PeachBlossomGoddess

Yeah but I think the reveal of the bad demon and the bad human is something that just unwinds gradually in the background. We probably won't know all of it clearly until later on.

This subplot painting arc should be mainly about King Xinan. He is a terminally ill and rich/powerful man in the real world. He is most likely the beggar - poor and powerless but healthy in the painting world. Banxia's parents should also be their opposite selves in the painting world.

Well the real question is why is everyone looking for King Xinan?

Constable Chu is not a love brain in the real world so he was also affected by the painting. And so were two of the three swordsman - they became very silly.

From what I can gather, BX's mother is hiding from someone, that's why she faked her death and disappeared. She could be hiding from Martial Uncle who may have a love obsession for her. But my sense is that Banxia's parents are running away from a demon and that should not be Martial Uncle. I think it could be whoever has disguised himself as Simao.

The 3 swordsmen were been looking for King Xinan. It was very obvious Martial Uncle is a bad guy from the moment he was introduced, he is most likely the demon hunter that was hunting Manying when they were kids. But he may not know yet that Xuanye is Manying and he is human so he is unlikely to be the big bad demon that ordered the kidnapping of Banxia's father. And yes the bracelet should be suppressing Xuanye's demon qi.

1. Everyone sucked into a painting has opposite personalities.
2. Humans bleed but everything else turns into ink.
3. You can't bring weapons into the painting world - both Chu Youhuang and Xuanye had to leave their swords and other items behind.
4. Movement of objects between the worlds: 2D items from the painting become 3D in the real world and vice versa - the sand/painting demon was attacking Xuanye with 2D weapons in the bookshop. And Xuanye's 2D bracelet turned into a 3D bracelet in the painting world. This could be a key to unlocking the painting.
5. There is something super suspicious about Simao (Bro no 4). I went back and looked at ep 17 and he looks nothing like the 3 men in black that got sucked into the painting. He is too white skinned and clean shaven unlike his "bros". In fact the beggar in the opening episode of the painting arc looks more like the 3rd missing man. If that is the case, he is a probably another demon villain and probably an important one in this arc and maybe even the overall story. Martial uncle could be the main human villain. This could be the main demon villain.

Some observations about the Painting World:

I think the three silly bros are not that simple. Remember the 3 men in black that went into the bookstore and got pulled into the painting? I suspect that they are those guys. Its just that they became harmless in the painting but they are bad guys in the real world who obviously went to the bookstore looking for something.

Maybe the conch that Banxia bought recorded his confession in the painting. She can replay it all the time!

Lol - that must be the Motorola banana phone. My uncle had one, I thought it was so cool at the time! 😅😂

I forgot I have this old clip of RJL when he used to kiss like his job depended on it…
https://youtube.com/shorts/P2lTV3mK0BI?si=ZhUnERMhxtbeVEtn
Let’s see if this director can make him top it.

I know a lot of the waterways have been cleaned up by a lot I was pleasantly surprised to see people actually swimming in the Li River when I was in Guilin last year. But this is a VERY recent phenomenon. Anytime before that and especially during this time, the Grand Canal was definitely disgusting and not something any kid would swim in. But yeah, I am all good to suspend disbelief on this kind of stuff.

I would expect nothing less from the TMOPB director.

I think the world of the painting is quite interesting but the painting demon is the weakest link. That actor is super annoying and overacts all the time and it is always the same act.

🤞🤞🤞

When Banxia realised she liked Xuanye a few episodes ago, she projected his face onto the moon - @sony_t posted the screenshot of it on the main feed recently if you missed it. His confession and the realisation there is no moon must have triggered her memory. I am going to guess she remembers the confession as well.
https://mydramalist.com/profile/sony25t/feeds/nm6llCe

It was a very good confession. And his lines were decently spoken as well.

Lol... I guess they needed it to be set in mid-00s to make the high speed rail story work... Not to mention that canal was probably super polluted during that time.

You are right, most of the dad's were pretty useless. Xingchi and Chen Rui frustrated me the most. They both blew themselves up; Xingchi impulsively and Chen Rui methodically. It was obvious early on Xingchi should be a cook I can't believe it took so long to get there but I did like the twist in Xingchi's story that redeemed his dad a bit. But I didn't buy it Haikuo's selfish and vain mother's change of heart. Siyi was also my favorite character until she ghosted everyone like that. And then she just pops up again like nothing happened...

She was a child actor who grew up in the business. She has had many critically acclaimed roles in movies and serious dramas. She rarely does idol dramas so its no surprise people don't know her. She also took time out to graduate from Beijing Film Academy, classmates with Wu Lei.

Well I am fine with any ending that makes sense. And Chinese myths tend to have bittersweet endings like they turn into butterflies and fly away or someone turns into a mountain or gets sent to the moon. I am fine with any of those.