Yesss gimme more identity porn
Sep. 10th, 2016 02:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkBack home in Vienna. Together with my grandparents we had a few beautiful hikes (some more walks really, they are getting older…) in the mountains, it was great. And I got to spend time with almost all of my maternal relatives :) My cousins are almost adults now, it's a bit odd.
Back home in Vienna, tomorrow DD starts moving in, and since I took an early train that meant I had some time to watch TV today. Unsurprisingly it was very difficult to stop once I started… Very good though! I'm glad nobody has or will in the near future have the room next to mine, it's nice not to have to feel self-conscious about high-pitched noises and clapping.
I watched "Nirvana in Fire" up to episode 34 and there were sooo many good things. This is the *best* kind of identity porn, where every aspect of who knows what adds another layer, often another layer of angst. Episode 33, Jingyan telling Mei Changsu he's done with him, cutting the bell cord, leaving him outside, then later Mei Changsu chasing after him in the snow and calling him by his full name, for once using an emotional argument instead of a tactical one, and invoking Lin Shu's name to convince Jingyan. Granted, Jingyan brought him up first, how he'll face Lin Shu, while unknowingly actually facing him. Mmm, good stuff.
Before that, I loved how close they became, actual friends who both debate and discuss things and also work together in silence. Jingyan charged Mei Changsu with investigating the Chiyan treason case and Lin Shu actually complied, I'm a big fan of mutual respect and gratitude and I also like the bowing. I'll just imagine that in a cut scene Jingyan and Mei Changsu talked about the incident with Consort Jing being detained and realized what happened. Their interactions are such a joy to watch, from scenes where Lin Shu tries to hide his feelings about Jingyan talking about the Chiyan army case or himself, to scenes where Jingyan sees something in Mei Changsu that reminds him of Lin Shu and becomes emotional (water buffalo!)
Excellent trap Prince Yu and Xia Jiang set up, tailor made for Jingyan. No wonder that Jingyan is even more determined to help out a former Chiyan soldier, only a few months earlier he had his first piece of actual evidence that the treason was a lie. (He cried afterwards and told his mother he misses Lin Shu, someone give him more hugs.)
The prison interrogation of Xie Yu by Mei Changsu was excellent. "You lost to me because you are stupid", tell it like it is ^^ I wonder how much of what Xie Yu told him Lin Shu had already suspected.
What a blow for poor Xia Dong… let's see what she does with it.
Mei Changsu promised one person responsible for the Chiyan massacre to protect him in exchange for the secret… ah well, he knows there are loopholes. And he got Xie Yu to write a letter, basically a confession, which will definitely turn up again later. Looks like Liyang did eventually grow at least somewhat fond of him.
The last words of the Grand Empress Dowager were "Jingyan" and "xiao-Shu", a bit overly dramatic maybe, but still. I felt for both of them.
Jingrui leaving for Southern Chu – I hope he comes back, I like him. Aww, Yujin says that they all change but the important thing is that they stay friends. Mei Changsu apologizes too, but Jingrui says it was his choice to offer friendship and he couldn't expect the same regard to be offered in return. Poor Jingrui, I hope one day you'll find someone who'll put you first. (Apart from his mother, but that's kind of a difficult family situation right now.)
How did Jingxuan ever become Crown Prince, he's so stupid. Rhetorical question, it's because of his mother, but she can only do so much.
Jingyan finally becomes a Noble Prince! And Prince Yu finally suspects and then is certain that Mei Changsu's loyalties aren't to him. Open – for court standards – warfare, interesting. Prince Yu isn't stupid, otherwise he never would have come so far. He still has Qin Banruo, who isn't stupid either – although she's not exactly on his side, she just wants to destabilize the kingdom as revenge for the destruction of the Hua kingdom. From what everyone says about her, if Princess Xuanji were still alive she would be a worthy opponent to Mei Changsu.
Banruo has her sister make Tong Lu fall in love with her (poor Tong Lu did ask Mr. Shisan about a background check!), then captures him, tortures him and threatens her, and gets him to spill a few unimportant details about the Jiangzuong Alliance. I'm a bit disappointed everyone else seems to assume that Tong Lu betrayed them instead of that he was somehow forced, apart from the fact that they knew him he also could have done a lot more damage had he willingly betrayed them. I hope he'll get rescued eventually!
