(If interested in what happened in the novel, I wrote a lengthy recap about the divine temple and his mother, Wu Zhu, Chen PingPing, the emperor and his death, and the ending (last chapter 7). Check the 3 separate comments tagged spoiler)

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After finishing the last episode of Season 2, I can't help but feel a mix of surprise and disappointment. While I did enjoy some moments, overall, I found myself questioning some of the creative choices and missing the magic of the first season.

Season 1 holds a special place in my heart. It's at the top of my list. I was so invested in it that I ended up reading the novel, which spans 746 chapters and over 5501 pages. To my delight, I discovered that Season 1 stayed true to the novel, accurately portraying the characters and the story. The martial arts scenes were executed well, although not as detailed as the novel, and every character was perfectly cast. Season 1 truly stands out as a masterpiece.

Season 2 sadly did not reach my expectations. Everything was rushed. The arcs completely changed. They were mixed. I did not recognize the main characters like a second prince or the crown prince. The villainess character of the story, the eldest princess, appears only in the last part of the season when she is THE main villain of the story. I am trying to think of one character who did not change, and I found one: Fan Jian, his father. Okay, let's make two, his father-in-law, the prime minister. And three with Da Bao (Kudos for this incredible performance! It's Not easy to play with realism and a simple mind).

Fan Xian character went from being an arrogant mastermind to a submissive, almost tearful figure in the first part of the season. His actions, such as begging and kneeling in front of the emperor, were a far cry from the Fan Xian in the novel. I missed the strategic genius who could outmaneuver his opponents and exploit their weaknesses. Despite the change, he remained lovable, thanks to the acting skills of the ML (Zhang Ruo Yun). I felt relieved that his true personality returned in the last part of Season 2. But it was a little too late; I lost the excitement of watching the drama. Plus, the unnecessary comedic elements introduced by the screenwriter detracted from the season's enjoyment. Even if some, I admit, were funny, it was too much. But too much change, too much difference in personalities. The magic of season 1 was not there.

The last 2 episodes were rushed. And where was the grand apotheosis expected in the last minutes of season 2? Those special moments that ended and left us all on our toes, just like season 1? He got back his zhenqi. So what?

I am SO SO disappointed.

I understand the reasons. The TV producers wanted to create a period romance (A) even though the novel is a period thriller drama (B), so the focus is completely different. The TV producers started with B in season 1 and then switched to A in season 2 with no transition or logic. It was as if season 1 was following the novel, and in season 2, they got inspired but created a brand new storyline. It was brutal.

It was all talk, unnecessary talk, but no action. Where was the tyrannical zhenqi that took a considerable place in the novel? Yes, he touched here and there with his fist to show that his meridians were messing with his body, but no cultivation, practice, or fight except for the big one in the season, which was very well choreographed. But only one? Did the production cut the budget in half? Because that's precisely what I'm thinking after the end of season 2. The teasers/previews were so good, though… *sigh*

Yes, the story is extensive, spanning 746 chapters filled with numerous events, making it challenging to condense into just 3 seasons. I'm perplexed why the first season was a success, but the second season fell short. What could have gone wrong? Did the screenwriter lose his touch or encounter some personal issues? Was it a lack of budget? Was it a change of executive producer? Was it production executives' pressure that led to the decision to rewrite the arcs completely? I ensured that it was the same screenwriter for both seasons, but I'm uncertain about the involvement of the art producer and other staff members. Don't get me wrong, the actors and actresses were equally good in both seasons. It's the material they were given that made season 2 chaotic. Yes, reducing the number of episodes was an issue 46 vers 36. But then why not negotiating a S3 S4 and even S5? S1 was a mega-hit, I cannot believe budget was the issue, was it?

The screenwriter made too many changes to the stories and arcs, which was the main problem. It was like stuffing an elephant into a mouse pit. It just did not work. Events that were supposed to happen at the end of the novel were added in the middle of season 2, such as revealing that the emperor was a grandmaster. I understand that a TV drama differs from a novel and that not everything can be included. I also understand that some characters may be missing, such as Sisi the concubine. However, it felt like the show was all over the place.

I'm grateful I only had to wait 3 months, not 5 years, to watch season 2. I also found a fantastic novel and discovered several talented Chinese actors I now follow. However, I'm disappointed that season 2 didn't have the same "wow" factor for me as season 1.

I didn't notice much effort put into the soundtrack, either. There wasn't much difference in the original soundtrack (OST) except for the generic and epilogue. I even recognized some of the music from season 1. However, one piece of music that I hope never to hear again is the Swiss yodelling. It was used, reused, and overused. One or two good jokes are funny, but several become clownish. I can't forget how the screenwriter mocked Jing Ge, the general of the black guards.

In the drama, there were many inconsistencies and changes in the characters' personalities. For example, Wan’er, who wanted to kill Wu Zhu, the most powerful character, and Cheng Ping Ping, a strong supporter of Fan Xian, became a suspicious foe, even though they are two genius soul mates in the story. Additionally, the second prince turned evil without really taking any action. Many characters needed more screen time for proper understanding. Sweet relationships never developed, such as the first prince (not that I read many in the novel, but after the naive bland outburst at the meal 3+3, I expected to see her again!), the alcoholic empress (invented), and the undeveloped boring and useless Ming episodes(few dozen chapters in the novel). Wu Zhu acting like a crazy robot and demanding assistance from his sister were also confusing. Every single scene was full of confusing moments for me. I wanted to recognize the big moments in the novel, not a poorly executed remake with no depth and no logic. Production should have spent less on the flower's eldest princess and more on martial arts choreography! Where was the magic of the 300 poems? Where was the tension and puzzle of who was a friend and who was a foe? Gone. All gone.

The drama made quite a few changes to the original events. I constantly compared the show to the novel, trying to understand why the screenwriter made such extensive alterations. Some plotlines were easy to follow, while others left me very perplexed. I'm thinking about re-watching this season soon, hoping to gain a new perspective. I'm not entirely convinced, but I'm open to seeing it in a different light.

After reading various reviews and comments, it seems that this season is not universally liked. However, there are also many outstanding reviews. I will check the reviews in a few months when the dust has settled. That will give me a better idea of whether this drama is a success or a failure. Considering there is a season 3 (confirmed during the press conference for season 2), I hope they will make the necessary adjustments!

Until season 3... FL said during her farewell interview that it would be Chapter 7.

S1: chapters 1-2-3-4
S2: inspired by chapters 5-6 (no events or scenes or dialogues seen in drama can be found in the novel)
S3: chapter 7 (lots of martial fights, 2 mega battlefields… hope they'll get the budget!)

Again, if you want to read the spoiler about Fan Xian's mother and the Divine Temple. Check my comments :)