#King Il

[deqiha]

Yona fans who go like "I will never forgive Soowon" are so silly in my eyes, tbh, I'd even say they're a bit cringe. Acting as if Soowon committed a crime against them personally (I say we give him a prize for getting rid of a shitty king).

I'm sorry for Yona and Hak, but I am even more sorry for Kouka's people who had had King Il as their ruler.

[mii-ruby]

Something I think would've added a bit of spice to the story would've been if Kashi was accused of cheating. After all, because Yona is the reincarnation of the Crimson dragon, she got red hair instead of her parents' black hair, but at the very least she has her mother's lavender eyes

But she got nothing from her father's side. It wouldn't have been surprising if some loudmouths started questioning Kashi's fidelity and Yona's legitimacy as a member of the royal family, and I can imagine the gossip getting louder once Il was chosen as the next king, since it would've put Yona as the next in line for the throne, which wouldn't please a lot of people.

This little detail would've also added more depth to the spoiled Yona of chapter 1. Her dislike for her hair wouldn't just be because of its unusual color and unruly nature, but also because of all the stigma it caused her as a child, from being labeled a bastard child to hearing whispers of her mother being a whore and her father being "so weak and boring that even his wife cheated on him"

I can also see this as another reason to why Yuhon would want to kill Kashi. On top of him disliking her for being a religious person, he'd absolutely not tolerate her humiliating his brother. And since he doesn't believe in the Crimson dragon King, he'd definitely not buy "Yona being his reincarnation" as an explanation to her red hair.

Only king Joonam, Il and Kashi would know the truth.

[freewilllife]

The Crimson illness is a consequence of the "POWER OF GOD"

Thanks to @thoughtfulstudentsalad post...there came a little idea to me...

I make the following claims:

1.All the descendants that have died due to the Crimson Illness possess a special ability...a magic like power that stemmed from King Hiryuu´s godhood.

2.And so the Dragon Gods called only half of them to heaven...as not everybody of the descendants possessed that special power.

3. Even King Hiryuu died due to his body not being able to withstand this power

4. The flaws in logic in the narrative are no flaws, but can be explained by this theory.

5. The Dragon Gods manipulated everybody in order for Yona to come back to heaven...I mean literally everybody...

Let´s begin.

1.King Hiryuu and some of his descendants possess the POWER OF GODS

The power of King Hiryuu is even mentioned at the beginning of the manga...when Iksuu tells Yona a story...

THE POWER OF AUTHORITY

The features of that POWER OF AUTHORITY

The POWER OF AUTHORITY influences the feelings and the impression of the person that has the bad luck to be within a certain distance of said godly descendant or reincarnation. They want to follow them...

The POWER fucks with their feelings and minds...it rewires them...

Of course Yona possesses the greatest POWER OF AUTHORITY.

Literally...That is the reason, why people lose their fucking brains, when Yona is in action...because she rewires their brains...

And they want to follow her, they love her...even Soo Won´s brain is rewired...he loves Yona´s red hair...after all...Even though he hates King Hiryuu...

Yona beats Soo Won regarding that power, she is the reincarnation after all...but let´s say...but to that I come later...

People are drawn to her so easily, if she wishes it...that seems to be the crux...

The power only seems to kick in, if the descendant/reincarnation absolutely wishes for it.

The person has eye contact with the reincarnation/descendant...There is a reason, why Soo Won´s and Yona´s eyes are mentioned so often.....

The POWER OF AUTHORITY is not infallible: I come later to that.

The POWER OF AUTHORITY draws out the leadership of strong people who have the ability to lead as well...

I just say...Tae Jun (Yona) and Lily (Soo Won)

The power most likely has no good influence on people with a weak mind...KIng Hiryuu was captured after all...

Proof that it really is a magic ability

Yona mentions herself later that her blood was burning...Where do we have a bond or power based on blood? The bond of the dragon warriors...It is Yona using magic...on Tae Jun...

Soo Won is the SUPER-DESCENDANT of HIryuu

I think with the meeting of his parents we can savely assume:

Soo Won´s birth was fated.

If the Dragon Gods really did not intend for him to be born, he simply wouldn´t have.

But Soo Won was necessary for their scheme.

With only half the descendants dying I can assume, that not every descendant had the power of authority...but Yon hi had it...just like her father... and the magic worked on Yu hon...who did not believe in the power of the gods...The power of authority is a charme as well, after all...Maybe there was even a reason, why they met, when Yon hi was attacked...maybe she wished to be rescued...

Yon hi barely used her power, but she still died pretty soon...so it is likely that she harbored a very strong power herself, but was too afraid to really use it.

Of couse she would protect Yona, the queen bee with the strongest power from her son...but let´´s look at Soo Won...

Hak correctly recorgnized that Soo Won was literally born to lead...

Hak realized that power of authority...and was infatuated with Soo Won...

"He has some kind of power that reels people in"...

