The One

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

"The One" is manhwa that I stopped reading few years ago. I dropped it after few volumes thinking that story is kind of slow. Thanks God I came to my senses :)

Story 8/10
I find this manhwa best point is it's story - even tho it lacks originallity. Story is very well based on real time hardships and life events. Combine that with little bit of shoujo aspects and you get the One. Towards the end the One is becoming more and more realistic and less and less shoujo-like.
I would give 10/10 points if there wasn't an ending. Ending is kind of rushed and even ... tho it explains briefly all the actions of characters it's not what you would expect based on previous chapters.

Art 10/10
Art is absolutley beautifull. You should wait few chapters for mangaka to reach his final design of characters, but after you've reached it than art is absolutley amazing. After all this is manhwa about fashion industry and art is very important for manhwa to be this good.

Character 8/10
Characters are very well developed. Lele Cane is one of best heroines to follow. Why? Because from beggining of the story till the end she is developing. Or you could call that growing up, learning how to face with difficult situations. What I like about her the most is the fact that she doesn't turn back to her "old self". There are many characters in various manga pieces that are showing sign of development but characters suddenly turn back to what they were before... they remain same from beggining towards the end. Lele Cane is totally different than that - she grows from confused kid to a fullfledged persona. Eros and Agnus are also in rang with Lele Cane. But aside from main characters I am kind of dissapointed in supporting ones. There is Lele' s Aunt that's basically the same over entire story, Leo too.

Enjoyment 10/10
10 it is, I will only say that I read entire manhwa in only few days. Brief humor, many wtf moments, and totally unpredictable in various aspects! :) But I wouldn't re-read it so fast, it's kind of read only once manhwa or try again in a few years

Overall 9/10
It's really great manhwa, fun, tense and beautifull. But ending is dissapointing, not because the way it ended but only because it was rushed. Rushed a lot.

This manga is all about fashion, love, failure, success, loss and gains. I think it is unique because it takes some interesting twists and turns that are a bit unexpected. For one thing, the story itself is darker than you would expect in terms of exploring the characters pasts and present. I think that is what makes it a bit unique in comparison to all other fashion and love only type of romance mangas.

The characters develop pretty well throughout the story, there are layers added with each chapter and I like how the relationships develop. It does not start with two people just falling ... in love. In fact, they have time to develop their relationship. There are moments in the story where they are even separated for long periods of time but instead of taking the cliche route where all they do is think about each other in agony, it actually takes a more natural route where it starts small and grows overtime.

At first the ending seems a bit predictable but it also has elements that take you by surprise. I will say though although it wasn't bad, it did seem a bit rushed on some parts. However, it is not to the point where it destroys the overall story.

In principle, it is presented as the story of Lele Cane in her dream of being a model, from there it escalates as more characters are included, becoming a 3-way narration: Lele, Eros and Angus. The evolution of each one, with their frictions, encounters and disagreements. It is a good idea, the execution in general gives us that perspective of fullness in how each thread was approached, my problem is that when being remembered a little more specifically how we got to that point, I notice and notice concessions that were pushed aside at convenience.

The context of the world of fashion is a good example, ... it could well have been any other type of character and it would have fit in anyway, it would not be necessary to make so many changes, for example, if it were music, instead of stylists they would be producers; same achievement, same effect, showing that what is around did not matter as long as the conditions are met. A pity because the first chapters were very centered around these ideas, and then, never explores the cranks around that context, it is a superficial presentation of them, with whom they belong does not go beyond the stereotypes that we generally have associated with them.

There are common elements in how the 3 stories are narrated, and that is that the presence of the Time Skip becomes the norm, not an exception, several times throughout the narration we will have it as the perfect way to skip the mention of how the evolutions of characters. I've never been a fan of this technique and I may only tolerate it once, how much more a couple, but at some point it already contradicts the very idea of being a character development, so it's just a collection of memories.

Regarding how those 3 evolutions were, you notice how they change between those who began went to how they ended, where numerous characters appeared along the way, some better than others, several quite irrelevant, also if I had to enclose everything in the same narrative it would be " overcoming the past ”, it just doesn't fit with Lele. Of course, it is not necessary that everything was involved at millimeter levels, plus the idea of simply locking the protagonist to personal growth, leaves her at a disadvantage compared to the other 2, even worse when they do have an authentic thematic link that they carry at least decently. It is true, it supports one of those other 2 and has a certain effect on more characters, a pity that by itself it has nothing to say to us, beyond "waiting is worth it."

Angus and Eros lived a tug of war that from a certain moment takes the absolute leading role in the story, actually quite interesting that it could have been the main nucleus. However, in development it also has concessions, such as amnesias, erased memories, separate spaces. But it is not worth emphasizing what is wrong, when I read it I did not appreciate it, it is in perspective where I find that they are not mere nonsense, there is authentically something, a narrative thread with teachings, changes, developments.

Eros and Lele's relationship can be quite wrong for some, however, it is not an area in which I perform well, I prefer to leave that conversation for other people. For my part, I can say that, although most of the secondary ones are more comical than functional, among the latter, once space is dedicated to them so that they develop as they want is where I enjoyed the most, small moments that gave respite to the accumulation of emotions.

