SID Guardian

I'm sure everyone's seen this already, but I wanted to post it here anyway: gangster Zhu Yilong, in Cantonese!

Flowing Into You (5,760 words)
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Mature
Relationship/Characters: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Content Tags: Episode Related, Episode 17, Missing Scene, Developing Relationship, First Kiss, First Time, Sex with Powers, Black Energy Powers, Water Powers, Water Tentacles, Oral Sex, Zhao Yunlan Needs Something In His Mouth

Summary:

Shen Wei looked him up and down. "Zhao Yunlan, you're dripping. You need to dry yourself before you catch a chill."

"I don't suppose you have a quick-dry power?"

"Ah." Shen Wei's eyelashes swept down for a moment; he'd clearly been thinking towels, not black energy. "Not exactly."

Hello, Guardian Rewatchers! Thanks so much to all of you who've been part of the discussion, or have been reading along. ♥

Come join us for round 5 of the Guardian Slo-Mo Rewatch. We're watching half an episode a week (about twenty minutes) so we can talk and squee about our beloved 镇魂 | Guardian drama. With the fifth batch of episodes, we have the start of the Merit Brush arc, the blindness arc with all its domesticity, culminating in the Sundial Exchange, another visit to Dixing, a video game, and the personality switch.

For those who remember our last rewatch a few years back, this time we're aiming for a lighter touch. Posts are on the minimalist side - a brief summary, one quote, one screencap, maybe one noteworthy detail and some discussion-starter questions. Minimalist comments are more than welcome, too!

We're looking forward to some fun discussions as we revisit Haixing, Dixing, and the SID – and of course you can always drop in on any of the previous discussions at any time.

Fans of the novel, the drama, or both are very welcome! You don't have to keep up with the rewatch – it's absolutely fine to dip in and out. We want to hear what you think! Those of us who participated in the Readalong or are otherwise familiar with the novel are likely to compare and contrast the two canons, but it's 100% okay to focus purely on the drama.

Please consider hosting a post or two! Comment with a date from the schedule below! Posts should ideally be made sometime on the Friday or Saturday, in any time zone.

Schedule for round 5
Weekend of 14 August - no new post; catch-up time!
Weekend of 21 August - no new post; write a guardian_wishlist sign-up time!
Weekend of 28 August - episode 21 to 23:00
Weekend of 4 September - episode 21 from 23:00
Weekend of 11 September - episode 22 to 22:08
Weekend of 18 September - episode 22 from 22:08
Weekend of 25 September - no new post; Reunion Festival & Wishlist reveals! Enjoy the bounty!
Weekend of 2 October - episode 23 to 23:24
Weekend of 9 October - episode 23 from 23:24
Weekend of 16 October - episode 24 to 22:02
Weekend of 23 October - episode 24 from 22:02
Weekend of 30 October - episode 25 to 22:55
Weekend of 6 November - episode 25 from 22:55

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the first half of episode 20. On to the second half!

Episode 20 from 22:26:

Summary:

Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are en route to the Inspectorate when Zhao Yunlan has a vision of Xiao-Guo unconscious and Zhu Jiu at the Hallows. He stops the car and insists Shen Wei go ahead on his own. Importantly, Shen Wei grips Zhao Yunlan's arm, and Zhao Yunlan pats Shen Wei's knee. Meanwhile, Ye Zun has psychically woken up Zhu Jiu. Xiao-Guo (inexplicably left alone to move him) unties Zhu Jiu to let him use the loo, and they have a philosophical debate about the merits of humanity. Then Zhu Jiu attacks.



