The Vendetta of An

All Warfare Is Based on Deception

The Vendetta of An (or The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang’an/长安二十四计) is an intense, fast-paced suspense thriller with an intricate plot full of twists and reversals. Set in a fictional dynasty, feudal lord Xiao Wuyang marches into Chang’an and deposes his brother, puppet emperor Xiao Wenjing. Yet his grip on the throne remains tenuous until the tyrannical General Yan Fengshan is captured and his elite shadow army, the Huben, is disbanded. If anyone is up to this perilous task, it must be the son of the Huben’s founder. Finally, the stage is set for Xie Huai’an to return to the capital to demand an accounting for his family’s massacre fifteen years earlier.

Though Huai’an is driven by revenge, as the Chinese title suggests, the plot unfolds along the lines of art of war. It is an intriguing and sophisticated conspiracy where the devil is in the details, and the chessboard is not fully visible to all players. These schemes play out amid the daily lives of ordinary people in Chang’an—an innovative take on the classic “empty fort strategy” (空城計, kōng chéng jì). Ultimately, all warfare is based on deception, and Chang’an is the battlefield where hidden protagonists and antagonists attempt to outwit each other with complex, multi-layered stratagems. This drama demands full attention; its dialogue carries literary depth and is laden with clues that hint at complex character motivations.

This is without a doubt one of the most engaging and best-written dramas I’ve watched in 2025. However, across 28 episodes, the drama packs in too many ideas and themes. There is a profound sense of foreshadowing and symmetry, of cause and effect and “an eye for an eye,” that underlies the plot arcs and character outcomes. But it succumbs to the overdose of melodrama and excessive twists that have weighed down too many 2025 dramas—often at the cost of both character and logic. Vendetta takes “falling off a cliff” to new levels in how unbelievably incompetent every character seems at stabbing someone in the guts. The breakneck pace and multiple reversals successfully distract from how certain aspects of the plot and characters don’t fully hold together. It’s high entertainment, but it pushes the limits of suspension of disbelief and doesn’t withstand close scrutiny.

Although Huai’an is widely touted as a brilliant strategist several steps ahead of everyone else, his wins are few and far between. They come at a high cost, often by adopting the “self-injury stratagem” (苦肉計, kǔ ròu jì). This is fitting—the stakes are sky-high, and Huai’an is under-resourced and outmanoeuvred by hidden foes who, like him, play the long game. In this story, characters are allowed to fail, with real consequences. While Huai’an has loyal allies, they make mistakes and, worse, need rescuing at pivotal moments. Often, the antagonists seem smarter, more competent and more ruthless. Yet they, too, are grounded in reality; miscalculate and possess flaws that can be exploited to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. With such well-matched players, the margin between victory and defeat is razor-thin, turning on a dime.

Plot-wise, the narrative builds through multiple exciting twists to a thrilling and satisfying climax about two-thirds of the way through. Lurking in the shadows are Tiemo sleeper cells, ready to “loot a burning house” (趁火打劫, chèn huǒ dǎ jié) by exploiting Chang’an’s internal strife. Huai’an is taken by surprise, routed, and trapped at a disadvantage as hidden enemies emerge from the woodwork and barbarians gather at the gates. This story arc contains so many double- and triple-crosses, schemes within schemes, and bombshells that the plot becomes slightly deformed. For me, the best subplot was Wang Pu’s short arc, a masterclass in psychological warfare. In contrast, Baiwan’s arc felt unnecessary, adding little beyond forced angst while artificially lowering the intelligence of Huai’an’s team. That time would have been better spent deepening more interesting characters and tying up loose ends.

Cheng Yi navigates Xie Huai’an’s introspective transitions well, particularly as he reins in his obsession with an unchangeable past and finds a higher cause in a changeable future. The main aspect of his portrayal that missed the mark for me was its overly maudlin tone. The frequent waterworks made it seem as though he was the only character who had ever suffered loss during chaotic times. It’s also difficult to root for a protagonist so world-weary and single-minded in purpose. Thus, for me, Li Lianhua remains Cheng Yi’s best role, even though Vendetta of An has the stronger plot.

