Whispers of Fate

How Many Times Can TLC be Framed? Let Me Count the Ways.

Would you believe this is my first ever LYX costume drama? I've seen him in only one modern before where he did good but his FL dragged the show down. Needless to say I wanted to see him in a genre that fit him and here he definitely didn't disappoint; actually none of the actors did.

Pros: The entire series centers around the ML or TLC as it should and his evolution. He initially had 3 arcs as someone else pointed out. The first one was as an over confident immortal who wanted to bring his senior Fang Zhou back to life; that was his obsession. He had tried to save him but failed because their other disciples walked in and one (LY) got into the middle causing a massive backlash, killing FZ. LY went crazy and joined as I called them "Team lunatic" and the third one simply disappeared and we didn't see him much other than in flashbacks and at the end of the show.

TLC's obsession with bringing FZ back was an ever consuming thing (he lived, breathed it); he put FZ's heart into his own stomach and kept FZ’s body in a coffin because of the power he had could essentially bring FZ back but at the cost of his own life. Unfortunately, LY stole half of that Rebirth thing and the puppet GMD the coffin with the body replacing it with a fake. TLC's obsession was such that he treated the people around that he first hired or saved like tools for his own means. When he came out of seclusion 4 years after the incident (and healing from LY's savage attack), it was to clear his name that LY, GMD, and the biggest villain YM who created puppets like GMD in images of himself and GMD followed. The opposition had a lot of middle villains that could do serious damage to TLC. LY kept harming TLC but he didn't kill him. Couldn't bring himself to. Because though TLC couldn't die, because he was from another realm, his immortality could be depleted as we saw his hair go from black to gold to white in the last episodes.

The dynamic was that there were many villains especially the main one, plus LY that was always doing something in the way and TLC's over confidence though he most of the time could predict his opponents move and outsmart them, they did get a few on him too. He didn't anticipate just how many people/puppets he had to deal with plus the evil pill disaster and YM and bringing FZ back to life. TLC's first thought personal arc was all about FZ and that he didn't matter as long as he could bring FZ back. Things started to shift as he started noticing the people around him weren't tools but helped him out of life threatening situations like AS with her blood or CY and SLH always on the frontlines willing to sacrifice for him. At first only FZ and LY were his only friends and LY later a lunatic enemy until the end; but than he started to open up and have feelings of friendship and protection towards these new people in his life. SLH was one of the best characters because he saw through TLC and told him what was what. He wasn't just a cold assassin but also preceptive. He called TLC a lot on his cover ups and made TLC really think hard about his steps.

FZ taught him how to read, write, and how to have feelings. Though when ZCJ confessed to him, he told her he didn't learn that emotion. He felt something for AS and felt CY was his younger brother. AS was also very preceptive but she understood his heart unlike SLH was more tactical. He had had other friends like XX who was comic relief in this otherwise, Puzhu, General Jiang who though we lost among others, went above and beyond for TLC and his little group. There were other great characters especially Jeremy who played GMD/YM. He was an amazing villain. FYL who played LY; first time in a lunatic villain role and he nailed it. I have to say absolutely every actor did a wonderful job as their characters. Master Shao's actor I've seen many times before was great. CHS though a guest from Bilbao Palace along with all the other guys whose character names I don't remember, the dude who was always directionless, his disciple who fell for ZCJ. ZCJ and her beginning arc was great. All the villains (even little Xiao Shi which was sad), except one who just didn't hit villain will be in the cons.

