The following contains spoilers for Episode 12 of Raven of the Inner Palace, “Siblings,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Owl’s threat against Shouxue’s life has become far too significant to leave unresolved, so Shouxue finally confronts him in Raven of the Inner Palace’s thrilling Episode 12. Though the series has already explored the history behind Shouxue’s role as the Raven Consort, her meeting with the Owl unearths even more secrets.
Before the Owl begins plotting against her, Shouxue has not faced a direct threat throughout most of the series. Instead, the series has primarily dealt with episodic ghost mysteries with character development and subtle worldbuilding occurring in the background. With the slow-burn introduction of the Owl, much mystery has surrounded his identity and reasons for wanting to kill Shouxue. As tensions have ramped up over the past few episodes, Shouxue is ready to face her mysterious antagonist herself to prevent any harm from coming to those she cares about.
Shouxue and the Emperor Confront the Owl in a Beautifully Animated Fight Scene
As Shouxue investigates the Owl in Episode 11, she finds him in the Magpie Consort’s chambers. After Shouxue discovers that the Magpie Consort resurrected her dead brother with the Owl’s help, she defeats the bloodthirsty clay doll when it attacks and kills the Magpie Consort. While this scene is intense, Shouxue’s following confrontation with the Owl proves even more stunning.
Though Shouxue goes on her own to face the Owl, Emperor Gaojun and the palace eunuchs arrive just in time to divert him from harming her. In a beautifully animated scene, the Emperor shows off his swordsmanship against the Owl. Wei Qing, Dan Hai and Wen Wing also contribute to the fight with their own sword, crossbow and throwing knives respectively. Though the series has certainly incorporated horror elements as well as supernatural themes, it had yet to deliver action-forward scenes until now.
The Owl Finally Reveals His Mysterious Connection to the Raven Consort
While the fight scene is certainly captivating, the shocking revelation lies at the heart of the confrontation between the Owl and Raven Consort. The Owl reveals that he is the brother of the Raven, the goddess that dwells inside the Raven Consort. While the Raven’s role is to guide the spirits of the dead, the Owl is the executioner of the Palace of Seclusion, the place where the gods live. By revealing his supernatural background, the Owl reveals not only his identity but also his reason for trying to kill Shouxue.
Known as Niao Lian, the Raven lives inside Shouxue, the Raven Consort. The Owl expresses that his sister committed the unforgivable sins of reviving a soul and turning a living being into a vessel. As the executioner, the Owl must put the Raven to death for her crimes, killing Shouxue in the process. According to the Owl, the Raven is already in the process of destroying Shouxue herself, tearing apart her soul in an effort to escape. Everything from Shouxue’s flowers to her magic is connected to the Raven’s struggle inside her.
Though Shouxue destroys the Owl’s clay doll he used as a vessel before he is able to kill her, the threat against her still exists. Not only is the Owl still alive and likely just as determined to execute the Raven, but the Raven itself poses a risk to Shouxue according to the Owl’s shocking revelation. With one episode left and a second season not yet announced, fans are anxious to see what lies in store for Shouxue and her friends.