The main characters are multifaceted, with interesting backstories anchored by an impressive roster of veterans and solid performances all around. I found Wenjing’s duality—the twists and turns of his journey and his struggle against his true nature—most compelling. Unfortunately, his character was eventually dumbed down and squandered for shock value and cheap angst. Among the younger cast, Liu Yitong's Han Ziling was memorable. While I can’t fault the acting, Wang Jinsong’s gentle aura felt mismatched to his role. Yan Fengshan emerges as a more intense and menacing villain than the primary antagonist.

The finale builds to another exciting, action-packed, high-stakes climax in which Huai’an deftly “lures the tiger down the mountain” (調虎離山, diào hǔ lí shān) with yet another self-injury stratagem, then “shuts the door to catch the thief” (關門捉賊, guān mén zhuō zéi) and “borrows a corpse to resurrect the soul” (借屍還魂, jiè shī huán hún). There’s much to unpack in the excellent finale, though it leaves several loose ends only partly tied up in the special episode. The ending was more clear on a second watch—more on that in the spoiler section below. Most importantly, Huai’an’s final epiphany brings his character journey to a fitting close.

Overall, this drama that is a feast for the eyes and a boot camp for the little gray cells would have benefited from fewer themes and narrative curveballs. A tighter plot with fewer logic holes could have earned a 9.0 from me, but as it stands, it’s a highly recommended 8.5/10.














ENDING SPOILERS & ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
(Do not scroll further if you have not finished the drama.)













On a second watch, I realized the final episode is far more definitive than I initially believed. To begin with, Huai’an’s hair did not magically turn white overnight; he dyed it again, just as he did before infiltrating Hidden Soldier Valley. According to Cen Weizong’s reading of his natal chart, Baitou's hair would not turn white again until the end of his lifespan (83 years). He was playing to the Tiemo King's superstition by suggesting he was at death’s door.

As Huai’an is stabbed and his life flashes before his eyes, he finally admits he still wants to live—if only to remember his family a little longer. He breaks free from his obsession with revenge and reclaims his identity as Liu Zhi, a Huben shadow guard sworn to protect Chang’an. When he triggers the explosion, he discards his identity as Xie Huai’an, who stays in the granary and dies in the blast. Liu Zhi, however emerges and takes a day or two to live as an ordinary person. One could argue Liu Zhi never walked out of the granary either, but what matters more is that the character’s journey comes full circle. It’s a good ending, even without the special.

The special episode ties up loose ends and is clearly a prelude to a second season. Wuyang ends up on the throne, while Wenjing remains officially dead, choosing to serve the court incognito as the former pageboy Zhang Mo. Ye Zheng leaves to court his love Zhaolu, and Xiaoqing becomes a doctor.

The mysterious figure in Yulong Ridge is quite obviously Liu Zhi. He lets his hair down and imprisons himself there among his Huben guard—much like the Tiemo King did—to manipulate events from the shadows. He owes Cen a favor (likely a quid pro quo for luring the Tiemo King to the granary), after which they are square. This sets up the next season involving a mysterious figure at Mt. Shiluoman in Tiemo. Liu Zhi's work is not done; 200,000 Tiemo troops can still be deployed at any time. Until that threat is neutralized and lasting peace is achieved, it’s convenient to let the world believe Huai’an/Liu Zhi is dead. The person at Mt. Shiluoman is likely a high priest—probably Cen’s superior. When Huai’an kidnapped the Tiemo envoy, he mentions an altar at Mt. Shiluoman where nobles undergo a ceremony to receive the token around his neck. A new king should soon be chosen in Tiemo. It is in Liu Zhi/Chang'an's interest to try to influence the process.

One of the larger open plot holes for me is what drove Liu Ziyan and Yan Fengshan to turn on Liu Zhiwei. The only explanation that makes some sense is that they blamed him for the disastrous mission to rescue a high-ranking Huben spy captured by the Tiemo King 25 years earlier. I don’t believe that spy was Liu Zhi’s mother, as the timeline doesn’t align: she couldn’t have given birth to Liu Li/Baiwan if she died 25 years ago, and it contradicts Huai’an’s statement that his mother died when he was ten. I also find it difficult to believe that two uneducated Tiemo slaves raised as wolf bait could rise to become two of the most erudite and high-ranking officials in Chang’an. I could go on but I will stop here because I did enjoy this drama quite a bit despite the logic holes.




WANG PU ARC SPOILERS

Wang Pu made a fatal mistake when he couldn't resist meeting with Huai'an. He lost the moment he went to that temple by himself. He wasn't alone of course but he didn't realize Huai'an's men would kill all of his men that were following him there.

