access to that sweet junbooty/full time Boyfriend Privileges, it'll be all over for his haters. Which is mainly himself. He's gonna get there. He's definitely maybe going to get there. His caveman brain will make the connection. Probably.

I'm dunking on Sorn because he is pathetic and it's easy.

I know it was revealed that there is a reason why he is approaching this Thing with Jun the way he is. Doesn't make him less pathetic, tho. Man is pining like it's his full time job. He wants to have full Boyfriend rights with Jun so bad and keeps trying to take them without the commitment. That's not how that works, friendo.

And to top it all off, it's Thai BL Boyfriend Privileges, which ups the Clingy Factor to 2000%. Jun will know no peace once Sorn gets his act together.

This man needs to get scorned (Jun), scolded (Tai), and then have a good old fashioned Cry About It (Sorn), and then he needs to acknowledge that Jun does, in fact, have other prospects if Sorn doesn't get his life together come on dude. And then he needs to cry about that.

I know in my heart that once Sorn gets his act together and he and Jun properly agree to date, Sorn is going to be in the running for World's Most Doting + Clingy Boyfriend. Look at this man paw at Jun every chance he gets - "come kiss me, what we won't get caught, here let's make out by the main stairs in the house where everyone goes." He's already at the I Am Fueled By My Partner's Presence stage.

Mr. Grab at Jun Every Chance He Gets

Mr. Wants To Kiss Jun So Bad It's Making Him Look Stupid

Mr. Go For A Quickie 0.3 Seconds After Jun Moves In (By His Own Suggestion)

Mr. Walking Workplace Violation But its Gucci Because This Municipal Office Building's Bathrooms Have Mood Lighting

Mr. A Totally Normal Reaction to a Grass Allergy

Mr. Let Me Check You for Rashes hikes both of Jun's legs up and shoves face into thigh

i have to check you for rashes takes off Jun's clothes

i have to keep checking you for rashes takes off own clothes

This will help check for rashes marathon banging

Jun was supposed to be showering, Sorn, u know, for the rashes

way to be so normal about your feelings, Sorn.

Jun, why do u put up with this

oh right

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Behold: 2 simps who failed at the one rule they made

King & Sorn: Mr. "Don't get attached to me- we are bed friends/sex buddies only"

immediately proceeds to be the clingiest boyfriend to ever boyfriend

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Thun: So that's it - you are choosing Johan over me, despite all my warnings about how he isn't good for you. I need to take some time and mentally regroup. Excuse me.

North: I am sorry, Thun. I should have communicated earlier that I am only interested in Johan. This has been a humbling experience and I will work on clearly communicating myself better in the future to avoid hurting others unnecessarily. I need to take responsibility for my actions.

*not even 10 minutes earlier*

North: P'Thun, can I borrow a thousand dollars? I haven't paid a single bill and spent all my money on games :D

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Ahhh loved the analysis of the only way evil polycule could survive

Seunghyn, for me, is very much a yellow flag, there are quite a few times he crosses Daon's boundaries and the whipped cream on neck seemed symbolic to me. Obviously when compared to Jaemin and Soohyun he appears the greenest flag ever, but my headcanon is he is a bit more darker than he seems.

Ofcourse Daon whose idea of healthy relationship is pretty much skewed, is not bothered, perhaps a part of Daon even recognizes and like it.

Talking about polycules, I can't see Seunghyn and Jaemin in one but curious about Seunghyn and Sohyun. Would love to know your thoughts more.

It was really the manhwa that convinced me that Soohyun / Daon / Seunghyun could have happened. Look, in the show, I am right there with the rest of us cheering for the Toxic Christmas Cabin Throuple as hard as everyone else. How much messier/worse everything could have been (or it would have fixed all their problems lol) if we got that. So when I went into the manhwa afterwards I was fully prepared to cheer for it again, but M!Jaemin um... lacks the charm of the actor. His creep factor verges too far on pathetic in the webcomic so I found myself rooting for a different throuple.

If Soo x Daon are the 'ship that could have been' then those three are the Not Quite As Toxic Throuple that could have been.

