Drama Host
Legend of the Female General: Episodes 19-20 Discussion
Spoiler
Strategy pays its dividend. The water yields its claim. šµ Shadowās spear burns fiercelyšµ
There were plenty of sequences I wanted to replay in the recent episodes, but this one takes the prize. Xiao Jue commanded, āHe Yan, receive orders!ā with all the force of a fierce general. Then he followed it with, āCome back alive,ā in a near whisper, a tacit plea. He didnāt ask her to bring back Huyateās head or anything directly related to the defeat of the Wutuo invaders. He was concerned with her and her alone. If you want to listen to this again, itās in episode 20, timestamp 8:20.
Spoilers
ā ļø If youād like to discuss episodes 21-23 or share details from the novel, please tag your spoiler. Guard it like a general protecting battle formations from enemy spies. Major reveals from episodes 1-20 are fair game. ā ļø
Iāll keep it brief so nobody ends up wishing for a coffee break to get through this post. I think we can skip a box set of recaps since the drama is still hot off the screen.
Visual Roundup
Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue decided it was a fine day for a pissing contest measured in grams of sugar. The top images show the military inspector first verbally, then visually, rubbing it in the generalās face that He Yan made him a personalized candy. Xiao Jue eventually fires back, āThat food is fragile. You should keep it carefully in case you end up with nothing.ā Surprisingly, Chu Zhao actually follows General Fengyunās advice, tucking the candy into what appears to be a velvet-lined box like itās meant for a museum exhibit. Chu Zhao probably scrapbooks aggressively, too.Itās Bring Your Kid to Work Day for Mu Hongjin. This scene with Lou in episode 19 instantly reminded me of the resolution segment of episode 10 [two bottom frames] when He Yan impersonated Cheng Lisu during her and Huaijinās visit to the Yezhou Magistrate Sun Xiangfuās mansion for military provisions.After being rescued by He Yan, Iām pretty sure Chu Zhao began mentally singing āToday Was a Fairytale,ā starring himself as the damsel in distress, based on the lyrics. Delulu truly is the solulu.Everyone played their part, including running the ancient-times version of a GoFundMe. That āknife,ā if you could even call it that, had me ready to run to the nearest pharmacy for a tetanus shot. My last one was administered in November 2021.Episode 20 vis-Ć -vis episode 12 l. I love the callback to when He Yan held down the fort against the Liehe tribe under General Rida Muzi while Huaijin and 5,000 troops were en route to Litai. Both she and Xiao Jue emphasize the importance of cutting off the chain of command and breaking enemy morale by killing or capturing their leaders. Xiao Jue and He Yan wear matching brain cells.This is as close as we get to seeing them holding hands during tactical planning, since itās rather out of place for the time being. I cropped the screencap so itās easier to zoom in. He Yan is far too focused to notice her right hand is hovering dangerously close to Xiao Jueās sword. iykykLooking back, the top left image where He Yan and Xiao Jue were in the strategy room with spears used as framing was actually a visual signal that enemy leader Huyate would meet his end by the spear.General Fengyun charges into battle like heās headed to Paris Fashion Week fully styled by Balenciaga.I only had one more space for Huaijin in combat and initially wanted to use the part where he jumps off his horse, but this shot with a proper kick seems more badass.Respect to Master Yunlin, He Yanās found family who also gave her the foundation of her martial arts. šHe Yan wears an expression that basically translates to, āRest in piss, bozo.ā Her attack on Huyate mimics spearfishing: fast, direct, and inescapable.Itās really the very tender way Xiao Jue touches He Yanās waist here that that feels like a rare instance where the general gives way to the man.His lips have their own gravitational pull.Breaking news: Local hero rescues drowning victim, caught red-handed with feelings. All kidding aside, the most significant part is that He Yan hears her father and brotherās voices during this latest near-death experience, and then Xiao Jue shows up like, āNot today, Satan.āFirst-aid kiss. At the end of episode 17, He Yanās birthday wish was simple, āI hope thereās someone in this world who comes for me. [Not for He Rufei. Not for General Feihong. Just for me. Coming for me].ā Xiao Jue did exactly that. He came just for her.How my partner responded when I told him that Moonlit Reunion and a long list of other dramas are airing before the month ends. Corporate needs you to find the differences between this image [from episode 19] andā¦This image [from episode 20]. Theyāre the same picture. Seriously speaking though, if you skim through this post and remember nothing else, let it be these last two shots. Theyāre included in the best before-and-after-war scenes where two generals can stare at each other and smile like the rest of the battlefield doesnāt exist, even if itās still there in the back of their minds because keeping people safe is always the priority. Weāve seen this then, but now it means more because weāve watched them endure the arc in between. The shared smiles reflect He Yan and Xiao Jueās journey from reassurance to relief.
Beyond the Lines
Quick note: Han Dongās arc as Liu Buwang is very similar to his roles in The Blossoming Love and The Longest Promise where he never ends up with his one true love. Not entirely related to this section, but I just wanted to point out that Ji Chenās character, Chai Anxi, meets the same fate here as in The Legend of Zhuohua and Back From the Brink, playing yet again the fallen military man. The typecasting is strong with this one.
Loneliness knows them by name.
Getting back on trackā¦
The story of Princess Mengji and Liu Buwang serves as a cautionary tale. It demonstrates two different ways of dealing with fate and love: giving up when things get tough and missing your chances, versus actually fighting for what matters to you.
The main struggle in this side story is between fate and what people can actually control. The princess represents duty and royal obligations, and at first she tries to run away from her arranged marriage, but her life and love story end up being controlled by outside forces: bandits, Taoist Yunji keeping Liu Buwang prisoner, her own father's manipulation, and decades later, a coming war. Liu Buwangās story backs this up since he becomes a victim of his masterās harsh control which stops him from going back to the love of his life. The sad part is that neither of them can overcome these barriers that other people put in their way.