Just to be clear...I will later explain, why I assume this:

The POWER OF AUTHORITY cannot really create love...that means Hak loves Yona really as he does like Soo Won. Strong feelings beat the POWER OF AUTHORITY.

Soo Won was used as pawn of the gods

Not just Soo Won, basically all people are used for that purpose. KIng Il was told from the day, basically that boy was born that he would kill him one day...that absolutely destroyed every possibility for Soo Won´s power to have an effect on KIng Il....

King Il strong feelings of fear nullified Soo Won´s power...Maybe there was a reason King Il feared speaking with Soo Won...if Soo Won really possesses this power, King Il was maybe afraid that he had an effect on him?

There is another example of strong feelings nullifying the POWER OF the GODS: Zeno

Zeno was able to even attack Hak and Yona and having a plan that went against the wishes of the Dragon Gods...Because his desperation was already big enough...

Hak basically also wanted to kill Soo Won...

I guess that King Il knew of the POWER OF AUTHORITY...and maybe he also knew that Soo Won possessed it as well...

King Il reeled Soo Won´s feelings up on the day he was murdered. Most likely he wanted to die a martyr for the cause...since Soo Won´s determination and hate was necessary to have a stronger POWER OF AUTHORITY than Yona...at least for a certain time. And to induce the POWER OF AUTHORITY in Yona and to make her desperate enough to let it grow and grow.

By the way, I show you the moment Soo Won´s power kicked in...maybe not for the first time...but it skyrocked ...on the night after his father was murdered.

Do you see it...how Soo Won moves the flammes...His feelings and determination are great enough...to use the power in his blood. To make his blood boil...Just like Yona´s.

I do make the claim that it was necessary for Soo Won to have a "POWER OF AUTHORITY" stronger than Yona for a certain time..

because he drove her out and made her assume her own power...without Soo Won this would have not happened. And he had to go against her wishes and will to do so.

His determination was strong enough...due to his own pain...Strong feelings break the POWER OF AUTHORITY after all...even in Yona´s case.

So Soo Won pushed forward and rescued with HHB´s help the country...and he was using and using his ability...

Soo Won has an influence on the Dragon Warriors

There are certain factors that make me believe that Soo Won is basically the descendant with the strongest POWER OF AUTHORITY currently alive...

Soo Won resembles King Hiryuu like no other person besides Yona herself...from his love to people, his determination...

His determination is big enough to use his full potential: Soo Won´s trauma made him basically cut out everything that could distract his attention from his big task.

His birth cannot be an accident, his father was a charismatic as well and his mother a descendant...

Soo Won is the only descendant that has a similar effect on the dragon warriors than Yona...

It is not the same...however

a) When Hak wants to attack Soo Won, Jae ha protects Soo Won ...more for Hak´s sake...but still...

b) Kija wanted to take revenge, but is unable to even lift a finger...against Soo Won

"And yet why can´t I move"

And there is proof that it was the power that prevented this...

Here Kija´s heart is accelerating, when Soo Won touches him...

And Shin ha´s reaction is also interesting...you know the one, who Soo Won claimed to have hated him...

"I didn´t get a bad feeling. He gives off an air that is quiet and strong. And he has eyes from which you cannot look away."

Shin ha does not appear to hate Soo Won so greatly as Soo Won thought he did...But what did happen then? Why did Shin ha attack Soo Won?

This explanation is given in the latest chapter...

"I never thought that I wanted to die"

Soo Won wanted to die at that moment due to his immense guilt...It is interesting, but Soo Won mentioned giving his life a couple of times...even at the beginning, after he killed King Il he talks about "giving his life for his father´s sake"...in Awa he is "ready to give Yona his life"...And in the last chapter he tells us, that helping Hak is his last task as a king.

I guess the guilt made him at times suicidal...there is the small possibility that Soo Won can actually command the dragon warriors in certain times...Soo Won himself commanded Shin ha to kill him, but he couldn´t - Soo Won was still protected. Soo Won did not need much power, Shin ha´s feelings were already at a disarray but ..Soo Won felt relieved, when he was attacked. His wish to die at that moment was huge.

Shin ha can instill fear and terror in others, but cannot make others wish to commit suicide...so it was Soo Won´s own wish.

Yona and Hak did not absolve him of his life after all...

So it does appear...that Soo Won has a little influence on the dragon warriors...His power seems to be so strong at least...that Zeno asked him the question, when they met for the second time..

"Do you desire the four dragon warriors?"

As far as I remember, Soo Won is the only descendant Zeno has ever asked the question...if Soo Won had no influence on the dragon warriors, the question would be pointless.

After Xing Yona´s POWER OF AUTHORITY surpassed Soo Won´s even with his iron will

The chapter 141 is called "influence" for a reason...

In Xing it is apparent...that Yona is using her "POWER OF AUTHORITY" on Soo Won...

But why can´t I move?

