I apologise in advance if my ideas are all over the place :(
So, one aspect I don't think isn't being talked about enough is Ben-hwa's route.More specifically, the story behind it and what really makes this character shine. They're the character with the third least voicelines in the entire game AND STILL their story delivers such an important message. Behind the rather freaky first interractions lies a rather disturbing issue, which is actually very common amongst most people. Feelings of inadequacy, and being laughed at and invalidated just for the simple act if existing.
Here's the thing, after the first three (?) interactions with them, they bring up the first meeting with the player. It wasn't a pleasant event for Ben-hwa, because they were laughed at by the player and their "friends" because of their status as a "gag gift". And while most people would say, "Oh but it was just a minor thing in the moment, it couldn't have marked them..." we kind of forget how impactful such a moment can be to even the most confident of people. It's SUPER obvious that Ben-hwa is healthily self confident, but that whole bravado crumbles to dust when the first meeting gets brought up. They lose their cool and even tear up, because even if time has passed since the meeting, the damage had been done, and the events kept grinding their mind to bits. You can't tell me that it had no impact on them, when Ben-hwa THEMSELVES say that their confidence falls in front of the player because they're trying to prove themselves and make things right. They literally beg (or rather desperately ask) the player to tell them, to reassure them that they're not a joke. And how many of us wouldn't have clawed and begged for the same approval had we been in the same situation? Guys, what is being covered in this story is so common, I'm genuinely surprised that so little people empathise with Ben-hwa. It's so so damn common for people of any age to get picked on for literally just existing. If it's their style, interests, likes, opinions or literally anything else, they're still going to be held up as jokes by others. I'm kind of speaking from experience (partially) on this one, and I balled my eyes out when I got to that part of Ben-hwa's story.
Oh, also, BOILING HOT TAKE: Had Ben-hwa been any other object and kept their personality AND story, then I think they would be REALLY popular and loved.
Had Ben-hwa been ANY OTHER OBJECT while keeping their story the same, people would genuinely like them more.
(I don't mind that they embody sex toys, but this aspect of themselves seems to make some people wash them down to just sexually forward and nothing else)
I am genuinely disappointed that they're getting watered down to a sex pest just because of the object that they embody. There are many characters who are very sexually forward or VERY VERY DIRECT in flirting, in this game, and they kind of get praised and loved for this inherit trait (eg: Mac, Betty, Volt...). And I don't wanna hear the "What's wrong with a flirty character in a dating sim?". Nothing is wrong with a flirty character in a dating sim. What is wrong is for fans to pick on one specific flirty/forward character and turn a blind eye to the other similar ones for some reason I cannot conjure in my brain.
Dear readers, please don't berrate fans of any game or piece of media for liking a character or their story. Please try to at least understand a character's writing BEFORE reducing them down to a dominant personality trait or typology. I think that this should be as clear as day, but still: Respect the character's identity.
And to the people who have gone through or who might be going through what was talked about earlier, please stay strong, and know that this too shall pass. Your interests and likes and personality are valid and you're loved for who you are :3
Anyway, I'm sorry for talking y'all's ears off.
gummygunk
origamiaround
germansingergirl
blakekathryn
areudirty
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
