English Dub Review: Raven of the Inner Palace: “Xiangfu Incense”

Overview: Shouxue (Alexis Tipton) finishes off Feng and later discovers a shocking betrayal as she also solidifies her connection with Gaojun (Christopher Wehkamp) and her other friends. 

Our Take: The conflict with the Owl ending unceremoniously as it does is disappointing on two fronts. While the land of gods and Palace of Seclusion are rooted in Chinese mythology, its role in the story is inconsequential in the long run. It also brings an abrupt and unemotional end to Feng’s story without any payoff to him and his sister’s story. It does not even answer how Feng’s real form is responding, making it feel unfinished too. 

The cliche trope of personifying a character’s fears through their loved ones does not make Shouxue’s doubts any more interesting to explore further. Especially considering she has already overcome this mental hurdle, being more open and caring towards her friends, with it feeling like it’s retreading old ground. 

Liu and Gaojun being characterized by the responsibility they feel for others is a sweet way of connecting them. 

Yuyong’s betrayal in assisting Feng infiltrate the palace could have easily been an afterthought and plot convenience in his plan to kill the Raven Consort. Although, it is handled with more legitimacy than I thought. The spite he feels in how poorly Li Niang was treated by the previous emperor and the kindness Shouxue is shown by the current one and her attendants makes for a personal motivation. It gives Gaojun a chance to shine as a leader, demonstrating the delusion behind his rage with how Niang loved Shouxue. 

Gaojun and Shouxue’s chat after is wholesome in how much she takes heart in his dedication to her. She proves to be a soothing presence in not only easing his sleeping troubles with incense and a hand massage, but that of his guilt regarding the Magpie Consort’s demise. It is a nice scene in displaying how relaxed and intimate they have become with each other.

Shouxue’s progress feels like it has not been all for naught in how proactive she is hanging out with Huaniang, even leveling up her honorific for her, adorably enough. With her being fully accepted by Gaojun, it never gives the definitive embrace and confirmation of their relationship, unfortunately. With that said, with her having Gaojun and friends in her life, yearning to be rid of Niao Lian, it is a hopeful albeit rushed end. The ending episode, while enjoyable enough, is hamstrung by either trying to tie up certain loose ends at breakneck pace or some not at all. At the very least, we got to see to Shouxue get to a better place than how we found her in a meaningful way.