I'm with you in this one. With how secretive Sol was being and how little we know of Derwin we actually knew, this backstory was long overdue. Especially with where Ian is (mentally) in the present time.
lol ya all the hate for ian and his backstory is really puzzling to me. Since this isn't only background on ian, it's also a really important part to Sol's character. I've been enjoying it a lot and think it's been handled well lol
that's what a lot of readers missed. There is BARELY known about Ian and how different Sol is from the present. Ian with all his confusion and questions would probably appreciate this slow and long backstory. Ian isn't someone who will be satisfied with just simple answers. This arc maybe about Sol and Brian but Brian is Ian even if they're different in personality but they both share some characteristics. We don't even know why Brixton is obsessed with Ian or if he even sees Ian as Ian not as Brian the same goes for Sol. But its clear that Sol isn't reliving Brian in Ian, that's why he refused to tell Ian anything not until Ian gets Brian's memories
The author really did planned for this arc as we barely even see any flashback in the first season. The author definitely knows how to build a story with character developments
i'm not hating on ian at all though? let me try to explain. presently, Ian's mental state is extremely shaky, which has been presented time and again, due to the snippets of info he's heard about brian and because of cardinal brixton's deep influence. You can't simply wash away years of indoctrination in a short amount of time, which is why he's conflicted as he is. This internal conflict makes him a very nuanced MC because there's two wolves fighting inside him rn (metaphorically speaking), he's also trying to show Sol that he isn't exactly the same person sol remembers from his memories. This backstory is basically showing us how different Brian is from Ian.
Ian's internal conflict is basically what's driving me to read on, cos i'm rooting for him lmao.
ah sorry, I didn't mean you and I also meant to say brianXD. My comment refers to previous comments ive seen who seem to really dislike Brian and just want the present timeline with Ian back. I def agree with you. As a reader I consider them both the same person (same values, same tenacity and work ethic, just very different upbringings) -- but I do think they should be treated as different people since they don't share the same memories or experiences
Maybe I'm the only who's loving and seeing the purpose of this whole world-building. The story is slow burn and not focused on sexual intimacy but how their feelings develop whether its Sol-Ian or Sol-Brian. The story is so well-written that only few appreciates it as some were already used to straightforward approach.
The flashback arc isn't something that can be explained and show in just a few chapters or few panels. It has depth and purpose. We don't even know how Derwin was build or how it was for Brian or how Brixton and Brian met. Right now, what we're seeing is the building of Archaia and Sol's personality development as we saw how he was different to the Sol in the flashback and Sol that was first introduce to us