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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.