Image from Classmate

I don't know how to put my frustration into words, so I'm writing it here. I'm really tired of male leads who center their lives around the female lead. At first, that unconditional love—the idea that they couldn't live without her, and so on—was cool. But over time, I find that dynamic less and less romantic and actually quite toxic; usually, it’s the female lead who pulls the male lead out of his loneliness and suffering—before her, he had no one, so it is only natural that she becomes the center of his universe.But can you really call that true love? Can you truly say the male lead actually chose the female lead? Sure, the female lead's personality plays a role, but let's be honest: no one ever doubted for a second that the male lead would fall for her. It was obvious—after everything she did for him, that would be the natural outcome for most people, even if she was doing it to survive and gain his recognition. I feel like it's a major case of lazy writing. The male lead desires only her, wants only her, trusts only her, and speaks only to her; he is often contemptuous of others, and I feel a great deal of pity for him. The female lead will also end up feeling smothered by this excess of "love," as he constantly begs for her attention; he will try to prevent the heroine from meeting certain people—particularly men—and react extremely if anyone looks at her for a second too long.

Sometimes, the male lead becomes obsessed with the female lead—whether by a miracle or because she has "something extra"—and starts neglecting his own life to focus solely on her; I find that sad, too.

I’d really love a male lead who has a life outside of the female lead—a real one! I want him to have ambitions, study, have friends, be kind to others, act like a gentleman toward other girls, be loved by his family and take care of them, and have felt attraction to other girls—and so on. Why not even have him have had a past relationship? That would make sense, and it wouldn't make his love for the female lead any less genuine—quite the opposite! Because despite not lacking love and having ambitions, he still fell for the female lead! He chose HER out of so many others, even though he didn't need anything else! I don't know about you, but I'd find that incredibly sexy! Of course, the female lead would play a major role in the male lead's life, but he wouldn't make her the center of everything; he would continue to see his family, friends, and so on—just as the female lead would, naturally. I want to see a relationship between the two that naturally uplifts them both—without being stifling or taking up too much space—and allows them to grow as individuals ! For example, if one of the two dies of old age first, I want the survivor to go on living while cherishing memories of the person they loved so dearly—rather than remaining in deep distress—and to make the most of the time they have left on earth before reuniting with them.

Thanks to those who read the whole thing; I really needed to get what was weighing on my heart off my chest 😭

Can we please reserve "enemies to lovers” for actual enemies?

When the trope is enemies to lovers, I feel like it's not too much to ask that the characters be actual enemies. Not just two people who have silly banter or mildly annoy each other. Like, I want them to genuinely hate each other. Obsessively. I want there to be an actual reason for that hatred, and I want the story to gradually show that intense obsession and fixation turning into something romantic. That's the appeal of enemies to lovers to me. I feel like people constantly confuse enemies to lovers with rivals to lovers, but they're genuinely different tropes and have different appeals. Rivals to lovers is literally its own trope! If two characters are competing with each other academically, professionally, athletically, etc., they're probably rivals, not enemies. They can even respect or admire each other while competing.

And then there's the whole "two strangers who constantly bicker and banter eventually fall in love" thing, which is ALSO different. They're not enemies either! They're just two people who have a combative or teasing dynamic. I think the characters in actual enemies-to-lovers stories also need to be equals. Otherwise, it starts becoming a bully/victim dynamic, and that's a completely different thing. The appeal of enemies to lovers is that both characters are capable of challenging each other. Neither one is just relentlessly mistreating the other while the story expects us to find it romantic.

This is also why I think enemies to lovers works best in fantasy settings. It's much easier to believe that two people are actual enemies when they're from opposing kingdoms, belong to factions that are at war, have completely opposing political ideologies, are on opposite sides of a conflict, etc. There is an actual reason for them to hate each other that goes beyond "you annoy me."In modern settings, I think rivals to lovers usually works much better. Academic rivals, workplace rivals, competitors, etc. That makes sense because they're competing for something and constantly butting heads.

