Answering this mostly for myself too since I suddenly remembered this story and came back here to get some answers. Credits to the commenters here who helped me understand this story better. But apologies if I can't explain it very well.
1. Readers were angry at Ed bc he blamed Mcqueen for his whole life falling apart after his porn videos blew up. He consented to it, even signed a contract, so why was he blaming Mcqueen? Well, he didn't know it was going to blow up and affect his whole life, and he realized thru that experience just how exploitative the porn industry was. And Mcqueen glorifying the industry didn't help. Mcqueen was essentially exploiting vulnerable people who needed quick and easy money (just like Ed who had a debt to pay) and Ed was angry at him for that, along with losing his job and friends as a result. He blamed it all on Mcqueen bc it's always easier to have someone else to blame, right? They're both flawed characters in that way.
2. It was never cleared up verbally but Mcqueen likely got the gist. Ed pretended it wasn't rape perhaps as a coping mechanism. Coming to terms with someone he thought of as a brother doing that to him would have fcked with his head. That type of trauma is very intense. So pretending it was consensual is probably just what he needed to keep going with his life.
3. He has sex with about 2-3 other people apart from Mcqueen to shoot porn videos as far as I remember.
4. Yes, he shoots porn for a while but he quits later on.
5. I don't remember this anymore but I saw comments saying they both quit the industry in the end. As for the reason? Likely related to #1, Ed only entered the industry bc he needed the money, he never actually wanted to be in porn. Mcqueen perhaps realized Ed was right about how unethical and exploitative the industry was and decided to do better. But I'm just guessing since I really don't remember the ending much.
Feel free to correct me if I forgot or misinterpreted anything.
Damn, thank you! Appreciate it.
For #3, are there specific chapters that you know of? I remember one where he was about to have sex with the first coworker, his first shoot, but then he chickened out or something(?). So I don’t actually remember if the story showed the sex shoot scenes or he did it fully or the camera just captured scenes, making it as if he did full sex.
For #1, appreciate it. Exactly what I’ve been wanting to know for a while now. I just didn’t know if I have time to reread because I’m a current full time nursing student + other BLs I am reading (100+ tabs…). I do think both are very flawed which makes me less biased. Ed, he did consent to making a porn video, it isn’t up to anyone if the videos go viral—out of control. But he has the right to be upset at the exploitation. As for McQueen, I didn’t like him at all at first…maybe it was his attitude and rushing MC as far as I remember.
Appreciate it!
#5. Makes perfect sense! Porn is quick money depending on the industry area, but it is tiring on the body and can be very exploitative. Not a very stable job. It was like a last resort for Ed I’m assuming. And I assume McQueen quit because he was no longer interested in sex work, he’s partners with Ed, and realising the exploitative nature (?).
#3 Sorry I really don’t remember the chapters as it’s been years since I read this and have no intention to reread. But I do remember the porn shooting scenes were pretty detailed and vivid, they showed everything. The webtoon definitely showed him having full-on sex with his partner for each video during the filming, if that’s something you wanted to know.
#1 This was one of the main questions I had too, that’s why I came running back to the comments lol. Yeah, you sensed his red flags, Mcqueen had issues. There was that controversial video he produced too. I never fully understood what truly transpired there but I think I’m just gonna leave it at that. Heard this had a novel tho and that everything was explained better there.
#5 Yeah, you’re right, I think that about sums it all up as for their reasons to quit.
Your questions actually helped me dig deeper and understand some aspects of the story better, so thanks for that.
Appreciate it! Don’t worry, I’ll try to find them. Glad we both helped each other :).
And yeah this does have a novel I believe. It’s on Novelupdates or it’s not on there anymore. I’ll check the reviews there.
I forgot a lot and I want to know these (ocd related) before I reread:
—I remember a lot were mad or upset with Ed, and how Glenn shouldn’t be the one apologizing? Why? Fuck my memory.
—I remember that MC was raped by another guy (starts with letter C in ch 53-54). So why did he tell Glenn (like ch 56 or 57) that HE HAD SEX as if it was consensual from start. Was it cleared up later? Ugh, I hope it was!
—MC (bottom) becomes a sex worker here, right? Only temporarily of course. And does he have sex with other people for the work? Or it doesn’t really happen.
—ML is a sex worker right?
—Do they continue to be set workers or they quit, and for what reason? Hope it is not the cliche ‘for love’ and because of jealousy.
Thank you!! Rereading tomorrow.