A Light Novel Reader’s Thoughts on the ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ Webtoon
The only way to survive the apocalypse is to be on the main character’s team, and even then, you’ll still suffer for it.
The year was 2020. As the world continued to casually implode from the aftermath of the pandemic, with many waiting and watching from the (dis)comfort of their lockdown shacks, I remained nestled under my duvet, engulfed in the disasters ravaging another world. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint tells the story of Kim Dokja, a lonely 28-year-old office worker, who is grappling with the newfound reality of his favourite apocalyptic fiction web-novel coming to life.
In stark contrast to the current “main character syndrome” that has a chokehold on Western millennials, Dokja doesn’t consider himself the protagonist of his own life. For over a decade, and through 1,349 chapters, he’s lived his life vicariously through Yu Junghyeok, the main character of the aforementioned web-novel, Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse. On a subway ride home from work, the novel comes to an end, and Dokja, being the sole reader of the novel till its conclusion, receives an email from the author containing a TXT copy of the novel… before the world is subsequently plunged into a kill-or-be-killed chaos. When a dokkaebi (Korean goblin) materialises within the train cart he’s in and gives a quest scenario from Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, Dokja quickly realises that the beloved novel he’s been reading for the past decade has now become reality.
As the only man equipped with a full knowledge of future ‘scenarios’ and the destruction to come, Dokja recruits the few survivors in his subway cart and, brandishing the self-proclaimed title of a prophet, tries to overcome the ‘scenarios’. There’s just one problem: Yu Junghyeok is after his neck. Well, initially. Saving the world can be a little difficult when the protagonist of said world wants you dead. Thus, wholesomely comedic hijinks ensue against the backdrop of a collapsing world ravaged by innumerable beasts, demons, and even constellations.
If you can overlook the constant threat of death, you could say that Dokja is living a reader’s best life. Being able to team up with your favourite character to battle the odds, win against demons and gods, and carve out the story to reach your desired ending (instead of the dismal ending that the author has penned), is a universal longing that all readers have. Many within fandom, myself included, are limited to nurturing these desires on platforms dedicated to fanfiction, so it’s a cathartic experience to see our struggles so well documented in the life of Dokja.
The plot is anchored on the somewhat cliched novel-within-a-novel isekai premise that’s taken South Korean entertainment by storm in recent years, and this allows readers moments of poignant relation with Dokja, as they’re able to superimpose themselves onto him in each setback he faces. There’s something therapeutic that comes with reading about someone struggling and overcoming their trauma and suffering, especially when those struggles are made more digestible once introduced with beautiful illustrations.
Yu Junghyeok isn’t just any main character, he’s also the emotional support that has been keeping Dokja alive for the past ten years. The novel tackles themes of suicide, depression, and abuse in a much appreciated delicate manner, that’s well-woven into the narrative, while also striking a good balance between the wholesomeness, comedy, and friendships that are sprinkled throughout.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint demands re-reading, as little gems can only be fully appreciated on a second, or maybe even third, read through. I’ve consumed my fair share of works in the isekai genre, and I can confidently say that this is the most intriguing one yet. It’s an action-packed, original manhwa, that’s thrilling with each scroll, with an array of beautifully developed characters who you can’t help but fall in love with as you accompany them through the many hardships they face.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is available for free on Webtoon. If the trailer intrigues you, I highly recommend you check it out!
