Love & Destiny 三生三世宸汐缘 - Episode 18 (Recap)

kakashi: This episode is extremely cute, they're totally behaving like the most precious virgin lovers, but it makes me very angry (read on).
JoAnne: I feel like that might not be a difficult task just recently.
Bunny: Yes, "cute", with a slice of impending doom. 
I'm laughing because this recap's discussion is so old after all the comments under the last one :) Dear readers, it's not that we're harping on about the same point AGAIN, it's just that this one was written quite a while ago, haha.  

Episode 18

Ling Xi, the poor, poor woman is pining away, the snow is falling, her Five Bowls is the only living thing to keep her company... but here he comes, our High God Jiu Chen. He looks at her like she's one of the wonders of the world, gently cups her cheek... and doesn't kiss her. Booooo!
Maybe he was feeling for demon energy, he might have other, uh, methods for de-energizing her.
This was so tender, i die.
Time to do some more "inner healing" though. Is that Demon Energy out yet? That mark she has behind her right ear disappears, so maybe yes? The poor woman still doesn't know what's wrong with her, seriously! Just tell her already! But he's all manly "I will protect you" and thinks she doesn't need agency in all this at all. GoW: that never goes well.
I think yes, it's all out since the mark is gone. And she absolutely needs to know, so that she can maybe handle herself if it comes up again.
Why are we even surprised? Every Asian drama male lead needs a crash course in communication. This uncle is no exception. I think it does goes to show that he feels she is not mature/sensible enough to handle the information. The gap between them remains huge. On that basis, as of right now, I don't think they are actually ready to be lovers. It's a virginal gray zone and I'm happy with it.
He's prepping this grand gesture too - he tells her he has to leave one more time, but then, he'll stay with her forever. Gosh, why is this so sad?! (I know: because he is basically making her a prisoner, a fugitive that will depend on his protection)
So he believes there's no way for her to control herself? Or is it because as long as she's accessible there's always a risk of the Demon King returning. I think that. So let him return, then. Plan it out, and when he returns, kill him!
Great point, Jo! Why was this idea not entertained? Instead of killing Ling Xi, just let her release the Demon King and then put him away again! GoW did it once, he can do it a second time. But I suppose there's a chance he could be a goner... Idk, I think it's a fair gamble. 
Of course, calamity strikes while he's gone. He hides his palace behind a seal, but that just makes it more clear something important is hidden there. Yuan Tong knows who it is anyway. While GoW kneels in front of the Heavenly Emperor and asks him to pass on his title to the God of Thunder (Emperor is not at all pleased), she runs straight to the Queen Mother of the West and tells her she has found that Demonic Lady.
Does she thinks this makes up for her brother and restores her to the good graces of the court? Better she try to think about GoW and make it up to HIM, protecting her family that way all those years.
She's an ungrateful asshole. 
The Queen Mother loses no time. She goes straight to Jiu Chen's Palace and demands entry - his old servant puts up resistance but is smacked aside and she simply breaks in. Ling Xi hears her when she breaks the seal and tries to hide, ending up in that ice chamber again (what's that even for?! His training, I think)... but that's not much use. (I guess there's a little Jamie Dornan in our hero.) The Queen Mother finds her there (because of Baize Beast who can't stop himself from chirping) and accuses her of ruining her banquet (not so bad), freeing Sky Eater (worse) and killing her soldiers (not good at all).
We liked you a whole lot better when you were Cheng Yu, lady. 
GoW gets alerted by his seal that someone has broken into his Palace and quickly leaves the Heavens in the middle of a conversation with the Heavenly Emperor and the God of Thunder (who almost pees his pants when he hears Jiu Chen wants to pass on his title). He gets to the ice chamber in time to prevent Ling Xi from being gravely hurt by the Queen of the West.
I love his little sardine-themed head dress here - he's got the key and the top of the can.
He looks pissed. I would be too. Who the hell does this lady think she is breaking into people's vacation homes and smacking their mistresses around?
Jiu Cheng refuses to hand Ling Xi over, even summoning his sword - it's the beginning of the end, of course. When he bends over Ling Xi to check whether she's hurt and wipes blood away from her mouth tenderly, that lackey of God of Thunder (he was sent to follow)(why is he so annoying?) sees them together. Yup, they look like a pair of lovers.
They've got to be, by now.
Bunny says no. She's so young and innocent
NO.
Everybody runs to the Heavenly Emperor to tell on Jiu Chen (they really couldn't wait, huh) and he knows they need to go to the Heavens to explain. He enchants the Longevity Charm and gives it to her, well knowing what will follow. I'm so angry he's keeping her in the dark I can't even find his gentle humor with which he tries to cheer her up endearing.
He's never actually said why, right?  We just assume he thinks it's for the best, but what if there's a reason.  What if her knowing would fully unleash the power?  We don't know!
OK I HEAR YOU BUT THAT DIMPLE MAKES UP FOR EVERYTHING
 
