American Perspectives: 해수 always had 왕욱 in her back pocket. Response to "Scarlet Heart: 려"

Artwork by The Bluedevil

Every time I have watched "Scarlet Heart: 려,"  I never once got the impression that 해수 was nearly as dedicated to 왕소 as he was to her.  I always felt she had one foot firmly planted outside the door, waiting for 왕욱 to have a redemption arc that never came.  

Artwork by the Bluedevil

I feel that she chose 왕소 because he was there for her when no one else could be, but I don't get the feeling she chose him wholeheartedly.  I felt like he was more of a default back up man for her.

There were moments during their relationship when I felt she chose him because he was her lifeline.  She just doesn't seem as enthusiastic about it as he does.  When they momentarily break up, sure she misses him, but is it really him that she's missing?  Or does she simply miss having a boyfriend?  Or does she miss having someone to protect her, now that she is at the mercy of 왕요?

With as many years as she had spent living in the palace, it should be obvious by now that 왕소 is the scapegoat, and his actions are super trivial compared to the actions of other family members.  She should also know that these actions are necessary in order to survive, and that it is naive to expect him to be so benevolent.  Instead, she judges him harshly for defending himself against his family who are trying to overthrow him, and have him cornered.  Instead of seeing the pot stirring for what it is, she chooses not to stand by him.  I am in awe that she is so clueless.

왕욱 has done so much worse, and it is because of the actions of his family that she's permanently disabled in her knee.  Yet, she looks the other way, makes excuses for him, and undermines 왕소 to protect him.  She begs for his life to be spared, even though he has done everything in his power to make the life between 왕소 and 해수 a living hell.  She reamins his friend, yet she leaves 왕소 when he punishes her maidservant for spying on her,  and attempting to frame her this whole entire time, yet she makes excuses for the maidservant, and throws 왕소 under the bus.

The more I watch this show, the more I get the impression that she decided to have a relationship with 왕소 because he was keeping the seat she had saved for 왕욱 occupied while she was secretly waiting for him to gain the necessary power to become king, make her his, and live happily every after.

And that is precisely why I don't want a Season 2.  해수 screwed up big time, and joined in on the scapegoating of 왕소, instead of being there to protect and defend him like she said he would.  When she realized her mistake, I felt she got exactly what she deserved.  Am I being harsh? Absolutely, but as a family scapegoat myself, I have a hard time trusting ANYONE to get too close to me because of the exact same actions 해수 has committed against 왕소.  That kind of betrayal, and the smear campaigns that go on behind your back in the process is the worst feeling ever.  The feelings 해수 had when she realized she fucked up are exceedingly mild in comparison.