It's trickier trying to see how it would work out in the show, but in the manhwa (at least how I interpreted it) Daon and Soohyun have such a history where it seems like they are in constant risk of falling back into one another. That's Soohyun's whole purpose on his return - to make a real go of it, make things official, stop with the games. Maybe if the show had more airtime they could have fleshed out Soohyun and Daon's history - to my knowledge, it seems like the showrunners are content to just let us wonder about it forever if they had a FWB deal going on during uni like in the webcomic. Feels like Soohyun would have definitely mentioned it if so in the show.

So to make the throuple work, I have to lean heavily on the manhwa and say that it could work out only at pretty much the very end since that's when Daon finally picks someone else (Seong) over Jaemin and physically leaves Jaemin, complete with running out into the pouring rain and having a dramatical embrace. The Soohyun situation is resolved by Soohyun pretty much removing himself from the running (They meet up for closure and Soohyun informs him he is going back abroad and he doesn't regret his actions). Daon is tearful, but they part ways more or less amicably, but Soohyun's last private remarks are about how he was 'late' - too late to get Daon, to keep his place by his side, late to Jaemin, late to Seonghyun even.

Here's where I say they could make the throuple work, but it would hinge on Soohyun not wanting to throw in the towel just quite yet. If he pushed it now, made it clear to both Daon and Seonghyun that he wasn't going anywhere AND that he wasn't interested in underhanded manipulations like Jaemin, they might actually have a shot. Seonghyun would also have to fold a bit - but he already had that mindset earlier on with the Jaemin fiasco. lol I guess I'm betting on that by this point, if Seonghyun finally got Daon reciprocating his feelings openly over Jaemin, then he would see this Soohyun situation unfolding and just say "oh hell no I am not backing out now" and then the three could more or less make it work.

Manhwa Soohyun has a much more laid-back approach to life compared to his show counterpart, so if Seonghyun is blunt enough to call out the situation, then I can see him saying "yeah, that's pretty much what I intend to do. You can either get on board or we fight."

bandabing-bandaboom we got ourselves a new throuple.

Smarter than me writers could make this work, dang it!

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Scene Comparison - Soohyun & Daon Library scene

I appreciate how the show took moments/dialogue from the manhwa and adapted them - there was *a lot* of material they had to work through to get this thing condensed down to just 8 episodes. Overall, I understand the changes the show made because if they tried to shove everything in this timeframe, the ending would have felt way more rushed than it already did.

One favorite scene:

If you haven't read the manhwa and if there's any part of you that felt even a little bit bad for the crash and burn of the 'ship that could have been' (Soohyun x Daon), then please enjoy a small snapshot of how the library scene played out in the manhwa. It is during their 'not dating but basically dating/FWB' phase during uni.

Just to show what Soohyun/Daon could have been...! The show added a lurking Jaemin in its version, but he's not here in the webcomic. He does see (spy on them) them around campus being close and couple-y and gets tilted.

I guess the show left it up to us as the viewers to decide if Soohyun and Daon were 'together' at this point in their uni days.

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Secret Relationships - an option to make the Evil Polycule work and it involves removing one main character entirely so I don't think it counts

Thought more about how the Evil Polycule could actually work in the series and I can't help but go on another rant. But I'm weak and would have to take the scenario describe here and say that it could only be feasible in the show's present timeline if Seonghyun isn't a factor at all. Which I guess counts as a copout but oh well. Creative writers could make it work, I have no doubt!

So I think it would come down to Soohyun getting Daon to accept the ring during the dinner exchange- as stated before, without Seong's presence I just don't see Daon having the strength to resist Soohyun, especially with how hard he pushes. And because Soohyun understands what a threat Jaemin is with his hold on Daon, he will want to address it and goes ahead with telling Daon exactly what Jaemin has done.

Daon does the Jaemin confrontation BUT this time Soohyun goes with him. I like the idea of Soohyun hanging back out of sight because

he knows how Jaemin operates and wants Jaemin to confess without using Soohyun's presence as an excuse to focus elsewhere, and

for drama

Jaemin snaps and moves in on Daon, but now we have the delight of an enraged Soohyun charging in and putting a stop to that mess. Jaemin is truly caught so pulls his hail mary with the self-stabbing. Daon is horrified, Soo is shocked but in this scenario he is blessed with exactly one (1) braincell (which he is karmically owed after agreeing to that dumb fake date plan) so he processes the following realizations very quickly:

Jaemin will stop at nothing to keep his hold on Daon. Like it will take legitimate death to keep him out of the picture.

For all his rage, Soohyun is not a murderer.

