Groovykid

Thanks for your comment. I do agree, especially with the concluding statement which I will relate to ML. Remember his statements about not wanting the throne because he does not think his birth parents' identity grants him any edge. He just wanted reform because of the life he had lived & experienced in the army. And he stuck to that. No wavering or floundering.

Good analysis on SML's character. I guess he just gets to me all the time with his wishy-washiness. I was open to his character's naivety at the start but covering up his sister's murder of her life saviour and stabbing his friend, were acts that were way above the line for me. That is hatred and selfish. I hoped it was just righteous envy and some jealousy. But I feared it will get worse.

P.S.: Even the reform during that 2 year period was started by ML. Even his bio father alluded to that, and went on to justify eliminating ML so SML can be the 'lone' hero.

I was expectant of XWY's response to that question, and I really hope dearly they do not regret these many chances they keep giving this 'confused' friend of theirs.

I do love this series. But there is a lot of delusion/sycophancy going on that is irritating. At this stage, I am putting the blame on the scriptwriter/director.

I have made multiple comments about A'Mao flip flopping and causing serious emotional and bodily harms to ML & FL, only to then be reminded by the very people he is harming of some original intentions he had. The guy is either ambitious or not. Saying his character is confused is a massive understatement.

Don't get me started on the Grand tutor. His delusion can at least be somewhat justified. Since it is obvious it has become an obsession, so no need reasoning with that character.

Now the latest, A'Mao's concubine. What did she mean by A'Mao saved her life. Did she just gloriously forget that FL, and then ML, were the ones that ever took any effort to save her life? A'Mao literally said she could stay with him, only because she looked like FL.

P.S: I do not know if this was a novel adaptation and if it relates to an original story.

IKR. Every time Li Mao does something outrageous or harms XWY or XJY, I found it odd that they behave like it is nothing. E.g. He keeps saying to XWY that he is not a pawn, but never argues about being used to the Grand tutor who is the one actually using him as a pawn. And insisting on 'forcing' XJY to divorce her husband when she did not mince her words when she told you she'd never come to you, not even if she is no longer with her husband.
IMO A'Mao is no longer their friend and no longer remembers their life-saving favours. And he's said and shown as much, but the production team have portrayed the ML & FL characters as 'saints' that will keep reminding him of his good days and want him to remain their friend.

Can someone please correct me if I’m wrong? Has the audience had a good explanation on how Li Mao is Grand Tutor’s son? Did I miss it? I know Princess Yunxiao said something to the grand tutor but I can’t remember in what detail.

Also, why is Li Mao not interested in the subject, and not bowing out graciously with the thought that he has no claim, none whatsoever, to the throne?

True. I saw this as righteous envy at the start but now there’s honestly no way to explain it away.
Your sister killed the mother of the person you love and your response is, can we forget it?!
I see his character as ‘confused to the core’ because from the introduction it was obvious he did not know what he wants or what to stand for.

Can someone explain to me what is making A’Mao and Lejun so crazy? I can understand their insecurities but why aren’t they scheming against those who have quite literally and obviously harmed them physically and emotionally - the empress dowager, the Grand Tutor and even the emperor. Why is it so easy for them to convince themselves that they can harm Princess Yunxiao who saved their lives, and their childhood friends?
Also, they started by saying they didn’t want the glory/power, but it looks they always have. They just never got close to it. Greed!!

Well done. I’m afraid my written Yoruba isn’t as good. 😊

My feeling towards our little Chen scholar is explained well in a Yoruba proverb (the commonly spoken language in Southwest Nigeria), which is loosely translated as “A family stays progressive when the bastard is yet to be awakened”. I really fear for the havoc he will cause, because everyone will not expect him to be as hateful as he is already portraying to be.

Am I the only one who see Chen Pingping without his wheelchair every time Minister Fu comes on screen? Makes me crave another season of JoL.

Good to hear. I also want to stay positive about YX. The fact he dislikes CYY but also listens to his POV is a huge positive for me. He’s never forgotten the huge help CYY rendered to his family, when he could have stayed silent.

