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sid_guardian2023-02-22 01:54 am
miss_ingno) wrote in sid_guardian2023-02-22 01:54 am
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Ep 1: Li Qian and Shen Wei talk on a bench, Shen Wei intercepts Chief Zhao
Context: Chu Shuzhi rescues Xiao Guo and Grandma Li during the one and only time he uses his puppet to fight. Back at the SID Zhao Yunlan realizes the Shadowman mistook the victim for Li Qian since they look similar and decides to follow her himself the next day, starting from when her grandma sees her off.
(We also get some Shen Wei pining over Zhao Yunlan’s file, our first YOHE flashback, and an ominous scene of Li Qian contemplating sleeping pills)
After our scene, SID investigates a dark set of tunnels, and Shen Wei gets a better look at the sundial before being attacked by the Shadowman at DCU.
Timestamp: 29:16 to 34:37
Zhao Yunlan is lounging on his motorcycle, sucking on a lollipop as he observes Li Qian trying to distribute flyers. Someone brushes her off and all the flyers go flying. After picking them up Li Qian sits down on the bench, looking exhausted.
We get a flashback to Li Qian coughing while cooking dinner for her and her grandma, a flashback of her grandma trying to fill her bowl and Li Qian snapping. On the bench, Li Qian looks close to tears. Professor Shen arrives and joins her on the bench. He asks after her well-being. Then:
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).china_shop 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.
(Can you tell how much trouble I had picking a shot? I wish I had the skills to turn this part into a gif, there’s some lovely acting going on in this scene, and I love how Li Qian mirrors a lot of Shen Wei’s mannerisms)
And then, Shen Wei delivers the thesis statement of the show:
Another flashback to the sleeping pills, Li Qian seems to connect Shen Wei’s words to her intended actions that night.
Shen Wei changes the topic, addressing Li Qian’s multiple jobs and lack of sleep due to having to take care of her ailing grandmother. (And I cannot help but note 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.)
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.
Li Qian slowly raises her hand to grasp at the sundial necklace, clearly thinking about this sacrifice. Shen Wei takes note. His expression shifts as he first glances up, then over his shoulder at where Zhao Yunlan is lurking.
(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! The small furrow of his brow as he thinks!)
With a small huff of air, Shen Wei’s professor mask slides back on. He reminds Li Qian of her next class and she hurries off. Zhao Yunlan makes to pursue, trying to sneak past Shen Wei but Shen Wei moves to intercept. They start another verbal sparring match.
I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to play off their meeting as a coincidence, when they both clearly spotted each other. I think Zhao Yunlan must be aware that Shen Wei knows he’s trailing Li Qian, and how pointedly Shen Wei addresses this while also neatly sidestepping the coincidence bit. After all, Shen Wei works here, and Zhao Yunlan wouldn’t have come here if not for work, no?
Zhao Yunlan looks in the direction Li Qian walked off, obviously thinking fast. He turns back to Shen Wei.
I love the way Shen Wei widens his eyes innocently and that little dip of his head xD
Shen Wei asks for an example and it takes Zhao Yunlan a moment to come up with something on the spot. He ends up bringing Dixingren and Yashou, naming powers such as telekinesis, invulnerability and shapeshifting. Shen Wei laughs in his face.
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. I can only think of Ye Huo where this would apply in the course of canon? But it also brings up some interesting questions about the composition of the SID: two Yashou, a ghost, a Dixingren, and now two humans.
Shen Wei lets on that he knows about what the SID is and about Dixingren. This is very suspicious! In contrast, one of the cops earlier didn’t know, and we’ve already been introduced to the idea that Dixingren is a hush-hush topic not a lot of people know about. Revealing he knows these things he shouldn’t definitely raises Zhao Yunlan’s suspicions. It’s almost as if Shen Wei is baiting Zhao Yunlan…
Is it just me, or does Zhao Yunlan’s sentence sound like an accusation? “You are intelligent, why do you believe in these myths?” He’s definitely prodding Shen Wei into explaining his knowledge he shouldn’t have.
