Re: It's sorta half and half I agree about the forced penance, but surprisingly, it doesn't do much because I can't take much joy in Maria and Tony suffering. A little satisfaction, perhaps, but not much joy. It's pretty much at the point where I don't care much about either character to hate them.
Well, the problem is, it isn't penance. Penance would involve Maria and Tony actually admitting they were wrong. Instead, it's "oh, we are so noble and brave, look how we suffer for our noble braveness." This title actually had "the law is the law" Tony and Maria patting each other on the back for defying Osborn and running away from the law, and then smugly criticizing others for "just fololwing orders."