I had to make this post after seeing this amazing post because this needs to be said for all new viewers of TDJ.
I can actually confirm that the writer did intend for Yohan and Gaon’s relationship to be gay.
Ji Sung said their relationship was one of “seduction”. At the Devil Judge press-con, he confirmed that his role was that of Mephistopheles (around the 23 min mark but I’m at work and can’t pinpoint rn loL) who “seduces” Gaon who is Faust. I’ve analyzed this in more detail in this post.
Writer Moon Yoo Seok has been very open about his influences in crafting Yohan and Gaon’s relationship being: Beauty and the Beast, Goethe’s Faust, and the movie Let The Right One In .
All these influences are either romantic or homoerotic. All of them.
The writer has also confirmed that Gaon occupies a traditionally female character and feminine gender role. He’s used tropes that we normally only see in heterosexual romances for Yohan and Gaon’s romance. A non-exhaustive list:
living together
snooping through the mysterious house of the man who’s whisked you away
undressing your partner and wound-tending
making him food, refusing let anyone eat unless said man returns
understanding him like no other, being the only one who sees through his facade to the loneliness within
choosing him over everyone else (ep 8 and then end of 15)
trying to die for him (twice)
defending him to the het love/past love, everyone around really
PINING, yearning (Gaon literally looked at the bed in ep 16 and thought back to shirtless Yohan okay)
taking care of each other
being vulnerable before and for each other
oogling him shirtless (both of them did this)
hand holding
DEEP. STARES.
sexy bomb defusal
love triangles (K and Soohyun)
Homosexuality is so taboo in Korea that the closest we’ve gotten to proper rep is the wlw couple from Nevertheless and Kim Seo Hyung’s character from Mine, and even then that’s because men find it easier to see women in love with each other than men being in love. And men finance drama production.
Writer Moon Yooseok (who has 25 years of writing experience) has literally done everything he can to get a queer story out there. Heck he’s even including stuff in the TDJ comic (spanking, anyone?) that wouldn’t fly on TV because he has more freedom there.
Ji Sung and Jinyoung have known this from the start as well (that poster photoshoot), and it’s hard not to know that your character is gay when they’re staring at another for 95% of the show and undressing and oogling each other, or when the ending is 2 minutes of sappy staring. They knew.
The director in episode 8′s bts at 6:04 as Jinyoung and Jisung rehearse Gaon ditching Min Jung Ho: “Gaon’s become cute now that Yohan’s here”.
Jinyoung: nods.
Me: Okay we’re all in agreement clearly.
Rather than new fans being disappointed for it not being gay enough, I hope they can uplift this for what it is: a serious attempt to bring a gorgeous romance onscreen. Writer Moon Yoo Seok really said lawful husbands. He’s been saying it from the beginning.
I have. Something to talk about and its very very VERY important.
We know that last scene of TDJ where its just PEAK yearning but can we PLEASE appreciate the micro-expressions that passed over both Yohan & Gaon's faces when they faced each other DIRECTLY after a MONTH (if im not wrong) of that whole blowing up fiasco + Yohan's arrest before that??????? Because my GOD.
So we see Gaon call Yohan by his Full Government Name™ (which wasn't very wise for a declared dead enemy of the state who is ALSO wanted but we'll let it pass for romanticisms' sake) and look at his face. His face is one of a scared man. He's not hesitant but he is afraid of how Yohan views him after what transpired between them.
In turn, Yohan looks back and well.
He is also somewhat apprehensive. They're both testing each other & the waters they're in. Although Yohan doesn't have a revenge vendetta shackling him down anymore, Gaon, on the other hand, has tremendous stuff to unpack. They're carefully, if not gently, evaluating the distance between them.
And then, Yohan gives a clear sign that he holds nothing against Gaon. An open arm, an open invitation. To join him? Maybe. To decide what to do with them? Perhaps. It's vague but it's also clear that Yohan is done manipulating Gaon & that he has left the ball in Gaon's court.
Then come the positive changes. With Yohan's green signal, Gaon is somewhat relieved but also incredibly guilt-ridden. I think these frames speak for themselves.
