Flower And Love

My take on the PreservationAux crew from The Murderbot Diaries.

From left to right, top row: Ratthi, Pin-Lee, Gurathin; middle row: Arada, Mensah, Overse; bottom row: Bharadwaj, Volescu, and SecUnit (image not found!)

Misdirection, let’s try that. “I would have either disposed of the body so it was never found, or made it look like an accident.”

I probably should have just stopped talking, but I didn’t want to hurt Amena’s feelings.

With a premise like “bromance as you’ve never seen it”, I expected another bout of problematic queerbaiting. To my pleasant surprise, I got a character that openly expresses attraction to both sexes, instead. He is unabashed in his appreciation of both Bong Soon and Gook Doo, admitting his attraction freely. If it isn’t clear, I’ll say it outright: I choose to read the flirtatious overtones as Min Hyuk being bisexual. Representation is so important, and Min Hyuk being bisexual would be an amazing step in the right direction for kdramas.

But I’ve seen that scene where he admits to being attracted to Gook Doo as being called Min Hyuk teasing Bong Soon about the rumors of his sexuality. I’ve seen it asserted that he’s not bisexual, but he’s just “having a bit of fun with her” or “he’s playing into his image and making fun of society”. If he is, then he’s problematic. Sexuality is not a joke. It isn’t something you can make light of, and then call “social commentary”. Given that homophobia and biphobia is a huge problem, making mockery of it is unacceptable. And then if it’s applauded? I don’t even know what I can say to that. Should this be what the canon supports, then this drama would become problematic. If this is the canon pushed by the audience, then the audience is problematic.  

His being bisexual wouldn’t make his (eventual) relationship with Bong Soon any less valid. To suggest so would be biphobic. Given the nature of this drama, I think it would be nice if he really is attracted to both sexes, and the “next level bromance” isn’t queerbaiting. If you don’t want to think he’s bisexual, then fine. I don’t ever claim to push my interpretation of a narrative as the only right one. Believe, interpret as you will. But please, don’t applaud the mockery of sexuality as smart social commentary. 

Little photo story, Trimax Vash meets Tristamp Wolfwood, after which they both go back to their respective partners…