The first season was more entertaining [Fei Liu!]. It had many scenes with levity. It was also loaded with bonds of friendship and loyalty. And the star was the center of the plot -- he drove it and circumvented all the subplots.

I tried hard not to compare. But midway through episode 15, I needed to go back to the first season to refresh my memory of the lineage. Too funny, I re-binged the entire series. That's how much I enjoyed it.

In season two, after a year and a half, I just reached episode 22 and realized several of the reasons I don't like it as much. #1. No Fei Liu! And it's all drab and misery. Exception: Brief scenes with PingJing and The Crown Prince (3?). The stars, the heroes, are kind of passive. Plus they're the victims just reacting to things happening to them and around them. Yet the bad people in this season aren't greedy and have no real aim; they're just out for revenge for sick twisted reasons. I suppose the following could be considered spoilers:
• "I was married to the wrong man and the emperor didn't favor me, I'll kill all of the royal family"!
• "My mother was a murderer. Because she killed herself, I must avenge her"!
• "My city was plagued and quarantined. I'll kill the whole country slowly and painfully'!
• "The emperor doesn't give the 12 year old crown prince any meaningful duties. He delegates them to his brother's family. I must kill them all to protect my son"!

Until I find something I enjoy more,... LOL