The wet smile & the eye crinkles. He is so relieved to be in Yohan's good graces but also just looking at Yohan be his ever glowing self after serving his life's purpose.
Yohan. My dearest Yohan. Look at him. He's equally heart-broken to be seeing Gaon like this, to be leaving him behind but that little nod he does???? Like he's made a decision that he needs to stick with for the betterment of Gaon???? That's what truly gets me. It's so clear the distance between them is hurting him but he also knows that it's necessary to give Gaon space & time, to unravel & to explore things on his own. Perhaps another assumption on his part because who truly knows what Gaon wants except Gaon himself?
Then it's a brief look exchanged. As he turns, giving Gaon one last reassuring smile as he turns and leaves behind one of the most important people to him.
And gaon watches. Look at his micro-expressions here. Look at his breathing. His sagging shoulders. His eyes. His wet smile. His balled hands. His tiny nods.
He also thinks this is necessary but you can so clearly see its taking every bit of nerve & fiber in him to stay rooted to his place & not chase after Yohan. He's DELIBERATELY not taking a single step towards Yohan. He thinks he doesn't deserve to chase after him, that hes content to see Yohan: alive, well and so utterly free. That's all that matters.
I would genuinely like to appreciate both jinyoung and jisung for their acting bcs they NAILED the raw emotions needed for this absolutely stunning yet gut wrenching scene. It's so difficult to convey such complex emotions through such little means yet they did it to PERFECTION. They both gave their characters LIFE. And for that i will always be grateful bcs i dont think anyone else could've done Kang Yohan and Kim Gaon the way they did.
just here to confess that i am The overanalyzer. professionally. personally. academically. lovingly. in every way possible, even
Get to know me!
Thank you for the tag @clawbehavior!! I'm so honored :'DD
1. Origin of username?
Around the time I came up with my username "mayykit," I was getting progressively less comfortable with using my real name on the internet. My previous username was a pun off of my real name, and in wanting to keep the spirit of humor, while using a new nickname I felt comfortable with online (Kit), a friend and I brainstormed for about an hour on what combination of letters could make a good pun with the sound "kit" either in the beginning or the end. At some point, I think I said something in frustration along the lines of - "I just have no idea what to make it..." and my friend went dead quiet before they started laughing. Thus, MayyKit was born.
2. OTPs/ships?
Oooh.
Gahan - kim gaon/kang yohan (the devil judge)
Iwaoi - iwaizumi hajime/oikawa tooru (haikyuu)
Kagehina - kageyama tobio/hinata shouyou (also haikyuu)
Jayvik - jayce/viktor (arcane)
shse - ahn suho/yeon sieun (weak hero class 1)
I've probably got more on the back burner, these are just the most major ones off the top of my head.
3. Favorite color?
Big fan of charcoal grey, or like. Mulberry red. I like most muted colors.
4. Song stuck in my head?
At the minute, it's FXXK IT by Big Bang.
5. Weirdest habit/trait?
For some reason, I get a weird, unbalanced feeling if I take the last step of a staircase with my left foot, so often I'll either count the steps before I go up/down so I can end on the right foot, or I'll take the last two steps together so that my right foot can be the one to finish the stairs. It's something I've done since I was a kid.
6. Hobbies?
I've got a ton of 'em. I've been ice skating for quite a while, so I spend a good amount of time on that; I also play a lot of piano and flute, and I'll occasionally revisit violin (I used to play in grades 5-10). I also like to read (mostly the same few books I've been reading for years but I do like exploring new fanfics), I do a good deal of digital art or traditional drawing in my free time, and I like listening to music as much as I enjoy playing it. I used to creatively write a lot, but I've been simmering in writers' block from the sheer amount of writing I have to do for my classes. I've gotten quite into cooking recently (especially soups), and I think I'm also going to get back into language learning once my workload eases up.
7. If you work, what's your profession?
Student. University. Political science and business degrees. Graduating in ten or so weeks... Aiming for law... (Although I also do some volunteer work in education, ice skating, and arts/entertainment.)
8. If you could have any job?
In an ideal world, I'd love to get into acting. It's the idea of getting to live and experience and explore so many different lives and states of being... and getting paid for it?? Yes please.