By the time TLC's final arc came around and he started to regard his friends very closely, they started leaving or getting killed off. AS turned out to be FZ's sister and GMD erased her memories so she could get close to TLC but her pure heart didn't harbor hatred but caring and love. Once her memories returned even though she did harbor some hate, she really didn't but she needed to grieve so after helping TLC destroy the first GMD in secret while pretending to be on GMD's side and saying mean words to TLC, she left altogether, more about this in the cons. But before any of this TLC finally let go of his obsession with bringing FZ back to life but releasing his heart from his stomach (ironically he needed to be kidnapped with FZ's body in the coffin as bait which still fell and shattered and FZ's body dissolved as TLC wounded, cried tortured tears. And ZCJ--who had turned to the dark side as while her own kidnapping LY tattooed a butterfly which made her a long lost fake princess--shoved a poisoned needle that LY cultivated for 4 years with poison just for TLC into him believing LY's lies that the needle will cripple him and she could control him like a puppet and make him love her; her own obsession), and the heart absorbed the needle and the poison so even in death FZ saved TLC's life as his heart, needle, poison and all was released.

CY's death was very hard (you had tears as did TLC) and XFT's meddling as well as GMD poisoning him and it distracted TLC, so XFT and GMD could kill Master Shao; she had already infiltrated the sword society thanks to the worst mistake Puzhu ever made by vouching for her (because of three year chess experience; though she was using him every moment. Then them being stuck in a cave, sharing secrets with his broken leg, their attraction to each other that wasn't meant to be. And lastly she supposedly helped him in the war by helping getting rid of the transformer and the dude creating them). After that greed, power hungry sword society leaders quickly sided with her against TLC no questions asked even when SLH, XX voiced suspicions; it was hushed.

Then when LY was finally captured after TLC rescued him this was after beating the ever loving snot out of him; I'll be honest I rewatched that scene several times. It was so deserved and overdue and giving LY his own memories and pain of what really happened so he would understand once and for all. Wish it was done way before though (as bait for TLC to come to Master Shao's funeral) when he was rescued by TLC and TLC of course attended and when they accused him of killing Master Shao and again of being YM, and than the tongue twisters between Puzhu and TLC at the mourning place; TLC showed off the fact that XFT knows how to block his heavenly power. All the other guys got the message. (Not to mention the not knowing what freedom was to the Peach Bitch calling her pathetic). And Puzhu said that whole you don't leave with LY or you will be condemned by everyone on purpose because he knows TLC doesn't care about being condemned by all as we've seen happen time and time again here. Then when he sees that TLC is fading and XFT stupidly takes advantage of that to kill both (by herself mind you; all her lackeys just stand there stunned) all the other guys warn him plus Puzhu disperses both powers as back up arrives for TLC. TLC takes away LY after which XX gives a very smart and intelligent speech (about stupidity of the sword alliance and blindly trusting the enemy; how disappointed Master Shao would be in them) a food for thought to everyone else and then you see everyone whoever stood by TLC's side just walk away saying they are done they are not dealing with this anymore. I'm going back to my island or whatever it is but it's quite obvious right then and there whose side they really chose. Sometimes words like that do not need to be spoken. They are just acted out. That's called real faith and trust. And the antidote is in the world.

LY sadly dies because of Xiao Shi's palm strike when he arrived at the cave for no reason and TLC though he checked everything on LY, didn't know about that. It was a heart wrenching moment because from the original 4 brothers of Z Tower, TLC was the only one left. LY returned the half of the Rebirth scroll he stole so TLC could kill YM once and for all. Probably the most gut wrenching was when TLC was broken and crying over little plates he made for CY, Master Shao, and LY. He was devastated and said he was all alone now which wasn't true; while he was in that cave, his friends like ZCJ who got a redemption arc along with the miracle physician, Ms. Hong, and XX dressed as a woman (which was added as the bit of humor to this somber part), Puzhu, SLH, the disciples, Fu Ren, were going all around the regions distributing the antidote and helping each other. These were still his friends and I really wish he knew that.

Meanwhile, TLC created a devise to reverse time to go back before YM was born meaning he wouldn't be born either; essentially rewriting history and bringing everyone back to life. The other price is that no one would remember him because technically he never existed. So after battling YM as the latter connected their realm to the mortal one nearly destroying that one, TLC killed YM with a sword and the full rebirth scroll; telling him his essence will be mortal knowing all of the emotions and just to make good choices; starting from birth without memories. TLC hit his time reversal device and fell into the void dissipating himself as he said an important line FZ once spoke "saving thousands of lives at the price of one is worth it."

