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Okay, but I actually adore the romantic arc in KPop Demon Hunters. There's so little time to tell this story and to focus on all its nuances, but the way the movie gets us there is absolutely amazing and doesn't feel cheap at all. And I think part of the reason why is the fact that Rumi and Jinu never really develop past what technically counts as just a crush.

It doesn't try to convince us that what they shared was something unbeliavably deep or like some kind of soulmate bond. It doesn't act like they were perfect for each other and how their love could make it through everything. It works precisely because it shows the tragedy of how little time they had together and how they never got to explore that on their own terms.

And we can all relate to that feeling of loss of something that could have been more. All of the elements of a great romance are technically there but all these other outside elements are working against them and all we get to see at the end of the day is the unexplored potential.

Rumi and Jinu connected on a very human level, that's true, but the tragedy of their relationship is that it couldn't really become more and what we end up mourning is the potential they had, the fact that they could have been so much more if given a chance.

So often stories try to convince us of these stronger-than-anything romantic arcs, but since a lot of the time romance is the B-plot at best and there's no time to develop it properly, we end up with the characters basically skipping all the stages from attraction and straight to pure and unadulterated love.

KPop Demon Hunters doesn't do that.

Instead, it focuses on the connection that was broken too fast and that's precisely why it resonates with us. It doesn't try to pretend that their romance is something that it isn't and that fact, more than anything else, makes it feel authentic.

I feel like a different ending would have cheapened the story somehow. We got a happy ending, yes, but it doesn't make it all good. It doesn't erase all the pain that we had to go through to get there.

And at the end of the day, it's not some grand love story.

No.

Instead, it's two broken people who connect, who feel attraction and who never get to explore what it means. The romance itself isn't some kind of be-all and end-all kind of thing.

It still matters, though.

Why? Well... because they still got to meet each other. They still got to heal, in their own ways. And that matters, too. Even if it wasn't meant to be the way we wish it was. Sometimes, that's just how it is.

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I was just hit with the image of Jinu going around the demon realm looking for demons who were attractive or could sing and being like “Join my emo k-pop demon boy band”

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Huntrix are out here giving me Totally Spies flashbacks and i absolutely love it 😭💖💖💖

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Hmmmm....

Martherson is an idea of a tragic TwiYor

The McMahons is an idea of a non reveal TwiYor

The Authens is an idea of a happy ending TwiYor

Is this a pattern, Endo? 👀

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All the characters of SxF:

Loid and Yor, must hug, comfort and have hot kissing sessions on a daily basis 🔥

The fandom: Hell, we're still waiting for that!!!!

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@tare-anime

Becky: She's The perfect womam....!!!

Me: You Know, girl!!!!!!

In the end everyone falls to their knees before Yor's perfection!

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In the end everyone falls to their knees before Yor's perfection!

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The Lonely Assassin Who Needs a Hug (and a Barbershop)

Heads up, Spoilers Ahead!!

Alright, alright, let's talk a bit about Hemlock. Honestly, the start of this arc totally blew my mind. Like most of the fandom, I was super eager to see more of Garden as an organization: their objectives, their purpose, and of course, to get to know other members beyond the ones we already had on our radar. And that's exactly where Hemlock steps into the picture. I've got a few things to say about this character. From his very introduction, his vibe struck me as incredibly particular and attention-grabbing, yet gloomy enough to immediately tell you, "this guy is definitely one of their best members."

However, part of his attitude felt almost familiar to me, a pretty… conflicting sensation. And no, I'm not talking about his rivalry with Yor or that blatant disdain he throws her way. I mean that, at first glance, a big part of his demeanor reminded me a lot of Nightfall.

Let's be honest, I think more than a few of us probably thought Hemlock would be some kind of Nightfall parallel: someone who buries their emotions under so many layers of coldness that they end up messing up their relationships and hiding their love (or obsession) as if it were hate and contempt. But… turns out, that wasn't quite the case! Or, well, only partly.

As the fight goes on, we start to grasp that Hemlock isn't the dark, detached, and heartless guy he seems to be in his assassin role. Sure, his stance towards Garden is super committed and pretty realistic: as hired killers, their job is to "serve," to be the sharp blades of a sword that the Shopkeeper wields against the "enemies of the Homeland.".

So, for him, they're the scissors that cut evil at its root.

