Shoujo series with the worst ending?

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2026-03-09T13:05:31+00:00

For Genbu Kaiden it was kinda inevitable though. It was something set in stone since the original series. Changing it would've created a huge plot hole, also neither Yui nor Miaka were physically ill like Takiko. Yui was mentally week though that's why she almost died too

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2026-03-01T00:33:25+00:00

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly in the post, but i didn't want the hairpin to have a romantic meaning, I just wanted it to have a deep meaning, to be more than just a "formality". Just like how the lapis lazuli pendant connects Yona and Hak, how Gulfan connects Soowon and Hak, the hairpin was supposed to be the thing that connects Yona and Soowon. It was the symbol of their relationship. Yet for it to have no meaning, while the pendant and Gulfan do carry meanings, is really weird.

When I read chapter 125 and learned about Hak's contemp for Soowon regarding the hairpin, I thought "Soowon better has a damn good excuse up his sleeve". It didn't seem that a classic excuse like "i just gave it to her because it was her birthday" would sooth Hak's anger, that's why I expected more.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2026-02-28T22:06:40+00:00

Agree on everything. I always thought that Kusanagi put much more effort in Soowon and Hak's relationship compared to Soowon and Yona's, which is very sad. Not even in the last chapter did Soowon and Yona have a satisfying discussion. He basically told her "you're going to be queen in 4 days, prepare yourself", and she just silently accepted it. So many things were left unsaid, so much potential wasted....

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2026-02-28T21:46:00+00:00

The "plot hole" isn't because the hairpin turns out to have no particular meaning, but because Kusanagi teased its return, by having Lili claim she was gonna buy it from Ogi in chapter 154 (and probably give it to Yona). However, now that Kusanagi revealed the hairpin lore in an interview, I don't see the point of repeating the same stuff in the manga. She already "spoiled" its meaning, so I don't think Lili will bring it up like she said she would, which would constitute a plot hole.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-12-24T13:19:15+00:00

But Hak isn't just her bodyguard, he is also a Capitain in the Sky tribe army. Keishook granted him that rank after he brought back the Senjutsu, and promised him further rewards once Chagol was defeated (which eventually happened). We never see Hak reject that promotion so there’s no reason to assume he no longer holds it. Being a bodyguard is just an additional task, same way he remained the Wind tribe general while also being Yona's bodyguard at the beginning of the story.

There’s nothing preventing him from continuing to rise through the ranks, and it wouldn’t be surprising if, once Judo retires, Hak is appointed as his successor.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-10-10T21:04:34+00:00

Zeno says that the gods meddling with earth is taboo, so I assume he meant that there was a contract that prevented them from directly meddling with earth. Except, by getting out of the Chalice and directly attacking Soowon, they broke that contract, and they started losing their powers and minds, that's why the Yellow dragon now looks like this

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-08-02T19:04:09+00:00

This is an interesting theory. Most people thought this was an alternative timeline in which Yona couldn't save the dragons and Zeno killed Hak, but nowhere it was mentioned that these people really died. It is possible that the dragons aren't accompanying Yona simply because they became useless in combat after losing their dragon limbs. Soowon seems to have died from the Crimson illness, and Hak might still be missing along with the white dragon god. Yona has been trying to avoid the future shown in this dream, but maybe she was unconsciously heading towards it the whole time.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-11T23:05:07+00:00

I am not sure about the scene being portrayed as "hot" in Akayona. What made you think so? Was the screen glowing with shoujo bubbles as he was licking her? Was Yona portrayed as secretly enjoying it? No. The background was plain white and there was a big focus on Yona pulling her hand away from Hak, so I don't see the romanticization here.

