This is a great write-up! I really enjoyed reading it, and seeing all the details you’re pointing out again. :D
SID investigates a dark set of tunnels
This isn't what your post is about, but I thought that was some kind of derelict building, a warehouse or something? There's visible sunlight through various windows, despite the flashlights ...
Zhao Yunlan is lounging on his motorcycle
I still love that so much, it's a delightful visual. :D :D :D
This is doing interesting work to reaffirm for the audience the difference between the SID and all their scariness (snake tail, ghosts, explosions) and the criminals they hunt (the Shadowman). [profile] china_ship pointed out in this scene discussion of GCC joining the SID how GCC’s stumbling and fainting is contrasted with Li Qian’s genuine fear as she flees the scene of the murder. I think this dialogue is following up on that set-up, to strengthen that impression and put it into words.
Oooh, that's an excellent observation!
how similar to Shen Wei she is again here, what with his two full-time jobs nevermind the consultancy he’ll pick up over the course of the show
Oooh, yes! Excellent parallel! Except poor Li Qian has no Dixing powers to sustain her, so she's about to keel over. She needs all the hugs, and also a LOT of sleep.
What fascinates me here is that neither of them have the full picture of what the other is talking about, and yet, the parallels are striking. They’re both talking about self-sacrifice: Li Qian giving up half her lifespan for her grandmother to be revived, Shen Wei is presumably talking about Kunlun. The people they both care most about in the world.
I think Shen Wei is also talking about Ye Zun – in which case he's saying that, even if you fail to actually protect them, it's still worth it. *sniffles* (Which has its own parallels to Li Qian's situation!)
Again, someone needs to gif this. Shen Wei’s eye movement says so much. Notice the shift from affable Professor Shen to sharply focussed Heipaoshi expression here!
Yeah, that little look over his shoulder is so good!
I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to play off their meeting as a coincidence
Yeah, and I love that Shen Wei absolutely isn't having this! As you say, he's so pointed. :D
This is so interesting to me because it sets up the SID in a bit of a different light than we’re shown later? Almost like a “people with power who police people with power” department.
Yeah, I keep stumbling over this bit because it doesn't fit with the way the SID works. But you've got a good point about the SID's composition, so maybe Shen Wei is referencing one of the rumours going around about the SID? Because there have to be rumours ...
It’s almost as if Shen Wei is baiting Zhao Yunlan…
And by that you mean Shen Wei is basically walking around holding up a sign reading "BAIT"? :D
And he’s doing it by basically turning Zhao Yunlan’s previous line around! “You said I am intelligent, thus obviously I should know”.
Hee! Yes! This is delightful. :D
It’s a test designed to figure out the boundaries and personality of Zhao Yunlan, and how he’s the same or differs from what he remembers of Kunlun. At the same time, it’s a hook to keep Zhao Yunlan’s interest in Shen Wei.
Yes! Multiple purposes at once!
What do you think of the parallels established between Li Qian and Shen Wei? Does this count as foreshadowing for Shen Wei’s story?
Oh, yes, 100%! Lots of thematic resonance for the drama in general, and foreshadowing for Shen Wei's story in general. His "worth it" here foreshadows the one in the kitchen scene, and I love the way it shows that while he's talking hypothetically here in episode 1, he absolutely means it and lives by it and does not regret the cost. ♥
Why does Shen Wei intercept Zhao Yunlan? Li Qian is clearly struggling, and Zhao Yunlan is just as obviously staking her out. And yet, Shen Wei sends Li Qian away and holds up Zhao Yunlan before he can follow.
I'm not sure what you mean by "and yet"? IMO he's intercepting Zhao Yunlan because Zhao Yunlan is staking out Li Qian, and he wants him to stop bothering her, even if just for a while. Zhao Yunlan wasn't particularly nice to Li Qian when he questioned her, was he? I think Shen Wei is trying to shield her, probably hoping the investigation will turn up something else before the SID makes things even harder for Li Qian (or her reputation).
Of course it doesn't hurt that it gives him an occasion to catch Zhao Yunlan's attention! *g*
Can the SID recruit Dixingren who are on the surface and have done no harm that would demand they hand them over to Heipaoshi for justice?
It's a fascinating idea, but we see no hint about that. My understanding is that Dixingren aren't allowed to be upstairs at all, except with special permission (like Chu Shuzhi), so if they're on the surface they've already committed a crime.
Not that recruitment would be all that great either – "work for us or we'll have you deported" isn't a good choice to be forced to make.
What do you think about the familiarity/having met before line? Does Zhao Yunlan actually feel something or is it just a line? What are both of them thinking here?
There are a lot of theories about how, but I think episode 2 – where Zhao Yunlan talks to himself and wonders where he's seen Shen Wei before - definitely proves that Zhao Yunlan is feeling something.
My own theory is what I wrote in this fic (because I love time-loopiness, LOL): At First Sight
But I also love oracularmayhem's theory that came up during the rewatch, that kid!Zhao Yunlan once saw the Envoy. And what autodach above says about Shen Wei’s familiarity with him provoking a sense of familiarity in return is also a brilliant explanation!
