I’m posting his comments here so it’s easier for me to reply.
@FGB4877 CS’ calm, collected manner could be seen as “manly” and “cool” in another character, but unlike other stoic “manly” characters, from the start (even in the first scene when he’s a kid) he is kind, patient, and loyal. And not like he can’t flirt, crack jokes, put himself in danger, or isn’t hot either.
True. I’ll just add that the Harvard MBA program looks for students with the following characteristics, “a habit of leadership, analytical aptitude and appetite, and engaged community citizenship.” Source: the school admissions website. Lol.
So, yes, I expect Chansung to be a leader who can make tough decisions based on analysis (and not lame-ass excuses like Capt Firefly) and can make a difference in the world.
But you’re right. His other qualities like kindness, patience, loyalty, goodness, and honesty have been innate.
One thing I do like about MW and CS’ relationship is that it’s relatively chaste, though I noticed on other online places people who like MW and CS want more steamy stuff. In another story, this might make them appear naive, but here it works beautifully, ironically showing them as more mature, as intense physical intimacy isn’t the only thing they got going. Funnily, MW wasn’t as physical with CM as she was with CS anyways, so if we’re judging chemistry just by longing stares, sexual innuendos, touching, etc., CS actually beats CM.
I actually like kdramas because they’re chaste. I grew up watching Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck, Katherine Hepburn, Alec Guinness (before he was Obi Wan Kenobi) and Laurence Olivier. I find most of the “steamy stuff” shown on TV, at least here in the US, unnecessary.
Frankly, I don’t see how an explicit sex scene moves the plot forward unless the theme of the show is carnal pleasure, sexual dominance, and deviant bed bugs. I also find it “icky” to watch sex scenes with total strangers in a movie theater. I feel like I’ve “shared” an intimate moment (i.e., a visual orgy! lol) with them.
So, yes. I agree with you that MW and CS sharing a non-steamy, nonsexual scene shows a mature intimacy.
When she walked in the room and rested her head on his shoulder,
and he moved to hold her hand and enclosed it with both his hand, (lol. I actually found that sexy),
I thought the scene demonstrated a sensual and tactile closeness without the sexual intercourse. It’s a limited view to equate intimacy with orgasms.
Additionally, though things are shaky at times, MW and CS work together well as a team. With the imaginary spirit in Episode 8, for instance, when MW enters the room and sees the spirit hugging CS, her jealousy/concern gets triggered, but CS’ hand gesture communicates to her it’s okay, she acknowledges it, and they then work together to solve the case like good and bad cop detectives. So the story *does* have instances of MW using her power to achieve good things with CS’ help when they protect/trust each other – MW has external power, CS has internal power, yin and yang, it just works.
Yes, I love that scene!
He knew Manwol was going to get triggered so he was waving her off. I know it’s been joked around here that MW is the dog owner who only needs to whistle for her dog to heel. But in this scene, I found Chansung’s frantic signalling comical. He was afraid that his “dog” would fail “obedience training” and snap at that poor spirit.
I think it’s very smart of Chansung to play up his “weakness” so Manwol didn’t view him as a threat to her “bossiness.” Remember in Episode 2 when she told him that she wanted him to call her “Boss”? By Episode 8, she realized that he was “manipulating” her sympathies everytime he called her “Boss”. Of course, he uttered the word with his own special kind of cute “non-aegyo” way — if you get what I mean. She just know she couldn’t resist giving in to him when he called her Boss.
The problem as I mentioned before, is character and story development gets tossed out in Episode 14 for the sake of upping the drama. In previous episodes they may have argued, but they still try to communicate, yet here MW unashamedly gives Jiwon the evil lucky charm because Mago was misleadingly ambiguous. It’s as if all that build up of MW learning to use her power, knowledge, and heart for good – the culmination of MW and CS’ honesty, openness, and warmth with each other, their teamwork and communication – was for nothing if CS could just run in like “yo, I got your lucky charm, you don’t need to go to hell now!”
I’m still enjoying their romance if I kinda ignore the screwup in the first half of ep 14, but it’s a bummer too, since you don’t see a lot of these chaste but mature relationships with a male lead who’s actually cool and nice.
I know, right? When people say nice guys finish last, it’s because they take nice guys for granted even when they do finish first and accomplish a record-breaking feat.
And I love that scene when Chansung was fighting with Jiwon, and he bluffed his way to get the hairpin. He told Jiwon, “I was buying time. It’s over now. The moon is coming out. Do you think that woman gave that to you for no reason? I told you she’s protecting me? You see that moon symbol there? It’s over for you when the moon comes out because of that.”
To me, this showed how much he loved her. And to me, this faithfulness to her — to actually fight for her even when he knew that she running away and wasn’t coming to his side — is the reason why his character out-swoons those heroes oozing with sex appeal.
