Examples of Taku's so-called manipulative behavior?

gardenfairy February 2, 2021 5:15 pm

I honestly can appreciate Taku as a fictional character because I do find him interesting and layered. But I am TIRED of ppl claiming he was incredibly sincere and cared about Haesoo so much. Idk if some of y’all skipped these parts, or chose to ignore it... but pls do see the following examples of Taku's manipulative and selfish behavior, and taking advantage of Haesoo:

Exhibit 1 - He wanted to use his sex tape to guilt trip Haesoo in their relationship. He said: “I hoped that guilt would bring you to me”. It only didn't happen cause Haesoo turned down publishing the sex tape. It was not that Taku backed away and stopped himself because he realized how fcked up his actions were. It made Haesoo uncomfortable and weirded out too,, pretty sure this can count as sexual/workplace harassment lmao

Exhibit 2 - In chapter 96’s flashback Taku says "i just want to read the story he writes about me when i'm gone” (his friend calls him an asshole too lol). This is a throwback to Leo telling Joowon over the phone about how Taku uses his models for his work, and then tosses them aside with little regard. He was planning the same with Haesoo, until he later got “attached”. that’s karma ig~

Exhibit 3 - Haesoo expressed that he was unsure/not ready for a relationship. Yet literally RIGHT AFTER his quasi breakup with Joowon, Taku is pressuring him like, "I'm still waiting for an answer". It's weird cause Haesoo's wounds are fresh from his breakup, and Taku is NOT stupid. He knew this and persisted. Haesoo shouldn't have agreed and that's his own fault (HS is not entirely a victim here lets make that clear). Meanwhile Taku? He was flat out taking advantage of Haesoo's broken emotions.

Exhibit 4 - Quote: “It must have been painful for him no doubt, but I still wanted to see more". This was Taku's thought during a photoshoot with Haesoo, which later made Haesoo cry at the exhibition (Chapter 92/93). Taku told Haesoo: "think about having sex with someone you love, but you can never see them again". This was RIGHT AFTER Joowon and Haesoo's big separation. To inflict emotional pain in your partner, and then say you were interested in seeing more? Bruh no… just no.

Exhibit 5 - Quotes: “Every time I saw how sad you were, it felt good.” “You were lonely. You need me because of your unhappiness.” —Chapter 58. This is from Taku's monologue of how Haesoo’s unhappiness made him feel good, because he felt depended on by Haesoo for comfort // hs get away from this man pls haha

Exhibit 6 - Another quote: “If I can’t beat him [jw] one-on-one, then I at least want you [hs] to feel bad” —Chapter 66 ...Can Taku stop wishing for Haesoo depression, like he's already sad jfc

Exhibit 7 - "I want to bury inside the void he [jw] left in you. And later I'll push him aside however I can." ...honestly this quote struck me as Taku taking advantage of Haesoo's heartbreak and being hella 'opportunistic' (btw: Taku called HIMSELF that in his interview in chapter 5 so I mean... lol). Maybe that's just me though idk.

Exhibit 8 - In Chapter 84 when Joowon's scandal broke out, notice how Taku starts texting "are you okay?" to Haesoo, then deletes it and instead tells him to stop caring about Joowon? This moment said a lot to me, because it's the fact that Taku is SO AWARE of how Haesoo must be feeling, but he purposely chooses to ignore that and cares more about winning and keeping him away from Joowon. Kinda struck me as the opposite from Joowon's phone call after Haesoo's modelling news dropped in chapter 68. JW asked Haesoo to not do the exhibition because he knew its not what HS wanted (he is right: haesoo always wanted to be known for his writing not his face, and felt crappy abt it all day). But when Haesoo said he was fine, JW told him he'll always be on Haesoo's side even as a hyung/friend. He made it so clear how he cares the most about HS simply being okay, even after Haesoo left him.

