Guardian Episode by Episode: 23

[extrapenguin]

Welcome to the rewatchalong! This week we watch episode 23. The Imgur screencap album has 68 images. No rewatchalong next week, as I'll be at Worldcon, but we'll reconvene with episode 24 the week after that.

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, Episode 18, Episode 19, Episode 20, Episode 21, Episode 22

This week, An Bai ascends to the throne of Dixing and the hospital mind control case starts. We also have a pinky promise and knife mishandling on Shen Wei's part.

Introductions
We see a glimpse of Dong Nan when Guo Changcheng goes to visit everyone's graves!

In the grand scheme of things, she could probably have been left on the editing room floor.

Characterization
There is A Lot of Dixing stuff! The old Lord of Dixing comes across as very sympathetic by using his only actual power to pick An Bai as his successor (and thus pardon An Bai's friends), then giving him a chance to back out after a touching speech on responsibilities. He also gives the Attendant the chance to back out of the whole theft thing but gets murdered for his troubles.


Choose your successor early so you can exploit the loophole and get lots of time off the throne to chat with him!

The Attendant ripped off all the pages dealing with the Merit Brush at Ye Zun's command, and kills himself when exposed. He doesn't seem to give his life force or power to Ye Zun, though – at least, I don't think Ye Zun is ever shown with his power. The Regent is also at least somewhat embroiled in the affair, since I find it hard to believe the setup would work if he actually opposed it, but his involvement is as always plausibly deniable.

Da Qing thinks Zhao Yunlan won't believe the memories he just regained, but he tells them obediently when asked. Then he goes to tail Shen Wei and, after finding Shen Wei's vow to protect Zhao Yunlan believable, extracts a pinky promise of all things. It's adorable and a bit silly.


The pinky promise of Don't Hurt Chief Zhao Or You'll Regret It.

Lin Jing thinks Zhao Yunlan has changed. Is this him belatedly commenting on the attitude towards Dixingians, or Zhao Yunlan's level of motivation, or something else. We also see him nod at a Haixing DOS lab person, setting up the fact that he's secretly a spy.


Also some minor Chu manhandling.

Guo Changcheng takes a day off to visit his parents' graves and takes a moment to sweep everyone else's graves as well. He also says he's only not nervous when he's talking to his parents' graves. Someone help him, please.


"Are you sure I can take the day off, Vice Chief? Like, absolutely sure I can actually do something sort of for myself?"

Everyone's least favorite glowing pillar notices that his brother has gotten thinner, which implies that Shen Wei's talks to exhort him into stopping invading Haixing happen with at least some regularity. Ye Zun also claims credit for Shen Wei's awakening – okay, sure, he did something to disturb the seal, fine – but also claims he returned Shen Wei to glory and made him shine and anyone but Shen Wei can tell him to stop. In light of their final conversation, the final one makes sense, but the other two ... did Shen Wei early on do something very flashy and Dixing-saving fighting against Ye Zun?

Then there's also the bit where Ye Zun says that in the past, he found it hard to even speak. The Hallows are evil; that is no condition in which to keep a prisoner. Also proof that the seal has been weakening either with time or with Ye Zun getting more energy.

Shen Wei gives himself away by being so inept at technology that he cannot delete a file, he can only destroy the device, so Zhao Yunlan knows who doesn't want him knowing about Kunlun. He also says stuff like "my awakening was a joke the universe played on me" (did he have trouble initially adapting to modern life? does he yearn for the past where he grew up and which he understood and was a part of?) and the tragically foreshadowy "As long as I can kill you, so what if I sacrifice myself?" This is after the eye-healing but before the energy restructuring; one wonders what was going through his mind then.


"Redeem yourself and I might shut up like you so desire."

As for Dixing politics, no-one told Shen Wei who the new Lord would be, and he storms off when An Bai actually ascends and Zhao Yunlan is told how the Lordship works. We don't see any debriefing on this, so we can't be sure whether it's in anger, shame, some other emotion, or a complicated mix. It also seems to hint that Shen Wei didn't really know how the system works – Shen Wei says he found the reality worse than the rumors, but it was unclear to me whether the rumors referred to concerned the Lord of Dixing, or the Regent's political machinations, or Ye Zun's influence.

