This episode pulls a plow. It makes only the tiniest of plot advancements. We do get indications that JBZ is still there for Ming Yi. She still clings stubbornly to her remaining lies though, so the plot is still stuck on that gimmick. On the other side of that, Ji Bo Zai is apparently now unable to figure out obvious clues that would reveal the truth to him even when laid out right in front of him. And various other characters are just irritating in this episode.This part of this series feels like the writers have no respect for the intelligence of the viewers and are just contriving reasons to drag out the episodes with no real progress in the story. It's a total shame after such a promising first 18 or so episodes.
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Unfortunately, the writers of this series have leaned hard into the same predictable and contrived plot devices of so many asian romance-dramas and the 'lovers who fail to talk to each other' has led predictably into a totally unnecessary conflict and falling out. So this will allow them to drag us through more episodes of misunderstandings as they struggle to live life without each other only to eventually come back together. And of course they are decorating that weak plot trope with other annoying hack tropes like the 3rd-wheel romantic wannabe who is really an obsessed stalker.So much about this show is very enjoyable. The actors are top-notch and the production levels are fantastic. But the basic plot so far is very, very disappointing and not creative at all. It feels the basic story was thrown together by ChatGPT from prompts from a 12 year old. Why is it so difficult to have the characters behave like thinking adults and still write an engaging plot?
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This was a good episode overall. But the thing that is dragging on this whole storyline is that the writers have failed to give us a reason to empathize with Ming Yicontinuing to lie about her identity to Ji Bo Zai. There is no apparent reason for her to continue to do so and it is hurting both of them that she is. It could be accepted if the story presented a compelling reason for why she continues to lie. But it doesn't. So it has become annoying and feels contrived. As if she is only doing so to drag the plot gimmick out. This is a pretty big flaw in this otherwise very entertaining drama, and the flaw is getting bigger as it proceeds. If they don't either explain it or conclude it, it could make the entire series unwatchable as the audience looses empathy with the heroine.
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Till the End of the Moon Episode 25
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This episode sucks because of the plot-induced-stupidity that they ended the prior episode with. None of it feels real because it made no sense for SuSu to be this stupid. It was bad enough she made this mistake earlier in the series when she foolishly visited Xiao Lin's army camp. But to not have learned from that mistake and to be repeating it now is just beyond stupid.So, yea, lots anger, fear, mistrust, betrayal, death happen in this episode, but none of it makes sense because it's built on a plot-contrivance that isn't credible.
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Till the End of the Moon Episode 24
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Disappointing. This episode was looking great, right up to the point where SuSu once again decides to interfere on Xiao Lin's behalf. This totally sinks the episode because this is a case of the writers leaning heavily into plot-induced-stupidity. It was bad enough that they had SuSu make this mistake once before (with disastrous consequences). But for her to not have learned from that mistake and to be repeating it, is just an inexcusable idiocy that just seems totally contrived out of nowhere. It is insulting to the viewers. This isn't rocket science. SuSu has repeatedly shown she is not stupid. For her to think that Xiao Lin is being 'helped' by getting out of prison is ludicrous. He's far more likely to be killed by stepping out of that cell. So the best way for her to help him is to not do anything. Further, doing stuff like that is taking her ey off her mission. Her mission isn't to save Xiao Lin or to interfere with the politics. Her mission is to keep Tantai Jin alive, have him fall in love with her, and then destroy the evil bone. Nothing else matters.She seemed to have finally understood this and was making great progress and then bizarrely, the writers had her turn into an idiot, just to create a crisis and drama. It felt fake and manipulative (of the viewers).
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Too much Xuanyuan Li Ge in this episode. 'Would have scored this episode higher but the writers seem to have resumed trying to pump the white-haired psychopath's tires up to inflate his 'sympathetic' profile. They keep having him give 'knowing looks' at the FL and flashing his fake smile while also trying to look sad and pitiful. It's pretty stomach turning. And incredibly inappropriate socially for him to keep approaching a married woman the way he does.
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Kinda saw this rift coming. Zuo Qing Ci kept holding on to her too tight and trying to make all of her decisions. He also doesn't give her time to really form her words to respond when they have the talk by the river - he just keeps inserting his take on things while she is struggling for words. Literally putting words in her mouth. He is lashing out because his concept of love is still childish. Real love respects the other as an individual who has autonomy to make her own choices. Real love also respects what is important to the other person. He clearly didn't understand just how important her quest is to her. Loving her means accepting that part of her. He needs to learn that and separation might help. I think Master Xie Lie must have read that into their relationship immediately and also probably may not think it's safe for him to go with her on the next step of her quest. Hence he put her commitment to her quest vs the doctor to the test.
