I find it interesting that Ryujin has been called traitor twice now? Once by Father Hope "the aberrant side" and once by Sayeon "the Corps side"? Both scenes have red in the background too (though Father Hope's is a more vivid red and Sayeon's fades to teal).
The hand gestures in these two scenes kind of remind me of each other? The context is kind of interesting too?
I've had the thought that Sayeon here might be answering Ryujin in a way? In ep 54 Ryujin was questioning where all of Sayeon's planning and drive went (after Sayeon learnt of Jaeil’s death), and then in ep 64 Sayeon says she will change everything. She shows Ryujin that she has her drive back.
[First image - ep. 54 & Second image - ep. 63]
Do you think one of the reasons Ryujin seems so drawn to Sayeon might be because Sayeon seemed to have a drive, a purpose? Ryujin’s wording of “you've been nothing” is an interesting one if Ryujin was only worried about Sayeon's aura and mental health (which I think she was too, don't get me wrong), however I wonder if it partly was because Ryujin had been relying on Sayeon to give her purpose? Give her direction after feeling directionless for so long? So Ryujin started to feel lost again when Sayeon seemed lost too?
My biggest tip for fanfic writers is this: if you get a character's mannerisms and speech pattern down, you can make them do pretty much whatever you want and it'll feel in character.
Logic: Characters, just like real people, are mallable. There is typically very little that's so truly, heinously out of character that you absolutely cannot make it work under any circumstance. In addition, most fans are also willing to accept characterization stretches if it makes the fic work. Yeah, we all know the villain and the hero wouldn't cuddle for warmth in canon. But if they did do that, how would they do it?
What counts is often not so much 'would the character do this?' and more 'if the character did do this, how would they do it?' If you get 'how' part right, your readers will probably be willing to buy the rest, because it will still feel like their favourite character. But if it doesn't feel like the character anymore, why are they even reading the fic?
Worry less about whether a character would do something, and more about how they'd sound while doing it.
Random thought, but if Sayeon does somehow get the Penitent Relic (a future theory), and we know it rains when Penitent is in use. Then if Ryujin could control water mixed with her blood (another random thought)? Could that make Ryujin more powerful in the rain? Could Sayeon and Ryujin tag team?
The fastest way to accomplish The Project is to cease being afraid of The Project. The Project cannot maim you. The Project cannot kill you. The Project is more afraid of you than you are of it. It is okay if The Project turns out differently from how it was in your head, and it is okay if it has flaws. You are capable of engaging with The Project.
Penitent - Is a person who feels deep regret for a wrong committed.
In a religious context it is a person that repents for their sin, and in Roman Catholic tradition it is someone who confesses their sin to the priest and is tasked with a penance (task/devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin) by the priest. This “Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation” is meant to remove eternal guilt and sin. They then receive forgiveness from God. As we know guilt is a huge theme in Hand Jumper, especially for Sayeon (and Ryujin too).
Curious about this possible religious context too, since other titles in the webcomic like "purgatory" are also connected to Catholic theology (there are possibly other religious allegories in other places too). The episode "Purgatory" is also connected to Sayeon and Ryujin’s guilt; how they cannot forgive themselves so they remain in “purgatory” .
Pairing this with @autistic-elf’s great theory post on Sayeon possibly receiving the Penitent Relic from Wolhye. I found the words “accept her emotions and humanity ” in the post especially interesting, since “self-examination” is meant to be the first step in the “Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation”. That she will allow herself to feel penitence which may lead to penance? Which might lead to forgiveness of some kind? However, I know this story is likely going to be a tragedy of some kind so I feel like there might be some complications in this healing. The episode 112 title "Guilt will save the world" has always interested me too though, and what would "save" mean?
This is just a random thought, but I find it interesting how important Father Hope seems to be in this arc (we see him with Jinhee, Rarog mentions him and we know he is involved with the Cult of Naj too). He is a priest (though a fake one). I kind of wonder if it’s possible for him to task Sayeon with a penance? idk just a thought.
Anyway, let's properly start!
