American Perspectives: "Ever Night 2" Response

First of all, I know I'm running way behind schedule!  I haven't written any entries on here in awhile.  I've been really busy with making products for my store, and I got accepted as a permanent vendor in a retail outlet, so I've been preparing for that.  

Most people did not seem to have a positive response to "Ever Night 2" due to the extensive recasting.  Especially witht the recasting of Ning Que. People's reactions to it, to Wang Hedi replacing Chen Fei Yu reminded me of the uproar in the US when Robert Pattinson was cast in "Batman."  

I actually liked "Ever Night 2" better than "Ever Night 1." I felt that there were some things in "Ever Night 1" that were dragged out, and it was unnecessary.

I didn't write as much about "Ever Night 2" because there were very strong Daoist and Buddhist themes that were being extensively addressed.  Because I don't have a strong background in either religion, I didn't feel that any of my commentary would do this show any justice.  In fact, I thought it would be rather counter productive.

I said it once, and I'll say it repeatedly, I like how they show moral purity isn't something to be proud of.  Relative to my culture (Generic White American), it's a breath of fresh air.  Too many Americans try to rationalize some very irrational actions (like the Xiling) and try to convince us that they are virtuous, good, and justified.  It is exhausting.  I like how the Tang Academy people know that the good and the bad, the mundane and the exciting, are a necessary part of existing.  You can't eliminate one, and expect everything to function properly.

Whereas, the Xiling People are very genocidal toward those who do not fit their impossible standard.  But within their own cult, if you are in favor with the right people, some of your deviations may be overlooked.  And this type of thing really makes me think. 

It makes me think about how, in the Catholic Church, and highly Christianized town I grew up in, there was this expectation to follow what was in the Bible, especially if you were female.  Ok, cool, except the powers that be would routinely pick and choose.  If you deviated from your loyalty to the church/Christianity, or questioned the belief system, you were not looked upon favorably.   However, there was a lot of inconsistency, double standards, and random reinforcement.  Just like the Xiling Cult.  However, it's not just Christians who are guilty of this.  So are progressives, and back when Cancel Culture was really escalating, I would actually say they could be much worse.  They destroyed anyone and everyone who did not conform to their ever changing, moving target, multiple standard of virtue.  What is demonstrated by Fu Zi in the "Ever Night" franchise is a sort of tolerance, and willingness to have discussions with outsiders who may not agree.

Sang Sang is at her kindest when she's considered darkest/the Child of Hades.  And at her brightest/The Heavenly Maiden, she is the most cruel.  As the Heavenly Maiden, she kills and harms without a trace of guilt or empathy.  Which reminds me of how Fu Zi said that Absolute Light is the same as Absolute Dark.  It makes me think of how the sun blinds you when you look at it, or burns you if it touches you.

The ones who are most kind are those who would be considered Barbaric, impure, common, and mundane.  So, the demon sect, the peasants, and Tang Academy.  The tyrannical Emperor Hunyuan was Pure Tang, while the Just Emperor, Little Sixer, was 1/2 Tang, 1/2 Demon.  It's a reminder of how people are not so simplistic, and how those who consider themselves pure may just not be.  Those who are considered evil may actually be a bit more inclusive and charitable.

So, what I got from "Ever Night 2" is that people aren't so simplistic, and that purity may actually be the thing that's evil.