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extrapenguin25 and 26 were about Pingzhang retrieving the snake's gall bladder. Puyang Ying had a reasonably decent plan, but he underestimated Pingzhang's dedication. Feizhan getting to arrest him was a fitting conclusion to Feizhan going to visit his temple in search of Duan Tongzhou. Alas, Yuanqi freed him and then stabbed him in the back. Puyang's last words were creepy. In a way, I'm sad to see him go, since he got a hotness upgrade with the black robes and new hairstyle, and the scene where Feizhan arrested him was very nod-inducing.
Also, the Empress is an idiot. A written decree to start a plague, really? And her being too bitter about Changlin to restrain herself even a bit with the hateful words. Really, I hope she learns to plan a bit further.
Pingzhang probably could've thought his way out of the Puyang trap with the poisoned knives – used a sword, a few crossbowmen to shoot Puyang and his assistant, a thicker glove, prongs, whatever – but sure, I'll accept it. Tuoba Yu coming to warn Pingzhang about Da Yu's invasion was touching, even if I'd almost rather have him arrive the next day, when Pingzhang is bedridden, and see what the characters would do. Now, Pingzhang chooses to commit melodramatic suicide by Da Yu. (Just like MCS.) The scene where he defends his choice to Meng Qianxue, and then the scene where Feizhan tries to stop him but Qianxue stops him, were amazing. As was the scene where Pingzhang gives Feizhan the order medallion and then Feizhan watches Pingzhang and Qianxue leave. (Then Feizhan goes to be Pingjing's new gege.)
Pingzhang's death scene and the mourning were well-done. Even his horse tried to prod him back up! The final scenes with him, Qianxue, and Tingsheng were touching, albeit the effect wooshed past me as I was having a belated realization on Tingsheng's hotness. Qianxue being pregnant is tropey and cliché, but I'm not even mad about it. Pingjing arrived too late – but he got to take up Pingzhang's mantle and do the army mourning ceremony.
While the original was about the guy who left and then returned, NIF2 is about the people who get left behind. There's a lot of mourning in this show. It makes it more down-to-earth and human-feeling.
Lin Xi telling the truth to Pingjing despite Pingzhang's wishes was an important character beat. And she delivers the wham line: He made his choice. I made my choice. You had no choice. I understand Pingjing needing time to grasp what happened and properly forgive. Their relationship is somewhat understated, but it's one of the best developing relationships I've seen recently, whether it stay as friendship or deepen into love.
Feizhan did a lot of watching Changlins go: first Pingzhang and Qianxue off to war, then sending off Qianxue and Lin Xi to Langya Mountain, then watching Pingjing go off to the military. He also is cursed with a terrible family: Minister Xun does seem to have lessened his hatred of the Changlins after the plague and Pingzhang's death, but both he and the Empress don't seem to realize that Feizhan is in his position because his one loyalty is the Emperor.
Yuanshi is adorable and earnest and looks a bit older than his post-timeskip 13, but whatever. The Emperor's death hit him hard. I hope he can have the sort of relationship with his brothers that Jingyan had with Jingting. Imperial Uncle Jingting surviving and obviously being close to Jingyan was sweet to see. The final conversation with Jingting – "retreat to advance" – and making Tingsheng regent was a reasonable deathbed ploy from the Emperor. And again, this show is killing it with the flashbacks.
Pingjing becomes his brother's legacy and joins the military. Yuanqi, too, as part of his plot to do whatever (did they ever say what his goal was?), but he got a hotness upgrade so I don't mind. Half-up hairstyles fit neither him nor Mei Changsu. Yuanqi and Pingjing's friendship appears similar to how it was at the start, and would be a delight if we didn't know Yuanqi was into some shady plotting. Pingjing does have more of a clue on politics now, which was a delight to see. The Changlin army people all cheering at the birth of Pingzhang's son was cute – and they even cared about the pigeon! (The pigeon was injured, so I guess it was captured and intercepted at some point?)
Poor Tingsheng seems to outlive everyone he holds dear: Mu Qing, Lin Shen and Lu Yuan, his Emperor-didi, even his eldest son. Now, he's sitting in an empty house.
