See, Hear, Love – Manhwa Review

See, Hear, Love or also known as Can’t See, Can’t Hear, But Love (보지 못하고 듣지 못하고 사랑해) is a Korean Webcomic by Go Yeong-Hun (영훈고). It revolves around Min, a comic artist, who turns blind, and soon gets into a relationship with Sori, who is deaf.

My opinion on the story

As an artist myself, this was a bit difficult at first. Him suddenly getting blind because of his work, made me quite anxious, not gonna lie. Being blind surely is scary for everyone, but even harder for people, whose work requires them to see. Authors can still easily write after becoming blind, but artists? Drawing without eyes is a bit difficult.

Anyways.

The beginning was good.

I don’t really like reading hetero romance, so I didn’t go in with many expectations, but actually got surprised for the better. Sori’s and Min’s relationship was really healthy and I could truly feel their love for each other. They were happy and actually couple goals.

But then the whole jealousy plot started and it really just got exhausting to read.

It started around chapter 10 and stretched throughout chapter 82, with only there being a character development.

It wasn’t even them. Usually romance stories have love-triangles, that involve the MCs directly, because either one of them can’t let their ex go or whatever, right? This was worse, even. The MCs were just pawns here, pushed around by everyone. Trying to hold on to their love for each other, but their disabilities getting in the way and making it easier for the antagonists to intervene. It really was just the antagonists working together to get what they want, without the MCs even knowing what’s going on. Just pushed around like babies, naive and unable to do anything.

But not quite. Sori was “innocent” throughout the whole story, but Min kept becoming more of a jerk too. He lied so much to her. It was so unfair. She kept working hard to earn money, even going for a modeling career because it would give him enough money for an eye surgery; and what does he do? Lie. Lie about his condition, that he’s gonna die soon. Kept pretending everything’s fine, while she was the one worrying.
He lied about his mother at first too, they overcame that step, and he promised to never lie to her again. … He managed about 2 weeks before lying again.
It’s just sad. I feel so bad for Sori.

I genuinely don’t know how I managed to keep reading.

I’m so tired and energy-deprived.

I’m not even sad, even though this was supposed to be a drama and emotional. I really didn’t care anymore for the characters by the end. I just wanted it to end. And when it finally did, I felt nothing. Empty shell. Just glad it’s over.

Only sad part being is that I hoped for a good story. There aren’t many comics about deaf or blind characters, especially not two disabled MCs. So, of course you’d hope for it to be good, right? Unfortunately, it’s not.
Unless you’re a huge fan of extreme drama and jealous characters, who’d do everything to get what they want, even if it’ll hurt the person they “love”, this might be your next favorite. But I’m not a drama-loving person. It’s fine to some extent – this was too much.

If the book was only from chapter 0 to around 30, I’d probably give it 4-5 stars. As said, I really liked it at the beginning. I teared up lots of times. Some of the early chapters are quite emotional and reflective.
Sadly only gets downhill and the focus shifts to the jealous side characters, who will do anything to force the people they “love” to be with them.
Worst part is they didn’t even get lectured for it. Sure, they didn’t get to be with them in the end, but one of them should actually sit in jail. But does he? No. He’s free as ever and even has a family. So disgusting.

I’ve heard a lot of criticism about the art, but I have to disagree on that.

It might not be very clean and aesthetically pleasant, and there are much better comics, which are much older than this, but it works for the story.
Even with that much drama, it is still a slice of life story. It’s not bad. It might be bad for every other story, and might seem a bit lazy too, but that’s life isn’t it?

I’ve seen lots of people especially criticize the crying. That it’s ugly.
Well, surprise, crying in real life is ugly too. If you want Disney-crying, go watch a Disney movie or read a fantasy story. But this is a slice of life and drama story about hardships.
You think you look pretty when you have a breakdown and cry your soul out? Probably not.
In my opinion, it would’ve been worse and taken away the realistic part, if the author gave them princess-faces during the crying panels. Yes, some of the expressions look ugly, but that’s what makes it good.

Another point I liked, but many disliked for some reason: the comedy.

While it was a lot and sometimes a bit unnecessary maybe, it was a part I’m glad the author kept. With all the extreme drama going on, the comedy brought the story down to earth again, reminding you that it’s slice of life.
And with all the eye-rolls I’ve done, the funny bits made me smile again. Forgot all the tension for a moment and could enjoy at least one or two panels, before it went annoying again.

I also didn’t mind the POVs and backstories from the other characters, even the pets.

It was random, true, but in a good way. You don’t normally get this much screen-time for background characters like this, so it was interesting getting to know them more.
Nice world-building and reminds you once more that everyone goes through hardships, all the time, even though they are not the MC. Sounds obvious, but, admit it, we do keep forgetting that sometimes.

As with every book, there were good and bad parts. For this, the bad parts weigh down more than the good ones, sadly.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

If you only want to read it because of the blind and deaf representation, go ahead. That part is more or less well-made. And the way they communicate is wholesome.

But if you actually want to enjoy the 84 chapters and are hoping for a good story, then don’t. Unless, as said, you’re a drama-fan, this is rather tiresome to digest. The ending isn’t even worth all that and was very predictable anyways. Fairy-tale like.

Read: 29th July 2023
~Arden Skye

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