haitangkitty

It's been a week since Painter of the Night finished. It was the first bl manwha I read and introduced me to the world of manwha. Although I've found some really great manwha that I enjoy (ENNEAD specifically) there are no other stories that can fully compare to the brilliance of Potn. It's top notch in art, characterization and storyline.

Some things I really loved about Potn:

- The art style! I love how candle lights and shadows show in the character's faces, it makes a very intimate feeling. Other thing is the facial experessions that are so good I haven't found another manwha or manga that does it so well.
- Seungho's character arc. I love how he changes for Nakyum. Although he could be classified at least in the beginning as a stereotypical problematic seme, I actually love how his character isn't just an asshole but an insane person who lives and fucks out of spite. His attachment to Nakyum is what I also love, he is very possessive over him which is a trope I love.
- Dealing with homophobia. Both Nakyum and Seungho have suffered homophobia from their father figures. For Seungho specifically, it is the reason why he is so traumatized and insane. Sexual freedom is actually at the heart of this story which I really love and it makes the story realistic although it is a historical drama. This is why I think the smut also plays an important part in the story. Sex is forbidden for them but regardless they enjoy each other's bodies and fall in love. They are faced with many enemies in the story but the final ones are their father figures they have to defeat in order to live with each other.
- Master-peasant dynamic. I love romance that explores characters with different backgrounds that fall in love. In Potn we have class difference. It plays a more important part in the beginning but as the characters fall in love their differences don't matter as much as the environment that tries to rip them apart. It has the us against others type of dynamic I love. Again and again throughout the story people try to sabotage and murder them but luckily in the end Seungho and Nakyum end up happily together despite all the resistance towards their relationship they faced. A love worthy to fight for! Love that changes!