This is frustrating!!! I thought I moved on from MLC (and LLH) two years ago. After watching TVOA, I rewatched MLC again to pull myself out of XHA and now I am pulled back into LLH again. Help!!! LOL I think I still have some side effect from TVOA so everytime I see anyone that betrayed or hurt LLH, I wished them a horrible death (on a XHA-level type of revenge)
I also think that it would be nice if he takes break from sacrifice and suffering scripts, I want to see something…
I don't mind sad storyline or sad character as long as the plot and the character development is good for Cheng Yi. Honestly, I watch a lot of drama and I tend to avoid any sad story or sad ending story. No matter how good the plot is, I will not watch it. But my only exception is Cheng Yi because anything he filmed, I know he will give an excellent portrayal of the character even if it is sad.
I can understand some fans getting tired of his sad ending - after watching TVOA, I want more of Cheng Yi but in a happier or lighter characters, yet, I realized my choice are very limited lol So I end up watching some of his adorable real-life clips...
The play of karma in some of the characters were quite fascinating...
I saw posting and analysis of how each of the death implemented by XHA reflects their past doing...so it got me thinking about everyone's death...
1) TieMo King - he died from the 'chemistry' class he gave to XHA (his spy identity to invade/penetrate the country) 2) Yan Feng Shan - his character became twisted in mind when he was trapped in the warehouse many years ago in the South. He died in a trapped warehouse, fighting the man that imprisoned him there 3) Xie Huai An - he never got over his family death with his father closing the door on him, blocking him outside. In his final act of revenge, he trapped himself inside the door to fight the finally person who caused his family's death. 4) Zhu Zhi Long - The death of his two children drove him to live and dedicated his life to support the invasion of other country, his two adopted children caused him to give up his cause and commit suicide 5) Su Chang Lin - He survived and accomplished things by deceiving and lying, at the end, he fell into XHA's trap and deceit 6) Wang Pu - He died to hurt YFS, just as Bai Wan died to hurt XHA 7) Liu Zi Yan - Died while injured in a carriage by being stabbed by his family member, same way he killed his brother that night
At the end of ep 26 when XHA appeared in his white hair, I was truly expecting him to die. He just looked so tired…
I am curious where can we see a summary of all the steps that he took? I really want someone to summary so that I can understand better lol
As for the special, it was not even clear whether he was trapped or willingly hide from his friends...it was very short and a lot of unanswered question but you are right that it will not make sense at all for XHA to be hiding from them... Make sense for MLC...
At the end of ep 26 when XHA appeared in his white hair, I was truly expecting him to die. He just looked so tired…
I did... but to me, it is more of a cliffhanger for Season 2 (its like a set up for next season instead of a conclusion to S1) - I can still hold onto the hope that he is still alive somewhere but I am having a hard time accepting my poor XHA is trapped and forced to make a deal with this untrustworthy Cai...and still suffering. He needs a break and some peace and quiet.
Hey, I just think a prequel may be a better idea than season 2 because I fascinated by how the deceased emperor became the starting emperor, XHA's father formed the Huben, and how the two spies became important officials... Just a random thought...
It very much looks like they are setting up for Season 2. However, most likely Xie Huai An won't be the MC anymore…
If they really have season 2, I also highly doubt CY will continue unless the plot/script is really really good and they can invite a lot of experienced actors/actresses because I know he likes to learn from seasoned veterans. Otherwise, I rather they leave this drama as a standalone as I will unlikely anticipate another season because Season 1 already wrapped up XHA's revenge story, not sure the TieMo's arc is interesting enough for another season...
Before I read everyone's comment……I just want to say that it is a rollercoaster for me today... This morning…
At the end of ep 26 when XHA appeared in his white hair, I was truly expecting him to die. He just looked so tired in that scene that I felt he won't survive this and he is not willing to live beyond this day.
Then when he was meeting with XWJ and said they will meet again, I trusted him (I should not have) that he will survive.
When he got stabbed, I already know it was a plan because from some of the subtle question he asked about Cai, I know he doesn't fully trust him so I know he will not die with the stab but omg! That scene was executed out so nicely and very creepy. On one end is Cheng Yi beautifully dying and then there are two old men savaging eating meats across from him watching him die. Very disturbing in so many levels. (On a side note, Cheng Yi in pure white, with white hair, is so beautiful that it is distracting me the plot. His acting is so good here but I can't help but fangirl at his beauty lol)
And when he closed that door with the TieMo king I know he is going to die with him.
How do I feel about the ending? Was I surprise and shock by it, not really. I think at the beginning of this drama, there were more shock and surprise that was nicely executed that by the ending, I wasn't shocked by anything anymore. Was it a bad ending, not really because things were wrapped up nicely. Was I hoping for more? Yes, I wish for some closure, but I don't feel it. I wish they spend a little bit more time with closure instead I feel a little unsatisfied. I don't like the special episode at all and consider it as a preview to Season 2 in which I don't think this drama needs another season.
To me, this drama started and revolved around XHA's revenge story, and it manifest into something much greater with great side characters deepening and moving the plot ago. By the end of this drama, XHA completed his revenge, and I felt his life ended at the end of this drama. The scene of him wandering on the street and him sitting in a chair in his sister home. To me, it symbolized that his revenge is done and he can finally rest in peace in a world that is in peace. It is soooo sad but that is what make the most sense to me. Maybe my interpretation is wrong, but I wish XHA is in peace whether dead or alive.
Overall, this is a very good drama, it may not be 100% without flaws but I strongly want to support this drama because of its original script (very rare nowadays), great casts, and quality production.
Before I read everyone's comment……I just want to say that it is a rollercoaster for me today... This morning I watched the first two of the last four episodes and then after preparing myself, I just finished the remaining two... Overall, this is one of the best drama I watched this year and actually for quite some time - I managed to follow it schedule live with anticipation and dread while being truly invested in it, whether with time or emotion. Now for the ending...
