English Dub Review: Raven of the Inner Palace: “The Summer King and the Winter King”

Overview: Gaojun (Christopher Wehkamp) learns the true origin of the Raven Consort and why Shouxue (Alexis Tipton) hides herself away from others. 

Our Take: Learning more about the tragic death of Princess Mingzhu, who took her own life under the tree, with her ornate comb still lost and a key clue to setting her free.

However, that case plays a small role in the grand scheme of things with the forged history of the Raven Consort revealed. Shouxue has been that tragic  character serving as not only inner turmoil for her but as a wedge between her and Gaojun. While it has been displayed excellently through the painful loneliness she has been forced to endure, it would also be simple for her sense of duty to be the sole reason behind her solitude. However, it goes much deeper in the cruel spontaneity of her being selected by the goddess, Niao Lian. 

Liu’s unfortunate fate is delved upon even further in the first Raven Consort, Xiang Qiang, being forced to be locked away by the previous Summer King, general Luan Xi, in the hopes to avoid war and conflict as a result of their being two heads. It is a saddening piece of dramatic irony in how Qiang’s escape from a life of slavery only results in a another type of servitude. Coupled with Liu’s immediate death by Niao Lian should she leave the inner palace, it paints a grim picture of Shouxue’s harsh reality. 

There is also some well-founded fury on Shouxue’s part in Gaojun’s pity for her in how insulted and patronized she feels on account of it. Before it can all be truly discussed, Jiujiu is possessed by Bingyue with his reappearance being interesting in how it will relate to Shouxue’s anguish.