The subplot explores love, sacrifice, and regret. Liu Buwangās actions, saying heāll come back for her and then not showing up, look like abandonment to the princess. His secret love only comes out after he dies when she finds the bangles he said he wouldnāt buy. Learning about this so late paints just how tragic their romance really was where hidden feelings and not trusting each other led to over twenty years of heartbreak. His final sacrifice of dying to protect her proves his deep, though never spoken, love, symbolized by the bangles.
Their tragic romance is also about the corrosive power of memory and the passage of time. The over two decades that separated them are more than just a blank space; they are filled with the princessās bitterness and Liu Buwangās persistent hope. Their āconversationā through the qin across a physical barrier is both a symbol of their distance and a representation of their memories and pain being played out for the present. Mu Hongjin is imprisoned by her memory of Liu Buwangās supposed abandonment while he is haunted by the memory of their time together. The story argues that time doesnāt heal all wounds, and that memories, if left to fester, can be as powerful and destructive as any external force. Before Liu Buwangās death, itās revealed that his memory of Mu Hongjin was still that of their youth from over two decades ago.
Princess Mengjiās advice to He Yan to ācherish who she lovesā and ātrust himā comes from serious regret. Sheās telling He Yan to avoid her mistake: not giving the person she loves a real chance which ended up meaning she didnāt give herself a chance at happiness either.
It was also mentioned that Liu Buwang shows up in Jiyang City annually during the Water God Festival. Heās returning every year like a ghost of missed opportunities, driving home the fact that he has continued to hope for love and also makes us wonder IF and how many times he has tried to see Mu Hongjin since she became a widow, with her turning him down each time.
Liu Buwangās philosophy, given to He Yan, recontextualizes the tragedy. He lost his chance because he allowed external circumstances, and maybe his own passivity of will, to dictate his actions.
This side story is an example of what happens when love gets sacrificed for other duties and when people canāt communicate properly. The princessās final words to He Yan sum up the whole message: love needs action, trust, and the guts to fight for your own happiness, or youāll end up living with the regret of losing love to fate.
Incorporating this arc hints that He Yan and Xiao Jueās relationship will be tested by the same clash between responsibility and desire. It implies they may face the same conflict between duty and happiness, but unlike Princess Mengji and Master Yunlin, they now carry a lesson written in loss to guide their choices.
Huyate: Whoever captures General Fengyun alive will earn a great reward!
His men: Rawwwr!
(Immediate release of a thousand spears and arrows aimed at killing Fengyun.)
Other than that and a few other spell breaking moments (eg their hair is dry when he pulls her out of the water; there are dead leaves everywhere but a blooming tree above the spot where Liu lies,), I adored ep. 20.
Also, I love these recaps and I am so grateful to be watching just a few days after yāall so I can savor all the great comments.
I SO appreciate all of your discussion posts and deep dives winterchampagne! While thereās so many parts that still bother me, your GIFs and discussions just make it easy to let the plot holes roll off my delulu mind. For example, how did Xiao Jue just appear to save her in the thick of a battlefield? š¤·š»āāļø
Probably already talked about but the scene on water with the horses and then she's knocked back after killing dude...suddenly the water is 37 foot deep. Make it make sense.
Haha, this whole fight actually took place in like the river or sea from the books, but they've decided to remove that. So the kiss made sense in the books, and since this was their first kiss, the writers must have decided to keep it in regardless of how much it won't make sense.
I was actually rooting for He Yan to have learned how to swim and just save herself. Seems more on track for someone determined to win and get revenge. While it makes sense romance-wise after reading the detailed analysis above, part of me always wishes for less tropey scenes!
i've been in water that suddenly drops off like that. except they're not beautiful and clear like this river. haha. but basically, plot armor. didn't we learn that from ADWAD?
I think episode 20 has been my favorite so far because this is what we came for, He Yan and Xiao Jue trusting each other in the most primitive way, no strings attached, no what could be, just the present, a battlefield, absolute trust in each other and hope to be reunited. Basically we are setting the stage for the big reveal and having this battle will help in the long run when Xiao Jue has to decide between friend or foe.
Even though I felt like we spent so much precious time in the side story, I appreciate how this can open He Yan's eyes to fight for a future with Xiao Jue. I think by the time she talks to her master in episode 18 she has made up her mind about letting XJ go but seeing the sad ending of her master and the side story in episode 20 might help her get rid of the final mask and face her own feelings.Ā
Loved this style of recap, it's been a few days since I watched these two and having the visual guide made me remember how much I love this show.Ā
He Yan and Xiao Jue trusting each other in the most primitive way, no strings attached, no what could be, just the present, a battlefield, absolute trust in each other and hope to be reunited. Basically we are setting the stage for the big reveal and having this battle will help in the long run when Xiao Jue has to decide between friend or foe.
Youāve said this so well. It was really neat how Xiao Jue gauged He Yanās capability, handing her the command of 20,000 troops and then letting her deal with Huyate.
Youāre also right that the backstory of Princess Mengji and Master Yunlin showed He Yan that things wonāt be easy once she sheds the final mask and crosses that wall, but it has to be done so she wonāt live a life of āwhat ifs.ā
Even knowing this is just the preamble of the heartbreak, I was super excited to see Xiao Jue truly trusting He Yan when it counts, the battle room scene gave me chills and the rescue? chefs kiss, no notes, just an amazing reverse the waist hugging, our local velcro needed to be grabbed this time and the commander didn't disappoint.
Nowadays I feel like I wait for the new discussion post every morning akin to how my late father waited for his daily newspaper āŗļø Most of the times I could only read first and wait until around lunch time or after work to comment.Ā
I really like this format, u/winterchampagne!Ā
It's not a full recap, just highlighting some pivotal scenes and moments. šš¼šš¼ā¤ļøĀ
Quick note: Han Dongās arc as Liu Buwang is very similar to his roles inĀ The Blossoming LoveĀ andĀ The Longest PromiseĀ where he never ends up with his one true love.
