jaepoe

Reinforces the idea that queer people are pawns for capitalism

Fun fact; You actually do not have to alter an entire manhwa! You actually don't have to make a queer relationship about the uninvolved, and originally non-canon, best friend and complex character turned snobbish girlfriend!

All jokes aside, I am insanely disappointed to see so many people demanding that the queer community be grateful for this show. It disrespected a manhwa that was important for many people. More importantly, this was a mainstream outlet for Queer South Koreans to see their love and relationships represented on screen. Progress has never been achieved by accepting the bare minimum (and less) simply because it's considered progress. There are so many K-BLs/GLs that explore queerness in such an authentic and meaningful way. It can be done, and to call this anything but a queerphobic choice in the writers room is disingenuous and unfair to those fighting for accurate and authentic queer representation.

Queer people should not come second in romance, especially when the romance is supposed to be theirs. South Koreans are not exceptions to this rule. The acting was good, but the script and material were erasure of a minority that is already scarcely represented in film and TV, especially in many Asian countries. Being queer is still taboo, and pushing media like this as 'representation.' or assuming you're entitled to queer fans' devotion just furthers that stigma. On top of that, Ji-yu is very underwritten and neglected. It feels as though her character was neglected in favor of the male leads. If you're going to write a character like her, at least don't make her static. She is a walking stereotype who doesn't experience any character development outside of her relationship with Chan Yeong. She is also a very kind, charming, and supportive character in the manhwa, but she and Chan Yeong both just read as inconsiderate and selfish in the adaptation. Their relationship is uninteresting and, honestly, disrespectful to Huisu and Seungwon. They deserve a story revolving around them, as it was intended to be.

This show let queer people down. It let beautiful and complex characters down. It let a whole generation of people down. You are allowed to enjoy the unintended main couple, and you are allowed to enjoy the show. Ultimately, though, you used a BL to find a specific demographic, and then threw them under the bus. I have read the summary (and, admittedly, watched clips that include the originally intended main BL couple) for the rest of the episodes, and all it has done is further my point. You marketed an adaptation of a queer manhwa as being queer, and yet failed to deliver. Even in the case of a season 2, I personally don't find this forgivable or as something I could look past. I love seeing people like me speak a language I speak and be themselves unashamedly... why couldn't they just *be*?

Overall, I could've excused the little bit of poorly written queer experience if it weren't for the static progression in favor of a straight one. The main love interests are queer. The main leads are queer. They could've been treated as any other couple, but they weren't. Their progression was halted entirely while a straight romance blossomed. That makes no sense. The queer erasure in this show is nuts!!! What is happening? If you want to make a story devoid of labels, orientation, and homophobia, that's great! Queer people shouldn't have to suffer to be queer. If you're going to take that route, framing liking girls as a boy as the default assumption is an interesting move. Society and it's systems shouldn't be romanticized, especially in fantasy that seeks to exclude it, and queer couples should be treated like any other. That means assumptions routed in said system shouldn't exist. In fact, the decision to favor a straight ship in this context, just reaffirms that same system you're trying to write out of fantasy. It almost feels like a satire critiquing hypocrisy in those claiming to want better representation, while still making decisions that hurt marginalized groups in favor of more money and reach. Art isn't only about how it reads, but how it performs and the beautiful stories it should tell.

I wouldn't recommend this drama, but I would absolutely recommend the manhwa. It is so super cute. Keep fighting for good queer representation all around the world!!!

Edit: I'm a letterboxd warrior, so this is my first review on my dramalist. I made an account just to review this show because I disliked it so much. Obviously, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but keep that in mind!

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