#soo won

[kebriones]

something possessed me today after I lost the fight with my printer and I made some akatsuki no yona fanart because i love both the anime and the manga. I used to run a fan blog specifically for it a very long time ago when I was in highschool, and I'd be fun to revisit some of my old fanart, but I think I've lost that blog forever now 😔 can't wait for the second season!

[erachiiii]

Yona of the Dawn... I missed them

[kasimova-dariia]

What if Xalath was a champion of each of the Elder Dragons? 🐲

[laurastuff119]

I'm so SO excited about the official announcement for a second season of Akatsuki no Yona, that I couldn't help but celebrate in a small way by re-uploading an AMV I made 10 years ago.

Hope there's still someone out there who might still enjoy this.

[iluvluvnutella]

Gorgeous! 😍💛 Yona is gonna be the cover star for the Hana to Yume Issue 2 dropping on 12/19, which is also when the final chapter is out. PLUS, we're getting new info about the series!

________________________________________________________

what's the new info even about? 🤔 My brain is already running wild 😭 maybe it's just the next volume or some sick limited edition merch? But lowkey praying for a whole new anime season or an OAD/OVA! 🙏🏻 Or it could be another stage play/exhibit... Either way, I'm buzzing! 🤩

[michisannn]

A Suwon character analysis — my final take

The manga ended and I’ve seen a lot of mixed reactions going around. Nothing perplexed me more, however, than the different opinions people had about Suwon’s ending, with one side seeing nothing wrong with it while the other wailed the destruction of what used to be a complex, interesting character.

As a member of the second side, it was tempting to me to assume the first group was just “too stupid” to get the character, so to them a “stupid” ending was still good. But here's what perplexed me: they were better able to interpret the story, and see where it was going, than I was. They always saw it as “Suwon bad vs. Yona good” and behold, the ending proved this is really what the story was.

How on earth did I see shades of grey where none was intended? Or did the author intend them at first, but later changed her mind?

In my investigations, I tried to remember the story from the start, this time with the assumption that the author meant him to be framed as a villain from the beginning… And suddenly, I saw it.

Alright, so, to sum up Suwon's character, based on everything we have from beginning to end, is this: he’s meant to be a cold, ruthless character who's bent on revenge and gets rid of anyone who gets on his path. He still cares about Yona and Hak, though, and this is what eventually leads to his redemption, where he regrets his ruthless ways and learns to value people's lives.

I KNOW. If you're a Suwon fan, you must be mad at me right now. “That’s not him!” You say. “What about the thousands of times he's shown caring for Kouka’s people, wanting to make Kouka great and overall being a marvelous king? This isn't right!”

I know. He’s amazing and has dozens of scenes where the dragons and others see him as a good person and whatnot. He's often the wisest, smartest, and most perceptive character around (esp in the first half of the story). Saying he’d be stupid enough to be purely driven by revenge and in need of a “lesson” taught by Yona sounds equally stupid, but stick with me, I’m gonna show you how this is possible.

It entirely depends on your perception of Il’s murder.

You see, I made a total of seven people watch AnY’s first episode, and with the exception of a friend, every single one of them saw Il’s murder as something that automatically placed Suwon in the "pure evil, beyond redemption, I want him to die” category. But a smaller section of people, me included, simply couldn't make this judgment right off the bat, because they needed more context. “What if king Il was evil and had truly murdered Suwon's dad? What if Suwon was the true heir? What if Yona’s perspective, as a spoiled princess, is heavily biased?” And so on.

So you can see we have two groups, one who thinks “He’s evil, I want him to die” and one who thinks “I'm curious, I need more context.” And now that we have the full story, I’ll risk saying the first group had the reaction intended by the author.

I know this probably means the author didn't think much about the political side of things and was more concerned with Yona’s feelings in the classic Shoujo style. But if you look at the story as a whole, this is the approach that explains everything.

Now, assuming she's writing for the first group, she has a problem. Since Suwon is meant to go through a redemption arc, people can't wish him to die! They have to see his qualities and learn he isn't beyond redemption. So she does what she can: she makes thousands of scenes showcasing his skills, his good side, his sadness. “Look, he’s actually a competent king!” She says. “He's gonna be important in the end. Don't wish for his death, he cannot die right now. Look, even the dragons think he's good. Lili is curious about him. Please give him a chance!”

