An interesting take on the brothers. Zi Ang and Shu He have so many parallels and symmetry in their lives. Having…
What a great reflection on the characters. I have to say, your take on Shu Qian changed my view of his and Shu He's relationship quite a lot! I always thought that during the flashback to Shu He's and Shu Qian's younger days, that he was still genuinely nice and cared about his brother, hence why he wanted to gift him a new zither. Now, I'm thinking what if even back then this was already (to some extent) conditioning him? Because narcissists crave attention and control? River, what are you doing to me, lol!
Also -- please go on with your imagination about Huai Yi!
In the end, idk, but both Huai Yi and Shu Qian did their respective brothers dirty.
ShuQian was a psychopathic narcissist character. He rejoiced in making people suffer and fear him. In my books,…
Omg, I love that phrase! So powerful and so true.
I agree that Shu Qian seems like a narcissist, and it's highly likely that this was influenced by his father. While we were not shown how their father treated them in childhood, I can certainly imagine how the emperor would create a competitive environment, reward achievements and not care for the emotional needs of his sons (esp. his eldest, since a lot of expectations were placed on his shoulders from the day he was born). A father who favors the younger brother, since he's smarter and better at calligraphy, music, whatnot.
I'm not sure Shu Qian is fully devoid of all empathy though, since he did go and look for the zither string... and he did write down the recipe for the antidote. But there seems to be a steady decline in his mental health over the course of the series. I mean how he wanted the maids to hold the apples without flinching -- that's some crazy display of cruelty.
But when I think about what you wrote "when a narcissist looses a toy he may want it back" -- ouch! Poor Huo Ying. But for some reason, especially because the series is set in ancient China, I can somehow understand Huo Ying's absolute devotion to Shu Qian...
The Brothers - unsettling emotions:An earlier @Yerisina post prompt me to write this post that I have been thinking…
What a great analysis of the brotherly relationships in K2L! I will add this to the discussions on Deep Dives! <3 Both brothers are an integral part of the story, and ultimately, both Shu Qian and Huai Yi betrayed their brothers in their own way.
While the show was airing, I was instantly reminded of the Asian belief of a red string of fate that connects people destined to be soulmates (many have surely heard of this belief before). While I never saw it to be incestuous, it certainly is an interesting "layer".
Yes, Zi Ang filled the void that Shu Qian left in Shu He's life. "My own brother treats me so cruelly, but Zi Ang, a childhood friend, understands me so well." But imo Shu He would have preferred to have both Zi Ang and Shu Qian in his life. ("I wanted too much...")
It also shows once again that someone who knows the other person intimately can be particularly cruel. Shu Qian knows Shu He so well that he knows exactly how to hurt him the most (crippling his hand and what he said on the bridge about Zi Ang).
Oh, Huai Yi... I think that Zi Ang was genuinely looking for Huai Yi, because General Wang mentioned Huai Yi in episode one - no relation to Shu He at all. Just to keep Zi Ang loyal to the mission and Ji North, by extent. It is quite possible that the Huai Yi we meet is not the real adoptive brother Zi Ang was looking for. The series gives us no confirmation either for or against this. It leaves the interpretation open to the viewer, but there are a few “breadcrumbs” scattered throughout the story that portray Huai Yi as shady. That's why I compiled my "court case" against him.
Pure perfection condensed into one beautiful scene… 🥰I lost count how many times I watched this 🤭😅
Simply put, Shu Qian is an a**hole. To me, he was always like a mini Joffrey (GoT).
But I think it has to do with Shu He interfering in politics. Because until now, that was the only thing Shu Qian was better at (or got his father's undivided attention for).
Shu Qian is not good at calligraphy, zither, Go, or painting (the four arts of the Chinese scholar). At the engagement banquet, Shu Qian embarrassed himself even more with his behavior. All of this is the last straw.
So he wants to take away what Shu He is good at — because Shu He took away something he was good at. So it's kind of an eye for an eye... or a hand for a position in court.
Nice to meet you, Boho! We love discussing episodes here, so we're glad to have you onboarding this ship hahahaha…
As always, great analysis, Jasprin. <3 Shu Qian would be an awful husband.
I would like to add that Shu He's father said Princess Wen Jing had admired Shu He for a long time. Who knows whether that's true or not, but it seems North Ji specifically wanted Shu He. Some reasons might be mentioned in later episodes. 😉
Shu He's father agreed to this, and did not suggest Shu Qian, probably on the one hand for the reasons Jasprin mentioned and on the other to enable the alliance by going along with North Ji's proposal.
