I am still appalled by Yona's sudden "desire" to rule
Was this Yona's master plan all along?? Was she just waiting around for Su-Won's death so she could swoop in and clinch that throne? Or if he lived, was she hoping he'd give it up to the 'real heir' or some crap...? Girl, what the hell.
When did you start wanting the throne???
Like goddamn if something this huge was what she secretly was scheming for, I'd be 100% down with that shit—IF it was foreshadowed! This should have been on her mind arcs ago! I might have rooted for her if I'd known she was thinking opportunistically and playing the long game this whole time lmao! It's way more interesting when we actually know what she's thinking, after all. And it'd add some juicy political drama to the mix.
But nope, I never knew. Because Yona barely ever gets inner monologues or moments to reflect during the castle arcs and beyond. What did we get when Su-Won said she should be queen? She called him selfish? So again, when did she start wanting the throne??
Heck, I wouldn't even mind if she accepted this eventually if the talk between Yona and Su-Won had been longer and fleshed out. If it had explained the thought process all to us. But no, it's super rushed.
The "legitimate heir" argument Su-Won brings up is really weird... this chapter makes it clear in the series' context, the person who marries Yona in the series would be viewed as the "true" monarch, not her. Because of the patriarchal society and how royal lineage is perceived. That's why Hak didn't stand next to her during the coronation.
So once again, with all this in mind, exactly how would have Su-Won marrying Yona allowed her to become the queen anyways? She would have just been his queen consort, not the powerful monarch she is now. The beginning of the story implied that there was no clear "heir". All of that has been tossed into the trash.
In fact it's like the reason she was legitimate heir is because she was King Hiryuu—the reincarnation of a man. Yes, she's a capable person, but since Su-Won brought up lineage, let's not forget that Il was only crowned because she was the reincarnation of a man. A MAN, y'all. So this also undermines the "feminist" ending we're supposedly getting.
All in all, I don't think the "legitimate heir" stuff is something Su-Won was ever really concerned with or should be mentioning. After all, this is the guy who told Geun-tae social status and lineage doesn't matter for a successor.
The more I think about it, the more appalled I am by how brief and superficial this talk between Yona and Su-Won is. I'm appalled that Su-Won never explained to Yona why he chose make her the heir. It's certainly NOT just because of her lineage. He explained to Hak why, but why can't he just tell her that to her face?
Why can't he acknowledge how he had always underestimated her potential? How he had never expected her to make efforts to fix the country? How he now sees that she has the drive, determination and knowledge, and charisma to inspire others? How Il had always told him that Yona was the heir, but never properly raised her or gave her the education for it? How Su-Won was never able to acknowledge her because she is Hiryuu and Il's daughter...?
Heck, the conversation had potential to be way more than 2-3 pages. We were robbed.
Also, the fact that Su-Won has the blood of King Hiryuu himself... like... if he's going to use the "blood hierarchy" and "returning to original lineage" argument, would that not make him 'legitimate', as well? What even happened to his clan, the descendants of King Hiryuu? It's never even discussed... and honestly, I do think the clan's fate is really important, and Yona always should have been thinking of a way to cure those people, but in the end, she shows absolutely ZERO concern over the clan, and that's just been brushed to the side...?
In the end, I actually feel without the proper bulid up, this doesn't work.
The more foreshadowed and impactful ending imo would have been if Su-Won had respectfully asked Yona if she wanted to be the queen—none of these forcing ultimatums—"You will be queen. Your coronation is in 4 days. I will be your councilor. Your new advisors will be Kye-sook and Judo. You will meet with South Kai after" BS.
Like hold your horses, man! Quit ordering her around! Give her a right to choose! He could have approached her with sincerity and ask IF she truly wanted it, for one!
And then it might have been more impactful if Yona had actually flat out refused and told him to shove that title up his *** you know? I actually do not like how Hak gets the chance to show any resentment or anger, but Yona never is allowed to.
Especially considering how he had always underestimated her, but now he suddenly throws a crown at her, now he suddenly views her as an equal. She should have stood tall and told Su-Won that it was his fault for not seeing her for who she was this entire time. And how now her goals in life have also changed beyond just wanting a throne. It would have felt a lot more genuine and in character than passively accepting his every whim.
At this point, the throne doesn't feel like something Yona chose at all—it felt like yet another burden he dumped on her. Both she and Hak had been angry at Su-Won just deciding things on a whim... yet it all got brushed aside just to wrap things up in a neat bow, it seems. This is the result of having a weak final arc overall.
Also, if Hak becomes the "king" in the Gaiden chapter, I'm honestly gonna riot... not only that throws the so-called "revolutionary feminist ending" he was hyping up like a simp out of the window, but also throws in the sudden idea that Hak himself wanted to be the king this whole time... and I think that itself is WAY worse than Yona suddenly wanting to be the queen.
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