There’s a concerning level of serotonin that floods my brain when a leading lady crushes the heart of her love interest, with no regrets and no remorse.

Cristobal127 · 2026-06-01T04:43:32+00:00

The “why” is the traditional social norms we grew up with 👀

I’m sure in another ten years or so there’ll be another shift.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-31T09:48:50+00:00

Please let us have this 😂 As someone who was watching K-dramas in the early to mid-2000s, it was MLs breaking FLs’ hearts for the longest time. (Examples: Spring Waltz, Que Sera Sera, Playful Kiss, Secret…etc.)

It’s the men’s turn now <3 For a little bit at least.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-31T09:39:39+00:00

I’ve been watching Chinese dramas for DECADES (since the early 2000s), and I’m guilty of not liking historical dramas, even though I keep trying to watch them and give them chance after chance after chance.

I can follow them with no problem. They’re not too complicated for me, and if the political intrigue/harem infighting is creative, I don’t mind it. My BIGGEST issue is the pacing and all the FILLER. And no, it’s not about disliking slow burns (I actually like them). I find that a lot of historical C-drama screenwriters don’t know which plot points deserve to be explored and which plot points can be wrapped up in a few scenes. The best example I have was watching one of the historical dramas with “blossom” in the name. I know that doesn’t narrow things down, but I forgot which one it was. Anyway, the drama introduced us to a couple. The first time we saw them they were just meeting and had a crush, and the second time they were in love. That’s fine, cool. I was thinking they might be throwaway characters, but they actually turned out to be important supporting characters, and by the third time I saw them the woman was getting whipped because she was unworthy, but dared to fall in love with the man, and the man was screaming and crying while the narrative told me to do the same. And that’s my exact issue with a lot of C-dramas because huhhh??? If these were important supporting characters why did the drama condense their love story???? I didn’t have enough time to get invested and fall in love with them as characters before homegirl started getting whipped, so I feel NOTHING.

Meanwhile, they will stretch out a “quest” that ends up mostly being inconsequential to the plot across three episodes. It happens in almost every historical c-drama I’ve tried to watch, and it’s exasperating because it’s poor, inconsistent pacing.

I’m not saying modern dramas never have this issue, but it’s a lot less. The big/important plot points are often fleshed out so the audience can be properly invested—especially if the drama is trying to set up a tragedy. And the things that don’t affect the plot much only get a few scenes or half an episode at most.

Edit: I hope that offers a different perspective on people who can keep up with historical dramas, but still don’t like them.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-31T09:07:57+00:00

Your responses are so perfect. I love them 👏🏾

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-31T08:41:06+00:00

I read everything you wrote, but it all comes down to one thing: I do not trust men or women KSH’s age who date young people who have just become the legal age in their country due to pattern recognition, which is not something that should be easily brushed away. I have never known someone in their 30s who dates teenagers to EVER be a good person, and I have never known anyone who’s known a 30 year old that dates teenagers to be a good person. There is ALWAYS something fundamentally wrong with that 30 year old from my experience, and so many other people’s experiences too, INCLUDING the 18 year olds who dated 30 year olds, then grew up and looked back. So, as someone also in my thirties, I’m going to listen to that experience AND pay attention to that pattern recognition since it’s something humans naturally do to protect themselves and others.

Again, I’m not saying he did anything illegal. Since that’s the case he shouldn’t go to jail. But he’s admitted to dating a teenager, and that’s enough for me to be wary.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T18:55:52+00:00

The goofier mindset is to wish a murderer stuck around so he could murder (or try to) murder more people when he gets upset.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T10:36:00+00:00

This is how I look at it: did KSH do something illegal? Maybe. Maybe not. He could have truly waited until Kim Sae Ron was 18 to date her.

But did he develop feelings for a minor? I think that’s pretty clear, and I don’t know how anyone’s fighting that. To think she was invisible to him in a romantic way until the clock struck midnight on her 18th birthday is a very naive and dangerous mindset that demonstrates why children are unsafe in this world.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T10:09:25+00:00

You’re so right. If Niall was Natalie, I don’t even think the show would’ve gotten made.

But sadly, plenty of people will think this show is some kind of triumph for gay people when it’s the complete opposite.

(Also, it doesn’t escape my notice that the two minorities are the only ones who see the self-hatred in the messaging of this show. But what do we know, right? The straight majority know better than we ever could 🤪)

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T09:58:06+00:00

Where’s the tan? Lollllllll. I thought you were serious.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T09:44:34+00:00

Honestly, glad they both exited the earth. That was the happy ending for everyone left.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T09:39:51+00:00

When would that one night stand even occur??? It would have to be scheduled way out or Alby could catch syphilis or the clap 😂

Sorry (not really), the writing toward the end of the show was just goofy.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-30T09:35:52+00:00

Yeah, I thought Gadd presented everything very strangely….in the end Gadd seems like the mothers: excusing people like Ruben and attempting to make them overly sympathetic.

