i just saw the trailer for the new episode im shocked they made the character go to a psychologist because dark romances often brush off this part, then decide a happy reconciliation with an intense drama and i love yous should be enough. there must be consequences, not just excuses.
thinking about it now, i did notice them implying how mentally unstable he was. when he met xiaochen after that 5 year no contact, he had flashbacks (cinematography was like going for that disturbing vibe) when he had to cut off his family and when his dad died due to emotional anger that he himself triggered. added the isolation he had in the first separation they had back when they were 18, then the 5 year separation wherein the news he got was xiaochen getting married--he officially broke. he didnt just suddenly snap, he was someone who doesnt know how to process that grief or trauma in a healthy way.
xiaochen asked him, "what exactly do you want?", but an unclouded mind would only speak the dark and hazy thoughts in our mind. the pent up resentment and the now gained control. he lost yichen for almost a decade, how can he give up the grip he has now? thinking he was left there to suffer with no means to salvation, his resolve was to also takeaway that freedom from xiaochen. he simply wants him back, but he has grown suspicious of xiaochen's feelings. love in his household was conditional, xiaochen's love for him also felt one. he was loved when it was convenient.
it's relieving to know we are getting a proper acknowledgement that something was srsly wrong. lu feng wasnt just a passionate lover turned mad, with his love alone would suffice. we know he suffered, now what happens? repercussions and resolutions? a person can be sorry and still need to earn back trust. a pay off we all need.
so yeah there's no side for me. "he's evil, leave him" or "he's traumatized, so it's okay". a show becomes emotionally investing for me if the writers can make us understand the character and recognize the love and harm that both existed.
his character is someone who can love so much and as a result could hate that much. he loved and hated xiaochen, two contradictory things that are both very true. no shit will ever justify that although we can understand where he came from. xiaochen also for me really was frustrating although as an asian child, filial piety is part of our identity and integrity.
it really sucks that what lu feng said was very true; that he can throw away himself (xiaochen) for everyone, but also lu feng. unable to handle the pressure, like he said that he wasnt able to think well, he abandoned away what was easiest—his own feelings, and that includes lu feng's. however, lu feng's entitlement to xiaochen to do the same (cut off his family) is still very selfish. but as we know, lu feng is estranged with his family while xiaochen was very closed to his. they are both raised differently: lu feng being that rebellious youngest son, xiaochen as the older brother who needed to be the pillar of the family.
their situation is gray, but i hope let's not romanticize the narrative that it was karma—that he deserved that version of lu feng. choosing to turn out wrong or right, having that villain arc is a choice—driven by years of resentment and abandonment trauma. lu feng is such a compelling character and thanks to ayden, how can i ever fully hate him? 🥲
tjr is just insane for thisssss he just shows up in a new gjm role and no one can say he does the same thing over and over again because he is just so versatile!! truly our acting prodigy
i cant help but think lwy and jl "first meet" is actually lwy and cw. the color of the robe he wore looks like something a young dragon deity would wear, since it's sky blue and the same as the color of dragon deity power
thinking about it now, i did notice them implying how mentally unstable he was. when he met xiaochen after that 5 year no contact, he had flashbacks (cinematography was like going for that disturbing vibe) when he had to cut off his family and when his dad died due to emotional anger that he himself triggered. added the isolation he had in the first separation they had back when they were 18, then the 5 year separation wherein the news he got was xiaochen getting married--he officially broke. he didnt just suddenly snap, he was someone who doesnt know how to process that grief or trauma in a healthy way.
xiaochen asked him, "what exactly do you want?", but an unclouded mind would only speak the dark and hazy thoughts in our mind. the pent up resentment and the now gained control. he lost yichen for almost a decade, how can he give up the grip he has now? thinking he was left there to suffer with no means to salvation, his resolve was to also takeaway that freedom from xiaochen. he simply wants him back, but he has grown suspicious of xiaochen's feelings. love in his household was conditional, xiaochen's love for him also felt one. he was loved when it was convenient.
it's relieving to know we are getting a proper acknowledgement that something was srsly wrong. lu feng wasnt just a passionate lover turned mad, with his love alone would suffice. we know he suffered, now what happens? repercussions and resolutions? a person can be sorry and still need to earn back trust. a pay off we all need.
so yeah there's no side for me. "he's evil, leave him" or "he's traumatized, so it's okay". a show becomes emotionally investing for me if the writers can make us understand the character and recognize the love and harm that both existed.
his character is someone who can love so much and as a result could hate that much. he loved and hated xiaochen, two contradictory things that are both very true. no shit will ever justify that although we can understand where he came from. xiaochen also for me really was frustrating although as an asian child, filial piety is part of our identity and integrity.
it really sucks that what lu feng said was very true; that he can throw away himself (xiaochen) for everyone, but also lu feng. unable to handle the pressure, like he said that he wasnt able to think well, he abandoned away what was easiest—his own feelings, and that includes lu feng's. however, lu feng's entitlement to xiaochen to do the same (cut off his family) is still very selfish. but as we know, lu feng is estranged with his family while xiaochen was very closed to his. they are both raised differently: lu feng being that rebellious youngest son, xiaochen as the older brother who needed to be the pillar of the family.
their situation is gray, but i hope let's not romanticize the narrative that it was karma—that he deserved that version of lu feng. choosing to turn out wrong or right, having that villain arc is a choice—driven by years of resentment and abandonment trauma. lu feng is such a compelling character and thanks to ayden, how can i ever fully hate him? 🥲