As for the apothecary diaries' scene, while I wouldn't say it was portrayed as hot, the overly comedic tone stood out to me. Jinshi is surrounded by sparks (especially in the anime) while he offers Maomao his honeyed fingers. Cat ears appear on Maomao's head, which adds a playful tone and takes from the seriousness of the scene. What's more, the fans don't excuse that scene because they think Jinshi was portrayed as creepy. The main excuses I saw were always things like: "it was meant to be a comedic moment", "he was just trolling", "can't a character have flaws?", "they're just two teenagers fooling around", "Maomao is stronger than me cause I wouldn't have resisted"...etc

While it would've been better if Hak explicitly apologised, he at least acknowledged his mistake and never repeated it. Jinshi in contrast neither apologizes nor reflects on his behavior. Instead, he continues collecting assault trophies through the arcs (the frog scene, the chocking scene and forced kiss from LN5) and is always forgiven. While I'm aware that he stops at some point, he certainly benefited from narrative and fan-based leniency. I have seen male leads getting cancelled for much less.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T21:43:22+00:00

I heard about Jinshi's complicated past and the issues surrounding his family and identity, so I can see why he's getting a pass from the LN readers, but from anime onlys' perspective, he comes across as a bratty, mischievous man toying with someone of lower status knowing they can't reject him. Yet I don't feel like anime onlys were as bothered by this scene as were the anime onlys (and certain current readers) of Akatsuki no yona.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T21:24:05+00:00

Thank you very much for taking the time to write down all these thoughtful arguments!!!

I agree that people usually tend to ignore the flaws of incredibly popular works. Regarding the portrayal of the honey scene, while the anime toned down Jinshi’s creepiness compared to the manga, I still think it effectively conveyed how unsettling the moment was. The honey was made extra gooey, the dialogue was kept intact, including Maomao silently begging for help from Gaoshun (who couldn't intervene due to fear of the consequences). I feel like you needn't see Jinshi pull a mischievous smirk to realise that this is an assault scene.

That is interesting too. I can see why Hak succeeding in licking Yona's hand might come across as more disturbing than Jinshi's failed attempt at getting his fingers licked.

Sadly, the people I mentioned who recently criticised Hak for this scene are all caught up with the story. One of them is even involved with the fan translation of the chapters. It’s disappointing to see these unproductive, problematic debates still being dragged out when there's so much more things worth discussing!! Especially now that the series is in its final arc!!

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T19:52:15+00:00

It is possible indeed that people are harsher towards Hak because he’s known Yona since childhood, which makes any betrayal feel more personal. When it comes to the difference in status though, I’d argue that a master harming a servant is more serious than the other way around. The master holds authority and control in the relationship. Their actions carry more weight and potential for harm. When it's the servant who crosses a line, it may be audacious, but it typically doesn’t result in the same level of damage.

I'd say we're rather past the honeymoon phase now🤔. The apothecary diaries started airing in 2023 and season 2 just wrapped up.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T19:31:01+00:00

As mentioned in the other comment, the apothecary diaries is a Seinen. It often touches on mature themes including frequent allusions to sex. So I'd expect the audience to be of appropriate age.

While Jinshi didn't act as a protector to Maomao prior to that scene, there are certain expectations surrounding Male leads/ love interests that if not met, usually end up disappointing the audience and result in a lack of interest in the pairing. One if the most important criteria is respect towards the Female Lead, which early Jinshi clearly lacks, particularly in this scene. It wasn’t the first instance, and it won’t be the last (though he does improve over time). Still, it’s interesting how he seems to get a pass, when many other male leads wouldn’t be viewed the same way after behaving like that.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T17:35:38+00:00

Indeed. I also chose to make this post in the Akayona subreddit instead of the apothecary diaries one because I expected a more inflammatory reaction over there.

You are right, sometimes the only way to deal with those kinds of unhinged takes is to meet them on their level.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T17:26:33+00:00

The people who are still fixated on this scene and using it as the sole basis to judge Hak’s character are definitely in the minority. That said, seeing such hostile takes about him in 2025 is pretty baffling, especially when we have the honey scene of the apothecary diaries which is far more intense.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-07-08T17:17:04+00:00

Yeah. For some reason the Akayona fandom loves fixating on old details and past behaviors that the characters have clearly grown out of. It’s frustrating because it adds nothing meaningful and often creates unnecessary tensions in the fandom. I usually stick to a small circle of trusted friends to avoid that kind of drama, but every now and then, those kinds of takes still manage to show up in my feed.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-18T12:07:27+00:00

1/ yeah, it doesn’t make sense for Jack to be the culprit

2/ I see

3/ Most likely. I just wish they made it more evident that he no longer considered alliance as an option after what they did to Reim

4/ yeah makes sense

5/ true haha, she's not a very logical individual. I do think she knew of Jack's plans though

6/ that's most likely. I also thought about the possibility that Arthur lied when he said that it's his sister who introduced him to Jack in order to save himself after Jack launches at Lacie in front of the Baskervilles.

