Overview: Gaojun (Christopher Wehkamp) brings Shouxue (Alexis Tipton) a new case in the form of a legendary lute player’s spirit being trapped within a mask.
Our Take: Shouxue’s newest case gives us the opportunity to explore more of her deeper aspects, demonstrating how she has become more emotionally open with the Emperor about her struggles as the Raven Consort, like being less than enthused to seek out troubled spirits with the amount she gets or her reluctance to get attached to the victims she helps. Another nice little touch is how exceedingly personal she is getting with him, being so touchy-feely, unconsciously.
There are a bunch of characters and moments that serve to show how she has evolved socially. Liu’s meeting with Xue Yuyong is a sweet touchstone, connecting back to her old master, but one that also highlights how much more receptive she has become to others, comparatively. Wen Ying trusting her enough to disclose his rough past or even the simplicity of Liu and her friends sharing plums together all nicely define her newfound social connections and trust she has established with them. With her predecessor’s wishes weighing on her and how fearful some are of her, like Yi Siha’s former master, it will be interesting to see if these factors deter her from or encourage the path she walks.
Xiaoyue’s infiltration of the palace continues to be a background factor with his stiffness in relationships being an endearing factor but also an uneasy one with his true intentions.
The case plays out, more or less, how most of them have in a left behind person’s regret and greed being the driving factor in helping a victim, in this case, Qifu Shicui, a obsessive and gifted five string lute player. It is unsurprisingly routine in the formula the show has relied upon without much deviation to liven the plots up. What does pick up is the lovely music that was always present but resonates especially so here in beautiful piano and chime renditions.
With Gaojun sacrificing precious time he could be using to settle family issues, to see Liu, it is all but confirmed he is in love with Shouxue. At this point, it is just a matter of when that truth comes out, but, for now, a new murder is upon us that the Raven Consort will no doubt have to sort through.