Now, the horses in NIF2 are better fed than in the original, which is nice, but horses still don't work that way! People halt from canter just to have conversations, which, no. (I understand that it's for cinematography reasons, but still.) In wild horses seldom trot, but for domesticated ones it's the most energy-efficient means of travel, so all long-distance travel really should be done in trot. (It's also the hardest pace to sit in, thus the breeding of pacers and other gaited horses.) Liu Haoran (Pingjing) showed excellent horsemanship skillz in one episode where his horse moved at the appropriate pace (trot) and he posted to the trot, which makes sitting easier. Horses also don't neigh very often. Realism would be cutting out all the neighs and replacing them with a bunch of snorts, since horses do snort, especially when excited/galloping.
Also, the Empress is an idiot. A written decree to start a plague, really? And her being too bitter about Changlin to restrain herself even a bit with the hateful words. Really, I hope she learns to plan a bit further.
Pingzhang probably could've thought his way out of the Puyang trap with the poisoned knives – used a sword, a few crossbowmen to shoot Puyang and his assistant, a thicker glove, prongs, whatever – but sure, I'll accept it. Tuoba Yu coming to warn Pingzhang about Da Yu's invasion was touching, even if I'd almost rather have him arrive the next day, when Pingzhang is bedridden, and see what the characters would do. Now, Pingzhang chooses to commit melodramatic suicide by Da Yu. (Just like MCS.) The scene where he defends his choice to Meng Qianxue, and then the scene where Feizhan tries to stop him but Qianxue stops him, were amazing. As was the scene where Pingzhang gives Feizhan the order medallion and then Feizhan watches Pingzhang and Qianxue leave. (Then Feizhan goes to be Pingjing's new gege.)
Pingzhang's death scene and the mourning were well-done. Even his horse tried to prod him back up! The final scenes with him, Qianxue, and Tingsheng were touching, albeit the effect wooshed past me as I was having a belated realization on Tingsheng's hotness. Qianxue being pregnant is tropey and cliché, but I'm not even mad about it. Pingjing arrived too late – but he got to take up Pingzhang's mantle and do the army mourning ceremony.
While the original was about the guy who left and then returned, NIF2 is about the people who get left behind. There's a lot of mourning in this show. It makes it more down-to-earth and human-feeling.
Lin Xi telling the truth to Pingjing despite Pingzhang's wishes was an important character beat. And she delivers the wham line: He made his choice. I made my choice. You had no choice. I understand Pingjing needing time to grasp what happened and properly forgive. Their relationship is somewhat understated, but it's one of the best developing relationships I've seen recently, whether it stay as friendship or deepen into love.
Feizhan did a lot of watching Changlins go: first Pingzhang and Qianxue off to war, then sending off Qianxue and Lin Xi to Langya Mountain, then watching Pingjing go off to the military. He also is cursed with a terrible family: Minister Xun does seem to have lessened his hatred of the Changlins after the plague and Pingzhang's death, but both he and the Empress don't seem to realize that Feizhan is in his position because his one loyalty is the Emperor.
Yuanshi is adorable and earnest and looks a bit older than his post-timeskip 13, but whatever. The Emperor's death hit him hard. I hope he can have the sort of relationship with his brothers that Jingyan had with Jingting. Imperial Uncle Jingting surviving and obviously being close to Jingyan was sweet to see. The final conversation with Jingting – "retreat to advance" – and making Tingsheng regent was a reasonable deathbed ploy from the Emperor. And again, this show is killing it with the flashbacks.
Pingjing becomes his brother's legacy and joins the military. Yuanqi, too, as part of his plot to do whatever (did they ever say what his goal was?), but he got a hotness upgrade so I don't mind. Half-up hairstyles fit neither him nor Mei Changsu. Yuanqi and Pingjing's friendship appears similar to how it was at the start, and would be a delight if we didn't know Yuanqi was into some shady plotting. Pingjing does have more of a clue on politics now, which was a delight to see. The Changlin army people all cheering at the birth of Pingzhang's son was cute – and they even cared about the pigeon! (The pigeon was injured, so I guess it was captured and intercepted at some point?)
Poor Tingsheng seems to outlive everyone he holds dear: Mu Qing, Lin Shen and Lu Yuan, his Emperor-didi, even his eldest son. Now, he's sitting in an empty house.
