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BL Review: Anemone theater
Nov. 22nd, 2023 05:33 pm
by Greensea, Zoy,
65 chapters
Lezhin
This was recommended on tumblr and apparently it has the same writer as Pearl Boy!
I had read a lot of manwhas with dark topics so I picked this up in hopes to read something lighthearted and wholesome.
But I was suprised because this story has twists and turns I had not expected from it. I was stressed!
It's set in the 80's and the couple is nerd x high school dropout artist. The manwha deals with homophobia and a secret relationship the couple meets at a secret gay hang out spot (Anemone theater). The main character Sungho has an abusive father who is the reason why the Sungho is so stressed about school and sees it as the most important part of his life. How can a nerd fall in love? Especially with a man! Gay culture is still underground and marginalized in contrast to the prestige of medical school and the good life the Sungho's father wants him to have.
It's a sex first feelings later type of romance. There is also a "i have to have sex to cure my illness" -triope which I love. The love interest, Duk-Gwang, could be cathegorized as a cool seme. He challenges Sungho in his perfectionism and social reclusion to let go and have some fun in life. They are both very independent and stubborn characters.The romance gets better during the story until the very end.
(spoilers below)
The twists in this story deal with the second season which suddenly out of nowhere introduce a love rival and the romance turns into a love triangle. I really hated that part of the plot but it kept me interested in the story I have to admit. TW: In third season the stress was not over. Unfortunately this manwha has a rape scene(although it was left open if it happened really or was it just a dream, either way there is a graphic scene). The main enemy and cause of drama on this story is the strict homophobic father. The last part of the story is an eight year time skip. First I hated the idea but I acually liked how it turned out. Sungho battled to his adulthood with expectations from his father. To be queer is to defy norms. The main character is a comformist and this poses the main dilemma in the story. Luckily, this story had a happy ending but it kept me on the edge until the end. Some of the plot points could have been executed better but regardless I liked the main couple and the overall vibes of the story.
4/5 stars
