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sid_guardian2019-05-24 11:03 pm
extrapenguin) wrote in sid_guardian2019-05-24 11:03 pm
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Guardian Episode by Episode: 14
Welcome to the rewatchalong! We are now at episode 14. The Imgur screencap album has 70 images. Note: next week's rewatchalong will be on the Thursday.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, Episode 11, Episode 12, Episode 13
This week, we have the aftermath of the reveal and the proper start of the Cong Bo case.
Introductions
We meet Guo Changcheng's 二舅, Guo Ying. He is a vice-minister and wants Guo Changcheng to be safe. I don't recall if 二舅 means that Guo Changcheng has a second uncle who's Guo Ying's older brother, or if Guo Changcheng's mother is Guo Ying's older sister. Moreover, 舅 is for maternal uncles, so it's a bit unconventional that Guo Changcheng and Guo Ying share a surname.
We also meet the Merit Brush! Guo Changcheng writes Wang Xiangyang's new shop sign with it.
"Please! I am confident that you know how to write, if nothing else!"
Characterization
On the villain side, Zhu Jiu, who has just gotten shot in the arm, is currently very dismayed and while he could use his powers to get out of the SID, Ya Qing had to pick him up from the curb. The animosity between them is shown further: Ya Qing needles him about the bullet not hitting his vital organs (so why isn't he healing) and passive-aggressively eats an apple at him. Zhu Jiu declares his eternal shame at a regular human managing to hurt him and his eternal hatred towards Zhao Yunlan.
Zhu Jiu looks much more agreeable now that he's suffering.
The Hallows, on the other hand, really like Zhao Yunlan (Shen Wei should perhaps be jealous, given how Zhao Yunlan fondles them with regularity), and give him a vision in two parts! The first part: Zhao Yunlan pointing his gun at Shen Wei (last episode), Zhao Yunlan's mom Shen Xi's grave (yes, it's the same Shen as for Shen Wei; the actual scene is IIRC only a few episodes hence), and the Envoy staring at Zhu Jiu while Zhao Yunlan was pretending to be mind controlled. The second part is young Zhao Yunlan, Zhao Yunlan falling on the ground in Dixing after Ding Dun has stabbed him, and Shen Xi staring.
"Why didn't these fuckers come with a manual?!"
Then we have the reveal wrap-up conversation! Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei quickly get on the same page, and Zhao Yunlan very easily accepts that once Shen Wei started lying, he had to continue, and likewise Shen Wei accepts Zhao Yunlan's very very brief apology on being so rude and informal with the Envoy. Then Zhao Yunlan goes and wheedles Shen Wei into joining the SID.
"I'm going to need some compensation~"
Despite this pushing, Zhao Yunlan does agree to all of Shen Wei's other things, like keeping his double identity secret. We can see he was upset with Zheng Yi being taken away, and he was really happy to see Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi immediately waltzing off together as part of the Envoy's catch-and-release program.
Motorbike time!
Later, we have Zhao Yunlan react to his dad being mentioned by withdrawing into himself. We also discover that Guo Changcheng was transferred to the SID by someone other than his uncle Guo Ying, and Zhao Yunlan is so very annoyed that his favor-currying was all for naught. Then he (and Shen Wei, because they're on the same page) both introduce the worry of who the hell actually transferred Guo Changcheng to the SID.
"The only reason this day isn't the worst one of the year is that I got to put my paws all over Shen Wei earlier."
Shen Wei claims he came upstairs to keep the Hallows from the hands of evildoers. He doesn't answer Zhao Yunlan's question about potential bad experiences in Haixing; whether his silence meant that he has had bad experiences he doesn't want to tell Zhao Yunlan or whether he has no clue how to talk around the Ye Olde Haixing Era adventures is left for the viewer's interpretation.
The morning after the reveal, Zhao Yunlan was super duper happy and Shen Wei in a panic asked whether they could just stop talking. (Zhao Yunlan sang instead.) His people panic is adorable. Later, on the way back from Guo Ying's dinner, he was first happy at Zhao Yunlan bringing him out for more food (and a bit "of course he'd still be hungry") only to acquire a major case of panicface at the concept of being introduced to all of the SID. Poor thing. (Everyone save Zhu Hong and Chu Shuzhi clapped.)
"Maybe we could just ... not talk to anyone at all?"
Shen Wei hasn't gotten used to ballpoint pens, and wrote a self-criticism on Zhao Yunlan's behalf with a brush. (There was some nice whispered strategizing in front of Minister Gao's door related to this.) He was a bit self-conscious about it but that soon became smugness when Minister Gao complimented the self-criticism.