When Wang Pu learned of that YFS murdered his parents, he didn't care at all. The problem is YFS would NEVER believe that and would never trust him the same way again. This is the brilliance of Huai'an's trap - he ruined their relationship simply by meeting alone with Wang Pu to tell him his origin story. It is his nature - YFS would never be able to trust Wang Pu again. This left poor Stockholm Syndrom Wang Pu no choice but to prove his loyalty by killing himself. But YFS is a sick son-of-a-bitch. He could have refused to confirm what Huai'an told Wang Pu. But instead he told him in bloody detail anyway and when he was finished Wang Pu started eating the poisoned dumplings.

Huai'an already said Checkmate to Wang Pu at the end, both knowing how this would play out. But Wang Pu thought he would be able to deliver YFS a final win by luring Huai'an to watch his downfall. But even in this, he was outplayed bc Huai'an never showed up. It was an eye for an eye for Bai Wan's death.













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Strategic Revenge

A revenge series, and also a strategy series. There's action too. I really liked it. However, we should also mention its shortcomings. First of all, it's a revenge series, but it's portrayed as if there's a kind of conversation between the avenger and the victim.That is, the avenger and the victim make contact, chat, meet, explain their intentions, then make a plan, and the avenger kills that person.But that person could also kill the avenger. But they don't. The screenwriter has employed an interesting strategy. It's as if the avenger and the victim are playing their cards openly. Everything is out in the open. It's a meticulously crafted script where everyone seems to know each other's plans and strategies. Although it's so obvious, it's beautifully portrayed, I really liked it. I wish the avenger hadn't died in the end and their success had continued. However, while taking revenge, they risk being killed at least a hundred times, and in the end, as a result of their own plan, they also plan their own death. An interesting scenario. That's why I gave it 8.5 points. Cheng Yi's role was also in my rating. Perhaps if someone else had played the role, or if it had been a less important, unknown actor, it wouldn't have received the same attention. At least, I wouldn't have found it so compelling, I wouldn't have given it this rating. So, the actor's performance is also important. Cheng Yi carried the series from beginning to end. He was successful. He could have been even better. Maybe that's just how the role was meant for him. Liu Yi Jun, Wang Jin Song, Zhou Qi, Tong Meng Shi, Ye Zu Xin, Cheng Tai Shen, Sun Zu Jun, Guo Cheng, Wang Zu Yi, Song Jia Lun, Zhang Han Yu, Ni Da Hong were some of the actors I liked. All the actors were very good. These names stuck in my mind. I really enjoyed it. It's a great series for those who like revenge, action, and strategy. I recommend it.

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Those who fight in the shadows

This is an entertaining if flawed revenge story that moves relentlessly throughout its 28 episodes. There is intrigue, action and heartbreak as much of Chang'an is filled with the blood of seemingly countless unnamed soldiers and spies. It all ends almost too abruptly, with some loose ends unexplained, leaving an empty space and a sense of unattained purpose. Of note, this review is based on only the 28 standard episodes, not including the special epilogue episode, which apparently sets things up for a hypothetical second season.

Multiple seasons notwithstanding, any season or story should be that - a full story with beginning, middle and end. And the beginning half of this drama is certainly the main highlight - a classic revenge tale of a young boy's family wiped out by a traitor among his father's army's ranks. The antagonist, Yan Fengshan, is certainly the more interesting of the two main antagonists, and one could argue that the story should have focused on him rather than another. Indeed, when the focus shifts in the latter 1/3, one begins to see how storylines and character arcs are not fully developed. More importantly, other than a general sense that vengeance and murder beget more violence and destroyed lives, not much else is explored adequately. Other revenge stories such as Nirvana in Fire or even this year's Legend of Zang Hai had much more elegantly worked out scripts that allowed for characters and themes to resonate.

Indeed, 28 episodes is not enough to flesh out everything this ambitious script likely set out to do (I recall that NIF was at least twice as long). If there is a second season, hopefully that could be rectified. There's still much to enjoy, including some excellent action sequences and the work of many seasoned actors. Of the "younger" cast, Zhou Qi as Xiao Wenjing and Ye Zuxin as Gu Yu stand out.

