#sun lang

[shijiujun]

In which it takes the whole damn village to help Boss Ning kiss his girl, and it pays to have friends like Yu Shisan (most of the time)

A JOURNEY TO LOVE 一念关山 (2023) | EP 12

[melodious-tear]

the squad + last words

[ladynamie]

A Journey to Love 一念关山 (2023) | 1x14

[pippin-pippout]

So I dragged myself kicking and screaming and, yes, mostly in denial, through the last episodes of A Journey to Love.

My thoughts can be summarized as follows:

Obviously this is mainly due to me being horrifically traumatized by Yuan Lu’s death. After all, they told us from the get go he wouldn’t live to 20. They made it clear he had a deadly heart disease. And then. They had the nerve. They had the audacity. They had the actual fucking bahoonga BALLS to follow through!?

But then I found myself sobbing at literally every good guy death scene, plus all of the mourning scenes. The latter was in large part thanks to Alen Fang's acting - deepest apologies to him for just referring to his character as 'the slutty one' for the majority of the show. Not that I was wrong. Also thanks to strong performances from He Lan Dou for Yuan Lu's death.

Anyway so I need to add this gif x4 for the Liudao Hall babies:

Qian Zhao, da ge, who made mistakes but always did right in the end

Sun Lang, who just wanted to hold something fluffy at the end, dying a hero

Yuan Lu, who died in his princess's arms after running to deliver a letter rendered useless by the Emperor of An's greed.

Yu Shisan, who lived as he lived and had such a happy moment with Chu Yue right before it all became irrevocable.

When they added Yu Shisan to the snowball fight, I just about lost it. Liu Yuning's acting there - having the realization about Shisan's death as he watched them play in real time was so well done. Really hurt.

Plus I'll make a couple of versions with edits.

For the Wu Emperor. I knew it was gonna happen from the spoilers but damn, him genuinely learning the value of friendship and brotherly love made me root for him. Dude did not deserve to go out like that. Thank goodness for the magic of CDramas where he lived just long enough to pass on his will to Ning Yuanzhou, and do one last act of good.

It also ensured Duke of Chu was able to pass on his command to his daughter, Chu Yue, before dying of the same (was not clear if her bro died or not, or if dad was always going to choose her).

And for Deng Hui. Started out thinking he was just a sexist bastard. Turns out he was one of the most principled characters in the show.

Their deaths didn't make me cry, but I respect them.

Also loved Chen Du Ling's (Empress of Wu) small part in this. I may not like all of her characters but she can deliver a scene and hold a room. It was a bit cathartic to see her put every man in their place, and basically decide the fate of two countries, even though her lament that she'd only ever have power through another held true.

Ah Ying, my baby girl. This is a character that could have turned people off from the beginning. Thanks to strong writing and stronger acting, it did not. I was super impressed with He Lan Dou. She can dial it up and dial it down in a single take, and can play big dramatic scenes with a subtlety that some older actors cannot grasp. This was the first thing I've seen her in, though for her and Chen You Wei (Yuan Lu) I might watch Tiger and Crane if someone tells me it's good.

I still think Li Tongguang is a perverted and creepy child, who never managed to learn (except in literally the last ep), but at least I trust that he will treat Ah Ying well. I don't hold it against him for screwing up the battle - he was trying to be benevolent but made a bad choice.

The main couple win it for me this year. What an inspired pairing. They beat out heavy hitters including Bai Lu x Everyone which was near impossible. Something to do with letting Liu Shi Shi use Liu Yuning's height against him at every possible moment. Also the 'if you die, I'll finish the job and then follow you' is my favorite dynamic. I swear when Ruyi threw those bombs, NOT NEEDING TO HAVING ALREADY SUCCEEDED AT KILLING THE KING AND PRINCE, just to join him, y'all I died. Good for whoever posthumously gave her the Marquis title on her own (not just furen) - couldn't tell if it was Li Tongguang acting as regent or Dayang (great shot of those two at the end).

The final episode was one of the best final cdrama episodes I've seen. I might have to make another post about that. In sum, despite losing a large portion of the well-loved cast, the remainder gave a world-class finale. The visuals were incredible (explosions are my favorite). The final scene was beautiful (though I'm a bit surprised they gave it to Chu Yue instead of Ah Ying who knew all 6 of them closely).

[rose-tinted-vision]

so I'm rewatching ajtl (because I'm a sucker for the "squad of murder bffs who are also talented in their own field" troupe) and I NEED a liudaotang squad prequel please

because apparently

Qian Zhao says he has known Ning Yuanzhou for 20 years

NYZ is apparently 30, so they met as kids?

NYZ rescued a five year old Yuan Lu from a warehouse fire in the Hungry Ghost Realm

YL also mentioned that the Princess (Yang Ying) asked about NYZ, so the both of them were already acquainted before the Quest™

Ning Yuanzhou was just a scout from the Hell Realm before he became Head of the Six realms. (Sun Lang and Qian Zhao are commanders in their respective realms, YSS and YL were commanders too).

NYZ was in prison with YSS??? prison buddies prequel???

Can't remember if Yu Shisan and Sun Lang mentioned anything about how they got to know NYZ

[lyselkatz]

Happiness for the years to come...

元宵節 🌝 Happy Lantern Festival

...☕?/commission

[peachy-runa]

I have come up with the perfect (personally) "a journey to love" alternate ending. 

OK, so, after thinking about it all night. I have come up with the perfect (personally) "a journey to love" alternate ending. 

