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The psychological horror aspect of the reveal that his memories had a gaping hole in them completely blindsided me despite all the hints leading up to it. In a way, it is a cop out to diffuse responsibility and shift blame to a version of ML that can't be held accountable, but the plot twist was an interesting one even if the conflict gets glossed over quickly in service of story progression.
What stands out to me is the conversation it opens about personal agency, dehumanization, and molding a partner to fit expectations. Would he still be with him if his memories were in tact? Is a choice you were manipulated into making really your choice? Are they still together only because of sunken cost fallacy?
The writing takes full advantage of branching timelines and flips the story on its head by pulling the rug out from under MC who thinks he possesses more power than he actually does. I found the betrayal so deeply and deliberately haunting that I keep turning over the scenario. Consent that is given without being privy to all the facts of reality can hardly be considered consent.
I don't think it's sunken cost, more like he has no other option at all. He is doing the best he can with what he has. Even with his memories he doesn't have a place to return because the system has juridiction over espers and guides and Wui Wu told the truth about mutants being put to death. The best he can hope for with his family is to put them all in danger going against the military and making a scandal in the media. That's the best case scenario and it's not something he would likely chose because it's not great. Even if Wui Wu had set him free, MC would have been caught and put to death in his next medical exam... So... Yeah, find a way to get good with the pysicho or die. The only other options are to accept being the psycho's doll or be made a doll against his will, like Wui Wu treatened many times
Though their dynamic is not exactly revolutionary, I think this relationship has an unmistakable charm that makes them stand out. Neither of the leads remain stagnant and they share on-screen chemistry that feels palpable. The story doesn't just suggest that Taeui is a loveable person but shows it through his actions, his flaws, and a background history that shapes him every step of the way. Taeui finds Ilay in a period of his life where he doesn't even realize how desperate for connection he is and they're mutually drawn to each other even before sex is on the table.
Taeui's dismissal from the military coupled with Jaeui 's attempt to push him away set Taeui up to be curious about Ilay and humanize him in ways no one else has managed to before. But Passion doesn't stop at that. Ilay doesn't radically become better overnight or even feel remorse for the kind of life he leads. Instead Passion tackles the question of how they make the relationship in spite of Ilay's nature rather than fixing it. They both make concessions in order to co-exist and live together.
This is a slow burn story that devotes ample time to development as Taeui accepts all of Ilay and Ilay gains humanity because of the overwhelming desire to keep Taeui in his life, realizing that he has to adjust or he could lose Taeui for good by endangering him. In the main story, Ilay learns that he can't kill Taeui. The next novel, DS, challenges this belief and Ilay learns he actually can kill Taeui on accident if he's not careful. And everything after that is an active and conscious effort to never hurt Taeui. Ilay realizes he could hurt Taeui, but he won't because he wants to be with him for the rest of their lives. He comes to understand there's nothing more personally fulfilling than Taeui being remaining by his side and happily so.
So beautifully said
I love you. Passion is one of the most polarizing bl ever but I still think there's something that can be geniunely appreciated abt the writing outside of its perceprion as a violence shock-factor romance