everytime i see that post comparing redemption arcs to restorative justice and criticizing redemption arcs to being a cop i can’t help but laugh. sweetie these are stories. with different plots and themes and all that. writing a story where the villain doesn’t choose to be a better person in the end can mean a lot of different things in context, “evil people are unable to change and need the death penalty” is literally only one (1) of them. it can mean “trying to force someone to change when they don’t want to is just a waste of time and energy”. it can mean “even when given all the second and third and eleventh chances some people will still choose what benefits them over the wellbeing of others”. it can mean “learn to tell apart a sincere apology from the reconciliation phase in the cycle of abuse”. but you guys aren’t ready for that conversation