#hak deserves better

[kazumasamaanime]

When you can't wait for the next chapter 🫠🥲 ( omg I'm posting again 😂😅)

[ Drawing by me 😘]

[kevingotabigasschin]

I love how during the final act in the final episode of Season 5 of Jackie Chan Adventures, out of all of the enforcers, Hak Foo was the only one who actually stepped up to the plate and helped the J - Team fight off Drago’s forces. 

The dude you’d least expect to want to help the Chans in the final fight, but I guess since the guy had lost everything there was only one thing to gain, friendship? 

He clearly didn’t bond well with the enforcers, only seeing them as mere acquaintances, didn’t really see Valmont as a friend either more as a money source since just being evil didn’t exactly pay the bills, working for a (failing) millionaire would though. 

In fact, I think that was the very reason Hak left Valmont the first time to begin with since he wasn’t able to pay Hak the money he needed for his services. 

The only reason he was loyal to Daolon Wong was because of the power he gave to Hak, giving the chance to be a dark Chi warrior could offer immense power, whether Hak wanted to be turned into one or not, when he did he realized the possibilities he was given and used them to his advantage. Daolon even saw that Hak was more competent than the other enforcers, so there was no need to prove himself to him.

You could tell after he lost his powers that he was willing to bail on Wong any chance had he not been thrown in prison with Wong, even stating that he’d beat the crap out of Wong if he didn’t get them out of prison, this shows that he didn’t really care for Wong to begin with or the fact that he was a powerful wizard that could probably wipe Hak from existence if he wanted to, once he realized Wong was useless to him he wanted to bail. 

Now Tarakudo is different, Tarakudo was obviously the one that treated the enforcers with the most respect but he had favoritism for Hak Foo, this was the season where Hak went almost insane trying to get an oni mask, Tarakudo realizing that Hak was gifted he acted as sort of a mentor to him and was the one who saw potential in gifting him a mask of what wonders Hak could do for him. 

Due to this, Hak was loyal to Tarakudo, Tarakudo not only offering wisdom but a powerful mask and an army as well, who wouldn’t want to learn from one of the most feared lords ever? 

Even though it took Hak a long time to get an actual oni mask and when it was one he didn’t see any potential in, Tarakudo told Hak their secret. 

Of course all good things must come to an end, after losing his mask, Hak Foo gets arrested along with the other enforcers, maybe in that time he finally realized this grudge against the Chans was stupid to begin with and decided being a criminal just wasn’t worth it, but fighting for something good was especially since the world was in peril.

And the fact that even though the enforcers were more familiar with the Chans and even went to their side a few times before Season 5, they bailed while Hak Foo, one who never worked with the Chans before was the only one to come to their aid. 

Jackie must’ve seen this redemption if he was willing to trust Hak with holding Jade when a literal portal to Hell opened up and was sucking in everything in it’s path. 

Well I mean if Jackie was willing to trust Tohru after Tohru literally tried to cut Jade open to retrieve the Rooster Talisman then maybe Hak’s able to get a second chance as well. 

I like to think that Hak became an honorary member of the J - Team after that, mending his relationship with Tohru, possibly becoming close to Jade as well and also a prodigy of Uncle, Hak is definitely gifted so it wouldn’t be impossible for Uncle to see potential in him, or maybe he joined Section 13, he’s definitely qualified to work there but who knows. 

[anotherfanaccount]

Gil Chae is selfish and manipulative to a fault but the girl really doesn't have any reference to her wrongdoings. As per her she's just doing all this for her one true love. That said her self-preservation skills are going to be so helpful and she's going to grow up so fast.

Jang Hyun on the other hand, again pretty selfish and even manipulative, does help albeit has a mystery around him that doesn't yet show his true intentions. Currently though, he has taken a liking to the maiden that he thinks doesn't like him, and is doing everything with the intention of saving her.

The romance has not started technically but it is already on a tragical path. And the cinematography and bgm is so good. Can't believe I'm this excited over a show that will very well wreck my heart.

Yeon Jun won't die this soon....right? But also the young scholars going to fight and actually realising the situation they're in was so perfectly executed. They all are going to understand the world they're in albeit for some it'll be the end itself. It really is such a terrific way to die tbh.

Eun Ae truly deserves love though. Please save her from the coming atrocities.

Another scene that just had me fall for Jang Hyun, man just taught Gil Chae to stand up for herself and handed a weapon to her. It doesn't get any more "I like you but since you don't yet I'll do whatever it takes to save you, even from yourself".

[juyeonszn]

AND THEN THERE IS YOU

PAIRING ju haknyeon x f!reader (gn technically since there are no gendered terms)

WORD COUNT 1.17k

GENRES fluff ﹒very slight angst like blink and u miss it

WARNINGS another fic of mine that doesn’t require an 18+ warning… fawn in her tamed era 🙏, ur heart will ache from how </3 this is, mentions of divorce, reader had kind of a shitty childhood, reader also has some intimacy issues, hak is the most patient and kind person ever, throws up everywhere bc me when </3

SUMMARY he was content loving you until you were ready to love him.

MORE ANDDDDD my insanity strikes again!!!!1!1!1! aka in my dr. seuss william shakespeare edgar allan poe steven king arc 😍 my inspiration has been crazy lately, so enjoy this before juyeonszn goes into a drought deeper into the semester 😭 ANYWAYS MAE (@maessseongs) HERE U GO!! i kept it fluffier and kinda short bc it just felt right, i hope that’s okay with u! this is the last request from my 100 followers event so far ✨ prompts used are: 2, 7 >:)

PERM TAGLIST @winterchimez @maessseongs

Relationships were a weird concept to you. Growing up, you’d never really been shown affection. Your parents weren’t the type to pack your lunch for school in the morning and send you off with a peck on the cheek followed by an ‘I Love You’.

In fact, they never told you that they loved you very often. Maybe a handful of times in your whole life did you hear those three words uttered from them. And even less did you hear that they were proud of you. It was worse when you took a step back and watched their own crumbling marriage.

As long as they’d been together, you never heard them tell the other how much they were appreciated. They fought more than they got along. You usually fell asleep to the sound of doors slamming and loud arguing in the hallway. When they finally decided to get a divorce, you almost cried out of joy. They were draining more out of you than each other.

So, perhaps that had to do with your fucked up view of relationships as you became an adult. You could never fully comprehend what love was since you didn’t exactly have stellar role models. Boyfriends came and went, losing interest as soon as they realized how disconnected you were. Your heart was never truly in it.

And then, you met Haknyeon.

Sweet sweet Haknyeon, who only cared about your happiness and your well being. Haknyeon, who didn’t ask you for more than you could give. Who didn’t push you for answers when you shut him out. Who patiently waited on the sidelines while you rebooted yourself.

