Right so... where to start?
Honestly wasn't prepared at all for this considering I finished the first season right before I started this one- and was still a little emotionally wrecked from Rang's death so seeing him in the second season almost immediately had me two a double take. Actually happy though because Lee Yeon and Rang's relationship makes the show for me if I'm being completely honest. I think it should've been the series' whole focus. And the whole concept of LY having a month to spend with Rang again after missing him for so long was something that I definitely enjoyed. The new characters that were introduced helped carry along the plot more so than the first season, but the second half of the series was slower than the first, so there were some bits that kinda bored me. First half of the season I really enjoyed, since we didn't have to deal the FL from season one being a vulnerability to LY. However, it seems as though both LY and LR were stronger in the first season than the second, and LY's famed nine-tailed abilities aren't as powerful as the first season. I was hoping the we would get to see a more powerful side to him, but so far I've only seen it twice- once with the shinigamis, and once when the 1938 LY confronts future LY. This could be due to the fact that LY isn't in his original era, meaning his abilities could be hindered, but there may also be a chance that this is just poor writing. With Rang, I'm not sure but he was definitely more powerful and capable in the first season. Now having watched the last episode, it definitely redeemed the series for me, as we got to see both LY and LR's abilities in full, which was more on par with season one, at least in Rang's case.
Speaking of Rang, don't know how I feel about the romance with the mermaid. I feel like it was forced and the love at first sight trope doesn't really work for me. The concept of them both being half-bloods was a good choice, but I would've enjoyed it more if they started as friends and the mermaid aided Rang in some way... possibly as a spy?? I think the ending made me like their relationship a bit more, but I'm still kinda meh about it. But seeing Rang at the end taking care of 1938's LY is something that I wasn't expected, but is a good way to leave his story in 1938. Anyways, Moo-yeon's "death" was something that I knew was going to happen, but I hadn't thought that his shell of a brother would be the one to" kill him." His reappearance was also a surprise, but it was well-written in regards to LY and the fortune god. Hong-joo and Moo-yeon were both characters that were new additions this season, but I think their appearances gave us a glimpse of another part of Lee Yeon's past, in addition to the fact that I just liked Hong-joo in general. The fact that the three of them end up protecting Joseon in the end is another key point that made me really happy. All in all, the scenes remain stunning and the certain elements I've already named above don't take away from the fact that this drama would be a total masterpiece. The euphoric moments of happiness and peace coupled with the pain and suffering characters experience throughout the plot is what makes this drama special as it takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and makes you truly feel something.
Is it pleasant? Not always. Will I remember the moments that made me so pissed off I wanted to talk to the writers personally? Yes. I mean like seriously they relied too much on the actors bc they were the ones actually carrying this drama like can we please just do better at writing >:///. Ugh anyways- Do I remember the emotional turmoil that is the the pure happiness of one scene bleeding into a scene of sorrow that made me want to bawl my eyes out? Yes. I may not be mentally nor emotionally ready for season 3, but I'm curious to see where it will take me.