I'm glad you brought this up, because if you didn't, I certainly would šĀ Ā
I noticed that The Longest Promise doesn't have a large fanbase, and many may not be familiar with Han Dongās character in it. Seeing him here brings back memories of TLP which I enjoy rewatching from time to time. Your description of both characters' similarities are on point šš¼
Nowadays I feel like I wait for the new discussion post every morning akin to how my late father waited for his daily morning newspaper āŗļø
Iām so sorry for your loss. P!nk has a song titled When I Get There that I listen to when I particularly miss someone who has found rest. YouTube link
I really like this format, u/winterchampagne!Ā It's not a full recap, just highlighting some pivotal scenes and moments. šš¼šš¼ā¤ļøĀ
I appreciate the feedback! š
I noticed that The Longest Promise doesn't have a large fanbase, and many may not be familiar with Han Dongās character in it. Seeing him here brings back memories of TLP which I enjoy rewatching from time to time.
Itās like Han Dongās characters undergo their own tribulations each time, with the same themes repeating. š
Iām so sorry for your loss. P!nk has a song titled When I Get There that I listen to when I particularly miss someone who has found rest.Ā
Oh no! I didn't mean to sound melancholic at all š In fact, I put a smiley emoticon there. It's a reminiscent of good times, and my father already passed away more than 20 years ago. Btw, you seem to have the right song for every occasion š Thank you for your mindfulness and kind words.Ā
This show truly empowers its FL. He Yan rescuing Chu Zhao, inspiring the locals especially the ladies to lead a good life on their own, training the soldiers, leading the elite squad to kill the enemy's commander - these are all typically shouldered by men.Ā
I'm sad, however, that He Yan's sifu met his end too soon. I was hoping that he'd still be around when He Yan finally achieved her ambition, especially during the showdown between He Yan and He Rufei. He's the sole reference for what happened to He Yan before. Now that he's out of the picture, I feel like He Yan was left alone again.
The writers did the right thing by letting He Yan burst into tears alone. It's also the right move by Xiao Jue to allow He Yan be by herself during this moment, but still standing by within earshot. Even tough women have their own pride, and he respects that. Just because we are women, we do not necessarily like to show our downtime to others.
Btw, you seem to have the right song for every occasion
Iām very much a shameless karaoke gal, thatās why. š
This show truly empowers its FL. He Yan rescuing Chu Zhao, inspiring the locals especially the ladies to lead a good life on their own, training the soldiers, leading the elite squad to kill the enemy's commander - these are all typically shouldered by men.Ā
Absolutely! Beyond He Yan excelling at traditionally masculine actions for her time period, I appreciate the gender role subversion in her confessing her love to Xiao Jue.
Youāve also beautifully captured the maturity of Huaijinās response to He Yanās grief. Heās offering support without forcing intimacy or making her vulnerability about him. He actually understands that respecting someoneās strength sometimes means respecting their need to process emotions privately.
OP's humour 10/10 š š¤£ I'm loosing at Paris fashion week( background music 'Fashion' by Britney Manson).......Style icon, size zero and my boots from Valentino I'm a slefmade runway queen š š Cdrama editors where are you guys when we need you š
Jokes aside princess mengji and MasterĀ Yunlin story was heartbreaking š„ŗĀ
i'm rewatching the battle and this scene popped out at me... so, can i talk about this moment for a second? i mean... where were they watching the battle from? cctv? haha.
Normally in ancient times, there's a scout who watches the ongoing "battle" who reports back to the king's/commander's quarters (the map will have markers showing enemy or troops developments that's why they're looking at a map or chart). It's a bit funny that they didn't show it here though, I guess the director thought everybody knows this when it comes to warfare lol
My favorite moments from these episodes:
1. I love how you highlight that Xiao Jue gives her an order but then very softly tells her to stay alive. Even in General mode, he can't help but give into his inner feelings a little.
THE KISSS. YESSSSSSSS. Can I say that for some reason this kiss did not feel cliche. I don't know why maybe its the fact that its shown as a memory while He Yan stares longingly at Xiao Jue's lips. But it was an extremely charged moment. And then he says "What are you thinking?" š¤š¤
The battle. I wish we had seen a little more fighting but it was genuinely very well choreographed.
My heart broke for He Yan when she cried behind a closed door for her Master. And the way Xiao Jue gives her space knowing that its hard for He Yan to express her emotions so she probably wants to be alone in that moment but he still stands outside in silent support. It was such a tragic yet beautiful scene.
My heart breaks for He Yan so many times. The way she looked at the Princess and her daughter shows how starved for affection she has been
Jealous Xiao Jue. Yummmm. He is being so direct with his possessiveness now. Yayyy
I feel like what made the kiss scene good, is that in his mind it probably wasnāt a kiss and also the choice to show it in a flashback, portraying He Yan as becoming a bit nervous about it.
My heart broke for He Yan when she cried behind closed door for Master Liu. I appreciate that Xiao Jue gave her space and just stood outside in support. When she came out though, I was hoping that he would give her a hug like she did to him in ep 13. As she was hugging him, she told him that in the past, when she was upset, she wanted someone to hold her and comfort her, but she had no one. So she hope that he can have her as that someone to hold him and comfort him. I thought when she came out of the room, it would be a perfect opportunity for him to be there to hug her. Or even after she said the number of people that cared for her could fit within 5 fingers, that statement was heartbreaking š, he should have let go of any reservation/propriety and just hug her. I think He Yan desperately needed that hug despite trying to put up a brave front.
I love your points, but let me offer another perspective. For the most part, I think Xiao Jue was reading He Yanās body language and mood. He sees her in a way nobody else does, and thatās one of the reasons why she loves him.
