Writer's Blog: Noh Redemption Arc
Added 2021-05-01 02:40:13 +0000 UTC(Warning: the following post contains minor spoilers about Noh’s romance route)
Redemption is one of those words that you expect emblazoned on a pamphlet inviting you to attend a religious service, or in bright letters on the cover of a comic book. Usually, if I read the back of a romance book and the relationship is described as a “redemption arc,” I immediately reshelf it. Because redemption romances feel icky. At least, they do to me.
I don’t want to write about loves that “save” someone from their worse self; I want to create love stories between two awesome people who are even more amazing when they’re together. Because people can become anything when they’re first falling in love—it’s a rush of endorphins and PEA and all those other feel-good chemicals. But that personality change often doesn’t last, and I’m always suspicious that the “tortured asshole love interest” is going to go right back to being a tortured asshole once the butterflies stop fluttering.
Most the romances in Mind Blind are written based on my preferred dynamic. Button can bring out the best in their RO, but they’re all already pretty darn incredible. Love isn’t a lifeline, it’s a chocolate bar. Delicious and enjoyable, but ultimately none of the ROs will drown without it.
Which is why Noh presents such a dilemma.
Noh’s romance both is and isn’t a redemption arc. The villain doesn’t atone for their sins, converted to the light by the protagonist’s moral high ground. The only high ground Noh cares about is the kind that gives them a tactical advantage, like Obi-Wan. Maybe they want that tactical advantage for a noble goal (or ignoble, depending on Button’s perspective), but Noh is conniving. Brainwashing Button wasn’t a mistake, it was a strategic move.
However, Noh can become Button’s ally. In fact, Button will probably need Noh’s help if they want to . . . let’s just say that they’ll need Noh’s help. These “good” actions don’t excuse Noh from their past crimes, however. Especially when Noh isn’t repentant over said crimes. Narratively, Noh doesn’t earn their good ending.
None of this would be an issue if I was a fan of doomed romances. A doomed romance would be the literary, art-must-reflect-life approach. But I am resoundingly not okay with unavoidably sad endings. I want Happily Ever Afters to be available for all, gosh darn it, even the Ment psychopath. Reconciling this desire with reality, however, is tricky.
Thus, Noh ends up in a limbo of me wanting to assign them the Redemption Gold Platinum Card with all its benefits like not going to jail, but me refusing to fully redeem the character because that would break their entire personality. So, I’m handing off responsibility to readers. There are five different endings for Noh (and counting). Some of these endings are fair, some are tragic, and one is “screw realism, we’re in LOVE and everyone is going to quietly accept that because of XYZ.”
It’s a challenge, and I’ve yet to decide which ending is my favorite for Noh. All of them lack something, be it realism or a happy ending. The good news is, I have a few chapters to figure it out. Hopefully, by the time Button is ready to pry off Noh’s mask and kiss their stupid evil face, I’ll have found at least one ending that balances everything I’m aiming for.
Or maybe not. Who nohs?
Comments
Crashes in here four months late with Starbucks, but I think that 'villain redemption romances' often get a really bum rap in fandom spaces, and I think a lot of people kind of miss the point a bit? Like, if its not your thing that's completely understandable, but people often forget, I think, that 'the power of love' is almost universally recognized as one of the most powerful forces on the planet for a reason. I think that, genuinely, the act of falling in love CAN permanently change someone. It can be done poorly, of course, but falling in love and realizing you see the world differently than you used to? Suddenly understanding something fundamental about yourself that you never realized before, because now you're looking at it from a completely new perspective? I'm honestly just a big believer in the redemptive power of love--and not just romantic love. It wasn't romantic love, after all, that saved Darth Vader in the final moments of his life. But romantic love CAN be every bit as powerful as familial and platonic love, and I personally love exploring the healing potential it has when it comes to enemies-to-lovers and other villain/hero romantic dynamics. All of that said, I'm incredibly excited to explore what you have in store for Noh's route, and I think anyone saying 'Noh shouldn't have this available as an ending' needs to just... play the game how they want and let those of us who want to run off into the sunset with our villain beau play it our way lmao.
2021-08-31 07:57:44 +0000 UTCI think there will need to be at least some consequences for Button choosing a RO that actively sets out to hurt the people around them. It doesn't have to be prison, but I just don't see any ending with Noh working out without some type of sacrifice. Whether that means Button becomes the baddie, they're separated by jail, or the two of them end up on the run. Noh family dinners in the future, is what I'm saying.
Alex T.
2021-05-01 22:29:13 +0000 UTCThat point on one partner inspiring the other is so 👌 💯 🙌
Chigusa Eyes
2021-05-01 12:01:57 +0000 UTCA n g s t and tragedy all the way baby!
Ellen Dickens
2021-05-01 08:34:49 +0000 UTCThough I must add on that I'm eternally grateful that you have no desire to do a redemption through love type route because while love can support someone, it isn't some magical cure all. I think people can inspire others to want to change or improve at least aspects of themselves? I mean I know I've been inspired by Adrian to want to become a better person. But everyone is going to have different definitions of "better" as well & someone like Noh could even aspire to be a better person...in the way that they see "better". Likely "improved" or something. Got themself an upgrade--anyways. I think what people can do, ultimately, is present new/differing perspectives. And as easily as Noh could influence Button, I think at least *certain* Buttons could do as much to Noh, given the proper angle & method. And time. But again, I'm shooting in the dark here, based solely upon what you've said here. TLDR; cue Mad World & watch Button & everyone try to make sense of what is more understandable than they might want to admit, I suppose?
