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sid_guardian2019-06-07 10:05 pm
extrapenguin) wrote in sid_guardian2019-06-07 10:05 pm
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Guardian Episode by Episode: 16
Welcome to the rewatchalong! We are now at episode 16. The Imgur screencap album has 66 images. Please excuse the terseness; my brain has liquefied due to the heat.
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, Episode 14, Episode 15
This week, we continue with Zhao Xinci grilling the SID and taking care of the soil composition case while Zhao Yunlan runs around Dixing.
Introductions
We finally meet present Zhao Xinci in all his full force! The first things we learn are that he's here to insult his son, he does know who Guo Changcheng is, and Lin Jing's dark ennergy detector finds him a bit dodgy.
"Ah yes, only my son could say something this stupid."
When assigning tasks, Zhao Xinci hesitates a bit before saying Chu Shuzhi's name – was that just him having to think a little longer to figure out who the hell this dude was, or was this him subtly showing some dislike of Dixingians?
During a conversation in the library, Zhao Xinci tells Sang Zan that he, too, has someone he loves in this building – but then we get the handwriting switch. Of Zhao Xinci and Zhang Shi, one is left-handed and one right-handed; we don't know which is which. This whole episode also seemed to be one over-involved loyalty test for the SID crew; was that Zhao Xinci or Zhang Shi's idea, or did they both agree it was necessary?
I suspect that that is the dark energy revolver, which wouldn't do anything to Guo Changcheng anyway.
In addition to what we know his power to be, Zhang Shi seems to have some teleportation power he used to freak out Guo Changcheng at the end of the interview.
Characterization
Zhu Hong is still under the effect of Shen Wei's hypnotic suggestion to not use hypnotism on people. She just has a gut feeling she shouldn't be using it, even if it'd be useful to use it on the baddies.
Lin Jing teases Zhu Hong that shouldn't she feel avenged if Zhao Yunlan loses his job and gets thwacked on the head (Chu Shuzhi laughs); this is at the very least meant to imply that Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are an item, since the conversation would be out of place/play out much differently if Zhao Yunlan were still single.
Zhu Hong displays her propensity for violence, and Lin Jing continues being the butt monkey.
We get additional confirmation that Da Qing's memory troubles have gotten worse (due to the Hallows?) He knew how to speak cat in the 10 years he worked with Zhao Xinci – and was crucial to solving several cases than – but now he's forgotten. Zhao Xinci is baffled.
"Yo, could you please give this old man some language tutoring?"
Chu Shuzhi defends Zhao Yunlan in his absence! It was perhaps wise of him, as he's the one who's in the SID on the Black-Cloaked Envoy's recommendation, and thus Zhao Xinci can't fire him without causing a diplomatic incident. He was also very disturbed by Guo Changcheng thinking he might betray Zhao Yunlan and had to reflect/be shocked for a moment.
"Please excuse me, I must mope with my puppet."
Meanwhile in Dixing...
Shen Wei as the Black-Cloaked Envoy meets Ding Dun's replacement as 执事 (which I'll translate as Attendant), and immediately takes a disliking to him. The Attendant says outsiders aren't allowed, and that includes the Envoy's "friend" Zhao Yunlan. The Attendant is also part of a machination to leave Shen Wei out of Dixing decisionmaking; Shen Wei is very annoyed, but nature abhors a vacuum, and if one is willing to cede power by sodding off, one should not be surprised that others seize the opportunity.
Also, that staircase is traversable.
Zhao Yunlan redeems himself by defusing the situation between Shen Wei and the Attendant by saying that he knows the Envoy is a good guy who doesn't want to abuse his status, so Zhao Yunlan'll just go and search for the booklet with the Regent. He soon discovers just why Shen Wei dislikes the Regent.
"No need to cause an incident here on my behalf, my dear Envoy."
The set-up "big hero scene" was interesting, and Zhao Yunlan must've smelled something fishy right from the start, because he pushed the Regent in rather than intervene himself. (Alternatively, he really didn't like the Regent, and wished he hadn't interrupted Chu Shuzhi's choking session earlier.) The explanation of why he so quickly figured out it was a set-up was very good competence kink – all of that observation and calculation!