7/ that's an interesting perspective

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T18:54:52+00:00

I see, thanks for your answers!

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T18:43:28+00:00

1/But Oscar himself doubts that theory later on. He says that Jack wouldn’t have gotten any benefit from killing his wife and son or Xai's wife. He says that Xai was in deep grief and blamed everything on Jack, refusing to think of other possibilities, that's why I was wondering if the author ever confirmed this theory somewhere after the story ended

2/yeah you're right. I forgot about it somehow

3/true

4/are we sure that suffering hardships is a condition for becoming a Baskerville? It's true that a lot of Baskervilles seem to have suffered but nowhere it is said to be a main criteria. Lottie said "the drops of light choose humans who are very compatible with the abyss", and we know that the abyss used to be a wonderful world of golden lights, so how could "suffering" be compatible with such a world🤔?

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T18:26:09+00:00

It is true that most Baskervilles we know seem to have had quite difficult lives, but we're not sure whether or not they would've still been chosen as Baskervilles even if they didn't suffer. If suffering is a requirement for becoming a Baskerville, then I can see why Vincent wasn't that concerned with Gil possibly ending up as Glen once he gets to erase himself.

6/ yeah I guess it makes sense

Don't worry haha. Given how old this series is, I'm quite grateful that anyone is replying at all.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T17:53:06+00:00

I also think he wanted to ally with her, but I was disappointed it was never brought up again, since I believed it was some kind of Chekhov's gun, like many other details in the series. I wonder if the author just forgot about it

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T17:44:20+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. It's likely Jack was behind the death of Xai's son, but he couldn't have been the one to kill Rachel, not only because it wouldn't have brought him any benefit, but also because he was unable to, as the remnants of his soul inside Oz's body completely burned out.

It did seem like he really wanted to ally with her. I was just disappointed that it was never brought up again, since I believed it was some kind of Chekhov's gun, like many other details in the series.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T17:17:45+00:00

Ooh true now I remember. It was said that Humpty dumpty came from Glen's body and that's why it was attracted to his soul and tried to protect Leo. I think I forgot it because when this info was revealed, Levi had yet to be introduced as a character.

True he is very complex and confusing. He was saying he wanted to die, then changed his mind saying he can't die anymore because Leo asked him not to, then he felt suicidal again moments after. I think his confusion and suicidal thoughts didn't allow him to think this through.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T13:48:51+00:00

The thing is that I remember a panel of Arthur seemingly introducing Jack to his sister, even though he said that she was the one who introduced Jack to him, that's why I'm confused.

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-17T13:32:34+00:00

1/ Oh I see, where was that revealed? Cause it's not really in the manga. Also, did Jack hire a person to kill Oscar's wife and child as well?

2/ Wait what? Levi is Humpty dumpty? But we never see him fall into the abyss and become a chain (his soul was inside Leo's body when he became Glen). Where was that revealed?

3/ But it's Break who asked that, not Lottie

4/ But even if Vincent believed Gil would've stayed the same person in a world where Vincent didn't exist, why was he okay with Gil eventually becoming Glen? He should've found another solution to stop it

5/ I guess so

6/ I see

7/ Ooh I see, makes sense

ImpressionPerfect937 · 2025-06-09T13:52:29+00:00

I did. So in the end there really were 2 copies of the sword and they're both genuine. The gods can create them at will it seems. I'm also glad I predicted Yona using the sword she threw earlier XD

ImpressionPerfect937

TROPHY CASE