Is it Samin! Baby Samin!!
Hmm she’s just casually walking along the rail? Does essence help with balance too, or is she just so sure even at this age she could survive a fall from there?
She's holding a red paper plane hmm. Paper Planes can symbolize "youthful innocence" and letting one go can represent "chasing a dream".
A red one could represent that that "youthful innocence" is stained maybe?
Oohhhhh so Wolhye did know Samin!! This means she probably knew Sayeon too, right?
Hmm was she about to say Auclair casually at first? Before deciding to add Miss? Because of familiarity? And to try and add some distance?
She does not seem happy to see her.
If the Sea Wolves already tried to take Samin and Sayeon under their wings, only for Samin to disagree, then this must be after Sara's death, right?
I still wonder how Samin looked after Sayeon during this time? She's so small, and it would be a big responsibility to look after someone who is only 4 years old. That’s not even going into how she looked after herself.
Also what about money and everything like that? I guess there could be an inheritance and Samin might already be gaining money in the underworld too? Though she’s so young 😭
I also wonder about the government too? We know Sayeon went to school so she must have been in the system, right? They had Sayeon down as an orphan too I think? How did no one show up to investigate her? Did the Sea Wolves help forge some kind of story so the government didn't look into it?
Did Samin go to school too? Or is she not in the system? She kind of looks like she is wearing a school uniform here with the bag, but I'm not sure? It kind of looks like casual wear too?
Was little Sayeon left on her own too? Samin couldn't always be home, right? Like right now it looks like sunset, so Sayeon would be home from any kind of schooling she might have, right? Is little Sayeon home alone right now?
I could understand not wanting the Sea Wolves involved, but why the anger towards Wolhye too? Just because she is also a member?
Wait "Auntie"... Is that the word Samin almost called Wolhye before?
It's interesting that even though Samin seemed to be afraid of her mother, she is still so angry that she died and is angry at people that could have prevented it. I guess emotions are complex like that, even if she was afraid she still probably loved her mom too. It could also be a bit of a security thing too? If Sara was alive would people leave Sayeon and Sara alone? There would also be a little less responsibility on Samin alone?
Also I mentioned earlier how Samin was just casually walking on the rail. Could it be showing her mental state a little bit? That even though Sayeon is relying on her now, that she would take an unnecessary risk (even if the risk is minimal for an aberrant?)?
Wolhye looks so sad 😭
Hmm also the placement and color of the speech bubble is kind of interesting? It's right behind Wolhye's head, is it to symbolize this thought is also stuck in Wolhye's head?
Such a pretty green. A rather rare color to see in this comic (without it being connected to green essence). I wonder could you mean something?
Sara seemed to really care for Wolhye too? Or seemed to be softer to her?
“No one can tell the future”
Why would you say that when you live in a world with people who have magical gifts! Did you never question what Sara's gift might be!? The person “who is never wrong”?
Also I already strongly suspected Sara’s gift was some kind of “future sight”, and this seems to confirm it even further I think?
I kind of find it interesting that the number starts at 3 too? The number that Sayeon currently is in the Corps? And the last number shown is 10, the highest level you can attain in the Corps? Hmm honestly I didn't think we would see Sayeon become a level 10, since I thought the series would end before then (e.g. Sayeon would achieve her "goal" in another way), however this makes me wonder? 🤔
Bwhahah Samin is so blunt.
Oh Oohh I know everyone in the fandom was joking about Wolhye's crush on Sara, but was Wolhye actually in love with Sara. I guess that's why Wolhye reminisces so much on Sara and the kids (besides the story needing exposition).
I wonder what Sara thought about Wolhye? Earlier I said it seemed like she cared, but I wonder how much? Hmm I think others have mentioned too, but Wolhye and Ryujin seem like they might have a similar role to their respective Lee? Sara and Sayeon lost their husband/love interest, but then they were able to lean on their female "friend"?
Oh the "trust" word again. We know this word is important to the story. Sayeon always wants people to trust her, and just recently we got a confirmation that Sayeon trusts Ryujin.