"That's it? This video game's level planning requires some major overhauling."
Then the Regent disappears on him to do idk what, and the three actors come after Zhao Yunlan again. He tries to appeal to being a friend of the Black-Cloaked Envoy (but they don't like or respect him), he kicks one in the groin (but he had a Dixing power of being immune to descendant-ending kicks), and finally he actually uses "Look! Over there!" successfully. That is one twisty dude good at getting himself out of situations. (And it pays to mention that whereas Shen Wei is a skilled combatant and a soldier, Zhao Yunlan is a cop, whose fighting is more "kick to the groin if it gets that far" and talking people down. It's a very interesting contrast!)
In the meanwhile, I still can't believe that anyone fell for "He's right behind you!"
The reason he was there was because Ye Zun spotted Zhao Yunlan on the outskirts of the city and called out as if he'd eaten an electric guitar amplifier with his last meal. In his very suspicious pillar amidst a very suspicious field of mini-pillars, his spiel is "Your heart is open to no-one, you don't know what everything is for, you don't know if your actions are right or wrong." However, he gets interrupted before he can finish part B and say what he was going to teach Zhao Yunlan.
Big pillar with his baby pillars.
The Regent's ineptness and bad back were definitely faked, but did he actually lose the booklet accidentally or on purpose, and what the hell is his plan? (Well, self-interest, but it seems to be a more longterm self-interest.) I take it he's trying his best to erode the Envoy's power base and install himself at the top?
Canon details
Cinematography
A bunch of shots from afar, this episode!
Some interesting framings, too:
And a camera angle:
The Lord of Dixing is behind a screen:
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
Just the one jacket the whole episode.
Paired very often with a WTF expression.
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, Episode 14, Episode 15
This week, we continue with Zhao Xinci grilling the SID and taking care of the soil composition case while Zhao Yunlan runs around Dixing.
Introductions
We finally meet present Zhao Xinci in all his full force! The first things we learn are that he's here to insult his son, he does know who Guo Changcheng is, and Lin Jing's dark ennergy detector finds him a bit dodgy.
"Ah yes, only my son could say something this stupid."
When assigning tasks, Zhao Xinci hesitates a bit before saying Chu Shuzhi's name – was that just him having to think a little longer to figure out who the hell this dude was, or was this him subtly showing some dislike of Dixingians?
During a conversation in the library, Zhao Xinci tells Sang Zan that he, too, has someone he loves in this building – but then we get the handwriting switch. Of Zhao Xinci and Zhang Shi, one is left-handed and one right-handed; we don't know which is which. This whole episode also seemed to be one over-involved loyalty test for the SID crew; was that Zhao Xinci or Zhang Shi's idea, or did they both agree it was necessary?
I suspect that that is the dark energy revolver, which wouldn't do anything to Guo Changcheng anyway.
In addition to what we know his power to be, Zhang Shi seems to have some teleportation power he used to freak out Guo Changcheng at the end of the interview.
Characterization
Zhu Hong is still under the effect of Shen Wei's hypnotic suggestion to not use hypnotism on people. She just has a gut feeling she shouldn't be using it, even if it'd be useful to use it on the baddies.
Lin Jing teases Zhu Hong that shouldn't she feel avenged if Zhao Yunlan loses his job and gets thwacked on the head (Chu Shuzhi laughs); this is at the very least meant to imply that Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are an item, since the conversation would be out of place/play out much differently if Zhao Yunlan were still single.
Zhu Hong displays her propensity for violence, and Lin Jing continues being the butt monkey.
We get additional confirmation that Da Qing's memory troubles have gotten worse (due to the Hallows?) He knew how to speak cat in the 10 years he worked with Zhao Xinci – and was crucial to solving several cases than – but now he's forgotten. Zhao Xinci is baffled.
"Yo, could you please give this old man some language tutoring?"
Chu Shuzhi defends Zhao Yunlan in his absence! It was perhaps wise of him, as he's the one who's in the SID on the Black-Cloaked Envoy's recommendation, and thus Zhao Xinci can't fire him without causing a diplomatic incident. He was also very disturbed by Guo Changcheng thinking he might betray Zhao Yunlan and had to reflect/be shocked for a moment.