Then next scene everyone is alive, SLH is reunited with his wife and FZ is having a meal with AS whose chef is Zhumei. They all manage to bump into each other but not now without knowing each other. Some funny moments and I'd like to believe that TLC was reborn as a white fox mixed with a dragon as the last scene was with XX who I honestly think recognized TLC but other then laughing and saying "silly fox", that was all that was needed and a bit of a voiceover made sense.

Woof, didn't think I'd write so much and we still haven't done the cons but the ending for me was done properly. I think TLC did everything he needed to do and lived his life and evolved as the people around him helped him. I can't see it any other way. Because if he stayed alive, YM would be reborn. They were connected and TLC wanted to sever that connection once and for all. I just wish we saw more of the important people alive that were great allies to the gang at the end.

I loved the costumes; they were stunning. TLC loved flapping his massive sleeves at people though BTS they could be cumbersome for other people. Every accessory, the scenery and sets that were real were beautiful too and the CGI was just right. The OSTs didn't overpower. And LYX's crying in particular as well as when he would really fight, people weren't kidding when they said he was born for costume dramas.

Cons: How many times can TLC be framed? Let me count the ways. Dear lord the first arc of the series LY framed him at least 3 times and it was like a hamster wheel, so repetitive. I've never had a drama drag in the beginning, it was getting old. I have to say that the writing and some editing was the worst here. Not to mention the zillion and a half flashbacks; twice each would have been enough (and also not in the same episode), they would had another 1/4th extra to film if most of that was deleted. It was a hot mess; many episodes had multiple of the same flashbacks. Like we get it already! It felt like the writer thought we had brain damage and wouldn't remember something we saw 20 minutes ago; absolutely ridiculous.

I'm going to address a very important point as it had the comment section divided. Personally, I think AS did exactly what she needed to; she just got her memories back and had a brother to grieve for and literally had no time because there was war and so much going on around her. I don't know how she didn't lose her mind. The man she fell for and cared deeply for though he claimed to have killed her brother, everything pointed to the opposite. Plus she had had the heart disease because she had been feeding him her blood so he could survive each time the situation was dire. What was completely wrong was the way they made her disappear after writing him a "Dear John" letter and not even explaining that she had the heart disease and didn't have long to live. It made him think she just didn't want to be around him anymore and given her relationship to FZ things were complicated so he let her be but it was like she was just sliced off with a knife and that's it. Very poorly written. Or when she would just appear out of nowhere like she did in cold as hell northern forest; people were searching for him in one specific and she just magically appeared to save him, didn't make any sense. At least write that they had a connection and she could feel him or something. But nope. Many times things needed to be explained and then acted out and neither were done so you felt lost like can we have a bit of a backstory?

I don't care who she was or wasn't but XFT was the peach bitch from start to finish. She only ever cared about herself. She killed people without a second thought; her own freedom was all that mattered, I think regardless, her crocodile tears for Puzhu were fake. She was a seductress and she knew how to manipulate people especially men as long as she got what she wanted like infiltrating the sword society and corrupting them by killing Master Shao and than cutting off his arm; like why and blaming the murder on TLC first portion of frame job and then came the rescue of LY where she just went all out and called him YM altogether like LY had done in the beginning. It was stupid because LY had never seen YM but she working directly for GMD knew YM made GMD look like him so how was that even remotely believable. So again we circle back to the frame jobs of the beginning. Eye roll worthy. So the fact that she took herself out in the last episode had nothing to do with anyone. And I personally didn't need to see her again reborn though I know it was more for Puzhu's aka Crown Prince's now sake, still could have done without. She wasn't a villain like the word would be but just an eh that followed instructions and was a puppet in a sense herself. Nothing anyone said made me like her. Her actress did a good job, that's really all. Oh and ZCJ's antler princess head piece looked ridiculous.

