One of the biggest aspects that draws people to Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters is how it deals with heavy themes. Discussing shame and acceptance can sometimes be too dark for a movie targeted to kids, but KPop Demon Hunters brilliantly weaves these themes throughout the bright colors and catchy tunes.
But one character is under fire for how she handles the darkness mixed with the light.
Celine (Yunjin Kim) is the mentor and mother figure of the K-Pop girls' band, HUNTR/X. She was one of the demon hunters/K-Pop stars of her generation, and she taught Rumi, Mira, and Zoey everything she knew. The only problem? Everything she knew was about hiding any imperfections and weaknesses. In Celine's mind, that was the only way to be strong enough to defeat all the demons. But things get complicated when the girl Celine raised like a daughter, Rumi, is half-demon.
There have been a lot of arguments amongst KPop Demon Hunters fans about whether Celine is a good person or not. Many good points about abuse and generational trauma have been made, saying that Celine did her best to raise Rumi with the knowledge she had. Some fans have said that she isn't a villain just because she made some mistakes. But the truth is, whether Celine intended it or not, her teachings directly impacted HUNTR/X's harmony and almost destroyed the world.
Celine's perspective in the real world
I understand where people are coming from when they say things like, "hurt people hurt people," but that shouldn't be an excuse for a lack of change. Celine had years of raising Rumi to see that her worldview might not be the only correct one. She could have adapted, but she chose to stay within her myopic bubble. Celine ended up teaching Rumi that she was unlovable and a mistake.
As a parent of autistic kids, I have made my share of mistakes. When they were first diagnosed, I had no idea what I was doing. I tried to raise them to be neurotypical because I didn't know any other way. But then I saw the damage it was doing to them and to our relationship. I was unintentionally telling my sons that there was something wrong with who they are. Forcing them to become something they aren't was eroding our family, so I decided that I would be the one to change.
I learned about autism, and I worked on myself to be a better parent. Of course, I still make mistakes, but they are not ones that fundamentally alter my children's perception of themselves. Rumi should never have been made to feel shame for simply being born. She should not have ever thought that she was a mistake. But even when Rumi confronts Celine near the end of the film, Celine still tries desperately to hide Rumi's demon half. She cannot accept who Rumi is.
Verdict: The road to the demon realm is paved with good intentions
Ignorance is not an excuse for Celine. Her love for Rumi was conditional, and it caused untold harm to Rumi and the other girls. Her final talk with Rumi, telling Rumi that everything she had learned taught her that Rumi was wrong, was what completely shattered the protective shield that kept the demons in their realm. Her good intentions were not enough to save the world or her relationship with Rumi. Only real, unconditional love from Mira and Zoey was what saved the world.
Celine is a deeply flawed character who, despite her intentions, does play the role of a villain in Rumi's story. The emotional damage was done, whether she meant it or not.
I think this shows how we can feel sorry for people who are stuck in generational trauma, but we do not need to excuse their hurtful actions towards the next generation. And it teaches us that part of unconditional love is learning and adapting to meet everyone's needs. It's heartbreaking that Celine couldn't do that. But that heartbreak for Celine doesn't erase Rumi's scars.
KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.
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