Shen Wei also feels the need to come up with an excuse to attend to Zhao Yunlan (Zhao Yunlan's "I am the luckiest man in the world" expression says he'd be 100% down for Shen Wei just staying the night and fussing over him), and habitually sets up a dark energy barrier behind him while he's cooking.


Shen Wei does all of his cutting in Zhao Yunlan's kitchen.

Zhao Yunlan knows Shen Wei is a deep person with deep secrets who likes to suffer in silence, but after the determined pursuit of the truth of Shen Wei's identity, he's now content to wait and let Shen Wei come to him when the weight of the secrets becomes too much to bear.


"If I sit here lit in chiaroscuro like a noir protagonist, perhaps the great beauty with legs for years will walk in and unload it all onto my hardboiled shoulders."

They also work together excellently! Zhao Yunlan very quickly came up with a plan that he whispered into Shen Wei's ear and then they executed it flawlessly. He's also still on his manipulating feet and claims to think the Attendant was just a manipulated victim to try and get the chance to interrogate him.


"Actually, a pair of hot twins has been my No. 1 fantasy since forever!"

On the scene where Zhao Yunlan comes across Shen Wei cutting in the kitchen: We see Shen Wei be significantly weakened by the energy leakage, and given the delay between question and answer, the explanation given about needing to rebuild his energy structure is heavily edited at best. He also doesn't seem to grasp that "Thankfully, I'm used to getting hurt" does not count as reassuring.


"I hope he doesn't insist on taking me to the hospital again just because I'm leaking blood."

Zhao Yunlan, meanwhile, puts on his kid gloves and delicate handling when he remarks "it must hurt" and then tries to keep it together, but because it's the middle of the night, he just caught Shen Wei cutting in the kitchen, and Shen Wei claims it's fine and worth it because he's used to being hurt and doesn't seem to realize the fundamental not-okayness of the situation, he snaps and yells. It's reasonable, but also not the most constructive thing. (As for the "I'm not worth this" line, IMO it's Zhao Yunlan grasping at straws in his manipulation thing, which can of course be interpreted in many ways.) And then Shen Wei ends up in the doghouse with Zhao Yunlan being passive-aggressively deferential at him.


Some things can't be fixed with a smile, and Zhao Yunlan discovers that while he may not want someone to have long heart-to-hearts with, occasionally one needs to have them.

Canon notes

• The pillar cannot be destroyed while Ye Zun is within it.
• The Regent thinks An Bai will last only 4-5 years, so Lords of Dixing must usually last over 5 years.
• "Despite praise or blame, I know my merit. Those who are the same in sympathy share it. Seize every chance to rise with the tide. Asses the circumstances, safely advance or abide."
• The Merit Brush can erase traces of dark energy (so neither Shen Wei nor technology can detect its use) as well as buff Dixing powers.
• Dixingians confined to Dixing because "Haixing's resources are scarce", except that it's been 10k years since the meteor.
• Da Qing doesn't have (remember having?) parents.

Also, Shen Wei's yutoudao pole seems to be a different color in Dixing?

Left: in Dixing. Right: in Haixing during episode 6. It also looks dark during its outing in episode 20, but that's from a distance.

Cinematography
This episode's mandatory hands closeup is of the pinky promise.

Zhao Yunlan Protection Club.

We also get a large amount of swooping overhead shots with slight zoom. This is of course hard to represent in still format.


Please take my word for it.

One shot from slightly beneath sight line:

Shen Wei confirms that the plan is still on.

No further commentary this time. Have Zhao Yunlan touching a dark energy thing!

He never saw one he didn't want to touch.

And a pair of smiles, even if one happens in suboptimal conditions:

♥

Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
The Dixing trip jacket remains, and he borrows An Bai's jacket for a bit during it. When they come up to Haixing, it's a different jacket for a different day, and the next day they're alerted to the hospital.



Did Shen Wei remove his glasses?
Yes, when he's in Zhao Yunlan's apartment and puncturing holes into himself.

Utterly devoid of external mask, he must engage the inner one.

