Blame YT shorts, this is what you get while watching without context. And then go to read manhwa and find out that..
This is such a toxic piece of crap. Like why every time I pick up some Korean manhwa or novel it ALWAYS has some TOXIC theme going on? Can't they write something not this old-fashioned? Or not go into such brain-dead direction with two problematic characters?
I say old-fashioned, because I see Korea picking up popular things from other places. Don't get me wrong, I'll explain. Do you know the most popular online novel website in China? Jinjiang. It is full of novels of all genres, but they also explore popular tropes, Rebirth is being one of them. And sadomasochistic relationship was one of them too. But right now usually authors there will diss such stories in their own stories. You may ask why? Because they think it's like a decade old, vulgar and bad.
I say sadomasochistic because it's a slang to describe such story as this one is - where they love each other madly, they are also loud about it (meaning a lot of shouting), but one or both do something bad for their love and they break up and make up and then break up again doing a lot of crazy shit, before finally coming together. Old-fashioned.
Some may want to see such things, I actually didn't want to, but I persisted reading all 86 chapters currently available and what can I say..
Both are problematic, the story is painfully predictable, obviously written in a way to make you feel either rage or any other strong feeling, ragebait in other worlds. Because of it you might skip some obvious loopholes and questionable things.
Let's dive into it. Speaking with spoilers.
This should be a story of revenge, but what a disappoiting story it will be. FL lived her life in her wealthy estate thinking of revenge. To be honest I saw her as a coward, because she had an army and she was devastated, I honestly would applaude her more if she died in a failed attempt rather then being half-sober. She already lost all her family and everything, there was nothing else to lose.
The next thing you know is she is reborn at the unfortunate time of her father passing, being divorced by the crown prince who is a basic whimsical and violent character. She wounds his leg in an attempt, good for her, but it's the only wound she'll give him.
She's sent away, manhwa doesn't dwell how she is alive for what she did. So she travels north where birds don't shit. And there she meets ML, Wilhelm, who was also known as a mad dog of crown prince in her past life. I skip the age gap, because it's really WEIRD, like why. As scheming and unfeeling as she is right now she decided to bring him up and raise him well, to make him her own pawn.
But she's too goody two shoes. From one side she is "scheming and cruel", but from other side she is "compassionate and doesn't want to hurt anybody". like the same thing happened with Dulcinea. This bitch was responsible for the conflict that took away many lives, she is partially responsible for your father's death, why you pity her? Because she was a victim? She was not, she was a piece of trash.Girl, you always make assumptions about others and that will be your problem with many things, including ML.
All I want to say is that she's not cut out for revenge, at least not in my eyes. Because of her wavering ML had the chance to do what he wanted to do and basically did everything FOR her. And of course she was mad at him lol Even though she said not once she wanted to pierce Michel's heart herself. But did she do anything or explained clearly what SHE WANTS TO DO? Nope. I really couldn't see if she had any consequences if she just started conqering all land and capital too (thus she didn't proceed overthrowing the dynasty), if killing Michel openly would have consequences, it felt vague, so you are left with what author directed their characters to do.
Which was quite dumb. They conquered this land and they are summoned and this is where shit started going downhill for me, because they agreed as if it's something they can't refuse, while I thought, girl, kill the bitches and THEN bury your father in other place, Emperor finds out that Wilhelm is that illegitimate son, but the Empress is not having any of it, so they steal Rein's father's body facepalm and openly blackmails the two, so Wilhelm agrees to offer loyalty to the crown prince and lose the chance to get the throne to get the body back. Again, like there's no other option and nothing is explored, you get what you get. But while this is going on Wilhelm has secret meetings with Dulcinea and used her to kill Michel. This was frustrating tbh, but actually Wilhelm had his own accounts to settle, with Dulcinea too. He knew she was a bitch, so he didn't pity her ending. Actually, he was smart in using someone's hands to kill Michel to complete revenge and stay clean... but then.. he actually brings Michel's body to Rein. And I thought she'd be just mad, but as it happened, she is not better than him in being cray-cray, because she stabbed the dead body (btw there would be no splatter and they were all covered in blood, just for the effect) AND THEN THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST TIME and I'm like.. EWE.. are you doing it covered in blood? What about the stench? You see, I can't help but thinking such things. They make do, confess some things to each other and it feels like they will reach peace. But of course sadomasochistic stories don't exist without escalation.
And that is author decided to revive the character we thought was dead and not only, we also find out that Wilhelm lied about when exactly he got his memories back, meaning when he fought with Barbarians he could have saved Dietrich, but his jealous heart made him do the opposite. And for Reinhardt it was a big no, because he lied several times to her and she won't have any of it.
Honestly, for a woman who is 8 years older than him, she didn't act any wiser. Like we don't analyze why he did that. She becomes like just an emotional mess and is not less toxic than him. Which is unfortunate portrayal. Even after hearing his story. The reader might get some sympathy from it. But it gives him motivation to why he does things his own way, because unlike her he lived first life in a muddled way, was used and trampled on, so no wonder he had screw loose in his head and did not know how to live a normal life. So only after they break up again and she doesn't want to see him and they meet years later only for her to hear Dietrich relay Wilhelm's words that finally give her a wake-up call. That she loves him and she is bad at not listening to him and she rushes out after him. Like this all happens for the dramatic effect okay?
I can only see a redemption arc after it, if author does not decide to pull another trick, I'd say it would be a worst decision ever, because there are enough emotional conflicts already. They only now have a chance to show that they're not two bastard parents who treat their own children like crap, that they finally developed and matured themselves to sit and talk and not stand and shout. Honestly, the age by 80+ chapters is Wilhelm is 28 then she is 36. It's damn time for you to settle down.
Conclusion: Some short videos are so misleading. I saw a part where he recognizes his daughter and thought it's the "run with the ball(baby)" type of content, but nope. It's just acid, toxic acid.
DU DUN. This sfx pissed me off so much by the end of reading you have no idea :'D
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