Lmaooo .. Ep. 5 is peak comedy. Shu He's sudden marriage announcement, Duan ZiAng breaking down, Shen Song and…
The way Zi Ang appeared to the banquet - I just thought "Yes, claim your man!!" With the music and everything, just epic. 🤣
Yes, Shen Song is a brainiac, and his and Shu He's friendship is so precious. Plus Shen Song ships Zi Ang and Shu He hard (he just knows his best friend in and out).
Thank you for this great review. Seems like it took some time to write— or at least it took me some time to read 😅 Thanks for listing the good and the bad alike. Even though I’m completely enamored with the drama, I agree with every critique you voiced.
Jinjin said the other day, that he thinks Shu He was deceiving himself with the revenge argument... (as I thought…
The more I think about it, redemption and somewhat synonymous words —salvation, atonement, and deliverance — are the right words for me.
They all share the core idea of being freed, restored, or made whole after some form of loss, harm, or wrongdoing and a transition from a negative state to a better, freer, reconciled one.
That confused me too because it's right after ziang getting shot 😂 but it was Huo suffering from the poison…
Like you and Prism, I was confused too, and many other viewers (if you read the comments while first two ep were airing). It's not the best editing, and you mix the 2 characters because of timing, black clothes and bc you cant't see DZA's face. If you look closely: The assassin is DZA (ponytail and mask). Huo Ying collapsing - hair up and no mask (he never wears a mask).
He’s actually one of the screenwriters. He was originally supposed to play North Ji’s Crown Prince. But the actor for the doctor was unavailable and so he took the role.
I don't know the official narrative, maybe @Yerisna knows, but that attire represent his Royal lineage and because…
I think we can assume that the other brothers (2-5) died in childhood due to high infant mortality, because this is what really happened to emperor Li Yu's brothers (who Xiao Shu He is based on).
Does that Mountain Brocade (dress) gifted to Shuhe by his father mean something ?? Why was everyone shocked when…
It seems to be a really special gift, expensive fabric and dye, and exquisitely decorated. Perhaps comparable to how purple was reserved for kings and clergy in Europe because the dye was so costly to produce.
It's a sign of the blatant favoritism their father has for Shu He over his first born son.
Also is Shuhe whimsical or what lol ? why would he go to such lengths as to fight with his brother just to find…
Shu He is very intelligent , but one of his flaws is he's an idealist at heart. He still trusts that the bond to Shu Qian is stronger than his ambition for power, and that he wouldn't go so far as to hurt him.
Shu He and Zi Ang bond over their ties to their brothers. Shu He wants to enable Zi Ang to have the brotherhood bond with Huai Yi that he would like to have with his own brother.
Why he would go so far as to risk the dream he's always dreamt? a) I agree with MarazulOx - once feelings enter the game, once you enter into Shu He's "family" or "most important people", he throws caution in the wind. Whether Shu Qian or Zi Ang, Shu He should have known better - and I think he knew, he wished it wasn't true.
b) He was greedy - he wanted it all, freedom and helping Zi Ang out of love, and because of trusting worse wouldn't come to worse, he decided to go ahead.
c) as MarazulOx mentioned, his mother is another factor. However in my opinion, he is primarily doing this to assist Zi Ang, and the fact that he is required to be present at court for this purpose also brings up the topic of his mother and her death in disgrace. If he is already involved in politics, then he might as well avenge his mother. But so far, he has made no move to avenge his mother, so once again it is just one piece of the puzzle in the complex motivations that drive Shu He.
I always thought that during the flashback to Shu He's and Shu Qian's younger days, that he was still genuinely nice and cared about his brother, hence why he wanted to gift him a new zither. Now, I'm thinking what if even back then this was already (to some extent) conditioning him? Because narcissists crave attention and control? River, what are you doing to me, lol!
Also -- please go on with your imagination about Huai Yi!
In the end, idk, but both Huai Yi and Shu Qian did their respective brothers dirty.
We're here in the comments, looking forward to anything you want to say.
I agree that Shu Qian seems like a narcissist, and it's highly likely that this was influenced by his father. While we were not shown how their father treated them in childhood, I can certainly imagine how the emperor would create a competitive environment, reward achievements and not care for the emotional needs of his sons (esp. his eldest, since a lot of expectations were placed on his shoulders from the day he was born). A father who favors the younger brother, since he's smarter and better at calligraphy, music, whatnot.
I'm not sure Shu Qian is fully devoid of all empathy though, since he did go and look for the zither string... and he did write down the recipe for the antidote. But there seems to be a steady decline in his mental health over the course of the series. I mean how he wanted the maids to hold the apples without flinching -- that's some crazy display of cruelty.
But when I think about what you wrote "when a narcissist looses a toy he may want it back" -- ouch!
Poor Huo Ying. But for some reason, especially because the series is set in ancient China, I can somehow understand Huo Ying's absolute devotion to Shu Qian...