"Please excuse me, I must mope with my puppet."
Meanwhile in Dixing...
Shen Wei as the Black-Cloaked Envoy meets Ding Dun's replacement as 执事 (which I'll translate as Attendant), and immediately takes a disliking to him. The Attendant says outsiders aren't allowed, and that includes the Envoy's "friend" Zhao Yunlan. The Attendant is also part of a machination to leave Shen Wei out of Dixing decisionmaking; Shen Wei is very annoyed, but nature abhors a vacuum, and if one is willing to cede power by sodding off, one should not be surprised that others seize the opportunity.
Also, that staircase is traversable.
Zhao Yunlan redeems himself by defusing the situation between Shen Wei and the Attendant by saying that he knows the Envoy is a good guy who doesn't want to abuse his status, so Zhao Yunlan'll just go and search for the booklet with the Regent. He soon discovers just why Shen Wei dislikes the Regent.
"No need to cause an incident here on my behalf, my dear Envoy."
The set-up "big hero scene" was interesting, and Zhao Yunlan must've smelled something fishy right from the start, because he pushed the Regent in rather than intervene himself. (Alternatively, he really didn't like the Regent, and wished he hadn't interrupted Chu Shuzhi's choking session earlier.) The explanation of why he so quickly figured out it was a set-up was very good competence kink – all of that observation and calculation!
"That's it? This video game's level planning requires some major overhauling."
Then the Regent disappears on him to do idk what, and the three actors come after Zhao Yunlan again. He tries to appeal to being a friend of the Black-Cloaked Envoy (but they don't like or respect him), he kicks one in the groin (but he had a Dixing power of being immune to descendant-ending kicks), and finally he actually uses "Look! Over there!" successfully. That is one twisty dude good at getting himself out of situations. (And it pays to mention that whereas Shen Wei is a skilled combatant and a soldier, Zhao Yunlan is a cop, whose fighting is more "kick to the groin if it gets that far" and talking people down. It's a very interesting contrast!)
In the meanwhile, I still can't believe that anyone fell for "He's right behind you!"
The reason he was there was because Ye Zun spotted Zhao Yunlan on the outskirts of the city and called out as if he'd eaten an electric guitar amplifier with his last meal. In his very suspicious pillar amidst a very suspicious field of mini-pillars, his spiel is "Your heart is open to no-one, you don't know what everything is for, you don't know if your actions are right or wrong." However, he gets interrupted before he can finish part B and say what he was going to teach Zhao Yunlan.
Big pillar with his baby pillars.
The Regent's ineptness and bad back were definitely faked, but did he actually lose the booklet accidentally or on purpose, and what the hell is his plan? (Well, self-interest, but it seems to be a more longterm self-interest.) I take it he's trying his best to erode the Envoy's power base and install himself at the top?
Canon details
- The higher-ups don't seem to know of the Hallows, since Lin Jing is stuck claiming that they're his personal collection of stuff he collects
- Guo Changcheng was born on the 10th of May, has the blood type O, his parents died in a car accident, and he's been at the SID for 3 months now
- Guo Changcheng's aunt's name is 于金兰 Yu Jinlan; I have added her to the dramatis personae
- Everyone except Da Qing joined while Zhao Yunlan was the chief of the SID. How the hell did Shen Wei deputize Chu Shuzhi's arrival so that his and Zhao Yunlan's first meeting would be in episode 1, instead of way before?
- Da Qing and Zhao Xinci worked together for 10 years
- Zhao Yunlan "doesn't look Dixingian", though that's probably due to habitus or wardrobe, rather than pure physical features
- Dixing doesn't have schools or hospitals
- Everyone in Dixing knows that if one opposes the Regent, one will come to harm
- Zhao Yunlan is the third SID Chief. (Who was the second one?)
- The euphemism du jour for Yashou and Dixingians is "risky identities"
Cinematography
A bunch of shots from afar, this episode!
Some interesting framings, too:
And a camera angle:
The Lord of Dixing is behind a screen:
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
Just the one jacket the whole episode.
Paired very often with a WTF expression.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.