I'm in Love with the Villainess

I have two significant gripes with I’m in Love with the Villainess, which ultimately hold me back from giving it a better rating than 3 stars. Firstly, I'm not a fan of romantic comedies built on the premise of one character relentlessly pursuing another who isn't exactly enthusiastic about it at first but eventually caves in or realizes they have feelings for the pursuer. I've experienced this dynamic from both sides, and neither memory is particularly fond. Back when I was sixteen, I found myself crazily chasing after a girl — I look back now and cringe at how annoying I must have been. Later in life, I had someone relentlessly pursue me, bombarding me with dozens of text messages daily and showing up at my workplace with romantic confessions, despite my lack of interest. Simply put, this approach makes me uncomfortable, and unfortunately, it's a significant aspect of the series, relied upon for a good portion of its humor. The narrative suggests that rejecting someone outright isn't fair because you never know how you'd feel if you were in their shoes. Personally, I believe in honesty and firmly turning someone down if I'm not interested, as it allows them to move on and find someone who is right for them. On the other hand, maybe this is why the persistent heroine eventually triumphs, unlike Jeoffrey. The second issue I had was with the unfortunate subplot involving the love between a maid and her brother. While small, it was unpleasant, positioning incest as a form of tragic forbidden love. While the series may suggest sympathy for the siblings, I vehemently disagree with that notion. As for the question, "Jeoffrey, what do you have against incest?" Well, for one, I have siblings myself, which should suffice as an explanation — most people in similar situations would understand. Secondly, I paid attention in biology class, learning about the genetic implications of incest. Thirdly, history lessons taught me about the consequences of incest for some noble families. And fourthly, I'm not from Alabama... But enough about what didn't sit well with me; let's focus on the positives. I appreciated how the series portrays love, no hiding or hints, the main heroine proudly and openly embraces it. The energy and pace of the series were also commendable. Furthermore, the concept of disregarding the main paths within a visual novel and forging your own way, with a villainess, is both entertaining and original. If the dynamic between the main characters had been portrayed differently to be less intrusive, and if a certain storyline had been omitted, I might have rated it higher — maybe even significantly higher. But as it stands, it's a 6/10 for me. (12/19/2023)