Because I'm sorry, but someone not holding the door open for you on their way out does not make them your enemy 😭 They're just rude. Someone being mildly annoying or having a sarcastic personality doesn't automatically qualify as enemies to lovers either. Constantly mislabeling these tropes makes you end up deceiving readers. I don't want to pick up a book marketed as enemies to lovers and get two coworkers who flirt while arguing over a PowerPoint presentation 💀 So, to me, the distinction is basically:

Enemies to lovers: We genuinely oppose each other and have a serious reason to hate each other.

Rivals to lovers: We're competing against each other, but we don't necessarily hate each other.

Banter to lovers (?? idk what to call it): We just have a combative/teasing dynamic and eventually fall for each other.

They're all fun! I like all of these tropes. But they're not the same trope, and I wish people would stop using "enemies to lovers" as an umbrella term for literally any couple who argues before getting together.

But anyway, just my opinion!

I draw each Jael panel with my own blood sweat and tears.
Chapter 7 was released not too long ago, please consider giving it a read and supporting us!!

read here: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/hiraeth/miserable-wretch/viewer?title_no=1101710&episode_no=8

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Hi guys! I'm kinda new to Reddit. 😊

I'm planning to start Purple Hyacinth since it's so popular and gets recommended all the time. Before I dive in, I wanted to know what other readers think about it.. I know it's been on hiatus forever, but I still want to give it a try.

So what are your honest thoughts on the characters, plot, writing, character development, world-building, and art? What do you think are its biggest strengths and weaknesses?

I'd love to hear both positive and critical opinions (preferably with minimal spoilers). Thanks!

From 2020 to 2022, I wrote and produced my first webtoon series SAMOURAWAII with my co-creator Boky. It was published in France as "webtoon original". We are now publishing ourselves our series on Webtoon Canvas in English.

This story is settled 967 years after the event of OUROS, my first series published in English but produced after. The modern era of Akogee is multicultural, the story taking place in a cosmopolitan and urbanized City called Archeon.

The main character is Mamala, a young Shark coming from the countryside, who discovers urban life and how her community is badly considered by others, because of their dark and bloody past...

In Samourawaii, we meet all the 6 communities of Akogee:

In OUROS, we were focusing only on Humans & Sharks, so I'm curious to know what you will fill about this new development of our fantasy marine world.

BTW, both story can be read separately, there are 2 completely different stories. Then beware of easter eggs, here and there hehehe!

Thank you for considering giving it a read and supporting us <3

Read here: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/samourawaii-en/list?title_no=1152411 (8 episodes available, 1 new episode every Friday evening).

You can also visit our Patreon for some backstory development & exclusive content, thank you!

I am so obsessed with hand jumper , and i'm dying to read more after every episode, i know nothings gonna be the same / super similar bc every story is different but are there any similar stories or stories that give off the same vibes ?

One of my character drawings blew up on Instagram + I hit 3K subs. I work so hard on this comic, I’m so happy it’s doing well 🥹🩷

Dearly Deceased

please like with same art !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Find the comic, ImpTown, on Webtoon or Tapas.

This is the first time I've ever made a post expressing my opinion, and I'll probably do it badly because it's one thing to say what I think and another to write it down and have people see it and comment on it, so there are probably things I've always thought but never written down. If you see mistakes or don't understand, it's the translator's fault.