I also want all the stories about the poor people of Mei Changsu's household, Li Gang and Zhen Ping and Physician Yan, and Fei Liu who's much less bothered by it all but even he wants Su-gege to take better care of himself. The entire Jiangzuong Alliance, or at least everyone in the higher level, seems to know about Mei Changsu's identity, watching his interactions with Jingyan must be difficult sometimes.
It definitely is for poor straight-laced Meng Zhi ^^ By now it must be obvious that he is supporting Jingyan, after how he tried to shield him when Prince Yu and Jia Xiang brought up the Chiyan case.
Prince Yu, following advice from Qin Banruo, managed to recruit Xia Jiang, while Mei Changsu managed to recruit Marquis Yan Que. The former seems more threatening at the moment, but I'm very curious what Marquis Yan will end up doing.
I'm a bit sad that Yujin and Mei Changsu don't seem to be close friends anymore, but at least Yujin and Jingrui are still writing each other. Yujin is also closer to his father, good for him. Yujin isn't a politician, and apparently not a soldier, and while not dumb he doesn't have a very strategically smart brain, but I'm convinced he'll find a way to achieve something.
The image of a small Jingrui adoring bratty teenage Lin Shu and making Yujin follow him is adorable and hilarious.
Consort Jing knows Mei Changsu is Lin Shu! He knows that she knows, but she hasn't told her son, she must suspect Lin Shu has his reasons. Every time we see one of the dessert boxes I expect there to be a hidden message somewhere. No wonder she was so shocked when the Emperor mentioned that a Chiyan soldier had been captured. I really want her and Lin Shu to meet and talk.
Good for her that she can protect herself in the Palace. And it does seem like Eunuch Gao Zhan sliiiightly favors her and Jingyan, that would be a big advantage.
I should have suspected earlier that xiao-Xin was a spy, fortunately it seems like Consort Jing suspects too. She's smart.
I miss Mu Nihuang, I hope she comes back soon. At least Xia Dong is back now. Mu Quing should also still be in the capital, but Lin Shu promised Nihuang to protect him so he probably won't involve him in anything.
Over half of the series over, I'll probably manage to finish before Yuletide nominations close, convenient. I really like the intro and ending music too, when I binge-watch a series I usually cut those off but not here.
Back home in Vienna, tomorrow DD starts moving in, and since I took an early train that meant I had some time to watch TV today. Unsurprisingly it was very difficult to stop once I started… Very good though! I'm glad nobody has or will in the near future have the room next to mine, it's nice not to have to feel self-conscious about high-pitched noises and clapping.
I watched "Nirvana in Fire" up to episode 34 and there were sooo many good things. This is the *best* kind of identity porn, where every aspect of who knows what adds another layer, often another layer of angst. Episode 33, Jingyan telling Mei Changsu he's done with him, cutting the bell cord, leaving him outside, then later Mei Changsu chasing after him in the snow and calling him by his full name, for once using an emotional argument instead of a tactical one, and invoking Lin Shu's name to convince Jingyan. Granted, Jingyan brought him up first, how he'll face Lin Shu, while unknowingly actually facing him. Mmm, good stuff.
Before that, I loved how close they became, actual friends who both debate and discuss things and also work together in silence. Jingyan charged Mei Changsu with investigating the Chiyan treason case and Lin Shu actually complied, I'm a big fan of mutual respect and gratitude and I also like the bowing. I'll just imagine that in a cut scene Jingyan and Mei Changsu talked about the incident with Consort Jing being detained and realized what happened. Their interactions are such a joy to watch, from scenes where Lin Shu tries to hide his feelings about Jingyan talking about the Chiyan army case or himself, to scenes where Jingyan sees something in Mei Changsu that reminds him of Lin Shu and becomes emotional (water buffalo!)
Excellent trap Prince Yu and Xia Jiang set up, tailor made for Jingyan. No wonder that Jingyan is even more determined to help out a former Chiyan soldier, only a few months earlier he had his first piece of actual evidence that the treason was a lie. (He cried afterwards and told his mother he misses Lin Shu, someone give him more hugs.)
The prison interrogation of Xie Yu by Mei Changsu was excellent. "You lost to me because you are stupid", tell it like it is ^^ I wonder how much of what Xie Yu told him Lin Shu had already suspected.