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A Must-Watch Revenge Drama of 2025

The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang’an is a tightly written revenge drama that rewards patience and close attention. Its narrative relies on dense plotting, where dialogue and character interactions quietly lay the foundation for later developments. Rather than delivering instant gratification, the series builds tension through careful pacing and strategic restraint.

What sets the drama apart is its treatment of revenge—not as a heroic or romantic pursuit, but as a long-term emotional burden. The story emphasizes endurance, calculation, and emotional cost, gradually guiding its characters toward isolation and internal fracture. This approach gives the narrative a sense of realism and weight that lingers well after each episode.

Cheng Yi’s performance as Xie Huaian is a major highlight. His acting is understated and controlled, relying on subtle expressions and timing rather than overt emotion. As the plot unfolds, the character’s presence grows heavier, adding depth and credibility to the overall story.

From a technical perspective, the production remains consistently strong. The visuals are composed and restrained, while the soundtrack supports emotional peaks without overwhelming the scenes. There are no obvious weak points in execution, resulting in a cohesive and polished viewing experience.

Overall, this is a drama that does not cater to binge-watching or fast-forwarding. However, for viewers willing to engage with its deliberate pacing, The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang’an offers depth, emotional impact, and a lasting impression. Among 2025 revenge dramas, it stands out as a highly recommended watch.

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Anyone who tells you it's a bad drama is lying to you.

In short, it's an exciting, thrilling, and intriguing drama... Every performance by the veteran actors is commendable, and the performances of the new actors are applaudable. And ChengYi's performance is masterful. This drama is well-crafted, from its opening to the smallest details; Xie Huai'an will make you feel every word he says with just that penetrating gaze. ChengYi has outdone himself. ANYONE WHO SAYS IT'S A BAD DRAMA IS NOT VERY INTELLIGENT, Because it's not for the lazy or the foolish, it's for those who appreciate quality in every aspect. It's a drama worth a thousand and will compensate for every minute you invest watching each episode.

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"Liking someone has nothing to do with killing them"

The Vendetta of On was a fairly standard drama featuring a strategic genius bent on revenge after the murders of his loved ones. As always, when doing a familiar story, the execution is key and Vendetta acquitted itself well. Much like Mei Chang Su in Nirvana in Fire, Xie Huai An rocked his fur lined costume and stayed at least one step ahead of the bad guys…most of the time.

Xie Huai An aka Liu Zhi has spent the last 15 years since escaping a massacre at his family residence plotting how to bring down the people responsible. The capital has changed ownership a couple of times and Xie is put to work by the new owner in finding the deposed previous owner as well as bringing down the traitorous and sly general of the Huben Army. Spies and sleeper cells abound, with layers upon layers of deceit and deception. Xie will have to count on his wits and friend circle to attain his goals and survive long enough enact his vengeance.

🟢What I liked:

It promised on revenge with the bodies stacking up early and often.

The tenacious and loyal General Gu. Despite being unable to walk he was still respected by his men. Was happy to see a wheelchair bound character written and portrayed so well.

Ye Zheng. I’m a bodyguard girl and was thrilled for Tong Meng Shi to play the role.

I wasn’t initially crazy about Faux Mo, but he grew on me and I was actually relieved his mask wasn’t removed later on as it helped my brain keep the continuity going.

The writers attempted to provide roles for women, even though most of the female guards were cookie cutter characters. I’m always astonished when these kinds of dramas all but omit women from the cast so I’m counting it as a win. Oddly, the casting director chose women who all looked quite similar despite the wide range of variety for the men.

The sets, wigs (important in these dramas!), acting, and fight choreography were all high quality. The drama also showed the cost of "othering" people.

Cheng Yi did a solid job as the obsessive Xie who had only one purpose in life. Even though Xie was usually ahead of everyone else, he did stumble on occasion without completely face-planting. I also enjoyed Wang Jin Song’s equally obsessive take on Wu Zhong Heng. There were numerous single-minded people in this drama who were in dire need of a trip to a bouncy house park.

❌What didn’t work as well for me:

Xie was an expert in nearly everything despite spending 15 years in the reeds. He left his home penniless, but somehow through the years acquired wealth and an extensive spy network. He was privy to secrets only a fly on a wall would know. He always seemed to have a change of clothes on him as well. Lol Pretty sure he had a Megamind “frequent kidnapping” card that was nearly punched full. He also had James Bond plot armor. Despite falling into his enemies’ hands time and again, no one immediately cut off his head, rather letting him hang around until he either escaped or killed them.


