Three Kingdoms - episode 2. In which we meet our resident HBIC

[dangermousie]

I am sorry, Cao Cao, but for now you have been replaced as my favorite character by the lady above. Her name is Diaochan, she is the first female character we are introduced to, and I have a raging girlcrush on her. Diaochan is not only drop-dead gorgeous (and not afraid to use it), but also razor-smart and ice-cool under pressure. If it wasn't for her, Minister of the Interior and his whole 80-person household would have been gruesomely dead.



I also think she is being set-up as Psycho Legolas' OTP, or at least a crush object. I am all for it because seeing that her adopted father was the mastermind in the assassination attempt on his, this could get really interesting. Plus, when he was around her was the first time he was came across like your normal person and not his usual beyond-scary self. He needs to mellow out. In bed.



First, all the non-Diaochan stuff.

The Warlord is a little too fond of executing people. He needs a new hobby.



Cutest little Emperor ever, yes/yes?



Gorgeousness.









I just really love Cao Cao. There is something about him that just draws you in. I find myself wanting to follow him even through the screen though he's ruthless and cunning as all get-out.



Gaotai (???). The official who follows him into rebellion. You know the thing that struck me - that whole societal rule of "your family goes down with you" is supposed to prevent rebellion but it ends up placing innocents in harm's way for no reason. I bet nobody in Cao Cao's household knew of his plan to assassinate the warlord. And if it wasn't for Diochan's wits, Minister's whole household would be dead too and what did they know? Just like this official's family. They will probably be executed.



This scene was so very horrible. Cao Cao and his friend on the run hide out with a relative, assume his servants want to kill them and slaughter them, only to find out that the killing the peasants were talking about was slaughtering a pig in their honor. Sometimes this drama is depressing enough to make me want to eat my own head. It is certainly a world cavalier about killing. It's horrifying.



On to the more cheery topic of the awesomeness of Diaochan. She finds her father with a dagger, planning to cut his own throat because he knows he's suspected in Cao Cao's assassination attempt.




He explains:





Brainy and cool-headed Diaochan to the rescue!








And then Lu Bu arrives at the house with a whole troop of soldiers.







God, she's so awesome under pressure!






So the Minister gathers himself and comes out.




Good news. He's only here to search the house to see if Cao Cao is hiding here (yeah, it means Warlord suspects him but has no certainty yet, that's something).











So they are searching the house and he sees a movement out of the corner of his eye. It's Diaochan in her quarters but of course he has no idea.








And then he sees her.



Oh my God. I am totally having problems breathing. Mmmmmmm. I think I have got myself a ship. Swooooon. I kinda love how they are both frozen but while she's affected, he's completely spell-bound. I approve of Psycho Legolas experiencing love at first sight.






Oh please please let them be an OTP. Because that is the most entertaining first meeting ever "so yeah, I was there to search her father's house for traitors and if we found them, she'd have gotten executed along with everyone but luckily that didn't happen and instead we hooked up." Or something. You just know he is dying to ask her out for the ancient Chinese equivalent of a coffee date (A public hanging? A sword-fighting exhibition?).






He puts his sword back in its scabbard and I refuse the urge to make the obvious jokes.



This is even more entertaining if you upend "wanna go out with me?" to the end of each of his sentences.




I love how smart she is. Of course everything she says is true. There is just more to it.










He sees what he assumes (due to design and pride of place), Minister's ancestral dagger, one they thought Cao Cao was trying to use in the assassination and why they thought the Minister was involved. If the dagger is still in Minister's house, as opposed in warlord's possession post-assassination attempt, that means he's not involved (or so they think. This is a much fancier replica - everybody believes this is the original when it isn't).









Awww, Psycho Legolas, you are kinda a puppy here.








Why, yes, she does. She's a smart cookie.




Seriously, I hope they are a ship. I mean, can you imagine the wedding banquet?









Does Mousie have a new drama obsession? Yes yes and yes.

ETA: I was looking for some stuff and found out that there is a video game involving TK characters and Diao Chan is very much there. Wanna know what she looks like in gamer world?



My eyes are bugging out of my head trying to imagine someone walking around dressed in this in real life, Ancient China OR modern day. Kinda awesome but I think there'd be a mob stampede wherever she went. Plus, Psycho Legolas would probably hyperventilate to death.