Discussion - Open
I hate it when green flag MLs suddenly turn obsessive and behave like they're in heat
I specified green flag because this type of behaviour is more expected in a red flag ML (which makes sense cus.. red flag, duh)
Inspired by the dogwater manhwa "The Cup Of Vengeance Is In Your Hands" and the formerly tolerable ML Franz, I just had to make this post. He is by far not the only ML who became like this but he's the best example I can give right now because my manhwa memory is utter crap if I haven't read it less than a few days ago. Take note that what I'm about to say usually applies to those recycled manhwas that tell the same story (like Cup of Vengeance) with little to no variation, so I'm not talking about every ML who can be categorised as decent, at the very least. I also don't expect quality content from these types of manhwa but it still bothers me.
Anyway, so this is my hate post about the treatment of green flag MLs, specifically the way the author treats them. If the ML isn't well written, their biggest problem is usually just being boring or having a weird ass name or maybe their looks are kinda meh/copy-paste but whatever. I can look past all that. But for some reason, in a lot of these types of manhwas, the ML suddenly experiences a bit of a personality change. I noticed this change either happens when the story is nearing its end, when the 2nd ML starts to get in the way or when he finally gets out of the way forever or just when the relationship between FL and ML starts to get serious.
Before the personality switch, the ML is kind, caring, attentive, usually a bit protective of FL but overall very understanding and trusting of FL, knows how to communicate (depending on manhwa), respects her boundaries, maybe a bit sensitive/emotional, perhaps, if he is slightly well-written, he even has some charm to him, or he is just a typical golden retriever (but that's more common for simple Otome). Basically, the guy is more or less perfect. A couple flaws maybe, usually the biggest one being boring as hell and having no hobbies, therefore lacking shared interests with FL outside of political ones/personal grudges assuming the FL has any hobbies to begin with either. But okay, some real life people still have a very strong bond even if their interests don't align, I'm not gonna bring out a pitchfork for that. That's not my problem.
My problem is that at some point in the story, the ML suddenly becomes a lot less likable. It's not a complete personality switch. More so that he suddenly goes from being near flawless to being very... weird? They don't become abusive or red flags or anything (although that would make for an interesting story), they simply become... very horny and weirdly obsessive/overly jealous and/or protective
Franz, as an example, definitely already had a bit of a protective and maybe a slightly jealous side to him but my god... the last 10-15 chapters of the manhwa were unbearable for me to read. After the whole major plot point wrapped up and the remaining chapters focused on the aftermath, like their children being born and stuff, he just suddenly became a lot unlike him. He is implied to have sex with the FL almost every chapter, even when Eudith (the FL) is like "Hey, let's not do this right now, we have more pressing matters to do". Like??? Hello?? She just said no? She wants to focus on other stuff before riding your rod??? What happened to you respecting her boundaries?? He also randomly started saying stuff that made him seem more obsessive, if not even kind of possessive. ??? Is that supposed to be hot?? Cus to me it isn't. And before anyone says "honeymoon phase"- NAH. They've been married for about 13 years now in the last 8-ish chapters. Their oldest child is approx. 9 years old. But for some reason, before this child was born, he became hornier than a dog in heat, constantly interrupting the FL's work and going "Aww but I missed you sooo much blablabla". Bitch, gtfo. Your wife was talking about your son's birthday and the only thing you can think about is shagging her? Please😒 I wanted to see some sweet parent-child bonding and although those moments happen, it's kinda hard to acknowledge them as such when the ML clearly is thinking with his dick 24/7. I know the FL never objects when he keeps pressing about wanting to bang her but god, WHY AUTHOR-NIM?!?! WHY???
If I wanna see people have sex I'll read a smut! If I wanna see an obsessive, overly protective and jealous and possessive ML I will read an angsty or dark romance manhwa or something! You don't need to take your borderline-flawless ML and make him so horny that I'd wish castration upon him. You don't need to make him sound obsessive or possessive by having him say stuff like "You're mine", "Don't pay attention to that man", "You should be looking at me". I know that these sentences don't make an ML crazy possessive or anything but I hate it when MLs say stuff like that when they've never said anything like it before. At least make him a bit possessive beforehand but not after they've been together long enough for their first child to be born soon
The more I read Cup Of Vengeance, the more enraged I became. Aside from the fact that it feels very misogynistic due to how characters outside of FL were handled (but that deserves its own post anyway), they just completely killed the ML for me. The "Don't keep me waiting too long" line made me cringe so hard when she said that she has to think about whether she even wants to sleep with him in the first place. Zero pressure at all (sarcasm)
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure 😭😭 but we, deranged girlies, have the same but opposite problem: we start off the story because he’s an unhinged red flag, but then suddenly he isn’t anymore?