What’s with the winging of the missing intimacy/ kissing relationship for our CS and MW? 🤨
If there’s anyone to complain it should be me because I like those scenes in my kdramas. 😂 But did I ever? No, because it doesn’t need it. I’m happy/contented with the eating together, hugging each other, leaning on his shoulder, holding hands and tending to his wounds. 😍
Some people! 🤦🏻♀️
Anyway! Good morning! Laters! 😄
Okay, you’re fine with the eating together, hugging together…
But I’m fine with the dirty thoughts. Manwol was funny when CS teased her in Episode 13.
MW: If you don’t wear this right now, I’m going to take off all your clothes.
CS: Do as you please. (looking at her) But do you think you can handle it? (staring at each other intently) I don’t you can. (looks away)
MW: (eye rolling to mean that she’s imagining him naked then unconsciously covering her chest with the suit jacket)
CS: Let’s eat the galbitang tomorrow. I should go home to see Sanchez right now. (looks back at her) What are you doing?
MW: (snarkily) You don’t need to know! (turning her back on him)
Chansung just grinned behind her. Of course, he knew that she was mentally disrobing him. It’s the power of suggestion. 🙂
I will be honest I like kissing scenes in dramas. I think it’s pretty natural for a couple.
But I don’t always need it if the couple show other ways of intimacy. In all the drama, we could really see the evolution of their feelings, they shared all their secrets. I think it counts as intimacy too. So their bickering and their skinships were enough for me.
The scene of the episode 13 was super funny. MW having dirty thougts was the cutest! YJG is pretty good at flirting :p
In regards to sex appeal, I just wanna say knetz and cnetz are having a field day with their fantasies because a bedding company posted an Instagram of Man Wol’s bed recently. Everyone is wondering if we will actually see CS resting on MW’s arm in her bed.
Thank you for the responses, I am glad that someone shares my sentiments about these things. I have a pretty big man crush on CS now. He’s a swell guy. 🙂
On Harvard, I forgot about that but yes – CS is an intellectual with an Ivy League education, a sly, smooth talker who can “con” for the greater good – isn’t that supposed to be kinda hot? And the hand holding – that was damn sexy in an understated way.
Virgin shaming (though it should correctly be called chaste shaming, since it’s not just about virgins) often comes from the notion of, as you say, equating intimacy with orgasms. CS and MW are chaste not because he’s a loser, reactionary, unattractive, or anything else you’d hear with virgin shaming, but because he’s respectful and loving. It’s what *they* need/want in *their* relationship. When CS cries at the end of ep 14 as he remembers MW, he’s he’s thinking of the casual, mundane shared moments between them. This is not heavy-handed preachy tale – it’s a chaste relationship depicted thoughtfully.
Plus anyways like mentioned with the dirty talk about the tiger suit in ep 13, it’s not like they’re *that* chaste. And their big kiss in Ep 12 was nice in how it was two kisses, one initiated by MW and the other by CS. Even in steamy moments they have patience, trust, and mutual teamwork.
Also, great point with the dog metaphor that has been thrown around a lot. I know from personal experience when you’re in love with someone and like a loyal puppy following them around, so it’s fun seeing CS and MW be puppies to each other.
As for the pin, I was confused at first and thought that CS actually thought MW was going to save him, but your analysis makes much more sense, and it fits in with his Harvard Conman shenanigans. It isn’t the first time Jiwon got fooled by a silver tongued CS.
Heeeyyyy, a Harvard lambskin (or as Manwol pronounced it Ha-va-deu) is still pretty much a sought-after commodity. You can buy a fake one for less than $50.
At least MW is gentler than Mira when attending to the injured. I couldn’t believe how Mira was (wo)manhandling the poor Det. Yeonwoo, shoving him here and there when he’d fallen on his back. And she was supposedly a doctor.
And did you notice, Manwol did end up bearing gifts for Sanchez as an apology. Instead of a useless and expensive gift, she gave him what he needed the most: medicine for his burn and incense to drive away Jiwon. Then, she apologized sincerely. I like that she also asked for his help to comfort Chansung in the future when CS goes through the same sadness as Sanchez. I think Sanchez understood what she was trying to say.
There seems to be a lot of people ready to help CS deal with MW’s death/disappearance. I just hope that her return won’t be dragged too long. I want the next episode to have a happy reunion and a send-off to the bellhop and the bartender if needed.
Oh yes I forgot about that scene , I liked it. 😄 That was an example of how I like the way they talk to each other. In terms of a blender, they’re blended very nicely. They’re connected in how they respond to each other. I see their connection. ☺️
I hope so too that we won’t have too much angst in the last 2 episode. I really hope it can be a nice goodbye for MW, bellhop and bartender. Though if I have to cry , I won’t mind either. I’m still hoping for a happy ending.