Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 9, part 1

[tehfanglyfish]

Welcome to 2026’s first installment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the post for the previous installment.

Episode 9 to 22:52

Summary
Lin Jing traces an energy surge linked to the Hallows to a northwest location that also happens to be the area Wang Zheng wants to travel to. Guo Changcheng tries his best to help and inadvertently buys a sex doll for Wang Zheng to travel in. On their way to the mountains, the SID come across Shen Wei and his students who are experiencing car trouble on their field trip. Coincidentally, they are also headed to the mountains. Shen Wei endures Zhao Yunlan fishing for information from Jiajia and using him as a pillow as they continue on to their destination. When their car gets stuck, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan get out to investigate and Zhao Yunlan not only insists that Shen Wei wear his jacket, but also wrangles him into it. As Shen Wei contemplates this development, they hear a scream back at the car and turn to hurry back.

Quotes

Zhu Hong: “I’m just practicing hypnotism. You’re so lucky to be the first guinea pig.”

Zhu Hong: “I’ve never seen [Zhao Yunlan] like this before. Why is he so keen on Professor Shen of all people?

Zhao Yunlan: “Normally I’m the one who gives the orders. This is the first time someone’s ordering me around.”

Detail

Shen Wei awkwardly adjusting Zhao Yunlan's cushion when Zhao Yunlan flops on him remains one of my favorite things.

Questions

How do you feel about the drama’s version of their journey to the mountains versus the airport meetup in the novel? What do you think Shen Wei was thinking when Zhao Yunlan’s convoy rolled up to help with the car trouble? Which Guardian character(s) would you like to go on a long-distance car ride with? What do you think Shen Wei did with the boyfriend jacket after they returned to Dragon City? What is your favorite part of this episode so far? Do you think Zhao Yunlan will become more involved in reviewing purchase orders after the whole doll incident? 

(These are just meant to start discussion. Feel free to discuss whatever stood out to you in the first half of this episode.)

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