day 6/30 of analyzing sangyang until season 3 comes out
today i'm analyzing chapters 30-32 (aka the season 1 finale).
i'm going to attempt to analyze everything in chronological order.
chapter 30 establishes one of the biggest mysteries of the series, as well as serving to synthesize lau's character arc within the first season, and addressing one aspect of his complicated feelings for xin. i will speak more about this when i analyze his actual character itself (day 18 hint hint), but in short what we discover in these chapters is why lau is wary of xin. xin's character is one of the biggest mysteries of this whole series. why is he manipulating lau? what does he want from him? we as the audience obviously know xin loves him, but lau's kind of dense sooo. does xin even actually trust lau? this is probably one of the biggest sources of lau's discomfort with xin. as his guardian and friend, lau is the one xin is supposed to entrust his secrets to the most, and essentially be his other half. and yet, xin rarely ever lets lau know his true feelings, whether about lau or anyone else. earlier in chapter 10 we see lau shout at xin and tell him to "wipe that smile off of your face", xin asks him why and lau says because "it makes [him] sick." i think at this point lau still doesn't know *why* he hates it so much.
With this flashback to highschool, lau finally uncovers why he hates xin's smile so much. lau says its "because you smile when you really shouldnt" lau feels that xin doesn't trust him enough to actually confide with lau what's scaring him, what makes him upset, etc, and just tries to cover up his emotions in front of lau in order to not burden him. i remember someone in the comments once said "lau is the one supposed to be protecting xin as his guardian, but its the other way around." lau feels like he's not worthy enough to protect xin, and worries if xin feels the same way, and that's secretly the reason why xin doesn't try to burden him at all. its all just so sad..
when lau finally sees xin again, xin is in a trance cutting oleander leaves. i think this is symbolism for xin somehow through this whole tattoo plan cutting off the head family and ending their reign of terror, but in the process getting rid of the perfectly good parts (leaves) as well.
then we're building up to the climix. lau sees what is essentially a sleep paralysis demon version of himself choking xin, which is a callback to the end of chapter 1. as i discussed in one of my previous posts, i believe this is a metaphor for lau's fear of a part of himself that despises xin, the one that hurt xin 5 years ago. unlike chapter 1 however, lau now has his answer, that he would never do that to xin, and instead he decides to protect him, but is unable to.
also shout out sleep paralysis demon xin, gotta be one of my favorite genders. this is one of my favorite moments in the whole series, where this demented version of xin comes to torture lau with his worst fears. it also leads to one of my favorite panels in the whole series: https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-32/pg-32/ this version of xin in lau's nightmare, both angelic and demonic, taunting lau with his greatest fear (not being capable enough to even help xin), and then xin transforming into a scary asf troll version of lian, who serves as a reminder of lau's inadequacies and mistreatment of xin. the stories hinting earlier on that lian is a major antagonist to their relationship.
then lau breaks out of his nightmare, and still half dreaming, believes he's hurt xin. this is especially traumatic for him, because 1) he hurt the one he loves duh, but also 2) him hurting xin 5 years ago is what drove them apart in the first place. lau terrified runs away.
now we get to the actual climax. as lau's running away he pauses on the bottom of the staircase when he hears xin call out for him, begging him not to leave him once again. lau on the verge of tears, makes his decision and runs away once again. xin who's still in a feverish state hobbles down the stairs only to stop in front of the tapestry. i lied earlier, actually THIS panel is my favorite in the whole series. https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-32/pg-83/
xin standing in silence after lau abandoned him in his moment of need, in front of the tapestry that's supposed to represent the sanctity of the original guardian-heir relationship. oh the irony. and i think this is really the major through line of the series. with modern times and continous lust for power, the zhou family has corrupted the pure bond of a guardian and heir, resulting in the tattered relationship between xin and lau today.
then we get the season 2 announcement, and just when you think the entirety of season 1 is over the dark backround of the manwha fades and we're left with this panel: https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-32/pg-88/ i think this whole thing is an artistic way to show that this whole manhwa has essentially been lau running away and the dark background was just his shadow. i don't think it's literally that, but its a neat metaphor i think. in conclusion, ABSOLUTE CINEMA.
i truly believe this is one of the best season finales in fiction. this author always knows how to do a good finale (see season 2 part 1 finale and part 2 finale as well). more than just tying up the major themes of what we learned in each season, the author also manages to leave the season off on a strong emotional climax each time, leaving the audience with a sense of both despair and oddly enough for me at least, catharsis. furthermore, the season finales always involve some major change that affects the characters deeply on into the next season, making the reader feel hyped for even more of it. and i definitely felt that with this one. (this is personally my fav season finale of the whole series so far)
day 6/30 of analyzing sangyang until season 3 comes out
today i'm analyzing chapters 30-32 (aka the season 1 finale).