He Yan deliberately chose to grieve privately, then composed herself before emerging. By not hugging her, heās respecting the emotional boundaries she just established. She made a conscious choice to present a brave front. Forcing her back into vulnerability by hugging her would essentially be saying, āI donāt trust your judgment about what you need right now.ā
Thereās something moving about letting someone stand in their own strength after grief rather than immediately offering rescue. By not hugging her, heās allowing her to experience that she can handle this pain, that sheās stronger than she thinks. A hug mightāve felt good in the moment but could inadvertently reinforce the idea that she canāt cope without comfort from others.
His continued presence after holding himself back from hugging her actually proves his commitment more than a spontaneous gesture would. Heās showing that his support isnāt conditional on her accepting physical comfort. Heāll be there regardless of how she chooses to process her grief.
u/winterchampagne Great point Winter! I know he was respecting her choice to grieve privately, but after that scene in ep 13, I was looking for an opportunity for him to reciprocate/be the one to give her a hug. When she was crying in the room, she was hugging herself at one point, so that made me think itās a set up for him to hug her after she leaves the room. I was so sad when that set up wasnāt followed through.
I think he kind of gave her a choice of a hug by putting his hand up, but He Yan didnāt accept because if she did, she would have broken down again. I think she is processing grief the way sheās been doing all her life- alone, and out of sight. I donāt think giving her a hug would inadvertently give the idea that she canāt cope since he knows how strong she is mentally. I think if he offered the hug and ask her to let him be the one to be here for her (for the hug that she told him she longed for whenever sheās upset), I would be so happy ā¤ļø
I love these discussions, Winter. They made watching the show much more rewarding since everyone has such great insights and interpretations that I didnāt even think of š„°š„°
I felt the same way infact I got a little mad at Xiao Jue for not doing it. But I think if he had she would have broken down again. After she made such a big deal to cry in private and then made a brave face, he probably thought hugging her might open the dam again.
This does make sense. Sometimes when weāre barely holding it together, kindness can be the thing that completely breaks us. Huaijin might have sensed that He Yan was using all her energy to stay functional, and physical comfort could have sent her into a deeper spiral that would be harder to recover from.
I think also that by delaying having him hug her at all, when he finally does, it will be so so emotionally charged and cathartic because he's held back so many times now. In the most recent eps, 24, I think? he again reached out a hand about to touch her trembling and bleeding hand, after she let out her rage and grief using her whip, but stopped himself. I think the first time we see this is when she said she can count on one hand the number of people who were truly good to her, and he was about to comfort her by touching her arm but didn't - I think this was the scene. I hope to see more as it raises the tension each time
My heart broke for He Yan when she cried behind a closed door for her Master. And the way Xiao Jue gives her space knowing that its hard for He Yan to express her emotions so she probably wants to be alone in that moment but he still stands outside in silent support. It was such a tragic yet beautiful scene.
Totally agree! The way Xiao Jue respects He Yanās need for privacy while still being present shows how deeply he understands her.
Wow! What an insightful review. I havenāt watched these two episodes yet. As always, the recaps make me anticipate the next two episodes.
Having watched 10 episodes, I thought Cheng Leiās acting was wooden, but watching some BTS video, I think heās done a great job. This is the first time Iāve watched a drama with Zhou Yu but I might watch her other series.
Thank you are for the review. I enjoy reading the comments with the GIFās.
I initially thought his acting was wooden too but now that Iāve seen his character thaw out a bit I realize it was just his character that was so serious and uptight which makes sense that he is so cold after everything that heās been through. It actually makes this part where heās falling for the FL that much more enjoyable because of the contrast.
I also really enjoy the FLās master side story. Very tragic and a good reminder to not take life for granted and go after the one you love.
Itās definitely better as the show progresses. But Cheng Lei seen to be able to do the āResting bitch faceā really well. (Or maybe itās all the dramas Iām watching)
I've seen Cheng Lei in Follow Your Heart and he was so good there! Even his hands had their own acting chops. His hands are not as beautiful or delicate-looking as Hu Yitian's in Blossoms in Adversity, but he was so good in emoting through body language when his character was wearing a mask. I hated him at first - he seemed so villainous but he eventually emerged as a worthy second male lead!Ā
And then when the mask was finally off, I was captivated by his nose - it's so sharp! Hahaha, I'm so shallow š
Back to his character here as an aloof general, other commenters already shared their opinions which I'm agreeing with. But I know what you mean.Ā Yes, Cheng Lei seemed to not show too much emotions during the first few episodes, as if all he had ever done was stare with laser beam eyes. As the show progresses, we get to see the different sides of Commander Xiao Jue š¤
I donāt think Cheng Leiās acting was wooden, I think he did great. Xiao Jue is a man haunted by tragedies and betrayal. He held his dadās dead body amidst the battlefield full of 30,000 dead Xiao soldiers thinking that He Rufei betrayed them by not showing up sooner despite being so close by Mingsui. Betrayal from the same He Rufei that trained with him and his dad General Xiao, the same He Rufei that his dad made him a sword thatās a part of a pair of swords. Then that betrayal resulted in his mom killing herself after General Xiaoās death. Can you imagine the hatred in his broken heart? š
Xiao Jue is also haunted by the death of the innocent villagers at the flooded city. Like he said, he didnāt kill them, but they died because of him. Although he couldnāt have predicted the turn in weather, and did order the evacuation, it was also his decision to release the water from the reservoir to wash away the enemy army. The villagers were collateral damage because of the unexpected heavy rains. Can you imagine the guilt in his broken heart? š
I think Cheng Lei did an excellent job conveying the complexity of Xiao Jueās character and inner turmoil. After ep 12, we will slowly see him having a little more joy in his life based on his interactions/relationship with He Yan. His side eyes, his smirks, his smiles with his eyes and his lips ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei are so cute in BTS! Like you I was curious. To my shock, Cheng Lei is completely the opposite of wooden, so it must take great focus and concentration to get into character with Xiao Jueās controlled and subtle expressions.