A very interesting detail I discovered from someone's posting on weibo...
Before Xiao Wu Yang started fighting, Xia Huai An stabbed one of the spy and then all the spies came at him with weapon drawl... this is to allow XWY to fight against all of them and let the civilians run away.
At first, I thought he found one of the knife that XWY hidden earlier but apparently, the weapon was a wooden stick. XHA not only used the umbrella to hide a message to XWY to warn him, he also broken a piece of the wood from the red umbrella to use as a weapon... gosh, he is soooo smart.
I have such conflicted feeling about this character...true to say, he is a complicated character...on one side I understand how he is 'forced' (using this term lightly) for the city but I can't forgive him in stabbing his own brother like that. It's like a constant grey area with his character (he gave XHA the snake but then give him the medicine, he killed Zhang Mo and then regret it, and now he literally hand his brother to the bad guy and feel trapped) I was expecting more from his character but all I got so far is that he take actions and then regret it but what is the use of that.
The first time I actually fast forward in this drama is when he is apologizing to Zhang Mo's dad, it is like he is asking for forgiveness, asking for someone to understand his action and even justifying his betrayal but the old man was right, they are just normal citizen, they don't understand the 'greater' good, and it can't be justified. Ultimately, I think this character is just too weak. I have a strong feeling his character will be justified at the end some how but to me, I can't warm up to this type of character. And Tiemo King is right, this type of character will live the longest because they can easily adopt whatever environment they are in...
On the other hand, Xiao Wu Yang is absolutely awesome!!! The most powerful and intelligent king I have ever seen so far in any drama that is not the main lead!!!
I can understand some fans getting tired of his sad ending - after watching TVOA, I want more of Cheng Yi but in a happier or lighter characters, yet, I realized my choice are very limited lol So I end up watching some of his adorable real-life clips...
1) TieMo King - he died from the 'chemistry' class he gave to XHA (his spy identity to invade/penetrate the country)
2) Yan Feng Shan - his character became twisted in mind when he was trapped in the warehouse many years ago in the South. He died in a trapped warehouse, fighting the man that imprisoned him there
3) Xie Huai An - he never got over his family death with his father closing the door on him, blocking him outside. In his final act of revenge, he trapped himself inside the door to fight the finally person who caused his family's death.
4) Zhu Zhi Long - The death of his two children drove him to live and dedicated his life to support the invasion of other country, his two adopted children caused him to give up his cause and commit suicide
5) Su Chang Lin - He survived and accomplished things by deceiving and lying, at the end, he fell into XHA's trap and deceit
6) Wang Pu - He died to hurt YFS, just as Bai Wan died to hurt XHA
7) Liu Zi Yan - Died while injured in a carriage by being stabbed by his family member, same way he killed his brother that night
As for the special, it was not even clear whether he was trapped or willingly hide from his friends...it was very short and a lot of unanswered question but you are right that it will not make sense at all for XHA to be hiding from them... Make sense for MLC...
Then when he was meeting with XWJ and said they will meet again, I trusted him (I should not have) that he will survive.
When he got stabbed, I already know it was a plan because from some of the subtle question he asked about Cai, I know he doesn't fully trust him so I know he will not die with the stab but omg! That scene was executed out so nicely and very creepy. On one end is Cheng Yi beautifully dying and then there are two old men savaging eating meats across from him watching him die. Very disturbing in so many levels. (On a side note, Cheng Yi in pure white, with white hair, is so beautiful that it is distracting me the plot. His acting is so good here but I can't help but fangirl at his beauty lol)
And when he closed that door with the TieMo king I know he is going to die with him.
How do I feel about the ending? Was I surprise and shock by it, not really. I think at the beginning of this drama, there were more shock and surprise that was nicely executed that by the ending, I wasn't shocked by anything anymore. Was it a bad ending, not really because things were wrapped up nicely. Was I hoping for more? Yes, I wish for some closure, but I don't feel it. I wish they spend a little bit more time with closure instead I feel a little unsatisfied. I don't like the special episode at all and consider it as a preview to Season 2 in which I don't think this drama needs another season.
To me, this drama started and revolved around XHA's revenge story, and it manifest into something much greater with great side characters deepening and moving the plot ago. By the end of this drama, XHA completed his revenge, and I felt his life ended at the end of this drama. The scene of him wandering on the street and him sitting in a chair in his sister home. To me, it symbolized that his revenge is done and he can finally rest in peace in a world that is in peace. It is soooo sad but that is what make the most sense to me. Maybe my interpretation is wrong, but I wish XHA is in peace whether dead or alive.
Overall, this is a very good drama, it may not be 100% without flaws but I strongly want to support this drama because of its original script (very rare nowadays), great casts, and quality production.
At first, I thought he found one of the knife that XWY hidden earlier but apparently, the weapon was a wooden stick. XHA not only used the umbrella to hide a message to XWY to warn him, he also broken a piece of the wood from the red umbrella to use as a weapon... gosh, he is soooo smart.
Truly amazing with the detail of this drama!!!
The first time I actually fast forward in this drama is when he is apologizing to Zhang Mo's dad, it is like he is asking for forgiveness, asking for someone to understand his action and even justifying his betrayal but the old man was right, they are just normal citizen, they don't understand the 'greater' good, and it can't be justified. Ultimately, I think this character is just too weak. I have a strong feeling his character will be justified at the end some how but to me, I can't warm up to this type of character. And Tiemo King is right, this type of character will live the longest because they can easily adopt whatever environment they are in...
On the other hand, Xiao Wu Yang is absolutely awesome!!! The most powerful and intelligent king I have ever seen so far in any drama that is not the main lead!!!