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sid_guardian2019-11-22 10:43 pm
extrapenguin) wrote in sid_guardian2019-11-22 10:43 pm
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Guardian Episode by Episode: 36
Welcome to the rewatchalong! This week we watch episode 36 – we're on the home stretch! The Imgur screencap album has 54 images.
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, Episode 23, Episode 24, Episode 25
Episode 26, Episode 27, Episode 28, Episode 29, Episode 30
Episode 31, Episode 32, Episode 33, Episode 34, Episode 35
This week, Ye Zun terrorizes the Ministry before Zhao Yunlan's livestream.
Characterization
A bunch of minor characters show up! Cong Bo talks himself into hacking Minister Gao's security cameras ("I am the greatest whistleblower! This would be an epic hacking thing!") and Ye Huo throws in with the SID. New character Mi Lu is a Ye Zun true believer. Li Qian continued helping the SID by very conveniently giving Guo Changcheng the Hallows.
Minister Gao's integrity meter: high enough that he wouldn't actually hand over Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan to Ye Zun. Ye Zun's visit definitely increased the pressure for him, though, as he basically instantly changed tracks on Professor Ouyang's serum project. (Ye Zun knows about the serum project – was this Ye Zun attempting subtle manipulation?) Professor Ouyang isn't also the only one growing erratic from stress, as Minister Gao just ... tosses Guo Ying in prison after Guo Ying questions the wisdom of the serum experiment. (Or is tossing dissenting subordinates in prison a standard maneuver for the Haixing Department of Supervision? In which case, Li Qian better run.)
Guo Changcheng's disillusionment levels rapidly rose from 0 to 100. The guards weren't paid enough to think the route through.
Rendez-vous with Lin Jing! (Sorry, Professor Lin.) He does get his moment of reconciliation with Guo Changcheng and some cooperation in re: stealing the serum before he gets kidnapped by Ya Qing. Ya Qing's observation that he's the most spineless member of the SID is true – the comparison on the one side is Guo Changcheng, who's a coward but overdosed with integrity, and on the other side is Zhao Yunlan, who's so subtle a manipulator you don't even notice him, while Lin Jing is a noticeably slippery fish without the vast and unshakeable moral backbone a lot of SID members display. Nevertheless, he manages to inject Ya Qing with something, and would've likely made a successful escape had Ye Zun not arrived to eat him. The fish is slippery and cunning.
"Surprise!"
We also got the final backstory piece about Chu Shuzhi! Just as he was about to be released, the Regent went all "Ah yes, time to torture him some more" and asked him whether he regret his actions, then was about to toss him in forever when told he didn't regret his actions. After being saved by the Black-Cloaked Envoy and brought to the surface, he gave his eternal undying loyalty to the only person who understood his little brother complex and also now to the team he was assigned to. So much, in fact, that Ye Huo had to remind him that he was Dixingian. (Oops!) There was also an implication that Chu Shuzhi did consider himself Dixingian, but the hundred-year prison sentence detached him from Dixing life so much he'd just forget that oh hey, he was Dixingian.
Alternatively, Shen Wei wanted to bring him somewhere cooler so he'd be forced to cover up more and not make people die of nosebleeds.
Status of Zhang Shi and Zhao Xinci: working against each other. Zhang Shi gave the Hallows to Guo Changcheng; Zhao Xinci thinks the SID is all a bunch of traitors. It is harrowing to watch.
Ye Zun's "burn everything to the ground" plan is going fine. Ya Qing's still working for him, even if he did admit to Mi Lu that he's working for Dixing and Dixingians only and the Yashou are the next on his kill list. No word yet on how he's actually only interested in destroying all of the things, though he did go to Minister Gao to specifically ask for Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan for revenge purposes. He also said"Even a small ant has the will to live. The more you look down at it, the more tenacious it is," to Ya Qing, which I can only interpret as personal experience: Ye Zun was a small ant to the Rebel Leader, but with tenacity, he survived, and now he's taking his revenge on the universe.
"Note to self: when destroying universe, be sure to have fun. Play with the cane a little."
