UnaSpenser

I thought it was really out of character when he suddenly told ZH that he wouldn't let ZH kill his father. Where did that even come from? Did he no longer care that his father watched as his mother was murdered?

His only real familial bond was with his mother. His only motivation for being anything other than a ne'er-do-well was to avenge his mother. Then, all of a sudden, he's all attached to his father? And willing to turn on the one person who lifted him up in his life?

It made no sense to me.

The other thing that I wondered was where did he get the mask and cloak? I guess we're to assume that there was a lot of time between when the family was killed and when ZBW returned?

I also think I missed how they even knew about the Gui Seal and that ML's dad had found it.

Did you put this reply in the wrong place??

I feel that there has been some foreshadowing about the other two brothers. Di Lin became a bit monstrous in his ways and he seems to be a bit post-traumatic about it. He may be inclined to sacrifice himself, because he doesn't know how to live with what he's become. The loss of his child certainly won't help.

Si Yi Lin is also on a trajectory which seems headed for tragedy. He can't be with his beloved and is forcing himself to be what everyone wants him to be, though he basically has to become an emotional zombie to do so. I certainly hope he's not going to be pitted against the North Clan and end being involved in the death of his own child. Or finding out too late and being stuck with the boring wife he's being forced to marry. Its all a recipe for serious depression and giving up on life.

Unless they can turn these things around for these characters, its hard to see how they good have good endings. Di Lin needs counseling. Si Yi Lin needs to know about his child, so he can make informed choices. (Perhaps if Xiu is able to lead Yuanzhou to independence and force the North Clan to accept peace, he can broker a continent-wide detente and give Si Yi Lin a chance to reconcile with Ka Dan. Otherwise, what joy would he ever find in life, at this point?)

Everything feels ominous right now.

Speculation: [note that my guess about who was behind the mask was completely wrong. So, there is no reason to see my speculation as having any value. lol]

Perhaps ZH's dad had hidden the seal, but the king didn't know exactly where; and/or couldn't access it? Was all this nefarious business his doing? Who else would the general and the eunuch be so devoted to? Was his story even true? He could say anything. And he seems so gluttonous for that power.

Of course, it could also be one of the other princes, who thought they should have been the successor. But, for some reason, I have found the emperor suspect from the beginning.

I'm catching up and I'm on Episode 30.

I've been assuming this whole time that the man with the mask is the Emperor. If so, its amusing that they're talking about stealing something from him.

I'm well aware of the history of hereditary succession. Its that, in a story like this, where there really is no family left, except a wholly unqualified young woman, the absurdity of it is laid bare. Its almost impossible to imagine running a government and not wanting it to be put in the most capable hands.

Beyond that, CanXing is just a creepy dude, manipulating things and putting on false faces. Whenever he speaks "intimately" with someone, as if he's close to them and cares so much, I want to puke. He only cares about people insofar as they serve his agenda.

Is it just me: I find Zichuan Can Xing to be really creepy. He tells everyone "you're my most trusted....", while he would throw any of them under the bus.

And why does it have to be HIS family leading Yichuan? All he's got left is this useless niece. Why can't other people pick up the mantle? Shouldn't they all be looking at who would be the best successor, rather than assuming that there is only one option; a girl who has never been interested in governance?

also, he absolutely told his troop to head directly to Wayun. They wouldn't have been implicated, if they had followed orders. That's on them.

In a feudal world, I'm not sure there is a right and wrong when it comes to being committed to avenging a loved one's death.

Does it ever occur to these people that if an entire country's ability to stay stabilized is dependent upon one person, that they don't have stability, at all?

How could a nation's future be dependent upon a nincompoop of a princess? it's patently absurd. And when they make that claim and are all serious about it, I can't feel it, at all. It's so meaningless. They just need good leadership. Why does it have to come from a specific family? Especially, when there only seems to be two members of said family? what a farce.

I like exploration of the brotherhood and the machinations of conspiracy and counter-conspiracy and how all the puzzle pieces are moving. But, the drama's integrity and depth and completely ruined by the very unrealistic non-romance. Why do they do this?

I'm just hitting the part where she runs off to the battlefield. I hate these story arcs, where the stupid girl, who has nothing to offer and is only a burden and putting the man at risk of being killed by her powerful family, goes into a war zone, as if that's nothing at all.

I'm going to try and FF through this, but if she really keeps showing up. I'm dropping it. It's really too bad. Every other part of the drama is quite good. How can writers create such a good plot and all these characters, but then make such a mess of the supposed female lead? why can't they write women better?

oh gawd. They went there. The stupid girl who runs off to the battlefield and doesn't care that she's a burden, or that she's putting her target's life at risk from her powerful uncle. I just can't. If I skip an ep or two will this part be over?

Also, are we supposed to be understanding of what Di Lin did with the Palace Guards? The rejuvenated Lord is pretty much as dark as the villain they all conspired to get rid of. In the process, Di Lin became rather monstrous. He'll do anything to anybody, except his 3 favorite people? What kind of ethic is that? I find him chilling. If I were Xiu, I'd definitely be wary of him.

Late getting to this, but by ep 16, I'm far more interested in the brotherhood and the Si Yiling and North Clan Princess relationship than I am in whatever is supposed to be [not] happening with Xiu and Ning. Every one of their scenes feels like pointless filler. There is nothing interesting about her character and she seems to only exist in order to move some of his plot along. Would love to see a version without her scenes. I don't think the story would suffer at all.

I'd really like to see more of her!

How does everyone know except him?

exactly.

Ok. The drama lost me. Ep 37.

Two women, in a wholly patriarchal world, with zero power and cutting ties with the people who could help them, are going to seek vengeance.

I love me some strong female characters. But no unrealistically stupid ones. Too bad.

but, but, someone asked Grok!

Not that this was the most sophisticated drama, but the story has been well done enough. However, this little twist of her rejecting him ep 35 seems really forced by the writers. Investigating cases is what he does and he's going to pursue it, regardless of her choices.

Also, denying that there are genuine feelings is just eye-rolling. I feel nothing of her self-inflicted angst. It's just stupid. Skipping all scenes related to any "heartache" over this.

Why do writers always opt for the patronizing arcs in character development. He didn't want to tell her the truth while she had amnesia? Why not? She's strong and she wouldn't have had feelings about it, since she didn't remember anyway. And she could have been more of an ally in the search for truth.

Now, she's going to tell herself she needs to pursue things without him? Why? He's her best chance at getting to answers. He's not weak and useless, either.

It doesn't fit their characters, as they are expressed in most of the other scenarios.

I hope she gets over this in, like, 5 seconds. I can't enjoy this bs.