Because of that, they can't afford to have everyday lives or experience emotions for others. For him, that's the price they pay to be the most powerful. He even emphasizes that he admires assassins who can form bonds without those interfering with their work (like Yor with Yuri, and probably Macmahon with his wife).

This says a lot about the impact Yor and the image of Thorn Princess have on other assassins, something we didn't know much about until now. In fact, we're now even Gympie starting to express a desire for their own partner—aww!

And that kiss with her husband? Totally necessary... and completely for her cover, of course!

Hemlock actually admired Thorn Princess, the Yor from before she met the Forgers. He saw in her a reflection of solitude, a person with empty eyes, lifeless, and without any personal motivation

What he doesn't realize, though, is that Yor didn't desire or love that solitude at all. Her insecurities, lack of self-esteem, and not having Yuri to protect made her feel empty, almost like a robot.

For Hemlock, this feeling made her a more useful tool for a greater purpose, which in his mind translates to "more power." The lonelier you are and the better you deal with that solitude, the more powerful you are as an assassin… or so he believes.

Not going to the barbershop, going to the park to spin on the teacup ride, and not even drinking with his coworkers… This man is wild and a huge fool.

Seeing how involved Yor is now and witnessing the change the love of her family has brought out in her breaks him with frustration. The person he admired is shattering his "ideal," challenging his own beliefs about power.

And so, he stubbornly decides to prove that if Thorn Princess has now stopped being the best assassin (or weapon), he will be. He tries to prove his point by attempting to kill her family, because he genuinely believes that Thorn Princess has become weak...

You just signed your death warrant, buddy!

Threatening Yor by hurting her family is literally throwing yourself into the lion's den. Love isn't weakness if you turn it into a greater power.

OHHHH GOD!!! QUEEN, YES, SHOW YOUR WILDEST SIDE!!!!

But behind that black cloak and super long hair, you realize that Hemlock is, in reality, just… a poor, kind of loser guy who's desperately seeking validation because deep down, he doesn't know how to deal with affection. Maybe he just needs a hug, you know?

And this is precisely where Hemlock and Nightfall run in parallel. Both of them seek validation through figures they idealize as the "best" in their organization—those who seem to embody the lifestyle of a perfect assassin or spy. What they don't realize is that neither Twilight nor Yor ever truly desired this life in the first place, or at least, it wasn't a genuine wish. They were pushed into this sad and solitary existence to "protect" others, because the world had already taken so much from them.

Projecting our own desires for self-improvement (perfection) onto someone we consider ideal and "correct" can be a comfort when dealing with our own loneliness and frustration.

Now, I'm not saying Hemlock and Nightfall are just copies of each other. I'm genuinely excited to see Hemlock's development in the future and hope for more appearances from him. I'd love to see him interact with Loid at some point, just for a bit more chaos!

.

And, of course, both of them were absolutely pulverized by the power of our queen, Yor Forger. Everyone bows down to her!

We all fall to our knees for the Supremacy of Yor!

Turns out, in reality, Hemlock is just a poor, lonely little man with social anxiety. Clearly, he needs a hug, and a healthy relationship with a barbershop!

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Yor: I want to kiss my husband a lot... for my cover.... Yes!

LIAR

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LIAR

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Stages of yor drunkenness:

A little alcohol: Oh, yes. my husband is hot, I have no complaints about him!

Much more alcohol: I will murder my husband for omelet with a knife.

Much, much more alcohol: My husbandoo is too hot!!!!!

Yor Hangover: Hell Loid, I want to complain about you since yesterday!!!! Let me be angry!!

Yor without alcohol: .... Why did I come here?

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I like reading the JP raws to compare the translations and I noticed in this chap that Twilight actually paused before he answered Fiona

(in the raw, instead of immediately saying,

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

we see him say,

“…Don’t be ridiculous.”)

That pause has a chokehold over my heart. I am 3000% sure that our smooth Agent Twilight choked for a moment because his emotions got in the way before answering 🥲

Nightfall: That's just how risky this operationis. We should consider cancelling the Strix mission, WISE and all the agents are in danger, I think the only solution is for you to sign the divorce. And that you consider me your wife

Twilight: *shock break*…"Don't be ridiculous" Tonight I'm going to bring my wife flowers, we will have 890 dates and end with a hot kissing session and a possible future sibling for Anya This would delay the progress of the mission

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Some fans hope that Loid and Yor will eventually have a biological child.