Then we get Zhao Yunlan sharing his infinite wisdom of "Don't believe everything you read on the internet." His speech on Dixingians being just like us and then on what we humans need to do band together and do what's needed. He even encoded a message to Lin Jing, all without needing a teleprompter or notes! Such a good public speaker – I wonder if he had special training? In any case, it was a wonderful speech on acceptance.
Pay attention to the little red hearts floating out of the green heart. They're important to the message.
Other displays of Zhao Yunlan's brain this episode include the action one-liner of "Since you like dreams so much, I wish you an eternal one" and logicking out that since Hallows + Ye Zun = wormhole, then the fourth Hallow must be at the SID, since it must've contributed to the wormhole that brought him over to the past.
He also engages in some action heroism as a hobby.
Shen Wei was mostly staring at Zhao Yunlan. Very justified, with the speech – Zhao Yunlan knows all of Shen Wei's secrets, now, knows who he is and what he's done, and Zhao Yunlan's response is to declare to the world that Shen Wei is human, loves and lives and sacrifices exactly like a human being, and all their discrimination is bullshit. For someone like Shen Wei who's had to hide from people's reactions in the present and in the past spoke of an increase in racist attitudes, this is huge. (Give your Yunlan a hug, Shen Wei!)
"Yunlan, please. If you keep boasting about how you took my virginity, I'll have no choice but to drag you off to the nearest bed for a repeat."
The Chu Shuzhi episode also provides excellent insight into Shen Wei's brotherly feelings: a scant few years ago, he was completely understanding and supportive of murdering one's little brother's tormentor. (Projecting like an IMAX: not just for Ye Zun!) It's sad that he couldn't get through and make Ye Zun realize he wasn't abandoned. And that he didn't get to throttle the Rebel Leader even a little bit.
Dramatic swooshy cape 100% necessary.
Canon details
Cinematography
There are some lovely shots from afar!
Chu Shuzhi listening to his boss tell him he's human. Guo Changcheng being ??? at whom he's talking to. The SID reunited around the Nightmare Master's dead body. Zhao Yunlan having none of this hostage BS.
And this shot through a framing device:
Zhao Xinci tells Minister Gao not to track down the location of the livestream. One wonders whether we're meant to consider Zhang Shi as the person who said it.
Diagonal shots whenever something destabilizes things majorly:
Ye Zun in his heels, ready to ruin Minister Gao's day. Ye Zun revealing he'll murder the Yashou next.
Oh, and Ye Zun is an equal opportunity creep:
Professor Ouyang discovers a dislike of being loomed over. Ya Qing realizes she'd rather have gone to a workplace with a sexual harassment policy.
And a long time no see for our friend the Envoy. Is this the last time we see him in his Envoy's robes?
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
He switched to the one he wore when he jumped into the wormhole.
The Hallows may not like it, but I approve.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
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, Episode 23, Episode 24, Episode 25
Episode 26, Episode 27, Episode 28, Episode 29, Episode 30
Episode 31, Episode 32, Episode 33, Episode 34, Episode 35
This week, Ye Zun terrorizes the Ministry before Zhao Yunlan's livestream.
Characterization
A bunch of minor characters show up! Cong Bo talks himself into hacking Minister Gao's security cameras ("I am the greatest whistleblower! This would be an epic hacking thing!") and Ye Huo throws in with the SID. New character Mi Lu is a Ye Zun true believer. Li Qian continued helping the SID by very conveniently giving Guo Changcheng the Hallows.
Minister Gao's integrity meter: high enough that he wouldn't actually hand over Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan to Ye Zun. Ye Zun's visit definitely increased the pressure for him, though, as he basically instantly changed tracks on Professor Ouyang's serum project. (Ye Zun knows about the serum project – was this Ye Zun attempting subtle manipulation?) Professor Ouyang isn't also the only one growing erratic from stress, as Minister Gao just ... tosses Guo Ying in prison after Guo Ying questions the wisdom of the serum experiment. (Or is tossing dissenting subordinates in prison a standard maneuver for the Haixing Department of Supervision? In which case, Li Qian better run.)
Guo Changcheng's disillusionment levels rapidly rose from 0 to 100. The guards weren't paid enough to think the route through.