Artistically I have been compliant, I regret that I never taken advantage of the ideology of fashion to highlight the visual presentation, it does not go beyond the bar of being what it should represent. The covers and background art are where their level is best noticed, several quite detailed and with exotic costumes. Likewise, the presentation, rhythm and flow of the narration do not dazzle me. Never overwhelm, but not stand out.

In The One there are flashes of an intention, not a continuous presence on it, the general feeling can become positive, unfortunately it is when you weigh how they reached that point that the illusion is cracking, I see more fissures in a set that appeared to be good. It has not been sharply disappointing (mainly because at the beginning there was nothing to look forward to) more could have been better, so much better.

Español

En principio es presentada como la historia de Lele Cane en su sueño por ser una modelo, de ahí va escalando mientras más personajes son incluidos, convirtiéndose en una narración en 3 bandas: Lele, Eros y Angus. La evolución de cada uno, con sus roces, encuentros y desencuentros. Es una idea buena, la ejecución en general nos brinda esa perspectiva de plenitud en como cada línea fue abordada, mi problema es que al ser recordada un poco más en especifico el modo en que llegamos a ese punto, noto y noto concesiones que fueron apartadas a conveniencia.

El contexto del mundo de la moda es un buen ejemplo, bien podría haber sido cualquier otro tipo de personajes e igual hubiese encajado, no sería necesario realizar tantos cambios, por ejemplo, si fuera la música, en vez de estilistas serían productores; mismo logro, mismo efecto, demostrando que lo del alrededor daba igual mientras cumpla las condiciones. Una lástima porque los primeros capítulos estaban muy centrados alrededor de estas ideas, y nunca explora las manivelas alrededor de ese contexto, es una presentación superficial de los mismos, con quienes son pertenecientes no pasan de los estereotipos que les tenemos generalmente asociados.

Hay elementos comunes en como son narradas las 3 historias, y es que la presencia del Time Skip pasa a ser norma no excepción, varias veces a lo largo de la narración lo tendremos como la perfecta forma de saltar la mención de como ocurrieron las evoluciones de personajes. Nunca he sido fanático de esta técnica y puede que la tolerará sólo una vez, cuánto más un par, pero en cierto punto ya contradice la misma idea de ser un desarrollo de personajes, así sólo es una colección de recuerdos.

Respecto al como fueron esas 3 evoluciones, si que se nota como cambian entre quienes fueron al como terminaron, donde numerosos personajes aparecieron en el camino, algunos mejores que otros, varios bastante irrelevantes, además si tuviera que encerrarlo todo en una misma narrativa sería “la superación del pasado”, sólo que no encaja con Lele. Claro, no es necesario que todo estuviera involucrado a niveles milimétricos, más la idea de sencillamente encerrar la protagonista a crecimiento personal, le deja en desventaja frente a los otros 2, peor aún cuando ellos si tienen una autentica vinculación temática que llevan al menos decentemente. Es cierto, sirve de apoyo en uno de esos otros 2 y ejerce cierto efecto en más personajes, lástima que por sí sola no tenga nada que decirnos, más allá de “esperar vale la pena”.

Angus y Eros vivieron un tira y afloja que desde cierto momento toma el protagonismo absoluto de la historia, en realidad bastante interesante que podría haber sido el núcleo principal. Sin embargo, en el desarrollo también tiene concesiones, como amnesias, recuerdos borrados, espacios separados. Más no vale la pena recalcar lo equivocado, cuando lo leía no le apreciaba, es en perspectiva donde encuentro que no son meros despropósitos, hay auténticamente algo, un hilo narrativo con enseñanzas, cambios, desarrollos.

La relación de Eros y Lele puede ser bastante equivocada para algunos, sin embargo, no es un área en que me desempeñe correctamente, prefiero dejar esa conversación para otras personas. De mi parte puedo decir que, si bien la mayoría de los secundarios son más cómicos que funcionales, entre estos últimos, una vez se les dedica espacio para que se desenvuelvan como quieran es donde más disfrutaba, pequeños momentos, que daban respiro al cúmulo de emociones.

Artísticamente me ha sido cumplidor, lamento que nunca hubiera aprovechado el ideario de la moda para remarcar la presentación visual, no traspasa la barra de ser lo que debería representar. Las portadas y el arte de fondos son donde mejor se nota su nivel, varias bastante detalladas y con trajes exóticos. Así mismo la presentación, ritmo y flujo de la narración no me encandila. Nunca abrume, más no destacada.

En The One notó son destellos de una intención, no una presencia continua sobre el mismo, la sensación general puede llegar a ser positiva, desgraciadamente es cuándo se sopesa como llegaron a ese punto que se va resquebrajando la ilusión, veo más fisuras en un conjunto que aparentaba ser bueno. No ha sido tajantemente decepcionante (principalmente porque al comienzo no había nada por lo que esperar) más podría haber sido mejor, tanto, tanto mejor.