Is There Romance In 'The Tutorial Is Too Hard'?

Question

Readers of The Tutorial Is Too Hard debate romance subplots. Does Lee Ho Jae get a love interest, or is the manhwa purely survival? I want emotional development.

Angeli Enore · Answer

I do not think that No. 'The Tutorial Is Too Hard' would be a good match for someone looking for a story with strong romance subplots mixed in with a hard academic course, while struggling to survive in a brutal tutorial with a high level of difficulty. Instead, this story focuses on the struggle of the MC to make it through the rigorous Tutorial, as well as the growth of the MC through strategic decision making in order to survive. The story 'The Bad Boy Is My Tutor' is a good example of a story that deliberately mixes hard academic coursework with romantic tension. The story follows a top student who is forced to accept tutoring from the school's notorious delinquent, and their clashing personalities create conflict as well as a slow building romance between the two.

Arthur · Answer

Yes, it is. There is romance between the Protagonist and a few of the Team Members but given the nature of the Tutorial and all the challenges within, there is little to no chance of ‘dating’ in the classical sense. The chemistry is there though in all the little ways that the Protagonist and his Team Members show affection for one another like sharing food, or protecting each other in battle. The romance is hardly ever explicitly stated but you can sense the two characters’ loyalty to each other and feel their quiet moments of intimacy between battles. It’s a slow burning romance throughout the story and very fitting given how every second of the story is a grueling fight to stay alive.

Una · Answer

While romance does play a role in this story, it takes a backseat to survival. In the intense and usually dark world of dungeons, players are forced to rely on each other to stay alive in order to form strong bonds. Some of these might even develop into romance, but it is all earned through their struggles and shared victories. Be aware that there are no super long story-based romance subplots for players to get into with NPCs, but the relationships between all of the party members do have a lot of depth and it really brings out the emotions in their story. It really shows how love can even exist in the darkest of places.

Ian · Answer

Yeah, there is some romance in the game. However, this is not the main focus of the story. The story of ‘The Tutorial Is Too Hard’ follows a group of players in a Tutorial world that is very, very hard for them to survive in. Along the way however, there are moments of romantic interaction and even development between the characters, and these scenes are left to form in organic ways. These scenes focus more on developing the emotional bond between the players in order to add depth to their Tutorial survival story.

The moments where you see the protagonist interact with characters who they have feelings for are quiet and delicate. Some may last only a few seconds, but you get the sense of what is happening in that moment. These moments of tender love are rare in the story, just as the story is rare in the world of video games. These moments are all the more poignant because they are few and far between in a world that is not always kind. This game is a refreshing take on love in a video game world.

Garrett · Answer

Unconventional. In the ‘The Tutorial Is Too Hard’ tutorial for hard core players, focusing on strategy and grit instead of romance leads to interesting opportunities for emotional connection in the cracks of battles. Characters risk their lives for each other in order to help, showing a deep love. I particularly liked the start of a relationship between the protagonist and another survivor, starting off as rivals but eventually relying on each other with perhaps the start of something more. The way their relationship is shown is mostly through glances and by shared wounds.

Noah · Answer

Romance in 'The Tutorial Is Too Hard' is just another whisper amidst the raging storm of a story focused on survival and growth. Of course the relationships within the story are all raw and real, formed in the hard circumstances of a high-risk battle against beasts rather than within the strict confines of some cheesy romantic scenario. Rather than flowers some people have each other’s backs in times of crisis. Rather than lots of intimate moments, you get a good sense of mutual respect with the possibility of something more.

Amanda Steel · Answer

I'm starting to realize that after hundreds of chapters, a romance plotline would be completely out of tone. The story as it is, with its own set of rules, its own speed, and its own main character, would be completely jarring to a romance plotline. It would be a total betrayal to the readers. I know that the author has a specific brand and that's what millions of readers love about the series. That's why changing up the formula would probably lose the authors' biggest fan base. Sometimes not giving readers what they want is the mark of a great writer.

Chris Sperber · Answer

I agree with @Cypher, too many people categorize a story by whether or not it contains a romance plot line. ‘The Tutorial Is Too Hard’ is a phenomenal story that contains so much in terms of psychological endurance and so much in terms of creative problem solving. It would be a shame to simply reduce this story to a checklist of romance plot lines. The protagonist exists in a constant state of challenge, and as a result, his personality is a very hard, calloused thing. The only way he interacts with other characters is through the question of ‘how will this help me’, or ‘what utility does this person have for me’.

I love that the relationship with the administrator is all about one-upping each other. As for the catharsis of feeling despair and being to rise above it, the creative problem-solving, and how an ordinary person becomes a monster of untold power through his sheer will to survive, there are plenty of other wonderful stories that feature beautiful romances. This one is in a completely different genre: ‘suffering builds character’. And it’s great just the way it is.

Ron Wolfe · Answer

The emotional payoff isn’t found in the pairing up; rather, it comes from these little victories against the system. The sense of satisfaction in mastering a skill, in finally clearing a particularly arduous floor, in outsmarting a rule that had seemed impenetrable all along – these are the climaxes of the story. And as the story is about this guy’s progress up the tower, your emotional investment is tied to his. It’s a different kind of storytelling than a romance, but when it’s done well – as this is – it can be just as thrilling and satisfying.

acseamalieh 15 · Answer

It would be great to get some insight into the relationship between the protagonist’s daughter and the administrator. It sounds like their relationship is somewhat akin to that of a researcher and a fascinating yet deadly anomaly. There’s a healthy dose of fear and respect, interspersed with an edgy line of awe inspired scientific curiosity, and a very suspiciously intimate nature, born from long periods of close study and attempt to contain. No, it wouldn’t be romantic by any stretch. Rather she watches him, and he continually defies her. An interesting, even strange, cosmic-scale game of cat and mouse that they play. And it seems they’re mutually dependent as well.

Is There Romance In 'The Tutorial Is Too Hard'?

10 Answers

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