Comments

[ratbones]

The pinky promise is SO CUTE. When Shen Wei realizes what's expected of him, that smile looks to me like he's going "aww!" in his head. <3

did Shen Wei early on do something very flashy and Dixing-saving fighting against Ye Zun?
I just took this to mean he (in his opinion) brought Shen Wei back and everyone instantly admired him again because he'd become a figure of myth. Ye Zun is so extra that he's hard to interpret.

He also says stuff like "my awakening was a joke the universe played on me" (did he have trouble initially adapting to modern life? does he yearn for the past where he grew up and which he understood and was a part of?)
I wouldn't be surprised if it's partially this, because who wouldn't struggle with that? But I think he's also talking about being forced to play the role of the Envoy again, which was never who he really was/wanted to be, and which he likes even less now, with the current state of the treaty and Dixing. Maybe? It gels with my interpretation of Ye Zun's dialogue, anyway. Like, Shen Wei didn't want that glory, thanks.

Shen Wei also feels the need to come up with an excuse to attend to Zhao Yunlan (Zhao Yunlan's "I am the luckiest man in the world" expression says he'd be 100% down for Shen Wei just staying the night and fussing over him)
The heart eyes from Zhao Yunlan here are just...omg. Why does Shen Wei think he needs a pretense? Good lord.

"If I sit here lit in chiaroscuro like a noir protagonist, perhaps the great beauty with legs for years will walk in and unload it all onto my hardboiled shoulders."
No response, just laughing.

He also doesn't seem to grasp that "Thankfully, I'm used to getting hurt" does not count as reassuring.
This has got to be at least in the running for most painful line of dialogue. Holy shit, Shen Wei, no. NO. STOP. Zhao Yunlan doesn't handle this ideally, but I don't blame him at all because freaking out is absolutely the normal response to this horrific mess.

Dixingians confined to Dixing because "Haixing's resources are scarce", except that it's been 10k years since the meteor.
I figure this is the propaganda they've been taught. Or they're just reading really outdated history books.

Have Zhao Yunlan touching a dark energy thing!
I say this out of love: What is WRONG with him? "Ooh, shiny."

Zhao Yunlan lounging sexily in the gravel after revealing himself to not be An Bai is possibly the most Zhao Yunlan Zhao Yunlan who ever Zhao Yunlan'd. Delightful. I also like how Shen Wei just goes around Dixing in his civvies now.

From the album:
Those stairs were installed there to make dramatic jumps into the lava more dramatic, and also so Zhao Yunlan would have something to lounge against.
Sure, I'll accept that as an explanation for the tiny little staircase to nowhere, but now I'm disappointed that nobody ever hurled themselves into the lava.

[extrapenguin]

The pinky promise is SO CUTE. When Shen Wei realizes what's expected of him, that smile looks to me like he's going "aww!" in his head. <3
IRK? It's so adorable. I want that sensation of adorableness to last!

I just took this to mean he (in his opinion) brought Shen Wei back and everyone instantly admired him again because he'd become a figure of myth. Ye Zun is so extra that he's hard to interpret.
Yeah, I agree that the Envoy became insta-admired because he'd been deified in the interim (and Shen Wei was as a consequence held even further away from other Dixingians). There's also the option that Ye Zun is going a bit soft in the head after 10k years of mostly solitary confinement with a hefty dose of sensory deprivation and being so Extra he makes no sense and contradicts reality.

Why does Shen Wei think he needs a pretense? Good lord.
I think because he doesn't think he can do stuff for fun, everything must be A Great Responsibility, so if he stays with Zhao Yunlan because he wants to, that'd upset his mental order. OTOH, if he comes up with a plausible excuse for why staying with Zhao Yunlan is his responsibility, he can continue like he has and not have to dismantle all his wonky thought patterns.

This has got to be at least in the running for most painful line of dialogue. Holy shit, Shen Wei, no. NO. STOP. Zhao Yunlan doesn't handle this ideally, but I don't blame him at all because freaking out is absolutely the normal response to this horrific mess.
+1 on all counts. Freaking out about being confronted with Shen Wei's Issues is the normal response, and it's to Zhao Yunlan's credit that he managed to hold on for as long as he did.