🤔Things that made me go hmmm….

The guards who defended the walls were in desperate need of remedial training. It was painfully funny how easily the enemy could scale the walls without anyone knowing on numerous occasions.

Characters were often gut stabbed with no lingering effects. I don’t care how good their medicine was or how tough they were, peritonitis is deadly.

The most chilling thing said in the whole drama for me was, “Everyone is a shadow guard. That’s the price of protection.” Yep, nothing makes me feel more secure than knowing my neighbors and co-workers are spying on me 24/7, ready to turn on me at a moment’s notice.

Overall, I found The Vendetta of An entertaining. The fights were fast and furious and we were weren’t forced to wait until the last quarter of the drama to witness Xie’s enemies begin to pay for their betrayals. The stakes were high and good guy losses hurt as much as I cheered the heads of the bad guys rolling.

18 January 2026
Trigger Warnings: A snake in episode 22. Decapitations, spurting blood, numerous stabbings, suicide.

~~Very Spoilery thoughts below~~















Does everyone keep a perfectly preserved identical head in their junk drawer?

I didn’t care for the sister’s story. She was ill developed and only served to add to Xie's man pain of which he already had enough. It was literally overkill. Not sure why she’s listed as a main character given her limited amount of screen time.

One of the more interesting duos raised a lot of questions for me. Cen Pickles and Wu were slaves of the lowest order in Tiemo. As slaves they murdered a number of people. Did I miss their story arc? How did they escape punishment in Tiemo and then both become highly educated? Was Tiemo advanced enough to have universal schooling for everyone? Cen ended up working in the Chang'an palace and Wu had been a teacher at the academy where the Chang'an noble children attended. No background checks from the secret police? I could see Wu murdering his way to being king if the Tiemo just wanted the baddest dude to be the leader, but Tiemo nobility were mentioned often which was quite a social leap for a wolf killing slave. I actually found Cen and Wu's relationship intriguing mostly because of the actors' abilities. Wu might have had nefarious plans for the people he intended to conquer, but the actor was fascinating to watch.

I don’t have access to the special episode. My guess is, just like soap opera rules, without a body, Xie aka Liu survived. His death, mirroring Zhou Mo’s in episode 1, kept him from being killed by the Huben Army. Though I don’t see him making daisy chains and hanging out at a pub. I’m not invested enough in the ruling class to care who took over the throne…for now. That throne room had a revolving door on it.

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Detailed Decade Long Planned Revenge with Many Moving Parts.

Chose this because it was a different type of story for CY. He wasn't playing someone with superb martial arts but a strategist instead. Many veteran actors also made it a good story. This will be shorter than usual.

Pros: Basically a story of a decade's long very detailed revenge plan by the ML or XHA with many moving parts. It was a very heavily dense storyline. The premise was simple, XHA was getting revenge on people involved in the brutal murder of his father and clansmen by people who defected from his father's own created army. He had a list of people and underlings he wanted to kill and he managed to do just that save a few. There were many betrayals but also people who he could trust as well as use. Motive was power and the throne of Chang'An. I like how there thankfully no romance in this one. Sometimes it was very much like GoT's Game of Faces as human masks were used. The strategies and contingencies deployed were very complex and difficult to explain. You have to watch this one carefully. For someone so young, XHA chilled even his most fearsome enemies to the bone with one glance as they themselves often pointed out. CY was very good at showing emotions especially when XHA's sister previously in hiding was killed after returning to the city under false pretenses. His grief over her body and earlier over finding his father's headstone was very well done.

Fight scenes, sets, costumes, and OSTs were very much on point with this top tier drama. It is best to watch to the very end before making a decision on any character save the ones around XHA from the beginning and young or supremely loyal and the emperor. There were so many double agents, after a while you didn't know who to trust at all.

Cons: I would have preferred if we didn't have a special episode because the original ending was very much like MLC where it was an OE and that's ok. The only issue is that there a few characters that disappeared and we never saw them again like the chick Huben guard who delivered GY's notes to a general or GY's own aid; last seen she was riding somewhere with some of his military and a few others. Wish these people had proper endings. The first part of the story was in my opinion better than when they brought in King of Tiemo; things just seemed more convoluted in the beginning and after the fact the pace picked up and more betrayals happened and a lot didn't make sense. The last episode was over 50 minutes long. It was like because the series was only 28 episodes long they had to cram to get as much in as possible. The other thing I didn't understand was how XHA could just sit down with his biggest enemies and have tea and discuss strategies of them killing each other essentially or why. It felt contrived; even those that were supposed to be on the same evil side betrayed each other.

