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sid_guardian2019-05-03 09:09 pm
extrapenguin) wrote in sid_guardian2019-05-03 09:09 pm
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Guardian Episode by Episode: 11
Welcome to the rewatchalong! We are now at episode 11. There's still some time to participate in round 2 (eps 11-20) of the Guardian icon battle, should you wish to. The Imgur screencap album has 67 images. As an important update to the rewatchalong concept, we won't have Shen Wei shoe watch sections unless his shoes actually get shown.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10
This week, we finish the Hanga arc and start the sounds of doom arc. This is also the episode of the toilet scene!
Introductions
We see Fourth Uncle! He acts in the most suspicious manner imaginable, makes clear he knows stuff he isn't telling, and poisons his niece.
Not a very nice thing to do. As far as we know, even Zhao Xinci hasn't descended into poisoning his "disappointing" junior relative yet.
Characterization
Shen Wei, like Chu Shuzhi, has been doing research on the Hanga, and mentions having his "own sources". Maybe this was the reason he was seeking all those old books a few episodes back? They might have had references to the local forgotten tribe.
This is the episode where Shen Wei realizes Zhu Jiu isn't working alone and must have someone behind him. However, he shies away from stating whom it might be when Zhao Yunlan inquires a bit.
He also grabs Zhao Yunlan when he's thrown back by the dark energy ropes.
We also get the manipulation by self-sacrifice! Brother Peng from episode 9 arrived at the village to have a meal with Zhao Yunlan, and poured a whole lot of alcohol for him (a suspicious quantity, in fact) so Shen Wei was reminded of the stomachache episode and went >:( internally and stole Zhao Yunlan's cup, knowing he'd fall unconscious.
Look at how he's allergic to ethanol.
IIRC this is the first episode the accusation "Sold his own kind to obtain status" gets so baldly levied at Shen Wei, but I might be forgetting something. The first time Zhao Yunlan hears it, at any rate.
Zhao Yunlan, after struggling with the gun, shoots it in this episode! Zhu Jiu reacts as if he were hit, but no lasting damage happens, unlike in future episodes where he gets hit, so idk. Zhao Yunlan also very responsibly waited to shoot until he got a clear shot at Zhu Jiu.
Then we get to the first bit of levity in this episode: Zhao Yunlan connects the dots that the Envoy must have someone whom he likes (based on the vehement remarks to certain bits of Sang Zan and Wang Zheng's story), sees Chu Shuzhi, makes the entirely reasonable assumption that the Envoy is into Chu Shuzhi, and then says what is very clearly meant to be "The SID is a homophobia-free workplace." We know that Shen Wei is into someone else entirely, but this is before Zhao Yunlan has his Shen Wei = Black-Cloaked Envoy epiphany.
As for the epiphany, it was very very well done, with Zhao Yunlan sniffing the jacket and then connecting the dots. Later we see him do some more comparing of the two ends of the string, even if he's second-guessing himself a little bit on some of it.
To think, if Shen Wei hadn't drunk the alcohol, his secret would've been safe for a bit longer!
Zhu Jiu's plan ... might make sense. He dodged the Envoy's strike to make the Envoy hit and crack the pillar, then he made a barrier (or the barrier Shen Wei couldn't pass "in this condition" was the pillar?), and tried to get the Awl out only to be subverted by and angry Sang Zan. Then the Awl flew happily into Shen Wei's hands. The plan is a bit overly complex, but I guess that using Wang Zheng to lure Zhao Yunlan in, who'd lure the Envoy in, was a good way of getting everyone maximally emotionally compromised so that the Envoy couldn't just kaboom his way through.
I even got a still of his fight with the Envoy, despite the darkness!
Chu Shuzhi's opinion on the shockrod does an 180° turn when Guo Changcheng accidentally stabs him with the electricity. He gets back at Changcheng, though, by stealing his diary and informing him about that in the most passive-aggressive manner possible in the other hilarious scene of this episode: the toilet scene. Words cannot give justice to how funny it was.
"Who's there?" "The big popsicle."
Either Wang Zheng is very fast at storytelling, or she left Guo Changcheng an essay with her backstory for his overnight reading that he only just discovered, because that is a lot of conversation in a short time. Or Zhao Yunlan and the Envoy had a looooong one-on-one chat that everyone else was loath to interrupt.
