Doupo Cangqiong 2nd Season Specials

This is a bit of an interesting special. This is meant to be watched after Season 2 and before Season 3, since it features Hai PoDong and Medusa, after both are introduced in the main story (before Medusa's model is shown). However, this is technically a non-canon story, a donghua original.

This special centers around the Hai PoDong and Medusa's fight in the desert, roughly 30 years prior to Xiao Yan meeting Hai PoDong. In the novel (source) and donghua season 2, there is mention that Hai PoDong once fought Medusa, lost, and was thus sealed, however, that is the extent of the details of that ... event. This story is built from this tiny detail within the novel, and this special is the result.

The story, action and character models in this special are beautifully done. They took the time to delve into each characters actions and gave development to characters (probably fan favorites), that don't really get explored in the novel or the donghua. There is major point of difference from the novel though: Medusa's character has been softened (in the novel she is described as a ruthless killer and feared by all - from the JiaMa Empire's perspective of course) and Hai PoDong is later shown as wary of Medusa rather than outright instinctively fearful of her.

This is a great watch, it has a good balance of action and story, well worth the watch. I would even recommend it to people who don't care much for the main story, since it can stand independent and requires no background info to enjoy.

You don't really have to watch the 1st season or 2nd season to understand the 2nd season specials. You can jump in straight. But you do need to watch the specials to understand the 2nd season.

The second season specials are truly a masterpiece. The first season specials were really good too. But i would rewatch the second ones more.

Story : I wasn't really expecting a story this good honestly. I just wanted to watch the specials quickly to get back to the show but the specials story was better than 1st and 2nd season's story combined.

Art : I wasn't really into snake girls ... but now i totally am. The art was that good. 100x times better than the 1st season episodes.

Sound : There is one soundtrack that's really really good. Part of my desire to rewatch is cuz of the music.

The only thing i would have preferred is these 3 special episodes made into a movie instead cuz that really would have been one good movie competing with the top ones.

Those episodes describe the story between Medusa and the Ice Emperor. It can be watched without having watched the previous seasons.
HOWEVER, this season is not canon at all. The events described do not appear in the original novel and will have 0 impact on the future story unless they change the story, which I hope they will not do.

You can watch if you want, the art is a lot better than previous seasons. But I cannot rate higher a story that has no relation to the main story and no basis behind it. If you do skip it, you won't lose anything.