Even if he could pull if off, Daon would never forgive or forget.

For better or worse, Jaemin has made himself a permanent fixture in Daon's life (again, Seonghyun has to be a nonfactor because we saw in the show that even with Jaemin's desperate self-harm, Daon pulled away thanks to Seong's influence).

So Soo makes Daon go look for bandages to get him out of hearing range and says something along the lines of "You think pulling this move let's you win? You've played your final card and now Daon knows exactly who you are. You are no longer in control here. What happens next is on my terms."

He can rub salt in the wound once Daon returns and Jaemin is bandaged up, Soo takes Daon's hand and makes a show of kissing the ring he gave him earlier (Daon would be wearing it as he accepted). Just a real 'kick Jaemin while he's down' moment. But Jaemin does actually see the writing on the wall (blood loss aside) and understands the message Soohyun is sending: If you want Daon, fine, but it's going to be a packaged deal.

Jaemin gets sent to the hospital - I imagine Soo would just call emergency services rather than let Daon take him. Soohyun and Daon return home. Daon is in a state of shock and just generally disassociating. His state really hammers in to Soohyun that Jaemin's hold on Daon runs deep. So he calmly tells Daon to go ahead and pack an overnight bag "and we will go to the hospital to check on him tomorrow."

And just like that, the two of them becomes a We. We will check on him. We will pick him up. We will go to dinner next week. We will pick you up from work tomorrow.

Thus the Evil Polycule is born 🎉. They fell into that pattern naturally during their uni days in the manhwa, so it isn't so far fetched to say they could fall into it in the show- the timeline is just different.

Bonus scene: After telling Daon to go ahead and pack the overnight bag, Soohyun also uses this moment to solidify his position with Daon- he can use the "pull him in close and kiss the ring he gifted him again" move, they have a 'deep stare at one another wordless exchange' moment and that leads to them having their first (?) time sleeping together.

Yays all around!

Still no one goes to therapy (a significant requirement if this is to work, especially for Daon).

Still a solid 80% chance Daon ends up atticwifed (cabin-husband'd) judging by the Christmas Death Cabin Scene. Just seems like something Soohyun and Jaemin would agree on doing to him eventually.

[locksnrocks]

more Soohyun thoughts

the king of entering a scene BY YELLING A LINE and then saying the next sentence in a calmer, yet still threatening tone. Marching into the workplace? YELL at the employee standing there quietly on his phone. Bring his car to a screeching stop at a cross walk to stop that same employee from walking home? Exit the vehicle YELLING and then continue normally (but angry). Same poor guy not wanting to go to lunch with him later? Demand he quit his current role and when he is not happy about that YELL at him. Follow same dude when he flees the vehicle. YELL some more and scratch his face (unintentionally) (but evidence that Soohyun is in fact a wet cat in a human body).

Manhwa Soohyun wasn't much for yelling. He did pull the "lurk outside of Daon's place every single day and make him spend the night with me" card. And he was so committed to getting to Daon once he was back that Jaemin made Daon move to his vacation house to keep him away.

Did anyone else start quietly cheering for Soohyun at the scene where he is sitting at his desk holding the ointment/bandages? Like, yes king, look at you reflecting on the unintended consequences of your actions and experiencing some genuine remorse for the damage you wrought- and oh, never mind, he almost immediately tosses them aside and starts angrily scheming to ruin Daon's work. Way to reflect, look at and acknowledge the responsible option, and deliberately choose not to improve. I couldn't help but laugh.

ALSO! In the scenario where there is no Seonghyun (in the show): Would Soohyun get his way? No Seong to enter the scene doesn't change Soohyun coming back, but without Seong's support Daon is in a significantly -weaker?- position to rebuff Soo's advances. That actually goes for both Soohyun and Jaemin, but in my definitely not biased at all opinion no sir not me, I think Soohyun would pull ahead in the end. He is just more upfront aggressive + has more access through the workplace.

I imagine it would get to the work dinner scene where Soohyun finds out Jaemin orchestrated that one guy undressing Daon & taking pics to really light the fuse. That leads to Soo outright telling Daon about Jaemin's machinations, Daon denies, but doubt is already sown through his sister's remarks just like we saw, confrontation with Jaemin - here's where I can't decide if that would go down the same with a Daon who hasn't had a peek at what authentic affection (too early to say love?) looks like thanks to Seong. But let's say Daon stays strong, doesn't stick around Jaemin. Then... yup, Soohyun's there and just keeps at it until Daon cracks.

