This review may contain spoilers
Fate or Free Will : A Well Orchestered Game of Chess
(I dont rate a drama till I have completed it. Vendetta of An is an exception for it being so Excellent. after watching Kill My Sins earlier this year I didn't expect an intellectual plot for a long time, but VOA surpassed all expectations.
Is it Choice/FreeWill or Destiny/Fate?
VOA is story of HXA out for revenge against YFS who annhilated his family. Both having loyal aides and spies on their side and thus begins their game of chess with different characters as pawns playing their roles to the best and leaving the board either sacrified or martyred for their belief of what is right.
Every death on the righteous side, like HXA burying and burning the huben army person, is answered equally by the villain side , like WP killing the soldier in same way..there are many such parallels throughout..as if Fate is keeping scores..yet all characters be it YZL, Aunt Xin and her son, WP, BW all seem to also be choosing to work for HXA or YFS..and all their choices directly or indirectly aiding/thwarting the whole "game"...
so how much is fate? how much is Free will?
And once HXA "kills" YFS and it looks like the game is done and board can be cleared, it is revelaed that the feud between XHA's family and YFS was actually part of broader plot by Teimo king to annex Chang'an without as less fight as possible.
now starts an even deeper game where past allies are revelaed as foes and one hero after another falls.
How XHA turns the tide in Chang'an's favour is another added intelligent treat for the viewers.
one of the c-dramas where death of character has been dealt with the right human emotions, both the killer is conflicted for taking lives and the dead person be it good/villian side is mourned as they had a space in someone life.
I know this is work of fiction but the scriptwriter has done a great job of making it as realistic to real life as possible with the synchroniciies, premonitions, defeats, betrayal, loyalty, wins, escapes, deaths..there is no right/wrong as of now..everyone doing what they think is right or supporting someone because of their life circumstances
all actors have played their role remarkably. Cheng Yi as always slays this role. his subtle microexpressions, minor change in posture from happiness around his people, to chill calm while killing to deranged when threatening his enemies..all done brilliantly without raising his voice or overacting and adding depth to his character. and every character small or big (as per screen time) give their best and leave a lasting imapct.
What ultimately left the deepest impression on me was realizing the work of shadow guards...here, XHA’s father’s work continued to protect XHA and Chang’an’s common people long after his death. The sacrifices of the shadow guards—and of the families they leave behind—are never written into history, celebrated, or even acknowledged, yet they form the invisible foundation on which the common people of Chang’an (or any country) stands. Generations live and die in silence so that peace can appear effortless to those who benefit from it.
This drama became a Story of unsung heroes who protect our nations from forces within and utside working to destabilize peace and harmony.
BE IT FATE or FREE WILL - both come at a COST, so immense that it is unfathomable for the common man.
Is it Choice/FreeWill or Destiny/Fate?
VOA is story of HXA out for revenge against YFS who annhilated his family. Both having loyal aides and spies on their side and thus begins their game of chess with different characters as pawns playing their roles to the best and leaving the board either sacrified or martyred for their belief of what is right.
Every death on the righteous side, like HXA burying and burning the huben army person, is answered equally by the villain side , like WP killing the soldier in same way..there are many such parallels throughout..as if Fate is keeping scores..yet all characters be it YZL, Aunt Xin and her son, WP, BW all seem to also be choosing to work for HXA or YFS..and all their choices directly or indirectly aiding/thwarting the whole "game"...
so how much is fate? how much is Free will?
And once HXA "kills" YFS and it looks like the game is done and board can be cleared, it is revelaed that the feud between XHA's family and YFS was actually part of broader plot by Teimo king to annex Chang'an without as less fight as possible.
now starts an even deeper game where past allies are revelaed as foes and one hero after another falls.
How XHA turns the tide in Chang'an's favour is another added intelligent treat for the viewers.
one of the c-dramas where death of character has been dealt with the right human emotions, both the killer is conflicted for taking lives and the dead person be it good/villian side is mourned as they had a space in someone life.
I know this is work of fiction but the scriptwriter has done a great job of making it as realistic to real life as possible with the synchroniciies, premonitions, defeats, betrayal, loyalty, wins, escapes, deaths..there is no right/wrong as of now..everyone doing what they think is right or supporting someone because of their life circumstances
all actors have played their role remarkably. Cheng Yi as always slays this role. his subtle microexpressions, minor change in posture from happiness around his people, to chill calm while killing to deranged when threatening his enemies..all done brilliantly without raising his voice or overacting and adding depth to his character. and every character small or big (as per screen time) give their best and leave a lasting imapct.
What ultimately left the deepest impression on me was realizing the work of shadow guards...here, XHA’s father’s work continued to protect XHA and Chang’an’s common people long after his death. The sacrifices of the shadow guards—and of the families they leave behind—are never written into history, celebrated, or even acknowledged, yet they form the invisible foundation on which the common people of Chang’an (or any country) stands. Generations live and die in silence so that peace can appear effortless to those who benefit from it.
This drama became a Story of unsung heroes who protect our nations from forces within and utside working to destabilize peace and harmony.
BE IT FATE or FREE WILL - both come at a COST, so immense that it is unfathomable for the common man.
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