Also, can I just say I love the theatrical way Zhao Yunlan pulls in air through his teeth, and the way he holds his arms here?
Zhao Yunlan nods as if in agreement, the gesture smoothly turning into one of thinking fast.
Shen Wei’s deflection is fascinating. He brings up that these things have always been secret and shouldn’t be discussed, almost like a rebuke at Zhao Yunlan for prodding him to talk about it? But at the same time, he acknowledges he knows freely in the very next sentence. And then he explains his knowledge: I’m a scholar, as much as people try to keep the Dixingren’s existence secret, I have found traces of them through study. Nothing suspicious about it, anyone might discover it putting the right clues together. And he’s doing it by basically turning Zhao Yunlan’s previous line around! “You said I am intelligent, thus obviously I should know”.
(I switched up the chronologically order of the first two images to have them looking at each other. Interesting how the camera switches angles, putting them on the other side for the second shot...)
Shen Wei seems to be searching Zhao Yunlan’s face to gauge his opinion re: Dixingren. Does he agree with his father, or is he like Kunlun in this? 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.
Shen Wei was the first to namedrop Dixingren here, even though they both knew what subject they were dancing around. Zhao Yunlan jumps on that “slip” immediately, pushing for more answers. Shen Wei does a whole huff-smile-innocent face deflection in response.
(once again switching up chronological order for aesthetic reasons)
Zhao Yunlan seems almost amused by this deflection, in an appreciative “that guy, he really dares” kind of way? Shen Wei has been pushing, showing off his knowledge with some veneer of plausible deniability, which he removed the moment he namedropped Dixingren and all but declared they should be treated as people. Now he’s suddenly pulling back, pretending his opinions and statements don’t matter, it’s up to Zhao Yunlan to decide how to proceed.
And here we get to this iconic line! The micro-expressions that follow, ye gods. I wish I had gif-making capabilites to represent it here properly, there’s so many minute switches going on, especially in how Shen Wei's smile almost slips and his eyes seem sad, before catching himself. The twitches of his lower eyelids as he chooses his response... How much does Shen Wei hurt hearing this? How much hope does it give him? This man isn’t Kunlun, but there’s so many similarities, it can’t be ignored. And at the same time, Zhao Yunlan seems to be trying to pin down the magnetic draw between them. Is it just attraction? Just the mystery of how Shen Wei knows all these things? Is there an actual resonance, or is Zhao Yunlan simply reacting to Shen Wei’s intensity? What does it mean?
Zhao Yunlan’s phone rings, interrupting them from staring into each other’s eyes.
Questions:
long post got long, sorry /o\
(We also get some Shen Wei pining over Zhao Yunlan’s file, our first YOHE flashback, and an ominous scene of Li Qian contemplating sleeping pills)
After our scene, SID investigates a dark set of tunnels, and Shen Wei gets a better look at the sundial before being attacked by the Shadowman at DCU.
Timestamp: 29:16 to 34:37
Zhao Yunlan is lounging on his motorcycle, sucking on a lollipop as he observes Li Qian trying to distribute flyers. Someone brushes her off and all the flyers go flying. After picking them up Li Qian sits down on the bench, looking exhausted.
We get a flashback to Li Qian coughing while cooking dinner for her and her grandma, a flashback of her grandma trying to fill her bowl and Li Qian snapping. On the bench, Li Qian looks close to tears. Professor Shen arrives and joins her on the bench. He asks after her well-being. Then:
Li Qian: Those people who came that day, can they really catch Mei’s killer?
Shen Wei: I think that they are not ordinary people.
Li Qian: Are they also monsters?
Shen Wei: No. They are not monsters.
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).
china_shop 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.
