I've finished reading two seasons of Painter of the Night and I still wouldn't classify it as a "romance" story. First off though, I urge you to watch James Somerton's video essay about this manhwa: Sadism of Class. Don't forget to read the comment section too, it's full of interesting points.
Here's a quote from the video:
Eventually, SH does promise not to physically hurt NK anymore. Though this is immediately after threatening to kill him and/or close sister figure. So even though SH does seem like the safest option to NK at that point, alternative options have been systematically blocked, removed, or forbidden. And so when NK turns to SH for protection or comfort, it's because there has been such a dependency fostered that there's simply no other way for him to receive the human needs that he has been starved for.
If you want to read PotN, I ask you to please not be guided by your crotch. Instead, focus on other subtexts e.g. the class dynamics: how rich people continuously exploit the poor with no remorse whatsoever. The poor is just a tool, to be used and discarded whenever the wealthy pleases. I know there's lots of overly graphic sex scenes in this story, but there's hell of a lot more pain and trauma too—especially on NK's part.
[color=red](Spoilers ahead)[/color]
Here's a quick summary of PotN so far: SH (son of a wealthy family) likes NK's erotic drawings and asks NK (who's at the bottom of the social ladder) to paint for him. NK refuses. SH proceeds to kidnap him and repeatedly sexually assaults him later. SH also takes NK's virginity while the poor guy is drunk outta his mind, even though SH hears him say that he's been preserving his virginity for the man he likes. Fast forward SH apparently starts to "favor" NK and we see how this asshat tries to treat him juuuust a little 🤏 bit better than before. Still r*pes and abuses him, though. And completely isolates him from the outside world. Then, when something bad happens, he seeks help and comfort from SH—the very person who caused all of his sufferings to begin with.
Also, remember what SH does to NK after he's taken back to SH's place (because the place where you're constantly abused at should not be called home)? I get headaches whenever I try to remember it.
Don't get me wrong, I totally understand that the story is set in the past and the concept of consent did not exist in that era yet. I also don't mind extremely dark topics or morally flawed characters (take Lemon from The Pale Horse, for example). What I do have a problem with, is when authors try to swipe all kinds of abuse under the rug and frame their story as "romantic love."
How could you possibly think of PotN as a love story instead of a tragedy that it actually is? I've said this before and I'll say it again: [color=red]abusing someone mentally and physically is not love, and it never fucking will be.[/color]
The story is set in the past, but us readers live in modern times. We should know that these two characters shouldn't be in a relationship—not because of their class difference, but because of the horrible things that's been done to NK by SH. When you see those r*pe scenes, the first thing that comes to your mind should be anything but, "They have to end up together. I ship them."
Later, after SH's redemption arc is done, then maybe, maaaaaaybe there's a possibility of the two of them ending up together. But as of right now? No, this isn't romance. SH does not deserve NK. He ought to stay away from NK and get his shit together. Simply saying, "I promise not to frighten you any longer" isn't enough, chief. He's been a total asshole for years, and that attitude isn't gonna go away with a single promise—which inevitably means NK will have to suffer more in the future when (not if) SH's temper gets the best of him.
As a final note, I saw someone in the comment section of James Somerton's video write,
It's a torture porn—a porn I feel tortured by.
And that's exactly how I felt reading the sex scenes between SH and NK. S3 is already out, but I honestly don't know when/if I'm gonna read it. Perhaps my review will change after reading it, but who knows.
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(-15)