If there were a higher being out in the universe, they’d done an excellent job at putting all the best qualities into Ju Haknyeon. By some miracle or a stroke of luck, he found his way to you. You’ll always think that he deserves better than you, but you’ll also always be eternally grateful that you have him.

As summer takes its last breath and the air begins to chill, leaves wilting to the streets and crunching below the feet of passersby, your motivation to get up in the mornings has started its tumultuous decline. You don’t know what it is about the change in seasons that continues to put a damper in your mood as the years go on, but it’s become almost too much to bear. It was no longer a dull pressure in the pit of your stomach and the back of your mind. Now it was a heaviness that settled in your heart and weighed you down.

It was a Thursday evening and you were tucked into bed already, despite a peek of the sun still visible over the horizon. Your head was pounding despite the room being silent. You curl into yourself further just as your bedroom door creaks open. Haknyeon whispers an apology, going to exit the room when he sees the state you’re in.

It was standard for him to leave you alone until you were ready to talk. He knew you had a hard time opening up, considering what you’d grown up with, and he didn’t want to be the person who pestered you to tell him what was wrong. He wanted you to feel comfortable coming to him first. Haknyeon couldn’t handle being the reason you were pushed to your breaking point.

But for some reason, this time is different. You don’t want to be left alone. You want to be held. You want him to kiss your forehead and tell you he loves you, unlike what you had when you were younger.

“Hak, wait,” you call, voice slightly hoarse. “Stay. Please.”

He’s taken aback by your request, but doesn’t hesitate to follow through. He climbs into the bed behind you, wrapping his arms around your center. In spite of the fact that this wasn’t a usual occurrence, that cuddling was something you’ve only done a couple other times, he embraces you as if this was second nature for him. As if holding you in his arms was his very life source.

“Are you sure?” He asks softly, words spoken gently into your hair.

“Mhm, I want this,” you nod, nuzzling into his arm. “I have never felt this safe with anyone before.”

Haknyeon’s breathing stutters. You’ve never admitted this to him before, you’ve never ever said ‘I Love You’, but he’s always been willing to wait. He understood that this was a new territory for you. He was content loving you until you were ready to love him, even if it took months— even if it took years. That’s how much he cared for you. In his eyes, you were the reason there were stars in the sky. You were the reason why the sun rose in the morning and why the moon shone at night.

He kisses your temple. “I’ll be here to protect you.”

You turn in his arms to get a good look at his face. Because it was so rare that you were this close, you wanted to memorize his features from this distance. You trace his cheekbones and jawline with your thumb, eyes flickering down to his lips.

You lean forward, minimizing the gap between you to press your lips into a sweet kiss, almost as sweet as him. Haknyeon gasps out of surprise, but quickly reciprocates your affection, bringing up a hand to cup your face. He allows you to set the pace, to move at a speed you were comfortable with in case this was all you wanted.

When you pull back to catch your breath, he smiles, taking in how pretty you were. He could never get enough of you. He thinks that was his biggest flaw, being so greedy when it came to you. He couldn’t help but indulge himself every time you let him, though if it were a sin, he’d gladly commit it over and over again.

“However many years we have left, I wanna spend them all with you.”

You feel the tears dripping down your cheeks before you register that you’re crying. You couldn’t possibly fathom how Haknyeon came to find love in the form of you; the hollow shell of a person who’s never felt the warmth of another human in their life. You didn’t think you deserved someone like him. The only logical explanation was that you were a saint in a past life, and the higher being you mentioned earlier was rewarding you for it.

But even so, he loved you. Enough that he wasn’t afraid to spend the rest of his life with you waking up on the other side of the bed.

He swipes away some stray tears with the pad of his thumb and kisses your nose. You let out a small laugh, connecting your lips once more. It conveys all you want to say, but you know saying it out loud will make it concrete. It’ll solidify what you’ve been building up the courage to finally tell him.

“I wanna spend them all with you, too.”

© juyeonszn. do not steal, claim, or repost.

[deadbydangit]

I really liked the survivor turned killer one! You wrote that request really well <33

Is it alright to ask for a part 2? This time with Knight, Trickster, Spirit, Pyramid Head, and Jake? I understand if you don't do part 2's though! <33

I can totally do part 2. I'm glad you enjoyed the first one. I hope you enjoy this one.

Knight, Trickster, Spirit, Pyramid Head, Jake

Knight

Torhos didn't like having you in trials.

You were too meek.

Fighting and hunting wasn't in your blood.

As weak as you were, he didn't mind being around you.

Perhaps you were too kind, because the other pathetic survivors pushed you around.

To come to someone's aid, then throw them into the pit?

He finds that rather deplorable.

But seeing you here, as a killer?

The Entity really was a cruel one.

Personally, he'll take you under his wing.

When he first approached you, he bowed as a symbol of peace and good intention.

Be grateful, he's taking time to teach you to be a proper killer.

The others are equally as interested in teaching you.

You have a ways to go.

But he rather enjoys watching your progress.

You'll make it. Those survivors will pay for their insolence.

Trickster

You must've known who he was in the real world.

There would be no other reason a survivor would be so kind to him, right?

But when he found out you did that for the other killers...

He was baffled.

Someone being nice for nothing in return?

Especially to someone who is about to kill you?

Interesting.

He took a particular liking to you.

You were like a diamond in a pile of coal.

Watching how you scrambled to save the others, only for them to push you to the dirt.

He found it... Oddly irritating.

He had never really cared about anyone else before.

It was a shame when you vanished.

But here you are again. And on their side no less.

You would get to meet the great Ji-Woon Hak without fearing death.

But you weren't afraid of death. You were afraid of rejection.

He put down all his weapons. Trying to indicate he had no ill will.

He isn't very good about supporting and listening to others, but he'll try.

Fear not. He'll build your confidence from the ground up.

Those survivors will rue the day they hurt his little gem.

Spirit

Even before you were a killer, Rin took pity on you.

Being used as a meat shield? Being thrown in front of her as bait?

Shameful!

A team's purpose is to work together to complete a common goal.

That's a cultural idea that has been driven into her.

The needs of society over the needs of the individual.

You were making your contribution, but your teammates rejected the idea.

Deplorable.

She often let you go, staring into your eyes' with sympathy and sadness.

Your disappearance troubled her greatly.

At least you would be free.

Rin was, to say the least, surprised to see you as a killer.

You didn't belong here. This wasn't fair.

She found herself angry for you.

Approaching you was a bit easier, since the two of you had some sort of relationship before hand.

She wouldn't let you suffer alone.

Not like she did.

She would take on your pain and help you exact your revenge against those who wronged you.

Pyramid Head

He punished those who sinned.

Those who were cruel. The ones who deserved it.

You? You didn't.

You were pure and kind.

He would often ignore you in trials.

But you would interfere to save others.

The same ones who would throw you to the ground like you were trash.

They were trash. They shouldn't be allowed to taint purity.

Then, you were gone.