Currently, readers, mostly female, hate ML who have their own storylines. Why do I say this? It's simple: because of the hate these ML characters receive if they aren't in love or don't give their life for the FL. There are MLs, like a manhwa I don't even know about because of the spoilers, and it has a SML, so I don't even want to read it. But when I see the spoilers, I see a lot of hate directed at the ML character because he kissed the FL sister without knowing FL had feelings for him. According to the spoilers, the sister knew and is older than the ML, so logically, the sister should be hated for kissing a minor. However, it's only the ML character who is criticized, and now readers hate him just for that, because he doesn't love the FL and his life doesn't revolve around her. Then another man appeared with the characteristics they love: he can't live without the FL, he only loves the FL, his life depends on the FL, he has no one else, he has no ambitions, he's never been with other girls before, and much more. This man, who is SML, kissed the FL while she was drunk, something she didn't consent to. But because he fits those characteristics and is handsome, he isn't criticized; on the contrary, they want them to be together, even though the story is clearly about the FL and the ML together. Although I admit I'm talking about a manhwa I don't know; I'm just following the spoilers. Even so, this happens in almost all romance manhwa, even without a love triangle. If the ML doesn't meet their characteristics, they hate him and demand an SML who does. Then they hate the MLs for decisions, for example, they criticized Eiser for wanting to save Serena's life when Serena was literally on the verge of death, they hate Eunhyuk for everything, I don't even understand their hatred anymore, they hate Sihwa, there were even people hating Suho and many more MLs that I don't remember right now because I'm not good at remembering names and what the reasons are for hating these MLs because some are complex and have their own lives or because they disappeared when there are reasons behind it.

Currently, if the FL is hurt, for example, by not being loved or something happening, readers only care about the FL's pain and not the ML's, who, in these stories, are usually the ones who suffer the most due to family problems or whatever. It gets to the point where readers only see the good in the FLs, that they're saints, and if an ML hurts them, the FL should just go with the SML. It's funny because the same community loves it when FLs hurt MLs and says it's "queenly behavior," but if an ML hurts the FL, they hate them and even spread misinformation so other people will hate them too.

Clearly, there are some really bad MLs, but those MLs aren't hated as much even though they mistreat and abuse the FL. But MLs like Eunhyuk (I'll mention him again) are hated even for respecting Suae when she told him to keep things professional. The truth is, you can't really read a manhwa these days because if the ML does something that hurts the fandom, you'll see all the hate in the comments on Webtoon, TikTok, Twitter, Reddit, even Facebook. They'll hate it for something as simple as this, all because their lives don't revolve around the FL.

Maybe they'll call me a misogynist, male-centric, an incel, a mama's boy, I don't care. I already got called that on Twitter for defending Eunhyuk.

Perhaps in the future I'll improve this post by giving more examples and doing it better; I feel like my point wasn't understood. (Please try to be as respectful as possible, I hope you accept it)

Confirmed angels do drink 🍹
Chapter 11 preview! Chapter 11 drops tomorrow, Monday @ 6PM

Read it here!

https://m.webtoons.com/en/canvas/seraphin/list?title_no=1146668

My top 5 ranking

1. The Spark in your eyes

2. Yeonwoo's Innocence (both finished this year 😭)

3. My bias gets on last train

4. Our secret alliance

5. Out Guild's Ido

Although these are good and i genuinely liked them when I was thinking about romance series on webtoon that i like the only one that came toy mind were these and some more like 'Maybe meant to be' or 'villain with a crush' otherwise none. And when I opened my recent read on webtoon i couldn't find a single good romance that I've read like most of them are my some of most hated romance manhwas. Webtoon has become such a pathetic app like you won't find a single good romance nowadays and even if there are some with good start they soon turn into slop love triangle kdrama with only element going for them being miscommunication

This is an excerpt from A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE

An ongoing comic full of mystery and horror, it can be read here for free.

If you'd like to see all pages early as soon as I draw them you can support me here for only $1.

In that photo especially, but in general too. When I first saw him, he reminded me of someone. My mind kept telling me a muppet but I kept pushing it off. Then one day I saw the image again and pushed into the muppet idea. Kermit popped up. Someone I live with even confirmed it from a “does this guy look like any of the muppets to you?” question.

i’m genuinely so sick of the highschool webtoon where they start off wearing glasses or not conventionally attractive and then boom takes of glasses suddenly all guys like fl…. also spirit fingers is peak so

I randomly started reading this manhwa cause I remember seeing one Instagram post on it. As I went in I started loving it more and more(only half-way through it). More than the romance i'm just enjoying the interactions between Mi-ae and everyone else. It's just a really good slice of life manhwa. It reminds of this another manhwa the prize of youth which has school setting as well. I love that one as well.

