ExtraPenguin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
extrapenguin) wrote2017-11-20 09:15 pm
extrapenguin) wrote2017-11-20 09:15 pm
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Nirvana in Fire, eps 41-44
More of my favorite trope. Additionally, I may have found an online translation of the novel. I'll check it out after I've finished the TV series, should I have time.
First, let's start with some generic stuff, since the bulk shall be of Yu and the Hua Zu. Mainly Yu.
Of the last episodes' plot, seeing Xia Jiang be confronted with two of his disciples confessing (maybe a lie from Meng, maybe Xia Qiu or Xia Chun grew a conscience) was nice. Meng handled himself well in the conversation. The bit where Meng sparred with Fei Liu was adorable, especially when it's pointed out that Fei Liu now lets Meng touch his hair! The Emperor ordering Jing to befriend his advisor was loltastic. Jing bringing along the Ministers was nice. (No, MCS, Jing won't let you be forgotten. That's the kind of person he is and also why you chose him.) When MCS brought out Wei Zheng, the conversation was touching, and MCS's small smile when Jing said that the Chiyan case is his goal was pure gold.
Jingmom was in some pretty heavy stuff! First she almost lost Lin Shu again, then regained him! Jing does suspect something, but his mother did allay at least some by saying it was the illness. What with the flashbacks and MCS behaving exactly like Lin Shu, I think Jing will eventually guess and there will be an emotional confrontation. Hopefully not on MCS's deathbed. MCS is already in the same category as Jingmom. "I will return for my mother and you. – Oh, um, and also you, Meng."
The battle scene, well, I'm not actually that big of a fan of battle scenes in visual media – very messy and hard to follow. The depictions of tactics we got were nice, the preemptive attack and the ambush and the tent-village of bombs. Meng Zhi was in his element with his endearingly ridiculous helmet (...apparently I have a thing for high ponytails that seem to jut out), and everything in the scene before the Qing Li army breaks down the gate was excellent. Marquis Yan's morale-raising speech! The ominous thumping! MCS holding on to Tingsheng! The actual dash of realism with the footsoldiers holding pikes rather than swords (swords expensive, pikes cheaper; only nobles can afford swords). And then Nihuang gallops through, dramatically decapitating the Qing Li's standard and swoops in to save the day, a savior in white amongst the black and brown of the battlefield.
Now, the main event: Prince Yu. At first, when informed of his demotion, he can only press his face into the ground and cry. Then, having reaped what he sowed, he just gives up and mopes. He realizes that the only reason people wanted to interact with him was his rank and status. And then, in his darkest hour, he is informed that his birth mother was an enemy princess whose sister's disciples are still there, trying to avenge their fallen country. So he sets a trap for himself.
All his betrayed feelings over imaginary slights from his father. All his ambition turning to bitterness. When at his lowest point, where he could have repented and reformed himself, he flings himself further down into the mud, using his mother's loyalty just to get at his father. And the only thing he achieved was himself in a cell, beaten and bruised and bitter, yelling at his father. His father, who had considered making him Crown Prince.
I have one desire for the next episode, and that is that the Emperor tell Yu that the only reason he's not the Crown Prince is his own self. The only person who benefited from his scheming was Jingyan.
First, let's start with some generic stuff, since the bulk shall be of Yu and the Hua Zu. Mainly Yu.
Of the last episodes' plot, seeing Xia Jiang be confronted with two of his disciples confessing (maybe a lie from Meng, maybe Xia Qiu or Xia Chun grew a conscience) was nice. Meng handled himself well in the conversation. The bit where Meng sparred with Fei Liu was adorable, especially when it's pointed out that Fei Liu now lets Meng touch his hair! The Emperor ordering Jing to befriend his advisor was loltastic. Jing bringing along the Ministers was nice. (No, MCS, Jing won't let you be forgotten. That's the kind of person he is and also why you chose him.) When MCS brought out Wei Zheng, the conversation was touching, and MCS's small smile when Jing said that the Chiyan case is his goal was pure gold.
Jingmom was in some pretty heavy stuff! First she almost lost Lin Shu again, then regained him! Jing does suspect something, but his mother did allay at least some by saying it was the illness. What with the flashbacks and MCS behaving exactly like Lin Shu, I think Jing will eventually guess and there will be an emotional confrontation. Hopefully not on MCS's deathbed. MCS is already in the same category as Jingmom. "I will return for my mother and you. – Oh, um, and also you, Meng."
The battle scene, well, I'm not actually that big of a fan of battle scenes in visual media – very messy and hard to follow. The depictions of tactics we got were nice, the preemptive attack and the ambush and the tent-village of bombs. Meng Zhi was in his element with his endearingly ridiculous helmet (...apparently I have a thing for high ponytails that seem to jut out), and everything in the scene before the Qing Li army breaks down the gate was excellent. Marquis Yan's morale-raising speech! The ominous thumping! MCS holding on to Tingsheng! The actual dash of realism with the footsoldiers holding pikes rather than swords (swords expensive, pikes cheaper; only nobles can afford swords). And then Nihuang gallops through, dramatically decapitating the Qing Li's standard and swoops in to save the day, a savior in white amongst the black and brown of the battlefield.
Now, the main event: Prince Yu. At first, when informed of his demotion, he can only press his face into the ground and cry. Then, having reaped what he sowed, he just gives up and mopes. He realizes that the only reason people wanted to interact with him was his rank and status. And then, in his darkest hour, he is informed that his birth mother was an enemy princess whose sister's disciples are still there, trying to avenge their fallen country. So he sets a trap for himself.
All his betrayed feelings over imaginary slights from his father. All his ambition turning to bitterness. When at his lowest point, where he could have repented and reformed himself, he flings himself further down into the mud, using his mother's loyalty just to get at his father. And the only thing he achieved was himself in a cell, beaten and bruised and bitter, yelling at his father. His father, who had considered making him Crown Prince.
I have one desire for the next episode, and that is that the Emperor tell Yu that the only reason he's not the Crown Prince is his own self. The only person who benefited from his scheming was Jingyan.
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And based on the thumbnail, ep 45 will continue with the "Yu suffers prettily" train. I approve.