Or they're just reading really outdated history books.
I can sort of buy that resources on Haixing were so scarce post-meteor that it made sense for Dixingians to go to Dixing, but ... it's been 10k years. Did no-one think about updating the treaty?!

I also like how Shen Wei just goes around Dixing in his civvies now.
There's probably some meta to be made about this on how Shen Wei wants to stop being the Black-Cloaked Envoy, minor mythological figure and suddenly expected to be in charge of everything, even shit Shen Wei had no clue existed, and just be Professor Shen the academic who enjoys the sunlight and lecturing and whose problems are manageable for Shen Wei.

[ratbones]

There's also the option that Ye Zun is going a bit soft in the head after 10k years of mostly solitary confinement with a hefty dose of sensory deprivation and being so Extra he makes no sense and contradicts reality.
This too, this is always an option.

I think because he doesn't think he can do stuff for fun, everything must be A Great Responsibility, so if he stays with Zhao Yunlan because he wants to, that'd upset his mental order.
Okay, yeah, the excuse is for Shen Wei more than it is for Zhao Yunlan, that I can believe. But also ouch. Shen Wei's pained expression makes more sense now.

I can sort of buy that resources on Haixing were so scarce post-meteor that it made sense for Dixingians to go to Dixing, but ... it's been 10k years. Did no-one think about updating the treaty?!
I can't think why Dixing's leadership wouldn't have pushed for this, even if they're corrupt and terrible (especially if they're corrupt and terrible!) unless they just didn't know. Like, their contact with Haixing is so cut off that they have no idea how things have changed. You'd think they would have sent someone to check in the intervening millennia, though. The Regent is obviously willing and able to visit Haixing legally, so...???? IDK, if anyone has a sane explanation, I'd be all ears.

There's probably some meta to be made about this on how Shen Wei wants to stop being the Black-Cloaked Envoy, minor mythological figure and suddenly expected to be in charge of everything, even shit Shen Wei had no clue existed, and just be Professor Shen the academic who enjoys the sunlight and lecturing and whose problems are manageable for Shen Wei.
awh, my heart.

[clevermanka]

I think he's also talking about being forced to play the role of the Envoy again, which was never who he really was/wanted to be, and which he likes even less now, with the current state of the treaty and Dixing.
Yes, I like this. Thank you!

Zhao Yunlan lounging sexily in the gravel after revealing himself to not be An Bai is possibly the most Zhao Yunlan Zhao Yunlan who ever Zhao Yunlan'd.
I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

[ratbones]

yay, you're welcome!

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH
I ALSO. :D

[jo_lasalle]

But I think he's also talking about being forced to play the role of the Envoy again, which was never who he really was/wanted to be, and which he likes even less now, with the current state of the treaty and Dixing.

That's what I took from that line too. (Given that he's actually not all that pep-talky with Ye Zun, it's a bit surprising how emo he lets himself get in front of him!)

[ratbones]

Yes, this does feel a bit out of character for him. Maybe Ye Zun, who already hates him, is one of only people he doesn't feel he'd be disappointing or giving ammunition to by admitting to having negative feelings towards his situation? (Or they're just trying to out-dramatic each other in the traditional Dixing fashion.)

[phyrry]

THE DIXING POLITICS EPISODE. This is one of my faves.

* Dong Nan reminds me that I wish we had more worldbuilding for the Yashou -- most of what we know about the Crow tribe, for instance, is really about Ya Qing.
* Shen Wei arguing with Ye Zun is always entertaining.
* In general, Shen Wei continues to be incredibly tragic and martyr-y. (Someone needs to pile kittens on him. Da Qing had better get to work, fast.)
* Every time I rewatch this ep, I live for Zhao Yunlan's face when he finally realizes he's the only one smiling in the throne room.
* I'm still not sure what's going on with the energy field in the kitchen cutting scene, it's like they threw in a novel callback that makes no sense in dramaverse?? But that's probably me being Doylist again.

Anyway, a lot of great shots and neat things happening in this episode, Dixing continues to get EVEN WORSE, and Shen Wei needs to let someone hug him and maybe stop with the knives. He's in the future, they make medication for that now.

