anhsn

That interaction between Xie Huai An and Yang Chu Hao really cements how unhinged Xie Huai An can be omg. Before ep 16, I knew he harbored a lot of hatred inside him; he is angry and vengeful, but I still couldn't feel that he was unhinged. Yes, there was that shovel scene, but that was more about his short temper than anything to me, and while having someone buried for years and then burned to death showed his ruthlesness, it wasn't him doing the act himself so I couldn't feel it narratively. There was a hint of it when he said he had wanted to humiliate that official in episode 2, but the way he talked to Yang Chuhao really was something else. When Xie Huai An said "Try it.", and then let out that crazy laugh, I was completely done in. This man is unhinged! I have never before felt sorry for the antagonists lf a show, but for the first time ever, for a brief moment, I genuinely wanted to console Yang Chuhao lmfao.

Also it's quite fascinating how Xie Huai An can still pull strings even when he's in hiding. For the past month we thought he's only been hiding, but he still knows people, can survey his enemies and can get people to do things for him. That's probably why Yan Fengshan considers him in his shortlist of worthy enemies and someone even he couldn't beat when it comes to strategies lol. Even Wang Pu, who used to regard Xie Huai An with animosity whenever he thought about him, looked so lost and conflicted in front of Xie Huai An. It's pretty wild.

There was also a comment on reddit that said this show uses the working class as the background to tell its story, and I now understand what made this revenge drama so different from others. It's not the most politically centered. Meetings are done in quaint little shops, we see merchants and commonfolk, we see paper making shops, we see trash collectors and ordinary soldiers. How many high ranking officials have we seen so far, and how many scenes could we even see where the palace is the background? The main issue isn't even about "politics" and "corrupt politicians", but it's matters of national security. They are at war, where victors like Yan Fengshan get to keep ChangAn and Gu Yu and Chancellor Gao are left to be humiliated and alone. It's a beautiful way to tell a story, and a beautiful way to blend revenge and explorations of human nature. Maybe that's why I felt the vibe of The Longest Day In ChangAn and not Nirvana In Fire.

this feels like a game of chess between two masterminds..each character being played like a pawn from either side..

"Try it!"
In just seconds, Xie Huaian face turned from calm to eerie smile to cold anger to crazy laugh then back to calm again.
He was both terrifying and fascinating to watch.

"I don't want those who cherish old ties to die"
His gesture and words were polite and respectful while everything about it was a threat.

Cheng Yi deserves an award for his role in this drama! ❣️

I cant believe its only been 15 episodes yet. So much has happened. The ride of the first 13 episodes was much more interesting then many full length dramas. I an imagining what would have happened if they stopped for a few days after airing ep 13. I would have lost my breath....

I swear if they had divided the series into two seasons (First:1-13, Second:14-28) it would have created a huge impact. It honestly feels like a season 2, introducing new characters, finishing off some overdue characters and showing the aftermath of season 1.
From ep 16 everything starts gaining momentum again.

(I was honestly afraid after watching ep 13 because it was like a huge banger climax, and it somewhat reminded me how Sword and Beloved shared quiet similar trend, doing good till ep 13 with a climax.)

Didn't expect that I'll actually feel kind of bad for Wang Pu but this drama did it again. Also didn't expect him to go out like this but I'll take it.

We got a glimpse at what happened at Chen Valley 25 years ago, quite brutal indeed. I wonder how does it tie to Yan Fengshan's eventual betrayal?

The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang’an is a drama centered on revenge and political intrigue, and it requires viewers to watch with patience and full attention.

The narrative is tightly structured, with a very high density of information. Almost every clue and every line of dialogue serves as groundwork for future developments. The political intrigue unfolds through layered relationships, shifting interests, and changing loyalties. While the storytelling appears restrained at first, it often delivers a powerful impact as the story progresses.

Revenge is the core of the series, yet it is far from simple or straightforward. It is built on endurance, waiting, and meticulous planning. Hatred is not romanticized; instead, it is portrayed as a force that slowly drains a person, pushing the characters step by step toward isolation and emotional fracture.
@Cheng Yi
Cheng Yi’s portrayal of Xie Huaian is highly accomplished. His performance does not rely on overt emotional expression, but rather on subtle details—eye movements, pauses, and minute shifts—that reveal the character’s inner fractures. Restraint, calmness, and pain coexist, and as the story advances, the weight of the character becomes increasingly apparent.

From a production standpoint, the series is consistently solid. The visual style is restrained and composed, while the music effectively amplifies emotion at key moments without becoming intrusive. The overall quality is cohesive, with no obvious weaknesses.

