NiF rewatch: episodes 8 and 9 [azdak]

You're viewing

azdak's journal
Create a Dreamwidth Account Learn More

Reload page in style: site light

←

→

I was away this weekend so I didn't have time to write down any thoughts but these two episodes, but to things struck me: (1) we get our first mention of Nie Feng, when the harried magistrate receives a report of a beast terrifying villagers, and (2) Mei Changsu rubs his fingers together when he's trying to convince Prince Yu not tp block Prince Jing's investigation of the Duke of Qing. It's amazing how carefully plotlines are seeded in NiF. I particularly like the second one because it shows that MCS hasn't turned up with al his arguments down pat, he's having to think his way through the conversation with Prince Yu as it happens.

I'll watch episode 10 tonight.

←

→

There are 7 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

Just watched 9 - didn’t get there before the weekend - the whole conversation with Prince Yu is fascinating. MCS is leading him by the nose in terms of the big picture, but that doesn't mean he can take him for granted, he's intelligent enough that MCS has actually got to present a genuine argument.

I hope you had a good weekend!

[link] [reply]

It's such a wonderful conversation! And I have a good enough idea of the dialogue now that I can spend more time watching their faces instead of being glued to the subtitles. Prince Yu is such a great character, just semi-decent enough for you (or me) to sometimes think there's hope for him, and then I remember that he's only acting nice because he wants something, once he gets absolute power that's it. Still, if hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue, at least he pays it (for the moment). The Crown Prince doesn't even bother.

[link] [parent] [reply]

He's just clever enough to be subtle, which gives the viewer hope, and allows us at the end to have some pity for him when he finally thinks of another person, but the poignancy is in the 'might have been' traces of him being better with better parents. He's nurture vs the Crown Prince's nature, primarily unfitting him for rule (though both also have an element of the other).

[link] [parent] [reply]

Yes, you're right, the poignancy is all in the "might have been". He never actually acts unselfishly until the very end when, as you say, he FINALLY thinks of someone else. Thinking about it, the moments when he looks redeemable are all when he's being polite. It just goes to show the importance of good manners in winning friends and influencing people! And in that respect, too, he's like his father. The Emperor is good at playing the jovial uncle, and it makes him seem kindly, but it's nothing more than a mask. Anyone who relies on that joviality translating into actual support will soon find themselves dead.

[link] [parent] [reply]

Oh that is an interesting comparison. Different presentation, but ultimately the same strategy.

I also want to note in 9 that MCS also evokes the "are you planning to rebel" tactic. And Prince Yu isn't, against his father - I think that at this point that is genuine - but he doesn't want the army for that, he wants it for when his father is dead. But by explicitly raising the question, even in the context of "so you're fine, Prince Jing and Meng can protect you against skulduggery" he doesn't allow the unspoken reason for retaining the Duke of Qing to remain on the table.

[link] [parent] [reply]

I think Prince Yu genuinely doesn't want to rebel against his father right up to the point where he realises that because of who his mother is, his father never had any intention of letting him become Emperor. As long as he thinks Dad would be ok with it, he has no good reason to rebel - he's much better of getting rid of the Crown Prince. Until Jingyan starts his rise, there's no alternative to him anyway.

You're dead right, invoking rebellion very neatly prevents Prince Yu from arguing for the retention of the Duke of Qing, and it also wrongfoots him emotionally - he's so horrified, he isn't thinking quite straight and couldn't make a coherent argument for why he needs an army separate from Prince Jing's even if he wanted to.

I'm going to be away this weekend - Wolfgang and I off to Krakow tomorrow, hooray! - so won't be watching or posting for a while.

[link] [parent] [reply]

Krakow! I hope you both have a lovely time.

[link] [parent] [reply]

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1 1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9 1	10	11	12	13 1
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23 1	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

azdak

NiF rewatch: episodes 8 and 9

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

December