Table122000

@Kate- Thanks for your response. I can now see what you are talking about when you mention "abuse". I agree with you the writer of the drama is trying to , in essence. "have their cake and eat it too." by portraying the Shi Hyun/Soo Ji relationship as both toxic one minute and healing the next. Frankly, for me, it's just poor writing. I have seen rated 15+ dramas targeted at teens that don't shy away from portraying toxic relationships, so I think the reluctance to show the negative aspects of the Trio & their friendship is writer's decision and not really driven by age of audience.

Perhaps the better way to express myself would be to say "truer to the novel".
Where you see a "breath of fresh air", I find the characters a bit too sympathetic and rather standard issue teen types, especially the Valmont character. "He's not really bad, just misunderstood. " The treatment of the sexual themes is very watered down here as well. Other themes in the novel are not present at all. So, yes, for me, I would have liked to see a drama where the characters are truer to their novel versions, and the themes in the novel explored in a deeper way. For me, this would not have been a "rehash", but rather a chance to see how the people and themes in an 18th century French novel stack up in 21st century South Korea. Is any of it still relevant for this particular culture/age/society?
However, the decision to make the characters teenagers instead of , let's say, recent college grads, did mean that there was no way to really delve deep into either the characters or the themes of the novel as reflected through the lens of contemporary South Korean society. The decision to air this drama on a mainstream network instead of a cable channel further restricts what can and can't be explored on screen.
Instead what I get is a standard teen melodrama plot of awful parents and their messed up kids. Which, as I said before, I can enjoy as well.

I like main couple too, but i understand the complaints also. I think it is combination of weak writing of character (characterization much stronger for Trio) and lack of experience for actress.

I agree @Linus-it's very confusing. I get some clarification from your post. In regard to Se Joo's family, I belive that other lady is the oldest brother's wife. It was mentioned at the dinner that she is mom to the oldest grandson. But I could be wrong.

You make good points @ Mira. I agree.

I really don't understand it either. The writing in this drama is so confusing. I Think the bet goes like so: Originally, Soo Ji wants to get back at her ex and she hates Tae hee because Ki Young (the ex) showed genuine affection for Tae hee when he smiled at her, as he never showed genuine affection for Soo Ji. She proposes the revenge to Shi Hyun and Se Joo- seduce and dump Tae Hee. In Soo Ji mind, this kills 2 birds with 1 stone: Ki Young is sad cause He never gets Tae Hee and Tae Hee is hurt because she is dumped. Soo Ji has revenge on both. Shi Hyun refuses to participate. Se Joo says yes. Soo Ji says Se Joo is too well known as a playboy to ever convince Tae hee he is serious- only Shi Hyun can do it.Then the engagement happens. Shi Hyun says to marry Soo Ji to get back at their parents and he can save his Mom's Foundation that way. Soo Ji still wants revenge . She makes a proposition: If Shi Hyun seduce and dump Tae Hee, then she will marry him. Otherwise, forget it. Shi Hyun is desperate to save Mom's Foundation (even more than revenge on Dad), so he agrees.

In this plan, Soo Ji actually only wins if Shi Hyun succeeds in seduce & dump Tae Hee. This is one of reasons why she won't just marry him right away- if she marry him right away, then he won't do seduction of Tae Hee and she does not get revenge on Tae Hee./Ki Young. The other reason is she wants total devotion in marriage , and she senses that while Shi Hyun loves her as a friend and is sexually attracted to her, he is not total devotion/obsessed with her. These 2 things are more important to Soo Ji than preventing the parents marriage.

It's not really made clear because the writing is confusing, but I think that you are correct that if Shi Hyun & Soo Ji get married then she can help Shi Hyun with his family problems in regards to saving his mother's Foundation which the Dad wants to get rid of and he would not be thrown out of the family home-they would live there together. It doesn't really help her family problems other than she blocks her mom (I think). However, she is afraid to marry Shi Hyun because he is not totally focused on her. She is angry because of this fact. She fought at the dinner for the house for Shi Hyun sake. However, she accuse Shi Hyun of worrying about Tae Hee, so this means Shi Hyun is not totally focused on Soo Ji since he thinking about another girl. She is angry cause Soo Ji is only focsed on Shi Hyun, but he is not the same (in her mind) . She feels like she starting to lose him, I think.

