Episode 15: From Muffins to Ugly Crying in Under 45 Minutes

[wshaffer]

Zhanalytics

Lan Zhan is Second Young Master Not-Appearing-in-this-Episode. He really did have to have an extended lie down after the last one. 

 

Oh, it's the Yao clan. A.k.a. the Muffin Clan. Who have been slaughtered by the Wen clan. 

 

"Jin Zixuan is a somewhat decent person." That's a ringing endorsement, Wei Wuxian. 

 

Clan Leader Jiang and Yanli are heading off to Lanling and the Jin Clan. And madam Jiang has packed snacks. And dad's migraine meds. I'll admit, I like her, even though she's sort of horrible to everyone else. 

 

Everyone is astonished that the Wen clan would be mean to the Muffin clan. 

 

Jiang Cheng, "Kill them all" is not actually a plan. 

 

Wen Ruohan does not seem well. Oh, he appears to have a problem with his hand. His right hand. (Show has successfully trained me to pay attention to handedness of demonic forces.) I don't think acupuncture is going to fix that. 

 

Wen Chao looks entirely too happy at having been given license to murderate. 

 

"If I go out, Madam Yu will whip me." I might be imagining things, but it didn't look like that dialogue matched the actor's lip movements. I know all the dialogue is overdubbed, so that doesn't necessarily mean anything. 

 

Wait - Is "Sixth Young Master" a younger brother of Jiang Cheng? (And implying the existence of a Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Young Master plus god knows how many sisters?) Because that seems like a lot of babies for Mr. and Mrs. Jiang to have had considering how much they clearly do not like each other. Possibly they have fantastic hate sex. Or maybe Sixth Young Master is a cousin or something. 

 

It is extremely clear (though maybe not to Wang Langjiao) that Madam Jiang's servants do not make tea but are actually secret ninja badass ladies. 

 

This whole rant about how the kite is anti-Wen propaganda is like the ancient Chinese version of weird conspiracy theory bullshit. It's like Qanon, but instead of powerful people allegedly conspiring against kids, it's kids allegedly conspiring against powerful people.  

 

Madam Jiang: Oh, well, if they're going to give me a good excuse to thoroughly thrash my worthless stepson, maybe I can get along with the Wen clan. 

 

Or maybe not. I have a distinct impression that it is about to go down. 

 

Langjiao, Langjiao, Langjiao - you overplayed your hand. Cutting off Wei Ying's hand is a thing you could totally ask for. But you want to take Madam Jiang's precious Lotus Pier and put your supervisory office on it? No deal. 

 

Oh yeah, I knew those servants did not make tea. It is indeed going down. 

 

Violet Spider. I love it. Also, I see these two know each other. This is another regrettable case of a woman only being allowed to have an interesting life in the backstory. Spinoff series, please?

 

Sadly, Wang Langjiao did not forget the signal flares. 

 

Okay, I've been wondering what propelled the boats in this series. Badass lady kicks, apparently. 

 

Madam Jiang: Right, now that I've sent the boys off, it's time to fix my pony tail and defend Lotus Pier. 

 

Clan leader Jiang releases the two boys from Zidian. And then at the words "Core Melting Hand" he immediately shoves Yanli over to the other two and rebinds all three of them. Core Melting Nope!

Comments

[teleidoplex]

I don't know if it's actually canon or just really hard-core fanon that the Meishan Yu are a clan of hard-core lady assassins. But Madam Jiang and her two 'maids' are definitely corroborating details.

Sadly, this begins the I think three-ish episode arc of Lan Zhan-not-appearing. He's off charging his brooding battery for the long haul through then next ten episodes.

I *think* they mean sixth martial young master? All of the other kids are WWX's shidis and shimeis, since he's the head disciple of the Jiang sect (even if he's not a member of the Jiang *clan*). And it's not uncommon to number your disciples -- makes it really awkward when you have gaps, I imagine...

I also love Madam Jiang despite how awful she is... and I REALLY want the story of whatever is between her and Wen Zhuliu (and also, just whatever his whole deal is, because he's clearly got something approaching honor, unlike all the people he's serving... but... does he really, if he keeps serving them? SUCH A CONUNDRUM)

[wshaffer]

Ah, yeah. I keep half-forgetting about the martial sibling thing.

My theory about Wen Zhuliu is that either he owes the Wen Clan A Really Big Favor, or he did something so horrible at some point in his life that in his shame he is punishing himself by serving this this gang of contemptible assholes.