[extrapenguin]

Dong Nan reminds me that I wish we had more worldbuilding for the Yashou -- most of what we know about the Crow tribe, for instance, is really about Ya Qing.
Yeah, we don't really know much about the Yashou at all. Even the Snake tribe suffers from a paucity of information.

Someone needs to pile kittens on him. Da Qing had better get to work, fast.
At first, I thought you were suggesting that Da Qing make some kittens to pile atop Shen Wei, which Zhao Yunlan would probably have seriously complained about, but kidnapping already extant kittens is probably a better idea. Shen Wei should probably also have the sanctity of kitten naps impressed upon him – he cannot go be tragic and martyr-y if he is immobilized due to being a kitten bed!

I'm still not sure what's going on with the energy field in the kitchen cutting scene, it's like they threw in a novel callback that makes no sense in dramaverse??
One theory I heard that I quite like is that the mechanism of healing his eyes has left Zhao Yunlan with the temporary ability to see dark energy. As for the energy field, I have no trouble believing that Shen "raised himself in a warzone" Wei would want to protect his back and habitually put up defenses to that effect.

Shen Wei needs to let someone hug him and maybe stop with the knives. He's in the future, they make medication for that now.
Yuuup! Though idk how well Shen Wei's problems would respond to medication – they seem to be more thought pattern related. The best thing to start with would probably be to stop the upcoming war and let him retire from the Envoy gig into being just a professor whose calls involve much lower stakes and less stress.

[phyrry]

At first, I thought you were suggesting that Da Qing make some kittens to pile atop Shen Wei, which Zhao Yunlan would probably have seriously complained about, but kidnapping already extant kittens is probably a better idea.
During the Cong Bo arc, Da Qing seemed to have access to a steady supply of kittens, and then I recall him complaining about being surrounded by disobedient kittens in a park later in the 20s sometime (when is a good question, though, given my brain). So I got the general sense that he has an on-demand supply, like maybe all the neighborhood cat moms use him as a sitter when they're tired of getting chewed on.

One theory I heard that I quite like is that the mechanism of healing his eyes has left Zhao Yunlan with the temporary ability to see dark energy. As for the energy field, I have no trouble believing that Shen "raised himself in a warzone" Wei would want to protect his back and habitually put up defenses to that effect.
Okay, that actually makes sense, thank you. I'll add 'passive dark energy shield' to his character sheet.

Yuuup! Though idk how well Shen Wei's problems would respond to medication – they seem to be more thought pattern related. The best thing to start with would probably be to stop the upcoming war and let him retire from the Envoy gig into being just a professor whose calls involve much lower stakes and less stress.
He could certainly use some cognitive behavioral therapy. I wonder if Dr. Cheng could refer him to a good therapist?... and yeah, taking some stress off would help a lot. (Why is his life made of knives? /quiet sobbing)

[clevermanka]

the mechanism of healing his eyes has left Zhao Yunlan with the temporary ability to see dark energy
Oh I like this.

[jo_lasalle]

I'm still not sure what's going on with the energy field in the kitchen cutting scene, it's like they threw in a novel callback that makes no sense in dramaverse?? But that's probably me being Doylist again.

That's bugged me for a long time, but I think I've come around to thinking Shen Wei put it up to stop Zhao Yunlan hearing any, um, noise that might happen, or to catch any energy leakage, and then was so out of it he forgot it had been there and Zhao Yunlan must have seen it. (Or that it was a thing he actually made happen by accident, also because he was a little out of it.)

[extrapenguin]

Good theory, except that the energy field is when Shen Wei is just chopping some vegetables, and there's no energy field when he later starts mishandling knives.

[clevermanka]

Oh my god your captions in this are AWARD WINNING.

"If I sit here lit in chiaroscuro like a noir protagonist, perhaps the great beauty with legs for years will walk in and unload it all onto my hardboiled shoulders."
d-y-i-n-g

claims he returned Shen Wei to glory and made him shine
I kinda wonder if this is just Ye Zun being jealous and bitter that Shen Wei is able to walk around at all, much less up in Haixing where there's decent food and sunlight, etc.?