Zhao Yunlan calls Zhu Hong and tells her to move the Hallows, then runs back towards the SID. Zhu Jiu finds the Hallows gone, but manages to prevail in a confrontation with Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing and Lin Jing. He escapes and offers his energy to Ye Zun as the last bit he needs to (temporarily) escape the Sky Pillar - where the Regent and the Attendant are watching. Zhao Yunlan meets up with Zhu Hong, who has the Sundial and the Awl, but they're accosted by Ya Qing, who takes them to meet Ye Zun's energy projection. Ye Zun tries politeness, philosophising about the need to let go of human desire, arguments about the oppression of Dixingren as well as flattery to turn Zhao Yunlan to his side, but his various self-justifications are not convincing. Zhao Yunlan calls him on killing both humans and Dixingren. When Ye Zun realises it's not working, he attacks, and Zhao Yunlan defends himself with the Sundial. Meanwhile, Shen Wei has arrived at the Inspectorate - only to immediately zoom away again because his Hallows alarm went off.

Zhao Yunlan taunts Ye Zun, who demands the Hallows. Slowly Ye Zun starts winning the fight against the Sundial's shielding. But then Shen Wei arrives, cutting the energy stream with his dao. Everyone is blasted back; Zhao Yunlan ends up unconscious on the grass. Shen Wei sends Ye Zun back to Dixing, and rushes to Zhao Yunlan's side. They hold hands. But when Zhao Yunlan opens his eyes, he's blind.

Quote:

The Attendant: "This summoning isn't enough to completely destroy the Pillar seal. Should we help him?"

The Regent: "Young man, it's not a good habit to be passionate about taking sides."

Detail(s):

The detail I want to highlight today is a parallel china_shop pointed out during the last rewatch:

Questions:

Which this your favourite part/scene/moment in this half-episode? Any favourite lines? Why would anyone leave Guo Changcheng alone with Zhu Jiu? Why didn't Zhao Yunlan tell Shen Wei about his premonition about Zhu Jiu escaping? What's the best part of Zhao Yunlan's confrontation with Ye Zun? Which is Ye Zun's best/worst argument for why he's totally in the right? What do you think Ya Qing makes of all of this? What does Ye Zun mean when he says Shen Wei is "still the same"? Which is the best Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan touch in this half-episode? Any thoughts about more parallels with other parts of the drama? Any thoughts about how any of this connects with the novel?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the first half of episode 19. On to the second half!

Episode 19 from 20:18:

Summary: In the lab, Guo Changcheng gives first aid to Ye Huo while Zhu Jiu attempts to recruit Chu Shuzhi. Zhu Jiu is momentarily taken in by Chu Shuzhi's mad laughter, then furious at Chu Shuzhi's rejection and taunting, but a phone call interrupts them: Zhao Yunlan wants to trade the Hallows for the kidnapping victims. Zhu Jiu leaves the lab, but not before explaining that it's an absolute zero lab and setting it to cool down. Meanwhile, Shen Wei meets with Fourth Uncle, trying to convince him to keep Ya Qing busy while they trap Zhu Jiu. It takes the combined effort of Shen Wei, Zhu Hong and Ying Chun, but eventually Fourth Uncle agrees. And elsewhere, Lin Jing and Cong Bo are working on the trap for Zhu Jiu, both worried about the gravity of what they're planning.



In the lab, Xiao-Guo finds a "stop" button but then immediately manages to make it inaccessible. Ye Huo attempts to use his fire for warmth, but his powers fizzle out. Ya Qing, called in for a Yashou meeting, arrives at Fourth Uncle's house and lets herself be convinced to stay. On a rooftop, Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei and Zhu Hong get ready to meet Zhu Jiu. Shen Wei uses the Hallows to project a signal into the sky. Meanwhile in the lab, Guo Changcheng tries to say good-bye, then passes out, and Chu Shuzhi wraps him in his own coat. On the rooftop, Zhao Yunlan confronts Zhu Jiu, and Cong Bo cuts power as Zhu Jiu attempts to leave. In the dark, Shen Wei cuts him with his dao, and Zhao Yunlan handcuffs him. Shen Wei asks why Zhu Jiu hates him so much, and Zhu Jiu dramatically brushes back his hair.

Quote:

Ying Chun to Ya Qing: 青姐，我就知道，你心里还是有亚兽族的！
"Qing-jie, I knew it! You still care for the Yashou tribes!"

(Talk about completely missing Ya Qing's actual concerns and motivation!)

