I'm so glad the authors were clear about wanting Yeonjo and Heeryang to be on a "level playing field" by giving them that reset in their relationship. I mentioned at the beginning of season 2 that it felt necessary, from a reader's viewpoint, for everything to be aired out since the power dynamic was just too grand to be left on it's own with all the hidden plotting. I think more authors need to be self aware like this and take the time to make their characters work for their development.
And, on that note, I find it amusing that they named dropped Painter in the Night, because I find what they're doing WAY better than what Painter in the Night was doing (to the point, I dropped the manhwa years ago in disappointment). I hope they stick to what's working (continuously giving their characters agency even as their autonomy is taken away) and don't emulate Painter in the Night beyond it being a period piece.
I'm so glad the authors were clear about wanting Yeonjo and Heeryang to be on a "level playing field" by giving them that reset in their relationship. I mentioned at the beginning of season 2 that it felt necessary, from a reader's viewpoint, for everything to be aired out since the power dynamic was just too grand to be left on it's own with all the hidden plotting. I think more authors need to be self aware like this and take the time to make their characters work for their development.
And, on that note, I find it amusing that they named dropped Painter in the Night, because I find what they're doing WAY better than what Painter in the Night was doing (to the point, I dropped the manhwa years ago in disappointment). I hope they stick to what's working (continuously giving their characters agency even as their autonomy is taken away) and don't emulate Painter in the Night beyond it being a period piece.