I personally enjoy the status quo; although they don't think they are family, they are growing into it because of how much they desire a peaceful life, a safe place, which is family. Adding a biological baby would drastically change the theme of the story, but I can understand why people like this.

It would be lovely to hear your thoughts!

Wow, what an interesting topic!

This thing about a second biological child for the Forgers is one of those topics that is very recurrent in the fandom within fanfics. And, let's be honest, we are all waiting for Twilight and Yor to realize once and for all what they feel and for the Forger family to become something super real. I have seen many comment how a biological baby would be proof that this family is something totally real, and that they will have a promising future of peace together (or that is what we hope)….

Although, on the other hand, I have also seen theories that address the possibility that Twilight and Yor are sterile due to their jobs. Yes, I know, it sounds strong! But it would make sense taking into account the nature of their work, and although Endo is capable of touching very dark themes in the manga, I don't think he is going in that direction… (at least for now).

Now, let's talk about Anya:

A new baby always brings a brutal and lasting change to any family. And if we're talking about the Forgers, we absolutely have to think about Anya. She's an adopted child who has gone through the trauma of abandonment multiple times, and she lives with that constant insecurity of feeling that her worth depends on being "useful" for her father's mission or on not being seen as a weirdo because of her powers

Let's remember that in the past, Anya has already felt insecure even towards Yor, believing that Yor might steal her role in the mission to save the world and help her dad. Luckily, she's four years old, and she loves her mom so much that these feelings don't last long…

Anya is a noble, sweet, and loving child. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the idea of a little sibling made her all "waku waku" with excitement. But there's also the possibility that, due to some misinterpreted comment or a thought that slips into her mind, she might feel displaced… that she'd believe a biological baby would make her feel forgotten or abandoned again.

Obviously, Yor and Loid would surely realize this at some point and make it clear to her that it doesn't matter if there's a blood tie, and that a sibling won't change how much they love her even a tiny bit. (Especially if, by that point, they are already a real family without secrets).

Loid and Yor as parents of a baby

The idea of seeing Yor and Twilight facing parenthood not just with a 6-year-old girl (who seems like 4 or 5), but with a baby, is also super appealing.

Imagine Yor experiencing motherhood from the biological and hormonal process, and Twilight… well, probably suffering more stress than necessary having to deal with a human even harder to understand than his own daughter. (Maybe Anya's telepathy would be his best tool there, don't you think?). We know both have very clear parental instincts, but they skipped the baby stage, which, let's be honest, has tons of challenges!

Endo has already given us possible clues.

And who do they contrast with?

The Desmonds! They are a "real" family, but one that is clearly plagued by darkness. Loid and Yor, despite their own imperfections and all the problems they have to solve, strive daily to make Anya happy and give her a childhood full of beautiful moments, something the Desmonds haven't achieved with their own biological children.

That said, the truth is that the Forger family, as it stands now, has a solid narrative structure. The addition of a second biological child, perhaps, isn't entirely "necessary" at this point in the story. Personally, I find it perfectly plausible that Twilight and Yor raise Anya as an only child, and I see nothing wrong with that! What's more, it could be a very powerful message about what it truly means to be a family.

Honestly, given the speed at which Endo develops the story (we're barely even touching on the possibility of a kiss from Yor to Loid!), I find it unlikely we'll see a fifth member of the Forger family… at least not anytime soon.

However, I definitely don't rule out that he might show us a time skip at the end of the story, where perhaps Twilight and Yor do decide to have a child. But this could heavily depend on the focus Endo wants to give it and what kind of "peace" or "ending" he provides for his characters when the story concludes. So, for me, the most probable scenario is that a biological child would only happen at the very end of the story… if Endo so chooses.

Thank you very much for the question!

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Endo-sensei’s illustration for extra mission 16 (source).

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I love it when men love their wives 🥰

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The Princess and the Warrior King Ch. 5

Twilight comes up with a strategy to help his wife adapt to her new life. Chapter 5 is up!

You can read it here on ao3!

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The Princess and the Warrior King Ch. 4

The anticipated royal wedding is here. Chapter 4 is up!

You can read it here on ao3.