Similiarily to Kija, Soo Won is frozen...Both Yona and him have eye contact...

Suddenly...Soo Won remembers King Il that told him of Yona being the reincarnation...

Soo Won refused to acknowledge the gods..but he feels the POWER OF AUTHORITY on his own skin...

I really want to know...how big Yona´s massive power is...Lily came to "rescue her"...but was this really an accident or did Yona "call her"?

Soo Won with all his determination has failed here...

Maybe that Yona is able to find the correct words in those situations is also due to that power, she possesses.

It is not just simple magic, but it also seems to create ideal situations for reaching that goal..This power fucks with the brain and feelings ot the people, but not to a degree that is completely ridiculous...people that hate Yona, won´t suddenly love her...

But she might find the correct words to persuade people, where there is a chance...or having a high intelligence as it is necessary for a leader...

However Yona´s power isn´t infallible either...as it is the case with the dragon warriors...people are creedy and people desire the power of gods...

sometimes she does not have that iron will to assume the POWER OF AUTHORITY...even though right now, she is pretty fired up and determined..the reason, why her power seems to be at a maximum.

I even wonder if the idea with the lightning of the beacon...if Yona had a hunch that something like this would really happen...as she seemed to have some kind of foresight as well...

3. Even King Hiryuu died due to his body not being able to withstand this power

King Hiryuu seemed to have become a human being as a grown men...because at the beginning...he tells the dragon warriors...that he "is already human"...As if he was not too long ago still a dragon god.

King Hiryuu used the The POWER OF AUTHORITY...he must have used it for years...even with the protection of the dragon gods...

At least King Hiryuu contracted the Crimson Illness..."his body was getting worn out"...but it isn´t due to age...that is bullshit. King Hiryuu is at most 40 years in this picture...

It was most likely his never-ending use of the POWER OF AUTHORITY that has worn him out...because Hiryuu had to battle much during his life...

And maybe it was even him being tired of battling...his determination might have broken down at last...

Maybe @thoughtfulstudentsalad is right...maybe it was not just the power alone that Soo Won used...but his horrible state of his mind...King Hiryuu let him doubt and his determination was weakened...

And Soo Won grew sicker and sicker...but i guess...using a gods power in a human body, might also add to that burden...

5. The Dragon Gods manipulated everybody in order for Yona to come back to heaven...I mean literally everybody...

I mean literally anybody...

Yu hon was shown a charismatic wife that would lead to have him a son with the powers of a god.

Even the priests that were slaughtered and that instilled a hate in King Il and Kashi...making them their nice little pawns to sacrifice in order to instill the POWER OF AUTHORITY in Yona..

King Il was made scared madly of Yu hon and Soo Won and that lead to him committing the murder...that really fired Soo Won up to assume his own POWER OF AUTHORITY..and Soo Won was the one who drove Yona to develop hers...that helped her to see...and now Yona possesses the strongest POWER OF AUTHORITY...

And at the end..Soo Won makes Yona queen and she will use her POWER of AUTHORITY and contract the Crismon Illness as well over time...

But that would most likely not lead to Yona coming back to heaven...

Therefore they used the dragon warriors and especially Zeno...2000 years are enough for Zeno nearly becoming mad...his desperation broke the bond partly...so that he could drive home the message to Yona to help him...and return to heaven...Especially since the other dragon warriors are taken hostage as well...

King HIryuu loved the dragon warriors and human beings after all...

Mos likely Yona fell into a trap.

[stardvstbby]

the way Kusanagi has been able to take Hiryuu castle & transform our perspective of it without spending hardly any time there before now is incredible. it used to be this place of comfort, of happiness and security especially for Yona, but as we learn more about the corrupt government and our perception of King Il changes to become more ambiguous and obscure, our view of the castle changes too. by the time the Happy Hungry Bunch are there it has this enclosed, confining feel, and there’s a sense of discomfort as Yona realizes her safe place in childhood is now a place of danger for her. the dragons even talk about how safe they feel and how that’s worrisome because they’re technically in enemy territory. it makes a sense of dissonance, creating a creepiness that attaches to the castle walls that seems to close in on Yona, keeping her separated from her loved ones. it’s a great contrast/parallel to Yona’s own change over the series and how she’s growing further from the naive princess who once lived in that castle

[soo-won]

Hi!! I’ve been following your tumblr and Twitter for a while now and I love all your akayona analyses. ❤️ I remember your rambles about headcanoning Suwon as transmasc/transfem? Could I hear more abt that? It’s rlly cool cause I feel he’s portrayed in an incredibly gender neutral light, in comparison to many other male leads :)

Thank you so much for wonderful ask! I'm glad you like my analysis :') Idk who you are but thank you for the support!!