Both brothers are an integral part of the story, and ultimately, both Shu Qian and Huai Yi betrayed their brothers in their own way.
While the show was airing, I was instantly reminded of the Asian belief of a red string of fate that connects people destined to be soulmates (many have surely heard of this belief before). While I never saw it to be incestuous, it certainly is an interesting "layer".
Yes, Zi Ang filled the void that Shu Qian left in Shu He's life.
"My own brother treats me so cruelly, but Zi Ang, a childhood friend, understands me so well."
But imo Shu He would have preferred to have both Zi Ang and Shu Qian in his life. ("I wanted too much...")
It also shows once again that someone who knows the other person intimately can be particularly cruel. Shu Qian knows Shu He so well that he knows exactly how to hurt him the most (crippling his hand and what he said on the bridge about Zi Ang).
Oh, Huai Yi...
I think that Zi Ang was genuinely looking for Huai Yi, because General Wang mentioned Huai Yi in episode one - no relation to Shu He at all. Just to keep Zi Ang loyal to the mission and Ji North, by extent.
It is quite possible that the Huai Yi we meet is not the real adoptive brother Zi Ang was looking for. The series gives us no confirmation either for or against this. It leaves the interpretation open to the viewer, but there are a few “breadcrumbs” scattered throughout the story that portray Huai Yi as shady. That's why I compiled my "court case" against him.
In conclusion, both deserved better brothers.
I always wondered why he decided to write down the formula for the antidote? Why not earlier?
Did he want to finally set Huo Ying free once he was emperor? Or did he anticipate that he might die?
To me, he was always like a mini Joffrey (GoT).
But I think it has to do with Shu He interfering in politics. Because until now, that was the only thing Shu Qian was better at (or got his father's undivided attention for).
Shu Qian is not good at calligraphy, zither, Go, or painting (the four arts of the Chinese scholar). At the engagement banquet, Shu Qian embarrassed himself even more with his behavior. All of this is the last straw.
So he wants to take away what Shu He is good at — because Shu He took away something he was good at.
So it's kind of an eye for an eye... or a hand for a position in court.
I lost count how many times I watched this 🤭😅
Shu Qian would be an awful husband.
I would like to add that Shu He's father said Princess Wen Jing had admired Shu He for a long time. Who knows whether that's true or not, but it seems North Ji specifically wanted Shu He. Some reasons might be mentioned in later episodes. 😉
Shu He's father agreed to this, and did not suggest Shu Qian, probably on the one hand for the reasons Jasprin mentioned and on the other to enable the alliance by going along with North Ji's proposal.
Yes, Shen Song is a brainiac, and his and Shu He's friendship is so precious. Plus Shen Song ships Zi Ang and Shu He hard (he just knows his best friend in and out).
Thanks for listing the good and the bad alike.
Even though I’m completely enamored with the drama, I agree with every critique you voiced.
Too bad I can only give you one like…
They all share the core idea of being freed, restored, or made whole after some form of loss, harm, or wrongdoing and a transition from a negative state to a better, freer, reconciled one.
It's not the best editing, and you mix the 2 characters because of timing, black clothes and bc you cant't see DZA's face.
If you look closely: The assassin is DZA (ponytail and mask). Huo Ying collapsing - hair up and no mask (he never wears a mask).
But the actor for the doctor was unavailable and so he took the role.
Perhaps comparable to how purple was reserved for kings and clergy in Europe because the dye was so costly to produce.
It's a sign of the blatant favoritism their father has for Shu He over his first born son.
He still trusts that the bond to Shu Qian is stronger than his ambition for power, and that he wouldn't go so far as to hurt him.
Shu He and Zi Ang bond over their ties to their brothers. Shu He wants to enable Zi Ang to have the brotherhood bond with Huai Yi that he would like to have with his own brother.
Why he would go so far as to risk the dream he's always dreamt?
a) I agree with MarazulOx - once feelings enter the game, once you enter into Shu He's "family" or "most important people", he throws caution in the wind. Whether Shu Qian or Zi Ang, Shu He should have known better - and I think he knew, he wished it wasn't true.
b) He was greedy - he wanted it all, freedom and helping Zi Ang out of love, and because of trusting worse wouldn't come to worse, he decided to go ahead.
c) as MarazulOx mentioned, his mother is another factor. However in my opinion, he is primarily doing this to assist Zi Ang, and the fact that he is required to be present at court for this purpose also brings up the topic of his mother and her death in disgrace. If he is already involved in politics, then he might as well avenge his mother. But so far, he has made no move to avenge his mother, so once again it is just one piece of the puzzle in the complex motivations that drive Shu He.