The male mc should always have the best friend/bro

[AnonUnlimited]

Read shonen about power leveling, not harems.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

 

[wresch]

Interesting question. And valid. There was a period not too long ago when most cop movies were buddy films. Two guys argue all the time but eventually appreciate each other. Now? Not so sure.

Let me extend the question. I have been reading what agents are looking for (and after another 40 rejections I know I am not providing it). Two agents specifically asked to see novels where women had friends. Something I hadn't thought about. But it may be the same problem we have with male MCs. People want action (we think), so we don't spend much time developing relationships. Too boring. Are agents asking for the right thing, or do they not know that books need to be fast paced now?

 

[Deleted member 166076]

Considering how popular "Solo Leveling" is right now, even to the point that everything gets compared to it on manga sites, we might be seeing a bit of a change in the publishing scene. The MC never has a solid relationship, just a single potential love interest that is never fully acted on, but he has a random guy who he treats as his younger brother and has regular interactions with. The MC also interacts with a mother, sister, and his shadow tames that are mostly male insects and wizards. Nothing about the series says BL, but relationships between those of the same gender are put front and center.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

because two men can't hug without being called homosexual anymore

Gay!

 

[georgelee5786]

Gay!

Ironic

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Ironic

?‍

 

[RepresentingSilence]

Even I a hyper antisocial hermit have 3 bros that aren't even blood related

 

[CrimsonGenius]

Lack? I can't agree with this statement.

Examples

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Examples

Busy right now, will give you examples tomorrow. Is it ok?

 

[tiaf]

because two men can't hug without being called homosexual anymore

Funnily enough, there are always best friends or best wingwoman in BL/GL.

Hetero stories just can’t write a love interest development good enough that can stand against a best bro/sis relationship.

 

[CrimsonGenius]

Busy right now, will give you examples tomorrow. Is it ok?

Promise?

 

[georgelee5786]

Funnily enough, there are always best friends or best wingwoman in BL/GL.

Hetero stories just can’t write a love interest development good enough that can stand against a best bro/sis relationship.

I think almost everyone would agree that Jane Austin did it much better than modern gl and bl authors did

 

[Sylver]

What about a male MC with a woman best friend, would that be an exception or does it not qualify? Fair enough, my current book doesn't have any male best friends present until the third act.

 

[tiaf]

I think almost everyone would agree that Jane Austin did it much better than modern gl and bl authors did

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I thought you didn’t read BL or GL?

 

[georgelee5786]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I thought you didn’t read BL or GL?

Judging by the cultural impact Jane Austen had, I can deduce she's likely better than the majority of writers that share her genre

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Okay, I stand corrected. After briefly looking through the manga I've read recently, there is definetely a lack of bros in the newer works. The older ones had a lot more friends or bros.

 

[LuoirM]

Hell yeah

 

[tiaf]

Okay, I stand corrected. After briefly looking through the manga I've read recently, there is definetely a lack of bros in the newer works. The older ones had a lot more friends or bros.

It’s a newer phenomenon, right? I remember seeing the comedy-yet-reliable best friend in harem anime more than a decade ago. I feel so old ;-;

Now it’s like male MC can only establish deeper relationships with the opposite gender. A pure friendship dynamic is truly lacking nowadays in all genres.

Considering how popular "Solo Leveling" is right now, even to the point that everything gets compared to it on manga sites, we might be seeing a bit of a change in the publishing scene. The MC never has a solid relationship, just a single potential love interest that is never fully acted on, but he has a random guy who he treats as his younger brother and has regular interactions with. The MC also interacts with a mother, sister, and his shadow tames that are mostly male insects and wizards. Nothing about the series says BL, but relationships between those of the same gender are put front and center.

Wrong. The novel clearly has romantic bond between MC and the S rank chick. I am clearly remembering rolling my eyes at how the once mighty S rank chick was always overshadowed by MC and how bland their romantic development was. It also took ONLY ONE date to kiss and then fade to black. The next chapter continued the next day and everyone was wondering if they did the deed.

Before I dropped the novel, I read the spoilers and they have a kid together. The novel was complete when I dropped. Idk if they changed anything or if the commenters were writing nonsense, but MC did have a romantic relationship.

Also the little brother dynamic or subordinate relationship is not the same as best friend imo. Besties banter and talk without filter, it’s not as rigid as lil bro and subordinate/master/rival.

On that note, I want to point out low ranking soldier became monarch (or smth). His bestie is the best support and the only person who can talk informally when they are alone.

 

[Deleted member 166076]

It’s a newer phenomenon, right? I remember seeing the comedy-yet-reliable best friend in harem anime more than a decade ago. I feel so old ;-;

Now it’s like male MC can only establish deeper relationships with the opposite gender. A pure friendship dynamic is truly lacking nowadays in all genres.

Wrong. The novel clearly has romantic bond between MC and the S rank chick. I am clearly remembering rolling my eyes at how the once mighty S rank chick was always overshadowed by MC and how bland their romantic development was. It also took ONLY ONE date to kiss and then fade to black. The next chapter continued the next day and everyone was wondering if they did the deed.

Before I dropped the novel, I read the spoilers and they have a kid together. The novel was complete when I dropped. Idk if they changed anything or if the commenters were writing nonsense, but MC did have a romantic relationship.

Also the little brother dynamic or subordinate relationship is not the same as best friend imo. Besties banter and talk without filter, it’s not as rigid as lil bro and subordinate/master/rival.

On that note, I want to point out low ranking soldier became monarch (or smth). His bestie is the best support and the only person who can talk informally when they are alone.

Did you not read my post. I very clearly said "just a single potential love interest that is never fully acted on". My comment wasn't even that long and you didn't even bother to fully read it did you? He never gets together with the chick. Even to the end of the series they are never boyfriend & girlfriend or another form of lovers. It kind of just gets teased with her showing up a few times, maybe a single date, and then nothing. The dude who is the CEO's son and who refers to the MC as his bigger brother gets more screen time and legitimacy than that.

For the epilogue this is what the wiki says "After Jinwoo reset the timeline using the Cup of Reincarnation, he made it his priority to re-introduce himself to her. Their relationship would grow from there and they would eventually get married and have a son named Sung Suho." However, that is hardly the main series and is very clearly not a big deal in the main story. Maybe you should read the series if you want to correct people on it instead of basing things off of spoilers from random commenters.