But for the second group, the one who was still analysing the context, this sends a completely different message. They take all those scenes as pieces of the puzzle and marvel at its complexity, wanting more clues, waiting for the thing that will be the “final revelation” of his character. They make theories and discuss what might be Suwon's past, or motivations, or plans for the future. They face the difficult question of “what if he's right?” and love the conflict it brings. But since this wasn't the author’s intention, at some point this facade would start to crumble.

I still remember when the Xing arc was happening, and for some reason Suwon had turned strangely uncooperative, even foolish. I remember how some Suwon fans made posts expressing their confusion, while everyone else replied “you sillies, he’s always been like this.” I was so confused. He's been consistently portrayed as a competent, well meaning king who’s willing to be ruthless when necessary, why is he so uncooperative now?

That's because he was meant to be established as an evil, uncooperative character right off the bat in the first two chapters. All the rest, all the good moments, were meant to be read as exceptions to the rule, not a part of his character. The result? The ones willing to give him more time were confused, but those who had condemned him at the start understood the Xing arc perfectly.

From this point onwards, the author stopped showing his qualities and went back to focusing on his flaws as a “vengeful and ruthless king,” so she could make him turn away from it in his redemption arc. But for the people who liked him (or saw him as morally complex), it was as if he had turned into a completely different character. It was disappointing to see all the wonder and mystery going away, and watch him turn into an one dimensional antagonist. Meanwhile, for the ones who hadn't seen any complexity in the first place, it was simply the natural course of the story. And so it ended.

It saddens me to discover it was not that deep. That all the complexity was only in my head, and that I made questions that were never meant to be answered. But at the same time I’m satisfied that I could finally see what the author was trying to convey, and discover the truth about his character. I do think the “ruthless person learns to value people” can be an inspiring arc, if done well, and has a nice message. So I don't hate the ending as much as I could've.

If only the political side of things had been handled better, and if Suwon had properly been established as ruthless in the beginning, I’d have enjoyed it way more…

[windrelyn]

2023 - 2026

3rd Anniversary ❤

[freewilllife]

Gaiden 1 - Before the Enthronement

I will honestly not touch everything. Hak and Yona for example are not exactly a great concern for me - my bad.

1. General Jon Gi - the clever strategist

Like one could expect, General Jon Gi is disappointed, that his daughter did not marry the king - but Lily will marry Soo Won in the future; just that he won´t be king then.

However, Yona is Lily´s "bossom friend", so he intended to win her favor.

2. The unfaithfullness of her father

For this purpose Jon Gi had invited his wife Nene. Just that Nene did wish to sit 200 steps away from him.

Lily is absolutely cold towards her father here. She considered it fair play. Not even after the death of her mother will Lily forgive her father for the "cheating".

It really appears, as if the unfaitfullness of her father hurt his daughter quite heavily.

By the way, her mother is not a dependant princess, but a quite occupied business woman.

3. Lord Geuntae is disappointed

Lord Geuntae has not yet found the next general. He himself is unfit for war. Certainly, he has a wife and a son and the child is really cute, but honestly older than one month.

There is a person that resembles Lord Geuntae - Soo Won. He too cannot fight anymore - physically, but partly also mentally. Soo Won believes, that he has utterly failed. For a perfectionist, who gives always more than 100 % - this state is unbearable.

Always, always Soo Won had been, what other people needed. And for the first time in his 18 years Soo Won has failed. He could not completely get rid of his feelings and was therefore not the king, he wished to be. And of course people like Geuntae, who have not been faithful to their king, are complaining ,yet have expected of him to always bear the brunt of the pain himself.

4. Crybaby Kurif, the next General and a wannabe-lover of Lily?

I believe that Kurif, the crybaby here, Geuntae´s second in command might be either become a contrahent of Hak or Soo Won for Yona or Lily. I would suggest Lily, as Yona already has a wannabe-lover with Tae Jun. That guy, too, had played a heavy role at the last coronation of Soo Won.

Either way, Kurif was being dragged to Yona´s ceremony.

5. The only General with a genuine Joy

Mundoek had - it appeared - believed that Yona would be one day "king", when he had seen her with the dragon warriors.

Yona is the first Queen Regent of Kouka Kingdom and relatively overwhelmed with her current duties.