This is after the eye-healing but before the energy restructuring; one wonders what was going through his mind then.
I just started a re-watch (finished episode 4) and I'm trying to pay closer attention to character motivations this time around. Not sure how well I'm doing because frankly I'm absolute pants at that sort of thing, but I'm trying. Would love it if someone (else) weighed in on that, tho. Yay! I took so long to post this comment that people already did!

[extrapenguin]

Oh my god your captions in this are AWARD WINNING.
I aim to please! :D

I kinda wonder if this is just Ye Zun being jealous and bitter that Shen Wei is able to walk around at all, much less up in Haixing where there's decent food and sunlight, etc.?
That ... is disturbingly plausible and very tragic. I haven't rewatched the time travel bits in a while, but IIRC it's also possible that the twins were born on the surface in the sunlight; certainly they spent their adolescence in Haixing. So from his POV, Ye Zun has been exiled to the darkness for 10k years and can't move, while his brother gets to go home...

I just started a re-watch (finished episode 4) and I'm trying to pay closer attention to character motivations this time around. Not sure how well I'm doing because frankly I'm absolute pants at that sort of thing, but I'm trying.
IME it's a skill that comes with practice! Actually, for the rewatches, I generally just take notes on the what, and only really start speculating on the why for the post write-up (though the information's been stewing in my mind for a few nights already). So maybe you could try that as well – making notes, then returning to them the following day.

[qikiqtarjuaq]

Shen Wei gives himself away by being so inept at technology that he cannot delete a file, he can only destroy the device

I had missed the significance of this the first time through, and now I can't stop laughing.

But man, this has to be favourite episode ever just for the kitchen scene alone. Shen Wei's BIG DUMB SMILE when he goes on about how he's used to getting hurt. That quick flicker of the eye towards Zhao Yunlan's lips. SUCH INTENSE STARING. I love the emotional intensity of that scene so much. I really think this is my top OTP scene for them.

[extrapenguin]

Shen Wei's BIG DUMB SMILE when he goes on about how he's used to getting hurt. That quick flicker of the eye towards Zhao Yunlan's lips. SUCH INTENSE STARING. I love the emotional intensity of that scene so much.
I know! It's ... oh Shen Wei, you. So intense about Zhao Yunlan.

[umadoshi]

The thing that's still puzzling me about the kitchen scene, despite having just rewatched it, is what Shen Wei's actually trying to accomplish by cutting himself there. He talks about exchanging all the energy in his body, so...is he literally just...venting dark energy somehow? To make room for Haixing energy somehow?

At this point, it seems like if he was trying to do a full internal reset of his energy (which is what he seems to be trying to convey to ZYL, regardless of whether he's already thinking in terms of what winds up coming to pass in the story), he'd be venting/purging the alien-to-him energy, not what looks to be his own dark energy.

[extrapenguin]

He talks about exchanging all the energy in his body, so...is he literally just...venting dark energy somehow? To make room for Haixing energy somehow?
I think this'll depend very much on whether one thinks he came up with the suicide bombing contingency plan already – he must've known there was Haixing energy in him when he went down to Dixing, and he might've come up with the plan there, given his big talk of sacrifice.

Alternatively, he was trying to vent out the Haixing energy but for some reason couldn't. Perhaps his control only extended to the dark energy, and the Haixing energy stayed despite his best efforts?

[firestar]

I love that pinky promise, it's super adorable. <3

[extrapenguin]

It is the cutest!

[solo]

He also says stuff like "my awakening was a joke the universe played on me" (did he have trouble initially adapting to modern life? does he yearn for the past where he grew up and which he understood and was a part of?)

I read that as, he was quite content being 'gone' - after all he did let the earth swallow him intentionally 10k years ago - and he really didn't want to pick up his old job again. But then he reappeared and everyone was OMG ENVOY! (that's the glory stuff, he's basically this amazing hero from he past) and here he is, Envoying away again 10k years later. The presence of things like powerpoint, or sound recorders he doesn't know how to neutralize properly, is just adding insult to injury.

habitually sets up a dark energy barrier behind him while he's cooking.

