I sense the work of clever writers. And by 'clever,' I mean 'shameless.'

So, the last third of Paladins in Troubled Times has this thing about Victor Huang being chained up in a dungeon.  Evidence:

 

 

I sense the thinking in this is similar to that in my last report of this series, that is, someone behind this series went "Gosh, Mo Le is going to be rather frustrting for a while.  If nothing else, we can at least try to distract the viewers whose fictional interests include tall, athletic men with long black hair being tortured while chsined up in a dungeon."

Also! Look at them!


 

They are romantic rivals who share a tent and hang out together on the bed doing...well, I have no idea what Yan Yu is doing (possibly, she stores all her plots for minor plans that have beneficial side effects likethrowing enemy armies into disarray-her "minor escape plans" tend to result in enemy generals getting taken out and their armies either getting cut in half, or running around in a panic-in the box) but Zhi Fen appears to be sewing (it isn't easy to keep those robes gorgeous and pristine when you're riding all over the countrside and going into battle) and they are bonding and being friends who just happen to like thesame guy, instead of being jealous or plotting against each other.

Also, this show possibly has uxia medicine that hels you regrow lost fingers.  The success has not been determined yet.

cdrama: Paladins in Troubled Times (end)

I am deeply saddened to report that there was no resolution to whether or not wuxia medicine can actually make you regrow bodyparts.  But at least you get to see someone bite off their own finger to get the emperor to listen to them?  (If I were to trust wuxia on this front, I would be forced to believe that China has never had even a semi-competent ruler.)

Anyay, the climax included this scene:

MAN:  I shall be strong and manly and lift this giant rock door with my bare hands!  I've managed 6 inches.  Quick, grab a rock to hold it open for me!
WOMAN:  How about I bring you this thick wooden pole I conveniently found over there, and we use it as lever.  That way, we don't risk losing our fingers and it'll go way faster and take a lot less effort.
MAN:  I am glad we had the discussion about how you have all the brains in this operation a few episodes ago.

I only have one serious problem with this series, and it's under the cut.
 

 

( spoiler cut for annoyingly common trope )

I should find a series where Victor Huang is playing a more age appropriate character.  Also, Yan Yu's actress is to this director (name escapes me at the moment and i'm to la to look it up) what Liu Shi Shi is to Guo Li, because it looks like almost every series she's in is from him.