Chigusa Eyes
2021-05-01 06:23:58 +0000 UTCI already know I'm going to have roughly 1.5 million thoughts on Noh, but that's no surprise. I also have a feeling that I'll both love them & despise them; the price of having strong ethics + morals while being able to separate my own self from reality & explore different angles within a fictional environment. Villain redemption arcs are one of those...how to say...touchy things for people. For some, no villain is ever redeemable & for others, it's a case by case basis. I have a feeling that Noh will likely be especially upsetting to some ppl bc while their methods are UH questionable, to put lightly, the reasons they are doing what they do? Could end up being actually understandable & there is nothing quite like watching people try to figure out how to handle hating someone who has a fair point. I could be wrong. But I have a feeling. In the end, I'm likely one of the few people who is excited for their route. The only question I am most concerned about at this point is How true are their feelings for Button, when/if developed? Obviously they have a ruthless streak & ethics + morals can be yelled abt all day... But for me, when throwing an MC of mine into the booby trapped maze that undoubtedly is their route, I want to be sure that the feelings are real. Makes things extra messy & good. Also, further complicates & forces them to be examined as a multidimensional character instead of a villainous caricature. I know ppl are often baffled by my fondness for the questionable characters, but I love nothing more than the chance to be challenged in a fictional narrative. Reality is always going to be different, ffs I'm engaged to someone who is a paragon of Lawful Good. Rubs hands together. So I'm Ready for Noh. And also ready for a Button of mine to punch their mask off and then kiss 'em bc it's the one-two combo they deserve.
Chigusa Eyes
2021-05-01 06:11:57 +0000 UTCI’m sure there is a type of Button that works for Noh but I LOVE NICK SO THEY CAN BONK GO TO JAIL
Cas
2021-05-01 04:40:34 +0000 UTCI don't hate redemption arcs, but it's also probably because I don't believe that bad people are ALWAYS bad (which is probably a result of my job, tbh, but that's neither here nor there lol). Bad people are sometimes the ones that deserve (or, if thinking of that way makes you feel icky, NEED) mercy, and I think love, in a way, is merciful. I think love can change bad people, because it can change good people too (and not always in a positive way). Now that I think about it, maybe I'm okay with redemption arcs because I see them as like "personal growth" arcs. I mean, sure, maybe falling in love is the catalyst, but they still have to actively decide to be better for their partner; love doesn't automatically make them better. I think the trick is making sure that the "better" partner doesn't assume the role of a "fixer" who's dedicating themselves to making their partner better; in my mind, the "bad" partner meets the "better" partner and the "better" partner, simply by being who they are, makes the "bad" partner want to be better. I have no idea if that perspective is helpful at all, but I figured I'd offer it up just in case.
Mich
2021-05-01 03:56:47 +0000 UTCredemption romances ARE icky, you're right and you should absolutely follow through with this thought. There's no such thing as redemption through someone else. There's support, sure, there's help of the loved ones, but if there's no personal intention to change there's no room for correcting a behavior. I am all in with you on this and I'm so glad to see you going this way - I wish you the best on finding a good middle ground that satisfies you <3
mepheesto
2021-05-01 03:20:22 +0000 UTCFor my Button that has a great relationship with Nick and her parents, the only ending she wants with Noh is for their ass to be kicked. But I am pretty psyched to see how Noh's romance plays out. Because I can't see everyone being happy with that situation. Let's say button falls in love with Noh but sends them to jail, their brother still knows that his sibling loves/loved his attempted murderer and their brainwasher(?), this situation plus the way you write?? Gosh, I cannot wait for that. I hate hurting Nick and I loathe bad endings but the completionist in me really wants to see how this'll play out。
2021-05-01 03:13:38 +0000 UTCI feel like that would be something a little hard to suggest anything about until we know more about Noh and their motivations and psychology. I do know people in real life, however, who have done horrible things and changed later on in life. It doesn't necessarily need to be a redemption arc, so much as a 'this isn't healthy for anyone, including Noh, and it needs to change' arc. It wouldn't mean their personality or the character itself would have to drastically change, more like a realization that they can't keep doing things the way they are doing them and need to figure out a different way to accomplish their goals. I don't know how much you have planned for Noh but I feel like there should be some repercussions for what they did. I could see a romanced Button or even a Button that tries to see the best in people, not wanting to give up on them in that sense and kinda helping them look at their choices and go 'All right, maybe blowing up a building wasn't the best choice'.
Dani
2021-05-01 03:13:34 +0000 UTCAlso in my own opinion, it would be important to emphasize that Button CAN'T "fix" Noh. They can help them realize they need help to fix themselves, but it would feel super icky if Noh suddenly became a good guy (or good guy adjacent) just because Button likes them. Anyone who thinks its ok to take over someone else's freewill and blow up a building needs therapy like.... at the very least.
2021-05-01 03:05:54 +0000 UTCIt could be up for interpretation? I feel like Noh is a special case whose romance may call for an open ended ending. Instead of an "I'm all better you magically fixed me with the power of love" ending, more like a "You've opened my eyes to new possibilities and for you I'm willing to at least try" ending? Then it could be up to the reader if Noh got help and turned a new leaf, or if they slipped back into their old ways once the romance was no longer shiny and new. You could even write a short scenario for both outcomes if you wanted.
2021-05-01 03:01:02 +0000 UTCOh...I do love a good doomed romance especially since my Button is so sweet and nice to everyone, and she just adores her older brother...but those cheekbones. Those cheekbones will be her downfall. Just the squidward meme "oh no...HE'S HOT"
Jaime Ford
2021-05-01 02:49:17 +0000 UTC
