[review] Do Not Fight by Yeon Young-Hee
Do Not Fight, otherwise known as Don't Resist, is a six volumes manhwa by Yeon Young-Hee. It's about a married couple whose marriage is only on name, they work in the same company in which he is the CEO and she is a normal employee; however, as the story progresses, they realize that they have fallen in love with one another. I'm a sucker for this type of plot and it's the only reason why I am able to tolerate this manhwa. Despite the decent artstyle (it's first publication is in 2000), the plot flow and characterisation are terrible. Currently 31 chapters have been scanlated by Shoujo Manhwa Scans and I expect 3 more chapters left to conclude the series.
The main characters are Nora and Ralph O'donelle. At the beginning of the series, it is revealed that they have been married for a year but keep separate rooms despite living in the same house. It is clear that neither sides like one another as both consider that the marriage is nothing but a fake marriage. None of the staffs at the company is aware of their status as husband and wife. When Nora finds out that her research has been rejected (or something of that nature), she confronts Ralph. In return, he places her as his private secretary for a company trip to the Bahamas island.
At the Bahamas islands, Nora meets an Indian man known as Asto, and later she meets the Englishman Peter Garien. Both do not know that she is married to Ralph since she flirts with them in front of Ralph. This does not sit well with Ralph who is jealous at seeing his wife smiling at other men. Upon knowing the truth, Asto avoids Nora while Peter choose to remain as friends.
At home, however, the secret of their marriage is still a secret. Eventually it is revealed that Nora is the wife of the company's CEO after Ralph reveals the truth to his secretary. She begins to treat Ralph as a husband but questions her feelings towards him. Ralph, accidentally eavesdropping on her conversation with her friend Lisa, mistaken her love confession for Peter, not knowing that it's a confession for him. Ralph reveals her feelings to Nora the night before.
After receiving a letter from Peter's mother about Peter's suicide, Nora wishes to visit his mother despite Ralph's reluctance over her decision. Believing that she will come back, he allows her to go and visit Peter's mother, not aware that for the next six months, her life takes a different turn when she loses her memories after a plane crash. Peter's mother, Mrs. Garien, manipulates the amnesiac Nora to become her daughter-in-law; the wife of Peter and the mother of their child.
Ralph is depressed over Nora's disappearance. Lisa, unable to take the situation any longer, confronts Ralph and explains the truth about Nora's confession and his misunderstanding. Ralph finally takes the initiative to find the whereabouts of Nora, only to discover that her identity is no longer that of Nora O'Donelle but Nora Garien. Knowing that Mrs. Garien has no intention of letting Nora free from her grasp, Ralph is determine to claim his wife as his, no matter what it takes.
I purposely omitted the part about Kiehr but it is basically about a man who practices black magic and tries to prank Nora by burning her as a witch. I don't even know what's the relevance to the plot besides complicating Nora and Ralph's relationship.
If I read the series when only a few chapters have been released, I would have stopped reading. The reason is simple enough: I can't stand Nora's attitude! At times it seems she's genuinely in love with Ralph but other times I see her happy to flirt with (or confess her feelings to) other guys. Sometimes when they are supposed to argue, it continues with them smiling at one another.
Overall:
# Art is decent but sometimes the characters' facial expression doesn't make sense.
# Characters are OK but not loveable either. For example, when Nora disappears for 6 months, Ralph's father suggests that he should find someone else. Considering that Nora's father and Ralph's father are good friends since the Vietnam war, shouldn't he worry about his friend's daughter? Other examples include Nora's attitude. Ralph's is tolerable -- although if he tries to explain first instead of letting misunderstandings occur, nonsense won't happen.
# Concept of the plot is acceptable but the flow is terrible. I like the plot: arranged marriage between two people that doesn't like one another but eventually find themselves in love despite all complications but there's parts in the story that I feel the plot execution is weak.
I will wait for several more chapters, read it and flush it out from my brain. It's not a bad read, to be honest, but it's worth reading the entire 6 volumes without waiting.
The main characters are Nora and Ralph O'donelle. At the beginning of the series, it is revealed that they have been married for a year but keep separate rooms despite living in the same house. It is clear that neither sides like one another as both consider that the marriage is nothing but a fake marriage. None of the staffs at the company is aware of their status as husband and wife. When Nora finds out that her research has been rejected (or something of that nature), she confronts Ralph. In return, he places her as his private secretary for a company trip to the Bahamas island.
At the Bahamas islands, Nora meets an Indian man known as Asto, and later she meets the Englishman Peter Garien. Both do not know that she is married to Ralph since she flirts with them in front of Ralph. This does not sit well with Ralph who is jealous at seeing his wife smiling at other men. Upon knowing the truth, Asto avoids Nora while Peter choose to remain as friends.
At home, however, the secret of their marriage is still a secret. Eventually it is revealed that Nora is the wife of the company's CEO after Ralph reveals the truth to his secretary. She begins to treat Ralph as a husband but questions her feelings towards him. Ralph, accidentally eavesdropping on her conversation with her friend Lisa, mistaken her love confession for Peter, not knowing that it's a confession for him. Ralph reveals her feelings to Nora the night before.
After receiving a letter from Peter's mother about Peter's suicide, Nora wishes to visit his mother despite Ralph's reluctance over her decision. Believing that she will come back, he allows her to go and visit Peter's mother, not aware that for the next six months, her life takes a different turn when she loses her memories after a plane crash. Peter's mother, Mrs. Garien, manipulates the amnesiac Nora to become her daughter-in-law; the wife of Peter and the mother of their child.
Ralph is depressed over Nora's disappearance. Lisa, unable to take the situation any longer, confronts Ralph and explains the truth about Nora's confession and his misunderstanding. Ralph finally takes the initiative to find the whereabouts of Nora, only to discover that her identity is no longer that of Nora O'Donelle but Nora Garien. Knowing that Mrs. Garien has no intention of letting Nora free from her grasp, Ralph is determine to claim his wife as his, no matter what it takes.
I purposely omitted the part about Kiehr but it is basically about a man who practices black magic and tries to prank Nora by burning her as a witch. I don't even know what's the relevance to the plot besides complicating Nora and Ralph's relationship.
If I read the series when only a few chapters have been released, I would have stopped reading. The reason is simple enough: I can't stand Nora's attitude! At times it seems she's genuinely in love with Ralph but other times I see her happy to flirt with (or confess her feelings to) other guys. Sometimes when they are supposed to argue, it continues with them smiling at one another.
Overall:
# Art is decent but sometimes the characters' facial expression doesn't make sense.
# Characters are OK but not loveable either. For example, when Nora disappears for 6 months, Ralph's father suggests that he should find someone else. Considering that Nora's father and Ralph's father are good friends since the Vietnam war, shouldn't he worry about his friend's daughter? Other examples include Nora's attitude. Ralph's is tolerable -- although if he tries to explain first instead of letting misunderstandings occur, nonsense won't happen.
# Concept of the plot is acceptable but the flow is terrible. I like the plot: arranged marriage between two people that doesn't like one another but eventually find themselves in love despite all complications but there's parts in the story that I feel the plot execution is weak.
I will wait for several more chapters, read it and flush it out from my brain. It's not a bad read, to be honest, but it's worth reading the entire 6 volumes without waiting.