The Hero-Worshipped Lover: Hilarious Punch Drunk Love

The hero-worshiped lover is not quite the same as the popular lover. Quite often, as with Kurosawa (Cherry Magic) and Yuichi (Only the Ring Finger Knows), the popular lover is initially avoided or disliked by the protagonist until the popular lover shows his weaknesses. Adachi figures out Kurosawa's imperfections before they start dating--most of his later doubts are about Kurosawa's expectations, not Kurosawa's character. He is amused by Kurosawa's flawed romantic possessiveness, not upset by it.

The hero-worshiped lover, on the other hand, is craved by the protagonist because the lover is supposedly wonderful and perfect. 

That is, the pedestal is part of the (initial) attraction/courtship. Although series like My Beautiful Man are able to point out the unfairness of "you must allow me to admire you" demands, many series that run with this archetype appear to remain on the worshiper's side. It's the ultimate fan experience: Isn't it great to get the hero's attention? Okay, now, the fan and hero will easily adjust to real life.

I find it creepy. Agatha Christie was right to present a worshiper (of her husband) as also the murderer of the thing she worships. The worshiper doesn't adjust to reality. The worshiper is entirely disillusioned and strikes out. 

The one major exception in my reading right now is the frank erotica Punch Drunk Love. Seon-woo is a worshiper. What makes the manga, at least Volumes 1 & 2, so funny, is that he isn't worshiping Tae-moon for the reasons Tae-moon suspects.

Tae-moon has been taken advantage of by praise-heavy sycophants in the past. He assumes Seon-woo falls into this category. Ha ha, he sneers. I'll take him to a scuzzy hotel. Then, I'll force him to crawl to me, etc. etc. 

Turns out, Seon-woo is so innocent (in some ways), he is thrilled by the hotel. Turns out, also, Seon-woo likes to be dominated during sex. Turns out, as well, that Seon-woo never imagined that Tae-moon was some sweet, good-humored, gentle soul (as Tae-moon portrays himself at work). He always thought Tae-moon was kind of a jerk. That's what he worships! Tae-moon is hot! He's got a great body! What's the problem?! ("Why would I care about your character?")

In fact, the manga heavily implies that Tae-moon is in greater danger of making Seon-woo out to be more of a good guy than he probably is--or, at least, more of a victim (he assumes that Seon-woo is unaware of his own good looks because Seon-woo was abused, not because he was raised by normal people--see below). 

The miscommunication is based entirely on stories each man has made up about the other. 

The outcome, so far, is Cary Grant-worthy farce.  

Bad eyesight. But they have no cavities!

*Note: I used the British "worshipped" for the title, and the American "worshiped" for the post.