Perhaps you went somewhere better. Somewhere where your kindness would be rewarded.

But you weren't.

You were a killer now.

He wasn't sure how to approach you, knowing he couldn't actually talk.

He decided to sit a ways away, watching you. Letting you know he was there.

He could only listen, but he made you feel safe.

He made you feel like you weren't trash.

He would show all those sinners what happens when trash like them dare lay hands on someone like you.

Jake Park

He never really fit in himself, so he could empathize in that situation.

Yeah, being kind to the killers was certainly weird.

But, it wasn't something the others should punish you for.

It's not like it affected them in any way.

You were always helping the team.

So he didn't really understand why they treated you so horribly.

Then, one day, you were gone.

He figured the Entity had grown bored of you and threw you into the void.

Until he threw the pallet down on the new killer, turning around and looking.

He could recognize those eyes anywhere.

None of this was fair.

Across the pallet, he took your hands with a sigh.

He gave you a sad, but sweet smile.

He wasn't going to let anything else happen to you.

He'd be there this time.

[milaalkhansah]

My Kids Deserve Better

Setelah tumbuh dewasa, salah satu janji yang gw buat untuk anak gw di masa depan kelak adalah: semua penderitaan, ketidakbahagiaan, keluarga yang tak hangat, ekonomi yang pas-pasan dan trauma yang berkepanjangan harus berakhir dan berhenti di gw.

Alias cukup gw terakhir yang rasain. Gak perlu lagi apa yang gw alami saat gw kecil sampai saat ini gw wariskan ke anak-anak gw nanti. Because they deserve better.

Jadi saat ini, alih-alih sibuk mencari pasangan yang gw mau, gw lebih ke berusaha untuk belajar menjadi seorang ibu yang anak-anak gw butuhkan kelak.

Karena ada rasa bangga tersendiri membayangkan, jikalau suatu saat nanti anak-anak gw berkata, "aku ingin seperti ibu"

Nangis nggak loh wkwk.

Dan hal itu gw mulai dari belajar "menyembuhkan" diri gw sendiri. Karena gw gak mau hanya karena gw belum mengobati apa-apa yang membuat gw sakit, hal itu bisa berimbas pada bagaimana gw mendidik anak-anak gw nanti.

Selain itu, gw juga berusaha memaafkan orang tua gw. Berusaha memaafkan ketidaksempurnaan mereka menjadi orang tua. Berusaha menyadari bahwa bagaimanapun, mereka pun juga baru pertama kali jadi orang tua, sehingga hal yang wajar rasanya bila sesekali mereka melakukan kesalahan.... Berusaha mengingat bahwa bagaimanapun, tanpa masa lalu yang keras dan juga pola asuh yang membuat gw tidak bahagia itu gw tidak mungkin jadi diri gw yang sekarang: gw yang menjadikan masa lalu gw sebagai contoh kehidupan seperti apa yang gw inginkan dan juga berusaha hindari. Karena diri gw yang saat ini pun juga bentukan dari apa yang udah gw lewati. Gw nggak mau lagi merasa yang jadi paling berkorban dan paling tersakiti, karena dalam lubuk hati gw yang paling dalam, gw sebenarnya tahu bahwa orang tua gw pun juga korban dari keadaan.

Gw mulai belajar atur keuangan gw, memperbanyak skill dan pengetahuan supaya peluang gw menghasilan lebih banyak penghasilan pun jadi lebih mudah. Gw nggak mau anak-anak gw merasakan pedihnya kemiskinan yang gw rasain, gw nggak mau anak-anak gw dipandang rendah, diremehkan, merasakan segala hinaan hanya karena hidup serba kekurangan. Memperbanyak wawasan dan pengetahuan gw soal agama gw. Karena salah satu cita-cita gw adalah gw pengen jadi guru pertama buat anak-anak gw nanti. Guru pertama yang ngajarin bagaimana cara Solat, dan juga membaca Al-Qur'an. Karena gw tahu, anak-anak yang soleh-soleha serta ilmu yang bermanfaat adalah salah satu investasi untuk akhirat gw kelak. Sehingga sayang sekali rasanya saat "privelege" atau "hak istimewa" tersebut malah gw kasih ke orang lain, karena kurangnya keseriusan gw dalam belajar agama sendiri. Memperkaya diri dengan ilmu dan juga pengetahuan supaya sebelum bertanya ke google, anak-anak gw mengingat mereka punya ibu yang bisa ditanyai apa-pun. Mempunyai banyak kisah dan pengalaman-pengalaman hebat yang membuat anak gw banyak belajar dan menjadikan gw sebagai superhero favorit mereka wkwk.

Gw mulai banyak ikut kelas pranikah dan parenting. Membuat daftar kriteria pasangan seperti apa yang gw mau. Memperjelas lagi tujuan gw menikah dan apa yang gw mau tuju dalam sebuah pernikahan meskipun jujur, dalam beberapa tahun ke depan karena suatu hal, menikah mungkin akan jadi prioritas gw yang paling belakang.

Terus kemarin, pas gw cerita ke bestie kalau seperti yang sudah-sudah, ada seorang teman yang menawarkan perjodohan tapi gw tolak dan jujur gw belum mau nikah.

"Kalau ada yang lamar kamu lagi gimana?" Dia nanya.

"ya nggak gimana-mana. Kalau gw belum siap ya gw tolak lah"

"kenapa?"

"lah, pake nanya lagi bukannya gw udah bilang berapa kali alasan gw gak mau dulu nikah karena apa?" Jawab gw kezel.

Pasalnya, dia udah tau alasan gw belum mau nikah tuh karena apa. Tapi masih aja suka nanyain, entah karena alasan apa. Btw bestie udah nikah. Jadi mungkin karena itu pula pandangan kita akan sebuah pernikahan menjadi berbeda.

Gw nggak tahu apakah umur gw nanti sampe ke tahap pernikahan. Tetapi setidaknya, meskipun hidup dalam ketidaktahuan, gw tetap mengusahakan yang terbaik untuk masa depan gw yang masih abu-abu itu daripada hanya duduk diam, tak melakukan apa-apa dan berharap semua akan membaik dan berubah dengan sendirinya.

Gw nggak tahu apakah di masa depan nanti gw masih nulis atau platform ini masih ada. Tetapi semoga saat pada akhirnya gw menikah, gw bisa kembali ke tulisan ini, dan mengatakan bahwa pada akhirnya apa yang gw usahakan, berbuah di masa depan.

Ya doakan saja.

• November bercerita hari kesebelas

[soo-won]

do you think soowon is sociopath? i saw some fans saying he lacks empathy and i don't think he does.

Hey Anon! Thank you for the ask :) I didn't expect to receive that kind of question that was the heart of debates years ago, but I'm more than happy to reply!

Very long answer below the cut. Sorry for being unable to be brief, there's nothing that I love more than talking about Suwon and his emotions!

