Hairpins and Kings – A Rant
Or, why Akatsuki no Yona is not a love-triangle story, and Yona did not keep the hairpin due to lingering romantic love for Soo-Won and kiss Hak only because she had finally moved on from Soo-Won and given the pin up as a sign that she was ready to fully embrace new love.
Or, CONTROVERSY!
In light of AkaYona chapters 136 and 137, a rather strongly supported (at least in my opinion) idea has been permeating the fandom: the idea that Yona giving up her hairpin to Ogi is a symbol that she now no longer loves Soo-Won as she once did, and kissed Hak afterwards because, as a result of now not having any lingering love for Soo-Won, her heart is open to finally moving forward romantically with Hak.
I just… I’m struggling to… Just… What?
I’ve tried to let any posts or comments like this I see on tumblr or elsewhere pass me by, but every time I read something along these lines my face contorts with passionate disagreement on every possible level: so much so that I’ve decided to rant about this entire scenario. That means ranting about the forsaken hairpin, Soo-Won and Yona’s relationship, and why, to me, Yona has been against Soo-Won and not in love with him definitively since she went to Ik-Soo’s house for the first time.
A heads up that anyone who agrees with the point I’m arguing against, or supports the Soo-Won x Yona pair, is probably not going to like this rant. Please understand that this is my own opinion and you as such do not have to agree with it all (or even parts of it) if you do not want to. I am perfectly happy for you to agree or disagree with any part of this rant, just… please be don’t hurt me, I’m weak DX
Also, a heads up that this rant will not support the Yona x Soo-Won pair, as, to be blunt, I think the relationship only existed up ‘til the end of chapter 1. Again, I’m fine with people shipping Yona and Soo-Won, but I don’t at all, and I will not be afraid to speak against them now. If you like the ship and don’t want to see anything said against them, please do yourself a favour and don’t read this. It will do very little for you I suspect.
*looks right* Cool? *look left* All cool?
Awesome, let’s get on with it! *Bewarn: many words! (Over 5.5k kill me now)*