The last battle between TLC and YM was supposed to powerful because this is it and yet it fell flat because for starters they're darting in and out in between that metal tree contraption, secondly there's dialogue nonstop, so you somehow have to manage to read what they're saying and watch them fight but it wasn't like an actual full fight but darting, striking blades, than using spells and repeat plus constant dialogue. Editing had to be better here; fight like really fight not soft fight, don't talk, you can have instrumental music in the background to build the fight. Had that happened it would have been awesome and appropriate; 40 episodes were building up to this and it was very anticlimactic. And episode 40 felt rushed.

Would I recommend it? I would. It's gorgeous and the story though had issues sometimes with writing and editing; it was a deep and complex story which you really have to delve into. So get on watching.

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To let go is to embrace

Hello, dear Wispys~ Most of us have finally reached our destination (i.e. the finale of the story), while some are still 'experiencing' the journey together with Tang Li Ci and others. It was a wonderful journey for me, and I hope it was a splendid experience for you as well! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)💞

Loosely adapted from the novel “Enduring a Thousand Tribulations” by Teng Ping, the drama follows its sole main character, named ‘Tang Li Ci’, on his journey to accepting certain truths, letting go of obsessions, and sacrificing for the greater good. The story begins with the lavish wedding of a young woman named A-Shui, who allegedly sold herself to City Lord Hao Wen as his concubine to pay for her father’s funeral. However, the wedding is abruptly halted when a devastating tragedy occurs mid-occasion, at the hands of a single man, as if it were a blessing in disguise for the innocent, young girl. This mysterious assailant reveals himself to be Tang Li Ci, a cruel and cunning cultivator who supposedly gouged out the heart of his saviour, who was essentially family for seven whole years. Being accused of the brutal massacre, the true young master Tang embarks on a journey to clear his name, along with his faithful friend, who is more like a devoted follower, Chi Yun. That is how he meets new people, such as A-Shui, Zhong Chun Ji, and Shen Lang Hun, some of whom later become his newfound family… Our male lead will face several confrontations and betrayals as he steers his life towards an almost impossible goal of resurrecting his deceased senior brother, Fang Zhou, and making things right.

Unlike some historical C-dramas we’ve watched, [Whispers Of Fate] draws on a range of philosophical and religious themes closely connected to Buddhism, such as “letting go of the self” and “embracing emptiness”. Therefore, I would humbly like to interpret my review through the lens of Theravada Buddhism (School of the Elders), exploring certain plot points and identifying how they are interconnected with the concepts of “The Four Noble Truths”, “The Wheel of Life”, and “The Eightfold Path”, which I will provide relevant links below to aid further understanding. (..◜ᴗ◝..)✨

More than ten years before the incident at the Hao residence mentioned above took place, Tang Li Ci (formerly known as Ajibaner Tang Jia) was rescued and taken under the wing of a highly revered martial artist, Fang Zhou, who was the eldest disciple and master of the Zhoudi Tower. Fang Zhou bestowed the name 'Tang Li Ci' upon him with the hope that he would become someone special—someone who doesn’t cling to past grievances. Seven years passed, and the bond of brotherhood between them grew deep—so deep that Tang Li Ci could not accept the fact that Fang Zhou was nearing death due to old injuries sustained during a battle with Yi Que Yin Yang at Tiandu Peak. This obsession led him down a dark path, where he practised an unorthodox technique to transfer his healthy life force to Fang Zhou while absorbing the poison harming his senior brother into his own body. However, this attempt ended in disaster, resulting in Fang Zhou's instant de@th due to Liu Yan’s interruption. Still unable to accept this loss, Tang Li Ci clung to a final desperate hope. He dug out his senior brother’s heart crystal to 'nourish' it within his own body, ensuring that it would continue to beat. As if that weren’t enough, this crafty 'fox' even stole the ice coffin belonging to Wangyu Yuedan’s father, the former leader of 'The Palace of Fallen Jade,' to preserve Fang Zhou’s deceased body inside. (Yes, I know… He’s been a naughty boy, stealing other people’s belongings… (ᵕ—ᴗ—) )