The special episode was super ambiguous; other than the allies of XHA doing other things or one leaving to go find someone. The point was to possibly make it seem there would be a season 2, but they left many questions unanswered. The emperor was once again in possession of the token he gave XHA in the beginning and gave it to his younger brother, but if XHA was now locked in a prison somewhere location that king and later the emperor himself was locked in, how did the emperor get the token unbroken and clean? It never showed XHA's face but it was CY's voice. So whether there will be a season 2 or not and whether CY and those that survived will reprise, we don't know.

Would I recommend it? For those of you who like good revenge stories with very smart strategists than this series is for you. Just don't binge it because your head will hurt.

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The best cdrama of 2025

[General thoughts]

Vendetta of An was thoroughly enjoyable, and also a very pleasant surprise to me. It’s a show that defies any preconceived notion about what cdrama has to offer. They somehow managed to jam pack 10 episodes' worth of story into an episode, and yet it never felt rushed, and the story beat is very apt. This series is backed by a stellar cast of actors and a very strong production team.

[Plot/Writing]

The screenwriter deserves far more recognition. The writing is genuinely impressive it relentlessly throws us twist after twist after twist (sometimes several within a single episode). Chekhov’s gun is pushed to the absolute limit, with setups planted so early, consistently and subtly that their payoffs feel both shocking and inevitable. The show clearly respects its audience, trusting viewers to catch small details and form their own judgments without over-explaining.

Easter eggs are woven into the environment across the entire run of the series; an innocuous, fleeting background shot can later take on significant meaning. What truly astonishes me is how the show introduces such a large ensemble cast yet still manages to give each character depth and individuality. Even minor side characters leave a lasting impression.

Every character exists in a morally grey space to varying degrees, and their motivations are understandable (yes even the antagonistS). You can see how they arrived at who they are. Not to mention, even background NPCs play a role in the larger narrative, and tiny character tics are meaningfully incorporated into the plot.

The level of writing here is frankly ridiculous. This is the first cdrama I’ve seen that delivers storytelling on a level that rivals, and in some respects surpasses, its Western counterparts. It’s almost compulsory to rewatch this series just to catch all the minute details carefully seeded throughout the series.

Very special mention: There are so many great quotes came out of this series that still lives rent free in my head. Quotes that can’t even be transposed out of mandarin because it’ll loose its impact. Without spoiling too much, the food and season symbolism that is scattered throughout the show is very fitting for the message that this show is trying to carry.

[Acting]

Chengyi once again proves himself to be a multi-faceted actor. His ability to layer on micro-expressions within seconds continues to astound me. The emotional precision, the restraint, and the control. I don't think I have seen a cdrama actor with this much skill and respect for the craft of acting.

I went into 24G with bated breath, hoping he could once again deliver the acting depth he displayed in Mysterious Lotus Casebook. Plus, this role was also a massive departure from anything he’s played before, which makes it a real test of whether he could carry such a complex character. Chengyi doesn't disappoint.

Once again, Chengyi disappears into the role. Xie Huaian is an exceptionally difficult character to portray; he bears the weight of the world and an all-consuming desire for revenge, yet must retain love, and moral clarity. It’s a fine line. Played poorly, he could easily become a one-note, hatred-ridden caricature. And Chengyi pulled it off brilliantly, I completely understand why the production team specifically requested him to play this role. Acting alongside multiple industry veterans is no small feat. Younger actors often fade into the background, ceding scenes to more seasoned performers. But Chengyi holds his ground, and for some even devours the veterans.

[OSTs / Soundtrack]

The soundtrack for this show is actually really wonderfully curated. A few moments when the OST played during the show's run, and it drops at the right moments which definitely brought me to tears.

[Production Quality]

Each episode felt like cinematically shot. The use of colour and contrast was striking, and the series was beautifully filmed throughout. Their decision to build physical sets and spend months scouting real locations really paid off. Major props to the entire production team.

[Further comments after rewatching]
24G felt like 3 seasons packed into 28 episodes
Season 1: 1-12
Season 2: 13-20
Season 3: 21-28

During the rewatch, I was trying to test if there was any plot holes, and surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) there was none. This show is very well done.

