Manhwa and their popularity is at an all-time high, and The Beginning After The End (TBATE) is no different. Its high ratings aren’t the only reason why one should venture into the series, but its overall premise. Its treatment of the setting and characters is rather polished, especially with the protagonist.
TurtleMe blends reincarnation and isekai elements seamlessly, but what makes it so unique is his reworking of a common trope. A child in an adult’s body and vice versa is common, yet the mangaka overturns it. He does so by adding depth and layers to the hero’s character and development in the storyline.
TurtleMe seamlessly layered Arthur’s character
TBATE is in vogue, especially among readers and newbie manhwa enthusiasts, but not because of its ratings. Yes, the web novel has gained attraction, but it has more to do with its concept on the whole. It all started in 2017 with the web novel’s serialization, and it has since developed its fanbase.
What makes it so unique is the main character and his overall trajectory in the series. Rags to riches is something we all have heard of, but King Grey is the complete opposite. He is reincarnated into a kid’s body and is back to square one. But is it that terrible? Well, not really considering TurtleMe’s response.
While speaking to Anime News Network, he revealed his thoughts about fleshing out the character. He said:
I always wanted to keep things more upbeat. So there are moments where you have the contrast of a king soiling his pants upon birth. That is an image that I had immediately wanted to properly convey. It makes no sense, but it happens and it’s humbling. I think, compared to a lot of other isekai stories where the main character gets born again, I do focus on Arthur’s childhood quite a bit longer.
Truly, it makes him relatable and more humbled, but what it also does is add more layers and depth to his character. Yes, he is an adult who embodies a mature outlook toward life, but this sets the tone for reworking the whole idea of reincarnation, which is precisely why the series seems refreshing for the most part.
Reworking the reincarnation trope in The Beginning After The End
It is interesting how The Beginning After The End takes the most common tropes and turns them around completely. Reincarnation, for instance, is one such instance where you’d expect him to have it all, but that isn’t the case. The story does a 180 with his path, especially with the zero-to-hero trope.
King Grey was fierce, notorious, and cold and would view relationships and bonds as something trivial. There is, however, a stark contrast between him and Arthur in terms of dynamics. While he perceives them as weaknesses, Arthur develops a sense of belonging with his newfound family.
Another reason why it works out so well is because the side characters have motivations and goals of their own. They aren’t entirely driven and fuelled by the main character’s ambitions. Tessia’s magical abilities, as well as Feyrith’s rivalry, add to the rich character development in the series.
On the whole, TurtleMe gave a refreshing spin to reincarnation, isekai, and themes of friendship and family. His characters stand out in terms of their motivations and narratives, which makes the series noteworthy in every aspect.
The Beginning After The End manhwa is available for reading on Tapas and Webtoon. The anime is set to release in April 2025.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