Am I wrong in interpreting Guo Changcheng's remarks on Lin Jing taking the sex doll as jealousy? What were you going to do with that doll, Changcheng? Bring it home to your uncle?
We get to hear Lin Jing explain about the Hallows' function! Apparently, the Longevity Dial "links genes together in a chain to share pheromones" (yes, "pheromones" was in the Chinese hardsub) and the Montain-River Awl "turns the body into an immortal quantum form made of energy". Caveat: while my Chinese is better than that of Google Translate, I am rather reliant on dictionaries here.
Then Lin Jing makes the mistake of implying that the reason Zhu Hong doesn't understand his explanation is because a snake's pineal gland is smaller than a human's. She cows him into submission with threats of violence.
Ah, Zhu Hong.
At the start of the hypnotism girl plot, we see Tan Xiao make what is probably the dumbest stand ever. You embarrassed her dad who is also your boss in public, wtf were you thinking? And he'd just make her play the violin anyway.
Additional notes: Zheng Yi is supposed to be 15, but she does not look like she's started puberty yet. She was also brought in by a mom who married the boss, so either the mom is from Dixing, or there was some further adoption hijinks going on.
Canon notes
Cinematography
We see people shot from a distance
Note how the snakes are also touchy about being called monsters.
and lots of Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in the same frame, standing close
Also, Shen Wei's magical girl transformation.
Spot the left shot's strong diagonal framing and how it's shot from the bottom.
Requisite shot through blinds that follows conversation about the Envoy's secrets.
In general, I suspect that the show would have liked to do wide, sweeping shots more often, but small budget meant smallish sets, so the cinematography stayed as it was.
Architechture time! Our troop is walking from Zhao Yunlan's office towards the main room.
The lab can be seen behind them. To our left, there's also a door to a side region that's *not* the lab. Maybe the interrogation room? IDK. Thoughts?
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
The same ensemble of the prior few episodes, but then the day changes and so does Zhao Yunlan's jacket!
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
Zhao Yunlan took them off for him.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10
This week, we finish the Hanga arc and start the sounds of doom arc. This is also the episode of the toilet scene!
Introductions
We see Fourth Uncle! He acts in the most suspicious manner imaginable, makes clear he knows stuff he isn't telling, and poisons his niece.
Not a very nice thing to do. As far as we know, even Zhao Xinci hasn't descended into poisoning his "disappointing" junior relative yet.
Characterization
Shen Wei, like Chu Shuzhi, has been doing research on the Hanga, and mentions having his "own sources". Maybe this was the reason he was seeking all those old books a few episodes back? They might have had references to the local forgotten tribe.
This is the episode where Shen Wei realizes Zhu Jiu isn't working alone and must have someone behind him. However, he shies away from stating whom it might be when Zhao Yunlan inquires a bit.
He also grabs Zhao Yunlan when he's thrown back by the dark energy ropes.
We also get the manipulation by self-sacrifice! Brother Peng from episode 9 arrived at the village to have a meal with Zhao Yunlan, and poured a whole lot of alcohol for him (a suspicious quantity, in fact) so Shen Wei was reminded of the stomachache episode and went >:( internally and stole Zhao Yunlan's cup, knowing he'd fall unconscious.
Look at how he's allergic to ethanol.
IIRC this is the first episode the accusation "Sold his own kind to obtain status" gets so baldly levied at Shen Wei, but I might be forgetting something. The first time Zhao Yunlan hears it, at any rate.
Zhao Yunlan, after struggling with the gun, shoots it in this episode! Zhu Jiu reacts as if he were hit, but no lasting damage happens, unlike in future episodes where he gets hit, so idk. Zhao Yunlan also very responsibly waited to shoot until he got a clear shot at Zhu Jiu.
Then we get to the first bit of levity in this episode: Zhao Yunlan connects the dots that the Envoy must have someone whom he likes (based on the vehement remarks to certain bits of Sang Zan and Wang Zheng's story), sees Chu Shuzhi, makes the entirely reasonable assumption that the Envoy is into Chu Shuzhi, and then says what is very clearly meant to be "The SID is a homophobia-free workplace." We know that Shen Wei is into someone else entirely, but this is before Zhao Yunlan has his Shen Wei = Black-Cloaked Envoy epiphany.