It's interesting to see Sara use the word too. Hmm well Sayeon originally got the word from Samin, when Samin told her to "just trust her". I wonder if Samin originally got that saying from Sara maybe?
I also wonder why thematically Sleepy makes "trust" a big thing in the story? I wonder where it's leading us?
Green background again. What does it represent?
I wonder if it's saying even if you trust someone you should still not let them decide everything themselves or something? 🤔
She was wearing brighter clothes but is now wearing black mourning clothes.
Her shoes were red, to symbolize she was part of the Lee family in a way? Since all Lee's have a red item? However now she isn't?
Also in another episode didn't Sayeon recently think about Ahn with blue shoes very similar to this? Is the blue and red shoes meant to show a foil between them in some way?
Hmm I feel like this scene could mean something? Samin is on the rail, a dividing line? She has the sun directly behind her.
One hand is holding the paper plane which might mean "innocence", though a stained one? However she's holding onto it over the ledge, but not throwing it (not making a dream?)? Then on the other side she has a pink band aid on her knee, which makes me think of Jaeil and his pink band aid? The one he got from Sayeon? So maybe it symbolizes love? Which is on the bridge side? The safer side?
For Sayeon will Samin take risks and stain her innocence?
"My sun, my star" Yeah sad lover girl.
Also if Sara is "the sun" then I kind of find the placement of the sun interesting in the above image (Samin) too. To say she is "watching over them" e.g. Sara's plan is in action?
That is the question, isn't it? What is her plan?
Ohh so that's why she hasn't been around.
And there's that famous saying too "Debts owed, debts paid". Another Wolhye & Ryujin parallel?
Wolhye is using it more as an excuse to do what she wants to do anyway; to help Samin and Sayeon. Just like how Ryujin might have partly used it as an excuse to return to Sayeon in ep 71?
Oh it's sad to see what could have been.
Wolhye really trying to step up. She basically offering to adopt them.
Also Samin is holding the paper plane in the other hand here? The safe side? The bridge side?
Oh interesting it used to be Sara's Relic? Or..
Is it possible it could have originally have been Doyeon's Relic? Wolhye didn’t seem to have the Relic in the flashback in episode 112 (when Wolhye and Sara were visiting Doyeon’s grave). We know Doyeon likely had a Relic too (though in episode 1 it looked like it was a ring… is it possible for Relics to change its resting form too?). However, the fact that Doyeon’s grave was shown at all in episode 112 “Guilt will save the world” possibly points to this theory even more? To show Wolhye and Doyeon had a connection?
Hmm… Furthermore, I have heard a theory that he might have even killed himself and that is why Wolhye said “Doyeon was too kind for this sh!thole planet. That’s why he left, I think”. A Relic like this that seems to feed off your sadness or guilt, having to experience those emotions constantly to fight would surely start to affect your mind, right?
If true, it would also answer a question I've had since reading episode 58 too. Why was the funeral smoke purple? Is it because a purple-essence Relic was the reason for his death?
This might also be why Samin is so angry that Wolhye has it? Samin seemed to really love her dad, so to see someone else have it could hurt her even more?
Also could add some interesting symbolism if the Relic does somehow get passed down to Sayeon too?
Idk just a thought. I’ll need to see more, and this would go against another theory I had that Han might have Doyeon’s Relic ring? Though the only reason I thought of that theory was that they both likely have/had ring Relics (+ Sara killed Lt. Baek's daughter and there was a theory I heard where it might have been in retribution for Doyeon's death, meaning if Doyeon did have a Relic then the Corps might have it).
She only 11, but she scary.
I kind of get it, but I'm still surprised how much Samin seemed to hate Wolhye? Is she just taking her anger out?
And we are back to the present.
I find it so interesting that the Relic has the form of a Scythe. There is a lot of possible symbolism to that.
Wow so activating the Relic makes it rain? That's pretty crazy. Rain for tears?
So Relics are made directly from godlings. I've had that thought before, but the episode where we saw it being gifted made me question that theory. I suppose tears are still part of the godling though? Or there might be more to that story? If tears are what the Relic is made from then it is not necessarily only bones, but just parts of the body then that can be made into Relics?