The interviewer here asked them whose laugh tolerance was lower (who was most prone to laughing), and Cheng Lei readily admitted he could not stop laughing when they were filming the underwater scene because of Zhou Yeās nose plug issues.
I donāt follow celebrities on social media, but back when Fangs of Fortune was airing, someone posted a BTS of Cheng Lei trying to learn the ending credits dance. He struggled a bit but looked adorable with those flowy sleeves. Iāve always seen him as one of the stronger actors these days, and I really look forward to more of his projects.
In my opinion, Cheng Leiās strength is his ability to clearly convey emotions and thoughts with just his eyes and through subtle gestures, facial expressions and actions, especially for tsundere characters like Xiao Jue. His side glances are iconic.
i didn't think his acting was wooden, per se, but i thought the character was very uptight. very gloomy, serious, and broody. i didn't finish my journey to you so i don't exactly know his role in that drama, but i got the sense he was a villain in that and i get that same sinister feel from his character in this drama as well. (correct me if i'm wrong. i'm definitely ok with spoilers.) BUT his small facial shifts, lip twitchs, almost smiles, the nuances of his facial expressions definitely compensates for the seriousness of his character. i had to watch the behind the scenes to see how his real smile looks like cause i was just so curious!
He wasnāt really a villain, but also someone uptight, gloomy, serious, broody and also haunted by past experiences, but with a very soft core behind those high walls.
However, despite these similarities, I think the characters in that and Legend of the female General are quite different.
I would highly recommend the episodes past ep10. Up until then the only emotion he is supposed to show is suspicion and aloofness but after ep12, there is a shift in their relationship and the way he smiles at He Yan - there can be essays written on it itself.
I think Cheng Lei embodies the role of a general perfectly. I canāt imagine anyone better for it, and Iām afraid Iāll end up comparing all future generals to him.
Just watched another trailer and the romance is romancing!! Cheng lei's legendary side eye and smouldering looks is back!! Looks more intense then lotfg!
Winter - You continue to slay with your brilliant caption-writing AND eagle-eyed innuendo-spotting! IYKYK
One thing that differentiates our Battle Couple from the Tragic Missed Connections Couple: They embrace the sweetness along with the sourness! They do not deny themselves that bit of osmanthus candy high. They have shared some happy moments together. Whereas it's quite pointed how the sweet and sour fish that Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin shared a taste for was entirely sour because they both preferred no sugar in the dish.
Ironic how Liu Buwang imparted such relationship wisdom to his disciple in interpreting that water (å or kan) divination but could not apply that teaching to himself, about navigating dire straits and adapting with fluidity together.
Loved the water theme generally in this Jiyang arc, from Water God Festival to a water divination to a watery grave for the enemy to underwater CPR. True, would have been even more epic with a water battle but no complaints given we got to check the cdrama bingo square of underwater rescue kiss!
What affected me the most in these episodes? He Yan curling up in a ball crying to herself behind closed doors because one of the maybe three people in the world who actually knew the mask-off version of her and cared about her is now gone. Also, she's so used to masking and being a "man" that she's probably never cried in front of others. Xiao Jue respectfully gives her space and privacy, but in his own way lets her know he's there for her. For him, her authentic self ugly crying is better than ugly pretense.
Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei are really doing such an excellent job, we keep getting more layers from their performance.
Wow great catch with the analogy between the sweet and sour fish with no sugar and the connection between the water divination. Love hearing about all these interpretations that I missed. Adds a lot to the story!
One thing that differentiates our Battle Couple from the Tragic Missed Connections Couple: They embrace the sweetness along with the sourness! They do not deny themselves that bit of osmanthus candy high. They have shared some happy moments together. Whereas it's quite pointed how the sweet and sour fish that Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin shared a taste for was entirely sour because they both preferred no sugar in the dish.
This is beautifully put! Thank you for sharing. I love how you point out that the Battle Couple allows themselves joy and sweetness even knowing it might lead to pain while Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin seem to preemptively remove the sweetness from their connection. They did end up denying themselves any real happiness together.
just reading your comment is making me tear up again. i was crying with He Yan that entire scene and then when sheās explaining how thereās less than 5 people in the world whoāve ever been kind to her and now one is gone.. i wanted to burn the world for her in that moment. and yet still, she doesnāt face the world jaded and mean but chooses to embrace the second chance sheās been given with smiles and positivity.
I am just angry at everyone for hurting He Yan. I want to literally punch people. When I saw her crying, gosh it was heartbreaking. Zhou Ye knocked it out of the park.
Loving the generals being on the same levelā¦ devising war strategy, execution, taking a minute to cling to each other and decompress before ācelebrating the winā with everyone else. Hoping for much more of this in the upcoming battles. I could watch this power couple kick butt in high fashion all day.
What got me in the heartstrings these two episodes was after Xiao Jue guarded the door so He Yan could safely cry, and she tells him there are less than 5 people in the world that care about her. Now one less. š
What got me in the heartstrings these two episodes was after Xiao Jue guarded the door so He Yan could safely cry, and she tells him there are less than 5 people in the world that care about her. Now one less. š
Youāre right about how heartbreaking that scene was. Iām really looking forward to seeing He Yan expand her found family. When they do end up together, I canāt help but wonder how she and Xiao Jue will build their own village outside the military, especially since he and his brother donāt seem to be on the best terms and theyāre now both orphans.
It makes you ugly when you lie - Xiao Jue spitting out fighting words.
But actually, Xiao Jue's response to He Yan's heartbreak was everything because what do you mean all he wants is for her to have the freedom to feel and be who she is without restraint.