The ending, which is less painful than their death, will give them justice but will still hurt me. 

*Qian Zhao didn't die. He just went into a coma.* BUT! on the day where Emperor Wu died, where he got bombed because of that disabled lord (I forgot his name), he died in Qian Zhao arms. The emperor said sorry multiple times to Qian Zhou; he didn't stop to say sorry until his last breath. and Qian Zhao will cry, saying that the emperor should live because he's the one who wants to kill him. 

*Sun Lang didn't die. But he lost one of his arms.* He's going to be devastated by the fact that he lost one of his arms. saying that he's not going to be a hero. Yu Shisan will hug him and assure him that, even from the very first time, he's already a hero. That one of his arms is gone is a sign that he's a hero. Hence, after seeing Qian Zhou in a coma and Sun Lang lose one of his arms, *Yu Shi San will still send Yuan Lu to the capital an.* BUT! Yuan Lu will meet Ruyi and Ning Yuanzhou. During the time when Yuan Lu passed out on his horse, Ning Yuanzhou would see him and immediately help him. Yuan Lu will rattle Ning Yuanzhou about how he should hurry up to help Shisan. with the fact that Yu Shisan is all alone, so they need to hurry up. And just like that, they left Yuan Lu in Mei Niang hand. And with that, Yuan Lu will not meet Princess too, but he will (in poin number 10).

*Li Tong Goang action of trying to marry Ruyi in episode 37 will not happen!* Because that is so unnecessary. Yknow, they already made li tong guang stop pursuing ruyi in the episode before it, and suddenly they made him be like that again?? duh, weird.

*Li tong guang will still interfere ruyi ning yuanzhou action in the palace (the one where they killed prince 2).* and because he will not tried to marry ruyi (like i said in poin 3). He will immediately go to he county with chu yue and still married to yang ying. Ruyi and ning yuanzhou too will go to wu like in episode 38.

*and with that, the war will still go on.* but qian zhou would not be participating although he's already wake up from his coma because he will treat the war victims. Yuan lu (that passed out because of exhaustion) would not go to war but he will made equipment for war. sun lang would be knocked unconscious by ning because he was constantly trying to go to war. *Yu shisan would still lose his eyes :(* BUT! he's not going to die! Yes, He would feel devastated by the fact that he lost his vision. However, the gang will not leave his side. The gang will stay by his side, assuring him that everything is going to be okay. And because of this, yu shi san --the one who always keep his feeling to himself-- will learn to open up. And chu yue --someone who have never been in a relationship-- will learn to set aside her feelings and comfort other people.

*Li Tong Guang will not be as reckless as he did in episode 39 and 40.* Cause in my opinion, in the early episode, they showed us that Li Tong Guang is someone who is used to go to war. its weird to think that someone who is used to war doesn't know the pitfalls of war (like in episode 39 the one that killed deng hui). Hence, Ning yuanzhou and ruyi too will not died!!

and with this, in the last battle where reinforcement from lord dan yang come, the gang will fight like they did the first time they fight together. *Sun lang will be yu shisan eyes, and yu shisan will be sun lang arms!!* (damn i cried imagining this…). qian zhao, yuan lu, chu yue, crimson guard, six realms, mei niang would participate in war too. Ning yuanzhou and ruyi would kill the king, just like how ruyi capture zhou jian in their first war. With that they will get their peace!! (continue on note)

[swiftletinthecloud]

We lost both Sun Lang and Qian Zhao in one episode 😭And Yu Shi San having to fight and lose his brothers and look after the others with the belief that there will be no help from Ning Yuan Zhou since Yu Shi San saw the post about Ren Ru Yi's "death" and knew that NYZ would follow her in death.

No! Yu Shi San sent Yuan Lu away from the frontline to be the messenger so he won't be in danger yet he still died!

Also to think of what is going on at the frontline of them having to hold for Yuan Lu's journey and then the 3 days while Li Tong Guang and Yang Ying were under house arrest and all the freaking romance mess. Like seriously people are dying here!!

Also my mom is just so annoyed and mad that while his brothers of Six Realms Hall are fighting and dying left and right, Ning Yuan Zhou is just focused on romance. And you know what, after the pause for their impromptu wedding, I'd agreed. Yuan Lu did not run with all his strength to death to deliver frontline news and ask for support for no immediate reaction, especially from his precious Ning Da Ge, and the man didn't even know his brothers died until later.

At the same time though, the multi-shipping in this drama for me is crazy! But I definitely like the subtleties of all the side pairings more.

[sabh0]

Someone please help Yin Yu

[sunshine-zenith]

Something about Ambrosius’s reaction to cutting off Ballister’s arm

He drops his sword and looks like his mind went off line before doing a hard reboot. He acted on his lifelong training before he could process that the weapon he was “disarming” was attached to the man he loves. He looks dumbfounded and horrified, and sure some of that is probably “oh shit the queen is dead” and “did my boyfriend just murder someone?”

But

This face, the way he looks at Ballister here. I’m not seeing “what did you do?!” I’m seeing “What have I done?!”

[shijiujun]

The Liu Dao Hall F5 (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

[chonggen]

Yu Lang Festival special

Part 1, 2 - Part 3, 4 - Part 5, 6

Im still making the next part :) T-T (I’m too slow)

[ladynamie]

A Journey to Love 一念关山 | Li Tong Guang jealous of Ning Yuanzhou holding Ren Ruyi's hand

[demonontheroad]

Dancin dancin