Heaven Official's Blessing//TGCF: Novel, Manhua, & Audio Drama Review - PART SIXTEEN!
Added 2022-11-14 14:00:15 +0000 UTC**Headphone Warning**
It may seem like there wouldn't be a lot to talk about with only two chapters of TGCF...but...**nervous laugh** MXTX has other plans and we not only are flashing back, but BACK TO THE BEGINNING, baby! And there is already a LOT to discuss!
My jaw is on the floor with how different our cinnamon bean is from the start of this story to now, already, but I am SO excited get into his past...and maybe Hua Cheng's...and that of his comrades as well! Oh, and the Manhua Chapter 85 is GREAT, too. LET'S DO THIS!
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
We might as well do a “counter” at this point on the Disney references – and yeah, #datdetail on Mu Qing! Ooohhhh, but I LOVE that idea of how to end Season 2 and have the young Xie Lian and roll credits! I am now actively hoping for it! <3 MXTX is really adding onto the weight of Xie Lian’s parents’ death by showing us them so young and happy. And to see the characters before and how they were compared to now is SO tragic and heartbreaking! I love how at this point, we can hear one line of dialogue and INSTANTLY know it’s Qi Rong! :) Hua Cheng encountered love at first sight and can we blame him?! I love the callback to Ke Mo and the Sinner’s Pit form here – WHAT a contrast, right?! And clingy baby HC is adorable! And yessss, poor HC is ignored by the doted Crown Prince, but then years and years later, he’s all about caring for those kids! He hints at it in the past, but it REALLY comes out later. I’m getting nervous if we get closer and closer to the White Calamity, but I’m hoping to avoid spoilers. **clenches fists and sits on hands** haha!! But YES, it’s going to be really hard to get through the rest of this volume and then have to wait a week and a half before getting to Volume 3. T___T But it will be worth it! And YES, at least in the manhua, things are still fun, ha ha ha – but I’m SO ready for Chapter 86! Thank you so much for the comment!
Romaniablack
2022-11-17 01:41:56 +0000 UTCThank you so much!! Yessss, next week is going to be a bit longer! :) But I appreciate the kind words -- it'll be sad to go a week and a half without TGCF, but hopefully, it'll make me be refreshed to come back for Volume!! And that part about JW/HC/XL! Aahahahahahahahahahahaha -- I'll HAVE to talk about that comment in a future discussion, but honestly, if I could teach a seminar on this class? I so WOULD! Thanks for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2022-11-16 23:48:03 +0000 UTCThanks so much for this insightful discussion of this chapter. I never realized that I need a weekly close reading seminar on TGCF until now lol! The part on why XL has to wear a mask makes me think of the dynamic/tension between JW and HC. Because the entire ritual was dedicated to JW, so Xie Lian’s face was supposed to be solely offered to and appreciated by the Heaven Emperor. But our little Hua Cheng thought that was not fair and took it away hahah. Anyway, happy holiday week in advance! So glad that the thanksgiving week is blessed with an extra lengthy Danmei Monday :)
goldmund
2022-11-14 20:28:21 +0000 UTCYay for a new Disney reference! Mo Xiang Tong Xiu *really* goes for detail on describing young Mu Qing's looks. I love that the Guoshi's Headache get's capitalised. Potentially because this issue is truly that big of an issue, but also could be related to Xie Lian's status as Crown Prince. All titles related to such a person should be given proper capitalisation. I can see them being even more evil and having Season 2 end with the sword coming down on Qi Rong and then suddenly it's a different setting and a different ghost being cut down, with a flash to a young Xie Lian. Then roll credits. That would be rather evil to do to any donghua-only fans, and could create a surge of new readers jumping at the bit to know what happens next. Mo Xiang Tong Xiu wants our tears. That's the only justification I can think for her to make us hurt for Xie Lian regarding his mother's body turning to ashes, and then to give us *this* moment between husband and wife. It's so sweet and romantic, and at the same time it hurts. "The loud voice belonged to Qi Rong" that's honestly a statement we didn't need given the expletives used 🤣 Gotta say I honestly love the Guoshi for being so truthful in this moment. It's so unexpected for someone in his position to speak up and correct his King of all people that it wasn't his plan. Especially when such a thing was a great success. Typically someone of the Guoshi's position would be falling all over themselves to gain something for themselves from such a successful change in plan. Or maybe all the other media I've consumed with similar positions, the characters were all somewhat rotten. But I do like that Xie Lian's teacher is someone much more pure of heart too. Seeing the past after seeing characters like Xie Lian, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, and Qi Rong in the present timeline constantly feels like a sucker punch. Yes people grow as they get older but the 180 with a character like Qi Rong hurts so much more than if we were getting this backstory before having met our trash king. Hence why Hua Cheng/San Lang calls Xie Lian "gege". But the image of ickle baby Hua Cheng gazing up at Xie Lian without blinking is too darn cute! Also Xie Lian being a "snow-white figure" for his introduction to Hua Cheng gives him a very ethereal and other-worldly presence. From that first meeting there really was no other option but for Hua Cheng to hold Xie Lian in such high regard and worship him. It's definitely a nice call-back to Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and Kemo in the Sinner's Pit. But props to Mu Qing for being able to help keep up with Xie Lian and restart the battle. The change in demeanour always makes me laugh. The minute the doors are closed and they're away from the public eye, Xie Lian no longer holds tight to his act/performance. Clingy baby Hua Cheng! 🥺🥺🥺 The difference in how Xie Lian is with a child in this moment, in comparison to present time is quite telling. He's a teenage boy that was a doted-upon Crown Prince. What interest would a kid be to such a person? But to Xie Lian after all he's been through in his 800 years, he's gained experience with children and is more caring of them (or at least appears to be; he did still pretend to be dead and then just left Ban Yue alone and forgotten). The fact the calamity happens after those three years really gives credit to their beliefs that the ceremony was directly linked to Xianle's safety and the thriving of its people. What a way to end the chapter! Honestly your patience and ability to hold off and not binge-read, or binge-watch, is truly amazing to me. You have stronger willpower than I do. Love that in the manhua we're still on the besties being ridiculous. But oooh yes. Give me Xie Lian landing on Hua Cheng's lap!
Anime Annie
2022-11-14 20:24:16 +0000 UTC
