I remember being disappointed during the early chapters of Paradise about how they chose to portray Seju (being overly jealous and controlling of Sumin's relationships) and how their dynamic had been sort of one where Sumin constantly went along with it that she'd internally reassure herself Seju was enough (It felt like they were suddenly trying to convince us Seju was one dimensionally unpleasant)
But as it went on, it kind of builds her more into someone who, without any close relationships up until that point and very new to things like love and comfort and happiness, feels incredibly afraid and insecure and tried to hold on to Sumin the only way she knew how.
I was glad that by the end of it, it felt like, despite how flawed a person she is and having gone about things the wrong way more times than not, she became much more sympathetic (how we understood her much better as to why she was desperately holding on to Sumin in the years that followed, how Sumin to her represented every good first thing she’s experienced and how she just didn’t know how to completely push the fear of losing her away than by holding on to her tighter)
How it also fleshed sumin out before she became colder and more detached, how a lot of her introspection had been her insecurities about being unable to give Seju anything in return (her thoughts primarily had been 'I feel terrible because I can't do anything for you' ch.95, and visually in ch.106 the match cut where Seju's sister in law slaps her across the cheek and Sumin's hand gently holding the same place before calling to her softly, like she’s trying to sooth her)
Paradise gave us a lot of missing information that sort of completed the whole picture, What their relationship looked like, how who they both were and their insecurities led to how things boiled over when they broke up, who Sumin was prior, How Seju's wants go from needing to monopolize Sumin's affections to just being able to stay by her side.
Everytime I felt doubtful of the direction the story is heading, the author seems to find a way to surprise me
(I think the only time it didn’t was when Sumin and Sungji broke up, I thought that was when Sungji was going to be developed but they kind of just throw in a new character, tacked on a backstory that was previously not there and took her out again, I was also hoping it would give Sumin a better understanding to Seju’s situation and be much more sympathetic)
Over all though, I still think this arc may surprise us and do another paradise, Even if Sumin’s much better off emotionally than in the beginning I think she does have more personal growth we haven’t seen yet and that’s kind of what I’m hoping to see more of.
(I may be wrong, but I remember an arc was going to be titled “Will”) And if this is it, I think it does indicate Sumin becoming stronger and more resolute
Oh no, the next chapter makes me incredibly sad (I don't know what's being said but the context clues are enough), Sumin's redemption will be a really difficult thing to pull off I think :'(
I remember being disappointed during the early chapters of Paradise about how they chose to portray Seju (being overly jealous and controlling of Sumin's relationships) and how their dynamic had been sort of one where Sumin constantly went along with it that she'd internally reassure herself Seju was enough
(It felt like they were suddenly trying to convince us Seju was one dimensionally unpleasant)
But as it went on, it kind of builds her more into someone who, without any close relationships up until that point and very new to things like love and comfort and happiness, feels incredibly afraid and insecure and tried to hold on to Sumin the only way she knew how.
I was glad that by the end of it, it felt like, despite how flawed a person she is and having gone about things the wrong way more times than not, she became much more sympathetic (how we understood her much better as to why she was desperately holding on to Sumin in the years that followed, how Sumin to her represented every good first thing she’s experienced and how she just didn’t know how to completely push the fear of losing her away than by holding on to her tighter)
How it also fleshed sumin out before she became colder and more detached, how a lot of her introspection had been her insecurities about being unable to give Seju anything in return (her thoughts primarily had been 'I feel terrible because I can't do anything for you' ch.95, and visually in ch.106 the match cut where Seju's sister in law slaps her across the cheek and Sumin's hand gently holding the same place before calling to her softly, like she’s trying to sooth her)
Paradise gave us a lot of missing information that sort of completed the whole picture, What their relationship looked like, how who they both were and their insecurities led to how things boiled over when they broke up, who Sumin was prior, How Seju's wants go from needing to monopolize Sumin's affections to just being able to stay by her side.
Everytime I felt doubtful of the direction the story is heading, the author seems to find a way to surprise me
(I think the only time it didn’t was when Sumin and Sungji broke up, I thought that was when Sungji was going to be developed but they kind of just throw in a new character, tacked on a backstory that was previously not there and took her out again, I was also hoping it would give Sumin a better understanding to Seju’s situation and be much more sympathetic)
Over all though, I still think this arc may surprise us and do another paradise, Even if Sumin’s much better off emotionally than in the beginning I think she does have more personal growth we haven’t seen yet and that’s kind of what I’m hoping to see more of.
(I may be wrong, but I remember an arc was going to be titled “Will”)
And if this is it, I think it does indicate Sumin becoming stronger and more resolute
Oh no, the next chapter makes me incredibly sad (I don't know what's being said but the context clues are enough), Sumin's redemption will be a really difficult thing to pull off I think :'(