This is how I see it but I was confused as well by this week's episodes. I need to watch episodes again with other subs. I watch drama on 2 different sites that each have different subbing teams because episodes are confusing.

@Linus- Thanks. I thought you did a good job expressing yourself and putting your thoughts into words in response to @Kate's original post, and I enjoyed reading your responses.

So, how are they "abusing" each other, exactly? I don't say this to be coy, I really want to know because I 'm not seeing it on screen. Also, you state none of the 3 Trio can be in a normal relationship, that they should not be in a relationship with another person either, but how will this play out in the drama when the major plot point is Tae Hee somehow drawing Shi Hyun away from this group through his love for her, and their (Tae Hee & Shi Hyun's) relationship with each other?

@Kate-You bring up a good point. To answer, I would say that I don't feel the writer has shown these 2 characters in a "toxic" relationship. Rather, the feeling I get is that the friendship is the only thing holding the 3 of them from totally going off the rails. They are each other's salvation. Example is Shi Hyun is the only person able to talk Soo Ji down after she loses it with the engagement announcement and has cut herself with the glass. To me, the writer isn't really showing the negative side of their friendship bonds. I believe this is why some people find it easy to ship Shi Hyun/Soo Ji ( and also Soo ji/Se Joo). To be honest, I wish the writer had spent more time exploring the negative side of the Trio's relationship/friendship-the codependency, the selfishness, the insularity. But these things are only very vaguely hinted at -the vibe I get is definitely more positive. overall.

Same here. It would have been awesome to see a realistic take on the original source material. Disappointing that they went the teen melodrama route, but I like those type stories too so I'm in for the ride.

You're not the only one for sure-the writing for the first episodes was uneven and confusing. Agree with you that the plot feels rushed so viewer doesn't feel invested and characters emotions don't resonate because of the plot moving so fast. I wish that the writer could have taken the first 3-4 hours of the drama for the background/setup so the 4 main leads could be fully fleshed out and viewers could get a better handle on side plots and characters too.

In the original novel, Shi Hyun's character and Joy's character both die., and Soo Ji's character is ostracized by society and then contracts smallpox and is disfigured,

Hmmn. Maybe production company paid the 500,000 yen and so is technically in compliance even though author is appealing decision? Anyway, hope everyone can come to an agreement and we can see all episodes, or at least up to the point where main leads reconcile and have happy times together. I think if we viewers can see their relationship from rocky beginning to happy couple (with sweet moments) I'd be Ok since I'm not that vested in the political side of the drama. I think someone mentioned in another forum that love story gets good around episode 30, so I hope you're right and we can see it.

Viki

Thanks for the information. I'm surprised Tencent (or whomever is broadcasting this drama) agreed to air the drama when the dispute is still ongoing and no final ruling. I hope that we'll be able to see all episodes of the drama. According to ratings, the drama is in the top 10 so I guess it's a hit show in China. I don't know if that will make any difference. A lot of viewers will be upset if it's canceled for sure.

So, I read on another site that there is a rumor the drama is canceled because of the continuing dispute between the production company and the author of the original novel. Has anyone seen actual confirmation of this? I thought that issue had been resolved and that is why the drama was on air. Originally, the drama was delayed because of the dispute. However, someone mentioned that no new episodes have been posted? If anyone has any info, please comment.

Good news! Viki just got the liscense for Pretty Man!
https://www.viki.com/tv/35818c-pretty-man

Viki just got the liscense, so perhaps this YT lone subber will think about joining the Viki Team. At least she wouldn't be doing everything herself and would have help. Of course, if she is being paid by CDramabase, she may just decide to continue the YT project since Viki is volunteers.

Thanks for the info regarding the plotline here. The first episode I was confused about what was going on with these warlords and the time shifts. I think these families are all made up, right? Not based on real people?

Thank you! You're the best!