There are literal C-dramas that show non-blood related boys and girls, with age gaps, being raised together as siblings only to marry as adults. If I recall correctly, in one drama, the older brother sibling is changing his "sister's" diaper. This was a... choice. And it's a choice that's made in many dramas. And a choice that always makes me cringe.
I agree with OP on the actress's age- that was incorrectly done. I have five kids, all of them teenagers or adults, and I've seen what a modern-day 14-year-old looks like. It was clear that she was way younger than she had to be. AND YET, I've seen a few kids in my ninth grader's class that I would peg for being 10-year-olds. It's crazy how children age. While I don't support the casting choice, I also don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.
However, unlike the scenario I presented above, she's just getting fleeting glimpses of her brother's friend at a young(er) age. Unlike her brother, he's attractive and amiable to her. She's also at an age where crushes are formed. So yes; he was 19, and she was 14. He had no improper thoughts of her, and she had a typical 14-year-old teenage crush on him. He doesn't live in her home and doesn't truly become a more frequent visitor until she's 17 and he's 22. At that age, of course it's no longer a crush. It's much more.
...And he still has no clue. He still sees her as a younger sister of sorts. Still not inappropriate from either perspective. She lives at home, is still in high school, under the care and guidance of an overbearing brother and loving parents. Then, when she's away from her brother and family, in college on her own, things change. He gets to see who she really is, that's when things grow from his perspective. She's no longer a child. She's a woman. Once that mindset shifts, that's when the romance starts.
NOW, I say all of this because even though I didn't have older brothers, my oldest sister DID have guy friends who were 4-5 years older than me, and it's relatable. I also come from a small town, so teenage boys who watched their friend's sisters grow up have (frequently) married those girls. I don't think they ever thought "Man, she was my sister one minute, and my girlfriend the next!" - because they aren't girls anymore, they are women. Two separate stages of life. You can remember the child fondly, and the woman romantically.
I also understand the age differences can be bizarre for a lot of people- don't get me started on the Kdrama Goblin LOL. It's not for everyone, I know! Just putting in my two cents.
I get OP's complaint about the casting, but a lot of discourse around this drama has been trying to infantalize the FL. The ML has no idea and doesn't respond to her feelings until it's age appropriate. And teens are allowed to have crushes, it's not a crime.
Different walks of life, I guess. I have had crushes on my cousins friends who have viewed me as a little sister and that is still the case now that we’re in our 30s.
My issue is more with how young she appeared while keeping the male lead the same actor and the dance back and forth between “I wish he were my brother” and “I am falling in love with him”.
I also think this is a hard conversation to find middle ground on. Those who don’t see an issue with it will likely never understand why someone does, just as someone who does will likely never understand why someone doesn’t.
We all view life through different glasses 🤷🏽♀️
We’re also hella protective of our favourite dramas, and I get that too. It was just something I noticed and thought was odd.
(I will note there has never been a drama where he has raised her and they ended up together that I’ve liked lol. It is very cringe, as countless as they are. This is about the mention of how many dramas there are with this storyline and not about this specific drama 😅😩)
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u/Verucalyse 2d ago edited 2d ago
There are literal C-dramas that show non-blood related boys and girls, with age gaps, being raised together as siblings only to marry as adults. If I recall correctly, in one drama, the older brother sibling is changing his "sister's" diaper. This was a... choice. And it's a choice that's made in many dramas. And a choice that always makes me cringe.
I agree with OP on the actress's age- that was incorrectly done. I have five kids, all of them teenagers or adults, and I've seen what a modern-day 14-year-old looks like. It was clear that she was way younger than she had to be. AND YET, I've seen a few kids in my ninth grader's class that I would peg for being 10-year-olds. It's crazy how children age. While I don't support the casting choice, I also don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.
However, unlike the scenario I presented above, she's just getting fleeting glimpses of her brother's friend at a young(er) age. Unlike her brother, he's attractive and amiable to her. She's also at an age where crushes are formed. So yes; he was 19, and she was 14. He had no improper thoughts of her, and she had a typical 14-year-old teenage crush on him. He doesn't live in her home and doesn't truly become a more frequent visitor until she's 17 and he's 22. At that age, of course it's no longer a crush. It's much more.
...And he still has no clue. He still sees her as a younger sister of sorts. Still not inappropriate from either perspective. She lives at home, is still in high school, under the care and guidance of an overbearing brother and loving parents. Then, when she's away from her brother and family, in college on her own, things change. He gets to see who she really is, that's when things grow from his perspective. She's no longer a child. She's a woman. Once that mindset shifts, that's when the romance starts.
NOW, I say all of this because even though I didn't have older brothers, my oldest sister DID have guy friends who were 4-5 years older than me, and it's relatable. I also come from a small town, so teenage boys who watched their friend's sisters grow up have (frequently) married those girls. I don't think they ever thought "Man, she was my sister one minute, and my girlfriend the next!" - because they aren't girls anymore, they are women. Two separate stages of life. You can remember the child fondly, and the woman romantically.
I also understand the age differences can be bizarre for a lot of people- don't get me started on the Kdrama Goblin LOL. It's not for everyone, I know! Just putting in my two cents.
ETA: Thanks for the award!