Short answer is no I don't think Suwon is a sociopath, at all.

I've read people say that many times, especially in response to chapter 196, I don't know if that's what you have in mind. From personal experience, I've never seen anyone call him a sociopath know what that word really means or not being a Suwon-anti and I think most of the time people say this in the pejorative "cold and emotionless" way. The manga has shown countless times the range of Suwon's emotions, and to imply he doesn't feel anything is just, wrong (Kusanagi stated it explicitely too). I guess it's understandable for series going on for years like akayona, but I feel like it's a common mistake to read a chapter as a standalone and not something that adds to what was established before. Like, it's not because the diary and castle arc showed new sides of Suwon (through the eyes of other characters on top of that) and in specific circumstances that it invalidates everything shown to us about him before. It's one piece of the puzzle for sure, but nothing less nothing more. I'm no psychiatrist and I'm not qualified to give anyone any kind of diagnostic, but Suwon feels very much, and he feels guilt, is even paralyzed by it at times and it is sometimes an obstacle to him. Suwon is all about discarding feelings, and for that to be a thing, feelings have to be there to begin with. From what I know about sociopathy, this isn't it. And even if he was, that wouldn't make him any less lovable and deserving of compassion to me.

Now on empathy specifically, it's more arguable, but I don't see lacking empathy as something inherently wrong that makes someone broken or cold. What you feel or not doesn't matter in my opinion, it's what you do to care for others. So like, yeah, if you compare with Yona I guess you could say Yona is more empathic than Suwon, but in no way that alone would make her a better person than him(I don't want to make this about Suwon vs Yona, she was just the first character to come to mind).

Lack of empathy is also not exclusively a sociopath thing. Like, everyone feels it to a different degree and there is a lot factors that can be at play.

Suwon feels and thinks differently, his differences with characters like Meinyan, Yona and Hak being the most obvious examples of that, and it's one of the many things that make me see him as neurodivergent in some way. But in the end, whether he feels empathy or not is not important. Or like, yeah, it can be interesting to explore, but it isn't relevant to define him in the slightest.

That being said, let's talk about what we know. First, what we know for sure, is that he cares! And even if you admit he doesn't have the same level of empathy as others, he tries to help when he can and if it's not in the way of his goals. Whether it's when he was a child comforting Yona and his mother, or reassuring an insecure Lili, or again, trying to comfort a trembling Yona in the way he knows best. It's something that comes naturally to him, something that very much makes him, him. Suwon is someone who wants to help, and who finds joy in making others happy.

He is also intelligent, can understand how people think and feel, and why people act the way they do. He is able to sense very young that Il doesn't like him. He was able to give Yona exactly what she needed when she was mourning her mother. In the present, Suwon understands why Yona or Hak would want to kill him, or how his words would only upset them because he is able to put himself in their shoes. (This, is different than empathy imo. Putting yourself in someone else' shoes is an effort you make to understand others, whether you feel what they feel) It's because he understands how people feels that he was able to come this far and unite the country like he did. He is able to play with how people perceive him to get the upper hand over them too. And he is very aware of the consequences of his colder decisions. Everytime he discards someone, he very much expects their hostility towards him and doesn't ask anything of them again. In my opinion Suwon just doesn't think in term of good vs bad. He can tell between the two in like how it matters to others, but it's not relevant to him, and he rather thinks in term of "is that thing on my way or not". (I think he does struggle to understand the extent of how people feel about him, though. He thinks logically, so it's hard for him to understand things that go against all logic, like Hak and Yona helping him after everything.)

Then I think it's important to mention the part of Suwon that shows a discardment of emotions and empathy, and Yuhon.

Actually, how much of that comes from how Yuhon raised him, the environment he grew up in, or from how he is inherently as a person is interesting sure, but not that relevant either. Whatever the roots of it, he is able to put his feelings on the side and stay composed in dire situations. But again, it doesn't mean he doesn't feel anything. And what the war against Kai shows is that his ability to not be affected by the deaths of his people is the reverse of the determination-turned-desperation to not lose against Kai. "Even death is acceptable"(his own included) he says to himself. The fact this is a thing he had to tell himself to begin with says a lot in my opinion. He was struggling, and had to remind himself repeatedly to not look back, to think about nothing but the war. Suwon has limits, even if he is more composed and determined than most, and when he reaches these limits he needs to cling onto his father's words, because otherwise he would falter and stop being able to think clearly.

Thanksfully this desperation turned back into his usual determination(still kinda fueled by the urgency of his situation) after the events of this battle. But like, Suwon is not at all a character that is a complete facade when he acts as a King and whose cold decisions go completely against his heart all the time. He really is the King not hesitating to take harsh decisions and make sacrifices to achieve his goals. He really is the King not unfazed in the slightest about losing his own castle and capital, and people dying in war for his cause. That's also what makes him, him, and something more than helpful in war where you have to deal with losses and unpredictable events all the time.

Going back to chapter 196, when Yonhi thinks to herself "How can he be so detached?" or when Yuhon's faction is impressed by how unfazed he was about investigating his own father's corpse, in no way it is that Suwon doesn't feel anything about his father or Yona. He so does. He is shown burning with anger, and he is shown not looking the least enthousiastic about killing Il. The situations and ways in which he expresses these emotions are simply not what you would usually expect from a child, but why should there be any rule about how someone is supposed to react and feel? There's nothing scary about that. When you stop to think about 2 seconds, is it that fearsome for someone to cope by taking the lead and prioritizing dealing with the problems at hand first, and being unable to process things emotionally? Like, isn't that pretty common? I can relate a lot to that personally. I guess what is surprising in this case is how Suwon is able to do it so young and to this extent, but it's nothing more than that. When Suwon asks Yonhi if she wants Il to die, and she gets scared of that, Suwon is genuinely asking too. Is that this far-fetched for him to assume Yonhi would want that when everyone else around him does? When revenge seems to be the very reason Il, supposed to be peace-loving, killed his father?

People might say that Suwon lacks empathy and maybe they wouldn't be wrong, but he constantly tries to understand what people want and answer to their expectations anyway. And I think that's what matters the most, even if he fails at it sometimes. He couldn't understand how Yonhi felt about Il in chapter 196, but he still tried hard to be what he thought she wanted from him: a replacement of Yuhon (Again, logical conclusion when that's what everyone else around him encourage). He still did all he could to comfort her, and he gave her strength.

He became the ideal King most of the generals and Yuhon faction wanted, and a lot of the issues in his relationship with Yona and Hak come from the fact he behaved in front of them as the Suwon they (used to think they) wanted. He cared for them genuinely, but he couldn't show the rest of him because it would go against the idealized image they had of him. Just like he can't show all of himself in front of his supporters either, because what they want is for him is a perfect, never faltering King, following Yuhon's footsteps. When it became impossible to be these two ideals at the same time, he discarded one. Suwon cares and loves, and this has nothing to do with empathy. He is both the caring friend and the pragmatic king and can't discard either.

