#yotd analysis

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Soowon stabbing Hiryuu’s corpse is not only a way of defying the gods but also a rejection of kinghood. He’s renouncing the ability of any one person to hold power over another. It’s a repudiation of corruption. He’s choosing the love for his friends over his status.

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There is so much emotion coming from Hak in this interaction. He’s mad on SooWon’s behalf because the man is both sick and injured yet insisted on wearing heavy armor. He’s uncomfortable that he cares this much about SooWon so he hides his face to try and distance himself. Hak isn’t very good at being honest about how he feels and can’t bring himself to actually chastise SooWon for pushing himself, but he also can’t stop himself from doing something when someone he cares for is in pain. This results in Hak awkwardly blurting out an order to someone he’s always been aware of as having a higher status than him - this also means he views them more as equals now, in a way he wasn’t able to before.

And then there’s SooWon. He accepts Hak’s direction without any pushback, when with everyone else he’s been stubborn in fulfilling his duty to the extreme. I think it’s because he knows Hak isn’t preventing him from continuing but rather accommodating him so that he can keep going. The armor is symbolic of their vulnerability, and the fact that not only does Hak assist him in removing it without hesitation or gripe but also that SooWon actually reached out for help is such a beautiful moment for these two. Hak is allowed a physical action as a display of his care so he can more easily segue into an emotionally sensitive conversation (words are hard, people), and SooWon opens the door for collaboration by taking the first step in accepting his weakness and asking for help.

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“I even said my goodbyes”

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Dragon ramblings | chapter 263

The dragons showing Yona what they believe is her ideal reality (her friends being safe) but failing to capture the essence of what makes that reality worth striving for (keeping their spirits and personhoods intact) so encapsulates how removed from humanity they are and that they don’t understand why Hiryuu (and Yona) love people.

I have previously criticized Yona for pursuing her “perfect future” regardless of whether said future would bring her loved ones peace and closure (as an example, this most recent interaction with Zeno). I believe this illusion in the chalice is the story’s way of making her confront that habit of hers. Because what does it mean for her friends to be safe if they’re completely robbed of their agency? If they’re stripped of who they are? Does she actually care about whether her loved ones feel content and satisfied, or does she only keep in sight her desired reality?

I think too, this inclination of the dragons to be apathetic towards individual human experience (what I can imagine is due to both their long life spans and immense power) really highlights why Soo-Won would resist utilizing the strength of the gods. He most prioritizes people’s wellbeing and if he let himself be allied with gods then he risks losing sight of what is best for them as a whole. Also the dragons’ long life spans being part of why they are distanced from humanity contrasts with Soo-Won’s short life expectancy and how that feeds into his intense (almost obsessive) drive to Do Something Now.

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ShinAh and wrath

ShinAh still has a very naive view of the world. he was isolated growing up, the only people around him being those who feared and hated him. so when confronted with the person who hurt Yona, the one who believed in him and gave him a chance at freedom, he becomes protective. he fixates on the harm SooWon caused and can only view the man as an enemy. ShinAh wants vengeance in a way even Yona doesn’t, in way even Hak at this point doesn’t.

ShinAh sees things as black and white; he only recently began viewing himself in a nuanced light because he’d been raised to believe he was only capable of harm which means he must be Bad. but now he recognizes that he never wanted this ability to harm and can choose how he uses his power.

in ShinAh’s eyes, there is a major difference between him and SooWon - ShinAh never wished to hurt others (unless it’s to protect people) whereas SooWon planned for years to hurt those closest to him (albeit for a higher goal). to ShinAh, Yona represents Goodness and freedom, so those that oppose her must also oppose those things.

i believe even if he did understand why SooWon did what he did, ShinAh still wouldn’t forgive him, because the reality of the situation is that SooWon did hurt Yona despite his fondness for her. and that is something ShinAh can’t comprehend or reconcile. to see SooWon as being in the right would be to accept Yona was in the wrong (even though she herself recognizes her own responsibility as the ignorant princess). but if Yona, the person who saw the good in him, is wrong, then what is ShinAh to make of himself?

ShinAh has not yet reached a point where his belief in himself is secure. his identity is still dependent on Yona’s acknowledgment. it would destroy his newfound worldview to extend any measure of understanding toward SooWon, thus he defaults to wrath.

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Critique ahead, read at your own discretion.

Am I understanding this correctly? Because of Hiryuu’s selfish wish to have more time on Earth, Yona was created, thus their soul did not return to the heavens to be with the other dragon gods. As a consequence hundreds of humans were damned with the dragon powers and short lifespans. If Hiryuu had accepted his own death as a natural course of life as a human and went back to the heavens then all of this could’ve been avoided. But it seems both he and Yona have trouble reconciling with loss. They’d curse strangers if it meant having more time with their loved ones. How is this not viewed as corrupt? Their resolve is painted as this heartwarming thing - that they’d bend reality if it led to the safety of those they care about. But what about everyone else? The world isn’t comprised only of those dear to your heart. They say Hiryuu loved humans but the more I examine his actions it seems he simply wanted control over them.

I want to love this manga, I have loved this manga, for many years. It was amazing seeing Yona’s growth and getting to know all the characters. Soo-Won, Shin-Ah, Zeno, and (earlier chapters) Yona will always have a special place in my heart. But the way the themes are being developed leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Idk, if anyone has some positivity to share about how things are progressing please feel free to do so, because at this point I’m disillusioned with YOTD.

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YOTD Chapter 268 Spoilers

This is far fetched and may be unlikely, but what if the sword and shield refer to Soowon and Hak? They’re the two people that elicit the strongest emotions from Yona aside from the dragons. Hak has protected her this entire time, and the story began with Soowon’s sword strike.

It’s interesting that the moment of their touch is highlighted immediately prior to Zeno’s exit from the chalice. Thinking metaphorically, together they represent the body (Soowon as a descendant) and the heart (Hak as Yona’s lover) of the red dragon. Maybe something about their unity is meant to save Yona, the red dragon’s soul?

Here it’s like Hak is saying “I’ll keep Yona and the others safe” (acting as the shield) and, based on Soowon’s thought process, he clearly believes “the rest” to be ending the dragon gods, or maybe severing their connection to Earth so they can’t do more damage (acting as the sword).

Also, Soowon throwing in that tidbit about not being able to do anything to the dragon gods because they’re not people makes me think Zeno (a dragon warrior) needs to get involved. The yellow dragon set itself apart from the others by helping the Happy Hungry Bunch so I bet it’ll play a part as well.

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thinking about the parallels between Soowon and Zeno.

each of their betrayals are simultaneously selfish and selfless. Soowon wanted to save Kouka with his limited time left, but also wanted to avenge his father. Zeno wanted to find peace in death, but also stop the dragons from experiencing abuse. both of their selfishness concerns death, and their selflessness centers around saving others.

they both want to discard godhood (Soowon because he believes it interferes with humanity, Zeno because he thinks it only causes pain). their connection to godhood is the cause of their relationship to death; the bloodline ends Soowon’s life early, the dragon blood extends Zeno’s.