Also very invested in leaving immediately once he saw Zhao Yunlan get upset. Please spot the portrait of Ma Gui on the wall.
The public opinion on Dixingians, amongst those who know they exist, seems to be that they're monsters; Guo Ying said the SID fights against monsters every day. Shen Wei dropped his chopsticks at the reminder that yes, these people consider him a monster.
This episode opened a new chapter on Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship. They walked off from Minister Gao's appointment so that their shoulders were brushing against each other, and then Zhao Yunlan just invited Shen Wei along for a dinner date with Vice-Minister Guo. And led Shen Wei away with an arm around his shoulder. They're now in a Committed Relationship, with bonus blatant flirting, and not afraid to show it. Also, Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei "Brother Black" in private a lot now.
One cannot invite the one for dinner without inviting the other.
I must also comment on Professor Ouyang's lab. Real Science does not have sirens that start blazing if experiments fail; if an experiment fails, the result is usually a big flat nothing. Or, well, if a siren blazes, it means that some dangerous chemical got released into the atmosphere and everyone eneeds to evacuate stat. The exchange between Professors Zhou and Ouyang implies that Professor Zhou keeps bringing up Shen Wei as some sort of panacea for science.
"Would you STFU about Shen Wei for five minutes, Zhou, you're even worse than Zhao Yunlan!"
Guo Changcheng, for the first time, broke one of the puppet threads Chu Shuzhi was shooting at him. Chu Shuzhi was happy. Then Guo Changcheng used his speechifying skills to convince his uncle to let him stay at the SID, because the people at the SID are nice to him.
Have a jacketless Chu Shuzhi for eye candy.
We hear the name Kunlun! Da Qing asks some alley kittens if they've ever heard of Kunlun. Then he realizes he can't speak cat anymore.
What's worse, the paparazzis captured his admission.
Also, we see what I can only describe as visual foreshadowing of episode 40:
Canon Details
Cinematography
This episode, the framed shots aren't to indicate secrets, but to symbolize that Cong Bo might be listening!
Some scenes of Guo Ying's house:
Inside and outside.
We also get shots from above when necessary to show everyone:
Also, I didn't know the SID had a wire sculpture thingy.
Other than that, we get some nice composition, but not that many exotic camera angles.
Please spot the excellent rule of thirds composition and strong vertical aspect!
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
He starts with the same leather jacket as last episode, and then we see a new one! The new one is a bit more tailored and trenchcoat-like, and I shall present two images of it.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, Episode 11, Episode 12, Episode 13
This week, we have the aftermath of the reveal and the proper start of the Cong Bo case.
Introductions
We meet Guo Changcheng's 二舅, Guo Ying. He is a vice-minister and wants Guo Changcheng to be safe. I don't recall if 二舅 means that Guo Changcheng has a second uncle who's Guo Ying's older brother, or if Guo Changcheng's mother is Guo Ying's older sister. Moreover, 舅 is for maternal uncles, so it's a bit unconventional that Guo Changcheng and Guo Ying share a surname.
We also meet the Merit Brush! Guo Changcheng writes Wang Xiangyang's new shop sign with it.
"Please! I am confident that you know how to write, if nothing else!"
Characterization
On the villain side, Zhu Jiu, who has just gotten shot in the arm, is currently very dismayed and while he could use his powers to get out of the SID, Ya Qing had to pick him up from the curb. The animosity between them is shown further: Ya Qing needles him about the bullet not hitting his vital organs (so why isn't he healing) and passive-aggressively eats an apple at him. Zhu Jiu declares his eternal shame at a regular human managing to hurt him and his eternal hatred towards Zhao Yunlan.
Zhu Jiu looks much more agreeable now that he's suffering.
The Hallows, on the other hand, really like Zhao Yunlan (Shen Wei should perhaps be jealous, given how Zhao Yunlan fondles them with regularity), and give him a vision in two parts! The first part: Zhao Yunlan pointing his gun at Shen Wei (last episode), Zhao Yunlan's mom Shen Xi's grave (yes, it's the same Shen as for Shen Wei; the actual scene is IIRC only a few episodes hence), and the Envoy staring at Zhu Jiu while Zhao Yunlan was pretending to be mind controlled. The second part is young Zhao Yunlan, Zhao Yunlan falling on the ground in Dixing after Ding Dun has stabbed him, and Shen Xi staring.
"Why didn't these fuckers come with a manual?!"
Then we have the reveal wrap-up conversation! Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei quickly get on the same page, and Zhao Yunlan very easily accepts that once Shen Wei started lying, he had to continue, and likewise Shen Wei accepts Zhao Yunlan's very very brief apology on being so rude and informal with the Envoy. Then Zhao Yunlan goes and wheedles Shen Wei into joining the SID.