6. Zeno´s hidden pain - without a purpose

I think, he has hidden his doubts pretty well. Yet it appears Zeno still felt forlorn. A person that has been a dragon warrior for 2000 years. What will he do, when the pressure and pain, he has felt his whole life has left him?

And even more - his task was so much more than being just one dragon warrior. Zeno was the dragon warrior. One of the first generation with the most experience and knowledge. The one who cared for his "children".

Yet they do not need him anymore.

The heavy drinking that both Meinyan and Zeno demonstrate, appears funny and hilarious - good in Zeno´s case it was the first time, but Meinyan apparently was drunk 8 days straight.

Somehow, though, his purposeless existence bothers Zeno

The new shot at life...Yet an existence without a purpose - again, like he experienced it in the first couple of hundred years of misery.

What is more, Zeno pointed to this being the reason, why he had hidden himself away for 7 days in chapter 276

Yet, at least one part might give him a little solace: There is still some kind of bond between the "four dragon warriors" - just that it is not magical anymore.

7. Soo Won and Lily´s development: Friendship ahoi!

It is one of the funniest bits of this chapter, that Lily showed her concern for Soo Won so openly, while her father was basically completely uninterested in him.

The moment Soo Won did not fullfill his purpose, people would forget him entirely.

Not Lily though.Lily was so shocked. Her father had to repeat, what he had told her.

Immediately Lily worried for Soo Won´s health. She could not understand - like Geuntae, like Jon Gi and even later Ogi, why Soo Won would give up the throne.

With Soo Won´s abdication - his "real relationships" clearly differed in their visibility after his kingship from the ones, that had merely existed, because the other person could win benefits.

Lily´s decision

For the first time Lily had to confront something: Lily could not hide behind the fact anymore, that she just wanted to get to know him - for Yona´s sake or for whatever purpose.

In contrast to her father, Soo Won had proven his sincerity to her.

The unrest, the fear for him, she felt were still present. So Lily accepted, that she had to take a step forward.

On a clear, fine day - the sun was shining - Lily came one day before Yona´s coronation to Hiryuu Castle.

Soo Won´s first posture

The first thing the reader is presented here in that panel, are Soo Won´s eyes - half in light, half in shadow. A book - work - laid on his legs. (Of course the worhaholic is doing what he can best - working).

His eyes, even the way he held his head speak of high attention. There is something to the left side he was focused on.

Min Soo, who still addressed him as "Majesty" for the last day of Soo Won´s kingship, told him of Lily´s visit.

He, too, like Zeno would lose his former purpose. Relationships had changed. And Soo Won would, like Meinyan told us before, sink into the shadow.

"Is that so?", Soo Won asked.

Directly before the Castle Arc, Soo Won had been intent not to let Lily go; but this time, Soo Won was basically putting into question, if she even wanted to visit him.

So he took the book up - holding it in front of him like a shield - and said:

"Kindly leave."

All this is a posture of somebody, who wished to protect himself.

Of course, Lily reacted brashly. After all, Lily has been so worried, that she had not heard her father the first time. And now the guy did not even want to see her, at all.

She screamt loudly and she appeared to slam something:

Why?!

This reaction broke his cold exterior and Soo Wonl apparently- started to either laugh or smile - a genuine expression of joy, that is hidden to us, because the mangaka separated Lily and Soo Won physically enormously from each other. His face is hardly to recognize, the smile was at best implied.

"Hi Lily, I see, that you are as lively as ever".

This time, Lily admitted defeat. (Usually Soo Won had to admit defeat, this time both are taking a step back. For a moment Soo Won had forgotten, that he wanted to act cold. Lily did want to pay attention to his feelings, this time. )

She considered his laugh rather as an attack, as as the genuine expression of joy for Lily being Lily. Her emotions were on a certain high, after all.

"My bad, I´ll be quiet".

When you look really closely, you can see the smile. Soo Won had put down the book for a moment and had looked up, smiling.

Only the massive distance between them distorted the situation. Lily - most likely - couldn´t see him too clearly either.

Jealousy of Yona

Lily - most likely - could not understand his sudden change of behaviour (Before he let her stay, this time, he did not want to see her, at all). She could not understand, how somebody felt, that had utterly failed in his plan.

