The historical drama The Vendetta of An concluded its first season with a finale that prioritized stark realism over easy victories. The story, which follows Xie Huai’an on his fifteen-year quest for revenge, ended not with justice served, but with the devastating price of survival in a world of political treachery. The final episode left characters broken, alliances shattered, and the protagonist’s primary goal frustratingly out of reach, setting a grim yet compelling stage for the story’s future.
The last episode delivered intense, sequential clashes. Xiao Wu Yang, a key figure in the power struggle for Chang’an, deliberately revealed himself to draw out his rival, Wu Zhong Heng. Their brutal fight ended with both men severely wounded, but with no clear victor. This stalemate was just the beginning of the episode’s emotional toll.
The most shocking moment came from a betrayal within the royal family. As Xiao Wu Yang fought for his life, his younger brother, Xiao Wen Jing, arrived on the scene. Instead of offering aid, Xiao Wen Jing stabbed his brother repeatedly. This act was not purely born of hatred. Xiao Wen Jing revealed he had been trapped under Wu Zhong Heng’s control, watching the empire crumble while he held a powerless title. He saw betrayal as his only path to survival and a shred of power. Even while being killed, Xiao Wu Yang refused to retaliate, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder and urging him to protect Chang’an and its peopleโa final act that underscored he never truly desired the throne for himself.
Throughout the series, Xie Huai’an meticulously plotted to avenge his family’s massacre by the powerful Huben Army and its leader. The finale brought him agonizingly close to his target, Wu Zhong Heng. However, when the moment for revenge finally arrived, Wu Zhong Heng had prepared backup forces. Forced to choose between a suicidal attack and strategic retreat, Xie Huai’an chose to hide and preserve his life, letting the chance for closure slip away once more.
This failure highlighted the immense personal cost of his vendetta. His journey was marked by profound loss, including the death of his sister, which transformed his deep love into a “blaze of revenge”. Close allies like Han Ziling and Gu Yu also perished, their deaths leaving him with more emotional debt. As one fan noted on social media, the betrayal he experienced cut deep: “His mentor in Academy turns out to be the King of Tiemo and the Master who always help himโฆ was also a Tiemo people”. Each loss made his path lonelier and the weight of his mission heavier, as stopping would render all sacrifices meaningless.
The finale provided no neat endings, instead leaving its characters in states of grim survival. Xie Huai’an remained alive but as a fugitive, his revenge unfinished, transforming him from a proactive avenger into a lingering shadow waiting for another opportunity. Xiao Wen Jing, though physically alive, was left spiritually broken, burdened by his betrayal and rejected by those who once helped him.
Wu Zhong Heng emerged as the temporary victor in the power struggle but was shown to be deeply shaken by how close he came to death, now living in constant fear and ordering a full manhunt for Xie Huai’an. The ending also introduced a larger, more sinister threat, shifting the focus from internal political revenge to a national crisis. The true mastermind behind much of the turmoil was revealed to be the King of Tiemo, a foreign power that orchestrated conflicts to weaken Chang’an’s defenses from within. This pivot sets a clear path for the story’s continuation, moving from a personal vendetta to a fight for the kingdom’s survival.
The ending, which denied viewers a cathartic moment of victory, sparked strong reactions. Many expressed admiration for the show’s commitment to a realistic, morally complex world where power corrupts and good intentions erode. The emotional impact was particularly acute regarding the characters’ suffering. One viewer shared on Facebook, “I cried when General Gu yu was killed in his presenceโฆ I hurt whenever he’s passing through pains and stress”.
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Others pointed out the narrative’s depth, noting that Xie Huai’an’s struggle was never just about killing his enemy, Yan Fengshan, but about breaking the system of power that enabled such betrayal. The finale’s insistence that revenge is a “corrosive journey” that costs one’s humanity resonated with audiences looking for substance over simplistic heroics.
The first season of The Vendetta of An concludes with many questions unanswered and the central conflict expanded rather than resolved. The story is poised to continue, with Xie Huai’an’s unfinished revenge now set against the backdrop of an imminent foreign invasion by the Tiemo kingdom. While there is no official announcement yet, the production team has indicated that a second season is possible and would depend on fan support and public enthusiasm. If greenlit, the next season would likely explore whether Xie Huai’an can transition from a man defined by his past hatred to one who fights for a future, confronting the ultimate mastermind who has been pulling strings from the shadows.
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