And yeah! I headcanon Suwon as non-binary and there is a lot to unpack about his gender imo...I very much believe akayona has a lot to say about gender especially through Yona and Suwon's characters, and in that Suwon being a man and Yona being a woman is thematically important. But the way the story presents this theme in Suwon's character in his struggle (or lack of) with balancing between "masculinity" and "feminity" can make him easily readable as trans. Transfem or transmasc and every nuance in between.

I've also been headcanoning him as non-binary from before the manga truly explored these aspects only because I'm non-binary and I related to him too so it's not that deep. But as you said he is portrayed more gender neutrally than most male characters of the cast from the beginning and I think it's worth exploring. Whether he's gender non confirming in universe is interesting to discuss too, because you have other characters like Joon-gi for example, but he's at least not really traditionally masculine from our standards when you first see him.

(Long post under the cut)

But as much as it doesn't have to be that deep, I'm also convinced it actually is and that's why I'm entering character analysis territory here, so please stay with me ahah. When I think about Suwon's gender, I just can't not think about his parents and what they represent to him and how that ties to his overall character arc. Yuhon and Yonhi are pretty much the "ideal" symbols of traditional masculinity and feminity we have in the story in their gender roles and the values associated with them. Suwon is one of the rare character we have a glimpse of both parents that lived long enough for him to remember and be impacted by both. This sounds silly but basically Suwon's gender is like,, if a man and a woman had a baby to me fnbkjhbgkjhbgh.

In universe, Yuhon represents strength, courage and reason. He is the traditional and ideal male. He is bold, brash, dominant. He is the parent Suwon deeply admires and longed to be like, and that he then took upon himself to replace after his passing. He's the figure everyone in Kouka remembers positively as a competent and strong leader. He's the parent that taught Suwon to see people as pieces on a chessboard and to always be pragmatic, to make the most effective and straightforward decisions. Suwon inherented some of these traits himself, but the entire struggle of his character is that he isn't and cannot exactly be his father, that he can't follow in his father's footsteps (or what he thinks they are) as much as he and the people around him would like. This ideal masculinity represented by Yuhon is not something Suwon is able to achieve and that we should wish for. The other side of the coin is dominance and violence, it's stealing the agency of others with no regard to their person, it's causing a chain of pain and more violence. Suwon, ultimately, cannot and shouldn't respond to all these expectations. They're not him. Because he is also Yonhi's son, which he tried to cover as much as he can as a King.

Because in contrast, Yonhi represents the "ideal femininity" that is passive, sentimental and kind. Her assigned role was only to serve Yuhon and Suwon, and had no power for much else. In appearance, she's the ideal wife and mother. She is conventionally very feminine, we see her with different garments, accessories and haircut in every scene, hinting that it's something she likes (especially when you compare with Kashi)... She's kept in the dark about Yuhon's secrets and all he does when he leaves the castle and fights on the battlefield. She has no agency. She is the parent forgotten by all, never mentioned even by Suwon, who died with nothing to her name. She is the parent that didn't want Suwon to kill Il but to think about Yona, she is the one who taught him about kindness. (i also mentionned yuhon and yonhi's respective legacy here)

And the irony is, physically Suwon is almost a copy of his mother. At first glance, Suwon is in general much more like her than he is like Yuhon. Suwon is pretty and cute, and is assumed to be weak, passive, and lacking in general as a warrior. Suwon, who wishes he was like his father, looks "nothing" like him and actually looks like his very feminine mother. And the thing is, what makes him so gender ambiguous is that he actually embraces that. Suwon uses his appearance and plays with the perception others have of him so they underestimate him (Geuntae, Soojin, Li Hazara,...) he has a very similar haircut as his mother, is interested in swordfight, tactics, but he's also into flowers, tea and sweets, he wore clothes with flower and butterflies patterns before his coronation (which is not supposed to be only a women thing of course but in universe I don't have any other example of male characters having those so I take it into account), he interacts with other female characters like a peer that share the same interests, too. He is first perceived the same way as Il and the opposite of his father or warriors like Geuntae, Mundok or Hak. He isn't like Il or Yonhi though, and that's what makes him not entirely feminine either, he actually proves himself as a man to these people after all.

But even as a child, Suwon took up the role of a mother for Yona like it was the most natural thing in the world. And in a similar fashion he also took up the role of Yuhon to "take care" and "protect" his mother, and to lead Kouka. Suwon is able to navigate both feminine and masculine roles depending on what is the most fitting to the situation at hand, and he achieves that with little struggle. This is probably the point that makes him so gender fluid? He's fine with both, it feels natural to him, this is what differentiates him from his parents' image shackled by very stereotypical gender norms. It's definitely what makes him so unique and himself. Suwon is always described as having equal interests and curiosity for everything and everyone, and it plays a part in this as well. In a world where interests are gender divided, where women are encouraged to have interest in love, fashion, luxuries and where the men are rather into sword training or studies, Suwon who can jump from one to the other with ease, like gender doesn't matter feels especially liberating.