Exhibit 9 - Taku tells Haesoo he hopes he has a hard time with Joowon after their breakup (Chapter 99). It felt wrong to me cause Haesoo genuinely apologized and gently let him down in their breakup... but Taku tries to make Haesoo feel worse. I honestly understand being spiteful towards exes who mistreated you in some way. HOWEVER with this relationship: it seemed to highlight Taku’s selfishness. Taku is out here acting like Haesoo wronged him for simply not liking him back in a 1 month TRIAL relationship. As if he wasnt the one who initiated and *insisted* on their relationship. As if he was unaware of Haesoo’s feelings for Joowon. As if Taku didnt say it was better that they use each other. Him wanting to make Haesoo feel bad over this is wild considering all the conditions of their relationship and his past manipulation too.
((Also, Taku in this scene to Haesoo: “Sorry I told you I'm not a good person” … Like sir, if you know you’re not a good person, THEN FIX IT. Joowon spent almost 40 chapters self-reflecting n trying to correct the mistakes he made, when he never *intentionally* wanted to hurt Haesoo lol. Meanwhile some Taku fans: “omg he’s a good person that was wronged. haesoo never deserved him!” lmaooo))

///end of examples

Anyway I’m gonna have to start sending this to some of y’all who selectively read Taku’s character to all hell. He was really manipulative with Haesoo and had some bad intentions. And when Taku grew to stop being a robot and showed “real feelings” getting all attached to Haesoo and liking him more than he expected, he was STILL selfish and wanted Haesoo to suffer for him. He didn’t get enough development to stray away from that, but imo that’s exactly why he’s the second lead
╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭

Responses
    Lilyofthevalley January 5, 2021 7:45 pm

    Agreed 100% well said my friend!

    Angie January 5, 2021 7:47 pm

    As always amazing analysis. Unfortunately many readers doesn't care about actual plotline, character's development etc.
    It's just sad how some people discredit a good story because their ship didn't make it

    wonuyaaa January 5, 2021 8:02 pm

    wonderfully written and analyzed~

    69 Pilots January 5, 2021 8:53 pm
    As always amazing analysis. Unfortunately many readers doesn't care about actual plotline, character's development etc.It's just sad how some people discredit a good story because their ship didn't make it Angie

    yeah. i feel like im becoming one of them tbh and im dissapointed in myself. i think the arguments in the comments are getting me carried away, when i just want to go with the flow, and feel all the feels that the author wants me to.

    gardenfairy January 5, 2021 9:29 pm
    yeah. i feel like im becoming one of them tbh and im dissapointed in myself. i think the arguments in the comments are getting me carried away, when i just want to go with the flow, and feel all the feels that ... 69 Pilots

    yeah... its really better to pick and choose who you engage with in the comments/arguments. there are some flat out trolls and dumb readers, and then there are the ones that you can actually hold a conversation with without losing your braincells. engage with the latter lol
    or like yknow, not engage at all at times when you just want to enjoy the story

    BeeTee January 5, 2021 9:35 pm

    PREACH PREACH. you always give the best and most logical arguments <333

    Rex January 5, 2021 11:14 pm
    yeah... its really better to pick and choose who you engage with in the comments/arguments. there are some flat out trolls and dumb readers, and then there are the ones that you can actually hold a conversation... gardenfairy

    Honestly, this is the best advice.

    Mikovi January 5, 2021 11:24 pm

    This is perfect. Everyone see joowon as the toxic one and Taku as the perfect boyfriend one; in reality every character have the “good” and the “bad” things, no one is perfect no one is trash. I really love when people are able to see the story and the characters how they are, without filter

    gardenfairy January 6, 2021 12:59 am

    @Mikovi thank you! :) yeah all the character in LOH have their flaws and downfalls. I felt that Taku had the least development in the story (not none, but not enough for my liking). But for some reason, I feel like the audience, especially the younger stans (which taku has a lot of) don't really read the story carefully enough, to pick out his manipulative or selfish behavior. perhaps because it isn't quite "in your face" like the way joowon's aggressiveness is in the first half of the story lol. instead taku physically comforts haesoo and says sweet nothings to him. his pretty and gentle actions are wrapped in manipulative thoughts and monologues that go over people's heads haha

