idk whose at fault the novel if there is one or just this webtoons direction. like i came her for a devilish evil tyrant and instead im getting an irrational yandere with a sword and ptsd and its not even a good one. ☹ plus her crush is not all that for her to be like this… girlboss gaslight gatekeep movemt did not win this time
it’s so common to make these characters fit into simple flat tropes we see in this genre but for both Eris and Helena to be this dynamic and round enough is great because now it forces the readers to think a little more critically and really consider each side. It definitely humanizes them both. I also feel like if you’re pushing most of the blame on the male princes you’re kind of missing the point and directing the blame somewhere else. What those men do doesn’t change the fact that what the OG Eris did to Helena was horrible and that she’s not a good person, because like the New Eris said.. she’s not trying to fix that.
And I really like that about Eris, she’s not trying to be a better or nicer person, she’s not going to topple over and apologize for the things she’s done and she’s not going to pretend to like Helena and make fake peace. It’s bitchy but it’s grounded and it feels more real than almost half of these FL characters in these shoujo isekais.
I also really like how Helena as pushover as she is, knows that and still opts for kindness at the end of the day. It’s not the automatic “randomly nice girl lead thats not bitchy so she’s palatable for everyone” it’s a genuine wall and cover that she uses for herself but also it speaks on her character as well. There’s reasoning for the way she acts, and I really appreciate that because it makes her just as different.
I really like the mini introspection that’s done for these two girls and the more attention to detail for characters like Eris. While this may seem like bare minimum stuff, in a genre that pumps out below the minimum content and we all gobble it up anyway bc it’s entertaining.. This is what I consider great subversion.
but i’m still reading because they are sexy and that’s enough for me