I know the ending is controversial, but I was genuinely happy with Do Ha's final decision! I'm firmly Team Best Friend and felt this conclusion was earned and true to the characters.
Yes, Taek Gyeon was sometimes a little too possessive or intense with Do Ha, but he is just a character who simply didn't know how to express the depth of his love maturely. That intensity stemmed from his fear of losing the person who was his entire world. Do Ha choosing him was a commitment to that deep history, choosing an established, foundational love despite its flaws.
On the other side, while the Team Leader (Yeon Sang) was the picture of maturity and respect which is why he's so beloved the show clearly established his relationship with Do Ha as a newer spark versus a life-long bond. He truly left an impact.
In contrast, the Barista guy (Ha Ram) was sadly not written with the same compelling complexity. He wasn't a bad character, but he didn't leave the same lasting impact as the Team Leader, who became the perfect second lead.
Ultimately, in a true love triangle, someone will be hurt, and Do Ha chose the person he could be most authentically himself with, the person who had been his home for 10 years. Great journey and a satisfying end!
I don't hate Lu Zhen either. Emotional cheating is bad, but people don't hate male leads that kidnap, rape, torture,…
OMG you’re literally the best! 😭 I GOTCHU, TOO! Four-Faced Buddha (that title sounds so cool ngl), and yeah, thank you for the link 💜✨! And honestly, when you said it’s like “selling drugs” and that the novel is 50x better than the show… I knew I was doomed. Looks like sleep and responsibilities are getting sacrificed starting... now! 😂 Thanks for feeding my toxic obsession! 😛✌️
I don't hate Lu Zhen either. Emotional cheating is bad, but people don't hate male leads that kidnap, rape, torture,…
FOR REAL! The writer ATE that up because no one is a saint in this series, which makes it engaging and keeps us hooked. Btw, since you mentioned all that context, can you please tell me the name of the novel and if it's available in English translation? I'm thinking about reading it !
I don't hate Lu Zhen either. Emotional cheating is bad, but people don't hate male leads that kidnap, rape, torture,…
Yes, so true, I was thinking the same! You literally wrote out all the crucial points right here! And not to mention, Lu Zhen eventually broke up with Shu Lang because he knew he was wrong. A complete villain doesn't voluntarily end the toxic situation, they just commit another felony! The moral scale is broken, and I'm tired of pretending it's not. He chose the lesser trauma, period :)
Because even if he's wrong he's...still much better than Fan Xiao? Objectively speaking, Fan is such a horrible…
OMG YOU ARE SO RIGHT. The bar didn't just drop, it vaporized. I guess we think Lu Zhen is less problematic because he's only a red flag, not a human biohazard like Fan Xiao. Also, no one is a saint in this series, which honestly helps 😂
Pretty sure Do ha’s gonna end up with the Team Leader and his best friend with the cafe guy… but tbh I wish it was Do-ha × Best Friend and Team Leader × Cafe Guy ... that would’ve hit way harder 🙂
Yes, Taek Gyeon was sometimes a little too possessive or intense with Do Ha, but he is just a character who simply didn't know how to express the depth of his love maturely. That intensity stemmed from his fear of losing the person who was his entire world. Do Ha choosing him was a commitment to that deep history, choosing an established, foundational love despite its flaws.
On the other side, while the Team Leader (Yeon Sang) was the picture of maturity and respect which is why he's so beloved the show clearly established his relationship with Do Ha as a newer spark versus a life-long bond. He truly left an impact.
In contrast, the Barista guy (Ha Ram) was sadly not written with the same compelling complexity. He wasn't a bad character, but he didn't leave the same lasting impact as the Team Leader, who became the perfect second lead.
Ultimately, in a true love triangle, someone will be hurt, and Do Ha chose the person he could be most authentically himself with, the person who had been his home for 10 years. Great journey and a satisfying end!