Nirvana in Fire Rewatch: Episode 14
Jul. 5th, 2019 10:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kraitThis is an interesting episode! 50% heartfelt conversations, 50% bloodshed. :D
On the 'heartfelt conversations' side...
Right away we're hit with Mei Changsu commending Marquis Yan for his rare devotion: "You have not forgotten Consort Chen for love, and Marshall Lin for loyalty." On his way out, he runs into Yujin and tells him that he's arranged for his father to spend New Year's with him after the ancestor ceremony, and Yujin lights up.
After Mei Changsu deduces the plan to save He Wenxin and sets up Xie Yu to catch the criminal in the act of escaping, Yujin and Jingrui have a deep discussion of corruption and the role of the Emperor in a court. Jingrui is surprisingly passionate about it, leaping to his feet and gesturing sharply as he explains why the Emperor is the root of the problem.
It's pretty much the most adorable thing ever, and the actors do such a great job embodying each character with their actions! The way Yujin grabs Jingrui's tea, throws his whole head back to drain the cup, and then launches into his news is so cute and really evocative of Yujin's enthusiastic full-barrel approach to everything. Jingrui, the more reserved one, launching himself into a lecture physically, then stopping abruptly mid-gesture as he realises what he's doing, is a nice demonstration of the passion beneath his calm, and makes their friendship a little more even; they're more alike than a first glance reveals! In a neat reverse, we see Yujin's deeper side, too: he confides to Jingrui that he doesn't think Brother Su supports Prince Yu at all. "Just a feeling," he says, but Jingrui is definitely surprised by the idea.
New Year's day brings a tearful Yujin to Mei Changsu's house bright and early. He tells Mei Changsu that he and his father spoke last night, and his father told him everything; they've both failed each other, but finally understand one another. "You have my eternal gratitude for what you did. You saved my only family."
Mei Changsu visits Mu Manor, and the banter between the Mu siblings and Mei Changsu is fun to watch! Qing sasses Nihuang: asked if he heard Mei Changsu's recommendations for his education, he replies, "Yes. I have to do everything he says, in addition to everything you say." But he freely admits, when questioned about his duties, that he now realises how much work his sister was doing before he came of age.
Meanwhile, on the murder and mayhem front...
The scenes of families celebrating the New Year are interrupted by a massacre: a masked figure kills a group of guards escorting a Palace eunuch and royal gifts to an official's house. The peaceful family scene at Jingrui's house breaks up when the adults excuse themselves before midnight, supposedly because they want the young people to enjoy themselves, but the break is a sign of something far deeper; Xie Yu is sending Zhuo to kill the guards.
Meng Zhi, blamed for the security breach, is sentenced to flogging by the Emperor - who's furious that his own safety might have been compromised, not that his people have been murdered. "We were having a feast. Those killers could have come in here," he shouts. Meng accepts both responsibility and punishment, but when discussing it in private with his vice-commander, he says, "I have failed my soldiers." It echoes Yujin and Jingrui's conversation about rank and responsibility, and subtly points up the Emperor's selfish focus.
We close with a promise of mayhem to come: Xie and Zhuo discuss a plan to make some kind of move against the Palace with a team of hired ruffians.
On the 'heartfelt conversations' side...
Right away we're hit with Mei Changsu commending Marquis Yan for his rare devotion: "You have not forgotten Consort Chen for love, and Marshall Lin for loyalty." On his way out, he runs into Yujin and tells him that he's arranged for his father to spend New Year's with him after the ancestor ceremony, and Yujin lights up.
After Mei Changsu deduces the plan to save He Wenxin and sets up Xie Yu to catch the criminal in the act of escaping, Yujin and Jingrui have a deep discussion of corruption and the role of the Emperor in a court. Jingrui is surprisingly passionate about it, leaping to his feet and gesturing sharply as he explains why the Emperor is the root of the problem.
It's pretty much the most adorable thing ever, and the actors do such a great job embodying each character with their actions! The way Yujin grabs Jingrui's tea, throws his whole head back to drain the cup, and then launches into his news is so cute and really evocative of Yujin's enthusiastic full-barrel approach to everything. Jingrui, the more reserved one, launching himself into a lecture physically, then stopping abruptly mid-gesture as he realises what he's doing, is a nice demonstration of the passion beneath his calm, and makes their friendship a little more even; they're more alike than a first glance reveals! In a neat reverse, we see Yujin's deeper side, too: he confides to Jingrui that he doesn't think Brother Su supports Prince Yu at all. "Just a feeling," he says, but Jingrui is definitely surprised by the idea.
New Year's day brings a tearful Yujin to Mei Changsu's house bright and early. He tells Mei Changsu that he and his father spoke last night, and his father told him everything; they've both failed each other, but finally understand one another. "You have my eternal gratitude for what you did. You saved my only family."