Suwon might have less empathy than others, yet he is the one who acted to better the lives of his country's citizens, in contrast to Il, that sure, might be more empathic (except when it comes to Suwon visibly) yet barely acted on it.

I'm gonna stop here but I could go on forever. I hope it's not too much all over the place. Sorry I can't help it.

TDLR : no I don't think he is a sociopath, mainly because he feels guilt and regards what people think a lot, and all he does is never for his own personal benefit. But empathy or not, he cares and does his best. There is so much to explore about him, and basing the morality of a character on empathy is just not it. I think the fact he has such a different way of thinking compared to the rest of the main cast is what makes him so fresh and interesting and I wouldn't want him any other way. He doesn't give a fuck and idk it's funny and so cathartic sometimes. We should embrace that.

[theyonapodcast]

Hi!! I love your podcast!! I want to ask you, what are your favorite akayona fics??

Hi! Thank you!! And thank you for giving me an excuse to talk about my favorite topic.

HakYona

for happiness by thecivilunrest

Hak closes his eyes, and allows himself to pretend that this is more than duty.

At Their Hands by the-tzimisce (firstmaterial)

She turns to him, glances down to where he’s kneeling by the side of the manicured path into the grove, and when her eyes hit him that’s when Hak knows this is a dream, because only in a dream would the princess look at him with such focus - with such care.

Your Touch by LightBloom (honestly tied with An Exercise in Self-Improvement by LightBloom)

Yona had the perfect two-step plan. Get back into school and move in with Soo-Won. It's the start of the year and one of the steps falls through. So naturally, what's a girl to do except move into a house with her friend and 4 other boys, all while avoiding Hak's questions?

Denial and avoidance are healthy behaviors, right?

bad idea by makapedia

Explaining porn to a sheltered princess was decidedly not in Hak's job description. And yet here he is.

There Ain't No Tellin' Who You Might Meet by ViciousVentriloquist

In the summer of '79 Yona, a college girl with red hair, a privileged upbringing, and fresh trauma, gets a job at a local gas station.

Others

to all the ghosts still standing in this room by Sabraeal (Soo-Won/Lili)

It's just like Yona to frame this as a request, a favor: attend Princess Kouren's formal coronation as an esteemed member of the royal family, as one of her most trusted advisors. But Soowon was not Kouka's king for so long by not knowing how to read between the lines; he's a political liability, and it would behoove him to make sure that when Xing's new queen chooses her consort, he is the one standing beside her. It's better than he deserves; were it anyone but Yona, he would already be buried in the most convenient ditch they found on their way back from Kai. But still...Did she really need to send Lili to make it happen?

When the Red Summer Poppies Bloom by Letterblade (Kouren/Yona)

Princess Kouren, now that Yona's been able to get to know her, turns out to be an excellent teacher of swordplay. And some...more interesting things.

Renegades by SariahHime (Jae-Ha/Kija with side Hak/Yona/Soo-Won)

Two rough and tumble field agents, one very disgruntled yet well-polished detective, an elusive assassin, a chipper intelligence agent, and a shy sharpshooter are thrown into a world none knew before. In order to save their friend and their country they must face a hellish reality full of deception and lies.

You are also welcome to peruse my AO3 bookmarks to see if any summaries call to you.

[lenteur]

random thoughts about castaway diva, episode eleven

(read more because i always get carried away lol and this post might contain spoilers)

We're starting this episode with woo hak making me angry. Why are you contacting mok ha when the whole family agrees it's best to leave her out of the messy situation with mr jung? WHY???

... I take back what I just said. At least he's helping her with the press conference so I guess he's not that bad.

The whole press conference scene had me on the edge of my seat. So many conflicting feelings. Mok ha not following the script and trying to defend ran joo no matter what. Yoon ran joo just keeping her head down and accepting any accusation thrown her way. Eun mo rae seeming to side with mok ha and wanting ran joo to pursue her career so she feels better about being compared to ran joo (a desperate has-been singer who can no longer sing). All of that feels like a lot.

Talking about ran joo, it's frustrating to see her deny all of mok ha's wishes because it descredits the chunsam island singer. I understand she's trying to ease the tension but still, part of me feels like it's unfair to contradict mok ha like that. Because, in the end, mok ha will also be ridiculed for her statements.

I don't think it was a good idea for mok ha to participate in the press conference but I commend her will to defend those around her.

I'm glad the reporter let the truth out because now ran joo knows she was manipulated into signing the termination contract. I mean, she did it on her own will but had she known lee seo jun thinks of her that way, she might have thought twice before signing it. I wonder if there's a way she can nullify the contract? I feel for ran joo because she's been through a lot and there aren't many people on her side.

YES RAN JOO!!! Tell him how he would be nothing without you. He deserves it. He's trash, not you.

When I'm telling you I feel for ran joo, the fate of a tree metaphor is what I'm talking about. She's always given and hasn't taken a lot. People are taking her for granted. They milked her fame until the last drop and now she's treated like trash. I really wish there was a way to make her get her revenge. She doesn't deserve that treatment.

The scene between ran joo and her mom = saddest scene of the drama. I shed so many tears 😭😭😭 I'm relieved ran joo knows why her mom calls herself that and that they could talk to each other. This scene was beautiful 💖

MOK HA FINALLY CONFESSED HER FEELINGS TO KI HO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Dae woong (i think that's his name) woke up. I hope his story can make mr jung guilty of at least one thing (if he's innocent for the family case).

Lee uk is a good man. I keep repeating myself but I want everyone to know how amazing he is. He's ready to go to prison to defend the family. He's even saying if he could turn back time, he'd follow the mom sooner. I'm so happy the mother found someone so caring after spending years with mr jung.

I was so happy when the judge called mr jung following his family stalking.

I'm so happy the judge decided to believe the real victims instead of siding with mr jung. And dae woong could give evidence of the accident to the judge. Karma came and bit you in the a$$ mr jung!!! HAHAAHAHHHHAHAHAHA

Seo mok ha helping ran joo and her mom <3 She's one of the best people on earth. So kind and thoughtful.

YES! Ran joo wants to keep singing!!!

I'm relieved ran joo could read great articles about her to her mom. About a song that just got released (and not some old song).

So yoon ran joo sold 20 million albums a long time ago? Please make her magically appear during the shares meeting so everything is nullified 🙏🙏🙏

Justice was served for the family and yoon ran joo. I couldn't be any more grateful.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? We got a happy ending for everyone finally and you have to ruin it with mr jung st*bbing lee uk? I can't believe it.

I'm giving this episode a 9/10

[murderousxcoffee]

Amoricide [Dead by Daylight Dark Soulmate AU - Trickster/Survivor!OC]

Amoricide     The act of killing your soulmate Chapter 4: Double Date Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

CW: mentioned torture, mentioned [implied] noncon, blood, Danny Ghostface

I want her.

