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aeternallis · 8 months

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Kim's Place in the Mafia: Novel vs Show

The one thing I can say without a doubt in my mind is that from the crumbs we get of Kim and Chay from the book and show, these two are obsessively in love with each other. So I'll say that now and get that squared away.

And I know, most of the fandom detest the book due to its problematic authors and will never read it, and that's completely valid. Furthermore, I will say now that the book is trash and hardly coherent at times. But as my favorite English scholar for Ancient Rome, Mary Beard, once said: "It's trash...but it's very valuable trash."

For what it's worth, reading the book at least once can provide a more nuanced understanding of why the showrunners made the changes they did in the show. The changes in and of themselves makes for a more cohesive story (SOO MUCH MORE COHESIVE), but it also goes without saying that a lot of the events in the show remain faithful to the novel, so in that regard, there is some merit to be had.

Finally, when I say the novel is "trash", I mean the narrative itself, not necessarily the translation (although it's not perfect by any means). If anything, I'm grateful for the translators who took the time to translate this novel into English, since translation is a thankless job most times in fandom (lookin' at you, MDZS). As I speak no Thai whatsoever, I can’t give an informed opinion on DAEMI's technical writing abilities, since I'm not a native speaker, nor am I the book's target audience.

But, I digress.

The more I reread the book (in all its trash glory), the more I find myself questioning Kim's views in regards to how he sees himself as part of a mafia family. 🤔

In the book, Kim is a lot more accepting of his place within the mafia, despite his initial tendencies of disappearing on his guards and staying away from the main house. In fact, that pretty much changes once Chay enters the picture.

Gotta love a Kinn who's curious about his little bro's love life. XD

Kim is firmly settled into the fold of the family business (if that scene in the secret warehouse is anything to go by) and there’s a scene in the beginning of the book where Korn obligates all 3 sons to dress up in some fancy suits and visit their chocolate factory, since he’s particularly keen on getting it off the ground. This shows that although Kinn is set to inherit (in public, at least) the other two sons still have their duties to the family.

In fact, I will say that one of the most interesting things about reading the book is finding out that Kim's sleuthing is actually canon. Lol Granted, it's sleuthing more in regards to finding the mole and not really about Korn's game plan, but sleuthing nonetheless.

But in the show, his role within the family business and how he views it are a little bit more foggy because he has his musical career to keep him occupied, besides his sleuthing into Korn’s affairs. He’s not active in the way one would typically expect a member of the mafia to be (and who knows, this may be due to limited time constraints on the part of the showrunners), but he’s active within that sphere nonetheless.

And because of this, contrary to the general fandom consensus, I never really got the impression that Kim wanted to be out of the mafia, yknow? Personally, I think it’s too big of a leap to say him moving out = him not wanting to be in the mafia. Having that sort of character motivation wouldn't really make sense either, because then we would have had stronger hints of it, I think?

At the very least, by the end of the show, Kim--just like Chay--has more reasons to stay than not. The way I see it, Kim wanting to be out of the mafia would actually somewhat contradict his actions in the show.

Despite his effort in staying away from the mansion his father and brothers live in (and later on, Chay), Kim benefits from being a Theerapanyakul. We see this in a lot of different ways: the penthouse he lives in, the cars he drives (he gets his own set of the Maserati fleet, yo), his private studio, the freedom of movement he has in being able to easily get information (although this may be debatable), using Big as a gopher.

I highly doubt his career as a young musician is maintaining his luxurious lifestyle (perhaps only a part of it, like the fame); imo, there’s a calculated reason why BOC chose to keep the level of his fame as vague as possible. The way I see it, Kim moved out and pursued music simply because, due to his unique position of being the youngest son (aka the spare), he just had the luxury to do so.

If he truly wanted out of the mafia, I'm firmly on the camp that he could have done so already. We've seen in both the show and the book that unlike Kinn who's constrained by his duties, Kim does have the freedom to disappear, even to the point that it's to his detriment at times. Lol

Maybe I can go even further, and suggest that perhaps the reason he chose to move out is to get a better vantage point of the circumstances surrounding his father's schemes and the ongoing tides of power. Kinda like, he has to move away from the trees, in order to see the entire forest.

I wouldn't go so far as to say he wants power for himself (although this idea would be fun to entertain, especially within the context that he now has Chay in his life to protect), but again, being a member (a high-ranking one, at that) of the Theerapanyakul family benefits him in a lot of different ways.

In one of BOC's interviews and then in Jeff's goodbye message during the last KPWT, he mentioned something about Pond changing up Kim's character in order to make Jeff Satur shine. Idk about y'all, but that's quite a touching gesture, and one I definitely approve of, whilst I get a better understanding of the similarities and differences between novel!Kim and show!Kim. It's obvious from the show that besides changing Kim's maturity level and changing his image from a fuck boi to a cool prince, giving him a passion for music definitely humanized him and served as a way to balance out the other two love stories.

