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I see a few people in the comments talking about how they don't like this arc and how it feels very slow and boring. I disagree with that. While the story is going more slowly than other portions that's because this arc goes out of it's way to set up story points and show us just how much Yona has grown and things in the palace have changed through her journey.
This arc feels like the last arc or one of the last arcs to me. As much as it makes me sad to think that, and as much as I want more of the Happy Hungry Bunch it makes sense thematically. Yona started off the series as an airhead princess who I frankly found annoying in the first chapters. She goes on this journey and meets these new people, growing in the process before returning to her old home. After returning instead of the incapable sheltered princess she shows her capabilities, her first hand knowledge about the people and events going on in the country, and her political prowess in knowing when and when not to take a stand. Some of you may disagree, but she took the group to the castle for a reason to begin with, to keep them safe and help Yoon. She's making sure to do this as much as she can and is also continuing to help the people through her position by taking on tasks, even if that might put her at a disadvantage according to some people.
This arc has also finally revealed the parents backstory that has been foreshadowed from the first few chapters and we finally understand why everything played out the way it did a story many (including myself) had even forgotten was such a important part of the story.
It managed to even bring back the theme of, "is Soowon a bad guy" into play. something that was talked about and explored throughout the series but explored much deeper after knowing the full story.
At this point with all odds staked against them and the looming threat over the dragons shown in Yona's dream it very much feels like the climax of the story and this is probably the arc I am most exited to see what it leads to.
THANK YOU! I want everyone in to refer to your comment while we still in this arc
I disagree. This is just shows that Yona is back to depending on other people. This whole arc she basically just nods her head to everything that soowon and camp has been telling her. Practically, endangering Hak in the process again. And now accepting being a standin commander to shield soowon from revealing his secret. I just feel like if she’s showing some real character development she would show them she’s the boss and hey this is who you discarded before like she gets to tell the shots. Hello, she has the dragons on her side and even Hak. But no, she decided to listen to them again to the very people who wanted her dead in the first place and now they’re taking advantage of the group. Just my two cents.
That's one way to see it but i don't think it's what the author wants to show. Yes, she may kinda obey to what they tell her but that's because they are prisoned. And yes she has the four dragons and hak and break free from there is easy but they'll be forced to kill so many innocent people in the process and that is not what she wants. She acts as she feels necessary, not for her, but for the people around her, the people of her kingdom because let's not forget, she's the princess. After all you see that she doesn't nod her head at whatever they tell her, she tries to find ways to help with her own way and speaks her mind. She's definitely not the airhead princess she was and I'm proud of it
That's one way to see it but i don't think it's what the author wants to show. Yes, she may kinda obey to what they tell her but that's because they are prisoned. And yes she has the four dragons and hak and break free from there is easy but they'll be forced to kill so many innocent people in the process and that is not what she wants. She acts as she feels necessary, not for her, but for the people around her, the people of her kingdom because let's not forget, she's the princess. After all you see that she doesn't nod her head at whatever they tell her, she tries to find ways to help with her own way and speaks her mind. She's definitely not the airhead princess she was and I'm proud of her
I posted it twice (￣∇￣")
We all know she comes along a way from her being an airhead princess (like in the beginning of the story) but that’s the thing — since the author has already build up her character so much it feels so anticlimatic that’s she’s being used like this. Not to mention, the dragons and Hak are going to fight either way. So why can’t she step up and take what’s rightfully hers and show them that they’re not being imprisoned, that she can’t be blindly nodding to what they’re making her do (like the fake engagement) it just feels so unfair to Hak that he’s being in the center of the war sacrificing his everything for the very people who wanted them dead in the first place. I also don’t agree with killing innocent people. Soowoon and his camp aren’t innocent they killed people to get that people and they’ve been planning for it ages ago. They are not innocent.
*to get to where they are. They are not innocent. And it’s war, she has to choose.
I just reread the manga and Yona's character doesn't just change this arc, at all. She even has multiple badass moments when she doesn't back down and surprises everyone. The conference with the people from Kai, her conversation with Kyesook talking about the dragons and Sowoon, her straight up threatening Kyesook to not harm Hak or face the rath of her and the dragons, facing her mothers murderer and telling him not to kill Hak, all good examples of when she deosn't let anyone walk over her and subtaly shows everyone just how powerful she is.