I also wondered if godling blood then could be turned into a "Relic"? I've had a crazy thought/theory for awhile that Ryujin might mix her blood with a godling (with Lilith?)? Since it seemed like Raon might have been able to control Bones's blood when she mixed it with his? (huh his name being Bones feels interesting in this context too..). Idk just another of my random thoughts.
Huh it's also very interesting to learn that the size of the Relic effects the power of the Relic... What if you have the entire godling then? So Lilith really can be turned into "a weapon of destruction" (ep 53).
I've had a terrible thought and wondered could aberrants be turned into Relics?
Yes! Confirmation that the Relics have color types like the aberrants, and that effects what the "usage condition" is?
I wonder if the same godling can give out different essence color Relics? @queenxfirefly theory is that since godlings have white essence (all colors into one) they might be able to create champions of every essence color. If so, then could the same godling make different essence color Relics too?
Ha so it was connected to the godling Selume! Interesting!! I heard this theory in the Webtoon comment section a few episodes ago and thought it matched, however when it was revealed that Wolhye's Relic was a Scythe and not a sword (like we were shown) I had my doubts, but this confirms it is!
Hmm I wonder then if the weapons form can change depending on the user then? Or were we only shown the sword because it was a story, in other words because Jinhee didn't know and she was telling the story then we weren't shown the truth? It shows we can't always trust what we are shown then..
Also interesting to learn that the Relic is called Penitent.
Welp that doesn't look good for Snake. I don't see her coming back from that..
Is this maybe why the Well Godling only mentioned Wolhye in it's warning to Sayeon? Since everyone else is so below her threat level?
The others might arrive soon to though. Butcher, Minnie and Ishaan - I wonder what will happen?
Exactly! The names are so interesting in Hand Jumper, since there are so many possible hidden meanings when you start to look into them.
It's also interesting that "Hanguk" is so close to the other twin's name too: Gukhan, who is likely dead by Ryujin's hands? If she did kill him what does that symbolize? That Ryujin killed... "Koryo"?
Gukhan literal meaning is "restriction/confinement", so that might also mean something too 🤔
Han also has another possible hidden meaning too: there is the Korean concept of "han", which is a profound collective sorrow, unresolved resentment, but also a small enduring hope. This I think could describe the character Han rather well too?
need this to be some kind of cryptic foreshadowing re: ryujin becoming the lynchpin of sayeons plans, her most trusted friend and her most useful tool, the queen on the chessboard, whose actions culminate in some sort of sick tragic outcome for sayeon at the comics end
either sayeon warps ryujin into a cruel twisted version of herself who takes on an active role to bring about sayeons goals and ironically brings abt her demise.., or ryujin is incorruptible and sayeon goes so far in her quest to Bring World Peace (lol) that ryujin has to betray her even after everything theyve been thru, ruining all of sayeons best laid plans …
In episode 34 Ryujin grabs both of the batons like this. I find it interesting that the way Ryujin's hand is drawn is exactly like the hand (but reversed) in the image from episode 35.
The image from episode 35 is shown when the words "If you want something, seize it. If someone hurts you, repay them tenfold. There is only room for one ego" is said.
What does the two batons represent I wonder? What could Ryujin "seize"?
[First image - ep. 34 & Second image - ep. 35]
The "hands grasping for power" image shows up again in episode 53. In this episode it explains how every group is trying to get their hands on Lilith "the weapon of mass destruction". How they are all "grasping for power".
[First image - ep. 35 & Second image - ep. 53] (I don't think how the numbers are flipped is a coincidence either)
I also find it interesting that just before the "hands grasping for power" image is shown that this one with the swords is shown. This image also shows up in the episode 50 - Godlings. This episode mentioned how the aberrants led the uprising against the godlings, however the aberrants then replaced the godlings as the "higher power".
[First image - ep. 53 & Second image - ep. 50]
I wonder does this imply that Sayeon and Ryujin will reach Lilith first? Since Ryujin grasped the "batons" - the power? Does it also imply that they will then try to replace a "higher power"?
