I've just realized something about why I'm enjoying Dangerous Romance so much. It's not the only reason, but it's a big one.
Sailom is one. stubborn. fucker. It's there from the very beginning. At first we're led to see it as a virtue, as he outmaneuvers Kang. But over time, it gets revealed as a critical flaw.
He quits school, not just because of Kang, but because he is going to get the truth out of Saifah and get Saifah out of prison, no matter what it takes. Because he's fucking stubborn! He's going to get the money he needs alone, and fix everything, alone. He is so used to being the smart & capable one, the one responsible for handling things, and sees his problems as his alone. It makes him literally incapable of accepting help from the multitude of people who care for him. You wanna smack him for it - but that is who he is.
Kang is an impulsive asshole. He was at the beginning, and he still is now. He acts on emotion and without thought. He sees what he wants and he goes for it. Something makes him angry and he lashes out. He's been immersed in privilege and emotionally neglected, and his regulation skills suck. And even his closeness with someone like Pimfah can't get that to change. He pushes away the person he loves the most at the absolute worst moment. Because that is who he is.
The only thing that makes an impact, the only way these two break through their flaws, is with each other. Sailom lets himself lean on someone else and accept care. Kang sees how someone else is impacted by his impulsive behavior and learns to put his feelings into a more selfless direction.
Yet these changes don't happen overnight. They take steps backwards. Because that is how real human change works. No one wakes up the next day completely fixed. They have to decide to come back together, and keep working at it. Because a part of them knows they are better when they are together.
And this theme of how the right relationship can help us overcome our deepest flaws extends to the side characters. Guy comes across as assertive, but he fights for other people, not for himself. Nawa reminds him that his dreams are worth fighting for just as hard as he fights to protect his friends. Nawa, on the surface, comes across as cynical and uncaring. The only way he can think of to flirt with his long time crush is to antagonize him. But with Guy, he's able to reveal the vulnerability underneath.
Saifah has had a fairly lackadaisical approach to his (and Sailom's) life. But meeting Name again has given him something to reach for. While Name, who has survived by making himself cold and dangerous, realizes that he wants to be better, and lean towards Saifah's warmth.
I know for some people watching the series, the flaws are too much, and it's too frustrating. But I love it. Real people are flawed. We are all SO flawed. But we can find people in our lives who help make us better. Who encourage our better impulses and call us out on our bullshit.
Maybe in the end it's not all that dangerous. But it's pretty damn important.
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