okikai

I have major issues with the characterization of Jeong Yo im the second half of the story. You cannot see even glimpses of who he used to be. And its not justified by the text, because it would be hard to. It feels like they had a specific idea where the plot had to go, and didnt build the correct character to do it so they had to change him fundamentally. Obviously they try to have the original him back somewhat at the end but because of that disconnect in characterization it only highlights how for most of the second half it wasnt the same personality.

I dont think the writers considered what sort of mental state and person youd have to be to physically (indirectly sure but still) and mentally torture someone for months, someone you once cared for deeply even if now those feelings are complicated by hate. It would take someone REALLY fucked up. Its the SUSTAINED part. I think people lash out and hurt eachother all the time even when they care but this was so prolonged, he noticed this person falling apart in front of his eyes over the course of months, he pushed and pushed without the slightest hesitation. Its just not what the character we met at the start would ever bring himself to do even to those he hated. Sure he would punch and fight and lash out and even take revenge. You have to be fucked in the head to do it in the intimate personal torturous way he did. Or at least you’d have to have much better reasons.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT GETS ME? A lot of the plan was HINGING on Pi O being remorseful or wanting to genuinely gain forgiveness. It relies entirely on him GENUINELY wanting that. So Jeong Yo made this plan knowing Pi O well, he was right after all. He knew his so well as to entirely trap and control him but not well enough to ever ever EVER doubt that Pi O did it?


It would have been enough if i had seen him show even just a bit of who he used to be. If he showed some hesitation even if he still chose revenge in the end. Some of that complicated old love coming through as he sees Pi O break in front of him, even a tiny bit that he puts away as he continues to hurt him. But there was nothing complicated about Jeong Yo as he tortured Pi O. It was simple and straightforward. An insult to their history, that should caused a more messy tangle of emotions in him that it did.


I found this compelling but ultimately very flawed and unsatisfying.