Half of NiF 2
Jan. 31st, 2018 10:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schneefinkI had my civil law exam today (I think it went okay), so I finally had the time to watch a bunch of NiF 2 episodes in a row. Season 2 is nowhere near as good as season 1, but still overall enjoyable. Some of the things I loved about s1 are missing or much rarer in s2 (like a clear storyline goal, intricate sensible plots, and very competent characters) and it's occasionally quite frustrating, but it also has more of a few other things that I like (most notably sibling feelings.)
We watched until episode 28, which seems to be story-wise right between the first and the second half, and I have emotions.
PINGZHANG DIED. Ugh. DD warned me that it wouldn't be tragic enough for a Chinese drama if not at least one likable main character dies, but I figured it would be the Emperor and Tingsheng. Instead, nooo, Pingzhang just HAD to play along with Puyang Ying's stupid dare (there WOULD have been ways to trick him/avoid the whole poisoning thing, c'mon) and then decide to sacrifice himself for his brother and father and country. Booo. *blinks quickly* I loved Pingzhang and Pingjing's relationship a lot! And I liked Pingzhang with his father, and with his wife (and I would have liked them even more if he had kept fewer secrets from her.)
I was not impressed by Puyang Ying as a villain, his plans made little sense and his overall goal was stupid and he was OTT evil and dramatic. Hopefully the second half will have a better bad guy (the Empress?) Speaking of, I like that Minister Xun is an antagonist to House Chang Lin but not evil, I hope he stays that way.
Poor Tingsheng, his son died in front of him and his brother in his arms. And now he's regent, which I find confusing but hey, maybe it'll work out? …Just kidding, there are still 20+ episodes to go, and the Empress doesn't like him. Apart from the Empress we don't see any of the other consorts or concubines, after how great the Inner Palace politics were in s1 I find that disappointing.
I found Pingjing's naivety often annoying, and now I'm annoyed that it apparently took his brother's death to make him grow up. I'm intrigued by Yuanqui and I hope I'll keep liking the former Crown Prince now that we'll see more of him. Currently the characters I'm most interested in are Feizhan and Minister Xun, hopefully they'll get more screen time too. I'm curious what the focus of the second half will be. I'm hoping for well-plotted politics. My favorite things in the first half were the sibling relationships between Pingzhang and Pingjing and the Emperor and Tingsheng and now we won't get to see either of those anymore.
extrapenguin has recaps every few episodes and as I'm catching up (hopefully faster now that the exam is over) I also write more detailed episode reactions in the comments there.
We watched until episode 28, which seems to be story-wise right between the first and the second half, and I have emotions.
PINGZHANG DIED. Ugh. DD warned me that it wouldn't be tragic enough for a Chinese drama if not at least one likable main character dies, but I figured it would be the Emperor and Tingsheng. Instead, nooo, Pingzhang just HAD to play along with Puyang Ying's stupid dare (there WOULD have been ways to trick him/avoid the whole poisoning thing, c'mon) and then decide to sacrifice himself for his brother and father and country. Booo. *blinks quickly* I loved Pingzhang and Pingjing's relationship a lot! And I liked Pingzhang with his father, and with his wife (and I would have liked them even more if he had kept fewer secrets from her.)
I was not impressed by Puyang Ying as a villain, his plans made little sense and his overall goal was stupid and he was OTT evil and dramatic. Hopefully the second half will have a better bad guy (the Empress?) Speaking of, I like that Minister Xun is an antagonist to House Chang Lin but not evil, I hope he stays that way.
Poor Tingsheng, his son died in front of him and his brother in his arms. And now he's regent, which I find confusing but hey, maybe it'll work out? …Just kidding, there are still 20+ episodes to go, and the Empress doesn't like him. Apart from the Empress we don't see any of the other consorts or concubines, after how great the Inner Palace politics were in s1 I find that disappointing.
I found Pingjing's naivety often annoying, and now I'm annoyed that it apparently took his brother's death to make him grow up. I'm intrigued by Yuanqui and I hope I'll keep liking the former Crown Prince now that we'll see more of him. Currently the characters I'm most interested in are Feizhan and Minister Xun, hopefully they'll get more screen time too. I'm curious what the focus of the second half will be. I'm hoping for well-plotted politics. My favorite things in the first half were the sibling relationships between Pingzhang and Pingjing and the Emperor and Tingsheng and now we won't get to see either of those anymore.
extrapenguin has recaps every few episodes and as I'm catching up (hopefully faster now that the exam is over) I also write more detailed episode reactions in the comments there.
no subject
Date: 2018-02-02 10:03 pm (UTC)I look forward to your thoughts :) I hope to catch up by the time the season finishes.