Wait! The ring confession scene happened before the Jaemin confrontation scene... okay, I stand by the same conclusion - with even more gusto now because it was Seonghyun's words that Daon recalled during Soo asking to start over. Without that, Daon would be 1. already rejected earlier by Jaemin, and 2. Facing his first crush and just given The Ring of Too Big Feelings. I think Daon would crack right there. Nostalgia, or just an exhaustion of having to continuously rebuff this -raging lunatic- who also happens to be his boss's Boss. Who among us would hold out??

Then to hammer in the nail, Soohyun could go on and still reveal what Jaemin did, and then for funsies he goes with Daon to confront Jaemin. Then we could either say:

Let the Poly Flag Fly - something something and then the three of them reignite their toxic throuple-adjacent bubble of their uni days but for real this time. Like an 80% chance Daon ends up atticwife-d. No one goes to therapy.

Catfight: Soohyun physically attacks Jaemin / Jaemin physically attacks Soohyun. Bonus points for this happening if Soo doesn't reveal he is there initially until Jaemin's facade cracks and he tries to move in on Daon. Then Soo charges in. by the laws of drama convenience, no one goes to jail and Soohyun gets what he wants and no one goes to therapy.

Is it exactly a happy ending for Daon - eh, Soohyun's temper is going to be a forever problem stemming from his family issues, so no? Show Soo at least never choked Daon out like in the webcomic so yay for that way to hit the bare minimum babe. Soohyun would probably also still stop the whole going to the overseas branch project because why would he let Daon go away from him. But damn, did the Soohyun x Daon ship of their school days get royally screwed over by Jaemin.

Smarter than me writers could make this work, dang it.

by this i mean the evil polycule

[locksnrocks]

Show vs Manhwa scenes

I actually enjoyed the Hallway Confrontation Soohyun vs Seonghyeon scene from the show over the manhwa's version, but it's definitely biased since the actors did such a good job. One thing is that Soohyun as a character is much more outwardly expressive in the show, which leads to high tension to more easily grip the viewers. I also really liked how Seong reacted (he actually accidently hurts Daon's wrist in the webcomic, immediately apologizes tho) - his begging Daon to not go was heartbreaking. He does stick around in the manhwa, right up against the door and listening in on Soohyun moving in on Daon (who does resist but gets overruled, and then the "from now on in front of me don't look at him with those eyes" exchange is a less volatile "don't say someone else's name when you're with me" from Soohyun - then flashbacks happen- then both Soohyun & Daon are seated on the ground since Daon won't stop crying and Soo doesn't know how to comfort him - then eventually Daon internally acknowledges that Soo has an unpredictable temper but has been gentle with Daon previously - which leads to Daon accepting Soo reaching out to him presently and they bang.) I think Seong had left by that point? Not sure, but he punched the door/wall earlier in the exchange which Soo laughed at.

That whole scene is taking free real estate in my brain. With the changes the show made, I am dying to know if Show Soo & Daon already had an established past of hooking up with each other - I am leaning towards no? as it looks like they did not go further afterwards since Daon slept on the couch. And since there was about 5 seconds of them walking into Daon's apartment before Soo immediately dives in, I doubt there were any confessions happening so does that mean that for Daon, this is the first concrete happening of Soohyun's interest beyond the flirting during college? When all previous exchanges since Soo returned was him using 'Jaemin's my Ex but maybe I want to get back together with him' as manipulation? What a ride for Daon. No wonder dude looks so mentally done. He's kissing back, tho. Guess the show can just purposefully keep it all ambiguous and let us chew on it forever.

I'm glad we got Director Soohyun (even tho he sucked at the job)! because it gave us the baseball/vase scene which I do not believe the manhwa had an equivalent of. Some of the dialogue was taken from different parts of the webcomic tho, which honestly I'm impressed with. The show had good directing! The whole scene is another point in Show Soohyun's favor - in that it makes it easier for the narrative to grip you and move forward when one character, for better or worse, expresses himself so forwardly. Now if only he had just had a single honest to god conversation about feelings years back he would have gotten his man dang it (but not really with Jaemin still around he would have ruined it one way or another) and also not agreed to the world's dumbest plan to fake date someone he loathed. Manhwa Soohyun comes across as... um smarter? lol less impulsive, rather, then Show Soohyun, so if you judged Soo for agreeing to that plan in the show then you'll side eye him harder in the webcomic. Come on, dude.