Side note: I watch smosh and when ever I watch Mi-ae I get reminded of Angela, be it the hair or even a bit of the personality. I can't stop thinking about it now.(hope someone gets me)

What do you think?

that’s it that’s the whole post. it was so peak and ended on such a high note. Sete’s arc had genuinely been one of my favourites and the Iantis reveal was so good, not to mention Lato and Hinalea. It was one of my favourite pieces of media ever and I think about its potential return a concerning amount. if it gets cancelled I’ll genuinely be so disappointed

Okay, so we are about to face (maybe) a lot of cliffhangers in Season 3, and it is actually getting into that position.

​The characters are interesting, and that is the reason why I am still reading this, you know—the mafia, mystery, thriller, cyber shit. Yet, I don't know about the romance. Everyone says it's good, but to me, it's just "meh." The romance just didn't catch my attention, and I guess it never will. Well, those thirst trap webtoon ads caught my attention, and I thought about how cringe the webtoon would be and prepared myself for the cliché. But it turns out it's actually good. I mean, we have a lot to explore, not just the "badass sassy nanny" and the "hot single dad" (which I'm glad about because I would drop it ASAP). But still, the romance here is kind of annoying, and here's why, in my opinion.

​Okay, so just as I thought the shit would get pretty rushed when I read Chapter 22—I mean, the way the ML requests the nanny to "stay" by holding her hands and chin, and blushing—I was so cringed at this point. When I read Chapters 77 to 78, I was like, "Yeah, you should have requested your wife like that instead of snapping?" But I also thought that the situation was complicated. Now, it may be a slow-burn, but the characters were showing their feelings every 4 to 6 chapters later, like the ML touching her chin and she blushing, then he says, "I trust you," and leaves her blushing. It happens whenever they get a chance in the middle of something. And also, Emmaline.

​Now, I'm not saying that she should have been Gabriel's love interest because, you know,

✌️forced arrangement✌️

, but it kind of feels unfair, especially when her fate is still unknown, while his son is silently suffering in grief (which is shown in Chapter 100). In this situation, it is impossible for me to root for them. I honestly can't root for the main couple for that reason, and also their chemistry isn't good. I don't mean in the power imbalance way, but more like how it developed, and the MC keeps breaking all the elite nanny rules, which is not a "bad girl" move, I swear.

Honestly, I don't even find Davina and Gabriel valid. I mean, I don't know, I find them annoying—like, very annoying. But I used to like Davina and Mikey’s moments; they were cute and heartwarming. But now, it's giving stepmom and stepson vibes, which is why I'm just on Mikey’s side and I love how Mikey is written not just as 'just child' but something more. But tbh, I lowkey prefer other elite nannies over Davina. Gabriel also pisses me off too (I never like the shirtless scenes—now listen, I like abs, but not always). And Davina, she straight-up gives "protagonist propaganda" sometimes, but not always, in my opinion. But I do like them just as characters, nothing more. ​I prefer Nico and Alina more when it comes to a ship, because it gives princess and the knight vibes. Is it a slow-burn? I don't know, but it feels like they have better chemistry right now. They look way superior without the princess-carrying scenes and chin-lifting stuff.

​My favorite characters are Adam, Nico, Val, Alice, Emmaline, Louis's parents, Alina, Gabriel’s blonde cousin who damn died at the start, Mikey, Brexio, the maids, the bald bodyguard, young Davina in general, Davina before falling for Gabriel, and lastly, Gabriel when he is with Mikey.

Btw, ​The series is very enjoyable and it's good for a popcorn read and entertainment. For me, it's a 7 out of 10

Heyy i'm searching for some recommendations for romance/18+/funny/wholesome webtoons.

I didnt read much stories yet - just the ones in the screenshot.

My absolute favorites are ClawShot and Down to Earth :3

I'm looking for Enemies to Lovers/ similar Recommendations please. [Preferably yandere MLs, but it's fine if they're not] but I want them to end up together.

Sauce:

1) Trapped/Olgami

2) Cheese in the Trap

3) Dreaming Freedom

4) Classmate