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SID investigates a dark set of tunnels
This isn't what your post is about, but I thought that was some kind of derelict building, a warehouse or something? There's visible sunlight through various windows, despite the flashlights ...
Zhao Yunlan is lounging on his motorcycle
I still love that so much, it's a delightful visual. :D :D :D
This is doing interesting work to reaffirm for the audience the difference between the SID and all their scariness (snake tail, ghosts, explosions) and the criminals they hunt (the Shadowman). [profile] china_ship pointed out in this scene discussion of GCC joining the SID how GCC’s stumbling and fainting is contrasted with Li Qian’s genuine fear as she flees the scene of the murder. I think this dialogue is following up on that set-up, to strengthen that impression and put it into words.
Oooh, that's an excellent observation!
how similar to Shen Wei she is again here, what with his two full-time jobs nevermind the consultancy he’ll pick up over the course of the show
Oooh, yes! Excellent parallel! Except poor Li Qian has no Dixing powers to sustain her, so she's about to keel over. She needs all the hugs, and also a LOT of sleep.
What fascinates me here is that neither of them have the full picture of what the other is talking about, and yet, the parallels are striking. They’re both talking about self-sacrifice: Li Qian giving up half her lifespan for her grandmother to be revived, Shen Wei is presumably talking about Kunlun. The people they both care most about in the world.
I think Shen Wei is also talking about Ye Zun – in which case he's saying that, even if you fail to actually protect them, it's still worth it. *sniffles* (Which has its own parallels to Li Qian's situation!)
Again, someone needs to gif this. Shen Wei’s eye movement says so much. Notice the shift from affable Professor Shen to sharply focussed Heipaoshi expression here!
Yeah, that little look over his shoulder is so good!
I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to play off their meeting as a coincidence
Yeah, and I love that Shen Wei absolutely isn't having this! As you say, he's so pointed. :D
This is so interesting to me because it sets up the SID in a bit of a different light than we’re shown later? Almost like a “people with power who police people with power” department.
Yeah, I keep stumbling over this bit because it doesn't fit with the way the SID works. But you've got a good point about the SID's composition, so maybe Shen Wei is referencing one of the rumours going around about the SID? Because there have to be rumours ...
It’s almost as if Shen Wei is baiting Zhao Yunlan…
And by that you mean Shen Wei is basically walking around holding up a sign reading "BAIT"? :D
And he’s doing it by basically turning Zhao Yunlan’s previous line around! “You said I am intelligent, thus obviously I should know”.
Hee! Yes! This is delightful. :D
It’s a test designed to figure out the boundaries and personality of Zhao Yunlan, and how he’s the same or differs from what he remembers of Kunlun. At the same time, it’s a hook to keep Zhao Yunlan’s interest in Shen Wei.
Yes! Multiple purposes at once!
What do you think of the parallels established between Li Qian and Shen Wei? Does this count as foreshadowing for Shen Wei’s story?
Oh, yes, 100%! Lots of thematic resonance for the drama in general, and foreshadowing for Shen Wei's story in general. His "worth it" here foreshadows the one in the kitchen scene, and I love the way it shows that while he's talking hypothetically here in episode 1, he absolutely means it and lives by it and does not regret the cost. ♥
Why does Shen Wei intercept Zhao Yunlan? Li Qian is clearly struggling, and Zhao Yunlan is just as obviously staking her out. And yet, Shen Wei sends Li Qian away and holds up Zhao Yunlan before he can follow.
I'm not sure what you mean by "and yet"? IMO he's intercepting Zhao Yunlan because Zhao Yunlan is staking out Li Qian, and he wants him to stop bothering her, even if just for a while. Zhao Yunlan wasn't particularly nice to Li Qian when he questioned her, was he? I think Shen Wei is trying to shield her, probably hoping the investigation will turn up something else before the SID makes things even harder for Li Qian (or her reputation).
Of course it doesn't hurt that it gives him an occasion to catch Zhao Yunlan's attention! *g*
Can the SID recruit Dixingren who are on the surface and have done no harm that would demand they hand them over to Heipaoshi for justice?
It's a fascinating idea, but we see no hint about that. My understanding is that Dixingren aren't allowed to be upstairs at all, except with special permission (like Chu Shuzhi), so if they're on the surface they've already committed a crime.
Not that recruitment would be all that great either – "work for us or we'll have you deported" isn't a good choice to be forced to make.
What do you think about the familiarity/having met before line? Does Zhao Yunlan actually feel something or is it just a line? What are both of them thinking here?
There are a lot of theories about how, but I think episode 2 – where Zhao Yunlan talks to himself and wonders where he's seen Shen Wei before - definitely proves that Zhao Yunlan is feeling something.
My own theory is what I wrote in this fic (because I love time-loopiness, LOL): At First Sight
But I also love