i personally dont see it as a sob story. i feel like sob stories are used as an excuse for a character to be terrible. like seungho from painter of the night.
heeryang is not terrible, not really. he doesn't force anyone to do his bidding. even with yeonjo, he gave him choices. i mean, sure the choices are sh!t but its not like he can also do much considering that he was following orders as well. but he never denied the bad things that he did, nor did he use his past as an excuse for his terrible actions. he doesn't do pity parties, i'll give him that lol
agree on the mom. no evil schemes or underhanded tactics which is the usual plot for "evil" step parents. just a mother helplessly watching her son being surpassed by the proof of her husband's disloyalty. and she has to swallow all the shame and resentment as a woman in that time period is expected to do. you cant help but sympathize tbf. should've smothered the philandering husband instead lol