That pissed Trickster off a little. Not as much as Cortez did, but a little. 

He sat at the table in the large, empty room, ripped straight from Earth, and stared at the old radio. Sunshine wasn't on right now. Right now, she'd put on some metal band from Sweden he probably should have heard of, the latest in a long mix of rock songs from Brazil to Japan. Later tonight she mentioned she'd play a few hours of dark electronic music, things she didn't know the genre of but felt like they should go together. She was doing her best.

He wanted her.

He didn't even know what she looked like, and he wanted her.

It was almost insulting.

Trickster propped his arm up on the table and slid his sleeve down his forearm. The mark hadn't changed, still the same twisting spiral that bloomed like flowers on either end. He placed two fingers on the mark, and cold sunk into his skin, crawling up his arm.

Cortez feared him? Good. And the bandages over her mark dripped with blood last he saw her. How stupid she must be to not understand how much he hated her, how satisfying it was to end her life like the bug she was.

No, she understood. But she didn't know why, or who he really was.

He smiled. 

A shadow passed behind him, a figure hopped up on his table. Trickster's smile dropped. Without moving his head, he looked towards the Killer who now swung his legs in the air beside him.

"Hello, Ji-Woon," The Ghostface's voice, changed by a modifier, still managed to show the smile in his voice. "Having fun all by yourself, are we? Aren't you bored?"

"Fuck off," Trickster said.

The Ghostface laughed. "Oh, don't be mean to me. Aren't we friends?"

"I'm warning you," Trickster said. "I don't have the patience for your bullshit."

"There's no bullshit here, Mr. Hak. Not tonight. Tonight's special."

Trickster leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. A special night for Ghostface meant some certain Survivor was in for it, either torture or sex, it all sounded the same when you were far enough away. 

It also meant the Killer wouldn't be in anyone's business until he got bored again.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright, I'll ask. Who are you going after tonight?"

The mask tilted to the side.

"Frank."

A small chill went up Trickster's back. He looked at Ghostface.

"They'll kill you for that," he said. "They'll kill you for even thinking about that."

"I need a challenge," Ghostface said. "And my sweet Felix is being very, very bad tonight. He's not left the Campfire once. If I didn't know better, I'd think he's learned." The mask tilted the other way. "What do you think?"

"Excuse me?" 

"Would you like to help me?"

Trickster spat out several choice words in Korean without thinking. Ghostface laughed.

"You assume the worst of me, Mr Hak. I don't need participation, just a little assistance…"

He glared. What Ghostface did was none of his business, but he'd never considered the possibility the other Killer would go after one of their own. Frank Morrison was no friend of his. The Legion were pains in the ass, unfriendly to anyone but each other, and desperate to prove themselves in the eyes of the older Killers. A terrible combination. Sometimes he thought if he could break Frank's nose and get away with it, he would.

But Ghostface was a different beast than the Legion. Even on Earth he'd known that, just from the movie Hollywood made about him. Without thinking, Ji-Woon rubbed the cold, cold mark on his arm. Did Frank deserve whatever fate Ghostface planned for him?

… Wait, when did he start developing morals all of a sudden?

"If you want my help," Trickster said, "It better be worth my time."

Behind the mask, he felt Ghostface grin.

"Don't worry," he said. "This is something you've been waiting for."

---

Someone knocked on the front door. Sunshine didn't move. Her eyes locked onto the TV screen on her desk. She swallowed.

Three figures stood at her door, all of them in masks. She shuddered. The Legion? How did they find her?

Her janky security system had no sound, no movement, just one unblinking eye at each door. But she could hear them.

"Open up! We are Legion and this place is ours!"

"I don't think she'll let us in."

"She doesn't have a choice. We'll break down the door if we have to."

"Hey, bitch! Open the fucking door, or I'll rip your pretty throat open!"

Bang. Bang. Bang.

She didn't move. Her numb fingers shook.

"What the hell kind of door is this… Hey! Open the door or I'll fuck another hole in you with my knife! You want that?! You wanna die like that?!"

"What if she's not in there?"

"She's gotta be in, right?"

"She is a Survivor…"

"And we're down one member."

"That bitch doesn't go into Trials, I don't care what she says. We would've seen her by now."

"I guess."

"What are we gonna do with her if she is in there?"

A pause.

"Guess it depends if she's cute or not."

Men laughing, a woman's nervous giggle.

The sound cut short. Sunshine listened closer.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Was that Frank speaking? He'd only spoken to her a few times before. "That's from - Give me that!"

A rustling of paper, a silence again.

Frank mumbling. 

"Fuck the radio girl," the other man, Joey, said. "This is bad."

"That's really bad!"

"Fucking… fine, we'll deal with this bitch later. Let's go."

The tension left her body. Sunshine leaned in the back of her chair. She looked towards the window, the top of it cracked open. A smile spread over her face. They'd had no idea.

She looked back at the TV. The blood rushed from her face.

Trickster stood at the door.

"Finally," he said. "Annyeong nae salang. I've been waiting for this, Sunshine."

She jumped from her chair, and it rolled back, slamming against the wall.

I need to hide, she thought.

She looked around, looked back at the screen. The door was open.

"Don't be scared." His voice wasn't coming from the window anymore. "It's only me."

Her eyes looked to the floor. Did she have enough time?

She couldn't wait, couldn't waste it. With care and difficulty, she pulled up the floor beneath her desk. The harder part was getting the floorboards back on top of her. Sunshine lay face down in the dark, her hands pressed over her mouth, and waited.

Wood creaked. Footsteps so close by. She closed her eyes, tried to stop the way she shook. 

"Are you hiding from me?" He said. "That's a disappointing thing to do. I've been looking forward to seeing you."

Creaking, squeaking wood. He stood next to the desk. 

"What's this?" He said. "Some song you've been working on? I don't know this program you're using. Music isn't an easy thing to do alone, Sunshine. Wouldn't you like some help?"

Tears burned in her closed eyes. Please, please, please, she begged. Please please, go away.

He must know I'm still here, she thought, her eyes opening. He must…

Wood creaked, right next to her head.

Something like fingernails scraped against the floor.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are."

Sunshine clenched her eyes shut and reached out for the only help she had.

When Trickster peeled open the floorboards, all that waited was a patch of deep, fresh blood.

[kazumasamaanime]

Finally I finished it 🥹💯 [Drawing by me 😘]

[kevingotabigasschin]

If Hak Foo has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Hak Foo has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Hak Foo has only one fan then that is me. If Hak Foo has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Hak Foo, then I am against the world. 

[angrypaperearthquake-tbbb-main]

Yona of the Dawn: Chapter 199 ~ My Favorite Bits (SPOILERS)

Let the awkward delegations begin!