Rendez-vous with Lin Jing! (Sorry, Professor Lin.) He does get his moment of reconciliation with Guo Changcheng and some cooperation in re: stealing the serum before he gets kidnapped by Ya Qing. Ya Qing's observation that he's the most spineless member of the SID is true – the comparison on the one side is Guo Changcheng, who's a coward but overdosed with integrity, and on the other side is Zhao Yunlan, who's so subtle a manipulator you don't even notice him, while Lin Jing is a noticeably slippery fish without the vast and unshakeable moral backbone a lot of SID members display. Nevertheless, he manages to inject Ya Qing with something, and would've likely made a successful escape had Ye Zun not arrived to eat him. The fish is slippery and cunning.
"Surprise!"
We also got the final backstory piece about Chu Shuzhi! Just as he was about to be released, the Regent went all "Ah yes, time to torture him some more" and asked him whether he regret his actions, then was about to toss him in forever when told he didn't regret his actions. After being saved by the Black-Cloaked Envoy and brought to the surface, he gave his eternal undying loyalty to the only person who understood his little brother complex and also now to the team he was assigned to. So much, in fact, that Ye Huo had to remind him that he was Dixingian. (Oops!) There was also an implication that Chu Shuzhi did consider himself Dixingian, but the hundred-year prison sentence detached him from Dixing life so much he'd just forget that oh hey, he was Dixingian.
Alternatively, Shen Wei wanted to bring him somewhere cooler so he'd be forced to cover up more and not make people die of nosebleeds.
Status of Zhang Shi and Zhao Xinci: working against each other. Zhang Shi gave the Hallows to Guo Changcheng; Zhao Xinci thinks the SID is all a bunch of traitors. It is harrowing to watch.
Ye Zun's "burn everything to the ground" plan is going fine. Ya Qing's still working for him, even if he did admit to Mi Lu that he's working for Dixing and Dixingians only and the Yashou are the next on his kill list. No word yet on how he's actually only interested in destroying all of the things, though he did go to Minister Gao to specifically ask for Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan for revenge purposes. He also said"Even a small ant has the will to live. The more you look down at it, the more tenacious it is," to Ya Qing, which I can only interpret as personal experience: Ye Zun was a small ant to the Rebel Leader, but with tenacity, he survived, and now he's taking his revenge on the universe.
"Note to self: when destroying universe, be sure to have fun. Play with the cane a little."
Then we get Zhao Yunlan sharing his infinite wisdom of "Don't believe everything you read on the internet." His speech on Dixingians being just like us and then on what we humans need to do band together and do what's needed. He even encoded a message to Lin Jing, all without needing a teleprompter or notes! Such a good public speaker – I wonder if he had special training? In any case, it was a wonderful speech on acceptance.
Pay attention to the little red hearts floating out of the green heart. They're important to the message.
Other displays of Zhao Yunlan's brain this episode include the action one-liner of "Since you like dreams so much, I wish you an eternal one" and logicking out that since Hallows + Ye Zun = wormhole, then the fourth Hallow must be at the SID, since it must've contributed to the wormhole that brought him over to the past.
He also engages in some action heroism as a hobby.
Shen Wei was mostly staring at Zhao Yunlan. Very justified, with the speech – Zhao Yunlan knows all of Shen Wei's secrets, now, knows who he is and what he's done, and Zhao Yunlan's response is to declare to the world that Shen Wei is human, loves and lives and sacrifices exactly like a human being, and all their discrimination is bullshit. For someone like Shen Wei who's had to hide from people's reactions in the present and in the past spoke of an increase in racist attitudes, this is huge. (Give your Yunlan a hug, Shen Wei!)
"Yunlan, please. If you keep boasting about how you took my virginity, I'll have no choice but to drag you off to the nearest bed for a repeat."
The Chu Shuzhi episode also provides excellent insight into Shen Wei's brotherly feelings: a scant few years ago, he was completely understanding and supportive of murdering one's little brother's tormentor. (Projecting like an IMAX: not just for Ye Zun!) It's sad that he couldn't get through and make Ye Zun realize he wasn't abandoned. And that he didn't get to throttle the Rebel Leader even a little bit.
Dramatic swooshy cape 100% necessary.
Canon details
- Ye Zun has blocked all passages leading from Dixing to Haixing, save the one in Yashou territory
- The Hallows started to scatter when the Guardian lantern's light went out
- First incidence of Guo Changcheng's brand new Dixing power!