All living beings experience suffering, both physical and mental. Tang Li Ci's situation serves as a perfect example of Gautama Buddha's famous quote, "the root of suffering is attachment." This celestial being felt his world crumbling when confronted with the First Noble Truth: suffering or unsatisfactoriness (known as ‘dukkha’). His intense longing and obsession to be with Fang Zhou, who had already passed away, led him to pursue an impossibly dedicated goal of resurrecting his deceased senior brother—this is a clear example of mental suffering.

The Second Noble Truth (‘samudāya’) addresses the origin of dukkha, which is suffering caused by desire and attachment. This suffering arises from craving permanence in an impermanent world. These desires can manifest in wanting to achieve something—such as Tang Li Ci deluding himself into thinking he could bring the deceased Fang Zhou back to life—or in not wanting something, which reflects Tang Li Ci’s unfortunate fate associated with Yi Que Yin Yang. This latter aspect is a significant source of the misfortunes he has encountered.

In episodes 32 and 33, the male lead finally grasped the importance of letting go of his past obsessions, accepting them, and living in harmony with the present. From a Buddhist perspective, these small steps toward understanding one’s cravings and recognising the illusory nature of permanence represent significant progress toward the Third Noble Truth, or 'nirodha,' which means the cessation of suffering. 'Nirodha' signifies the potential to end our suffering and be liberated from the “Wheel of Life” (Bhavacakra). This concept illustrates the Buddhist belief in the cycle of Shengsi (生死), the Chinese transliteration of life and de@th, emphasising the interconnectedness of birth, death, and rebirth, as well as the teachings of karma.

Our male lead is determined to keep everyone by his side and to alter the tragic outcomes he has witnessed—the deaths of many innocent people, including his close friends and acquaintances. It is only when Tang Li Ci comes to understand his own suffering and its origins that he will truly grasp what it means to let go of these desires and embrace emptiness; this is what ‘liberation’ entails. As another quote states, “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

The fourth and final Noble Truth, known as 'magga', explains how individuals can guide themselves to achieve enlightenment by practising "The Eightfold Path". This path consists of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. In simple terms, it is a guide that helps us move away from our cravings and towards ultimate freedom. In his final moments, Tang Li Ci reflected on the sincere wish he had made during the Lantern Festival:

“No matter how the world changes as years pass, I hope the people I care about, those who were with me, and friends who fought side by side…, can live peaceful and happy lives.”

When Tang Li Ci focuses on his desires, he becomes ensnared in the Wheel of Life once more, taking on different forms: first as a little white fox, then as a dragon. In the new timeline, he consistently serves as a guardian deity, protecting Shenzhou (神舟), which means Divine Land or Divine Continent, and its remnants. This role has led to the creation of the Legend of the Fox-Dragon. While it can't be said that he has fully achieved enlightenment—since he remains tied to that world by his attachments to friends and those close to him—it can be inferred that this protective Fox-Dragon may have finally grasped the Four Noble Truths before disappearing into the mortal realm. This occurs after he resets the world to a time before the existence of the Tianren realm and Yi Que Yin Yang.

Although time travel does not exist in Buddhism, ancient texts describe countless physical galaxies, solar systems, and worlds similar to ours (**which would be Shenzhou in the drama), collectively referred to as the “Thousand-Fold World System.” With that context in mind, here is my subjective interpretation: What if the Tang-gongzi we knew were reborn as an entirely different being in a world that resembles our own? At some point, he might have regained his memories due to his abundant spiritual powers, allowing him to ‘change the past’ and create a brand-new world filled with happy inhabitants.

And now… CUT! -ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ This is getting far-fetched… (๑´>᎑<)~* Let me finally present my humble insights on the drama...