We also got the conference room team meeting scene which was a treat (in how much an objectively bad Director Soo was lol). No equivalent in the manhwa since he wasn't involved in Daon's workplace at all. There also wasn't an equivalent scene of the Daon x Seong coffee time at work where Soohyun angrily marches up, confronts Daon on spending equal time with team members, gives the world's Best Stink Eye to Seong, then goes to his office and calls Daon while trembling in rage to demand equal Coffee Time. So we were #blessed by the show for these additions.

oh oh and there was no equivalent of Soo accidentally harming Daon's face, unless you count the flashback slap or present time choking - but those two events were 1. Intentional, and 2. did not lead to a follow up where Seong responds to the whole thing. I don't believe Seong ever becomes aware of either of these events in the webcomic, but could be wrong. Point is, we got face-scratch in the show which led to the appearance of the Almighty and Very Medically Necessary Q-Tip/Bandaid Combo as Applied By Main Love Interest of Every Single BL Drama Ever. Thank goodness.

Shout out to that one rando in the manhwa that saw Daon at uni after knowing him during previous school years where he committed the Cardinal Sin of being friendly towards Daon in Soohyun's presence, causing Soohyun to manhandle and threaten rando. He's the only character in the webcomic to look at the Jaemin + Daon + Soohyun bubble and state that all three are weirdos. And they are, as poor dude has to hide rather than be caught by the three for just looking at them. You get Jaemin and Soohyun being extremely closed off for anyone looking at Daon, but even Daon in that scene doesn't want anyone to pop the bubble.

[locksnrocks]

Secret Relationships Show vs. Manhwa - how the main four differ

Spoilers for both!

I made a grave error and decided to start the manhwa last night. binged it all straight to 4 am aaaaaaa

Daon: Show Daon- reserved, soft spoken but not a doormat. Obviously carrying internal trauma brought on by an irresponsible family (but sympathetic, at least Da-Suel was in the show) + his two obsessive "suitors" manipulating everything in his life. We see the breakdown and his "I don't deserve to love or be loved" mindset - but holy shirtballz is Manhwa Daon in his own league. That boy is deeply, deeply unwell (I say 80% Jaemin's fault 20% his family- his family is straight up pathetic in the source material. Like, that's their role, even his sister- just pathetic people and I really did not empathize with them). M!Daon just makes seemingly bad decisions one right after the other- and you catch yourself saying 'girl just run' multiple times, and 'didn't your mother ever teach you- oh that's right, your parents didn't teach you crap because your entire family is pathetic- the parents especially'. This dude just did not have a chance. That's a source of reader frustration from what I saw in other comments ('oh he just sleeps around, what an idiot, he causes all this himself, etc.' - which, alright, but guess who hates Daon the most? Daon. He straight up states these criticisms of himself plainly - he warned Seong exactly what was going down), but like, of course he is like that- do you not see what he has been dealing with because!!!! hot damn, Jaemin what the hell

Jaemin: Show Jaemin - great acting, unhinged, wow what an escalation, he's the real danger, what a manipulative person. BUT MANWHA JAEMIN???? Every single thing/action that happens to/about Daon can have the tagline "and then Jaemin ruined it." The Creep factor is up'd to 200% - like heavy breathing 'he's in your walls' levels. There's something so utterly... pathetic + legitimately dangerous about M!Jaemin. If Daon stayed at that vacation house with him any longer, we may have gotten the show's wedding themed murder/suicide and not a single soul who read the webcomic would be surprised. I kept waiting for it because Jaemin pulling that seemed like such a natural next step for him to take.

