*Spoilers for episode 21.*
After the big action of the last episode, this one is a little slow, but it’s still good. Some interesting developments here!
At the end of episode 21, Zhang Wuji managed to get the other major sects to back off of Ming, who took him in while he recovered from the injuries he sustained defending them. Now, some of the minor sects have showed up to make noise, and Ming’s warriors are still too battered to put up a good fight. It’s up to Wuji to figure out how to keep them safe.
Most of the non-Zhang Wuji stuff in this one involves Sixth Brother of Wudang. Last time, he was shocked to learn that his ex-betrothed, Miss Ji, had a daughter out of wedlock with a Ming disciple. Buhui is the spitting image of her mother, and the interactions between them now are painful for both of them.
In other news, prominent members of different sects are being attacked, and the Ermei Priestess has gone missing. No one knows who’s behind it, but Ming sect suspects it’s all being done to frame them. Oh, and Xie Xun may be coming back into play in the future! If you thought a blind martial arts who’s haunted by visions of guilt couldn’t survive completely alone on an island for ten years, you’ve got another thing coming!
Zhang Wuji nearly sacrificed his life in the last episode to protect Ming, and now they want to appoint him their new sect leader. This poses a challenge for him—as a child, True Master Zhang made him swear never to join a Demon sect, and even though Wuji has since uncovered the truth behind all the animosity, he’s too noble to want to go against his great-grandteacher’s wishes.
However, without him, Ming may be too stupidly noble to survive. Their disciples are still injured from the big showdown with the other major sects, and as more enemies come banging on their door, they barely have the strength to stand. But they want to go out and fight anyway. When Zhang Wuji suggests a reasonable alternative, they try to pull the old, “Yes, you go on ahead, my boy. We’ll be right behind you,” and they later nearly die for procedural reasons. How have they made it this far?
A lot of Zhang Wuji’s story has been about balancing his ideals with his experience in the real world. He’s still an honorable guy, but he’s a practical one too, and he’s learning that there are ways to be honorable without falling on his sword at first notice. Tony Leung Chiu-wai does a nice job with this mix. At one point, Wuji frankly tells the Ming disciples, “All right, it’s more important to save lives right now. We can discuss other matters later.” I like that about him.
Plus, we have another supremely-‘80s martial arts sequence for the ages when Zhang Wuji uses his Super-Secret Lost Move to open a secret passage. There are multiple split screens involved and everything! This is up there with him battling a monk while trapped inside a cloth bag. So delightfully cheesy!
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