Detail(s):

Both Chu Shuzhi and Ye Huo are well educated, and explain physics and biology to Guo Changcheng:

• Ye Huo knows about thermodynamics and explains absolute zero
• Chu Shuzhi knows about the nervous system and explains its responses to hypothermia

Did they learn those things in Dixing or Haixing? We don't know, but my headcanon is Dixing. :)

Questions:

Which this your favourite part/scene/moment in this half-episode? Any favourite lines? Why does Fourth Uncle immediately recognise Shen Wei as the Envoy, when Ying Chun didn't? How does Zhu Hong feel about teaming up with Shen Wei to convince her uncle? How can one single person be simultaneously so brave and so frustratingly hapless as Guo Changcheng? Why does Zhu Jiu think he can turn Chu Shuzhi against the Envoy so easily? Why does Ya Qing stay with Fourth Uncle and Ying Chun, rather than rushing off to save Zhu Jiu? Do you like how the plan against Zhu Jiu comes together? How great is it that they put an armchair on a rooftop for Zhao Yunlan to sit in? Any thoughts about parallels with other parts of the drama? Any thoughts about whether (or how) any of this connects with the novel? And finally, a poll:


(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the first half of episode 18. On to the second half!

Episode 18 from 23:38:

Summary: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei chase Ye Huo, but stop at a T junction. Lin Jing and Da Qing catch up, and the black energy detector shows both Ye Huo and another black energy signature. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei follow Ye Huo, and a fight ensues, but eventually Ye Huo concedes defeat. Zhao Yunlan asks about Zhu Jiu, but Ye Huo doesn't know the name. Meanwhile Lin Jing and Da Qing find Ye Huo's base. Bo Bi also turns up, and all three of them get jumped by Ye Huo's friends. And at the fight club, Zhu Jiu kills one of the manager's flunkies and then the manager himself, but not before being extra-dramatically threatening at him.



Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei and Ye Huo arrive at Ye Huo's house. Zhao Yunlan gets a phone call about what happened at the fight club. Ye Huo's friends demand Ye Huo's release, threatening their captives. Zhao Yunlan quips that they should be in school instead, and he and Shen Wei start discussing the Dixing education system, then segue into whether or not Zhao Yunlan will be allowed to go to Dixing again. Then Ye Huo tries to talk reason into his friends. In flashback we learn that Ye Huo discovered Zhu Jiu's life force-stealing scheme and has since been trying to protect people from it. Then Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng arrive to free the hostages. Ye Huo expects to be taken back to Dixing for judgment, but is granted mercy. Shen Wei tells him to leave the city, and Zhao Yunlan tells Chu Shuzhi to take the human boys somewhere else too. Lao-Chu gives the trophy belt back to Ye Huo. Meanwhile Ya Qing reminds Zhu Jiu of the three missions Ye Zun gave them, and Zhu Jiu struggles with his injury from the black energy gun, which is getting worse.

Quote:

Ye Huo to Chu Shuzhi: "Actually, I envy you, for being able to live freely and easily here."

Chu Shuzhi: "Yes, true, but my boss is a bastard who's full of himself."

Detail(s):

When Shen Wei summons his dao, ending the fight with Ye Huo, at first he holds it with the edge against Ye Huo's neck - but then he turns it, so it's the blunt side pointing at Ye Huo. He threatens Ye Huo, but only so far, signalling that he's not out for blood, and he's careful with the sharp edge of his weapon.

Questions: Which this your favourite part/scene/moment in this half-episode? Any favourite lines? Why do Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan stop at the T junction? How does tracking Ye Huo via the trophy belt work? Why does Ye Huo stop fighting back eventually? What do you think is the best way of getting schools in Dixing? (Is it removing the Regent? *g*) How confused were Ye Huo's friends by Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei not taking their hostage-taking very seriously? Is Ye Huo as a masked saviour a parallel for the Envoy? What exactly does the black energy gun do, that Zhu Jiu seems to be dying from his injury? What is the third mission Ye Zun gave them? And finally, any thoughts about whether (or how) any of this connects with the novel?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!