anitfa

You should learn the psychology of the general before you call him stupid. IMO, his "revenge operation" is quite successful. They lose Han Ziling and some soldiers, but then the enemy loses Qingyi and his mother, and later Wang Pu.

Since the beginning (episode 2), we have known that. Her scene with Qingyi after her teacher committed suicide.

Not many. They appear and next, die.

I agree with you. The show is telling the dark side of human being without losing the moral core. It is not a fight for power, or a game of throne. It is about finding justice from existential perspective.

I think, it is another thing that makes this drama differs greatly from the famous NIF. In NIF, the ml is from the army. He struggles through political maneuvering and utilizing established law to serve the justice, to end corruption, and put the righteous heir to the throne. It is a story of the elites, and don't really show the struggle in the grassroot.

Here, it is more like an underground movement, or an asymmetrical war. The ml doesn't care about the monarch. He only wants to kill his enemy and to end the existence of an army. The story tell people lives from the palace to the market, from the big city to the rurals, how relationships take various forms and continue to evolve.

He is a chess piece himself and the player of the game at the same time.

I think it is not a problem with billing. Maybe the one who put the info in MDL doesn't have the complete information themselves because this show is an original script. So, they have no reference to really tell who will become what.

For example, Han Ziling. He is even stated in the synopsis like one of the main characters, but his presence is only in some episodes. I guess, there will be an update later after all episodes out.

I think, he would become a troublemaker that mess every plan. I respect that he has conscience. This show is telling his maturity and how he found his agency. If he will become the emperor in the future, he deserves it.

And the killing scene, it is more like an accident than a deliberate action. He is furious after the real Zhang Mo called him looked like a servant. For an emperor to be called like that, who won't feel humiliated?

In other perspective, the real Zhang Mo also made a mistake for lacking some consideration. He is so happy to be return home soon, and sharing to the poor emperor his happiness. He is just a simple person really.

And the axe may serve as a symbolism of common people and their hard work. It is basically a tool for work and make a living, not to kill. It is nice to see how the emperor learn to how to hold this tool (from the simplest chopping woods to defending himself) until he can master it and use it to help his team (to fight).

The end is still open to many possibility. Either one of the following or all of them.

The emperor: XHA to help the country with his talent

To the deposed emporer: XHA to live long, they will age together

To his sister: XHA to have a relaxed life, like in the painting

To XHA: He doesn't care about his future as his focus now is revenge. However, in his desperate moments, he wants to join his family.

Not that trope, I beg

Nobody knows how it will end.

So, after the psychological manipulation to beat Wang Pu (and before the battle of intelligence in Hidden Alley to save Gu Yu), now it seems that the plot turns to use diplomacy to win the Tiemo envoy.
They really use various tactics to play "the game", including deception and taking hostage.

Do our experiences need her validation? A commentator who doesn't even watch the show?

People who are currently watching still hold their decision, I think. It is a good thing. It is not like idol dramas to which people use rating as fan statement and give 10 uncontrollably.

1. Yes, a fake death to save him from the Huben, as he is now considered a traitor.

2. When they were separated, the girl was still so young. So, her memory is not reliable enough to understand what actually happened to her. The plot which led to her killing is as follows: (1) XHA issued a fake travel pass as a trap to YFS, (2) this trap was revealed through Wang Pu, so YFS could change his maneuver to enter Chang'An, (3) YFS manipulated the sister to come back to Chang'An through his other subordinate, (4) the sister didn't know that YFS used her to do some counterattack to XHA, (5) they didn't verify the identity because: (a) the real YSF is swapped in the process during his travel from point A to B, (b) the soldier who tasked to track his move is actually a Huben, (c) this soldier gave false information that this man in white and bamboo hat is still YSF.

3. We still wait for the answer to this question, too. Maybe in later episodes.

As I see it, Wuyang seizing the throne is basically a coup (to end YFS control over the nation), not a legitimate one.

You need to watch more to get it.

IMO, for the overall drama, the main character is only the ml. His appearances are consistent throughout the story. Others are side that come and go along with the plots.

But, if we break it into arcs, for several episodes, we have different "main protagonists" and "villains", some survive, some meet their demise. The story keeps moving in this style, step by step building the entireity of the drama. It is like building different ways that end in a grand finale.

So, no need to get attached to any so called main character in the drama info. They are all expendable, except the ml who owns the narrative.

Yes. A heroic one.

Strategically, it was a hit for Wang Pu. And characterization, now we know Gu Yu as a general, not a crippled one in wheelchaire.

Maybr the deaths look unnecessary, but they are consistent to the internal logic of the story which is good. No plot armot attached to beloved characters. When they are falling into a trap without an exit, that are their ends for sure.

This drama is like weiqi game showed in the intro.

They use darkness so well. I was so anxious when they are playing cat and mouse in the alleys. Like someone can do a scare jump anytime.