(Can you tell how much trouble I had picking a shot? I wish I had the skills to turn this part into a gif, there’s some lovely acting going on in this scene, and I love how Li Qian mirrors a lot of Shen Wei’s mannerisms)
And then, Shen Wei delivers the thesis statement of the show:
In fact, real monsters only exist in people’s hearts.
Another flashback to the sleeping pills, Li Qian seems to connect Shen Wei’s words to her intended actions that night.
Shen Wei changes the topic, addressing Li Qian’s multiple jobs and lack of sleep due to having to take care of her ailing grandmother. (And I cannot help but note 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.)
Li Qian: Professor, is it really worth giving all you have to protect someone?
Shen Wei: It is worth it.
*cue the sad-pondering theme music*
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.
Li Qian slowly raises her hand to grasp at the sundial necklace, clearly thinking about this sacrifice. Shen Wei takes note. His expression shifts as he first glances up, then over his shoulder at where Zhao Yunlan is lurking.
(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! The small furrow of his brow as he thinks!)
With a small huff of air, Shen Wei’s professor mask slides back on. He reminds Li Qian of her next class and she hurries off. Zhao Yunlan makes to pursue, trying to sneak past Shen Wei but Shen Wei moves to intercept. They start another verbal sparring match.
Zhao Yunlan: Oh, it’s you, Professor Shen! As they say, it’s a small world.
Shen Wei: It seems you have found a clue, or you wouldn’t make time to visit our university, Chief Zhao.
I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to play off their meeting as a coincidence, when they both clearly spotted each other. I think Zhao Yunlan must be aware that Shen Wei knows he’s trailing Li Qian, and how pointedly Shen Wei addresses this while also neatly sidestepping the coincidence bit. After all, Shen Wei works here, and Zhao Yunlan wouldn’t have come here if not for work, no?
Zhao Yunlan looks in the direction Li Qian walked off, obviously thinking fast. He turns back to Shen Wei.
ZYL: I came here today to ask you something, Professor Shen.
After all, you know almost everything about genetic mutation.
I love the way Shen Wei widens his eyes innocently and that little dip of his head xD
Shen Wei asks for an example and it takes Zhao Yunlan a moment to come up with something on the spot. He ends up bringing Dixingren and Yashou, naming powers such as telekinesis, invulnerability and shapeshifting. Shen Wei laughs in his face.
Shen Wei: If such people exist, wouldn’t you have already recruited them?
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. I can only think of Ye Huo where this would apply in the course of canon? But it also brings up some interesting questions about the composition of the SID: two Yashou, a ghost, a Dixingren, and now two humans.
Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, even though the SID is kept a secret, it doesn’t mean that there are no signs.
Zhao Yunlan: I didn’t think of that. Seems like someone as intelligent as you also believes these incredible things exist.
Shen Wei lets on that he knows about what the SID is and about Dixingren. This is very suspicious! In contrast, one of the cops earlier didn’t know, and we’ve already been introduced to the idea that Dixingren is a hush-hush topic not a lot of people know about. Revealing he knows these things he shouldn’t definitely raises Zhao Yunlan’s suspicions. It’s almost as if Shen Wei is baiting Zhao Yunlan…
Is it just me, or does Zhao Yunlan’s sentence sound like an accusation? “You are intelligent, why do you believe in these myths?” He’s definitely prodding Shen Wei into explaining his knowledge he shouldn’t have.
Also, can I just say I love the theatrical way Zhao Yunlan pulls in air through his teeth, and the way he holds his arms here?
Shen Wei: Our ancestors that wise men do not discuss otherworldly things.
But actually, I do think they exist.
Most people do not know of their existence, but not all traces can be erased.
Zhao Yunlan nods as if in agreement, the gesture smoothly turning into one of thinking fast.