Now that's an intriguing thought. I never quite knew what to make of that barrier but thought maybe he was 'leaking' dark energy or something without even being aware. I definitely thought it was just a one-off thing. But I guess maybe ZYL just couldn't see it before? It might not have stopped him before? Is this a thing the Longevity Dial did? REALLY INTRIGUING!

But also kind of intriguing that Shen Wei would throw up such a barrier when he and Zhao Yunlan are the only ones in the apartment; that makes he wonder again if it isn't a one-off after all..

He also doesn't seem to grasp that "Thankfully, I'm used to getting hurt" does not count as reassuring.

I would swear he was initially about to repeat his 'Thankfully, I heal fast' line that he'd used before, but then he had to think on his feet when fast healing demonstrably refused to happen, and in the ways of Shen Wei, when you have to think on your feet you blurt out another truth, even if it's a damn stupid one.

[extrapenguin]

I read that as, he was quite content being 'gone' - after all he did let the earth swallow him intentionally 10k years ago - and he really didn't want to pick up his old job again. But then he reappeared and everyone was OMG ENVOY! (that's the glory stuff, he's basically this amazing hero from he past) and here he is, Envoying away again 10k years later.
Letting the earth swallow him up feels ... a bit suicidal to me. Like, "Kunlun and didi are both gone, I don't want to live anymore!" IDK. The whole past interlude contains some stuff I'm uncomfortable with, which you'll probably hear about when we get there in a few months.

But also kind of intriguing that Shen Wei would throw up such a barrier when he and Zhao Yunlan are the only ones in the apartment; that makes he wonder again if it isn't a one-off after all..
Given that Shen Wei grew up in a war zone, I wouldn't be at all surprised that he throws up barriers automatically so he gets some forewarning if anyone's approaching his back. After all, when we see him do it, he's not cutting anything except vegetables, and shows no intent to diverge from that.

I would swear he was initially about to repeat his 'Thankfully, I heal fast' line that he'd used before, but then he had to think on his feet when fast healing demonstrably refused to happen, and in the ways of Shen Wei, when you have to think on your feet you blurt out another truth, even if it's a damn stupid one.
This is very plausible. Oh, Shen Wei. Just tell him that you know where the band-aids are! I'm sure he'd lovingly help patch you up.

[jo_lasalle]

I'm travelling and not in a good position to double-check things, but diving in anyway. I think this is a very interesting episode with a lot of great character material, which on first watch got overshadowed for me by that OOMPH confrontation in the kitchen, but on the last rewatch a number of things really stood out for me.

It's really noticeable how both Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are uncomfortable leaving An Bai as the king, and to me this is one of the clearest indicators that Shen Wei is evolving on "omg Dixing really has a very shitty setup". He still doesn't actively do anything about it (on a systemic level), but to me this is a good indicator that he's on a journey there. It got cut short by the Plot being different and the drama ending the way it did, but, yeah.

The other thing I find really, really interesting is the foreshadowing around sacrifice, which I find quite interestingly layered.

A friendless, administrative tool: this is the description of the King at some point, in a context that's also about him inevitably dying and making that sacrifice for the people of Dixing. It really gave me goosebumps on the last rewatch, because the way it's brought in and the context in which it shows up (in an episode that has a number of hints regarding Shen Wei's future sacrifice) really made make take that as commentary on Shen Wei, specifically Shen Wei as the Envoy. Your role and your responsibility come first, and if that means you die, too bad. But it's also in a way an anti-parallel, because while "friendless, administrative tool" can totally sound like Shen Wei at the start of the series, he is in fact no longer friendless, and he's also started (!) to ask more general questions about Dixing administration etc. To me Shen Wei's journey over Guardian is in part about him connecting with people and becoming part of a team, and one of my pet theories is that if he'd taken that a little farther and not tried to solve the Ye Zun problem mostly on his own, he might not have had to die. So this parallel/anti-parallel to the king really pinged hard on my radar.

He also says he's only not nervous when he's talking to his parents' graves. Someone help him, please.

Oh god that kid. >.<

and habitually sets up a dark energy barrier behind him while he's cooking.