As for the epiphany, it was very very well done, with Zhao Yunlan sniffing the jacket and then connecting the dots. Later we see him do some more comparing of the two ends of the string, even if he's second-guessing himself a little bit on some of it.
To think, if Shen Wei hadn't drunk the alcohol, his secret would've been safe for a bit longer!
Zhu Jiu's plan ... might make sense. He dodged the Envoy's strike to make the Envoy hit and crack the pillar, then he made a barrier (or the barrier Shen Wei couldn't pass "in this condition" was the pillar?), and tried to get the Awl out only to be subverted by and angry Sang Zan. Then the Awl flew happily into Shen Wei's hands. The plan is a bit overly complex, but I guess that using Wang Zheng to lure Zhao Yunlan in, who'd lure the Envoy in, was a good way of getting everyone maximally emotionally compromised so that the Envoy couldn't just kaboom his way through.
I even got a still of his fight with the Envoy, despite the darkness!
Chu Shuzhi's opinion on the shockrod does an 180° turn when Guo Changcheng accidentally stabs him with the electricity. He gets back at Changcheng, though, by stealing his diary and informing him about that in the most passive-aggressive manner possible in the other hilarious scene of this episode: the toilet scene. Words cannot give justice to how funny it was.
"Who's there?" "The big popsicle."
Either Wang Zheng is very fast at storytelling, or she left Guo Changcheng an essay with her backstory for his overnight reading that he only just discovered, because that is a lot of conversation in a short time. Or Zhao Yunlan and the Envoy had a looooong one-on-one chat that everyone else was loath to interrupt.
Am I wrong in interpreting Guo Changcheng's remarks on Lin Jing taking the sex doll as jealousy? What were you going to do with that doll, Changcheng? Bring it home to your uncle?
We get to hear Lin Jing explain about the Hallows' function! Apparently, the Longevity Dial "links genes together in a chain to share pheromones" (yes, "pheromones" was in the Chinese hardsub) and the Montain-River Awl "turns the body into an immortal quantum form made of energy". Caveat: while my Chinese is better than that of Google Translate, I am rather reliant on dictionaries here.
Then Lin Jing makes the mistake of implying that the reason Zhu Hong doesn't understand his explanation is because a snake's pineal gland is smaller than a human's. She cows him into submission with threats of violence.
Ah, Zhu Hong.
At the start of the hypnotism girl plot, we see Tan Xiao make what is probably the dumbest stand ever. You embarrassed her dad who is also your boss in public, wtf were you thinking? And he'd just make her play the violin anyway.
Additional notes: Zheng Yi is supposed to be 15, but she does not look like she's started puberty yet. She was also brought in by a mom who married the boss, so either the mom is from Dixing, or there was some further adoption hijinks going on.
Canon notes
- The Awl can peel off a person's "essence" but also make a vanished one whole. (It also really likes putting people in pillars.)
- The Hallows have bad effects (Chinese mentions backlash) on Dixingians, too, so Shen Wei better practice what he preaches and not fondle the Hallows too much.
- Hypnotism, even from the snake tribe, can be turned against its user.
- The ghost beasts are sentient enough that Shen Wei bothers to read their sentence out loud before executing them.
- Dixingians use the toilet. (Chu Shuzhi goes to use the toilet and no-one finds the toilet use itself remarkable.)
Cinematography
We see people shot from a distance
Note how the snakes are also touchy about being called monsters.
and lots of Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in the same frame, standing close
Also, Shen Wei's magical girl transformation.
Spot the left shot's strong diagonal framing and how it's shot from the bottom.
Requisite shot through blinds that follows conversation about the Envoy's secrets.
In general, I suspect that the show would have liked to do wide, sweeping shots more often, but small budget meant smallish sets, so the cinematography stayed as it was.
Architechture time! Our troop is walking from Zhao Yunlan's office towards the main room.
The lab can be seen behind them. To our left, there's also a door to a side region that's *not* the lab. Maybe the interrogation room? IDK. Thoughts?
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
The same ensemble of the prior few episodes, but then the day changes and so does Zhao Yunlan's jacket!
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
Zhao Yunlan took them off for him.
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