I'm probably gonna regret this BUT-
I feel like the Kyoshi novels do a better vengeance story than The Last Of Us Part II.
I've said it before, but I think I finally figured out why...
The character's internal monologue about their actions... And their partner's reaction to that change.
TLOU has Ellie's internal monologue consistent, but Dina's reactions inconsistent. Whereas the Kyoshi novels have Kyoshi's internal monologue inconsistent, and Rangi's reactions consistent.
This makes a world of difference. Having a main character not change in a revenge story is a terrible fate. Using revenge as a "lesson" for healing by having them do it and having them regret it is stupid unless you show that regret.
On the contrary, having a companion character's reactions to these actions be passive lessens the severity of the brutality taken. There's a difference between indifference and avoidance... Rangi does this better, I think, because she ends up calling Kyoshi out with the purpose of humanizing her. Not condemning her...
One story condemns revenge while having excessive violence, the other shows it as a needed point of release, while internally struggling with being this violent.
