Guardian Episode by Episode: 18

[extrapenguin]

Welcome to the rewatchalong! We reconvene after a two-week break with episode 18. The Imgur screencap album has 49 images.

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, Episode 16, Episode 17

This week, we investigate and conclude the Fight Club case.

Characterization
We get more of Chu Shuzhi! He has limited patience for stakeouts and thus when the Dixing suspect doesn't turn up to fight the day's champion, he himself goes to pwn the day's champion to lure out the suspect.


Honestly, Zhao Yunlan should've expected all of this. After all, Dixing runs on drama.

We also see Chu Shuzhi get affected by a random older brother's story about Ye Huo murdering his little brother. (He's willing to be brutal about beating up Ye Huo, too.) Afterwards, he has a very touching moment with Ye Huo about the whole "Dixingian in Haixing" thing where Ye Huo is envious of the life Chu Shuzhi's been able to build for himself and Chu Shuzhi just goes "my boss is an asshole."


"Actually, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what I should do with my life. Could you please declare your undying love to me so your boss can hire me, just like he did with Wang Zheng's plus one?"

Zhao Yunlan has his own problems with Chu Shuzhi and complains to Shen Wei that Chu Shuzhi doesn't respect him and is always running off without permission. (Shen Wei's facial expression says "hypocrite".) He makes some protestations about how Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng are annoyances, but goes to check on them anyway.


"Y'know, he's my only field personnel. I think I have to save him based on that alone."

No bonus-docking was featured this episode, not even for the Chu & Guo duo, and instead of the usual threats to cancel Lin Jing's bonus, we had Zhao Yunlan praise Lin Jing's "exceptional" research on dark energy to Shen Wei in Lin Jing's hearing instead. It's nice to see that he does actually appreciate Lin Jing and all his contraptions, too.

When faced with Ye Huo's punks, Zhao Yunlan goes full-on old man "you should be at school" at them, then does an actually really funny routine with Shen Wei when he realizes that hey, Shen Wei is a university professor, and also Dixing doesn't have any schools; why's that? Then they have their little couple's argument about whether or not Zhao Yunlan should visit Dixing to do all of Shen Wei's publicity for the "get Dixing schools" project. Shen Wei says no, and is IMO a bit overprotective, as the only adverse reaction of Zhao Yunlan's I saw was to being stabbed, which would have an adverse reaction even on Haixing.


We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you a couples' argument.

Earlier in the episode, Shen Wei voluntarily confessed that he sent Chu Shuzhi over as a spy. (There was elsewhere some debate over whether Shen Wei was before that breathing heavily due to being aroused by Zhao Yunlan chewing people out, or due to being worried for the SID crew. I actually think it's neither, and he's simply decided to confess to planting a spy and needs to take some deep breaths to calm himself before he can fess up.) He actually confessed something of his own will! Zhao Yunlan had a careful non-reaction to it and forgave it all.


All that concern and in the end Zhao Yunlan didn't even demand compensation.

The two of them also do some wonderful teamwork. Zhao Yunlan sends Shen Wei after the disgruntled older brother (and thus Ye Huo) while he gets the car, and then they fight together against Ye Huo as one when they finally corner him. When they finally get to the point where it's time to bring Ye Huo away, Zhao Yunlan advertises the Envoy's recent laxness. Shen Wei interrupts him, of course – only to display remarkable laxness in dealing with Ye Huo.


That's Zhao Yunlan's "I knew it!" face.

Da Qing thinks that the most reasonable guess for the reason Ye Huo's house is huge is because he has lots of cats. Sure, Da Qing. In your dreams.

Zhu Jiu turns up one last time to the underground fighting ring to murder the boss. (Right from under Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng's noses. They are so getting their bonuses canceled.) His arm acts up after it, however, and when he later discusses things with Ya Qing, he says he's living on borrowed time. He seems relatively at peace with dying, though.


"If only I hadn't neglected my physiotherapy!"

Canon details

• Ya Qing and Zhu Jiu were given three missions: find the Hallows, find healthy youths for the boss to eat, and ???.

Cinematography
Dramatic shots from below

Chu Shuzhi and Ye Huo sizing each other up in the ring. Shen Wei holds his blade to Ye Huo's throat.

swooping shots from above

Zhao Yunlan's office with bonus Shen Wei. The crossroads where they divided themselves up.

and this shot from through a framing device:


And some in general nice compositions



Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
The action all happens during one day, so we only see one denim jacket.


Shen Wei shoe watch

These ones! They're actually little ankle boots, I think.

Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.

Comments

[clevermanka]

I love that framed shot of Chu Shuzhi! I don't think I noticed it while watching. Thank you for that gorgeous screenshot.

[extrapenguin]

You're welcome. It's very appealing framing!

[solo]

Ya Qing and Zhu Jiu were given three missions: find the Hallows, find healthy youths for the boss to eat, and ???.

The Merit Brush waving to set up the 'energy reactors' which finally get Ye Zun out of the pillar?

Great rundown as usual! I love that schools discussion and how the delinquent yoofs get fed up being ignored.

[extrapenguin]

The Merit Brush waving to set up the 'energy reactors' which finally get Ye Zun out of the pillar?
I'd have thought that that was the sequel to finding the Hallows, since the Merit Brush is a Hallow. OTOH, I can't think of much else it could be.

Great rundown as usual! I love that schools discussion and how the delinquent yoofs get fed up being ignored.
♥

[qikiqtarjuaq]

Ooh those are some very nice shoes! And ahahaha at Shen Wei needing to take deep breaths just to voluntarily divulge information! I love it.

[extrapenguin]

In his defense, the information is kind of fraught. "I sent someone to spy on you for years!" But yes, he does need to take deep breaths to fess up. Poor thing. Even if his shoes are nice.

[firestar]

I love those boots. *_* Also, now I need to rewatch for the couple's argument aggravating delinquents-ness. XD

[extrapenguin]

I highly recommend rewatching! The scene is adorable.

[firestar]

"If I say you can't go, you can't go."

Shen Wei. Bb. When has that ever worked with Zhao Yunlan?

[extrapenguin]

He is ... not that good at humaning. The basic situations he can handle, but dealing with Zhao Yunlan? Somehow his Envoy Commandments don't work anymore and he has to figure out another way to deal with Yunlan. (In his defense, this is early days, and he's yet to refine his method of dealing with Yunlan.)

[firestar]

Yeah, he's still learning at this point. *pets him*

[teaotter]

This is one of my favorite episodes. Chu Shuzi gets to punch things with his actual fists, Shen Wei wears one of my favorite outfits, and the couples-argument just makes me beam.

I'm also very fond of their continuing good cop/bad cop routine with the arena manager.

[extrapenguin]

I must admit I found Fight Club a bit boring, but I now recognize that this episode is important for Chu Shuzhi's character development and our old married couple duo. The argument outside Ye Huo's minions' place was hilarious.