So you all remember the Twilight hype back in late 2000's and early 2010's? The books and movies exploded in popularity with vampires, werewolves, and a pathetic excuse of a heroine, Bella Swan. Yeah, I wasn't a fan of the books or the movies. I love hearing, reading, and writing stories. Twilight had promise which is why I chose to read the books. The premise of Twilight was very intriguing, but it significantly failed to deliver. However, Cheese in the Trap, a K-Drama series is the story of how Twilight should have gone.
A little background on both series. Twilight a 4 book series and movie saga focusing on the character Bella Swan and her love interests Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. Bella moves from Arizona to live with her father while her mother tours the United States with her stepfather. She has awkward encounters with Edward before finding out he is a vampire and then falling in love with him. However, Edwards leaves and Bella falls in love (though she won't admit it) with Jacob Back, a werewolf. Sounds messy already, right? In the end, Bella becomes pregnant and gives birth to Renesmee, whom Jacob imprints (falls in love) on. Weird! And Gross!
Cheese in the Trap follows heroine, Hong Seol, as she navigates the pressures of college with little money to pay for it. She encounters Yoo Jung and doesn't not like him. This story is aligns with the classic Pride & Prejudice. They hate each other and then they fall in love with each other. Yoo Jung falls in love with her first and then eventually Hong Seol. However, there is a plot twist, because Yoo Jung has a secret. He is not the perfect human-being that everyone thinks he is. He has a rather dark side. As with any K-Drama there is a second male lead, Baek In Ho, who falls in love with the heroine. As we follow Hong Seol, she begins to figure out Yoo Jung's dark side and the decision she has to make to continue the relationship or let it go and run away with Baek In Ho.
If you couldn't tell, I'm definitely team Cheese in the Trap and not team Twilight. The main reason is the heroine of both series. Bella cannot function without Edward. Edward is everything and nothing else really matters. She also has the emotional range of a teaspoon (Harry Potter reference for you). If Bella was stronger in character than she would have not stood for half the stuff Edward and Jacob pulled. Her life would not be defined by another person which is never true happiness. Now Hong Seol does make the same mistake as Bella. She covers or shifts blame for Yoo Jung. Thankfully, Yoo Jung realizes he cannot continue to give into his dark side. He removes himself from the relationship so they both can grow. Hong Seol is flawed heroine, but still better than Bella. Also, Hong Seol made a choice about her love interest. Bella never made a choice between Edward and Jacob. The decision was made for her when Jacob imprinted on her daughter which again gross!!! Decisions make a character and to rob Bella of this choice was just poor storytelling on the author's side.
Whether you loved or hated Twilight, Cheese in the Trap will be a great supplement or substitution. Twilight's plot was just not well thought out where Cheese in the Trap kept you guessing and engaged. If you haven't seen Cheese in the Trap, I challenge to binge it on Netflix or Viki and compare notes. How does it compare to Twilight? Is it truly better? Share your comments with me. Happy Viewing!
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