MJ is my favorite character in Hwarang, but the kiss scene was just cruel. It's obvious how Ahro is going to end up with Sun Woo.. However, I can understand his desperation when Ahro was talking, but forcing a kiss wasn't needed. Also, I agree with the fact that you can't compare MJ to Wang So, that's a completely different thing (Read the thread you reblogged, so I had to rant haha)
it’s perfectly fine if you love Sammaekjong!! we’re all entitled to our likes and dislikes and on his own i think Sammaekjong is a very compelling character. there’s just this dissonance that often doesn’t make sense in his interactions with Aro, given that he did grow up at least semi-functionally. he wasn’t abused, and despite growing up away from the palace he has that sense of entitlement we often see in princes.
and it’s understandable that his mounting frustration at his situation (though lbr, he’s nowhere near ready to face down the mushroom gramps squad on his own, let alone govern an entire country already so divided by the golpum system) would elicit that burst of emotion at Aro’s sympathy. but given that she told him to stop before he kissed her and he didn’t respect that, i just can’t support him as a love interest for her. especially given that his rival in her affections is a man who constantly thinks of her needs first.
we can all like what we will! what’s important is viewing the work/characters/pairing with a critical lens and acknowledging the problematic aspects of it. it’s easy to blindly hate and easier still to blanket-statement love. i truly appreciate you loving a character while acknowledging that he’s not perfect and has done wrong. thank you!! <3
(regarding the So = Sammaekjong thing: discourse is at it’s worst when things are boiled down to the empirical. drawing comparisons between characters who’re only slightly similar on the surface is idk…a little annoying? hahaha)