But be that as it may, although we the audience don't know as to what extent Pond changed Kim's character to better fit the story, at the very least maintaining Kim's position as a legitimate contender in the politics of the mafia world remains consistent in both the book and show.

Whether that observation lines up with the idea that he wants out of the mafia though, is entirely up to you. XD

#kimchay #kinnporche the series #kimhan theerapanyakul #character analysis #meta #kpts meta #kpts novel

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williamtshakespears · 1 year

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For the misc ask meme (if you don't mind, that is!):

❣️ - What are their love languages?

🌙 - What’s their sleep schedule like?

🗣️ - How do they handle public speaking?

💓 - What are some signs they’ve fallen for someone? How do they show their affection?

🌱 - Do they have a green thumb or are they a plant killer?

🧳 - What countries have they been to?

🤔 - What’s something they’ll never understand?

🎨 - What’s their favorite color?

☂️ - How do they feel about rain?

🖌️ - Do they have any hobbies?

🍳 - How well can they cook?

🍪 - How well can they bake?

💘 - What do they find attractive about their partner(s)?

💝 - What gestures do they really appreciate? How do you get on their good side?

☕ - Coffee or tea?

💬 - What are some filler/buffer words they use? (Like, um, etc.)

🏳️‍🌈 - What do they identify as? What are their pronouns?

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 - Do they have any siblings?

🥰 - What pet names do their partner(s) use for them? How flustered do they get by them?

I'm going to run out of questions to answer at this rate... Very well.

❣️ - What are their love languages?

Acts of service, I have discovered, is my primary love language. It is appreciated, if someone I am close to helps me out with even small things.

🌙 - What’s their sleep schedule like?

What is sleep? I jest, of course, but well... I have been known to, once or twice, randomly pass out because I haven't gotten sleep in a long time...

🗣️ - How do they handle public speaking?

I handle it quite well. When I was a lawyer, that was half of my job, so I have zero qualms on speaking to any size audience.

💓 - What are some signs they’ve fallen for someone? How do they show their affection?

Well... I do occasionally have my eyes stay on the person I like, perhaps longer than is necessary... I very rarely blush, but it is possible. I would like to spend time with the person I have affections for, and if I really like them, I will introduce them to my pigeons.

🌱 - Do they have a green thumb or are they a plant killer?

I wouldn't say I'm a plant killer, but I also don't actively seek out plants to take care of. If someone gives me a plant, I will do my best to look after it.

🧳 - What countries have they been to?

I have been to France, England, and Germany, and I am completely open to going to other countries as well.

🤔 - What’s something they’ll never understand?

... I don't believe I will ever understand why my parents couldn't accept me as I am... Nor would I understand how anyone could be so demented enough to assault and kill other people for their own amusement... I will never understand why grim reapers are being punished after already suffering through so much...

🎨 - What’s their favorite color?

I actually do rather like green, or a pale blue.

☂️ - How do they feel about rain?

I don't like that I have to work around it for my glasses, since constantly drying and cleaning them can be rather irritating. And I don't like storms because one almost killed my birds. Other than that, I do actually enjoy the sound of rain, and lightning is fascinating as it is dangerous.

🖌️ - Do they have any hobbies?

I can play the violin. I haven't done it in some time, but I would like to pick it up again. I do also enjoy a game of football (soccer) when I am able to play.

🍳 - How well can they cook?

I can cook perfectly fine, but I am nowhere near being a professional chef or anything. I can get by in the kitchen, but I know there are many who are better than I am in that regard.

🍪 - How well can they bake?

I don't often bake, for myself or otherwise. If the inclination hits me, I can get through something relatively simple, but I very rarely take the time to properly bake anything, so I can, but I don't.

💘 - What do they find attractive about their partner(s)?

Physical attributes all depend on the person, of course. As for personality... I do like someone who has a brighter outlook on life. Someone who can smile a lot, or who has a sense of humor. A smile or laugh from my partner can honestly brighten my entire day.

💝 - What gestures do they really appreciate? How do you get on their good side?

As a coworker, I appreciate the job being done with no fuss. I would love for that to happen at least one day... As a friend or perhaps a partner, I appreciate either some assistance with my work, or something being done at home so I don't have to worry about it after work (like having dinner prepared), and generally knowing that they understand I am very busy and treasure any moment I can spend with them, even if work cuts into that...

☕ - Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the morning, tea the rest of the day. If I had to choose one, tea.

💬 - What are some filler/buffer words they use? (Like, um, etc.)

Well...