Although the ending of [Whispers of Fate] may not be considered perfectly happy by all viewers, it is a drama that boasts stunning visuals, enchanting music, and a thought-provoking storyline. The production team paid close attention not only to the attractiveness of the main and important supporting characters but also to several minor characters who have only a few minutes of screen time. For instance, this includes the lesser-known members of Feng Liu Dian (House of Pleasures), the two goddesses guarding Ajibaner Tang Jia’s celestial mother during her pregnancy, along with other celestial beings.

One of the most charming aspects that captivated me was the music and the traditional instruments used. I was especially taken by Hong Gu’s arched harp, known as the Zonggaoji (originally called the "Saung-gauk" in Myanmar). This instrument is unique and rare, as it is not commonly seen in historical Chinese dramas. Among all the original soundtracks, my favourite is "春声碎 (Shattered Sounds of Spring)," followed closely by "临风吟 (Ballad to the Breeze)." "Shattered Sounds of Spring" feels like a soulful ode to Tang Li Ci’s longing and false hopes, as well as Liu Yan’s resentment towards him after Fang Zhou’s passing. In contrast, "Ballad to the Breeze" seems to convey that Tang Li Ci has finally come to terms with the truth and has moved past his earlier struggles. Additionally, the wardrobe designs for each character have been thoughtfully chosen not only for their visual impact but also to reflect the rich history of ancient China. Personally, I found Zhong Chun Ji's wardrobe choices less appealing. Unfortunately, her styling came across as somewhat over the top. For instance, her initial hairstyle at her introduction and the purple princess outfit paired with ocean-themed head accessories were particularly striking. (づ˶˃⤙˂˶)

[Whispers of Fate] can be a slow watch, and some viewers might feel that the story drags before reaching certain climactic plotlines. However, as you continue watching, you will find yourself hooked. The drama is undeniably complex, and it would have benefited from more thorough explanations of key events, such as how Ajibaner Tang Jia(Tang Li Ci) was injured and subsequently saved by Fang Zhou, as well as Tang Li Ci’s connections to Yemo and Yi Que Yin Yang. Additionally, the character arcs can be confusing, particularly with A-Shui.

A-Shui had great potential to drive the story forward with her intriguing, mysterious background. She was depicted as a pure-hearted woman who heals those around her with unconditional love and care, without any ulterior motives. However, she came across as a plain, blank sheet of paper left unused on a desk—without intention or purpose. A-Shui was one of the biggest enigmas for both Tang Li Ci and the audience. Unfortunately, her characterisation felt unsatisfactory. It would have been more effective if her relevance and importance had been hinted at in the earlier episodes, rather than being crammed into the later ones.

Despite a few downsides, [Whispers of Fate] is definitely one of the best dramas worth watching. By paying closer attention to the details and themes, we can learn a lot from these characters about their choices and their consequences. The drama offers not only entertainment but also a rich narrative filled with knowledge about ancient Chinese culture, infused with artistic heritage, philosophy, and religious viewpoints.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

The following links may help clarify the concepts I used for my review:

The Four Noble Truths-related:
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/four-noble-truths
https://buddhasartofhealing.com/blogs/thangka/dharmachakra-the-wheel-of-law?srsltid=AfmBOorLcTPTx228ED37pwiRx-P8kp8WFuUEg0Ip4NDq-Lu0NHYxWHbu
https://buddho.org/buddhism/#the-truth-of-the-way-that-lead-to-cessation
https://www.worldhistory.org/Four_Noble_Truths/

The Wheel of Life:
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780195393521/obo-9780195393521-0072.xml#:~:text=bhava%2Dcakra)%E2%80%94or%2C,concrete%20form%20abstract%20metaphysical%20concepts.
https://www.lionsroar.com/buddhism/wheel-of-life-bhavacakra/

Many-worlds system concept:
https://www.quora.com/Does-Buddhism-support-the-theory-of-parallel-universes
https://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/R450-160524-Parallel-universes-RB150.pdf

Famous Gautam Buddha Quotes:
https://www.vedantu.com/general-knowledge/gautam-buddha-quotes

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