Episode 1: The Jade Earring, Part 1
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 1 Review – Best In Show
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 1, “The Jade Earring, Part 1,” emperor Xia Gaojun had a problem. He needed to find the identify of a ghost he suspected might be connected to his family. So, with his attendant Wei Qing, he sought the help of the mysterious Liu Shouxue. Wei expressed outrage at how disrespectfully Liu spoke to the emperor, but Xia waved aside his concerns. Who is Liu that she can speak to the emperor that way? What is her role as the Raven of the Inner Palace? And why does that over-sized chicken named Xing-xing live with her?
Episode 2: The Jade Earring, Part 2
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 2 Review – Best In Show
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 2, “The Jade Earring, Part 2,” emperor Xia Gaojun had seen Liu Shouxue washing her hair in the lake. He was shocked to see the black dye wash out to reveal her shining white hair – the same hair color of the previous Luan dynasty. The same dynasty Xia’s family had put to death for treason! How will Xia react? What will Liu? Is there anything she can do if the emperor of China decides she should join her ancestors? And will they ever solve the mystery of the jade earring, especially if the Raven Consort is no longer around?
Episode 3: The Whistle
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 3 Review – Best In Show
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 3, “The Whistle,” the Second Consort visited the Raven Consort, Liu Shouxue. Liu had to expend considerable effort to discover what the Second Consort really wanted, which was to discover why the Emperor seemed to visit the Raven Consort so often. Then, later, the Second Consort came back with a request: she wanted Liu to investigate a whistle. Why was this whistle so important? What is it doing, or not doing, to cause concern? And where does the Emperor fit into all of this?
Episode 4: The Skylark Princess
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 4 Review – Best In Show
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 4, “The Skylark Princess,” a skylark came to visit the Raven Consort, Liu Shouxue. But it wasn’t just any skylark. It was the ghost of a skylark, and Jiu-Jiu thought its plight was so sad that she begged Liu to send it to paradise. But things weren’t as simple as they seemed, and the more Liu looked into the situation, the more complex it became. Then she and Jiu-Jiu got into an argument. Can Liu discover the secret of the skylark before she alienates her lady-in-waiting? And what is the emperor making for Liu?
Episode 5: Confidant
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 5 Review – Best In Show
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 5, “Confidant,” the Emperor’s condition continued to deteriorate. Why? Because two ghosts from his past constantly afflicted him in the night. His most trusted assistant Wei Qing wanted to talk to the Raven Consort, but the Emperor forbid it. Without that as an option, the assistant tried to go undercover. In the red light district, he came face to face with his traumatizing past. Can he overcome that? Can he fulfill his mission? And why have the ghosts just started to haunt the Emperor?
Episode 6: The Summer King and the Winter King
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 6 Review – Best In Show
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 6, ”The Summer King and the Winter King,” the Raven Consort poured through the archives in search of a ghost’s identity. What she learned came as a shock. Meanwhile, the Emperor could not relent in his search for answers about the Raven Consort’s history. What he learned led to more questions, which led him to ask the Raven Consort herself. What reaction did she have to his question? How did he react to what he learned?
Episode 7: Glass Prayer
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 7: Favorites
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 7, “Glass Prayer,” the ghost of Bingyue Luan possessed Jiu-Jiu. Worse, he threatened to slit her throat if Shouxue Liu, the Raven Consort, would not do his bidding. To emphasize his point, Bingyue pressed a broken shard of glass against Jiu-Jiu’s throat. With the Emperor Gaojun Xia looking on, what will Shouxue do? What can she do, other than listen to the ghost’s demands, as long as it holds Jiu-Jiu hostage?
Episode 8: Blue Swallow
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 8: Favorites
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 8, “Blue Swallow,” a young boy named Yi Shia received a severe caning for saying he had seen a ghost. That seemed extreme to Shouxue Liu, the Raven Consort, who listened to Yi Siha’s request for her to investigate. What did she learn? Why was Chang Huangying, the Swallow Consort, involved? And what kind of food did Gaojun Xia, the Emperor, bring for the Raven Consort this week?
Episode 9: Water’s Voice
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 9: Favorites
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 9, “Water’s Voice,” Shouxue Liu/the Raven Consort experienced great painduring the new moon when the god Niao Lian escaped from her body. Apparently, this happened every month. Can the Raven Consort continue to bear the pain? Can Jiu-Jiu contain her concern? And who was the “Owl” who broke the spell? Later, a Court Lady named An Huilan came to the Raven Consort in the middle of the night. Her plea? That the Raven Consort help the deceased soul of Xi Wanlin, “the consort I once served.” Can the Raven Consort find out what happened to Xi Wanlin before it’s too late? What what exactly does “too late” mean in this context?
Episode 10: The Masked Man
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 10: Favorites
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 10, “The Masked Man,” the Emperor brought a cloth mask to the attention of Shouxue Liu, the Raven consort. Apparently, anyone who looked through it would see a ghostly figure. And if someone else played a lute at the same time, that figure would advance in a menacing way. Who was the figure? Why was his soul trapped in the mask? And what is Xiao Yue, a.k.a. the Owl, up to?
Episode 11: Groundwork
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In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 11, “Groundwork,” more details came out about Xue Cheng, the lady-in-waiting who had been murdered. A human, not an animal, had chewed out her throat! Shouxue Liu/the Raven Consort asked Ying Wen to investigate the Quechao Palace, which is where the lady-in-waiting had come from. Will he find anything? Will he find too much? And will the Raven Consort ever realize how the people around her feel about her?
Episode 12: Siblings
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 12: Favorites
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 12, “Siblings,” the Emperor Xia Gaojun and Shouxue Lie/Raven Consort went to the Magpie Consort Qin Huiyao to confront her over the missing Ying Wen. Once there, the scent of incense overpowered them. But there was another scent as well. They were surprised to find not only the Magpie Consort, but Feng Xiao Yue (the Owl) himself. What was he doing there? What had he done with the Magpie Consort? And what did he intend to do to the Raven Consort?
Episode 13: Xiangfu Incense
Raven Of The Inner Palace Episode 13: Favorites
In Raven of the Inner Palace episode 13, “Xiangfu Incense,” the Raven Consort, with help from the Emperor, had defeated the Owl. Further investigation, though, revealed the Owl had help. And from an unexpected source! Can the Emperor get to the Raven Consort’s side in time to save her – again?
Really enjoyed this! I will be most unhappy if I don’t get another season.
That makes two of us! I think the story gave us some hooks for a second season.