Now, the horses in NIF2 are better fed than in the original, which is nice, but horses still don't work that way! People halt from canter just to have conversations, which, no. (I understand that it's for cinematography reasons, but still.) In wild horses seldom trot, but for domesticated ones it's the most energy-efficient means of travel, so all long-distance travel really should be done in trot. (It's also the hardest pace to sit in, thus the breeding of pacers and other gaited horses.) Liu Haoran (Pingjing) showed excellent horsemanship skillz in one episode where his horse moved at the appropriate pace (trot) and he posted to the trot, which makes sitting easier. Horses also don't neigh very often. Realism would be cutting out all the neighs and replacing them with a bunch of snorts, since horses do snort, especially when excited/galloping.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-31 19:50 (UTC)I was so mad about Puyang Ying's entire stupid plot. He got more OTT dramatic the whole time, and then we found out his entire goal the whole time was really stupid and revenge-oriented and made no rational sense and relied on Pingzhang not, idk, bringing people with bows or knives to quickly shoot the guy holding the torch, or holding a weight in his hand to put where the gallbladder box was so the knives don't release, or anything like that.
So then Pingzhang got to do the heroic self-sacrifice thing and I was mad about it. I liked his scenes with Tuoba Yu and Feizhan, and I kind of liked his scene with Qianxue but also not because I wish he didn't lie to her so much and she had more to do. She got to fight in one battle, just to make her look badass, and then predictably turned out to be pregnant after Pingzhang's death.
I still almost cried when Pingzhang died.
(Speaking of the battles, they talked about it like it was a huge deal but then it lasted an episode and a half? I liked the throwback to Yan Qe, at least.)
Poor Pingjing, didn't even get to say goodbye to his brother. I'm a bit mad that Pingjing only seemed to be ready to grow up once his brother was dead, that shouldn't have been necessary, but whatever. Also him being angry at Lin Xi is totally reasonable, and I liked what she said to him.
I wonder about Yuanqui: why the hell did he cut Puyang Ying's ropes to help him escape? And then kill him anyway, I liked that part. Later he was the one who hinted to Pingjing that there was something iffy about Pingzhang's death, but I don't even know how he could've known, I don't think he knew Pingzhang was poisoned? Or did he find out somehow, did someone who was in the cave tell him? I'm not sure if he let something slip to Pingjing on purpose. He said to Puyang Ying, iirc, that the way to stay allied with House Chang Lin was to have no secrets from them and that the only thing they can't find out about is his agreement with Marquis Mozi, but I don't even remember if Mozi and he had a specific agreement, I don't think there were any details. Still.
Yuanqui and Pingjing served together for two years, nice.
I was very surprised by the Emperor making Tingsheng regent, especially after he talked with old Prince Ning about how Tingsheng doesn't know much about the court and many are jealous of him and the value of retreat. Doesn't making Tingsheng regent make everything worse? Poor Tingsheng, everyone dying around him, his son before him and his brother even in his arms. And now he has to be regent.
Looks like the Empress is going to be the big bad of the second half. She seems to hate House Chang Lin, more than Minister Xun, who is more justifiably wary of them. I really liked the scene with them and Feizhan, who told them he only obeys the Emperor. But the new Emperor is 13, his mother will be a huge influence on him, and I bet there will be several uncomfortable situations for Feizhan. And for his uncle, too; I hope his uncle turns out to be ultimately more loyal to the country than to his own family. Minister Xun also knows what the Empress did, and Yuanqui has proof.
no subject
Date: 2018-02-01 08:17 (UTC)Qianxue ending up pregnant was really cliché but honestly I don't even mind. I do wish she'd be given more to do, though. Pingzhang's death scenes were heartstring-tugging, even if he tried to be the Mei Changsu of not telling his loved ones anything.
I did sort of see Pingjing growing up a bit between the start and these episodes, but yeah, this was the huge kick in the pants. His conversation with Lin Xi was well-done and believable.
I suppose Yuanqi wanted to have a private chat with Puyang Ying? Having him hand over the confession and Empress's decree wouldn't go over that well if there were witnesses present. As for Pingzhang, well, Yuanqi was assigned to guard the mountain, of course he'd known about the gall bladder retrieval. He's also smart enough to put two and two together and be suspicious about Pingzhang's sudden death, or at least find it suspicious enough to say vague things to Pingjing to erode his self-confidence.
I was very surprised by the Emperor making Tingsheng regent, especially after he talked with old Prince Ning about how Tingsheng doesn't know much about the court and many are jealous of him and the value of retreat.
The idea was that if Tingsheng were regent, the Xuns wouldn't get to send him away and have unfettered access to Yuanshi. Apparently that bit was mistranslated, and it was supposed to be something like "advance to retreat", ie "advance to the position of Regent to retreat from most of the political fray".
Yeah, the Empress is way more petty than Minister Xun. Feizhan is in a number of uncomfortable situations. (Poor Feizhan.)
no subject
Date: 2018-02-02 22:00 (UTC)