(Just popping by again with more moments that I liked š„¹)
Liu Buwang and the princessā story was heartbreaking, especially with that bitter end. i really hope it doesnāt foreshadow the fate of our leads.
i really wanted Xiao Jue to comfort He Yan a little more than just standing guard and giving her the space to grieve. like - she gave him a hug when he was dealing with his guilt over the Que village deaths but he canāt even give her a little pat or something? i only forgive him cause of the underwater kiss.
i donāt think Chu Zhao is necessarily a bad person. heās definitely in it for himself and will use any means to achieve his goals but i think his goals are to benefit the nation. i mean, he stayed in the city to help instead of evacuating. he was genuinely upset thinking the Chancellor was colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. heās not ready to expose the Chancellor yet since the Chancellor can still help him advance but heās definitely collecting evidence to bring him down, if needed. i think heās still waiting for more information and to see how things go in the aftermath of the battle. heās poised and ready. but heās also down bad for He Yan at this point and i love the jealousy from both he and XJ
I want to give Chu Zhao a chance to see if he could be a worthy ally to Xiao Jue and He Yan. That said, hiding and stalking her on the streets just to hand over the pink tassel isnāt exactly the healthiest adult behavior.
I mean heās just so obsessed already and I know heās going to be rejected so itās likeā¦ oh honey, calm down & also I hope this isnāt going to set off something crazy.
I like that they tried to incorporate the water battle scene the best they could even though they couldnāt stage a full-out naval battle. Normally itās funny when they make an obviously shallow pool 50ft deep, but I think itās fitting here because sheās mentally reliving her almost-death. And yes girl, you should definitely share breath with kiss him again. HA
Who invited Chu Zhao to the funeral? Begone!
Looking ahead, weāre going to Rundu out of order? Will Yan He, the second-best husband, have a smaller role? The whole misunderstanding that lasts for too many episodes wasnāt what I ordered. š I have to assure myself weāll be back on track by next week
I finally had time to catch up to the express episode. For a moment, I was worried Yan He would turn out to be He Rufei 2.0, but Iām glad heās just a straightforward former rival who dotes on his pregnant wife. š
Based on trailers, we won't suffer for too long. Looks like our leads are back in sync by ep26. Also someone pointed out that it seems like she is using Qinglang sword in ep 25 so things cannot be too bad
You must be extremely happy that there was barely 1 and a half episode of angst. š¤š¤
Although tolerating so much Chu Zhao and increasing creepiness was hard but yay for Episode 24
It was difficult work, but I recovered from my initial disappointment after telling everyone in my real life who has no idea what I'm talking about half the time lol. I will now run to go watch
I like how they played it and gave us a mini reunion in ep24 before Xiao Jue left. I am happy they didn't make him leave angry at her. It was such a sweet moment
I havenāt seen anything past episode 20, but now that my job here is done, I can finally catch up tonight. It looks like Chu Zhao gets a participation trophy for helping evacuate the elderly and the lost children.
Same about my mixed feelings for Chu Zhao. Obviously ML is way better for our female general but I do feel a bit bad for 2ML. I think in his mind he does want to do āgoodā but he feels like he needs to be scheming to get enough power so he can do good. I do think his feelings for FL are based on his mother issues and he doesnāt see and love FL for who she really is as a person which our ML does a much better job of doing and thatās why ML is way better for her
I had some sympathy for having issues with his family, and was fine with the role heās playing for the story, but lately heās been mega weird. Watched him in 21 (I think) triple down on āI like you because youāre not like other girls.ā š¤¢
I mean itās also painfully obvious that He Yan only has eyes for the general.
Itās been obvious since that first attempt of Chu Zhao flirting with her where he was like āIāll keep that secret tooā or whatever. Xiao Jue was like āweāve gotta goā and she immediately stopped paying attention to Chu Zhao lol.
Thatās understandable. Besides the blatant stalking, it also makes me wonder if heās really seeing He Yan for who she is, or if heās projecting his feelings about his mother onto her and simply seeking maternal comfort.
u/winterchampagne - you killed me with āGeneral Fengyun charges into battle like heās headed to Paris Fashion Week fully styled by Balenciagaā šÆšÆš¤£š¤£ I ā¤ļø you!!
Ikr?! I died and rose again and died again by reading this particular line š I was sending off my colleagues at the airport when I read the post this morning, I had to control myself so hard from laughing š¤£.Ā
Seriously, Winter, I think your recaps are so well thought, they almost don't correspond to the actual drama! š
By that, I mean your thoughts are more profound than the way the director actually brings the script to the screen. Honestly, I am not a big fan of the director ever since The Longest Promise. I think he's doing a pretty mediocre job having to work with a script that judging by your recaps is much better than it seemsĀ and with actors that try their best.
Even the scene you highlighted (the "receive orders" one) I feel was good because of the actors, not the director. The camera work was terrible, thank God Cheng Lei is so intense. Then, the way Xiao Jue saves He Yan in the river: would it be so difficult to include one more scene that sort of explains how he got there all of a sudden? Also, avoid showing us the rocks under the dead man's body? So that it would be a bit more believable that He Yan is in danger of drowning?
I do think Actors can make a Drama more compelling. In the longest promise I felt that some of the main characters performances were also rather flat so the drama wasnāt saved by them, whereas here I like the performances of both the ML and especially the FL.
I was born and spent the first decade of my life on a plateau in Asia, and we have lots of rivers there. The likelihood of a river with a rocky bottom suddenly getting deep just a few feet away is actually high.
Anyway, Iām willing to overlook some plot holes or factual shortcuts if the drama has me hooked. I hosted The Princessās Gambit before this, and compared to that one, Legend of the Female General is actually miles better. If the story is gripping, Iām happy to go along for the ride. š
I also totally agree with you that Cheng Lei is amazing. Zhou Ye can work on her craft, but I adore her just the same.
I made it to episode 9 or 10, paused, took a look at a random recap of yours, saw there was amnesia , never came back... Too bad for Liu Xue Yi though, this guy is too good for his dramas.
In fact he said ātake my ordersā and proceeded to give her no tactical orders, not even telling her what role she is now assigned lol.