Taken as a whole, The Twenty-Four Strategies of Chang’an is a drama with strong lasting impact. It is not suited for fast-forward viewing, but for those willing to follow it closely, the depth and sincerity of the storytelling become clear.

Among revenge-themed dramas in 2025, this is a title that should not be missed and one that truly deserves a place on the must-watch list.

"I thought I was careful enough that you would be safe."

Xie Huaian would go to the extreme when it related to his sibling. He was only 17 and was already ruthless and unforgiving back then.
He was incredibly smart and had decided of what to do with his life, his sibling, and his enemies at the age of 10. He was meticulous and decisive. But even the most perfect plan can fail from unexpected factors.
His enemies were ruthless as his sister was naive. She was smart enough to understand the danger the Liu clan had suffered but failed to stop to think for a moment that there could be a reason as to why Xie Huaian made all his choices.
What happened to her was very sad, after surviving for so long.

14 of 28 episodes were delivered. 3 main villains were down, the ML was in full killing mode in a more chaotic empire than in episode 1 and the plot is thickening and more engaging.
There is no dragging or slowing plotline in this revenge drama.
The Vendetta of An is so exhilarating it feels like riding a never stopping roller coaster.

The bow and arrow scene on horse was magnificent. These dark alley episodes are great. Cant say enough good stuff.

I'm seeing some viewers are analyzing that Huai'an and Yan Fengshan didn't actually meet at the end of ep 13. Because by the time Yan Fengshan stepped out of the door, he saw a footprint mostly covered in water, which means that Huai'an had left a long time ago. Huai'an was talking to himself and said that he will come back to kill Yan Fengshan and left his umbrella. Yan Fengshan was talking to the umbrella Huai'an left behind, and not directly at Huai'an. The camera/director is showing the viewers as if they had met in the same space of time, but in fact they didn't meet at all.

This analysis makes so much sense, because why would Yan Fengshan let Huai'an go if he had seen him. The level of details in this drama is mind blowing 😱

🤣 You described it so well! I felt the same thrill, like being at the top of a rollercoaster 🎢, waiting for the drop. Absolutely cinematic.

Now I understand why the list of actors is soooo long. They come in they die and they're gone. Wow so many.

But the thing is each death is memorable, and each character has their own screentime and story/background or messages to the audience. I hate pointless death for no reason.

Obviously watching because of Cheng Yi. But oh my God, I am so impressed by everything in this drama so far. It feels like a movie. Ep 6 and not a single screen time felt wasted or filler-like. Only concern is that it’s a CY drama so I shouldn’t expect a happy ending? Lolll

Actually although Xie Huai An is hellbent on revenge, I realised that he really tries not to involve innocents. When he heard that Wang Xing died and after killing Di Lu, you can tell that he feels extremely sorry. Of course, feeling sorry is of no use as those people are already dead, but this show manages to bring out the feelings that those "enemies" he killed are real, living people and not merely cannon fodders (as portrayed in other media). The characters are so memorable despite having little screentime. I still remember Zhou Mo the funny magistrate, Zhang Mo the loyal pageboy, Di Lu who is friendly to newcomers, Wang Xing who just wants to protect his family, Pu Nichuan who actually participated in Huai An's father's death but is also a silly man crushing on the tavern lady, and of course, Han Ziling. Han Ziling is such a respectable man. He is a scholar but he yearns to serve and die for the country and people. I'm very sad that he died but I'm also relieved that he didn't die in an ugly way. His death can be considered one of the better deaths in this show 😭.

The interaction between Han Ziling and Huai An right before Han Ziling sacrificed himself was also very well done. Huai An dislikes involving innocents but he hates having his allies die for him. Even Gu Yu said that Huai An usually gives the survival path to others. In the early episodes, I actually thought that Huai An would sacrifice his allies when utmost necessary but I realised from how he felt about Zhang Mo (the pageboy) to Gu Yu (his conversation with Chancellor Xiang) to Han Ziling, that Huai An will not sacrifice his allies. He will instead sacrifice himself. However because both Han Ziling and his goal is to ultimately kill Yan Fengshan and both of them know that it can only be done if Huai An is alive, Huai An sort of "accepted" Han Ziling's sacrifice. But from what I saw, Huai An will probably blame himself, he will also never forget this and it will spur him on even more to kill Yan Fengshan.

I knew that death in this show is inevitable, that it was going to be a huge bloodbath. I'm glad that so far the deaths were portrayed well. Han Ziling can be said to die with honour. But I'm afraid that this is just the beginning of allies dying left and right 🥹.