But Suwon is actually still shackled and not immune to patriarchy and it all ties to the meaning behind the position of a King. Suwon loved his mother, and he sincerely loved Yona before the coup just like she was for being cute and kind and bringing him warmth. "Feminity" isn't a sin or bad to Suwon, he even values it. However, for him and many others in universe, all these things are unfitting for a King, like...he likes it, but he thinks he doesn't need it for his goal. Which leads us to King Il.

Suwon values "feminity" and is aware of that part of himself, but rejects it when he has to act as a King. "Masculinity" is about being strong, strong enough to protect, and being "feminine" puts you in a position of weakness and powerlessness. I don't think it's a coincidence that he inherited his illness from his mother either, which literally puts him in a position of vulnerability and weakness that he absolutely hates and tries to cover up. Feminity is fine for women and the roles assigned to them, they are lovely as they are, left behind but where they can keep being kind and sentimental while the strong men go to battle and manage affairs, basically. Kouka is a patriarchal society with all these norms being continuously enforced, and where being King was exclusively a masculine position until recent development. Before Suwon ascended to the throne, Yona was the first heir, yet the position of next ruler after her father wasn't to be given to her, but whoever would be her future husband. Yona would have been only a Queen, not one with particular ruling power, but in the sense of being the wife of the King, the same way Kashi was.

So then, Il appears as a failure as a King. He's the example and proof to Suwon that "feminity" is not compatible with the position and that he has to differentiate from him in every way. Suwon liked Il for his kindness and believed in him until he killed his father and proved to be uncompetent as a ruler. Il's kindness and reliance on the divine are unreasonable and based on emotionalism for Suwon. His refusal to use any weapon makes him a coward and weak, and waiting for the gods to save them makes him passive...It's what led Kouka to the sad state it was at the beginning of the story.

To Suwon, feelings, kindness, traits associated with feminity as we've seen, make him weak. He doesn't need it. It's what makes him reluctant and risks to deviate him from his goal and duties as a King. He can't afford to feel for Yona or anyone, he has to take the most efficient decisions with no remorse for people's feelings and especially not his. This is why Yona is so important and the lead of Akatsuki no Yona. Yona redefines what we associate with either masculinity and feminity. Strength, kindness, sentimentality, reason...They're all needed, they don't have to, and they shouldn't be divided so strickly and imposed on people based on their gender and roles. (Especially when it's obviously girls and women suffering from it the most). This divide between Yona and Suwon doesn't have to be, Suwon takes time to accept it, to accept Yona to enter his chessboard and value her as an equal and not just because she's kind and cute. And in doing so, it opens the door for him to also accept his own feelings, his own "weaknesses". Feelings and kindness actually hold so much power, they can actually make you stronger, that's what made Yona and Hak so bright to his eyes from the start, even if it took him long to fully realize it.

I feel like I deviated from the initial topic, but it's all important I swear. It doesn't mean Suwon gave up all his old ways either, he still embraces what he learned and admired in his father, not everything was forced upon him and I believe he genuinely connected with his father's vision. But it's about balancing this with the things he was convinced he had to reject and discard all this time.

That said, here are some examples of how it opens the door for transmasculine and transfeminine interpretations of Suwon's character arc, there can be others of course, but those are the ones I naturally came up with thinking about all this:

If you read Suwon's story as a transmasculine experience, it clicks. From how he was "cute as a girl" in his childhood to the experience of feeling like to be a man, to pass as a man, you have to reject everything that is associated with feminity and force yourself to accept masculine values that are just not your real self, to then realize you don't have to do all that to be a man and it's fine to embrace your "feminity" too. (Btw I really encourage you to read the Requiem of the Rose King manga that is explicitely about this topic!)

If you read Suwon's story as the transfeminine experience, it clicks too. Suwon feeling like he has to and being pushed to follow in his father's footstep when that's just not his real self. The way that he represses his self, the metaphor of closed box and how he locks his true self and feelings into them, until it becomes too much and he can't ignore it anymore. That being a man is not for him, and he doesn't have to be.

Of course, you can also read him as a cis man that is more or less gender non-conforming, or in any nuance of non-binarity in between, but in conclusion, that's what makes Suwon so gender to me. (and again, you don't need any of what I wrote in this post to headcanon him however you want)

There is also something to say about how he's "lacking as man" in how he has no romantic or sexual interest in women, if you take into account all the junctions between gender and heteronormativity that I didn't really bring up here. This point always made him really stand out to me, but Suwon's sexuality is such a Topic I didn't want to adventure myself into today ahah.

[tinysnailtales]

Thoughts from reading Yona of the Dawn Ch. 1 (Part 1)

"I had no idea it could get so cold outside the palace walls"

Yona is sheltered (and smothered), isolated within her life at the palace + ignorant of outside world. But will learn the world can be (literally but also metaphorically) cold and cruel

It may very well be Yona's destiny to succeed her father and rule.