Cinematography
There are some lovely shots from afar!
Chu Shuzhi listening to his boss tell him he's human. Guo Changcheng being ??? at whom he's talking to. The SID reunited around the Nightmare Master's dead body. Zhao Yunlan having none of this hostage BS.
And this shot through a framing device:
Zhao Xinci tells Minister Gao not to track down the location of the livestream. One wonders whether we're meant to consider Zhang Shi as the person who said it.
Diagonal shots whenever something destabilizes things majorly:
Ye Zun in his heels, ready to ruin Minister Gao's day. Ye Zun revealing he'll murder the Yashou next.
Oh, and Ye Zun is an equal opportunity creep:
Professor Ouyang discovers a dislike of being loomed over. Ya Qing realizes she'd rather have gone to a workplace with a sexual harassment policy.
And a long time no see for our friend the Envoy. Is this the last time we see him in his Envoy's robes?
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
He switched to the one he wore when he jumped into the wormhole.
The Hallows may not like it, but I approve.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
no subject
How many different hair lengths does Zhu Yilong have to deal with in this show?
I wonder if Zhao Yunlan was in the Haixing version of debate club in school.
no subject
Three, I think – Shen Wei hair, Ye Zun's floofy ponytail hair, and then waist-length hair in three different wigs (bb Shen Wei, bb Ye Zun, gray-haired Ye Zun) – plus whatever the hell was going on with his hair in episode 9:
Huh, this is an interesting idea! I guess some amount of public speaking training would be mandatory, but IDK how they do it in China and if Haixing's meant to be the same.
no subject
Ooh! I missed that. I've been trying to put a timeline together for the Hallows.
The fish is slippery and cunning.
I kind of adore Lin Jing. Not as much as I love Zhao Yunlan, of course, but I have a thing for trickster characters.
Oh, and Ye Zun is an equal opportunity creep
Yep! I don't feel the least bit sorry for Professor Ouyang, though.
no subject
Given that the Awl arrived in the Hanga village 100 years ago, the light probably went out over 100 years ago. (And Shen Wei only woke up after that, since he woke after the Hallows had all been scattered, and given his reaction to Chu Shuzhi when the Regent tried to extend the sentence, he'd likely have objected to the sentencing at least somewhat had be been present 100 years ago when it was given. Probably closer to the 20 years of the expedition, as that would make more sense re: the timing of sending out the expedition. So the Hallows scattered gradually?)
Me too! It's also just so satisfying to watch Lin Jing and Zhao Yunlan and their ilk squirm and verbally judo their way to freedom.
no subject
LOL I love this episode. Ye Zun is great here. And he looks great all in white, too. :)
After being saved by the Black-Cloaked Envoy and brought to the surface, he gave his eternal undying loyalty to the only person who understood his little brother complex and also now to the team he was assigned to.
So much yes to this. And I love that about Chu Shuzhi so much.
no subject
Such wonderful loyalty! <3
no subject
It's also a good look at the Dixing government, which is to say, another scene of the Regent's usually-hidden nasty side.
Zhao Yunlan's speech is very sweet, Ye Zun's speech and outfit is very nice (I am still mad about the terrible fit on those trousers though), and Lin Jing gets omnomnomed. Good times all round.
no subject
Huh! I got the impression from previous episodes that the Xingdu Bureau was above the Haixing Department of Supervision. (Maybe it's sideways in the org chart?) Do you have a timestamp?
The Regent is treacly-sweet in his concern troll-esque nastiness and utterly, totally cruel. Yet Shen Wei hasn't replaced him, either because he doesn't realize the depths of nastiness or because he doesn't know how to do it properly.
no subject
Zhao Yunlan's little non-hostage moment is one of my faves in this episode.And I think we finally got to see Lin Jing and Yunlan's real plan in this ep which absolutely made me happy!Zhao Yunlan using his power of words was seriously so good,though I laughed at the internet bit.Bet Shen Wei's heart was just bursting with love for this guy all over again and yes,find the nearest bed,great idea! XD
Dramatic flaring,swooshing capes are totally a necessity!
no subject
I know? It was such a wonderful couples moment in addition to a moment of awesome for Zhao Yunlan. <3