You wrote it so well. That's exactly the issue. Author doesn't acknowledge what Doona is doing as a crime. She is portrayed as strong, powerful, dominant woman who knows what she wants and takes it. She never faces any consequences. It's never acknowledged that what she is doing is literally rape and abuse. She is taking "rightfully" her revenge. She can take advantage of Minho or literally rape him because he "came to her." It's twisted, disturbing logic.
That's why I don't understand people comparing this story to KS. In KS author isn't glorifying Sangwoo's wrongdoings. What's more he faces brutal consequences.
well she wont break his legs and chain him the the basement
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the grey haired dude will
you showed me this and what i'm getting is that they're only portrayed as a "dark" character - if they receive consequences for their wrong doings? so if sangwoo was allowed to live a happy life then he wouldn't be a dark character? and, sorry to compare to harada's work again, but some of the toxic rapists in his stories get to live a happy life?? does that mean they're not terrible?? just because the people in the story can't see that they're terrible,, doesn't mean they they're not terrible.
It's clear author doesn't consider Doona's doings as horrible or super bad. She always tries to justify Doona's actions, Minho attacked her verbally, did something etc...so it was "well deserved" in the storie's logic. Even when author was talking about characters she only emphasized how Wookyung is criminal, Dooona didn't get the same view.
I KNEW it was going to be even more fucked up honestly what the hell... this is really a some sort of torture kink I can't believe it
The line between romanticization/excusing shitty behavior and writing actual dark character is this: either the characters recognize the character is bad, or the reader is made aware they are bad. In the first case, the dark character is pointed out as bad from the characters - by receiving consequences, by being called out.
If this doesn't happen, then the way the story is set by the author should make clear that the dark character is bad, and the interesting part is exploring the character.
The problem is: the author doesn't think Duna is doing anything bad. She doesn't set her up as a dark character, but as some kind of tragic hero who's taking her rightful revenge and who's now successful and triumphant. She's showing her as a kind of antihero, accomplishing her goals with "controversial" means.
And that isn't it. The problem is that Duna would be the villain of the worst kind but instead she's framed as simply a hero with a dark past. If the author had succeeded in their job writing a DARK character, there wouldn't be people DEFENDING her - you can't defend a dark character, bc the point of them is that they are in fact wrong and absolutely horrible, but that is sometimes interesting to see and explore.
Duna isn't dark, she's just shitty and the author forgives and defends her at every turn in the way the story is portrayed: Duna is desired by everyone, she's amazing, she's better than anyone, etc etc. She faces no consequences bc in the author's mind is clear that she did nothing bad that deserves punishment, and the readers agree. That's just bad writing lmao
I've seen a few comment being like "u r whining bc you can't handle dark characters!!!" and I'm like. No, that isn't it? People complain about Duna bc she's NEVER held accountable for all the shit she does.
She strangled Haesol. Raped Minho I don't know how many times. She excuses every action with "oh I was horny I wasn't thinking straight". And you know why nothing of this is acceptable? THIS IS A ROMANCE DRAMA!! It isn't a psychological thriller!! People defend Duna with "she's SUPPOSED to be bad!" ok, then why the summary literally says:
"Depending on your definition of romantic, Doona's sadistic ways might be the most romantic thing a guy could want!"
Do you see the problem? Duna is not held accountable and doesn't faces consequences because the author doesn't consider her a bad character - we see what "bad" characters get with Minho, who was a possessive asshole and is emotionally beaten to a pulp because of that. Writing a dark character is interesting and reading about one is very cool when they are well written, but a character is dark if people in the story actually acknowledge that. The only judgement Duna faces is Minho's hate - which turns into an excuse for her to abuse him over and over again. You do realize how bad she's treating him, right? She's offering a homeless person refuge in exchange of being able to force herself on him whenever she wants. Is she gonna chain him in her basement and break his legs next?
I saw another user say something like "it's like reading Joker's stories and then complain he's evil" no, it's like reading a story about Joker where he does his usual crimes but inexplicably every citizen in Gotham loves him to death and they lowkey call batman a loser bc he tries to stop him.
If the author wanted to write a dark twisted character, then Duna's actions would have weight and importance. The author just have a... torture kink of some kind, and wants to write a character doing the most absolutely repulsive shit ever but that is still, inexplicably, the most desirable woman on the fcking planet.
(Also: yeah the translator's notes can be distracting but you can also... not read their uploads if they disturb u so much lol. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.)