Kateoz

Oh please, drop the name calling. Just because we have different views about the merits (or lack thereof) of the book, isn't cause to justify nastiness. And finding people's comments on this site is quite hard, I missed yours, get over it!

I'm not going to hunt through to find the relevant chapters, but my recollection is that in the novel he misjudges how long it will take to check everyone before entering the examination hall, so ends up having to let them in without checking properly, finds one of his proteges (or was it someone else) had cheated and put stuff on his clothes, but lets them continue anyway. Pretty sure there was more, but I was skimming and it was a little while back I read!

I thought the series version of the examination, where FX picked the brain of the former minister (not in the novel at all as far as I can recall) was brilliantly done, and the whole recreation reflected a lot of the historical evidence (rather than the novel).

I think this is a bit harsh. When it comes to out and out psychopaths/sociopaths, Princess Royal clearly fits the bill. When it comes to narcissists, CP and Second Prince are doing a good job of competing for top billing.

But I don't really see it in the screen presentation of the Emperor so much. He is certainly absolutely determined to maintain his position, control everything, and thus realise his assorted ambitions for Qing.

It is not paranoia though when they really are out to get you - historically Crown Princes (and others competing for the throne) really were a major threat, so cutting off anyone who panders unduly to them (like that magistrate in s1) actually does make sense (even if killing them off altogether seems on the face of it unnecessary).

And I'm not sure I really see the narcissism - very evident in Crown Prince in particular, but Emperor has at times genuinely seemed to worry about FX (the most obvious was in season 1 after he removed the black knights he retreated to Taiping Villa and sat in a depressed funk, refusing to work?). There is another nice conversation in ep 25 which I think helps show he actually really does have some fatherly feeling for both first prince and FX - just prioritises his own safety and his plans for the empire above everyone else, and utterly ruthless in achieving those ambitions, and CP and Second P are basically victims of that.

Series may not necessarily follow the book on this. But even assuming it does, one can regret one's actions afterwards....

Pretty sure this is exactly the same as in the novel - the letter from the north came out of the blue with no previous meeting between Ruruo and Ku He

It wasn't Uncle Wu who kidnapped her...

Agreed - but I need it to end so I can think about something else - its so utterly engrossing I can't help but rewatch and rewatch...

Good to have your perspective but I beg to disagree! I'm not all invested in the novel - I read it only because I wanted to know what happened next after season 1, and found it mostly very hardgoing because the novel's version of FX (and many of the other characters) is not particularly likeable, and his behaviour in many cases was pretty off!

Moreover I actually find the character development of FX this season pretty believable - even if you have already lived to adulthood, if you are born again, got to expect some personality changes and learning afresh. More importantly, in most of season 1, he wasn't really sure whether the world in was some virtual reality or timetravel or a dream, it was only once he read his mother's letter and talked to Xiao En that he really understood to some degree where he was, and started making active choices about his destiny. None of that development really happened in the novel, and the series is better for it in my view.

Moreover, in North Qi he was able to be the chessmaster, but now finds himself back home with assorted adults trying to solve everything for him or manipulate and use him as pawn, so despite his much greater self-assurance, the tensions in the season largely flow from that. I think as things go along we'll see mor of him playing the game with Emperor directly (as Chancellor suggested), but not quite at that point.

And personally I prefer a bit of realism about Fan Xian's abilities to the genius manipulator (aka Mary Sue), and its more consistent with season 1, where FX seemed largely oblivious for most of the season of the improbability of an illegitimate son being escorted to the capital by Imperial Guards, driven to the temple by the Emperor's personal eunuch (never seemed to realise he'd been manipulated into meeting Wan'er) rescued by the Emperor at regular intervals, lunching with the Emperor and two main princes, and so forth.

And not just the dialogues - you really have to watch their faces for the micro-expression reactions that clue you into what they really think. Brilliant stuff

Eunuch Hou recruited He Zong Wei (who in s1 was sucking up to CP via Guo Bai Kun), and conversation in ep 21 seems to suggest that CPP is in on this, as they discuss appropriate timing for things to unfold, and this is duly followed (though neither Emperor or CPP despite false jollity appear very happy with each other - and I'm guessing that the motif of spy chiefs who can't seem to land a target in pitchpot is a bit of foreshadowing).

Given that Mr Yuan is involved in bringing the plaintiff to town then heads off for Princess Royal, either it is her plot and she is still being manipulated by Emperor, or there is another layer of complexity in all this!

I think the key scene to rewatch is actually CPP's explanation to events to Fan Xian.

Not sure whether it necessarily signals more serious, so much as that need to dissemble reduced??? It was always a bit of a give away that it was part of his act that in season 1 at Taiping Villa when he was relaxing and with CPP and FJ he was always dressed nicely and hair neat, whereas in his office interacting with ministers (esp Chancellor Lin???) etc slopes around in equivalent of nightclothes and blankie looking disheveled...

I just meant that in the novel he was depicted as a strong (not to say fanatical) supporter of FX (hence him naming him). I agree the novel doesn't have much humour - one of the many ways in which the series is superior to the book in my opinion.

Yes I have to admit that someone's comment here made me realise that one! There are quite a few cases where things connect up though, as new clues are added (Emperor's martial abilities for example), or we revisit a previously introduced character (such as 3P's Mum) and some of them I've only caught on my second or third rewatch - once the series is over, I might even be obsessed enough to fill some of the time waiting for season 3 by compiling a detailed index of links by episode!

Agree - but can't help feeling the real reason he is being forced out is not about the power it potentially gives FX, and his overreaching in game with Emperor, but also that it is clear from s1 and continued comments he has a completely different agenda for FX's future career than his other three fathers (remember how he kept on talking about transferring him, and comments this time around about brilliant career. And this is part of the reason FX has been reluctant to accept his help in my view...

Hmm I laughed happily at this scene, rather leavened a rather depressing set of events, and not entirely inconsistent with what the book says about the character as far as I can recall! Completely consistent with the mix of serious and absurd that the series has done throughout.

They are literally in every episode, and often multiple - ranges from things like the Tu Du poem (with which he won the poetry competition in s1 ad whose meaning will prove particularly apposite I think) being recited by the musician at CPP's house and stone tablet outside Overwatch Bureau; parallel events such as lunch Emperor's lunch with son; to Prime Minister's reaction when FX casually mentions having access to a level 9 martial artist (remember ep 1 testing of him to see if he has access to one and so could have killed his son).

Yep - also amazing that FX himself doesn't realise. Arrived in town with an escort of imperial guards after all, and it all goes on from there...

The special edition gives you the essentials of the plot, but I think it is really meant as a refresher for those who have already watched it once more than for new starters. I'd really advise watching the full thing - the short version cuts out a lot of character scenes, humour and more that are very enjoyable to watch. Unlike many series, there are pretty much no filler moments in this series, every bit of it is important.

I don't actually think Season 1 ever actually said that - the Dowager has some of her things, but that doesn't necessarily mean she was the one who killed her.

Agreed, there are still some scenes that I have theories about, or come back to and see something more, but not really sure I understood (most notably the first of those imperial 'family' lunches - was the Emperor trying to tell his recognised sons this is your brother, either stop trying to take him out or else...???!).

But the main issue is, the two series are written to work just like a novel - and no one starts a third into a novel and expects to understand it.