Interestingly I'm in the same boat as someone outside the fandom watching, except that the person I'm primarily watching the show through.....is going "....guys this was always this kind of show. 'Magic comes from pain' IS THE PREMISE. S1 had a graphic rape scene. What did you think you were watching."

Soooo I'm by no means convinced that they didn't write exactly the kind of story that viably ends that way, and that a lot of fandom wasn't straight up sticking their fingers in their ears.