plottwist

You're idea makes the most logical sense, but unfortunately psychos don't follow logic.

I appreciate that there isn't an unnecessary side relationship we're forced to watch. I 'd rather this than that.

I love that there is a little bit of mystery unfolding with each episode. I'm hooked now.

For me, I know where Su Hyeon is coming from (he's a victim of Jae Min) but I'm not torn at all. He is still toxic by grabbing, demanding, stalking, then publicly humiliating Da On in a meeting for not answering his calls (work place harassment). No matter how bad the initial misunderstanding is, he is still abusive. He's just a different type of abuser than Jae Min who falsely paints Su Hyeon in a good light. Seong Hyeon is not perfect (he likes to take advantage of a situation too), but he's the best option rn for Da On. We shall see.

I thought the same. He fucked around and found out.

After episode 4, I guess it was the first option. Psychological abuse.

A third option I just realized could be Jae Min just wants to protect Da On from Su Hyeon. He's sacrificing his happiness. But why not make a move on Da On when Su Hyeon was abroad? 😵‍💫 idk.

1) It's crazy that Cha Jung Woo is the baby of the group when he looks the most mature. It makes me feel so old that Kim Ho Young is the only one of my peers. 😭
2) What is Jae Min's motives? Is it psychological manipulation over Da On, representing a different form of abuse compared to Su Hyeon's temper, and doesn't want anyone else to have him, including himself? Is he a coward? Or simply that he just likes Da On and is stupid lol? The contract seems convoluted right now.
3) This is a stupid question, but does Cha Sun Hyung have a sister? He looks familiar, vaguely like a Korean actress that I can't put my finger on… Anyways, he has such a cute face and his character is who I'm rooting for.
4) Twelve-year-old me would've ate this harem up. This premise gives me early 2000s anime nostalgia lol.

meh i guess (this is television) but usually its the other way around irl. I agree, no exploration is done.

Same, that's why I think she is cold and unfeeling, almost to the point of unbelievability when she asked him back after he literally just said to her she treated him like a dog 😂. The show attempted to redeem her but the scene didn't cut it. I could only sympathize with her feelings of confusion if she is indeed struggling with her sexuality but that isn't an excuse for emotional neglect. I just don't think she's asexual cause otherwise?? it's just be an offensive stereotype.

Hmm, maybe it's a bad or conflicting translation then. Mine said, "No matter who I'm with after a while I stop wanting to do it." She wanted sex and was attracted to him at first. No asexuals, not even demi sexuals feel that way (it's the reverse), that's confusing asexuals with aromantics. It's like either the translator or the showrunner didn't care enough to research that.

If she is asexual, to me it makes her less villainous because she's hiding her sexuality the same way the main character briefly hid from her his bisexuality, both are not honest about being fulfilled in their situation. She comes off as biphobic, he comes off as aphobic.

But then again, what asexual would be fulfilled in that situation of intentionally denying sex from their partner and hurting them? It's just not resonating or believable with the experiences of actual asexuals. Even if one doesn't accept their asexuality and puts on a show, how does she want to put herself back into that situation where she feels violated to the point of freezing up? She loves him that much, huh? She says she feels bad, this is where it most conveys our plight, but that diner scene just didn't add up…

Anyway, I'm nitpicking. I'd like to give asexuals a little more credit than what is portrayed in Koari, especially because they're so accepting in real life. They humanize her at the last minute, but this cold portrayal is a harmful omnipresent stereotype too. I'm glad the show never decided to actually say she is asexual cause it sorta comes off as offensive.

I wasn't sure if she was ace before episode 6 but after episode 6 she isn't. She says she gets attracted to men at the beginning and has sex but after a while she gets bored. That's a totally normal thing for straight women (and men). It just points to the artifice of monogamy/domesticity. If it was always the case that she just got into a relationship for benefits other than sex and never was into men, then yeah but they cancel this out in that diner scene in her own words. IDK if anyone's asexual and feels represented by her (because we're desperate) then by all means. but if anyone is allosexual watching that diner scene thinking this is what asexuality is, nope.

none of the characters are asexual after episode 6. In it, Kaori says she is attracted by men at first then gets bored or turned off. Happens w/ straight women all the time. If you wanna see a show that actually tackles this topic watch Koisenu Futari, its so bang on what its like to be asexual. If you wanna see a gay/asexual relationship that tackles this struggle watch Heartbreak High (AU show). its so accurate too.

agree (i say this as an asexual)

(1) fuck the ignorant ppl trashing on asexuals.
(2) i don't have an issue if kaori is ace (we can be flawed individuals too) but she says she's into men sexually at the start then not—don't know if its fair to label her ace if that is the case? i think she is straight but just gets bored of or turned off being with the same man (normal too btw, but she just goes about it the wrong way)

episode 4 & 5, but mostly 5 is where it picks up.

Usually, I'd agree with you, but in this drama, it's so subtle. The dude's been flirting with a guy the whole time, he was attracted to his personality and later realized his sex didn't matter. They were emotionally cheating before the sex but because of the heteronormative culture he's in, he didn't think about it that way until his body won over his mind. It's not explicitly stated in words his journey of realizing his sexuality but it's there in his actions and the subtext. Also, the actor made it so grounded and his emotional journey so real. It's not the traditional bi/pan journey. This drama appeals to more fringe/marginal groups like demi-sexuals, asexuals, pansexuals, and bisexuals because I think it captures our "grey area" experiences more (like Junonirvanablue explains), so I understand it's not for everyone.

When he had that realization I was like 😭👏🏻 That actor deserves an oscar for that performance, truly. If it was someone else that scene might've felt rushed, because it happens relatively soon, but not here. It all hinged on him. Amazing.

Damn, this show won me over the last three episodes but episode 5...wow. It's so interesting that these two are such ordinary guys in an extraordinary circumstance/world, one foreign to me, being from an oversexed culture. This issue would otherwise be so minuscule or non-existent but it feels so real here. I didn't expect the "straight" guy to catch emotions first or for their affair to be exposed so quickly. I wanted to be with these characters more while they were together. Only two episodes left...now I'm even more sad after such a sad episode 😭

Not a lot is happening, and it's the anonymous penpal trope that can do that but this is piquing my interest because the relationships that have with their respective partners are intriguing. I wanna know what their deal is. There is cheating but like…you totally understand their characters' motivations which also adds a nice complexity.