"I'm going to need some compensation~"
Despite this pushing, Zhao Yunlan does agree to all of Shen Wei's other things, like keeping his double identity secret. We can see he was upset with Zheng Yi being taken away, and he was really happy to see Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi immediately waltzing off together as part of the Envoy's catch-and-release program.
Motorbike time!
Later, we have Zhao Yunlan react to his dad being mentioned by withdrawing into himself. We also discover that Guo Changcheng was transferred to the SID by someone other than his uncle Guo Ying, and Zhao Yunlan is so very annoyed that his favor-currying was all for naught. Then he (and Shen Wei, because they're on the same page) both introduce the worry of who the hell actually transferred Guo Changcheng to the SID.
"The only reason this day isn't the worst one of the year is that I got to put my paws all over Shen Wei earlier."
Shen Wei claims he came upstairs to keep the Hallows from the hands of evildoers. He doesn't answer Zhao Yunlan's question about potential bad experiences in Haixing; whether his silence meant that he has had bad experiences he doesn't want to tell Zhao Yunlan or whether he has no clue how to talk around the Ye Olde Haixing Era adventures is left for the viewer's interpretation.
The morning after the reveal, Zhao Yunlan was super duper happy and Shen Wei in a panic asked whether they could just stop talking. (Zhao Yunlan sang instead.) His people panic is adorable. Later, on the way back from Guo Ying's dinner, he was first happy at Zhao Yunlan bringing him out for more food (and a bit "of course he'd still be hungry") only to acquire a major case of panicface at the concept of being introduced to all of the SID. Poor thing. (Everyone save Zhu Hong and Chu Shuzhi clapped.)
"Maybe we could just ... not talk to anyone at all?"
Shen Wei hasn't gotten used to ballpoint pens, and wrote a self-criticism on Zhao Yunlan's behalf with a brush. (There was some nice whispered strategizing in front of Minister Gao's door related to this.) He was a bit self-conscious about it but that soon became smugness when Minister Gao complimented the self-criticism.
Also very invested in leaving immediately once he saw Zhao Yunlan get upset. Please spot the portrait of Ma Gui on the wall.
The public opinion on Dixingians, amongst those who know they exist, seems to be that they're monsters; Guo Ying said the SID fights against monsters every day. Shen Wei dropped his chopsticks at the reminder that yes, these people consider him a monster.
This episode opened a new chapter on Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship. They walked off from Minister Gao's appointment so that their shoulders were brushing against each other, and then Zhao Yunlan just invited Shen Wei along for a dinner date with Vice-Minister Guo. And led Shen Wei away with an arm around his shoulder. They're now in a Committed Relationship, with bonus blatant flirting, and not afraid to show it. Also, Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei "Brother Black" in private a lot now.
One cannot invite the one for dinner without inviting the other.
I must also comment on Professor Ouyang's lab. Real Science does not have sirens that start blazing if experiments fail; if an experiment fails, the result is usually a big flat nothing. Or, well, if a siren blazes, it means that some dangerous chemical got released into the atmosphere and everyone eneeds to evacuate stat. The exchange between Professors Zhou and Ouyang implies that Professor Zhou keeps bringing up Shen Wei as some sort of panacea for science.
"Would you STFU about Shen Wei for five minutes, Zhou, you're even worse than Zhao Yunlan!"
Guo Changcheng, for the first time, broke one of the puppet threads Chu Shuzhi was shooting at him. Chu Shuzhi was happy. Then Guo Changcheng used his speechifying skills to convince his uncle to let him stay at the SID, because the people at the SID are nice to him.
Have a jacketless Chu Shuzhi for eye candy.
We hear the name Kunlun! Da Qing asks some alley kittens if they've ever heard of Kunlun. Then he realizes he can't speak cat anymore.
What's worse, the paparazzis captured his admission.
Also, we see what I can only describe as visual foreshadowing of episode 40:
Canon Details
- Chu Xin plays as the Envoy takes Zheng Yi away
- There are portraits of Ma Gui in existence 10k years after he lived
Cinematography
This episode, the framed shots aren't to indicate secrets, but to symbolize that Cong Bo might be listening!
Some scenes of Guo Ying's house:
Inside and outside.
We also get shots from above when necessary to show everyone:
Also, I didn't know the SID had a wire sculpture thingy.
Other than that, we get some nice composition, but not that many exotic camera angles.
Please spot the excellent rule of thirds composition and strong vertical aspect!
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
He starts with the same leather jacket as last episode, and then we see a new one! The new one is a bit more tailored and trenchcoat-like, and I shall present two images of it.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.