budoboo

You are very brave. I am typically a binge watcher though with this drama it is not possible for me. Need breaks in between. Its very intense and confrontational.

Makes sense. Want to spoil the comment just in case?

As of this hour there are authorized sources. No? Its an unexpected release of 2 episodes. Do not know what is going on.

Right? Why does he have the look on his face like Wang Pu?

Congratulations Liu Yi Jun who would have ever thought you could make it to the hot middle aged man kickin serious ass list. What is going on with this drama?

Point taken. Having trouble understanding why such an attachment between the two (XHA & GY). Must have missed some of their history.

See your point - the new twist really shocked him. Thinking its because he did not see past exacting the blood revenge for his father. Agree that one episode a day is part of killing the pace - and my frustration with the plot transition.

Tiemo king vs XHA - I read the scene as the king saying 'go ahead try it' to a subordinate.

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.

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.

Gonna go out on a limb and guess they are related somehow. Ala An's mother is Tiemo and related to the King.

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.

Anyone else notice the enhanced ASMR stabbing sounds? Its like they have their own sound tech.

This. 😂😂

Tnx!

If it comes to mind before the end of the drama would be interested to go back and check it out. If not no worries.

Yes, when he is sitting on the steps.

Wow this is a wonderful comment to read and think through. "Morally comforting." is an exceptional thought. Thank you for this Chen Lu.

"His gaze is unlike his father's. It felt like yours or mine. It had the viciousness of the Tiemo people."

Is Xie Huai An's father his father? Or, was his mother from Tiemo?