Firstly, I'm so tired of the female, especially villainess, isekai in the past 5-6 years? (Gosh, it's been that long!) It's mostly this cliche of: A detestable female antagonist who got killed, got reincarnated, tried to do everything to be nice/rich/powerful, especially tried to leave the ex-scumbag-fiance. Somehow along the way reformed everyone around her, got a lot of love and suitors, especially the ex-fiance to turn around. The former female protagonist turned out to be calculating and manipulative and was actually the villainess all along. But most annoying here is how, most of them (including isekai about dysfunctional family and unloved leads) reinforce classism, imperialism, a lot of undertone/internalised racism, non-sense religion and OMG untouchable OP characters and a cringe-fest of obsessive, cheesy, over-the-top interactions and love between the main characters - even when they started off cool, nice and breezy. (I puke so hard right now.)
But this, "Kill the Villainess", remains dark throughout. Does it have many of the troupes above? Yes. However it doesn't delve into "cringe fest" mode and remains hella depressing till the very end!
I'm not saying if this was to happen in the real world, it'd be a good thing. For example, if you feel mentally unwell, please don't keep it to yourself. Talk to your trusted and loved ones, seek help.
The worst thing this manhwa shows is running away and taking your own life. And somehow it works out at the end. In real life, nobody knows that. So take care of yourself.
At the same time, as a fiction, it's refreshing compared to many of its breed. The villainess doesn't try to be a saint. The plot is pretty consistent and not overly fantasied (ruby mines, introducing new laws and orders, money and power stuff). The love isn't like the first dates for a millennia. The rotten characters somehow become even more rotten lol. And the former main girl is a reasonable and sensible person. Thank Goodness!
I also like how this story recognises how fucked up the world really is and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things will not go your ways. It's imbedded in both the isekai and its fictionalised real world. At the end, it reflects the loneliness of human life and how most of us yearn for understanding and love (okay, I'll let you have your definition and conclusion of "love" here pre- and post-reading). It accepts love cliches (at the end) because it just... makes sense.
And even though, the rotten characters deserve their new endings here, argh, I do feel kinda... bad for them somehow, like pity. But that's life. And that's a good job of story telling.
I'm at chapter 99, so I can assure you that it has a happy ending for (highly probably our beloved) main characters.
I know it's manhwa. Representation matters. But going (back) to South Korea is kind of depressing... Still most everywhere is depressing one way or another. I shouldn't complain.
I almost dropped this because long-format webcomic isekais always draggggg, go on hiatus, have many seasons, or get chopped (still bitter about the entertaining no-brainer "This girl is a little wild"...) I'm glad I came back.
It also helps that the art is nicely done and consistent throughout.
Btw, the love interest is named Anakin... I'm sorry, I just can't take his name serious at all. But hell yeah, the force is strong with this one!
I definitely RECOMMEND this. At the same time, please take cautions and remember that this is a work of fiction. Because it is depressing and dark.
Edit: Pretty privilege is jarring in these mangas, just like the real world, here also LOL. And honestly, girl's and her fam's last name is Miserian. You go in and expect tragedy for the person/people of misery.
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