Novoland: The Castle in the Sky Episode 2

ep 2 spoilers ahead

1.We open to Tiang Jun trying to reassure a tearful Ling'er (feel zero sympathy she really got herself into this situation). Okay the show got more interesting. Tiang Jun has something implanted in him that will make him feel agonizing pain if he ever has romantic thoughts. It seems he assumed this role to protect...Ling'er?

2.Tiangjun collects 'stealth weapons' from the unconscious bodies of guards of the star court. He quickly tracks down the guy who owned them: Yi Fuling (a wingguy) who admits that Tianyi ordered him to do it. but in front of the elders, he takes the blame. Ling'er (rightly) assumes that Tianyi put him up for it.

3.Ling'er (stupidly) chooses to intervene and take the blame. She 'can't let anyone suffer on her behalf' (please, please let her grow up a little she doesn't do cute very well...) Now she will be flogged, and I imagine this will make Tianjun feel bad since he is tasked with protecting her. It will likely make Tianyi feel bad since his target all along was Tianjun. It will def. make Yi Fuling feel bad since he not only shot the weapons, but he was seeking to use this as an opportunity to gain entry to the elite club. And Ling'er won't be feeling very good. So I see her thinking she did something good but at the end of the day she hurts so many people. Self-righteous behavior....*sigh* she should have apologized only for what she did, not for others. She's automatically (and correctly) picked the mastermind but it doesn't erase the culpability of others who willingly chose to involve themselves. (My rant ends here)

4.There is a heated confrontation between Tiangjun and Tianyi, while Ling'er watches. (I can't imagine all the stuff Tiangjun does to protect her and she has no idea...). Everyone now thinks that Ling'er and Tianyi had a romantic encounter, making Tiangjun a bastion of jealousy...

5.Interesting turn of events...Tianyi has to administer the lashes...with his extremely strong weapon...leaving Ling'er all injured. perhaps they aren't going to wind up together.

6.Ling'er is imprisoned because she has more punishments to endure. Tiangjun decides to break her out with his posse (wearing masks? really bad masks?) however his own guy turns traitor and tips off Tianyi. While this is all happening, Fuling has already busted in, feeling guilty. No one succeeds in breaking her out (I do feel bad for her this seems a bit over the top) and Tianyi walks out having set them all up but he still gets punished for breaking into the prison after hours.

7.In the next scene Tiangjung, Fuling, and Tianyi are all tied up. They get to talking and we learn that there was an Elder in the court by the name of Jishu who disappeared and had some special tools that were banned (me thinks this is Ling'er's papa). This topic arises because Elder Jishu is believed to be the one who constructed the prison, therefore, the only one who can break her out (also, every time they struggle their bonds are tighter...Tianyi keeps doing this on purpose...) anyways Tianyi is utterly unwilling to accept responsibility

8.I don't like her character she is too black and white in her thinking. I hope she grows a little. Anyways, she got herself into this situation. She came to a forbidden place. She shouldn't be shocked she was captured....

9.Tianyi cleverly makes use of Tinjun's feelings for Ling'er to continue to manipulate the situation to his advantage. Also, he is the only one thinking with his head--he reminds Tinjun that his actions have given Ling'er to undergo a trial with a slim chance of survival or receive 49 slashes which will kill her...

10.Tianyi watches Ling'er while she sleeps (odd...maybe these two are supposed to hook up) he is curious to know why Tingjun has fallen for a 'stinky girl like her' (he must be extremely immature when it comes to feelings--who talks like that?). he is trying to figure out what makes her so special that this guy whom he has known for so long would suddenly break all the rules and openly defy teachers to protect a girl with no background or significance (good points)(you need to know your enemies and clearly he did not know him)

11.Tianyi informs her that Tiangjun is threatening to raise his army against the star court--actions that count as revolt and would lead to a harsh punishment like beheading. This persuades her to take the trial

12.Tianyi really knows how to read Tiangjun. As Ling'er is about to leave, he gives her a 'gift' and proceeds to make out with her. Enraging Tiangjun. Tianyi storms off after Tianjun injures him, and the episode ends her with facing an automatom kind of weapon...

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The most interesting character in the show is Tianyi. I love romance but I don't like watching a show where there doesn't seem to be a lot of answers for those feelings. We are told that Tianjun and Ling'er have a close relationship, and other than two brief flashbacks, we have no real reason to know why he loves her, or why she is close to him. The writers rely on the 'childhood friends' but there is not a lot of depth to this relationship so we don't feel invested. I would say it is better to wait and build towards that. Currently, I think Tianyi is going to be her main love interest because you can build that up and her quick conclusions about his personality will probably be changed. I shall continue to watch. Having just watched the spectacular eternal love I do think that I am judging this show a bit harshly.

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