Redemption arc
Reading all the comments on Jinx has given me so many topic ideas, and I’m curious to know some of your thoughts and opinions about redemption.
I see a lot of people saying ML is beyond redemption or that even with a redemption arc, they still won’t forgive him. I get that, and I don’t read Jinx, so I don’t have strong feelings one way or another.
Anyway, it got me thinking, a while back I watched a Turkish dizi called Istanbullu Gelin, and in that series, the main character’s best friend marries a guy that has lots of issues. He has anger management issues and one time he beat her silly. She eventually convinces him to seek therapy and he starts going, but initially he’s not taking it seriously. His wife finally divorces him, but she’s pregnant so he’s not completely out of her life. Long story short, in the end he continues going to therapy and redeems himself, but she doesn’t get back with him. Both of them moved on and were better partners to their new loves due to their past relationship.
I liked that resolution. A character was redeemed and part of that redemption was due to a love interest, but in the end they had hurt each other too much to function as a couple.
Seeing as most stories have redemption arcs that end up with the original couples, would you prefer to read more stories where a horrible character initially starts their redemption arc due to their current love interest, but in the end they each find new loves? Or keep the status quo and have a “love conquers all” type story?
Like I said, I don’t read Jinx, but from what I can see in the comments I think something like ML realizing he’s been shit and starting his redemption due to his feelings for MC, but then in the end after all he’s done to MC each of them finding new loves would work better. You can forgive someone and still not want a romantic relationship with them anymore.
Especially when many times a potential second love interest is introduced, and usually that second love would be a better choice anyway.
Opinions?