Polo749

Thanks for the compliment. I'm hoping that at least the writers don't do HJP dirty. I don't want his story line to see him relegated to a mere obstacle for the main couple. Too many second leads just exist for that purpose and I've already seen hints of that in Startup so I'm anticipating this getting difficult to watch for us Miji shippers. I'm prepared to drop it if that happens.

HJP may be a stereotypical male lead in a way but he has an edge that most male leads don't. If he were the first male lead, the stereotypical thing would be that he really was the 12 year old who wrote a love letter to the female lead and then continued writing to her because he genuinely wanted to. The fact that it was a favour for the grandmother, he was older and insincere (at least in his confession) paradoxically makes it more romantic because it adds an element of drama to what would otherwise be a bland and sickeningly sweet backstory. There's an Oscar Wilde quote from The Importance of Being Earnest that goes "The very essence of romance is uncertainty". I agree wholeheartedly with this quote and I think that's why HJP is a popular second lead and why I don't think he's as stereotypical as he might appear at first glance. Out of all the kdramas I've watched and enjoyed, only a small handful of them had ships that I was really invested in. I usually ship the main couple but no more than halfheartedly. Most kdrama romances are lacking in uncertainty. I don't think HJP is a stereotypical male lead except at face value. It's precisely because I think he's not stereotypical, or at least because his backstory with the female lead isn't stereotypical, that I feel a unique romance story has been missed.

Unfortunately male leads in kdramas often become moderately possessive. I think a lot of kdrama fans find it cute but it really annoys me. I agree with you that HJP is a far better fit but if he were the lead the writers would probably write him being possessive too. In fact, that may happen anyway.

You're putting words into my mouth. Why don't you come up with a reasonable counter argument without going overboard and misinterpreting me? Or if you genuinely don't understand what I meant then you could have asked me to elaborate.

NDS is such a mushy character especially in his scenes with SDM. I know it's meant to be endearing but I just find it too unrealistic and childish. I ship her with HJP. It's exciting to know that he's the one who wrote the letters and she's completely oblivious. Even though they're not the main couple they still have a way more romantic story. I can see myself dropping this once the romance between the main leads starts to bloom. Never mind, I'll continue to enjoy this drama up until the romance takes over.