"Father..." the first word Yona says (chronologically in the story)–an important figure to Yona and the story. One of the few people in her isolated life and someone whose presence will hang over everything.

"Do you think there's something wrong with my hair?" Yona's hair too, will be very important and hang over and affect the entire story. It is immediately introduced to the reader.

This moment also shows that Yona cares about her looks–she is self-conscious about her hair but likes her face ("well, my face is pleasing") and tries to look her best for Soo-Won. This preoccupation with looks may seem "girlish" or frivolous, but the meaning of Yona's hair goes deeper. Yona is also a combination of confidence and insecurity.

And, in typical fashion, what makes Yona special and unique is what she is self-conscious about.

Sometimes (usually) introductions and openings to stories can be quite clunky with their exposition. Regardless, here we meet Hak, who: is 18, grew up with Yona, and is her personal guard and a highly skilled general.

We also get an idea about his relationship with Yona. Hak and Yona are comfortable with each other to the point of teasing (in spite of their difference in station). It is interesting to see the popularity of the teasing trope for potential love interests. Though it shows a level of comfort, it also does involve poking at each other's insecurities. Yona is presented as the one more affected by Hak's words but I bet he is just as affected, only he keeps his reactions bottled up inside.

Hak is even the one to change the subject, bringing up Soo-Won. His knowledge of Yona's crush on Soo-Won further demonstrates their closeness and his pivot to that topic is revealing.

In a way, Hak and Yona behave like children with each other. And though 16 (Yona) and 18 (Hak) are presented as being at ages of maturity/relating to adulthood within their society, they are essentially still children. And sometimes the child self can be part of the truest self.

Nevertheless, Yona wants to be taken seriously and viewed as a woman (her care for her appearance, though "girlish," functioning as a way to signal her womanhood), but Soo-Won thinks of her as a child too.

It doesn't seem to be the equal-footing type of childishness seen with Hak and Yona, but more that of an adult looking down on and caring for a child. Yona is perceptive enough to pick up on this.

The head pat is particularly indicative of this relationship dynamic. How will different forms of physical touch function throughout the story? Soo-Won also does a lot of embracing Yona from behind.

I recently finished Fruits Basket, so this makes me giggle a little, but Soo-Won asserts himself as a replacement mother for Yona. They both have a deep care for each other, but there is a sharp contrast in how they each view the context of that care. Soo-Won nurtures and comforts Yona.

And while Yona is so loved and cherished (and pampered) by her father, she is still somewhat neglected by him (he is the King after all) and needed Soo-Won to step in. She's LONELY.

Soo-Won provided Yona with both companionship and care, and there is a repetition of him opposing her loneliness. Over and over we see him assert that he's there for Yona.

And with his "I'm right here" / "I'll always be with you" / "You're not alone," Soo-Won tells her to cry. He lets her cry. But it is always followed by the notion that she should cry so she can smile.

"It's okay. You can cry now" feels like a comfort, like an acknowledgment and acceptance of Yona's negative emotions. But the insistence on smiling feels like the opposite, like a suppression of emotions. There is an acceptance and rejection of Yona's sadness and negative emotions. A desire to see her happy fuels the push to move on from the negative.

The letting out of the tears and return of Yona's smile is sort of becomes predicated on Soo-Won's presence. Everything is okay because he is there. She can smile because he is there.

"You are the center of my world" – truly the fact of the matter. Whether intentional or not, Soo-Won made Yona reliant on him.

But of course, we can't forget Hak, her literal guard. This scene with the horseback riding has all kinds of symbolism.

"Relax. Hak and I will take care of you" –both Soo-Won and Hak save Yona's life at some point. Soo-Won in their youth, helping her recover from her mother's death and Hak when Soo-Won's plans for King Il come to a head (and after).

Soo-Won specifically acts like an anchor for Yona, in this scene and her life. He promises "Here, I'll hold you steady," and he does, or rather, he did. He will then go on to do the opposite, flipping Yona's world completely upside-down. Notably, Hak is the one who boosts her up in this scene.

The horseback riding also showcases how close Soo-Won and Hak are too and includes a nice nod to Yona's future endeavors with archery.

Though here, amusingly, Yona's desire to practice archery with Soo-Won is caused by a sort of lust for him. I think this moment emphasizes her attraction and that line between woman and girl that Yona is experiencing (her coming-of-age, if you will). While Yona sees Soo-Won as a man, he sees her as a girl (not a woman).

And as Soo-Won is her world, Yona's actions revolve around him. She doesn't really think a lot of herself, or when she does, it is only in terms of being with him. Soo-Won drives her actions and motivations. This emphasizes how small her world is– she is basically living for their interactions and doesn't think beyond that. She can't imagine anything beyond that.

Something I really admire is how open/honest Yona is about her feelings.

"'I do [like horses].' But I like you more." Yona doesn't seem very impressive when it comes to strength or skills, but her honesty is its own kind of bravery and strength.