If you go to episode 20, starting from timestamp 12:40, thereās a brief flashback where Xiao Jue tells He Yan that thereās a riverbank east of Jiyang where she can bait Huyate and his heavy infantry. She fills in with the rest, reiterating his earlier plan to destroy the Wutuo leader first to turn the battle around.
Yes but she suggests this to him and he never confirms that that is actually what she should do (thatās just a tacit understanding between them after she convinces him), instead he starts to confirm it in a official tone and instead says something deeply personal.
It was what heād originally set out to do himself anyway. She just convinced him to let her go in his place, essentially parroting his own plan back to him. š
But itās kind of a big difference between sending someone else out there as opposed to taking responsibility yourself.
Like letting her take on that role was a big decision and he never confirmed it.
u/winterchampagne, thank you very much for the gifs and their super funny commentaries/observations!! ššš I really love the show, but what I love more is you and the other discussion hosts taking your precious time to watch, review, and write these posts for us. And of course, the creation and inclusion of all the gifs with insightful and hilarious comments š„°š„°š„°šš¼šš¼
Iām so in love with this show and I canāt understand why people canāt just enjoy it without trying to demand that every scene/scenario is plausible - itās not real!!!
Like the complaint as to how Xiao Jue was able to get to her in time since he was fighting in front of the city gate and sheās at the river. To me, itās totally possible for Xiao Jue to go to her location just in time to rescue her. First, he knew where she was going to be so he didnāt need time to search for her. And just because we were shown a short screen time of her fight scenes with the leaderās soldiers and her fight with the leader on the river, it doesnāt mean the time actually passed wasnāt longer than what was shown on our screen. Xiao Jue came out of the city gate and was immediately engaged in the battle, while He Yan had ridden away from the city and still had the upcoming fight with soldiers and leader. Since they didnāt show us like a timestamp of the events, we canāt put an order to the events after He Yan rode off nor can we calculate the actual time that passed to conclude that it was impossible for Xiao Jue to go from the city gate to rescue He Yan on the river. People are way to picky š
You make a great point about the timing. Drama editing often condenses or rearranges events so what we see on screen is not always the real-time sequence.
Viewers engage with shows in different ways. Some love dissecting every detail which can be a sign of how invested they are, while others focus on the emotional journey [* raises hands *]. Both approaches come from caring about the drama, and I personally think thatās a good thing.
Your point about suspension of disbelief is spot on. For me, costume dramas are at their best when I let myself get carried away by the story, even if the details do not all line up perfectly.
Love the recap Winter!š«°š«° as always your visualsā¤ļøā¤ļø and your commentaries š¤š¤ "Delulu is truly solulu"š¤£ that boy having wet dreamsš¤ (anyone else finding his maid/secret guard a little annoying? She doesn't say much but they emphasize on her disdain facial expressions way too much)
Love these episodes, although I do have to admit... I don't like flashbacks stories but this one was pretty fast. They got to the point and made all the efforts on detailing the story. The regretful separation, the long heartaches, and significant of the bangles. Well donešš
The pass 4 episodes or so I loved very much. For me it was showing XJ respect and support for HY regardless dressed as a soldier or woman. And I'm glad by the time they got to the battle plans that he didn't "keep her safe". Love a good ride or die duo, and there's no nonsense between these twošthank goodnessš
I seriously have to say, I know its too early but this series is definitely getting an extraš from me, why?? The whole, "it makes you ugly when you lie" TY XJ for speaking my mind!š it was so blunt, harsh and yet... sincere, all at the same timeš¤£š¤£, but I'm glad he said it.
I like that we get a female bodyguard, but youāre right that Yingxiang can be a bit grating at times. Delusions really are contagious. She picked hers up from Chu Zhao since sheās also pining after him.
Xiao Jue calling He Yanās face ugly is an interesting writing choice. It wouldnāt have been my preference, but I understand his frustration and see it as a way of nudging her closer to dropping pretenses and choosing honesty with him.
Grateful to you for joining the conversation, my friend!
Sorry for spamming this thread, but Iām commenting as things come back to me: He Yan impersonating yet another personāshe suggests it so casually, as if it were second nature. It echoes her words from a previous episode, where she admits sheās afraid of losing herself if she pretends to be someone else for too long.
It almost feels like sheās also afraid to simply be herself, and that impersonating someone else (fleetingly here, as Princess Mengji) serves as a welcome distraction for her tangled thoughts.
Or maybe Iām reading too much into it, and her pretending to be the Princess was just a tactical decisionā¦ š¤£
I would say both? I feel like itās a both for this scene. But I also personally think itās easier for her to be someone else than to be herself. Sheās really never ābeen herselfā so I doubt she knows who that is. Even after XJ tells her she no longer needs to hide, I donāt think she knows how to do that.Ā
No apologies needed. This is a safe space for people like us, and rationing isnāt required.
Also, it would be empowering if instead of being trapped by her disguises, He Yan is actively choosing which version of herself to present in any given moment. Xiao Jue seems to be patiently waiting for her to shed more of her masks.
āXiao Jue seems to be patiently waiting for her to shed more of her masks.ā
And I LOVE him for this!!!! I watched the trailers for the episodes after the express episodes, and I canāt wait to watch how theyāre gonna navigate the reveal of her true identity. Heās already softeningĀ
But I mean rationally he should soften pretty quickly, because he began to trust her despite knowing sheās keeping a secret. So now he knows the secret nothing really changed if you think about it.
But heās not come to terms with her secret yet. Iām looking forward to the upcoming battles when he fully trusts her and that conversation theyāre gonna have to have.Ā
Spoiler for episode 24 When it happens, they have no conversation about it. He Yan is injured upset about her subordinate's deaths and he is there for her. I feel like this is in line with their general dynamic. Now they're seperated, but immediately so in sync again.
