Thank you. I think there is so much nuance to this story. From season 1 to season 2. it's more than just, one person is better or worse than the other. I often see more hate towards one or the other, but they both have things to work on. And that's life. When you enter a relationship, you are taking on your partners struggles and insecurities as well. You're both learning how to navigate and resolve conflict. This show is depicting a realistic view of a new relationship where both parties are still getting to know each other outside of their glamorized initial impressions. It's very well done in my opinion.
TLDR: Shirasaki wasn’t just making everything about himself. His questions to Asami: “What do YOU want?” and “Who are you acting for?”, exposed the fact that Asami wasn’t living for himself. Shirasaki’s problem is anxiety and self-criticism. Asami’s problem is self-abandonment. Both of them are talented, both are stuck for different reasons, and the role in the play was the first time Asami actually chose something for himself, but then he relented.
Although it looks like Shirasaki made everything about himself, he actually did the one thing nobody else ever did for Asami: he asked him two hard questions: “What do YOU want?” and “Who are you acting for?” That wasn’t selfish. That was truth.
Since college, Shirasaki treated acting like a sacred craft. He worked for it, lived for it, and took pride in being respected for it. Then he lost his way. By the time he got his first breakout role, he was taking the craft so seriously that it became a cage. His work ethic turned into anxiety and self-criticism that kept him from enjoying the success he earned.
Asami, on the surface, was the opposite. He looked like someone who didn’t even have to try. Even though he’s a great actor, opportunities seemed to fall into his lap. He booked more roles partly because he didn’t take himself too seriously. Nothing was life or death to him. He just did whatever he was told: modeling, acting, whatever came next.
So yes, I understand Shirasaki’s frustration. It’s the same frustration everyone else has with Asami. Asami has what they all want, yet he floats through his career like it doesn’t matter. Even his manager said, “At first he just took anything I gave him.” The first time he finally expressed interest in something, she immediately asked him to take a different role, and he caved because “that’s what’s expected of me.” He still couldn’t choose himself.
And Shirasaki didn’t know the full story. Asami never talked to him about the emotional abuse, the pressure to perform, or the way he felt responsible for keeping his mother happy after the divorce. That kind of childhood teaches you to please others instead of wanting things for yourself. So imagine loving someone who is brilliant, gifted, and admired by the world, yet refuses to live authentically, and is quietly miserable because of it. That’s Asami in Season 1 and most of Season 2. A zombie.
Which is why taking the movie role was the best thing that could have happened, not for his career, but for his life. He finally got a chance to express emotions he’s buried for years. He didn’t need another job. He needed a release. Those emotions had to surface before he could let go of the past and start building a life driven by his own wants, not other people’s expectations.
And Shirasaki has his own work to do. Until he treats his anxiety, he’ll keep sabotaging himself. His competition is always internal, not external. My mother used to say, “Run your race. Everyone else is running theirs.” Shirasaki’s biggest enemy isn’t the industry or Asami, it’s his belief that he has to suffer to be good.
He needs to free himself from himself, just like Asami needs to stop abandoning himself.
That’s the tragedy and the beauty of their arc: both of them are talented. Both of them are stuck. And both of them need to choose themselves before they can truly love each other.
anyone else feel like Mr. Kang, the assistant, and Go-Eun, the young mother on the TF team whose husband died in an accident, might end up a side-side couple?
Yess! Poor ML is going through it! His principles are in major conflict. And Da Rim is not playing a good wife.…
@Tatte, I agree. she definitely doesn't feel less than. She just wants to keep the job because no one ever gave her a chance. I also love that JH is mentoring her. it shows how open she is to be taught things. sometimes people just need a chance to show what they are capable of.
Yess! Poor ML is going through it! His principles are in major conflict. And Da Rim is not playing a good wife.…
Absolutely! Their pain is similar. I noticed they both express their feelings and thoughts openly, which is refreshing. I think this is why it's literally hurting DR to hold up this marriage lie to keep her job. she wants to be honest and open but she can't.
Yess! Poor ML is going through it! His principles are in major conflict. And Da Rim is not playing a good wife.…
oh I understand her feelings completely. she mentioned several times that she can't act. Now she has gastritis. I feel for both of them. I just thought it was funny that she was trying to play a good wife, when she can't hide her feelings. the comedic edge to this show is great.
oof that AI conversation in the interview hit hard! how timely when companies are hiring one person and expecting them to use AI to do the work a team of people use to do. Bravo for them touching this subject.
did the manhwa make me angry? yes. but did I finish it anyway, also yes. did the first 7 mins make me angry, yes. Am I going to finish this, absolutely.
bro i really hope they resolve the misunderstanding next week(tho i don't think its gonna happen). Ji hyeok is…
Yess! Poor ML is going through it! His principles are in major conflict. And Da Rim is not playing a good wife. Her feelings are waaaay to strong and we all know she can't act lol.
what in the master-slave do we have here? they got me. BUT, $2K, in THIS economy?? baby at least $10K a night and extra for breath play. he's trippin. 😆
I come back every few months just to say it again: this is my comfort BL drama. I’ll throw it on as background noise, I’ll rewatch it when I want something light and funny. I genuinely don’t understand how it doesn’t have a higher rating.