I've wondered about that barrier quite often, because I actually don't think it's habitual? Zhao Yunlan is weirded out by it, which makes me think that this is not the usual state of affairs. But once Shen Wei notices Zhao Yunlan is there (and the barrier is gone), Shen Wei gives no indication that he is aware there was a barrier there either. Like, where Zhao Yunlan is standing, it should be obvious to Shen Wei that he must have seen the barrier before it came down, but he doesn't offer an explanation or make an "oops, guess he saw that" face. So what I come away with is that either Shen Wei put up that barrier without being aware of it, or that he's so out of it that by the time he turns around and should technically realise Zhao Yunlan saw his weird barrier, he doesn't realise Zhao Yunlan probably saw it.

To me this episode is really where I go, This pillar is the worst-secured prison ever. Anyone can wander by!

The other thing I really don't get is why the King was murdered when he was officially dying anyway. I know there is some degree of whackadoodle to do with the Dixing worldbuilding but that one still baffles me on rewatch as much as at the start.

Da Qing is super adorable in this ep and I just want to squish him, pinky promise and all!

I also very much enjoy Shen Wei walking around Dixing clearly as the Envoy but in his plain clothes. The robes do come back later at some point but he really mostly doesn't bother with them anymore.

ALSO! Did anyone else notice that Zhao Yunlan, when he gets out of bed in his apartment, actually puts the slippers on that Shen Wei put out for him at the proper 90° angle? I LOVE IT.

And Shen Wei's look when he realises he's not healing the way he expected to slays me every time. Oh, honey. (T__T)

[extrapenguin]

Shen Wei is evolving on "omg Dixing really has a very shitty setup". He still doesn't actively do anything about it (on a systemic level), but to me this is a good indicator that he's on a journey there.
Indeed, this is true! If only they'd had some more time to chill and for Shen Wei to adjust to being part of a team and that things could change.

Your role and your responsibility come first, and if that means you die, too bad. But it's also in a way an anti-parallel, because while "friendless, administrative tool" can totally sound like Shen Wei at the start of the series, he is in fact no longer friendless, and he's also started (!) to ask more general questions about Dixing administration etc. To me Shen Wei's journey over Guardian is in part about him connecting with people and becoming part of a team, and one of my pet theories is that if he'd taken that a little farther and not tried to solve the Ye Zun problem mostly on his own, he might not have had to die. So this parallel/anti-parallel to the king really pinged hard on my radar.
+1 for all of this! Shen Wei's arc is a bit more subtle than Zhao Yunlan's arc of learning to consider Dixingians as human, but it's still there, and I agree with your pet theory very much.

So what I come away with is that either Shen Wei put up that barrier without being aware of it,
This is likely. Or he just considers it an extension of his senses, so he can't distinguish between "I heard Zhao Yunlan's footsteps" and "Zhao Yunlan touched my early-warning barrier"/doesn't realize there's a distinction/this is so habitual he doesn't even consider it.

This pillar is the worst-secured prison ever. Anyone can wander by!
I KNOW! Why can't they secure the region? Add guards at a perimeter that's large enough that Ye Zun can't speak to them!

The other thing I really don't get is why the King was murdered when he was officially dying anyway.
The King saw the Attendant steal the Merit Brush papers, so the Attendant stabbed him immediately before he could tell anyone else. (The King gave the Attendant the option of putting them back and the King wouldn't tell anyone. The Attendant obviously didn't like this.)

I also very much enjoy Shen Wei walking around Dixing clearly as the Envoy but in his plain clothes. The robes do come back later at some point but he really mostly doesn't bother with them anymore.
This is probably a very important characterization thing, but I'm also a bit sad, since I like the dramatic swoopy robes and emo mask! He should wander around wearing them in Haixing instead. Maybe the department would grant his request for a new thingamajig if the Black-Cloaked Envoy turned up to demand it as well?

Did anyone else notice that Zhao Yunlan, when he gets out of bed in his apartment, actually puts the slippers on that Shen Wei put out for him at the proper 90° angle? I LOVE IT.
I did not, but now that you've pointed it out, I love it!