Ok, I'm pretty sure someone in the fandom probably has made this theory already, but I'll be posting here anyway.
So, in chapter 125 we learn that Wolhye's relic feeds on guilt to be used and that in the hands of someone with enough remorse it can be really powerfull (considering that Snake was One-shot)
Now, we know that Wolhye recognises how the guilt that she feels about her actions fuels her Relic's power and so she does not hold it back and allows herself to feel sadness about her acts of violence, even going as far as (light spoilers for fastpass) deliberately making herself empathise with her enemies so that she may feel remorse for killing them.
Compare her now to Sayeon. Sayeon also feels a lot of guilt about her actions, both from her childhood and for her current plans. However, she buries those feelings so that they do not interfere with her plots. One of the aspects of the Godling's offer that tempts her is that her guilt would go away alongside her humanity.
Clearly there is a paralel between the two. One feels guilt and turns it into strength while the other feels it and pushes it down due to perceiving this as weakness.
Considering this, one could imagine that if Sayeon obtained the Penitence she would be able to wield it quite well. Not only that, but you could even say that it would be somewhat healing, allowing her to feel and accept her emotions and humanity, perharps it would even help her understand these concepts better.
Sayeon feels like a perfect fit for the Relic. So, considering that it was originally given as a gift from Sara and considering all that we theorize about Sara possibily having a future sight Gift, could this be all part of her plan? Did Sara give Penitence to Wolhye predicting that she would be able to wield it for long enough until her path crosses with Sayeon? Did she purposively raise her daughters in a way that Sayeon would develop all those conflicting feelings within herself, making her a perfect wilder for Penitence in the same way that she did with Wolhye?
And if so, then why? What is her final goal? Will Sayeon end up with the Relic in her hands? Will Wolhye give it to her willingly or will something else happen?
Anyways, thanks for reading my crazy ramblings. I`m ready to be proven completly wrong in the future.
Disclaimer & Spoiler Warning: This theory is about a Patreon-exclusive post from Sleepacross titled 'A Moment Frozen in Time.' This is for Patreon subscribers only. Though I will say this, I did not post any artwork from the patreon because it is behind a paywall for non-subscribers, I only posted the link to the patreon post, which is still available to everyone in case anyone wants to subscribe to see it. But I will be discussing that post and my theories on it for the upcoming episodes and eventual season two finale.
Link here:
Sayeon's gift is both ideally suited to her abilities and also the cruelest power she could have received. She's a perfectionist, and on top
My theory based on Sleepacross’ Art and Comment:
So, from the beginning, sleepacross posted artwork called "A Memory Frozen in Time" showing ‘Corps Sayeon’ staring down into a snow globe. Inside that snow globe, it shows ‘pre-Corps Sayeon’ holding a bloody knife, standing in blood-stained snow, with part of the image censored in black with what looks like another person she may have killed. Sleepacross said she'd re-release the art "with modifications" after Season 2 ends. And this is my theory on what that might be.
While I previously posted the theory that ‘Jugyeong’ might be entangled with the Cult of Naj, I’ve been harboring a secondary theory that I have not released. Honestly, I was holding out for more evidence to back the idea (and I hoped sleepacross would release this to the non-subscribers), but with the finale seemingly on its way, it’s time to finally put this out there before it is too late.
My theory: What if the censored shape is Jugyeong's body? What if Sayeon killed her?
Let me explain why:
During the years following her father’s death maybe Jugyeong eventually pieced together the truth about her father’s death and confronted Sayeon. And Sayeon, young and terrified of being exposed, panicked. Something happened that Sayeon doesn’t remember with a knife, her stabbing (possibly killing) Jugyeong and ended up with blood on her hands.
My 2nd crack theory: What if Sayeon doesn't remember doing it?