i'm going to attempt to analyze everything in chronological order.
chapter 30 establishes one of the biggest mysteries of the series, as well as serving to synthesize lau's character arc within the first season, and addressing one aspect of his complicated feelings for xin. i will speak more about this when i analyze his actual character itself (day 18 hint hint), but in short what we discover in these chapters is why lau is wary of xin. xin's character is one of the biggest mysteries of this whole series. why is he manipulating lau? what does he want from him? we as the audience obviously know xin loves him, but lau's kind of dense sooo. does xin even actually trust lau? this is probably one of the biggest sources of lau's discomfort with xin. as his guardian and friend, lau is the one xin is supposed to entrust his secrets to the most, and essentially be his other half. and yet, xin rarely ever lets lau know his true feelings, whether about lau or anyone else. earlier in chapter 10 we see lau shout at xin and tell him to "wipe that smile off of your face", xin asks him why and lau says because "it makes [him] sick." i think at this point lau still doesn't know *why* he hates it so much.
With this flashback to highschool, lau finally uncovers why he hates xin's smile so much. lau says its "because you smile when you really shouldnt" lau feels that xin doesn't trust him enough to actually confide with lau what's scaring him, what makes him upset, etc, and just tries to cover up his emotions in front of lau in order to not burden him. i remember someone in the comments once said "lau is the one supposed to be protecting xin as his guardian, but its the other way around." lau feels like he's not worthy enough to protect xin, and worries if xin feels the same way, and that's secretly the reason why xin doesn't try to burden him at all. its all just so sad..
when lau finally sees xin again, xin is in a trance cutting oleander leaves. i think this is symbolism for xin somehow through this whole tattoo plan cutting off the head family and ending their reign of terror, but in the process getting rid of the perfectly good parts (leaves) as well.
side note this image genuinely fries me everytime cuz what is that size difference https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-31/pg-14/
then we're building up to the climix. lau sees what is essentially a sleep paralysis demon version of himself choking xin, which is a callback to the end of chapter 1. as i discussed in one of my previous posts, i believe this is a metaphor for lau's fear of a part of himself that despises xin, the one that hurt xin 5 years ago. unlike chapter 1 however, lau now has his answer, that he would never do that to xin, and instead he decides to protect him, but is unable to.
also shout out sleep paralysis demon xin, gotta be one of my favorite genders. this is one of my favorite moments in the whole series, where this demented version of xin comes to torture lau with his worst fears. it also leads to one of my favorite panels in the whole series:
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-32/pg-32/
this version of xin in lau's nightmare, both angelic and demonic, taunting lau with his greatest fear (not being capable enough to even help xin), and then xin transforming into a scary asf troll version of lian, who serves as a reminder of lau's inadequacies and mistreatment of xin. the stories hinting earlier on that lian is a major antagonist to their relationship.
then lau breaks out of his nightmare, and still half dreaming, believes he's hurt xin. this is especially traumatic for him, because 1) he hurt the one he loves duh, but also 2) him hurting xin 5 years ago is what drove them apart in the first place. lau terrified runs away.
now we get to the actual climax. as lau's running away he pauses on the bottom of the staircase when he hears xin call out for him, begging him not to leave him once again. lau on the verge of tears, makes his decision and runs away once again. xin who's still in a feverish state hobbles down the stairs only to stop in front of the tapestry. i lied earlier, actually THIS panel is my favorite in the whole series. https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-32/pg-83/
xin standing in silence after lau abandoned him in his moment of need, in front of the tapestry that's supposed to represent the sanctity of the original guardian-heir relationship. oh the irony. and i think this is really the major through line of the series. with modern times and continous lust for power, the zhou family has corrupted the pure bond of a guardian and heir, resulting in the tattered relationship between xin and lau today.
then we get the season 2 announcement, and just when you think the entirety of season 1 is over the dark backround of the manwha fades and we're left with this panel: https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/sangyang_the_wanderer/uu/to_chapter-32/pg-88/
i think this whole thing is an artistic way to show that this whole manhwa has essentially been lau running away and the dark background was just his shadow. i don't think it's literally that, but its a neat metaphor i think. in conclusion, ABSOLUTE CINEMA.
i truly believe this is one of the best season finales in fiction. this author always knows how to do a good finale (see season 2 part 1 finale and part 2 finale as well). more than just tying up the major themes of what we learned in each season, the author also manages to leave the season off on a strong emotional climax each time, leaving the audience with a sense of both despair and oddly enough for me at least, catharsis. furthermore, the season finales always involve some major change that affects the characters deeply on into the next season, making the reader feel hyped for even more of it. and i definitely felt that with this one. (this is personally my fav season finale of the whole series so far)