She's led straight to Lord Puhua for interrogation. Why did she go the Kunlun, is Baize her mount, why did she kill the generals etc. What's gonna cost her her head is Sky Eater's visible love for her, of course... only a Demon would be in such a position. And GoW hiding her away isn't all that great either. They decided to check for Demonic energy and.... nothing. Because the Longevity Charm protects her. Lord of Thunder really knows how to make the dumbest faces! lmao.
Just look at these old men picking on a little girl. Shame! I bet they go around kicking puppies too. 
So, no demonic energy, but further investigation! Ling Xi is not allowed to leave the Heavens. As soon as GoW and his little fairy are back in his Palace, he succumbs to the Cold Sickness. Yeah, good to be reminded! He still shouldn't overuse his powers (and still does). Very cute scene of her hugging him after another sleepless night. In contrast to before, it's her warmth that brings relief.
I do like that they take care of each other - she's as important to his well-being, at this point, as he is to hers.
Yes, this scene is so stinking sweet it's giving me cavities. But have they tried the skin-on-skin warm up method? I hear it works wonders. (Bunny approves of practical skinship)
And still he keeps telling her that everything is fine! Gaaaaah, why is he such an idiot?! Overconfident in his abilities? Blind? I forgive him everything though... look at that hug he gives her!!!
It's a good one, alright.
Gahhhhh, the ear touch. (Is that his signature move?) And yeah, the hug is everything. You can't watch this and not root for them. My babies <3
Zhang Hao makes it back to Demon Lord's seal (barely) to report to Qin Yuan that he has found the girl that can help DL to rise again. Wait, does he die? What a waste of hotness.
Evil.  He's evil, you can't mess with him, it will make you evil too.
So you're saying, don't go for bad boys? But we're wired this way, Jo! 
GoW and Ling Xi are cute in their shy interactions, dammit. He gifts her the Longevity Charm --- and she begins to pack all kinds of things to take to Congji Abyss. You can just see how cute he finds everything she does. Even when she packs EVERYTHING, hahaha, even though there's no need at all.
The little house-moving fairy, sigh.
GoW is such a flirt... cornering her like that! Who knew.

Comments

Yeah, so we all know this is going to end in a calamity and it makes me extremely uneasy that Ling Xi is not in the know about what they suspect her of. Please explain why GoW isn't telling her. Is he just being a typical, overprotective male who think women need protection and cannot decide for themselves what they want? I get that she's weak etc., but even then, wouldn't she be much better equipped for what ahead if she knew about her link to the Demon Lord?
I feel like this has been so heavily discussed (refer to last recap's comment section - I KNOW, hahaha) that I have nothing more to add that hasn't already been said... but I will reiterate that at least on a whole, compared to other cdrama boyfriends that came before him, Jiu Chen makes progress by leaps and bounds. Let's hope he learns from this some time in the next 40 or so episodes. Wow, we've still got a long ways to go.


Okay, BUT THE CUTE. All those hugs and little caresses. GAAAAAAAH. Besides, he's wearing my favorite robe. 
I like him in his under-robe, too...
The tan linen one with his hair up is still my fav.