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Bai Lu’s Feud Ending Sparks Viewer Outrage, Any Season 2?

“Feud” Finale Sparks Viewer Outrage: Confusing Plot Overshadows Bai Lu & Joseph Zeng’s Romance
Celestial Love, Mortal Frustrations: The Internet Reacts to “Feud”’s Finale (iQIYI)

Netizens say it had the heart, but not the logic...

After weeks of celestial heartbreak, legendary love, and immortal sacrifice, the much-hyped Chinese historical fantasy drama Feud (《临江仙》) has officially wrapped up. Starring Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng Shunxi in a divine romance between a goddess and a deity, the show had viewers hooked from the start — but its final episodes have stirred more confusion than closure.

While fans were teary-eyed watching the farewell between Hua Ruyue (Bai Lu) and Bai JiuSi (Joseph Zeng), many are now airing frustrations online, calling the ending “messy”, “rushed”, and “painfully convoluted”. So... what actually happened?

A Farewell Kiss, a Time Loop, and a Bit Too Much Going On

According to reports from Upmedia and widespread fan discussions, the story reaches its climax with Hua Ru Yue and Bai JiuSi trapped in a celestial formation. Because their spiritual powers are perfectly balanced (romantic, but problematic), the only way to break free is by tipping the scales. Cue Bai Jiusi sacrificing himself — in classic xianxia fashion — allowing Hua RuYue to escape and safeguard the powerful Infinite Tablet.

Right before disappearing, Bai JiuSi plants a final kiss and says softly: “A-Yue, see you again.” That scene alone had fans tweeting like mad, with many calling it “peak romantic tragedy”. But then... things started spiralling.

Hua RuYue escapes and continues her divine duty, only to witness even more sacrifices — notably from antagonist-turned-redemption-arc Xiao Jingshan (Hong Yao), who invents a time-reversal device at the cost of his own life. With this new power, Hua Ruyue jumps back in time, determined to undo her biggest regrets — including her failed mortal romance with Bai JiuSi.

She visits her past self (yes, literally), explains that Bai JiuSi never abandoned her, and reveals that he was actually undergoing heavenly punishment to protect her. It’s emotional, poetic, but also… a bit hard to follow.

Wait, So They’re Alive Again?

In a twisty conclusion, Hua Ruyue uses help from the elusive Time God to reunite with Bai JiuSi at the place where their love first began — suggesting a reincarnation, rebirth, or possible cosmic do-over. The drama ends on a happy note, technically. But many netizens were left wondering: “Was all that time-hopping really necessary?”

Why Viewers Weren’t Having It

Despite strong performances, especially from Bai Lu (already a fan favourite thanks to Till the End of the Moon and Story of Kunning Palace), audiences voiced several key complaints:

  1. The Plot Was All Over the Place
    The final two episodes crammed in too many twists — spiritual sacrifice, magical devices, time travel, past-life visits, divine punishments — leaving even loyal viewers scratching their heads.

  2. Male Lead Went Missing
    After Bai JiuSi’s heroic sacrifice, Joseph Zeng’s screen time dropped dramatically. Most of his appearances post-sacrifice were in flashbacks or dream sequences, while the narrative shifted focus to side characters.

  3. Overused Tropes
    Although emotional, many felt the ending recycled too many familiar xianxia tropes — the classic “I must die so you can live” arc, unresolved misunderstandings, and a sudden convenient reunion that wrapped things up too neatly.

Fans React: “Bai Lu Deserved Better”

“Feud” Wraps with a Happy Ending — But Fans Are Still Fuming

On Weibo and Douban, the general consensus was that the cast did the best they could with a script that tried to do too much. One popular comment read, “I came for the divine romance, stayed for the acting, but left with a headache.” Ouch.

Still, there’s no denying that Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng’s chemistry carried the show emotionally. The romantic tension, deep stares, and heartfelt moments still won over a lot of shippers — many of whom are already rewatching their favourite clips on loop.

Feud Season 2, Anyone?

Despite the backlash, a surprising number of fans are already calling for a Season 2 — not necessarily to continue the love story, but to clear up the chaotic ending and give closure to the many dangling subplots. On social media, words like Feud Season 2 and #BringBackJiusi began flooded shortly after the finale aired. 

Some viewers are hoping for a spinoff focused on the side characters, especially Xiao Jingshan and the Time God, while others want a full-blown continuation where Bai Jiu Si is reborn in a new identity. 

Rumours have even surfaced on Douban and drama forums suggesting that a potential sequel is not even close, nor in the early stages of planning, despite rumours of it with different leads or set in an alternate timeline. However, as of now, no official announcements have been made by the production team or the network, so a second season remains wishful thinking — at least for the time being.

A Beautiful Mess

In the end, Feud delivered what many costume fantasy dramas aim for — heartbreak, redemption, epic love. But by the finale, the sheer amount of magical jargon, time-travel logic, and narrative whiplash left more than a few fans wishing the writers had just... kept it simple.

It might not be the worst ending of the year, but for a drama with this much star power and anticipation, the finale didn’t quite stick the landing.

#Bai Lu

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