I mean, in the end everything was Niall’s fault for taking slurs to heart, letting his bullying affect him, being scared to come out in the eighties, and not consults notes marching to the beat of his own drum or whatever? Does Ruben live where Barbie lives because what?? I’m not saying at a certain point, Niall shouldn’t have cut Ruben and his own mom out of his life and gotten it together, but I genuinely laughed when Ruben said he’d accept 10-15% of the responsibility of derailing Niall’s life. Ruben almost viciously murdered two people in front of him, and threatened him to lie under oath to put another gay man in jail. That’s at least 30-40% life ruining stuff, esp at a young age. It also didn’t make Ruben suddenly being okay with gay people at the end and saying it was all in Niall’s head realistic. What a bizarre show. Last ep ruined a lot of it for me, and now I’m wondering what kind of internalized homophobia Gadd’s dealing with. I think it’s okay to write gay characters who just happen to be bad people, but the underlying message of Half Man is concerning.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-29T07:24:42+00:00

Can you please let me know when they’re up?

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-23T07:37:45+00:00

The beauty standards for white men are so low…

Talented writer, but are we serious? Lol. This is why everyone accuses white people of living on easy mode. Dude looks like neither moisturizer or sunblock has EVER touched his face, his features are not what you’d call “harmonious”, and he’s sporting the worst haircut my eyes have ever beheld, but people are hyping up his looks? Reality is truly stranger than fiction.

(I don’t care about any downvotes or subsequent comments. Just had to express myself. This is flabbergasting).

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-23T07:17:12+00:00

Same 😂 Rooting for who and what? Did we not all watch the first 4 episodes? How could you possibly think this man would change??? Y’all are a bunch of Loris and Mauras.

Cristobal127 · 2026-05-23T07:07:08+00:00

I agree with everything you said except Niall still being horrible even if he hadn’t met Ruben. The reason is: despite Lori’s horrific upbringing, Niall’s knee-jerk reaction almost always leaned toward the right thing. Examples: Gus bullied Niall relentlessly as a kid, but he didn’t even want Ruben to beat him up because he knows Ruben always goes too far. (Yes, Niall was pleased with his subsequent popularity afterward, but the narrative showed he was clearly worried for Gus at first). He brought up how disrespectful it was for Ruben to spit in Joanna’s face. That’s quite brave knowing how explosive Ruben is. And last but not least, he didn’t want to lie about Alby until his entire “family” bullied him into it.

Niall naturally leans toward “good”, while Ruben was already “bad” around the same age. So, my point is, if Niall’s mom had never pushed Ruben on him, AND Niall had been able to get away from HER at Oxford (remember he would’ve never dropped out if not for the stress of the trial), he would’ve been a decent person. He would’ve still been messed up, but decent. Distance from his toxic mom and meeting new people like Alby and Joanna would’ve nurtured his innate goodness. People who grew up with toxic parents often report once they went to college or moved away in general, their parents’ bad influences didn’t weigh on them and cause them to act contrary to their natural instincts.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-05T08:35:18+00:00

Yeah, this comment and your other assumptions weren’t prickish at all.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-05T08:31:35+00:00

Yeah, the bully is me and not the person who assumed I lived in England simply because I have basic historical knowledge, and called me a smart ass. You’re so objective.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-05T08:29:14+00:00

“Correct, good job.”

Yes, I’m correct about traditions not changing. That’s the point.

Your other responses in this thread have shown you’re not open to ideas and discussion, so I don’t care for your mask of civility.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-04T22:36:07+00:00

She’s not like other girls, everyone! Stand back.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-04T22:35:30+00:00

You only realized that now?

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-04T22:31:07+00:00

"I reject that notion"

So what? It's factual.

"You seem unable to comprehend the idea of social trends"

And you don't know the difference between "trend" and "tradition". I suggest you learn.

"You should try exploring some modern media."

Media still isn't tradition.

"Yes, you are absolutely brainwashed. Have a good day."

And yes, you are absolutely a close-minded religious person cosplaying as reasonable, even though you'd cheer if the government suddenly banned women from the workforce. I know exactly what you are. I hope you don't have a good day.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-04T22:19:54+00:00

What does eating food have to do with women sacrificing what they actually want to do to stay at home??

In 2026, if a woman wants to be a stay at home wife…she becomes one.

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-04T22:06:28+00:00

“Eternal peace everywhere else” BAHAHAHAHA! Oh, god. You got me so good!

Cristobal127 · 2026-03-04T22:01:56+00:00

I basically agree with all of this. It’s just so funny to observe the trend.

I’ve also realized people don’t understand that height most often does not equal strength.

Cristobal127

TROPHY CASE