The line "I can't wait for you to grow up and be an adult" <- some variation of it, can't remember the exact quote - Jaemin to/about Daon during a flashback with exactly the negative connotation you can associate with this particular sentiment is used. Hggn. There's more to say about him but I can't organize it all

Soohyun: Show Soohyun - hair trigger temper (great acting), the frustration is boiling over, impulsive, uses fear to get his way (and if there's remorse later, the lack of emotional regulation ensures that it is forgotten), does have a form of redemption in the end, a genuinely incompetent Director. Manhwa Soohyun - the temper is there, but the character is waaaaay more calm with interactions, snarky rather than mean, calculating, no involvement with Daon's workplace, clocked what Jaemin was doing almost immediately, he and Daon I think hook up the most consistently (and yes, it happens when Soohyun and Jaemin are fake dating but good grief I just can't be a "wow Daon is trash see he knowingly slept with Soohyun while Soo is dating Jaemin" because girl, wut - they have a stage during college (?) where they are pretty much dating without ever verbalizing it (and then Jaemin ruined it) because no one verbalizes anything when it comes to honest to goodness feelings beyond a trembling confession that you know is going to be pummeled into the ground - which I recognize is a plot point since communication would cause every drama ever to go from multi episodes to about 5 min of content.

Honestly, since my moral compass is not built on the morality/ethics of bl series, I can comfortably say that I was rooting for both Soohyun and/or Seong simultaneously. Either of them over Jaemin. At least exactly why Soohyun agreed to the contrived 'fake date' plan is marginally better explored in the manhwa. He also legit strikes Daon (past) + chokes him (present)- again, his temper is a very real factor, it's just not as outwardly explosive as in the show. Daon has genuine fear of Soohyun hurting Seong/himself in present time. Both versions of Soohyun are royally screwed over by Jaemin's manipulations, but M!Soohyun had the attitude of "I'm going abroad now, so Jaemin better shoot his shot while I'm gone because once I'm back, I will go all in." By the end, his 'redemption arc' is legit "I have no regrets. You better erase me from your mind entirely." and he goes back abroad to be with his family (his mother's religious but his family is not 'point a gun at him' terrible from what I could tell - he actually wanted to introduce Daon to them at one point). That 'erase me' bit just convinced me that if Soohyun had not removed himself, he (and Daon) knew full well that they would slide right on back to each other eventually. Heck, Seong probably knew it, too.

Speaking of Seong and the many, many 'poly is the answer' lines the show spawned - the real throuple that could have been??? Soohyun x Daon x Seong. Right at the end of the manhwa - legit if Soohyun didn't back down, with how Seong was written and how Daon was written, if Soohyun pushed and Daon caved, I could see Seong eventually settling at 'if this is what it takes to have (a chance with) you, then I will accept this' to be with Daon. Because he already had nearly the exact same sentiment earlier.

Seonghyeon: Show Seong - so gosh darn earnest and charming, clingy in an endearing (but a bit boundary stomping) way, a flawed real human with flawed reactions but I can't hold it against him because this situation is not normal, not a lunatic but has a bit of emotional manipulation going on, but again, he's human. Manhwa Seong - yes to all that, but I propose that while Jaemin and Soohyun where displaying black/red flags consistently, Seong had his own brand of obsession going on. He's not clued in immediately, but he does get a picture of what is going down, especially once he meets Jaemin. And armed with this information + a Daon who is pretty transparent ("You say you like me and I like you. But I also like Jaemin, who I confessed to and he rejected me. But those feelings are still here. Also, Soohyun is here now and we are hooking up and probably will continue to do so as I don't have much agency in that matter. I am a terrible person. It would be better for you to not pursue me." - wildly paraphrased and condensed, but you get the gist). And Seong, armed with all this information, ultimately takes the approach of Patience. Like, he is going to outwait the other two lunatics - he will wait for Daon to sort through the absolute crapshoot that is his life, work through whatever that is with Jaemin, sprinkle in a tiny bit of cold-shouldering here and there, a drunken kiss or two. And even once Daon makes the definitive choice and goes to Seong over Jaemin, that whole "Don't turn around" scene!! If it was Jaemin in the background making whatever expression that Seong acknowledge would cause Daon to waver, Seong still may have come out on top. But if it was Soohyun? Seong might not. Again, the throuple that could have been...!

Reading the manhwa in it's entirety till 4 am really made me appreciate the show. They hit a lot of the narrative beats and did it with style. I can see why tweaks to the characters were made, particularly Soohyun, as having his temper so prominent rather than the 'hidden under the surface' approach of M!Soohyun would make it harder to move things along, especially since Jaemin already checks off the subtle background manipulation thing.

poly could have saved Show dudes and/or made the whole thing messier but we all would have enjoyed the ride lol

no amount of poly would have saved M!Jaemin, do you know why?? because he ruins things.