Stop underestimating her, goth boy 😒

SHE IS PLAYING THEM FOR FOOLS 🤣

Do you want a trophy for finally figuring that out 🙄

She’s even concerned about the emissaries... We don’t deserve Yona 😭

Can we talk about Ju-Doh’s reaction here??? I don’t think I’ve EVER seen him care so much 🤣

Can we also talk about Ao trying to fee the emissary to make him feel better????

Oof, airing your countries dirty laundry to another country 😳

Does this guy know he is going to die or something???

She’s just too pure 😭

STOP DENYING IT

YONAAAAAAAAA 😭😭😭😭😭😭

BREAKING NEWS: Depressed goth boy is depressed

Oops

Makes sense

That’s politics!

Yun and Jae-Ha to the rescue???

Or Hak. Hak works too.

[theclearblue]

Ok, ship ask but this time shoujo/josei edition... (just saw your top fav manga list, love them 🥰). What do you think of these ships :

Fruits Basket :

- Yuki / Kakeru (sorry I don't really ship him with Maki)

- Hanajima / Uotani (kinda dislike end pairing for Arisa, she deserve better)

Yona of the Dawn (don't get me wrong, I love Yona/Hak but I like these ships too) :

- Suwon/Hak & Yona/ Lili

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

- Kikuhiku/ Sukeroku (one of my fav ship, tragic yaoi, I really dislike 'that woman' that ruin everything for my ship)

Sorry if my ask got too long, you can pick whichever ship that you want....

Hello again anon!! Love to see you pop up in here and I'm happy to answer all of these lol 🫡

Yuki/Kakeru

Ship it

1. Not sure if there was one specific moment for me, but I think just seeing their friendship develop over time to the point where Yuki is able to really open up to a friend for the first time is a really compelling journey for Yuki!

2. I think it's funny how Kakeru is able to just piss off Yuki with his antics lmao, but it's also kind of a big moment for Yuki where he isn't pretending to play this "prince" character, Kakeru is able to draw the real Yuki out.

3. Hmm I do probably ship Yuki with both Kakeru and Maki, I like both pairings in different ways

Hanajima/Uotani

Ship it

1. Ahhh I don't think there's ever just a moment but these are the most obvious lesbians of all time ajaksldlvl. Love their opposite vibes but they way they both scare everyone around them and are #1 Toohru protectors is soooo funny and also iconic.

2. I suppose I answered it in the previous section lmao but I think there's such a pure love between them and the love that they share for Toohru they just look out for each other so well and their opposite vibes are so cool, especially because it's like no big deal at all to them.

3. Anon you're so right WHY DID UOTANI END UP WITH A MAAAAAANNNN. Technically not sbout the ship I guess but yeah I really wasn't a big fan of Kureno and her ending up together, felt homophobic 💀

Suwon/Hak

Ship It (Lightly)

1. This is like on the border because even though I'm usually a big multishipper, Yona/Hak are really It for me ya know. I also hc Suwon as aro/ace, but there is some real good potential with Suwon/Hak, and I'm sure this will come as a surprise (after saying it for 500th time ajslslf) but I'm a big angst enjoyer. I probably did ship this more than Yona/Hak at the beginning lmao, and then them reuniting and Hak still feels so hurt? Not just for Yona and her father bur also himself? Wowowowow yeah this ship is pretty good.

2. The angst potentiaaaaallll childhood best friends with maybe a little crush to enemies to !?!?@(#$)#)@*$*@! Goooood they're so messed up Hak is so hurt from everything but he also understands where Suwon is coming from and Suwon giving up that relationship with Hak in order to help the country?? How do you recover from all of these different feelings?? Very good food

3. As much as I like their ship potential it really is Yonahak today, Yonahak tomorrow, Yonahak forever

I'm going to kinda skip Yona/Lili cause I need to reread/catch up on Yona and I don't think I could give a solid answer on Lili rn 🤧 Do trust though I believe in bi4bi Yonahak 🫡

Kikuhiko/Sukeroku

Ship It

1. Everythinggggggg. From the start from the beginning they were IT. I don't even have like, a SUPER good memory since it's been so long since I've watched Rakugo, but god they really are the definition of soulmates (even if sukeroku doesn't realize it...)

2. I think just their journey together is so compelling, they complete each other and bring out their best but also their worst. Kikuhiko is too in his head at all times, Sukeroku is too impulsive, but the way that they balance each other personality wise and also in their rakugo is so enticing to watch, you can't look away from them. They walked so that other disaster gays could run lmao.

3. Yeah ok let's get into the ending lmao. I will always choose to interpret that Shinnosuke is the spiritual successor to Kikuhiko's and Sukeroku's rakugo not...blood related successor of Kikuhiko lmao. I think that fits the story and the themes and the characters waaaay better than Kikuhiko having Shinnosuke as his biological grandchild 💀 It's nature vs nurture in my eyes! He has the nature of Sukeroku because that's his biological grandfather, but Kikuhiko raised him, it's the nurture side! Why it was left open ended...hmm I think it's supposed to be a stylistic choice to reflect how one unravels a rakugo story? But yeah I refuse the other option for my own sanity lmao. Also also people always ignore/forget about Kikuhiko's struggles with gender expression and I'm sad about that :( so important to his character and his relationships throughout the story.

[caramel-ribbons]

Feminist Recs for Anime (For Women’s History Month)

For many women, it’s hard to get into anime due to its lackluster and sometimes dehumanizing portrayals of women and girls. Underdeveloped love interests, token chicks, and of course fanservice. It’s especially hard when the anime fandom (particularly here in North America), accepts and even applauds harmful representations of women and girls and discourage any and all criticism of these characters (i.e.: the female teammates of Konoha 12 from Naruto, the girls of Class 1-A in My Hero, literally most Shonen and Isekai have an issue with their female characters🥴).

So, here is my first rec for people who want to watch anime with good female characters because there are plenty. I’m making sure to avoid fanservice types shows and anime which relegate women to the sidelines. Also, I want to stick to one’s I like, but I’m willing to also include anime that I didn’t particularly enjoy if it means giving newcomers a chance to find something they really like and resonate with. Keep in mind I’m only recommending anime I’ve watched.

1. Yona of the Dawn

Features a female lead, men written by women, and a fantasy story with a romantic subplot. One of my go-tos’ since it’s a favorite.

Yona of the Dawn is a historical fantasy-adventure series about a princess named Yona whose forced to abandon her kingdom with her bodyguard, Hak, after someone close to her kills her father, the king, and takes over as the new leader. There’s more, but for those who want to go in as blind as possible, this is all I can give.

Yona is one of the best Shoujo, hell, one of the best anime I’ve seen in awhile. The plot is balanced between building this world the characters explore, developing the political system, and fleshing out the roles and powers of the legendary dragons. Interwoven into all of these plot lines, you also have the romantic subplot between Yona and her bodyguard. It’s important to note that several of the male leads also have feelings for Yona and that, throughout the anime, Yona will have lingering feelings for someone else, but this isn’t a case where all of the men in this circle are in love with the female lead, and this part of the story, while very much present, is not the main focus of this story.