It isn't exactly done with purpose, and involves some lack of filter when spoken aloud ("Nooo, why did I say that?! Extremely relatable, Yona), but it is endearing. Her thoughts kind of overflow and instinctually pour out.

Ah, the classic "fake relationship to lovers," I see you.

"Servant or not, Hak's the only boy I know close to my age..." Poor Yona, is so isolated and has such a small circle! This is also a funny bit of foreshadowing considering how many boys her age she will soon meet.

It's interesting with how much King Il gives Yona that he insists he will be the one to choose who she weds. And he clearly does not want Soo-Won to become king. Why?

Yona is also presented as a path to the throne rather than someone who herself could rule.

Also: "I've given you all you've ever wanted...everything except weapons" stands out to me as while maybe he hasn't given Yona weapons she can use directly, he has given her Hak, and isn't Hak the greatest weapon of all?

I feel like there has to be more to the story here. With information we learn later, did Soo-Won's father kill Yona's mother?

The emphasis on King Il as a coward makes me think cowardice will be a reoccurring theme.

Continued in part 2!

[akatsuki-ryuu]

It was announced to the public that Yuhon’s death was a tragic accident, and considering the location of the incident according to Keishuk’s memory, the announcement should have been something like “The war hero died having fallen off a cliff~” and Soowon probably heard that “official” version millions of times due to his father’s renown…

And y’know when else he heard that someone close to him died falling off a cliff?

Yeah. Do you think Soowon thinks about that?

[andata-e-ritorno]

Art by Ami Thompson

[torpublishinggroup]

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[tampire]

Tung Fu Rue crushes Gang Il

[viceandmature]

[catfindr]

[arianwen44]

‘Rejoice and revel, for the Kingdom of Rainbows is forever young.’ 🦋✨🌈

[weclassybouquetfun]

I, ungenerously, look at Luca Marinelli and think, "Get a job!" because I want to see him acting, but he's a man of the people: opening a tiny cinema in his village, honouring past directors, doing a film for his wife,

and being supporting students, which is what he recently did with his M. IL FIGLIO DEL SECOLO / M. SON OF THE CENTURY director Joe Wright, when they did a Q&A with students of a high school after a preview of the series.

Excerpts from the Q&A.

He'll also be at MUBI Milano film fest for a Q&A and a film of his choice.

-I took for granted that MUFASA: THE LION KING was a musical, so colour me shocked that Luca and his costars supply songs for the film. Here's a Luca and Elodie offering, "Lo So, Sei Tu".

[tinysnailtales]

Thoughts from reading Yona of the Dawn Ch. 4

Ch.4 in summary: the symbolic end of childhood, the (Yona, Hak, Soo-Won) trio backstory, and the history of Yona's loneliness and circle of support

The child left behind.

"Please don't cry, father. Mother's gone, but I'm still here"

When one parent is lost, the burden can fall especially hard on the child as the surviving parent relies on them and/or grows absent. In a way, the loss of one parent is the loss of both.

"You're not alone" – a BIG THEME for the story.

"I need to stay cheerful so my father doesn't cry"

I usually do the The Apothecary Diaries connection, but surprise! Here I'm calling on Fruits Basket and Tohru with how Yona must be there and behave a certain way for her father's benefit like how Tohru did for her mother after her father died.

"You're not alone. And...I have Soo-Won with me" – Yona has Soo-Won as a friend and a support and she has Hak, which we are repeatedly shown but Yona never seems to address (at least not yet or when looking at the past). Could it be she's simply taking him for granted? Has him as such a staple that he isn't noteworthy or "special"? I take it she doesn't realize how important he is to her yet. These two, both in denial in some regard.

"That's amazing, Hak! You cheered Yona right up" – no notes, just genuinely hilarious. And shows off that Yona-Hak dynamic we've come to know. The teasing and comfort.

"Where's my father?" "His majesty is extremely busy. He only just ascended the throne, remember." – poor Yona :( She tries to be there for her father, but feels a bit abandoned by him.

But! If King Il only recently ascended the throne and his wife recently died...is it possible that Soo-Won's father is behind Yona's mother's death?

Even in this memory/flashback, all is not well and there's a lot happening in the background that young Yona probably doesn't understand. This is ultimately a feel-good memory, but Yona is missing the full picture as she focuses on her personal relationships and trauma (not that I blame her).

Yona, Soo-Won, and Hak really are a trio of best friends.

"Lately I've been holding Yona's hand while we sleep, so this is just like normal" "You do that? I think I should leave. I'm in the way." "What?! All three of us should hold hands!" – Hak is already feeling some jealousy and his "I'm in the way" is very much the outline of his future approach to the Yona and Soo-Won situation. And Soo-Won's obliviousness to the lines being drawn within their group is also very telling.

Soo-Won is doing all this and expects us to believe that the way he acted with Hak and Yona was all a lie. Look at those hearts. He is a lil bean excited by everything.

