Man Falls for Slut-Shaming, Virgin Best Friend
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Review
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Warning:
There will be spoilers for the manhwa series Only Virgins Left Alive.
Content Warning: There may be references to gossiping, xenophobia, slut-shaming, violence, manipulation, and vandalism, as they do appear in the manhwa.
Synopsis:
Gyutae is from France and has recently transferred to a high school in Korea. Thankfully, he does speak the language, but it’s still all new and awkward. But then Gyutae meets Seok. Instantly, he is in love. There’s no explaining it. Gyutae just knows they are meant to be together, and though he isn’t sure what Seok’s orientation is, Seok has made one thing clear:
Anyone who has anything other than a completely platonic relationship until they are married might as well just go and die.
Unfortunately for Gyutae, he has had a girlfriend. That, in and of itself, isn’t bad, but he kissed her, making him one of the people Seok hates. Thankfully, all of Gyutae’s history is back in France, so all he has to do is agree with Seok’s extreme views, and they have forged a lifelong friendship. Years later, everything has worked in Gyutae’s favor, as now the pair are living together through college. He wants more, sure, but being friends is better than nothing.
Until Gyutae sees Seok being gifted a ring by another man, that is.
Review:
The art in this sketchy, inconsistent, rough, and I love it. This is meant to be a comedy, and I think the art is perfect for the story’s tone, which matters far more to me than the art’s quality. It gives everything a very silly and lighthearted quality, and that is just what this needs. If you are an art snob like me, you may not like this. But I promise you, you will be missing out if you let the art deter you.
But let’s talk about why I think the overall story transcends the art style. There are many BL manhwa that describe themselves as comedies, only to fall short on that front (the successes that come to mind are The Devil’s Temptation, Full Volume, and My X Report, all favorites of mine). I’m not going to pretend this is the most hilarious title out there, but it is actually funny, and I think that is plenty to call a comedy successful. It has some hilarious meme-y panels, especially from Gyutae, that gave me a little giggle, and that was enough for me.
But what I really like is the dynamic between Gyutae and Seok. Seok embodies a lot of what I love to see in bottoms. He is a bit of a bully, and bitches and complains like a good little tsundere. But unlike my favorite tsundere bottom of all time, Hyesung, he is smart. He tells Gyutae that he hates men who aren’t virgins, so if Gyutae happened to like him back, Gyutae would be less likely to go after other people. Is it a completely regressive and silly lie? Yes. Is it a smart way to manipulate the man you like into keeping himself pure all for you? Also yes. Seok is super unlikable as a partner, and, admittedly, in the “France arc,” he almost crosses that line for me. He’s an ass, and he’s a shitty partner, but I like that.
Like I said, though, there is what I am calling the “France arc”. With this being only 16 episodes long, the main couple gets together really quickly. It doesn’t feel all that much like a whirlwind because we get their past and friendship established immediately, which I like. I actually think it could’ve ended much sooner than it did, and would’ve been more satisfactory. When Gyutae and Seok travel to France, more of Seok’s worst qualities come forth to the point where more time is spent with him being pissed and breaking shit than them actually enjoying each other. I will say, I like that this section explores how bottoms may not find sex pleasurable all the time, but beyond that, it does nothing to make me like Seok any more – and if anything, it just makes him worse. Cutting this part out would’ve helped more than it ever would’ve hurt, in my opinion.
Results:
The premise of this is super silly, and our bottom is going to be a major point of contention for most people, but I ultimately liked it. As short as it is, it is a super cheap read, and that makes it even better. I am shocked when I wish short stories were even shorter, so color me shocked on this one, but also pretty satisfied. It’s not perfect, but it’s fun, and sometimes that’s enough.
Have you read Only Virgins Left Alive? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!