I’ve theorized Samin's gift is Temporal Editing, an ability to cut, erase, freeze, or modify moments from the original timeline (albeit this may seem too OP, but just play along). If Samin found her little sister standing over Jugyeong's body, she could have cut that memory out entirely. Sayeon remembers Jugyeong disappearing, but not the act itself. Yet, the guilt is still there. Remember, Sayeon herself told us her recurring nightmare is mostly about Jugyeong. What if Sayeon's guilt is more than just the murder of Jugyeong’s father?
This could also explain the Godling memory blockage (during the beginning of the series). Every time Sayeon tried to think about the Well-Godling, she seemed to hit a wall (headaches, static, a blockage she couldn’t push through until recently) before she could hardly remember anything after waking up. What if that's part of Samin's gift? Samin knows the Godling is trying to communicate with her sister to become its next Champion, so maybe Samin fortified Sayeon's mind to keep the Godling, or the idea of their existence from ever occurring? Essentially, Samin erase part of Sayeon’s memory of Jugyeong to protect her, and she also trying to fortify Sayeon’s mind to keep the Godling out as much as possible (until Samin finds a way to kill/imprison it).
Panels from Episode 40 Wishing Well, Episode 65 Mind over Matter, & Episode 72 Blood Covenant
When Samin first encounters the Godling in her own mental space, she has complete control over the entire mindscape; throne, stairs, architecture, everything. The Godling itself is surprised, saying mortals don't usually control their full mental space. The Godling tells her, "You're obsessed with CONTROL, Samin Lee. Over yourself, and everything around you." In which Samin responds: "This is my mind. My dominion. If I don't have power over this, I don't have power over anything." We know aberrants can get powers very similar to their core personality, if Samin is obsessed with control, maybe it isn’t only manipulating the flow of time, but controlling what gets remembered, too, like entrapping memories in a pocket space inside their mind??
Just makes me think, if Samin has enough mental control to architect a psychic throne room that surprises the Godling, can she edit Sayeon's memories or trap/freeze them in time like inside that snow globe “A moment frozen in Time”. The Godling tells Sayeon its powers have waned, "that's why you can't entirely remember" but what if the Godling's weakness is only part of the equation? What if Samin's mind fortification is the other half? The Godling is weakened AND Samin built a barrier to protect her sister.
And if the snow globe contains a frozen memory of Jugyeong, if that is what Samin sealed, then the snow globe cracking and the sky cracking can be the same metaphor. Maybe that's why we had that visual in episode 65, when Sayeon finally admitted this could be a Godling and that Godlings exist, and it's talking to her, like she had to come to the conclusion herself in order to break the barrier, then afterward she started remembering whenever she talks to the Godling. Maybe it might be the same with the memory of Jugyeong, she will have to admit or come to the conclusion herself in order to finally remember??
Sleepacross said it herself, "Her worst guilts are frozen deep in the original timeline, infecting a history her power can never reach."
When that censorship comes off after Season 2... I think it’s a strong possibility it could be Jugyeong.
Obviously this is a theory, you could say, “Why didn’t Samin just make Jugyeong and her father lose the memory of finding out about them” but maybe Samin needed to make an example in order to keep Sayeon from making the same mistake twice.
Well, that is my theory I am throwing in the hat for now.
While the name Sayeon basically means tragic backstory/tragic choice. I also broke up the characters to see if it could mean anything else:
Sa (사 ) commonly means the number 4. 4 is an unlucky number in Korea and is associated with death.
Yeon (연) in itself does not mean “fate” (it can mean “connection/bonds/ties”, though it depends on the hanja used), it is however a character needed for the word fate (e.g. Inyeon - the “fate” that is closely tied to the Red-Strings of Fate). In Korea the Red-Strings of Fate is the same concept as the one Sleepy mentioned in episode 74 e.g. the strings are not just connected to your “soulmate”, but to everyone you will effect in life.
However, I wonder if Sara chose the name Sayeon to imply “Death of Fate”?
It also interests me that Samin’s name in combination with Sayeon, could also give you the proper “inyeon” word.
We also have the “Sa (사 )”. The possible death association between Sara, Samin and Sayeon too. Making them the “three deaths”? The "three deaths of fate"?
