In this episode, we dissect two iconic portrayals of Nezha—the 1979 martyr and the 2019 rebel—to uncover how China’s most mythical teenager mirrors each generation’s deepest struggles: from collectivist sacrifice to digital-age identity wars. 02:44 A First Look: The Enduring Characters of the 1979 Nezha Movie 06:02 Li Jing: The Authoritarian Father Figure in Chinese Mythology 11:59 The 1979 Climax: A Heart-Wrenching Cultural Turning Point 15:29 Nezha’s Agony: When Rebellion Becomes the Only Choice 18:00 Why Must Nezha Die? The Shocking Cultural Subtext 20:16 1979’s Cry of Pain: How a Cartoon Mirrored a Decade of Trauma 23:16 Revival of Nezha: How the New Franchise Reinvents Tradition 28:55 2019 Nezha: Identity Crisis Among Labels and Prejudices 33:40 The Eternal Struggle: Finding Self in a World of Expectations 36:30 2025’s Nezha: Right vs. Wrong in a Post-Truth World 37:20 Shen Gong Bao: The Small-Town Dreamer Who Embodies Our Ambitions 41:16 Can Kindness Survive in a World That Rewards Cruelty? 43:20 2025 Nezha -- A Hollow Cutout 45:30 Nezha’s Mother: Another Female Plot Device in a Hero’s Journey 48:55 1979’s Junzi vs. 2019’s Gen-Z Nezha: Two Faces of Chinese Youth 50:52 The Untethered Generation: Millennials and Gen-Z in Digital Cocoons 54:28 The Ending: DeepSeek-Generated Conclusion

00:00 Intro 01:48 First Impressions: Who Is Nezha? – A Cute Chubby Kid Hero 04:00 Why Nezha Was Worshipped as a Boy God – Origins & Evolution 05:00 Nezha’s Origin – Hindunism and Buddism 08:00 How Tang & Song Dynasties Reshaped Nezha’s Image 11:14 A Rare Portrait: Nezha in Dun Huang Mural in The Song Dynasty Art 12:18 The Ming Dynasty’s Legacy – Cementing Nezha as the Eternal Boy God 13:59 Confucian Influence on Nezha – The Jade Like Ideal 16:50 Daoist Influence in Nezha’s Legends – The Untamed Child Spontaneity 19:02 The Investiture of the Gods – The Book That Defined Nezha’s Modern Persona20:49 Nezha as a Cultural Mirror – How Each Era Reinvented Him 22:49 Nezha in Investiture of the Gods – The Spoiled Divine Kid (AKA "Chinese Draco Malfoy")? 29:09 The Duality of Nezha – Revered God, Flawed Antihero 34:12 Nezha’s Timeless Appeal – The Courage to Never Bend 36:10 Classic Film Spotlight: Nezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979) 37:45 Visual Style: Ink-Wash Animation & Traditional Chinese Aesthetics 38:12 Clip 1: Nezha’s Playful Weapon Mastery 40:50 Clip 2: Nezha’s Lotus Rebirth – A Scene of Mythic Beauty 45:13 Soundtrack Secrets: Traditional Chinese Instruments in the 1979 Film