Shen Wei’s deflection is fascinating. He brings up that these things have always been secret and shouldn’t be discussed, almost like a rebuke at Zhao Yunlan for prodding him to talk about it? But at the same time, he acknowledges he knows freely in the very next sentence. And then he explains his knowledge: I’m a scholar, as much as people try to keep the Dixingren’s existence secret, I have found traces of them through study. Nothing suspicious about it, anyone might discover it putting the right clues together. And he’s doing it by basically turning Zhao Yunlan’s previous line around! “You said I am intelligent, thus obviously I should know”.
Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, do you think the Dixing people are really so different from us?
(I switched up the chronologically order of the first two images to have them looking at each other. Interesting how the camera switches angles, putting them on the other side for the second shot...)
Shen Wei seems to be searching Zhao Yunlan’s face to gauge his opinion re: Dixingren. Does he agree with his father, or is he like Kunlun in this? 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.
ZYL: You even know about the Dixing people.
Professor Shen, you are a real treasure.
So what are your thoughts about the case?
Shen Wei was the first to namedrop Dixingren here, even though they both knew what subject they were dancing around. Zhao Yunlan jumps on that “slip” immediately, pushing for more answers. Shen Wei does a whole huff-smile-innocent face deflection in response.
Shen Wei: That… that is beyond me. My job is teaching and educating people.
Catching culprits and solving cases is your speciality.
(once again switching up chronological order for aesthetic reasons)
Zhao Yunlan seems almost amused by this deflection, in an appreciative “that guy, he really dares” kind of way? Shen Wei has been pushing, showing off his knowledge with some veneer of plausible deniability, which he removed the moment he namedropped Dixingren and all but declared they should be treated as people. Now he’s suddenly pulling back, pretending his opinions and statements don’t matter, it’s up to Zhao Yunlan to decide how to proceed.
ZYL: Tell you the truth, I really don’t know why, but the moment I saw you, you seemed familiar somehow.
Shen Wei: Who knows, maybe we have indeed met before.
And here we get to this iconic line! The micro-expressions that follow, ye gods. I wish I had gif-making capabilites to represent it here properly, there’s so many minute switches going on, especially in how Shen Wei's smile almost slips and his eyes seem sad, before catching himself. The twitches of his lower eyelids as he chooses his response... How much does Shen Wei hurt hearing this? How much hope does it give him? This man isn’t Kunlun, but there’s so many similarities, it can’t be ignored. And at the same time, Zhao Yunlan seems to be trying to pin down the magnetic draw between them. Is it just attraction? Just the mystery of how Shen Wei knows all these things? Is there an actual resonance, or is Zhao Yunlan simply reacting to Shen Wei’s intensity? What does it mean?
Zhao Yunlan’s phone rings, interrupting them from staring into each other’s eyes.
Questions:
- What do you think of the parallels established between Li Qian and Shen Wei? Does this count as foreshadowing for Shen Wei’s story?
I think there’s some obvious connections they’re trying to draw between the two, especially with the visual affinity of their customes (their outfits almost always match in this episode, but especially in this scene) - 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.
- 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?
- Both of them are trying to figure each other out here. What do you think of their conversational gambits? What does this conversation establish about their cat-and-mouse game pattern for the episodes until the reveal?
- 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’s so much happening here, I’m sure I missed some stuff! What else did you notice? What’s your favourite part of this scene?
long post got long, sorry /o\
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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?
I think Zhao Yunlan is (subconsciously?) noticing that Shen Wei knows him. He certainly doesn't quite treat him like a stranger. So I believe Zhao actually has a feeling of familiarity in response.
Poor Shen Wei. At this point, he must be wondering if this man is really Kunlun or a lookalike.
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I think Zhao Yunlan is (subconsciously?) noticing that Shen Wei knows him. He certainly doesn't quite treat him like a stranger. So I believe Zhao actually has a feeling of familiarity in response.
Ohhh interesting! So reflecting back the signals he's receiving? *ponders* I can see that! Or definitely see it as his attempt to figure out what's up with that intensity... Putting out bait and gauging Shen Wei's reaction.
Poor Shen Wei. At this point, he must be wondering if this man is really Kunlun or a lookalike.