The point I'm trying to make is that Yona is still constantly standing up for the things that she needs to take a stand for. She doesn't want the throne which she has made pretty clear, if she did there wouldn't be much stopping her from claiming it ages ago. What she wants is to help her people and keep her friends safe, something she is doing a pretty good job of taking all things into account.
The fake engagement stuff did annoy me a little though. I don't like Kyesook manipulating Yona and Sowoons relationship like that and Yona letting it happen, especially since it's a sore spot of Yona's, even if she's gotten over it. But by talking about how she knows and trusts that the people who need to know will know her feelings about Hak shows just how much she trusts him.
Also I wanted to add that in your previous comment you talked about how she wasn't listening to the Dragons or Hak. But that's pretty much what she's been doing that whole time. She tried to keep them safe by distancing them, but when that clearly didn't work she made sure to instead fight for Hak. He decided he would be going to war and despite being worried for him she agreed. She's also agreed to pretty much everything the people want to do, but she makes her own decisions on things that involve herself. She's never outright gone against the dragons, when Kija gets mad for her she thanks him for being concerned but makes her own decisions regarding what she thinks is best. She never forces them to do anything especially not help Sowoon, she even talks about how she isn't sure what Hak feels about Sowoon, she just wants to make sure he doesn't do anything to hurt himself. Hak was injured and captured, he would have died if she hadn't intervened, keep in mind no matter how strong they all are, everyone (except Zeno) can still die, and Yona's biggest motivator throughout the whole series is not losing anyone else.
Wow, I have a lot of thoughts on this series.
and I, as a random bystander, really like all your thoughts
Thanks for sharing your insight. I love a good discussion where no one is plain rude. However, I still disagree with some points. You said she’s doing a “good job” of protecting her people and friends. But if she is doing a good job, why are they caught in a cross fire? Why can’t they make their move without worrying about soowoon’s camp attacking them from behind? It only goes to show that her power and influence is nowhere near enough to actually protect people that matters to her. I’m just saying she’s trying so hard to save everyone even her own enemy that she ends up actually putting everyone at real danger. I get that they’re trying to make her the typical MC in manga where she’s being considerate of people even those who backstabbed her before but it’s being repetitive and it already puts her in so much danger before. It’s been ages and until now, all she can do is be diplomatic and actually nod to what soowon’s camp is saying. I’m not saying she has to do revenge but girl, she needs to show some backbone at least. Even if she did somehow show her so called authority as what you’ve said, she’s still being dragged along by the very people who betrayed her. I am sure some readers are feeling the way. You can check the other comments. How long can Hak and the dragon keep up with this relentless war that honestly doesn’t really involve them directly? But because Yona chose to stay silent and actually care about soowon a little bit (after learning his backstory) they now have to act on his behalf. It’s being dragged on at this point. What does she plan on doing anyway? Playing stand in commander? Then afterwards soowoon gets the credit? Waiting for Hak to slay the enemy? Then be worried because he’s in danger. Again, she has to decide already. She can’t be playing the good girl for so long.
:O woah your comment actually made me think of the nightmare she just had about the dragons.
Hi random bystander jumping in
I mean I still feel like she's doing a good job personally like I want a flashy BAMF but she really doesnt have any power to flaunt other than the dragons like all the people she's helped are aligned with the crown so it's not like she has her own following (the couple times she got help say from firetribe that was at risk to them) I'm not saying she's doing enough but like what do you want her to do?
also I think another factor is because she is trying to end the cycle of bloodshed and betrayal. Like she doesnt want to take the same path as Soowoon and attack the crown like isn't that what the letter was about. plus even if she wanted to, their country is at war, like im pretty sure that changes everything and is why she's willing to go along with the marriage sham because it shows a united front and looks like nothing is wrong to the people and to the enemy. like you don't show no weakness in times of war
I love how the ML immediately let's her know he wants to try loving her. It's so common for the couple to agree not to love each other and have problems with denying their feelings because of it. It feels really refreshing to have a couple that from the get go might not be in love but work towards it. It's also a really good representation of how love can come after marriage for people with arranged marriage opposed to the MLs parents never finding it because they never let themselves try loving each other (what I assume happened).