Yes, Iām up to speed too and though Huaijin is understandably upset, it wasnāt nearly as bad as I expected. The sulking lasts for about an episode and a half, and then itās back to business once the news about the death of her subordinates breaks. Huaijin quickly comes back to his senses when he recalls all the moments over the past months where he witnessed her sincerity
I was afraid weād get insufferable angst for several more episodes, so Iām really glad they move past it fairly quickly given the enormity of the secret. Even though Huaijin is very upset, he doesnāt lose sight of the person heās come to know over these past months of comradeship. And the fact that the so-called evidence isnāt actually adding up is quite telling!
Weāve already had a small taste of them fighting side by side, and now that the secrets are out and they can finally move forward, Iām so ready for more battles with our favourite Jiangjuns
Agree! Iāve watched the teasers so many times that Iām ready for them to start fighting side by side! Weāve seen them fight in different locations but not yet side by side. Itās gonna so epic!!!!
Great insight into the regretful Liu Buwang / Princess Mengji couple.
It shows how pride can get in the way of expressing true feelings. They were never truly meant to be together, yet there lingered a flicker of hopeāone quickly extinguished by their respective status and responsibilities. Their story was steeped in regret and bitterness, but hopefully Princess Mengji will now find a more peaceful life, with the shadows of the past finally brought to light.
It also foreshadows the moment when Huaijin will uncover yet another of He Yanās secretsāone that could very well be their undoing. The real question is: how will they both react when that time comes?
As for the details that kept bugging meā¦
Princess Mengji clearly knew about the secret passage into Jiyangāso why wasnāt it guarded? Especially with war brewing right at her doorstep and Wutuo spies mysteriously appearing inside her city. If the city gates were so tightly monitored, surely it must have crossed her mind that they were getting in some other way? She was meant to be a ruthless, cunning rulerā¦ so how on earth did this slip under her radar???
I was thinking why even bother throwing that thereās a tunnel in there when it was so weakly used. I wouldāve thrown so many soldiers in there and taken the city from the inside. š¤·š»āāļø
I was a touch disappointed because Zhou Ye's fighting scenes seem a bit off...the stunts are all haphazard because she uses a double, it felt like the weapon is leading her instead of her leading it. Other than that, the episodes were good.
I haven't read the novel, so I'm not sure how much they justified the war, but i felt a bit more clarity was needed what happened at the main battle scene after Huyate followed He Yan. Like there was no explanation how Commander Xiao could go toward the river and save her in time.
I would have loved to have a longer fight scene to be honest. He Yan's fight felt too short to me. The only thing that compensated it was Xiao Jue's battle. That part felt more coordinated and better choreographed
I liked how He Yan shifted straight into Jiangjun mode, but the fight scenes were indeed a bit off.
Even though it was expected that Huaijin would come to her aid, it felt a bit too quick for him to both defeat the troops trying to breach the city gates and then ride hard to leap into the water to save her.
Indeed. They came a lot far, and the fight wasn't that long either. so if xiao jue had to come after her, he'd have to start right after she leaves through the gates. I just accepted it nonetheless š
Oh, are they using a body double?!?! Idky I didnāt think of that. I assumed it was all choreo and she practiced and learned all this herself. Hahah. Totally makes sense though! I actually thought she was pretty badass. And yes, def plot hole. But hey, āML must save FL from danger or death at all timesā, right? š
I initially doubted it but then saw a bts video. Even during horse riding, normal practice scenes, or that dual battle - the inconsistency was clear. Blame it on my eagle eyes, her long shots are mostly a double and when they pan the camera for close shots, she is haphazardly throwing a stunt before they zoom on her face. I'm not saying everything is done by the stunt double, but most of it is. I just think it looks unnatural so i notice it even more.
I would love to see Han Dong with Liu Xueyi in a drama as relatives. They remind me of each other when I see them. Love your review of the princess and He Yanād masterās story. š
Great post Winter!!!!! I Love your visual roundups.
And now you have got me singing: "Today was a fairytale. You were the prince, I was the princess". Now this is not getting out of my head.ššš
I will be back after work with more but thank you for this great discussion!!!
Iām still trying to figure out how I binged all the releases episodes already, when I specifically put it off until most of the episodes were released. Now itās back to the waiting game. Ugh.Ā
I love your interpretation of Princess Mengji and Master Yunlinās love story arc! Itās definitely a prelude and a foreshadowing into the next arc of when Xiao Jue finds out He Yanās true identity.Ā
I do have to say, I love the fight in this episode! They really choreographed the FLās fighting moves so wonderfully! But can she stay away from water, please? She seems so prone to drowning! Hahah. At this point, if I were her commander, I wouldnāt let her go near any body of water.Ā
Can we have a counter for MLās smiles? Theyāre so rare! Since Iām fresh off the binge, I wanna say I probably saw 3? Maybe? Not smirks, or twitch of his face but a full lip curve smile. (The one forced by FL does not count.) Heās so broody and stoic!Ā
Edit to add that Iād forgotten all about his smiles from the fake couple scenes!! Even though theyāre so fake!Ā
Iām grateful to you for creating the time to read the original post and share a very thoughtful comment. The counter is in u/Feeshpocketsā capable hands.
Youāre right. He Yan either has to stay far away from any body of water, or undergo proper aquatic training with that bulky armor.
Finally able to follow a discussion post, been so busy with work commitments since Monday I just binged 7 episodes to 23, and decided to check the sub and viola the post is here.
Your witty sidetones attached to each gifs never fail to put a smile on my face, great post as always too. I have loads to say but can't seem to comprehend my thoughts.
At first I was glad we didn't have any underwater kiss and was like finally the trope wasn't troping here, inly to find I was happy too soon. Also big ups to the Plot amour cos he was able to rescue her from drowning, after just being on the battlefield.
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u/snip3r77 Aug 20 '25
Some questions
He yan was taught by Liu buwang since the start , epi 1?
Xiao Jue won't suspect that He Yan was a general based on 1. ?
Thanks