Mei Changsu visits Mu Manor, and the banter between the Mu siblings and Mei Changsu is fun to watch! Qing sasses Nihuang: asked if he heard Mei Changsu's recommendations for his education, he replies, "Yes. I have to do everything he says, in addition to everything you say." But he freely admits, when questioned about his duties, that he now realises how much work his sister was doing before he came of age.
Meanwhile, on the murder and mayhem front...
The scenes of families celebrating the New Year are interrupted by a massacre: a masked figure kills a group of guards escorting a Palace eunuch and royal gifts to an official's house. The peaceful family scene at Jingrui's house breaks up when the adults excuse themselves before midnight, supposedly because they want the young people to enjoy themselves, but the break is a sign of something far deeper; Xie Yu is sending Zhuo to kill the guards.
Meng Zhi, blamed for the security breach, is sentenced to flogging by the Emperor - who's furious that his own safety might have been compromised, not that his people have been murdered. "We were having a feast. Those killers could have come in here," he shouts. Meng accepts both responsibility and punishment, but when discussing it in private with his vice-commander, he says, "I have failed my soldiers." It echoes Yujin and Jingrui's conversation about rank and responsibility, and subtly points up the Emperor's selfish focus.
We close with a promise of mayhem to come: Xie and Zhuo discuss a plan to make some kind of move against the Palace with a team of hired ruffians.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 07:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 10:05 am (UTC)The emperor is The Worst but I really like that he's written consistently to be put himself and his reputation above everything. And yes, echoing Yujin and Jingrui's earlier convo... everything ties together so neatly.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 03:30 pm (UTC)I have a bit of a pet theory about Yujin being far more perceptive than he seems; and I think his friendship with the Emperor's only living brother has a lot to do with his quietness on political matters. I think he's aware that being a frivolous person can be useful! And I wonder if his father finally taking him into his confidence in this episode also has something to do with it - it's easy to be detached and frivolous when you don't have any great secrets anyway, and your own dad treats you as unimportant. (Not to mention the Marquis knows all the details of how the Emperor attained the throne!)
Yeah, the Emperor is really interesting on that front! One of the things I noticed early on in my rewatch is the split presentation of Nihuang's refusal - the Emperor first complains that he just wants to see her settled, he's doing this for her, she's ungrateful and doesn't value his care for her. Ten minutes later he's switched focus entirely: she's a dangerous element and he must keep her in the Capitol, he's not going to let her return to her army, Mu Manor has a lot of power that he wants controlled.
So sometimes he's either capable of fooling himself, or of trying to put a different spin on his own focus, but ultimately he returns to his view with himself as the focus.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-07 06:19 am (UTC)I have a bit of a pet theory about Yujin being far more perceptive than he seems; and I think his friendship with the Emperor's only living brother has a lot to do with his quietness on political matters.
I agree! I think that Prince Ji quietly took Yujin under his wing and along with an appreciation for music and arts, also taught him to tread the murky waters of the capital. And Yujin is smart, he would have picked up on that. Yujin's and his dad's character arcs are among my (admittedly many) favourite things about this show!
I think the emperor genuinely believes that he's a good emperor. He does do things for the people, like land reforms. But ultimately, the things he do are more for his image as a good emperor than what they actually do for the people. His reputation and his power are what he values the most. That scene about Nihuang's refusal was something I appreciated more on rewatch. There's another scene later on, at the Spring Hunt, that made me feel the same way.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-07 02:41 pm (UTC)"Thinks he's not directly involved" makes sense to me. I sorta think he and Yujin both think of themselves as too young to be deeply involved? Like, Jingrui is studying and discussing this stuff because 'one day' he'll probably need to know it; but he doesn't feel that the day has come yet for him to get involved. He hasn't realised that
in Soviet Russiain Da Liang, sometimes politics involves you! And Yujin, mentored by Ji, wants to put off his own involvement as long as possible (because this stuff can kill you! Why poke your nose in before you have to? Enjoy your youth as long as you can).Agree that the Emperor has bought into his own PR! There are moments when he seems genuine, like when he laments that his sons are "immature" and he's disappointed that they would be unjust and partisan in a case that affects his ability to rule the country - it's all about him and his image, but his reasoning is sound in itself (his heirs should be considering the broader picture, not just their own factions).
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 10:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 03:35 pm (UTC)I also love the follow-up scene, where Yujin is expressing thanks to Mei Changsu and won't let him lighten the tone of the conversation, though he tries several times to laugh or brush it off. Yujin goes all-out with whatever he's doing, whether that's being entertained by musicians or pledging his undying gratitude!
no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-06 04:52 pm (UTC)