An intimate armor removing scene to symbolize having a conversation on the same level, where some of the deepest secrets are confessed, all contained in a pair doomed by the narrative pair of childhood friends turned enemies????? HOMOEROTIC!
Don't get it wrong, it's not. In your opinion maybe it is, but no. For me, it's like their brotherly come back, supporting each other once again like in the past to bring Yona back, and there's no deep secrets at all. They're talking about what happened in the past, and Soo-won already knew that Hak knows about his secret. Soo-won confessing about how he really feel is like him being grateful that no matter what sins he did, bestfriends will always be bestfriends. Them talking without any hatred nor sadness just points out that they'll always be the friends they used to back then. (No hate, just stating my opinion.)
As a lesbian this really is not homoerotic is a brotherly bond and mutual trust that is being stripped down to its core, saying it’s gay and romantic takes away the impact of the scene and impact of men who love and respect each other in a non romantic sense
Absolutely, I was being a little silly and hyperbolic/ referencing a meme. I 100% understand what you mean
As a bisexual woman I agree, homoerotic is probably the wrong word I just gasped out loud when Hak took Su Won’s armor off especially since I kinda get queer vibes from Su Won, aromantic gay is my headcanon. 100% not intended to be romantic by the author, I just loved the symbolism of it!
The symbolism meaning the show of intimacy between them even though they’ve been estranged. But do imagine if this same scene was between Hak and Yona. Hak taking off Yona’s armor to symbolize him talking to her on a more personal level without their class status coming into play. That scene probably would be read as romantic, because it is a show of trust and a very intimate act. So it does not have to be romantic I was exaggerating that aspect.
Well put!
SCRAMIFNNCKSJDJCKDJDJFJDOXKSHSJXKCOSNSJX what she just wooshed into the chalice what. Hak??? Aaaaaaaaaa zeno… SCREAMS
It’s been a while since omega mc kicked somebody’s ass, I kinda forgot he was all about that in the beginning. Love that he is so strong. Love this toxic yaoi power couple <3
I really liked the story set in Italy, but seriously trying to address the effect of stereotyping and at the same time writing out statements like “ Most Italians are lazy” ??? Like cultural norms exist and Japan and Italy are different so the exploration of those differences can be fun and wholesome. Like the bit where he was waiting for him for a long time and the Japanese man apologized saying everybody has been coming late when he gives a meeting time. That was a cute and funny moment that pokes fun at a cultural difference. But having a character say “I’m the only serious and hardworking person in all of Italy” is the same stereotyping the Japanese man got angry at (with good reason!)
I liked the story but I find it interesting to analyze that part. Believe me Americans include unintended and intended culturally ignorant stuff in a bunch of our media too. I just watched a video by Farya Faraji about American/ western musical depictions of the Middle East. The “oriental” “desert” music you hear in movies like Prince of Persia is actually Armenian or Indian or just complete nonsense. Instead of trying to be culturally accurate movie directors go for the more recognizable (to Americans) foreign sounding music which is usually extremely inaccurate.
I chose to believe the author did not mean harm by the short chapter about an international romance. They just used narrative short cuts, like stereotypes, to establish the characters since they had a shorter chapter. It’s not malicious but it is ignorant. If it’s easy to recognize in Japanese media when it is about a culture closer to Western ideas. Take this feeling and think about media about different cultures and countries made by the Western world and how it can be improved to avoid lazy stereotypes and give the audience something that doesn’t encourage ignorant norms about others
Thank you for writing this. It came SO CLOSE to understanding that stereotypes are often racist, positive or not. And then they doubled down on the lazy italians/diligent Japanese thing
I am in awe and suspense!!!
I choose to believe Yona wants Zeno to get closure before he dies. And she also wants to confront the dragon gods herself.
I truly hope they let Zeno die because he’s just so tired of having to play his role. But I suspect he will live on… but maybe there will be a short scene of him saying good bye to the crew before Yona kills him?
Her reaction to him trying to kill himself in this chapter makes me feel like she would be empathetic towards his wishes but also assisted suicide is a very touchy topic and there is a lot of feelings that go into that.
But this story has had the theme of death since the beginning. Yona’s father was a nice man but his death helped a lot of people because he did not run his country well (and also probably killed his brother but I’m in doubt of that). Yona has had to kill at least one person (not sure if there was more after the human trafficker guy) and had a lot of moral conflict around it but decided it was the only way to end this conflict. Suwon, the man who killed her father and tried to have her and Hak killed, she has let live for now because she knows the country needs a strong leader.
I think she will kill Zeno because she has been making these moral choices and dealing with death since the start of the story. But I can also see her not killing him. I’m very engaged in the writing and can’t wait to see what happens.
I love this story so much but man the ending of the first chapter ruins it for me. It’s also out of nowhere and too cartoonish for the rest of the story. Just tone it down a bit and have the omega try to go further with the alpha but it stops earlier he didn’t need to tie him up??? The stalking too, it could’ve ended at a confrontation before rape happened, but that’s a common trope so I understand why it’s there but I don’t like it. I always come back to this manga it’s one of my favorite stories and probably my favorite omegaverse one. But it could be so much better.
As always I assume these themes of sexual assault and rape are included because it’s part of the author’s fetish or appeals to them in a revenge way. There’s plenty of manga, movies, shows etc. with rape scenes that could have been removed and not affect the story much. The story is kinda about the omega standing up for himself in a world where sexual assault and rape is definitely treated with a big helping of victim blaming. His mom and the alpha feel like they should have protected him better. But the point is even at a “lower” societal status he can still be happy as an omega.
He stands up for himself and tries to act more normal. Because of that people think his friendliness is flirting (afab and or female presenting people probably understand what that feels like). He takes control of that, he wants to live with the consequences of his actions because he doesn’t like being coddled.
The omega’s story arc is finding a balance between the “you should have known better” victim blaming and being completely stripped of his personal freedom. Like he said he just wanted his mom to say “you finally noticed?” He just wanted the alpha to ask if he was okay. He didn’t need their pity or protectiveness. Even with the alpha having thoughts of wanting to lock him up and keep him isolated at the end the omega just takes control of the situation.
This kind of story is difficult because it feels like victim blaming. It feels like the author is saying if you’re assaulted you just need to fight back, which is impossible in a lot of situations. But there is a nuance to it that I really relate to as a woman in society and more generally as a person.