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Would have given this episode a 10 except the creepy, pretentious, obsessed psycho Lige is back, with his fake sad eyes and constant, "woe is me" expression. Still no repercussions for his having kidnapped 4th Princess and starting a war that killed thousands. I really hope he dies off soon, like he keeps promising he is going to do. It's disturbing that the writers keep trying to make him a sympathetic character. But it's impossible to feel sorry for him given his psychopathic nature and crimes. Still, otherwise this was a very good episode, with finally at least some time with both ML & FL on screen and getting a chance to build chemistry, Fans complaining about lack of romance should note that the writers still have not given the two leads any 'quality time' together alone for any stretch of time, unless you consider their time camping after the cliff fall. This whole series their times together without others have been extremely short before being interrupted. Even in this episode, just when they were having a nice 'date' together in the firefly cave, they still got interrupted by ... creepy Lige.
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Su YunLuo really shows her boss credentials as we reach the climax of the tournament. This episode isn't great just because of the action scenes, though. It also includes a very touching close-out to the Ghost Boy story.
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Till the End of the Moon Episode 21
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Wow. Huge, pivotal episode. Lots of plot movement by all parties and a satisfying resolution of the despotic Emperor Xiao Yi of Sheng. But Li SuSu makes a critical mistake. Driven by her concern for all the parties in the conflict, she makes an absolutely meaningless and unnecessary visit to Xiao Lin at his camp. This has no effect whatsoever on the conflict outcomes. But Tian Tian Jin learns of the visit and feels betrayed, destroying all the progress they had made in their relationship. It's very frustrating because the visit accomplished nothing and had nothing to do with Li SuSu's mission goals, which are to keep Jin alive and to have him fall in love with her. She should not have inserted herself into the war in any way. because none of that matters.That single mistake, taking her eye off her mission, proves costly. Jin predictably - because, well, he's still an emotionally immature baby, is spitefully hurting XiWu / SuSu by keeping her sister, Bingchang around him instead. Bingchang, coincidentally, has completely jumped to the dark side of pure self-interest in all things, to the point of sacrificing anyone else.The only 'good' side effect of this is that Li SuSu is starting to realize that she herself has true feelings for Jin. She actually breaks down crying, hurt by his coldness.
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So glad that disgusting kidnapped-by-psyho-Lige story arc is over. That was just awful writing and very cringe. Please minimize his screen time. Hated that the writers made the otherwise razor-sharp and willful ZiQing susceptible to his blatant psychotic manipulations. Hate that the writers are even leaning into the '3rd wheel unrequited obsessed other person'' plot trope. It's such a worn-out trope in romance dramas and the best dramas avoid it.The only decent part of this episode was the final ending scenes when she argued with and then made up with ML. The rest before that was cringe.
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This series was doing very well until they got to the Lige-kidnaps-Ziqing sub-story. This is just awful. Totally hack plot-contrivance. First off, the whole 'look' of the Lige character is beyond pretentious and it's a wonder that all the other characters don't burst out laughing when they see him. Bust 2nd of all, and more serious, is that he is a kidnapper, holding her prisoner and forcing her to do something to fulfill his psychopathic obsession. Yes, she has something to gain from this (information and Qin skills), but it was not her choice to be doing.. He robbed her of choice. If he respected her as a human with autonomy, he should have returned her to her people after rescuing her and then asked her if he could teach her. Instead, what he's doing is abuse and degrading. If he was just a villain, that would be one thing. But the writers are clearly going out of their way to try to make Lige a 'sympathetic' character. He has an illness (or poison) so we are supposed to feel sorry for him. He has some relationship with her Mother (which feels creepy in itself). He's also pretty-boy handsome. All that feels like cheap manipulation and personally, makes me very disappointed in the show. Because the kidnapping and abuse scenario is not something to be taken lightly. It makes me feel like the writers might be sick people if they think this is entertainment. Hopefully they will turn this around and make Lige pay for his crimes.
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The final plot resolution is good, but it is very subtle and hard for a lot of viewers to understand exactly what happened with Yanhui. Things could have been clearer if she had followed up her "I'm no longer the Lady of Dark Aura" with something like "I'm now the Lady of Dragon Fire" (or golden light or whatever). Because that is what she became with her final use of the Ghost Elegy. I had to explain to others that she had the 'good' version of Dark Phantom's powers. She scattered herself across the world to save everyone and then re-incorporate eventually. All the clues were given in what she said to Tianyao, but it was a bit too subtle for a lot of viewers I talked to. I know it's a balancing act between explaining what is happening versus having a 'pleasant surprise reveal' at the end. I think the idea was sound, but the delivery was a bit awkward.Otherwise, a good wrap up to a good series.
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Another great episode with lots of plot advancement. Love how Yanhui stays true to her nature from the beginning by NEVER GIVING UP. Spoilers: The Heart Protecting Scale keeps her alive at the bottom of the Dark River. So she uses this time of solitude to finally master the Ghostly Eulogy. This transitions her to a new, 'Dark Yanui' form! And she means business!The return arc for the leads is under way!
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Wow. Spoiler: This episode ends with both ML & FL apparently 'dead'. That's pretty much the lowest point the series could get, right? Of course, with 9 more episodes to go, it obviously isn't that simple. Aside from whatever this leads to, this was a very emotionally intense episode and I gotta give major props to Zhou Ye (the FL) for delivering a helluva performance in this episode. She displayed intense pain, despair and defiance - heck, even kindness and compassion -- all while mostly chained to one spot. Such a great actor.
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