    Issa Me Mario January 6, 2021 1:13 am

    Thank you for this! I've noticed a lot of (young?) readers think of him as this flawless baby angel and it always makes me wonder if we're even reading the same story lol. Hope those readers read this (๑•ㅂ•)و✧

    gardenfairy January 6, 2021 2:20 am
    Thank you for this! I've noticed a lot of (young?) readers think of him as this flawless baby angel and it always makes me wonder if we're even reading the same story lol. Hope those readers read this (๑•�... Issa Me Mario

    yeah its younger readers. i notice on social media that its the younger ones that tend to act more as SJWs, basically calling ppl who support Joohae "incest supporters" and they loove to virtue signal readers. so by extension they somehow think Taku is the "better" choice.
    also cause they probably buy way too much into those "prince-charming saving mc from an abusive relationship" romance stories, and from the start they been projecting joowon as an "abuser" and taku as the "saviour" lmaoo

    gardenfairy January 6, 2021 3:16 am

    .

    69 Pilots January 6, 2021 6:23 am

    omg people really be exaggerating sm

    69 Pilots January 6, 2021 6:24 am

    i feel like haesoo has had some character development too, but i cant pinpoint exactly what

    gardenfairy January 6, 2021 6:46 am
    omg people really be exaggerating sm 69 Pilots

    What am i exaggerating? i gave you literal quotes. He was selfish or emotionally manipulative and most ppl seem to agree with me. Like they're vvv human traits and Haesoo exhibits them a lot too (the manipulation part mainly). i'm not saying taku is a monster lol. He just has some things he should ~work on~

    haesoo characterization and development: http://www.mangago.zone/home/mangatopic/9422483/

    He didn't develop as much as joowon though. Spoilers for raws ahead:
    I think the fact that Haesoo decided to go abroad for 3 years after breaking up with taku is another big point of his development, that I dont even talk about in that comment since it hadn't happened yet when I made the comment. His 3 years are not something we see on screen... but im assuming he made that decision to go abroad because he realized he had a lot of "self" issues he needed to work on in order to actually be good to Joowon in a new/healthy relationship, and that they shouldnt rush into things like before.

    69 Pilots January 6, 2021 7:55 am
    What am i exaggerating? i gave you literal quotes. He was selfish or emotionally manipulative and most ppl seem to agree with me. Like they're vvv human traits and Haesoo exhibits them a lot too (the manipulati... gardenfairy

    oh no, i meant people who call jxh supporters "incest supporters" and think taku is a "prince-charming saving mc from an abusive relationship". they are exaggerating.

    thanks for the link btw, i really wanted to read something about haesoo. it feels like in the midst of the joowon vs taku, everyone is forgetting about haesoo, the mc

    all i hope for now is that each character becomes mentally healthier and their romantic relationships are strong (๑•ㅂ•)و✧
    im starting to resent taku, but i just crave a happy, clean ending so much.

    gardenfairy January 6, 2021 8:03 am
    oh no, i meant people who call jxh supporters "incest supporters" and think taku is a "prince-charming saving mc from an abusive relationship". they are exaggerating.thanks for the link btw, i really wanted to ... 69 Pilots

    ohhh i see lol. you were replying to my reply, not my original comment haha
    and yeah they are exaggerating. and not reading the story properly lmao

    no problem! ^^ ppl get so caught up in the heated joowon vs taku fanwars. and then haesoo my precious son gets either neglected... or trashed by EITHER side. they'll go like "he mistreated joowon!" (he kinda did though, but it was clearly a two way thing i mean come on),, or "he played taku!" (no the fuck he didn't) lol.

    69 Pilots January 6, 2021 8:10 am
    ohhh i see lol. you were replying to my reply, not my original comment hahaand yeah they are exaggerating. and not reading the story properly lmaono problem! ^^ ppl get so caught up in the heated joowon vs taku... gardenfairy

    im sticking to light hearted shounen ais from now on, this one really squeezed out all of my emotional energy ( ̄∇ ̄")

    gardenfairy January 6, 2021 8:13 am
    im sticking to light hearted shounen ais from now on, this one really squeezed out all of my emotional energy ( ̄∇ ̄") 69 Pilots

    honestly hahaha
    LOH was always anxiety inducing lol

    wonuyaaa January 6, 2021 5:44 pm

    ^^^ lol true, this story gave me anxiety too. But it was worth it