Shiba’s facial expressions are everything. And watching Haruto fall for him in real time is perfection.
The first time I watched it, I honestly thought Haruto was lying through the entire series until that scene when he cried after Shiba “saved” him from the mob. That moment hit.
Side note: I love that Shiba isn't a coward but can’t fight and got beat up trying to rescue Haruto. It was such a refreshing twist on the usual “hero is a master at martial arts and saves the day.” He's just a regular guy who is a fantastic lawyer and has probably never been in a physical altercation in his life.
Anyway, Haruto definitely fell for Shiba early. Once he started teasing Shiba and realized just how genuine he was, he didn’t stand a chance. Shiba never lies about how he feels or what he thinks. He stands by his colleagues and friends no matter what and he is open-minded and brave.
During my latest rewatch, it dawned on me how badly Shiba wanted to take care of and be with someone. He talks to his plants, massages their petals, and lovingly cleans them with cotton swabs. So of course he was drawn to Haruto. Not only was Haruto his first love, but it seems Haruto was the first person to break through Shiba's protective outer shell. Haruto schemed and flirted his way into Shiba's heart and gave him exactly what he craved: companionship, love and a full belly.
I also feel like there is a power imbalance in the relationship. Shirasaki 100% dictates how the flow of their…
Oh yeah, that's the beauty of art. Interpretations can vary based on each person. Because we each have different life experiences, triggers, expectations, points of view, etc. That's what makes these kinds of drama great. So much to talk about and ponder. I love reading your perspective because I didn't look at it that way and I can see how it can be interpreted that way. I'm interested to see tomorrow's episode. I really want to understand Asami's taciturn nature. There is definitely something there.
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Although it looks like Shirasaki made everything about himself, he actually did the one thing nobody else ever did for Asami: he asked him two hard questions: “What do YOU want?” and “Who are you acting for?” That wasn’t selfish. That was truth.
Since college, Shirasaki treated acting like a sacred craft. He worked for it, lived for it, and took pride in being respected for it. Then he lost his way. By the time he got his first breakout role, he was taking the craft so seriously that it became a cage. His work ethic turned into anxiety and self-criticism that kept him from enjoying the success he earned.
Asami, on the surface, was the opposite. He looked like someone who didn’t even have to try. Even though he’s a great actor, opportunities seemed to fall into his lap. He booked more roles partly because he didn’t take himself too seriously. Nothing was life or death to him. He just did whatever he was told: modeling, acting, whatever came next.
So yes, I understand Shirasaki’s frustration. It’s the same frustration everyone else has with Asami. Asami has what they all want, yet he floats through his career like it doesn’t matter. Even his manager said, “At first he just took anything I gave him.” The first time he finally expressed interest in something, she immediately asked him to take a different role, and he caved because “that’s what’s expected of me.” He still couldn’t choose himself.
And Shirasaki didn’t know the full story. Asami never talked to him about the emotional abuse, the pressure to perform, or the way he felt responsible for keeping his mother happy after the divorce. That kind of childhood teaches you to please others instead of wanting things for yourself. So imagine loving someone who is brilliant, gifted, and admired by the world, yet refuses to live authentically, and is quietly miserable because of it. That’s Asami in Season 1 and most of Season 2. A zombie.
Which is why taking the movie role was the best thing that could have happened, not for his career, but for his life. He finally got a chance to express emotions he’s buried for years. He didn’t need another job. He needed a release. Those emotions had to surface before he could let go of the past and start building a life driven by his own wants, not other people’s expectations.
And Shirasaki has his own work to do. Until he treats his anxiety, he’ll keep sabotaging himself. His competition is always internal, not external. My mother used to say, “Run your race. Everyone else is running theirs.” Shirasaki’s biggest enemy isn’t the industry or Asami, it’s his belief that he has to suffer to be good.
He needs to free himself from himself, just like Asami needs to stop abandoning himself.
That’s the tragedy and the beauty of their arc: both of them are talented. Both of them are stuck. And both of them need to choose themselves before they can truly love each other.
Mr. Kang also cried when she told the story of her husband dying after her having her child. He had to leave the studio behind her. 🥹
Shiba’s facial expressions are everything. And watching Haruto fall for him in real time is perfection.
The first time I watched it, I honestly thought Haruto was lying through the entire series until that scene when he cried after Shiba “saved” him from the mob. That moment hit.
Side note: I love that Shiba isn't a coward but can’t fight and got beat up trying to rescue Haruto. It was such a refreshing twist on the usual “hero is a master at martial arts and saves the day.” He's just a regular guy who is a fantastic lawyer and has probably never been in a physical altercation in his life.
Anyway, Haruto definitely fell for Shiba early. Once he started teasing Shiba and realized just how genuine he was, he didn’t stand a chance. Shiba never lies about how he feels or what he thinks. He stands by his colleagues and friends no matter what and he is open-minded and brave.
During my latest rewatch, it dawned on me how badly Shiba wanted to take care of and be with someone. He talks to his plants, massages their petals, and lovingly cleans them with cotton swabs. So of course he was drawn to Haruto. Not only was Haruto his first love, but it seems Haruto was the first person to break through Shiba's protective outer shell. Haruto schemed and flirted his way into Shiba's heart and gave him exactly what he craved: companionship, love and a full belly.