And yet here you are writing one of the longest assay I've seen on this page... Tells a lot about your actual interest in this manhwa.
I didn't vote your comment. Even though I disagree with some of your arguments I think you're not wrong on some others either.
While I was one of the readers who were the most fervent (I think) about POTN months ago, I grew tired of it somehow... Though I'll still say that this story is more than just a plot about a rapist and his victim and Stockholm Syndrom, but it's your opinion and you have all the right to say it even if the rest disagree.
What bothers me more is the plotholes within the plot (like I pointed before), the unanswered questions and even weirdness that lie in POTN; that makes me think the background is rather weak on some points. It gives me the impression that Author-nim just throws this and that and just let us guess or do with the progress of the story.
I'd like to know, for exemple, how Nakyum became so good at drawing erotic gay art. Did he witness some men doing the stuff when he was a kid, why did he choose to draw gay art rather than something else? (Or did I miss something?).
About Seungho, since we know that his family has left him all alone, how does he manage to keep his status and, more important, wealth? How does he pay his numerous servants and assassins...? Is he a merchant, an official...? How does he make a living...? All we can see is he having sex with different partners and having influence on people, but realistically we don't know how.
Other things that bother me: the interactions of Seugnho and Nakyum revolve mostly around sex till now. Knowing how is Seungho and the fact they're attracted to each other, it's not really what matters, but I'd like to know how a sincere love and relationship can be born from only sex and domination-submission, and I hope they'll develop more emotional affinities in the coming chapters. It's true that the gap between their status and personality makes things difficult to reach such sincere, equal relationship also.
Lastly, one of the main reasons why I grew tired of this story is that Nakyum, literally the MC of this webtoon, as cute as he is, is too passive. And rather than passive, I find him terribly naive. As an orphan who should've learned more from the outside world in order to become rapidly independant, he's just not like that. In some aspects, I find him dislikable too, but maybe Author-nim just want him to be someone normal with common flaws... His personality and dependance towards a Lord like Seungho (to have a shelter, food...) suits this smutty plot. He needs to stay in the Lord's house, if he was capable of taking care of himself it'll be the end of POTN :'D
We know that most of the actions are done by the ML Seungho and Nakyum is, shomewhere, only the element that brought changes into the ML's life, though yes, since the beginning Nakyum gives the impression that he's only enduring the situation. For those who love cute Ukes like Nakyum it's good, but I'm the kind to get tired of it if it's a BL of 50 + chapters...
Overall I think for my part that Author-nim has done a good job if we want a Yaoi Smut with a plot; even though there are some plotholes, I don't think that'll bother people to enjoy this webtoon. But yeah, if we seek for something that's realistic in all points and profund, we may be disappointed at some points.
Well, if you have read until now, that means that you do like the story and it’s so good you can’t stop reading lmao idiot
Lmao you are right
You've read 60 chapters of a story you consider is a 3 out of 10. Not only that, but you took the time to write a long ass essay about it. Wow. That's commitment!
I just wanted to focus on one of my main issues is that the romance stems from rape and you've added just what I was thinking as well. I understand a lot of the reasons that you offer and completely agree with most of them... To all the people asking why I wrote so much for a work that I don't like a lot, well it's ment to be criticized and I just wanted to share my honest opinions on it
Thank you for taking the time to read my long reply and I understand your point of view.
The rape was unavoidable I think, considering their difference in status, the historical period and more importantly -nature of the Lord... The plot has progressed by steps even though there are still unanswered questions, and I doubt there will ever responses to these I asked. Most readers just don't care about these details.
The art is great, yeah, so it's understandable that some continue to follow the webtoon even if they dislike elements of the plot or are not 100% for the story.
At least you gave it chances and read it till then.
"There's been little to no character development" Uhmm if you actually bothered to analyse the webtoon, you'd realise that a lot more has been going on, and that the character development has been present since the beginning, though more subtle than in recent chapters..
I share many of the frustrations you exposed here. The new season seems dragged to the extent. At every new chapter, I regret how slow the plot is progressing. But then I have a dilemma: I think either the the author is lost in her writing and is kind of improvising OR she is a true genius and has chosen to make this manhwa a slow developing plot and everything will make total sense at the end and in the most beautiful way (even if it ends dramatically). Imagine if she has in mind 3 or 4 seasons in total, then if someone in few years from now discovers this story and read it in one shot, there's a big chance it will be a masterpiece. I personally discovered it at the end of season 1 and had the chance to read that season all at once and I was literally mind-blown. But now, I mainly feel frustration because things are moving slowly or not as I expected or not as people are theorizing, I mean... I think we should just trust her and be patient. Following a story one chapter at a time is always frustrating. Seeing how she excels in giving the most subtle importance to small details and everything else, I have some big expectations once this story finally comes and end. Hopefully I am not wrong.
I wouldn't describe these as frustrations though, for my part at least. They're more of observations and statements. Tbh we're already at + 50 chapters and I got the rythme and style of story telling of the Author, so I don't have much expectations from it and just go with the flow.
Characters: They're all so fucking dry. No ounce of personality, flair, or likeability. We have the crybaby (the painter I don't even remember his name), the rapist (the emperor? The guy that employed the crybaby), and the asshole (the teacher). They're basically the main cast and none of them are likeable in the slightest. You feel bad for the crybaby until you realize that he's just gonna sit there and take everything that is thrown at him, to top it off he's gonna start developing FEELINGS for the guy that raped him multiple times. In a horrible Stockholm syndrome way that will definitely be romanticized. We have the rapist that is just a fucking dick because he's rich so why not. The embodiment of 'I have past trauma so that excuses all the pain I've caused to everyone around me'. Then the teacher is an asshole for NOT REASON. He could have been a breath of fresh air but nope he's just as dislikable as the main 2. I'm literally rooting for the red head that was dumped by the rapist and is employing the straight guy to kill the crybaby because at least he has a fucking personality and I can completely understand why he is trying to kill the crybaby. Like IM ROOTING FOR HIM bc the crybaby is such a doormat and will never stand up for himself or just go through with running away. There has been little to no character development since the first chapter and we're more than 60 chapters in. Disappointed but not surprised
Plot: You'd think because this was historical that there would be interesting plot but nope. Two seasons in and there has been nothing that alludes to a cool subplot to help the 'romance' (if I can even call it that). It's just been oh, I want the crybaby to paint porn pictures for me okay cool... I want the crybaby to paint picture of porn for me while i have sex with guys... With him?!? There is nothing that makes you interested with this comic in the long run. Although the subplot with the red head trying to straight up high a hitman to kill they crybaby is more hilarious than it should be.
Art: Phenomenal, literally some if the best webtoon art I've ever seen. The only reason I haven't dropped it is because the art is just so beautiful.
Overall: This is such a hit and miss comic because it could have been great if they had a better writing team since the characters are decent at best, the plot could have actually been something interesting (especially in this time period) and we could have had an amazing love story. Instead we got underdeveloped characters and a huge power dynamic between the two people that are supposed to end up with each other, which shouldn't exist because in relationships it should be equal meaning even if the rapist did confess the crybaby is in no place to respond with anything but happiness less be wants to ger beaten/killed. I'm very disappointed with this story bc I just know it could have been amazing if there was a proper writing team.
NO SPOILER FOR PEOPLE QUESTIONING TO READ
This gets a 3/10 (gets 2 points for the art if the art was shit I would have given it a one).
I say read this just for the art because it's so amazing but other than that it's just a waste of time to read this. Hope this helps people wondering if they want to read this of not -3-