🏳️‍🌈 - What do they identify as? What are their pronouns?

He/him, and I am bisexual.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 - Do they have any siblings?

If I do have any siblings, I never met them. It's possible my parents tried to have another child after I got away from them, but I never kept up with them, so I have no idea.

🥰 - What pet names do their partner(s) use for them? How flustered do they get by them?

((As I play William, he has had at least five partners (not all at the same time, of course), so I will answer this with the pet names those partners have given him.))

Love, sweetheart, dove, babe, sexy~

Love, sweetheart, dove, and babe got him flustered the first few times he heard them, but he eventually got used to them. He still feels pleasantly warm when he hears them though. And sexy always gets him flustered. :D

#more asks!#keep them coming!#william t spears ask #black butler ask #william t spears #naturalhazard

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reignof-fyre · 2 years

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Another glaring moment of a double standard that irks me beyond belief between the Starks and Targaryens is how little difference there is between the Boltons and Tarlys.

Roose Bolton actively worked against Robb with Walder Frey and Tywin Lannister to have Robb, his men, mother, and pregnant wife killed. Roose himself stabbed Robb in the heart and said, "The Lannisters send their regards."

The Boltons killed their chosen king, rightful Lord and Warden of the North, and usurped the Starks position in Winterfell and Ramsay was, well, Ramsay.

Now, moving on to the Tarlys:

Randyll Tarly was a bannerman of House Tyrell, and proud of his loyalty to them despite them having bent to Robert at the end of the Rebellion and being well-known Targaryen loyalists.

Randyll demands to know how Cersei hopes to defeat Daenerys when she has 3 full grown dragons, and when Jaime pulls him aside he says, "I come when my queen commands it, and I know what she does to people who deny her."

Meaning he knows she burned the Sept to the ground. He knows she's behind decimating the House his House has sworn loyalty to for thousands of years, and he even mentions having known Olenna since he was a child. He also expounds on his absolute loyalty and how House Tarly aren't oathbreakers, that they don't stab people in the back.

But then Jaime says, "Cersei will need a new Warden of the South once the war is over."

And Randyll jumps on that immediately. He actively agrees to betray Olenna and fight against Daenerys. All for a title and new, pretty castle.

This is Randyll's face when Jaime mentions it: he's considering it...and he's accepted :)

So the Tarly men, along with the Lannister army, sack high garden and kill men they've known for years. Dickon even mentions this, that he used to hunt with some of the men he killed.

After Daenerys defeats the combined armies of Cersei's, she offers the men a choice: join her or die. This makes sense. It's a war, and she really doesn't have room or the resources to keep prisoners and they did fight against her (don't come at me saying Dany burned the food, she didn't. Drogon's flames only hit barrels of ale evident in the way they exploded). They knew what they were doing.

Randyll thinks he's being a big tough guy by not kneeling when Drogon roars at the army, and Daenerys addresses him. She gives him three choices: 1, go to the Wall (often a choice for prisoners of war), 2, keep his lands and titles and bend the knee to her, 3, or die.

Randyll blatantly refuses the first 2 options, because Dany isn't "his queen."

So who is, Randyll? The daughter of the lord you swore fealty to and Cersei murdered? Or Cersei herself, who is a kingslaying, queenslaying, kinslaying murderess? Or the daughter of the last Targaryen king, a family you professed such great loyalty to that you defeated the Usurper Robert Baratheon in battle for him?

Cersei, apparently. 🤔

So, more parallels between the Boltons and Tarlys. They both ended up supporting false monarchs that had no actual claim to the throne despite sitting on it (Joffrey, Tommen, and Cersei).

And what did the Starks do to the houses that betrayed them? Killed them, of course, and the audience went wild with cheers because they're the bestest house everrrr (that was sarcasm).

So Randyll and his son, Dickon, refuse to kneel/swear loyalty to Queen Daenerys and Randyll says she doesn't have the authority to send him to the Wall because she's not his queen, so what's left? Keeping him prisoner? They're in the middle of a war and everyone knows that food stores are tight during a war.

Randyll betrayed his leige's house by swearing to Cersei and assisting in killing the Tyrell matriarch, also stealing from them, and accepting that his house would one day be the new Wardens of the South and Lords of the Reach.

The Boltons did that.

Daenerys had every right to execute the Tarlys for what they did. It was, in actual fact, justice.

Tl;dr: the Boltons and Tarlys were the same scumbags that betrayed their leige lords and got the justice they deserved and it pisses me off when antis use Dany executing the Tarlys as another sign of "madness" when the starks did the same to the Boltons. :)

#daenerys targaryen #drogon #got meta #meta #dany t #randyll tarly #dickon tarly #tarly #tyrell #jaime #cersei #lannister

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