i think as the plot has been through XHA's lens throughout , in first part we were all as invested as XHA in revenge…
Thought provoking comment. For me the plot lens is killing and death (why, when, how) and the ML represents 'good' killing in the name of family (death of his father) and the Tiemo king represents 'bad' killing in the name of family (unjust death of children in the winter). I was invested in the storyline when the ML was plotting and killing for family revenge with a political backdrop. Am having a difficult time getting behind him in the kill for your nation only (political) storyline. Not sure the transition for vengence as a motivation to politics as a motivation is working...yet. Time will tell.
You probably mean to say from go to chess. Go is a vastly more complex game than chess with many more possible…
Conclusion clarity: my conclusion is that as of Eps. 21/22 I can not imagine rating this drama a 10 (was hoping for it - a gurl can dream). There is still plenty of wiggle room for a more than decent 9-9.5 rating.
You probably mean to say from go to chess. Go is a vastly more complex game than chess with many more possible…
Okay, Go to Chess. Ep. 22 created a contrast for me. My postitive opinion regarding how impactful the writing is and in turn the drama was left unmoderated. Consider me course corrected. Does not mean I am not enjoying it.
Ep. 22 - Once again the drama gods remind me to wait until its all said and drama done. Conversion from Chess to Go game - in my minds eye is faltering. From an outstanding game of vengence chess to a mediocre game of go. Why?
For me, the falter is two-fold: something in how many key people have been killed leaving not enough transition assistance, and Wang Jin Song is not the right actor for the roll of Tiemo King. Not saying he is not a good actor - he is a good actor. Saying he is not the actor to carry off this substantial transition as a King in the storyline. I get they were going for someone who could represent both a teacher and a king (good luck with that), but his personal 'gentle' spirit behind the acting is not working for me at all.
the series has such a wierd setting , actually -. there is so much death, ML , the deposed emporer and his brother…
For me, as previously posted today, this is not a series about killing and death strictly from the standpoint of motivation, compassion, or even human kindness. Its a drama about killing and death and all its permutations, layers, and colours. That to kill and die is not that simple.
Once we get a look into the writers instructions on killing and death we are left to decide ourselves what/whom is good, bad, or both, when is killing okay and when is it not, and why we are or are not willing to die and under what circumstances.
Which character can we most relate to in the state of killing says everything we need to know about ourselves. Which character we can relate to most regarding the impact of their death tells us everything we need to know about our own hearts.
And, what about when we start making excuses for why its okay for someone 'bad' to kill (e.g., he did not get the love he needed from his mother, his life was hard growing up, or his passion got the best of him)
For me, the falter is two-fold: something in how many key people have been killed leaving not enough transition assistance, and Wang Jin Song is not the right actor for the roll of Tiemo King. Not saying he is not a good actor - he is a good actor. Saying he is not the actor to carry off this substantial transition as a King in the storyline. I get they were going for someone who could represent both a teacher and a king (good luck with that), but his personal 'gentle' spirit behind the acting is not working for me at all.
Is Xie Huai An's father his father? Or, was his mother from Tiemo?
Once we get a look into the writers instructions on killing and death we are left to decide ourselves what/whom is good, bad, or both, when is killing okay and when is it not, and why we are or are not willing to die and under what circumstances.
Which character can we most relate to in the state of killing says everything we need to know about ourselves. Which character we can relate to most regarding the impact of their death tells us everything we need to know about our own hearts.
And, what about when we start making excuses for why its okay for someone 'bad' to kill (e.g., he did not get the love he needed from his mother, his life was hard growing up, or his passion got the best of him)