Not our little scholar that seem to only want to emulate his 3rd uncle’s success, but without the sincerity and good qualities that comes with it.

I can imagine. My coping mechanism is to read and type comments.

Even Father Ye isn’t helping. What exactly are his son’s crimes to him? He was born weak and then poisoned because his father was a top general. So what that he cannot inherit your abilities? I almost want to believe there’s much more to his approach to raising his son.

True talk. I was actually surprised that FL’s character was portrayed as ‘easily’ befriending YX. But my explanation was that because she is kind but direct to repay both goods and wrongs. So her couple of interactions with him when he was poorly and when he went above and beyond for her mum made it explainable.

This is the comment thread I’ve been looking for. I agree with you.

My similar opinion - “I’ve had to come here for comments and reviews to be able to get through episode 26. I just hope they make Ye Xian a redeemable character. His way of throwing tantrums and harming himself and others just shows an insane level of immaturity. Why point a sword at your sister and crush, because your crush is marrying someone she likes!

I really do not want to compare him to the little Chen scholar, and hope dearly that I don’t have to hate his character.
Any spoilers from novel readers?”

I’ve had to come here for comments and reviews to be able to get through episode 26. I just hope they make Ye Xian a redeemable character. His way of throwing tantrums and harming himself and others just shows an insane level of immaturity. Why point a sword at your sister and crush, because your crush is marrying someone she likes!

I really do not want to compare him to the little Chen scholar, and hope dearly that I don’t have to hate his character.
Any spoilers from novel readers?

Thanks for your read and comment. If you mean Chu Qiao, I agree. She doesn’t really look convincing for titles such as formidable general or best spy ever. IMO, it was a fair attempt, though.

The blue bird thingy from the Lingyue king and queen (I think ZY kept the one, and only gave one to the king).

All well said about YX. I was almost happy seeing him reunite with ZC in tomorrow’s previews - they are made for each other. I said as much in my brief review of their characters - “Yan Xun is the most disloyal and hateful character in the series. His madness was unquenchable. It did not matter how many people died or how powerful he became, his hunger for vengeance became insatiable. Even when he was defeated by CQ and was implored to think about his father and his people, he remained untrustworthy and a liar. He is really a good match for Zhao Chun. They should have lasted longer. Zhao Chun’s character is the most vengeful and vitriolic character ever created. She will literally do harm to herself and ‘loved ones’ just to hate. Her plot armour became downright ridiculous. And so was she - right from the start when she believed that YX will love her in spite of her father killing his entire family. To the end, where she cast away her brother Zhao Che, who had looked after her in the earlier years, for the 13th prince Zhao Yang who is unfit to lead or even look after himself. I guess one can never make sense of such persons, YX & ZC alike!!”

Let me sing more praises of ZY with you.

Zhuge Yue: He remains my main (and loveliest) character in the whole franchise, regardless of his surname. PA displayed his inner struggles better than Rebirth. How his personal convictions strived with his upbringing and duties over his making years. Rebirth did build on that, and showed his readiness for simplicity and peace. His loyalty can be rivalled by no other. His word was his bond, either to a friend or a foe. He is not a gullible optimist. You can tell his distrust towards his enemies and awful superiors. However he always begins with dialogue and only when that fails does he resort to strategising to win. His love was palpable, even when unexpressed. Even his icy days were a beauty to watch. As YX said, he is annoyingly self-righteous. His ability to take on every challenge and fight with his convictions to his very last breath, made him a literal superhero that cannot be killed. To top it all, he never seeks rewards - not when he saved Bingchang or even Ximeng. At least in Ximeng, he ended up with the King title. He is just too good to be true. And I must say, LYR depicted it all wonderfully. (Shout out to Lin Geng Xin).

(I have copied & pasted this from my review of the whole series after watching 30/40 episodes)

I have had times of being weird like that. Some of these dramas get so emotionally charged, I just want to race to the end, before watching step by step if I am still of a mind to do that.
(Great comments under this series by the way, I have read some of them)

Very well said.
His loud silence can be deafening. (Which is why he drives YX crazy every time).