"I didn't know he was your grandfather." "I'm an orphan. Grandpa and I aren't actually related." – Soo-Won didn't know about Hak's connections and status, these things didn't really matter to these kids. Only Hak already feels like he isn't "really" the heir to the Wind Tribe. He feels unworthy and like an outsider.

"But...Mundok came to see you. He must really love you, huh?" – yes, you tell him Yona! She is of course hurting on the inside because her father hasn't come to see her, but this is also a sweet moment between her and Hak. Don't let him be such a grump resigned to feeling unworthy!

Soo-Won's love and admiration for his father just pours out of him. He also admires Mundok and his strength, showing what Soo-Won values in a person and what he will try to emulate.

"Uncle Yu-Hon...he's so tough and stern. He's nothing like Soo-Won at all" – or so it seems, for now.

"Yon-Hi was determined to come too...But in her condition, it would be dangerous for her to fall ill, so I made her stay home" – what's up with Soo-Won's mom? Is she pregnant? What happened to her? Soo-Won (in present day) seems like he doesn't really have anyone.

"You mustn't make your mother worry. I want you to slaughter this sickness as soon as possible" – strength is valued above all else by Soo-Won's father too. It seems he is probably hard on his son too, at least having high expectations of him.

"It hurts so much, father...Don't abandon me."

Little Yona is a reflection of current Yona (and vice-versa) – in moments of hurt, she retreats into herself, becoming distant and depressed. She doesn't eat or take care of herself, as if life (or her life specifically) is not worth living/doesn't matter.

"Yeah...I'm sorry. I'm, sorry for thinking I was all alone."

More emphasis on Yona having Hak and Soo-Won– they're her people (along with her father, but he is not there for her as much).

But King Il does say Yona gets lonely when Hak (and Soo-Won) aren't there, and it's true–what does she do when they're gone? Loneliness is still a big part of her life. I said she lives for snatches of moments with Soo-Won, but moments with Soo-Won and Hak light up her life and drive her forward (though infatuated Yona seems to forget about the Hak of it all).

I wonder how Yona's loneliness shifts when Hak becomes her personal guard and is a more permanent fixture.

"Your father is the king. He's doing his job even at a time like this. I admire that." – Hak's words are to cheer Yona up, but I think he also demonstrates true admiration for duty.

Yona joyfully eating the terrible food her father made her really exemplifies how much she values acts of care from other people.

I said back in chapter 1 that Yona hasn't really thought of the future much beyond wanting to be with Soo-Won– she's not really ambitious or caught up in who she could be or what she could do, she's happy living for those small moments and the people she loves. She wants to love and be loved in return. She knows she's the princess in terms of the lifestyle she's gotten used to, but she hasn't considered the implications of being a princess– at least she hadn't until her father brought up that her position might put the ones she loves in danger.

I love the look exchanged by Hak and Soo-Won, expressing their mutual care for Yona.

A stab to the heart!

"I wish we could all sleep next to each other forever and ever, even if it meant having that cold" – and this from Soo-Won! At this point, he too had simple desires.

"We don't have to be sick. Staying together...is pretty simple." "You're right. Soo-Won...Hak...let's play again tomorrow. Let's play forever and ever..." –I love Hak being the one to point out that they can just choose to stay together and here we basically get a promise of that, an expression of the intention to remain close forever. Ouch.

Now that childhood and that promise is forever tainted. Yona (and Soo-Won and Hak) will never get it back.

I wonder if his father's death is what tainted it for Soo-Won and changed his heart. And now with the death of her father, Yona is forced to experience the same.

Soo-Won threw all of this, the love and the friendship, away. And basically ruined it for all of them, but I feel it isn't just his fault. Whatever we're missing from the story of King Il and his brother will shed some light on this.

It's sad that now even happy memories must be viewed through this new lens. Yona can't think of Soo-Won or her father without feeling the weight of what happened.

The pain continues when Yona wakes from her memory-dream-nightmare to find Hak gone. Her facial expressions are such a journey! From panic to relief at seeing Hak to feeling the full weight of sadness and grief as reality sets in.

She had her father, Soo-Won, and Hak, but now Hak is all she has left.

"The three of us...always used to gaze up at the sky together. That sky is nowhere to be see now." 💔

What was and the future that could have been are gone. And Soo-Won isn't unaffected, even if he pretends to be. He remembers it all too.

The symbolic end of childhood.

Soo-Won lets Hak and Yona go. "You're going to let them live?"

"Now that they've left the palace, there's nothing they can do to us. Anyway...we've got more important things to do." – In spite of everything, Soo-Won still cares for them but hides his affection behind practical justifications.

Our broken trio. Three different expressions.

Soo-Won is angry and determined to follow the path he has set on. Yona is lost and sad. And interestingly, Hak still looks to the sky.

Does he think of Soo-Won?

[daddyissuesjosten]