I loathe Cheese in the Trap because of how manipulative the ML was. It wasn't just a cutesy 'oh he's misunderstood and broody'. This man was disturbingly manipulative. They tried to show he had a sad childhood, but honestly, bad childhoods don't justify you being a bad adult. I don't care if the people he manipulated were 'bad people' because the level to which he takes everything is beyond normal. If a guy ever did even an ounce of what he did for the FL for me, I would drop him like a sack of potatoes. I would tell him to never come near me again and if he did, I'd file a restraining order, like that's how disturbing and uncomfortable I found the ML.
The fact that everyone on the show forgave him in the end, including the FL,made it even worse because at no point in the show did he do anything to warrant forgiveness. He doesn't apologise in any way that suggests he regrets everything he did and understood he overreacted. I especially hate that they had the Second ML apologise to him because all he did was say a few hurtful words (which weren't even that bad) and the ML basically ruined the Second ML's life in retaliation. Also, the fact that the ending suggests that the ML and FL might possibly reconnect is dumb and a horrible message. Throughout all of his manipulative actions, the FL continuously forgave him and was like, 'that's just how he is', and it's like NO!! Your standard for how a boyfriend should act is so extremely low that it's worrying.
I know Asian dramas aren't always super progressive (although it's changing and that's so good), but this one was just so misogynistic and ridiculous. I can't believe how popular it is.
Sorry for the rant.