- IDK what Lee Minho's deal is but his performance in both BOF and the Heirs was SUPER aggressive and hyper-masculine, whereas Hyun Bin's performance was just really not.
I think, like you said, the acting makes a HUGE difference, because Hyun Bin's is ridiculously nuanced, so you genuinely feel for his character what you're probably supposed to feel, while Kim Tan just comes off as super creepy with no real redeeming features because it's impossible to feel as much for him, even with all the ~damage he apparently carries. Also maybe because of the fact that the show time-and-again showcases that Ra Im is physically stronger than Joo Won? Which, I think, makes a significant difference at that 'subjective threat level', because it becomes one of those standpoints through which to judge their physical interactions. Also again, that JW suffers from depression and it comes through HB's performance.
- I think that's a good analysis, I hadn't quite thought of it that way, but it completely works. Also because of the ever-changing 'be my Little Mermaid' metaphor?? Where he goes through the entitled 'just disappear when i want you to' to 'I'll be your Little Mermaid because I can't do without you, and disappear when you want me to' (that's actually one of my favorite kdrama OTP dynamics; when even when there's a misunderstanding, the male lead is so far gone, that he basically gets to a stage where he's all like 'if you're using me, just continue using me, i don't care, just don't go away') to 'the Little Mermaid lives out all her dreams and does everything she wants to and makes lots of money while the prince just loves her' (how hilarious, ridic and heartbreaking was his alternate ending????) I think the only agency-squick is if you don't know why she likes him and feel like he's imposing, which may affect the OTP dynamic entirely; but if you get that sense that she's into him and WHY, then I don't think her agency in the relationship is much in question, tbh.
- I GET YOU, BRO. Like, I'm not standoffish in the least in general, but I've been repeatedly told that I give off a touch-me-not vibe, whatever that is, (which, coupled with that I am indiscriminately flirtatious by nature, often apparently equates to 'tease' or the usual 'playing hard to get' and I'm like yes, okay, moving on.) So it takes a LOT to get me to a space where I can summon enough energy to be emotionally available, because that is one thing I am most definitely not. In which case, I also don't summarily dismiss this trope, even though it makes me feel like a Bad Feminist (TM) because sometimes my pathological fear of emotional commitment is so strong that I do say things that I don't mean. So whether I relate to it or get squicked by the boy-relentlessly-pursues-girl depends a lot on the narrative (and often on how personally attracted I am to the character in question tbh #kiddiepool)
Like, it meant a lot to me that she was allowed to tell him to fuck off AND to change her mind and make a move when she wanted to.
I think that makes a HELL lot of difference, because Eun Sang's feelings constantly felt imposed on (and PSH's acting and body language completely added to that, honestly. She just didn't seem comfortable with LMH at all) while Ra Im's felt like she genuinely was torn. That sometimes she too wanted to wear pretty dresses and be chased by guys and to not have to live up to the Strong Action Woman image all the time (I think that was so well done, that she coveted pretty dresses and bags etc., because with this sort-of character, it's so easy to slip into shaming of ~conventionally feminine stereotypes). I can't deny there may be a strong squick factor for lot of people because there is no denying the problematics, just that they didn't particularly affect me. :s
SO, CLEARLY I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS TOO, SOMEHOW, EVEN THOUGH I SAW IT SO LONG AGO IN A VERY INTERRUPTED CYCLE.
COME TO MEEEEEE WITH YOUR MNIKSS THOUGHTS ALSO (AND THEN 9E2O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2014-01-28 07:58 pm (UTC)- IDK what Lee Minho's deal is but his performance in both BOF and the Heirs was SUPER aggressive and hyper-masculine, whereas Hyun Bin's performance was just really not.
I think, like you said, the acting makes a HUGE difference, because Hyun Bin's is ridiculously nuanced, so you genuinely feel for his character what you're probably supposed to feel, while Kim Tan just comes off as super creepy with no real redeeming features because it's impossible to feel as much for him, even with all the ~damage he apparently carries. Also maybe because of the fact that the show time-and-again showcases that Ra Im is physically stronger than Joo Won? Which, I think, makes a significant difference at that 'subjective threat level', because it becomes one of those standpoints through which to judge their physical interactions. Also again, that JW suffers from depression and it comes through HB's performance.
- I think that's a good analysis, I hadn't quite thought of it that way, but it completely works. Also because of the ever-changing 'be my Little Mermaid' metaphor?? Where he goes through the entitled 'just disappear when i want you to' to 'I'll be your Little Mermaid because I can't do without you, and disappear when you want me to' (that's actually one of my favorite kdrama OTP dynamics; when even when there's a misunderstanding, the male lead is so far gone, that he basically gets to a stage where he's all like 'if you're using me, just continue using me, i don't care, just don't go away') to 'the Little Mermaid lives out all her dreams and does everything she wants to and makes lots of money while the prince just loves her' (how hilarious, ridic and heartbreaking was his alternate ending????) I think the only agency-squick is if you don't know why she likes him and feel like he's imposing, which may affect the OTP dynamic entirely; but if you get that sense that she's into him and WHY, then I don't think her agency in the relationship is much in question, tbh.
- I GET YOU, BRO. Like, I'm not standoffish in the least in general, but I've been repeatedly told that I give off a touch-me-not vibe, whatever that is, (which, coupled with that I am indiscriminately flirtatious by nature, often apparently equates to 'tease' or the usual 'playing hard to get' and I'm like yes, okay, moving on.) So it takes a LOT to get me to a space where I can summon enough energy to be emotionally available, because that is one thing I am most definitely not. In which case, I also don't summarily dismiss this trope, even though it makes me feel like a Bad Feminist (TM) because sometimes my pathological fear of emotional commitment is so strong that I do say things that I don't mean. So whether I relate to it or get squicked by the boy-relentlessly-pursues-girl depends a lot on the narrative (and often on how personally attracted I am to the character in question tbh #kiddiepool)
Like, it meant a lot to me that she was allowed to tell him to fuck off AND to change her mind and make a move when she wanted to.
I think that makes a HELL lot of difference, because Eun Sang's feelings constantly felt imposed on (and PSH's acting and body language completely added to that, honestly. She just didn't seem comfortable with LMH at all) while Ra Im's felt like she genuinely was torn. That sometimes she too wanted to wear pretty dresses and be chased by guys and to not have to live up to the Strong Action Woman image all the time (I think that was so well done, that she coveted pretty dresses and bags etc., because with this sort-of character, it's so easy to slip into shaming of ~conventionally feminine stereotypes). I can't deny there may be a strong squick factor for lot of people because there is no denying the problematics, just that they didn't particularly affect me. :s
SO, CLEARLY I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS TOO, SOMEHOW, EVEN THOUGH I SAW IT SO LONG AGO IN A VERY INTERRUPTED CYCLE.
COME TO MEEEEEE WITH YOUR MNIKSS THOUGHTS ALSO (AND THEN 9E2O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)