#1 Correct Astarionmancer

Like I wanna get a couple of games while they're on sale but idk what to get from my list and would love to hear some opinions!

Yeah that's basically what I meant by "is it meant to be cringe on purpose", as in "is this a cartoonishly perfect relationship that's meant to break apart dramatically later for plot reasons?"

Which I assume it is? However, I still think that because it is so poorly set up (imo), it draws attention to the artifice of it, ya know? Like if this is supposed to be genuine and we're meant to be rooting for them, then it's rushed. If it's meant to be a setup for something dramatic to break them up, then it's so blatant it becomes less compelling and more predictable. Either way it's just a really janky, graceless move that feels out of step with how well the story and other relationships are generally portrayed.

But I do think that like. Suselle could have worked if it was explored a bit more? Like I got the impression that Noelle was attracted to Susie because she was all scary and mean, and Susie (in chapter 2 at least) was almost entirely oblivious and thought Noelle was just acting weird.

I expected that to sort of continue? Maybe Noelle would start to doubt her feelings once she realized Susie was actually very kind and not actually a bad girl, and after a period of disappointment she'd actually get to know Susie and fall in love properly? Instead it's "umm I rly like Susie because she's scary. Oh she's actually super nice and sweet? Well now I like her more!!" Like. Ok. Maybe that tracks with Noelle's whole "I like scary things because at the end of the day I'm still safe". Understandable I guess but not very compelling?? It's just a completely straightforward journey in a game that's so tangled up that untangling it is the main reason people are obsessed with it. I can't even call it character development because it's just ... not?

And I thought Susie would be confronted with Noelle's feelings and friendzone her initially because like? What do you mean somebody LIKE LIKES her? Her?? The popular good girl likes her for some reason?? She thought she was just acting weird but now she's dropped a bombshell on her out of nowhere? So Susie would be confused initially but then slowly maybe warm up to the idea? You mean to tell me she still struggled with being seen as the "hero" all the way until chapter 4, but accepted that she could be a romantic interest to the popular girl in, what, two chapters max?

It's like we skipped several steps and we're still expected to find this cute and perfect just because they're both a little awkward about their suddenly mutual crushes?