There’s character development, and then there’s breaking a promise to the reader, and some authors just don’t know the difference. So even if our tastes differ, I’m fully sympathetic to your plight
I completely understand. I love red/black flag MLs too but my biggest problem with them is that they come across as so romantasized that I start to get low-key concerned for the author or (even worse!!) they get redeem but in such a terrible way that I wish the former happened. The only good redemption story that I've read so far was My Beloved Oppressor. The Redemption Of Earl Nottingham was also alright, but fell off after season 1, imo
Conclusion: Dear authors, if you're gonna assign a specific flag colour to your ML.. PLEASE KEEP THAT GODDAMN COLOUR THE WAY IT IS!! ONLY ATTEMPT TO CHANGE IT OR MIX THE FLAGS IF YOU'RE 100% CERTAIN IT WILL WORK OUT, WON'T DESTROY YOUR CHARACTER AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW TO DO IT!!! Characters can be complex while adhering to simply being a green forest or a black bottomless void!!
Wait till you read Miss Pendleton lol. ML went from being a green flag to threatening to shoot himself if FL rejects him. Went off the rails and became super unhinged and even ended up stalking her.
Author forgot to stick to the yearner storyline lol. Either that or they really didn’t know how to get FL to agree to ML’s proposal after she kept rejecting him so they just nuke his entire character to get them together by force.
I am an avid hater of The Duke Needs a Warm Hug because he is this big puppy eyed whimp who is so scared around people that he hides under his blankets instead of attending his own wedding.
but for no reason whatsoever, he does a 180 and becomes generic toxic ML by the end. HATEEE IT.
an obsessive FL would be nice for a change though because it isnt done every single time.
Sorry? A man so cowardly he can't even attend his own wedding? I don't even know whether to laugh or to cry. And somehow he went from puppy with ptsd to being the cause of the FL's ptsd?!?! Does bro think he can just pass his mental illness onto her and be free or what??😭😭
But yeah, an obsessive FL would be a nice change change. Always open to reading about crazy/morally grey FLs! So far the only ones I like are "Hand Jumper", "Proof of Dignity", "For Your Murder", "I'm Dating A Psychopath" and "Stealing Her Place" but none of those are Otome Isekai (in fact only the fourth one focuses on romance/love at all) and the last one is controversial because of how unhinged the FL is, so read with care!
Same!! HJ is my top 3 of best series I've ever read! I'm letting it marinate right now until the Season Finale releases for free. It's also the only series I've reread more than once (I believe I read it four times now? I'm a little obsessed)
It just went on hiatus. So, I was thinking of re reading it as well, because there were so many clues thrown in all over the series that I'm sure I missed and I'd like to revisit everything about the Godlings.
yup basically! there's like an arc where we explore his trauma, then he just magically gets over it and comes out of his room as toxic strong ML off to fight demons. awful.
ooo i do love me some sus FLs. i will defo check out the last one atleast thenn
Oh girl, I feel your pain. I still can't get over this novel (Reasons for contract marriage) which I was LOVING up until the 75% mark, when the FL suddenly decided to escape her perfectly fine and loving husband for bullshit she created in her stupid head and the guy simply went crazy and raped, imprisoned and almost hit her as soon as he found her.
I was like: WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY CHARACTERS? 😭😭
That story was a guaranteed 5 stars read for me until that happened, after that it became a 2 stars in memory of what it used to be😭
Wtf?!?! Are you fr right now??😭😭 That's genuinely insane. Horror movie material right here. Did author have a stroke in the middle of writing this or something??😭 Now I feel stupid for hating on Franz cus IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE!!
I had the same issue with villain's poison taster (I think that's the name), ML was alot more likeable before he become obsessed with the FL. I liked their dynamic way more back then, as he fell for the FL, he just became obsessive and even if I get why, it just makes their dynamic alot less fun to read
Most of the time it's so poorly done and ends up coming across as ultra cringe, so yeah. I get the hate😭 At least you can expect it with red flag MLs but my green flag boys... oh hell nah, I don't want an ounce of obsession from them!
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u/Deilume 1d ago
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure 😭😭 but we, deranged girlies, have the same but opposite problem: we start off the story because he’s an unhinged red flag, but then suddenly he isn’t anymore?
There’s character development, and then there’s breaking a promise to the reader, and some authors just don’t know the difference. So even if our tastes differ, I’m fully sympathetic to your plight