LayarHijau – The historical costume drama The Vendetta of An (長安二十四計), starring Cheng Yi, aired its final episode on December 25. The last four episodes delivered nonstop twists and revelations, ultimately uncovering the true identities and relationships of all key characters. Overall, the finale received widespread praise for its emotional weight, intricate plotting, and sustained tension until the very end. However, despite the positive response, two major narrative flaws triggered strong criticism from viewers.
(Warning: the explanation below contains spoiler about the drama ending)
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In episodes 25 through 28, Cheng Yi’s character Xie Huai’an is portrayed as a master strategist willing to sacrifice everything to protect Chang’an from an invasion by the rival state of Tie Mo. The emotional peak comes when he faces his childhood mentor, who is ultimately revealed to be the King of Tie Mo, played by Wang Jinsong. The life-or-death confrontation between master and disciple left many viewers devastated and was widely hailed as one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the drama, showcasing the powerful performances of both Cheng Yi and Wang Jinsong.
That said, the ending of The Vendetta of An did not escape controversy. Two major shortcomings in the writing were seen as undermining the carefully built logic of the story.
The first criticism centers on what many viewers felt was an overly forced attempt to portray Xie Huai’an as a “tragic hero.” To execute his plan, he even reconciles with his sworn enemy Yan Fengshan, portrayed by Zhang Hanyu, and places him in a key role in the scheme to capture the King of Tie Mo. Xie Huai’an also willingly offers his own life as a bargaining chip, allowing the State Preceptor, played by Ni Dahong, to gain the full trust of the King of Tie Mo.
The drama reveals that the State Preceptor and the King of Tie Mo were once slaves in Tie Mo during their youth. Twenty years earlier, they agreed to infiltrate Chang’an as undercover agents for the sake of Tie Mo’s future, vowing not to meet again until their mission was complete. Over time, however, the State Preceptor comes to realize that the King of Tie Mo has transformed into a ruler who oppresses the people, no different from the aristocrats they once despised. This realization drives him to collaborate with Xie Huai’an in luring the King of Tie Mo into a trap set inside a grain warehouse.
Problems arise after the plan is set in motion. Although the King of Tie Mo engages in a fierce battle with Yan Fengshan inside the warehouse and ultimately emerges victorious, Xie Huai’an chooses an extreme course of action. He ignites the flour dust in the grain storage, triggering a massive explosion that kills both himself and the King of Tie Mo. The scene is meant to symbolically echo an earlier lesson taught by the King of Tie Mo when he was still Xie Huai’an’s teacher, warning about the danger of fire caused by airborne dust.
However, many viewers questioned the logic behind this decision. Given that Xie Huai’an had consistently been portrayed as exceptionally intelligent and meticulous, audiences felt he should have found a way to eliminate the King of Tie Mo without resorting to mutual destruction. The criticism intensified because Xie Huai’an enters the warehouse already severely wounded, with a dagger still embedded in his body. As a result, many viewers felt that his death was written purely to force a tragic hero ending, rather than being a strategy that made sense within the story.
The second major criticism targets Xie Huai’an’s physical condition, which many viewers found unrealistic. To earn the King of Tie Mo’s trust, he is first stabbed by the State Preceptor, and the King of Tie Mo even twists the dagger to ensure the wound is fatal. Xie Huai’an had arranged in advance for the skilled physician Yi Zhihu, played by Chen Shujun, along with Zuo Xiaoqing, played by Wang Zixuan, to arrive as backup.
In practice, however, the two women only appear to provide cover by shooting arrows at enemies, with no treatment shown at all. When Xie Huai’an later appears at the grain warehouse, the dagger is still lodged in his body. Yi Zhihu’s renowned medical skills are never put to use, yet Xie Huai’an is still depicted as being able to move around and carry out his final plan despite his critical injuries, leaving many viewers puzzled.
Even so, some fans interpreted these narrative choices differently, suggesting that Xie Huai’an deliberately avoided treatment as part of a larger plan involving a staged death. This interpretation gained traction after an extra scene at the end of the drama hinted that Xie Huai’an might not have truly died, sparking speculation about a potential second season.
Despite the divided opinions, The Vendetta of An is still widely recognized for its complex storytelling and strong performances from its veteran cast. Nevertheless, the backlash over the finale highlights the high expectations of viewers, many of whom believe that the impressive acting from Cheng Yi, Wang Jinsong, Ni Dahong, and Zhang Hanyu deserved a more coherent and polished conclusion.
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