stella

the abyss was tethered to the collapsed heaven, xz plan was when the heaven is destroyed the abyss will be destroyed along with it so yes fenglai perished too. xz said the fire seal needs to be in place when this happens.

And because of that ending, TLOS topped the list of my favorite xianxia ever. This is how you give your audience a proper payoff for investing their time and emotions in your journey. I ugly-cried when XZ died even though I knew on the back of my mind that it would be a HE. What a feast that we got a whole bonus episode of SL and XZ in their happy ever after. 10/10

Finally catching up, and I'm obsessed. For lack of a better word, this pairing feels incredibly mature. The way they act and their mannerism befit their characters. Some examples are XZ's posture and the way he walks so slowly, and how SL always holds her smile because she's the mighty king. I'm so happy this is the drama they picked for their reunion.

I do wish they changed the webtoon part about resurrecting Joseon Taeha. What's the point of bringing him back to life only to torture him? At least in the 1st episode, Yeonwoo was happy and excited to find out he's her husband before he died. And Yeonwoo could've returned to avenged herself and Joseon Taeha before returning to the present and giving us more modern parkha. More power couple scenes, maybe kids.

One thing that got me thinking, was JXN so desensitized by her previous life from all the abused she received (from YL for example) and how she used to seduced men to get her way that she doesn't think the forced kiss is a big deal. It breaks my heart to see her struggle during the kiss and the way she brushed it off as no big deal afterward. I find it hard to see it as romantic regardless of how many slow motion snows and weird lighting the PD threw at the scene.

Another takeway for me is how strong JXN is, no wonder all these people love and devoted to her, as she said, she cares too much about people around her and she's so selfless now that she's willing to take everyone's pain for herself.

XW is the only person who cannot survive without her and the man who has everything but willing to lose everything for her. I hope he realizes soon that he doesn’t need to force JXN to keep her by his side, his sincerity and vulnerability will be the things that move her heart.

I swear this show has one of the most idiot emperor in c-drama. And the worst father too.

40 episodes rule might work for modern cdrama but definitely not enough for period cdrama where they usually have more characters and narratives to cover 😭

too much duke xue and his crazy family, too much JXN's mom too

In all honesty the way they ended ZZ and JXN arc is too abrupt and rather forced, but I guess there are many narratives to cover and not many episodes left. At least I got my wish to see XW and ZZ stand together, sort of 😁 and with the preview XW and JXN era is coming soon. Please I need a proper romance and make it good 🙏

my wishful thinking but I ship XW-ZZ as
brother-in-arms 😂

You know I always forget that Duke Xue is Xi Wei's biological father 😮‍💨 he won the worst father in the world trophy

Yes, the current JXN is not the same person as she was in her 1st life. I think the empress JXN would've gladly give up being an empress in exchange for a simple life with ZZ. But in her 2nd life,  her presence inadvertently changed the course of XW's life, and this time she get to see the true XW, and he’s a big part of her life now. Since they have no past entanglement, being with XW is a form of freedom.

The problem with her and ZZ is her memory of him, the debt that she feels she owes him will always stand in their way. Since ZZ's core value is immutable in both lifetime, she will always be afraid that one day she will ruined him just like she did in the past. But before JXN and XW can be together, she needs to truly let ZZ go first.

I'm much more excited to see the future dynamic between XW and ZZ 😂 both are formidable force in a different way, just imagine what they can do together.

now that I'm all caught up, I just want to leave a few comments in regards to Zhang Zhe;

I fully understand JXN love and fixation on ZZ, in her life where everyone seems to take a piece out of her, there is a man who is like a bright moonlight in the dark, giving but never asking for anything in return. I don't have to ship JXN-ZZ, because honestly I think XW is the one who needed her the most and better suited for her in the long run, but I can't undermine ZZ's significance in JXN's life. In her 1st life, JXN traded her life for ZZ. The selfish and manipulative empress did that, so you can't tell me that she doesn't love him.

ZZ stood out for me during YL coming-of-age ceremony, everyone in that courtyard either has a connection with Yan family like JXN/XW or in a position of power like the prince/princess. ZZ is the only person who stood up for Yan family out of doing the right thing. Naivety? I categorically call it bravery. In every incarnation ZZ is a person with conviction and moral strength. He does what is right not what is easy.

Not just JXN, I think XW will benefits to have someone like ZZ on his side, he doesn't need another subordinate who is blindly loyal to him, he needs to be challenge by a compass that always points north. I don't know what will happen next but I hope they'll be friends someday.

reading this makes me want to rewatch 🤣 but 100% their relationship is just amazing, it's rare to find a show where you can feel this kind of love coming from both leads. they just simply love each other with all they have, no pretense with these two.

yes happy ending

they kept it in viu for now

I'm speed reading the novel now that it ends, so I can give a more comprehensive review, but so far I like the changes they made, and I like that how for the best part of the novel they keep the dialog verbatim for example Xu Qin's drunken rant.

the last wuxia drama I watched unchained love was completely butchered, all the romance scenes were cut out. so my expectations was very very low for any cdrama to have anything other than one kiss scene and hugs 😄 I have to say YangYang hugs are like no other.

I find it funny how they can release scenes that don't pass censorship and call it bts 😅

Does it mean that they can rearrange sequences as well? because that's tricky. Some scenes can be edited out of context.