Yeah, I think he's seeing a lot of potential and similarities so he keeps pushing to see where exactly Zhao Yunlan's current lines are. Because I think he can tell there's differences, so he's trying to work out what they are, exactly?
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Yes, I think so too.
I was also wondering when exactly Shen Wei figures out that Kunlun's weapon was a modern firearm.
Is he coming at this already expecting Kunlun to be a time-traveller?
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Is he coming at this already expecting Kunlun to be a time-traveller?
Ohhh, do you think he saw it when Zhao Xinci first used it and instantly recognised that new invention as Kunlun's weapon? 👀
Alternatively, what if someone had the idea to create the dark energy gun based on historical evidence of Kunlun's firearm? XD
I know there's a theory that Shen Wei figured out the time travel component soon after waking up because of the lollipops, and I think that would be in character? Shen Wei is smart and Zhao Yunlan wasn't the most careful about what he gave away in the details. I'm not sure when exactly he landed on time travel, but it wouldn't be out of the range of the Hallows' abilities after his ten millenia dirtnap...
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Oof, that would be a gut punch for him. Poor Shen Wei.
Alternatively, what if someone had the idea to create the dark energy gun based on historical evidence of Kunlun's firearm? XD
Yes, perfect. This is the kind of circular time-travel shenanigans I like to see XD
I know there's a theory that Shen Wei figured out the time travel component soon after waking up because of the lollipops, and I think that would be in character? Shen Wei is smart and Zhao Yunlan wasn't the most careful about what he gave away in the details.
True, Shen Wei is anything but slow on the uptake. The more I think about it, the more I am sure he must have realized just where Kunlun was from.
Zhao Yunlan really didn’t care about keeping the secret at all did he XD
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At least he didn't say anything outright? xD so he seems to care somewhat! But yeah, there was a lot of sparkle-heart eyes going on, and I like to think he got drawn into sharing more than he should've just because he wanted to reassure this younger version of Shen Wei?
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I can see that. Who wouldn’t want to reassure doe-eyed young Shen Wei?
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In the novel She Who Became the Sun, the phrase "ten thousand years" came up several times, too, and I just checked wikipedia, which says it's a common saying in various east Asian languages to wish long life (historically to the emperor, but now more generally). So it might not, in itself, seem particularly suspicious to YOHE!Shen Wei? It might just seem like a figure of speech? I think the "you've already repaid it" is more telling...
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But "you've already repaid it" is even more telling, yes!
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I definitely think so - there's not just the lollipop and the gun, both of which are very much modern-era objects Shen Wei would recognise once he woke up from his 10,000 year sleep and came to Haixing, there are also so many different things "Kunlun" said to Shen Wei back in the day! He threw around "10,000 years" and "you've already repaid it" and so on, and that and the entire way he acted towards young Shen Wei must have made SO much more sense to him the moment he thought about time travel.
(And if people can vanish into wormholes or sleep for 10,000 years under the earth, or - like that report Shen Wei mentions at one point about dark energy poisoning unmooring someone in time - letting them see visions of past and future, time travel doesn't sound all that out there, IMO!)
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Do you think maybe Shen Wei uncovered the information about dark energy causing temporal dysfunction while researching the possibilities of Kunlun being a time-traveler? That would tie things together nicely.
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Hmmm, he says "last time in the archives of the Dijun palace" (episode 19, 13 minutes in), which makes it sound like it was just during his last visit to Dixing, and like he was specifically researching dark energy poisoning, maybe because of Zhao Yunlan's Hallows-touching habit?
But also, this is way before the time loop closes, so if he found this earlier while researching things around Kunlun, it's not like he'd have said that. So it still definitely works!
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Oooh, I love that! It makes a lot of sense, and it's nicely circular, which is one of my favourite things about their entire relationship. Looping around and around! :D
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I know, right? I love circular time tarvel stuff <3