How much Soo Won would hate it to "eat the crumbs", Yona left behind. To have people show politeness or worse sympathy for his state...

It is sad and funny at the same time: But I believe, that Soo Won was indeed a little jealous of Yona in regard to Lily.

Immediately after the small light on the horizon, Soo Won looked down on the book, at his work (as a king) and said:

"Have you seen Yona yet?

Her enthronement is tomorrow, so you shouldn´t wait to go see her."

Thank you Kusanagi, for pracially demonstrating, that Soo Won´s heart has been broken in Xing. (That is why he gave in so quickly. Guy felt the pain of his life).

About worry and friendship

Since her feelings are pretty strong right now, she blurted them out:

"I was worried about you, geez. How is your body?"

Lily just wanted to know so badly, how he was feeling.

Was it a general disbelief? His hate to be seen as vulnerable and weak? - his father told him after all: Fight!

Soo Won did not appear too be happy about it. His eyes are not too lively.

His face made her realize, she might have to close the distance even more. Lily had approached him, while both talked with each other.

"I mean, aren´t we friends?"

"Oh, we were?"

For the first time Soo Won hadn´t his feelings completely under control. He stopped the game: The claim that both did not feel anything for each other. And Lily did so as well.

Suddenly that guy expressed his doubts openly. However, the brows weren´t as tightly knitted as before. Soo Won appeared glad, but had to take up the book again.

"Don´t worry. I am alright. My head is working just fine."

This sentence makes me sad. So just as long your head is working, it does not matter, how your body is feeling?

Of course, Soo Won deflected her care again. Yet Soo Won did not hold the book as high, as the first time, when he refused her. It had sunk finally in:

They do have a personal relationship.

Only his reaction alienated Lily, visibly.

Most likely she considered herself silly, that she had been so worried. After all, Soo Won had reacted hardly.

"Okay then".

Shin ah´s get-well-gift

Apart from this, she was most likely also flustered. So she gave him "Shin ha´s gift"; definitely Shin ah´s gift, not hers!

"It´s from Shin ah, not me",

she told him.

This surprised Soo Won.

Very carefully Soo Won held the honey in his hands, that Shin ha (and Lily) gifted him.

A gift that told Soo Won basically two things:

I am sorry. I wish for you to be well again.

Soo Won smiled - sadly. It did not yet reach his eyes, which thoughtfully looked at the gift in his hand.

I am pretty sure, that Soo Won might even feel guilty because of Shin ah now. After all, Soo Won is convinced, that it was he, who had wished for it and had used Shin ah for this outcome.

However, they - Shin ha and Soo Won - are both guilty regarding this situation.

8. Ogi really loves Soo Won

Another true relationship of Soo Won was with Ogi. Ogi, who still worried for Soo Won - like Lily. Ogi, who had lost his house in the fire and still tried to help and rescue other people. Ogi, who had been Soo Won´s friend, whom Soo Won had discarded in order to be a good king.

"Then, do you know why is Won...Why is his Majesty abdicating?...I am sure something happened",

Ogi asked,full of worry for Soo Won, Meinyan, who definitely disliked Soo Won. He had to correct himself, because for him, this person had and always will be Won.

Soo Won -had most likely -discarded Ogi, because he cannot really believe, that people really like him. Ogi had betrayed him - therefore Soo Won considered it confirmed, that Ogi had seen how dirty Soo Won was. One reason more why he gave in in Xing. All the people saw, what he had done...

After all when people really looked at him, they would not like him. Soo Won´s education led to the child shutting out people, hiding himself behind masks, never telling people, who he really was.

"Even though he came off as a know-it-all, he never did talk about himself...",

Ogi had told Lily, another "friend" of Soo Won.

Meinyan, who has not the greatest love for Soo Won, told Ogi:

"That guy´s persistent, so I´m sure he´ll do just fine while operating behind the scenes."

"But if he´s fine, why would he retire?",

objected Ogi. So the people, who really love him, do understand that Soo Won does not feel good at all.

When Meinyan told him, however, that he could see Soo Won again. Ogi started crying. I know, that this is played for laughs, but neither Zeno nor Ogi are really funny in my eyes.

The guy in question appeared right after this scene, just to point out, that there might be a connection between Ogi, Meinyan and Zeno.