The characters are all interesting and likable, (my personal favorites are Yona, Yoon, and Zeno), including the villain who is given sympathetic motivations, and a common criticism of Shoujo, that it’s male characters are underdeveloped, is not an issue here. All of the characters, but especially the legendary dragons, have distinct personalities as well as their own backstories and motivations. They also don’t fall into the usual pitfalls of male characters where they’re only written to fulfill power fantasies for male writers or fanservice for female writers. They’re pretty, sure, but they’re also given depth and treated respectfully.

As for Yona herself, she deserves all the praise she gets. Her character arc is as good as you hear it is. She starts out ignorant and spoiled, sheltered because of her pampered life as a princess, but as the story goes on, and as she’s forced to witness the tragedies of her kingdom due to her father’s rule, she becomes more indebted to her kingdom. Best of all, despite the story focusing on Yona becoming braver, stronger, and wiser, it never does so in a way that feels inauthentic to her. Yona is becoming a better person and a better leader, but it doesn’t come without effort and she isn’t always rewarded just because she’s the main character.

This is for you if you want an anime with a rich and engaging fantasy story and a female lead. If you like historical and political fantasy stories and have an interest in another Avatar-style of show (chosen one, reincarnation, voyage around the world, themes related to poverty, political incompetence, and possibly war).

However, the anime is not complete. It’s an Ouran situation where the manga has far surpassed the material of the anime adaptation, but the anime still hasn’t caught up to that material. Even if you include the OVAs (which are really good, do NOT skip these, trust me), the anime still ends in a way that feels inconclusive. So, if you’re unwilling to read the manga or simply settle for an incomplete series, then maybe skip this one, but I don’t think you should let it deter you.

So, if you want a political and historical fantasy-adventure that features an amazing character arc for the female lead, men written by women, and a slow-burn romance, then this is for you.

[consumeronionbulletin]

See You in My 19th Life (2023)

I unabashedly love this show. The actors, the characters, the way it was shot, the convoluted dramatic plot that seems to bend back on itself, it all works for me. But you have to keep in mind that this is not a romcom: it's a weepy dramedy with big romantic feels.

What worked

This cast is so great. Beautiful people acting out big feelings while telling a good story. The cinematography was excellent, restrained when it needed to be and leaning hard into the fantasy to tell the story in other places. The plot didn't always make logic sense, but the writing was very good at getting across the feelings it wants you to feel.

What Didn't Work

Some of the musical cues bothered me, especially when it tried to play up this big mystery about Kang Min-gi. (Was he a bad guy? Yes. Did he deserve his own sinister background music when he came on screen? No.) Also, there were a few logic breaks that I feel like would have been ironed out if they'd had 16 episodes instead of 12. Finally, I'm not an expert, but people who have read the webtoon it was based on were disappointed with some of the departures from the original story. None of this bothered me, because it had so many high moments.

The Performances

Shin Hye-sun as (19th lifer) Ban Ji-eum. I would die for this character. I would love to see her play a short season of the Korean version of Doctor Who, because she would nail that role. It wasn't just the moments of a beautiful person looking sad about drama, she played the comic parts well, she played the angry parts well, she was downright weird at times in a way that was unsettling, and that totally worked for this character. I now have to go back and see everything this actor has been in before now.

Ahn Bo-hyun as (sad rich boi) Moon Seo-ha. This actor was also really good. He had to play it straight and stoic through much of the series, and that could come across as wooden in some scenes, but then they would let him loose in a scene and it was amazing to watch. His chemistry with Shin Hye-sun was so good, as well.

Ha Yoon-kyung as (spring sunshine) Yoon Cho-won. I loved her in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and this is even better. Her best role yet. The second lead couple in this was (somewhat) less emotional, and that made the slow burn more enjoyable in some ways. But I really loved the scenes with Cho-won and Ji-eum. Just as much fun to watch as the romantic scenes.

Ahn Dong-goo as (the driver) Ha Do-yoon. Somehow, this guy had to be more stoic than Ahn Bo-hyun's character, which made the moments when the emotions leaked out of him even more electric. I wish we'd had a few more episodes to get some happy romantic moments towards the end of the series, but he was still great to watch on screen and did an excellent job.

Cha Chung-hwa as (the niece) Kim Ae-kyung. She was good in Hometown Cha x 3, but I would riot if something bad happened to her character in this drama. Did I riot? Watch and find out!

Lee Si-woo as (the little brother) Ha Do-jin. A delightful character played really well by Lee Si-woo. It was always a fun scene when he showed up.

Lee Chae-min as (one weird guy) Kang Min-gi. I always felt unsettled when this guy was in a scene. In case you had doubts about the guy, he had creepy music following him around the entire series, but the actor didn't really need it.

Kang Myung-joo as (the sad mother) Jo Yoo-seon. I really loved her performances even though they were usually the saddest scenes. She had so few lines, and managed to do alot with them.

Bae Hae-sun as (evil stepmom) Jang Yeon-ok. I especially disliked her. The actor did a great job of playing a shameless, entitled backstabber. Nice to see her get a bigger role (liked her in It's okay to not be okay), even if it is as someone not very nice.

Baek Seung-cheol as (all time bad dad) Ban Hak-su. I hated this character so much, which shows the actor did a great job.

Moon Dong-hyuk as (bad brother) Ban Dong-woo. I loathed and pitied this character, overall another good performance.

Kim Si-a as (the 18th lifer) Yoon Joo-won. She did a very good job in some tough scenes. I'm always amazed at how good some of these young actors are.

Park So-yi as (the young 19th lifer) Ban Ji-eum. Very good in the episodes she showed up. Was fun seeing her onscreen opposite Ahn Bo-hyun.

Lee Han-na as (mystery girl) Han-na. They should have done more with this character or figured out how to do without her completely. They just didn't have the episode time to do her justice. Overall, an okay actor that was completely overshadowed by the other actors.

Seo-ha's Family. I'm usually indifferent to chaebol corporate nonsense, but the actors did an excellent job of making you feel like part of the family. A terrible family, that treated Seo-ha terribly. The uncle (played by Lee Hae-young) was a standout, but they were all good in their own way, including the step-brother.

The past lives. I really enjoyed the different past lives. They didn't always have alot of lines, but they still made you feel something as you got little snapshots of harrowing moments in their lives.

The bad rich boy society guys. Honorable mention. I didn't always know their names, but every scene where they mistreated Ha Do-yoon's character was still infuriating, and that was on the actors as much as the writing.

TL;DR

This show is something special. I highly recommend it if you have any kind of interest in the premise. I will definitely be rewatching it.