[Couple's Classic] Which Nerdy Guy Do You Prefer?

Reporter Lim So-hyun from Daily Newspaper

Couples watch movies together. They reminisce about their dating days while watching romance films and worry about the future while watching parenting films. Horror movies provide a good excuse for some long-awaited physical intimacy, and action films serve as excellent learning materials for the skills of fighting as a couple. Even when watching the same movie, husbands and wives think differently. Since they have different favorite genres, it seems unlikely that they would have a bias towards certain films. -Editor’s Note-

When choosing films with the theme of couple classics, I sometimes discover familiar faces on the screen. Moments when the protagonist looks just like my husband. (Sorry to my husband) But that face is not a muscular hero or a charismatic manly man.

In my house, there are no Marvel heroes, but there are cute nerdy guys hidden in the movies. A husband who doesn’t like sports, heads straight home after work, and always sends photos during drinking sessions to reassure me. He doesn’t have no friends, but when he meets them, he says it drains his energy, and in the end, he prefers to stay close to family. Every time I spot this kind of husband on screen, I think to myself, I should write a piece about my husband’s manual someday!

"The Homebody Husband, Just Like Tim"

Tim asks his father, "What should I use my time travel ability for?" His father replies, "Not for anything great, but to relive an ordinary day once more." After that, Tim feels happiness by repeating ordinary daily routines like commuting every morning and having family dinners in the evening. And Tim tells his wife, "The best decision of my life was meeting you."

Even though he has the unbeatable ability to turn back time, he doesn’t try to save the world or achieve great success with it. Tim simply uses it to return home early, have dinner with his family, and spend more time with the woman he loves. The moments when Tim is happiest in the movie are not during trips or parties, but in the ordinary daily life shared with his wife and children at home.

My husband is the same. He always heads straight home after work, and on weekends, he says, "What should we do today?" instead of "We should go out somewhere!" His family’s day takes priority over his own desires or hobbies, and he laughs, saying that’s what makes him most comfortable. He may seem like a timid homebody, but in reality, that’s a choice to spend more time with family.

I was also impressed by Tim’s proposal to Mary. It was different from the usual romantic comedy proposals. Unlike other male protagonists who propose grandly in Paris, New York, or fancy restaurants, Tim proposes at home, in his bedroom, in his pajamas. In his unique simple and rough way. But Tim’s heartfelt words resonate, "Mary, I just love you. So will you marry me?"

My homebody husband’s proposal also took place in our newlywed home (?). Along with a few letters. It’s a modest proposal that someone might say, "Will that work?" But it suits my husband. And isn’t it a way that fits us as a couple?

"The Hobbyless Husband, Just Like Patterson"

Patterson drives the bus to work at the same time every day. He feels stability in his daily routine and is satisfied with the simple life itself without special events or hobbies. And he says, "Nothing particularly changed today, but I like this daily life."

My husband’s day is always the same. He goes to work, and when he finishes, he comes home. Around this time, I think, "He must be doing this!" and that thought is always right. Thanks to the messages and daily photos he sends during work, my day as a parenting mom is not boring. I once asked my husband if this routine doesn’t bore him. But he said, "I work and come home, where else would I go?"

This routine is possible because my husband has no hobbies. Just like Patterson. Because he has no hobbies, he takes it for granted to come home. My husband, who isn’t good at sports, was always a benchwarmer in soccer. For him, soccer, baseball, and tennis are not hobbies but pains. I once tried to learn golf with my husband before our child was born at my parents' suggestion. But when his scores didn’t improve, we lost interest. For my husband, exercise consists of running on the treadmill at the gym in our apartment for 30 minutes. He finds happiness in a stable routine centered around home and family rather than exercise or going out.

Of course, he has some small hobbies. Just like Patterson writes poetry in a small notebook, my husband enjoys singing. Once a champion in competitions, he now passionately sings with me at a coin karaoke. People with abundant hobbies might think, "What a boring life!" But for my husband, hobbies are everything done together with family. Walks. Exploring delicious restaurants. Driving. Traveling…. Looking at it this way, he’s not someone without hobbies!

"The Friendless Husband, Just Like Theodore"

If it’s Theodore, is he perhaps the protagonist from <Her>? That might be surprising. After all, Theodore spends all day interacting with the AI Samantha. So does that mean my husband is a hikikomori? Not quite. It’s not to the extent of dating an AI, so please don’t misunderstand.

My husband lives most comfortably at home, just like Theodore. External gatherings or parties with friends are not essential options. Even if he has friends, he automatically avoids activities that drain his energy. Just like Theodore, who only interacts with Samantha, my husband doesn’t meet friends often.

To avoid misunderstandings, let me clarify that my husband has many friends. The wedding helper said she had never seen a couple with so many friends before. But after marriage, he doesn’t meet friends often. Instead of going to gatherings, he chooses a cup of coffee and the sound of a baby’s laughter. Thanks to his quiet personality, our home is peaceful, and the time spent with family is special, just like a scene from a movie.

Theodore spends his days at home exchanging messages with Samantha instead of attending friend gatherings or company dinners. He also listens to music alone at home or spends his day talking with Samantha. My husband has said something similar to me. "Friends are nice, but just being with you is the most fun."

"It Feels Like Bragging, But..."

As I write, I find myself liking nerdy guys more, and it feels like a bragging post, making my face hot. But this kind of nerdy guy can be something to brag about because he suits me. Some might prefer E-type personalities, hobby-rich, or network-rich individuals. And they would shout, "What’s there to brag about to write a post!"

Perhaps that’s why there aren’t many male protagonists with these traits. Such male leads might not have (much) masculinity. But what can I do if I like those kinds of male leads? As someone who prefers Spider-Man, who wears shabby clothes and shoots webs, over a hero flying around with a flashy AI Jarvis, I think my nerdy husband is the best.

Even if he seems ordinary on the outside, watching baby smiles every day, staying by my side when I’m struggling, and discovering happiness in the little things of daily life is perhaps more special than any protagonist in a movie.

"Next time... should I write about a Korean movie...?"