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WHAT YOUR LIFE PURPOSE IS?

That is the question from someone whom ML thought was his teacher. Born with white hair, in literal meaning ‘white hair’ with the meaning of life full of hardship (that's what the grand chancellor said), he embraced all of that. Most of his life is spent making a stratagem for his revenge until he can’t live for himself, and in the end, he can achieve it.

The Vendetta of An is a drama series that tells us a story of achievement in life, be it revenge, power, politics or a fulfilment of life. This is a good series for people who like to watch a revenge stories, political mind game and bloody thriller themes, but for some people who doesn’t like just avoid it, and for some people in the middle, just try to watch it, it will make you curious as to what way Huai An will take so that he, his people safe and his enemies get what they deserve, very intrigue!

ML/Huai An achieve his revenge, both brothers of Xiao family want to protect their countries, the king of tribe want a place to return that have plenty resource so his people didn’t starve and die because of harsh environment until he can’t go back to where he is come from, although he also want to conquer the world, this achievement can’t be achieved because he offend the wrong person (An with his bloody hatred), and last, Ye Zheng Brother and sister, they survived and fulfill their promise to An.

Although I do not understand the 24 stratagems he uses, if you can focus, you will catch that, and when you release, you will understand how clever and cunning Huan An is. The story begins with foreign tribes who disguise themself and enter Chang’An 20-30 years ago with their cleverness until the emperor/general/chancellor, or high official government of the country, didn’t realise it, as some of the foreign can befriend them with perfect masks. Then the foreign made internal strife in the country so that the Vengeful of An was born. Despite the hatred Xian’an had, he didn’t lose his morals as the world wronged him, like in other stories.

Story, Acting, Cast, CGI, and OST are great. Overall, for me 9,5, some parts are left unanswered, and high score partly the story itself and the acting is good (I always get distracted by Chengyi's hands and how babyfaced he is even though he is almost 36 years old).

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A GAME OF CHESS

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗
✅ Production quality
✅ Directing
✅ Acting
✅ Plot
✅ Dark/Serious atmosphere - No comedic elements
✅ The emperor: Finally an emperor that is actually capable and not a puppet like usual or just there for decor
✅ Suspenseful, super entertaining and also quite ''poetic'' from beginning to end
✅ It was the perfect amount of episodes
✅ The strategies of the characters A+
✅ Great ending

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥
❎ There are some typical ''supernatural'' Chinese medicine things, but honestly wasn't that bothered
❎ Fight scenes were generally good, but sometimes when way too many people were fighting one person, we had the usual "You could have killed him while his back was turned" problem.
❌ I will pretend that last scene in the special didn't exist
❌ Plot armor of the ML that could be avoided in one simple move
❌ Some slight editing problems


𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘/𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝗜 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗:

👏 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒
There is no sugar-coating and characters being saved just because they have an important role in the series. A mistake can kill anyone no matter who they are.

👏 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘
In most series you know from the get go which characters will play an important part, which ones will die, which ones will stay alive till the end. Here 😂😂😂
You see someone that feels like a main character? Dies next second. That was the magic of this series. Nowadays, everything feels way too predictable. But here, you couldn't tell who will be next.

👏 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃-𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
There are no kind-hearted characters and no pure villains here. All of the characters are calculative, cold blooded and smart and they have their own stories to tell. They are important in their own ways and all are equally vulnerable and also powerful.

👏 𝐀 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒
Huaian may be the ML, but he doesn't feel omnipotent, cause everyone around him, the people he is trying to kill, are equally smart and dangerous, something that I rarely see in dramas.
Most of the times in works like this, we have the super important main character, a couple of villains that many times are not even that powerful and everyone else is just there to play a minor part in the main character's plan.
Here most of the characters are important in their own ways. I am not sure how to explain this, but all characters feel like mains even if they barely have any screentime. They are all part of a chessboard, where any move can be fatal and no win is gained without sacrifice.

👏 𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄
Huaian is a ruthless character that is not scared to stain his hands with blood to achieve his goals and that is one of the main reasons why this series stands out for me. He doesn't hesitate. He knows how to take advantage of people and control them. I like that he is not portrayed as a hero, but as someone who lost way too much and is about to make others go through the same pain and even worse.

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