9. Something you're good at?
Analyzing things from lots of perspectives. I'm a big analyzer, and I do a lot of it in my work across the board. I also do it a lot for fun. Keeps my brain moving and happy :)
10. Something you hate?
Two-faced behavior. Fake.
11. Something you forget?
Umm... uhh... good question. Better question might be what I don't forget... Hmm... I forget my toothbrush almost every time I travel, if that counts...
12. Your love language?
Sharing food #1. But also, just being interested in each others' interests even if there's no personal connection necessarily. Two individuals with separate lives who just deeply want to share their happiness with one another. Mwah.
13. Favorite movies and TV shows?
There's gonna be some range here. Basically anything Ghibli, A Silent Voice, Big Hero 6, The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, South Park, The Devil Judge, Law School, True Beauty, Weak Hero Class 1 (season 2 is almost out!!!), Twinkling Watermelon, Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Haikyuu, and Revenge Note 2.
14. Favorite food?
My go-to answer lately has been malatang (spicy hot pot), but there's this dish my mom makes at home with beef, tomato, and occasionally egg that is - in my opinion - completely unparalleled in yummyness. I could have that with rice or noodles genuinely any day every day, probably.
15. Favorite animal?
I like cats very much. But also ermines are SO adorable and I'm so pleased to exist in the same universe as them. I would genuinely sob out of joy if I ever got to hold one.
16. What was I like as a child?
Controlled chaos in the form of a goody two shoes. I loved reading and creative writing (and got labeled as "the perfect student" for it) because I could be as unhinged as I wanted, as long as it was on paper and not towards other people.
17. Favorite subject in school?
K-5, I loved math; 6th through middle school, I was a huge fan of history and English; high school, chemistry and physics had my soul. Currently, as a uni student, the ball's pretty split between political science (my major!) and education studies.
18. Least favorite subject?
Biology and computer science. I'm pretty good at bio, I just don't like how memorization-based a lot of it is. But then, compsci is the one subject that my brain simply refuses to process.
19. Best trait?
Thoughtfulness. I tend to approach my tasks and the people around me with a lot of intentionality and consideration, and I'd like to think it's a pretty good trait of mine. It combines my other good traits - analysis with empathy, deep care with rational pathways for it - and does a lot of good in my life.
20. Worst trait?
I can be mentally dramatic, but I'll almost never say it out loud. The dramatism makes me quick to judge, and rather harshly - others and myself alike - but staying mostly silent on those thoughts tends to leave people around me very much in the dark on where I stand. It's also just not good for me since I spiral easily when I do that.
21. If you could change any detail of your life, what would it be?
I just need my wi-fi to stay alive. And consistent.
22. If you could travel in time, who would you want to meet?
My parents when they were young, probably. I wish I knew what they were actually like as people before they became parents.
I had so much fun doing this! Ahhh I've barely interacted with anyone beyond reblogs and the occasional message in Discord but... tagging with absolutely no pressure and so much curiosity!! @coazysdaydream @gayautisticraccoon @rivvszn @uhhhhmanda @gaylilsherlock
I really am a sucker for dual male lead media where they appear as complete opposites only to end up being eachothers foils and somehow also ending up being completely depended on eachother despite of (because of) their differences
Look how many people hate him. I’m pretty damn happy about that 😁😁😁😁😁😁
recently watched the devil judge (2021) for the first time and i truly can’t get enough of this guy. and also: his devil
why is skz hyunjin and chan’s new song “escape” genuinely So the devil judge gahan coded.
like. “by burning myself up i’ll melt your coldness,” “i can’t let you go ‘cause the world’s bout to break,” “i’ll take all this pain, can you promise me to give me all of you everyday?” LIKE. do y’all see that??? hello???
I forgot to say this last time. Baku, Gotak and I, we all know you visit your friend in the hospital and why he's there. But in my opinion it wasn’t your fault.
toxic codependent familial dynamics this. toxic codependent romances that. what about toxic codependent coworkers. i can’t do my job without this guy here or i’ll kill myself.
i will read this now
i cant stand these two - now give me 3 more books about them