The utter sadness sets in.This is the 2nd episode where I am irritated at Jiang Cheng. The blame that goes to Wuxian is unreasonable. We all know he didn't ever do anything that caused anything that wasn't already going to happen. Jiang Cheng's personality is the EXACT reasons his parents put Wuxian beside him and treated Wuxian the way they did. He can't even muster anything for his sister who has to suffer alone. She's a woman who doesn't cultivate dangit! What use is he to her as a brother? Thankfully they both have Wuxian.[Note: The paranoia, the self doubt, the blame would not be a part of Wuxian's psyche at all if it wasn't for the darkness that entered his soul after coming into contact with the Túshā Xuánwǔ sword. I'll also note that, Wen Qing, having worked with Wen Ruo Han in order to suppress the affects of the Stygian Iron on him, is well aware that Wuxian is being affected by something similar, even if she doesn't express it. There's no way she doesn't see its affects.]This is where I knew that Wuxian floated wherever the wind took him or in better words both ways. Wen Qing and him fight like a married couple. It's clear, just like her brother, she's let affection for Wuxian seep into her soul. Wuxian appreciates the care, and will always reciprocate.Like the reason Wuxian was fascinated with Wangji and sought him out for friendship, she has talents that either match his or surpass him. These kinds of people are hard for him to find. It's also a clear indicator that Wangji floated this way from the start, and was the one having to suppress lots of things. I believe Wuxian understood that deep down from the start, and why he enjoyed teasing him in that vein. It's most assuredly that Wuxian comes to his feelings over time, where as for Wangji, it was love at first sight. lol.
Another episode I find myself balling my eyes out.Madam Yu whips Wuxian and even he understands the reason behind it. He's honestly not mad at Madam Yu, but the lies of the Wen clan, and their despicable actions. He even acknowledges a willingness to not fight Madam Yu if she chooses to take an arm for "peace" as Wen clan suggests.Madam Yu, after hearing "supervisory office" and the plans of Wen clan, realizes that no matter what is done now, they're coming for them. She's not willing to give up anyone, including Wuxian, to them, nor be under their thumb. She lives up to the clan's motto "attempt the impossible"!When I first watched this episode I hated her and was so mad. But seeing it now, and Wuxian's reactions, I take it back. There's a reason that Wuxian took all her beatings and shittalking. Jiang Cheng couldn't handle it if both his parents admired Wuxian. Even his own mom can admit he is no match for him. I don't believe she really believes the rumors about Feng Mian, now that I think about it. Jiang Cheng, when going outside the Lotus Pier, or once he takes over the clan, would likely hear these words and question things. Madam Yu was the BALANCE that Jiang Cheng needed in order for him to not come out like Xue Yang, Meng Yao, or even Wen Chao! It made him feel "sympathy" for Wuxian, rather than resentment!This time around, even knowing what I know, when Madam Yu grabbed Wuxian after saying her goodbyes to her son, I almost thought for a second, it would end different. This time around, I felt her care, if not love, for Wuxian! Her "I hate you" sounded more like "I love you" to me this time around!The first time I watched this episode, I seriously resented Madam Yu for making demands of Wuxian on behalf of her son after what she did and said! ...but now I realize, she said it because she knew she could and that he would respond willingly! For all the "..you get us into trouble.." "..you never behave.." "..you run off and do your own thing..", if she truly believed all that, she'd not even bother to make the demand! Would anyone make those demands of "evil" troublemakers like Xue Yang or Wen Chao!! HELL NO! That's all you really need to wrap your mind around when unfolding this episode. This isn't even something she really had to say because Wuxian was ALWAYS going to give his life for his family ESPECIALLY Jiang Cheng! Madam Yu is fully aware, core or not, Jiang Cheng will need Wuxian behind him to be emotionally stable and strong!
I never really understand why, the way Wangji left Wuxian at the Unclean Realm, that when they meet again he's even further back to his old self. Wangji practiced social distancing before the times. lol.I'm still unsure why he went this route. My best guess and summation is that Wangji was embarrassed that he let go of the thing both he AND Wuxian were left to protect by Lan Yi. It's understandable he'd be upset and sad about the destruction of his clan, but that, in itself, says nothing to why he acted so cold to Wuxian. It's not his fault things happened this way. He's only trying to help everyone and protect what needs to be protected.Is being weak in front of Wuxian that bad? And since this is my 2nd watch, knowing what I know now, this has double the amount of impact!
I think this is the one and only time I'm truly irritated with Wangji's stoic principled stubbornness. Then, again, this whole thing needed to come to a head and be resolved. Setting up wards and constantly trying to hide, as Lan Yi stated, is not a recipe for success. It needs 1 hero willing to "do the impossible" for everything to be complete. I'm just sad it had to start with this moment.
I have to admit that these first 3 episodes were a MUCH better watch the 2nd time around because I had NOT read the novel so I had no preconceived notions about what the show was about and where it was heading.Now I know the members of each of the clans, their interpersonal relationships including how they are connected/related to each other, plus their issues, animosities, insecurities, loves, and hangups. It makes it much easier to understand the subtlety of the acting and what's taking place.
It's the beginning of closer interactions between Wuxian & Wangji. The dynamic between them is more than anything we see on the surface and if you've paid attention up to now, you get it.I think the best depiction of the subtlety of the depth to which we're introduced each character is wrapped up in one small scene. In this episode: Wangji asks Wuxian what the name of his sword is. You can get a lot just out of the exchange the two have, but underneath there is far more to it.If you look up the word/term 隨便 in Wiktionary you realize just how much that sword encapsulates everything to do with Wuxian.As an adjective Suíbiàn [隨便] can mean, casual; informal; random; careless; undisciplined; disorganized; or a colloquial for sexually easy.As a verb Suíbiàn [隨便] means doing whatever you like; or it's up to you to do whatever.As an adverb Suíbiàn [隨便] means to doing things casually; to do things without restraint or goals; to do things as one pleases; or to just do things randomly.Even as a conjunction Suíbiàn [隨便] means regardless of what, how, when, or where... lolEssentially, it is true that, Wuxian's sword completely encapsulates his entire persona... and to lose that, God only knows how that feels......
I personally find Dilmurat Dilraba to be awesome in this. She's just the right amount of naive, very comparable to Zhao Li Ying in style. The pacing of the first episode was just right. Didn't feel bored and the story has caught my interest.
The OTP is finally on the road to cuteness, but, for some reason, I still don't understand how she managed to switch up her feelings. It was kind of out of the blue. They should have showed her thinking about him more, but I'll still take it.
I am glad Xiao Fei finally had a bit of a heart to heart with Tong Wei. I'm perturb by Tian Yu who professes to be in love, for years, yet would deceive Tong Wei so easily like this. It's not hard to side with one side over the other.
I don't blame him. His dad's a jerk, and I'd screw up his businesses on his behalf a lot more than he is doing. She's just caught in the crossfire. She'll never understand because she doesn't try to know who more than what she can do to use him, which isn't what he needs. He's looking for a mommy figure.
His character is both annoying and cute at the same time. I'm not sure about this OTP. She's coming on too strong in the "I'm not interested" attitude.
There are too many storylines going on at once. They could probably condense this down. Not enough time with any of them to capture my complete interest. I want more OTP time but that seems like a useless request. The "intrigue" topics are recycled BS that have no value to entertain me.