Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 16, part 1

[china_shop]

Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 16, up to 23:53

Summary
Zhao Xinci continues his SID inspection (setting off Lin Jing's black energy detector in the process), immediately identifies Guo Changcheng as an imposter, and introduces himself as Zhao Yunlan's father. He confronts the SID en masse about Zhao Yunlan's absence. A case comes in (the ground torn up at a park; trees toppled), and Zhao Xinci says he'll act as interim chief in Zhao Yunlan's absence. Meanwhile, Zhao Yunlan and the Regent, while walking the Dixing streets, "happen across" an assault which Zhao Yunlan identifies as a set-up. The Regent wanders off leaving Zhao Yunlan alone. In Haixing, the SID team reluctantly investigate using Zhao Xinci's methodology. Da Qing is upset at having forgotten Cat Tongue. In Dixing, a disturbing growly voice calls to Zhao Yunlan, and he, following it, finds the Sky Pillar. The Pillar voice is sinister and portentous, trying to get in his head. Then the three youths from the fake assault show up, annoyed at Zhao Yunlan, and give chase as he runs away through the city.



Quote
Pillar voice to Zhao Yunlan: You're using playfulness to hide how uneasy you are. You can't deceive me, and you can't deceive your heart. You live among humans, but have your heart open to no one. You don't understand the point of everything you're doing. You don't even know whether your actions are right or wrong. (VIKI subs.)

Detail
Zhao Xinci checked Shen Wei's class schedule before coming to inspect the SID. (Stalking runs in the family?)

Questions
Given Zhao Xinci's quizzical face and lack of explanation when Lin Jing's dark energy detector goes off, is this the first time Zhao Xinci has been caught out? Any theories about what Dixing's street lanterns run on (dark energy, geothermal energy, mains electricity, flame)? Why does Zhao Xinci disapprove so strongly of Zhao Yunlan's field trip? When Zhao Xinci critiques Zhao Yunlan's investigative methods, do you think he has a point? Do you understand the fake "assault" in Dixing? What is the Regent's role in that? Who are the youths (An Bai and his friends) working for? Chu Shuzhi seems uncomfortable interviewing the victim's family (compared to, say, when he talked to Ji Xiaobai in the Mirror Girl case) -- any thoughts about why? Pillar!Ye Zun speaks as if he can read Zhao Yunlan's heart -- can he, or is it just a cold reading? Do you think his analysis of Zhao Yunlan is accurate? When he starts, "The only thing I can teach you is--" what was he going to say?

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

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May Fanworks Round-Up Post!

[awanderingcoyote]

 This is the fanworks round-up post for May! Please link in the comments to any Guardian (or related fandoms) fanworks you created or enjoyed last month.

• all kinds of fanworks are welcome – fic, art, vids, picspams, etc. - including those made for exchanges and events
• new chapters of WIPs count
• meta or discussion posts, too
• whether or not you've already linked these in a post of their own, we still want them here!

If you're linking to fanworks you didn't create yourself, please clearly mark these "REC", so there's no confusion about authorship/creatorship.

(And please still do link your fanworks, meta, etc. separately, in their own post, at any time!)

So ... what Guardian and related fandoms works did you create or enjoy in May?

My latest Guardian fanworks

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