Well...

Applepie January 4, 2024 6:05 am

You know what, I think the reason why almost everyone dislike season 2 is not because of Brian. I have several theories:
1. The changes of MC
We are first introduced to Ian as the main character, But suddenly in season 2, in the flashback, the main character changed to Brian. I'm sure a lot of people aren't ready for that because they already attached to Ian. "But they are the same person". Nope, their souls may be the same, but they are different people. Even Ian doesn't like it when he was compared to Brian.

2. Transition from S1 to S2
The transition from season 1 to season 2 was kinda...bad and not smooth. S1 ended with a cliffhanger of the conflict between Soleite and Ian. It's hard to enjoy S2 without thinking about what would happen in the current timeline. It was as if Ian's worries had come true. Now we are faced with the fact that Brian-Soleite's relationship is better and stronger bond than Soleite-Ian's, and Ian's insecurity that Brian is a "better person" than him is true.

3. As in the previous point, this story is supposed to be about "Ian", the reincarnation of Brian. And as a result of the past story being too detailed, Brian's character overshadows Ian. And I think telling the story of the past condensed into one season is not clever. IF the flashback was only about 20 chapters and the rest was told bit by bit interspersed with the main story, maybe people's response would be better. I love this analogy by an account with username Nikki in the comments:
"This is the equivalent to being happily married, then an old friend of your spouse's sits down and starts rambling on about how GREAT your husband's ex was, what a WONDERFUL and INTELLIGENT and CHARMING and ACCOMPLISHED person they were, and that the ONLY REASON they didn't work out was because their family moved across country or some shit."

I don't know how the author will develop Ian without bringing Brian along(impossible). Because I don't think the author is that cruel to make Ian's character disappear, considering that Ian's insecurity towards Brian was one of the big plot points in season 1. And again, I'm not the author and I still don't know the continuation of the story. So I will continue to support the author and continue following this manhwa. buy the official chapters on Tappytoon if you can, guys!

Responses
    wiejdnmsoxjcnejxidjfj January 4, 2024 9:10 am

    I felt the same for the transition of present to past. It ended with a cliffhanger and I can’t seem to enjoy the 2nd season because I’m eager to see what happened to the present. If this flashback was properly executed in a way that we can see both past and the present, then no one will complain about this season.

    puppybbh January 4, 2024 7:00 pm

    gosh I agree with you. I used to follow this manhwa and stopped reading when season 1 finished. and just today I tried to continue reading season 2. In fact, I've only reached chapter 58 and I'm already bored. then I tried checking chapter 81 the last chapter, hoping we would return to Ian. but how surprised I am that we are still in flashback time. I really agree that the author seems like changed the MC here from Ian to Brian. and I think the flashback for 1 season is too much. Sorry if my words are strange, English is not my first language

    Kou January 5, 2024 1:39 am
    gosh I agree with you. I used to follow this manhwa and stopped reading when season 1 finished. and just today I tried to continue reading season 2. In fact, I've only reached chapter 58 and I'm already bored. ... puppybbh

    One your English is fine and two I agree it's hard keeping up with this story because in my mind. I already know the MC is Ian not Brian, It honestly feels like a different story in the flash back because Ian and Brian have different personality that it doesn't even feel like the MC!

    kagamin January 8, 2024 8:16 am

    Yes … I said it multiple times here. Brian is not the problem, rather the position he’s in is.

    Brian has been an antagonist. He’s the reason for Ian’s anxieties. The current ended with a bad cliffhanger, with a conflict with no solution. “If I weren’t Brian’s reincarnation, I would be put into jail” and soleite didn’t answer. The artist didn’t exactly try to make Brian a friend to Ian.

    Also, we are reading an extremely important part of the main lead; while he’s being cute with another man. It’s very frustrating :(

    Akatsuki January 8, 2024 2:30 pm

    Exactly my thoughts. This author clearly can write good and griping story, however, fell flat for these facts. Season 2 is watching Ian’s heartache coming true. I couldn’t read it all. I’ll have to wait till author decides to bring Ian back. My only hope is they flesh out and really give depth to Ian deserves. More so than Brian. In the current state Ian truly is just Brian’s shadow and it’s Heartbreaking.