What a blow for poor Xia Dong… let's see what she does with it.
Mei Changsu promised one person responsible for the Chiyan massacre to protect him in exchange for the secret… ah well, he knows there are loopholes. And he got Xie Yu to write a letter, basically a confession, which will definitely turn up again later. Looks like Liyang did eventually grow at least somewhat fond of him.
The last words of the Grand Empress Dowager were "Jingyan" and "xiao-Shu", a bit overly dramatic maybe, but still. I felt for both of them.
Jingrui leaving for Southern Chu – I hope he comes back, I like him. Aww, Yujin says that they all change but the important thing is that they stay friends. Mei Changsu apologizes too, but Jingrui says it was his choice to offer friendship and he couldn't expect the same regard to be offered in return. Poor Jingrui, I hope one day you'll find someone who'll put you first. (Apart from his mother, but that's kind of a difficult family situation right now.)
How did Jingxuan ever become Crown Prince, he's so stupid. Rhetorical question, it's because of his mother, but she can only do so much.
Jingyan finally becomes a Noble Prince! And Prince Yu finally suspects and then is certain that Mei Changsu's loyalties aren't to him. Open – for court standards – warfare, interesting. Prince Yu isn't stupid, otherwise he never would have come so far. He still has Qin Banruo, who isn't stupid either – although she's not exactly on his side, she just wants to destabilize the kingdom as revenge for the destruction of the Hua kingdom. From what everyone says about her, if Princess Xuanji were still alive she would be a worthy opponent to Mei Changsu.
Banruo has her sister make Tong Lu fall in love with her (poor Tong Lu did ask Mr. Shisan about a background check!), then captures him, tortures him and threatens her, and gets him to spill a few unimportant details about the Jiangzuong Alliance. I'm a bit disappointed everyone else seems to assume that Tong Lu betrayed them instead of that he was somehow forced, apart from the fact that they knew him he also could have done a lot more damage had he willingly betrayed them. I hope he'll get rescued eventually!
I also want all the stories about the poor people of Mei Changsu's household, Li Gang and Zhen Ping and Physician Yan, and Fei Liu who's much less bothered by it all but even he wants Su-gege to take better care of himself. The entire Jiangzuong Alliance, or at least everyone in the higher level, seems to know about Mei Changsu's identity, watching his interactions with Jingyan must be difficult sometimes.
It definitely is for poor straight-laced Meng Zhi ^^ By now it must be obvious that he is supporting Jingyan, after how he tried to shield him when Prince Yu and Jia Xiang brought up the Chiyan case.
Prince Yu, following advice from Qin Banruo, managed to recruit Xia Jiang, while Mei Changsu managed to recruit Marquis Yan Que. The former seems more threatening at the moment, but I'm very curious what Marquis Yan will end up doing.
I'm a bit sad that Yujin and Mei Changsu don't seem to be close friends anymore, but at least Yujin and Jingrui are still writing each other. Yujin is also closer to his father, good for him. Yujin isn't a politician, and apparently not a soldier, and while not dumb he doesn't have a very strategically smart brain, but I'm convinced he'll find a way to achieve something.
The image of a small Jingrui adoring bratty teenage Lin Shu and making Yujin follow him is adorable and hilarious.
Consort Jing knows Mei Changsu is Lin Shu! He knows that she knows, but she hasn't told her son, she must suspect Lin Shu has his reasons. Every time we see one of the dessert boxes I expect there to be a hidden message somewhere. No wonder she was so shocked when the Emperor mentioned that a Chiyan soldier had been captured. I really want her and Lin Shu to meet and talk.
Good for her that she can protect herself in the Palace. And it does seem like Eunuch Gao Zhan sliiiightly favors her and Jingyan, that would be a big advantage.
I should have suspected earlier that xiao-Xin was a spy, fortunately it seems like Consort Jing suspects too. She's smart.
I miss Mu Nihuang, I hope she comes back soon. At least Xia Dong is back now. Mu Quing should also still be in the capital, but Lin Shu promised Nihuang to protect him so he probably won't involve him in anything.
Over half of the series over, I'll probably manage to finish before Yuletide nominations close, convenient. I really like the intro and ending music too, when I binge-watch a series I usually cut those off but not here.
