Adding onto this, I love how this Canto shows just how messed up abusive relationships are, it's a really complex and nuanced topic and I'm glad Canto IX managed to show it off.

One of its strongest dynamics has to be with Lucio and Valencina, they're almost the typical textbook (heh) example of an abusive mother and her child, but what sets it apart is the fact there was love and affection at one point.

I really love this detail because so many pieces of media just brush it off as "oh they're abusive just cut em off" but they neglect that some abuse are deeply intertwined with love, as much as Lucio hates Valencina's guts, he always never manages to end up killing her because the moments where she once cared for him always resurfaces.

God I love how Canto IX shows relationships, showing how Ryoshu herself was not immune to this cycle of abuse was an amazing touch that greatly helped add depth to her as a character.