I have some questions (and a lot of feelings)

[undeadrobins]

So I've just finished watching the show for the first time, and I have both questions and feelings. If you'd like to read my initial thoughts, they're over here on my journal, but they're not entirely coherent – I think I was still crying while I was writing.

But I also have a couple of questions that are bugging me. I'll pop them under a spoiler-cut, just in case.

When we saw Shen Wei cutting himself, was he trying to 'bleed out' the dark energy so he could replace it with light energy? If so, where did the light energy come from?

How much does Da Qing remember by the end of it? Does he now remember everything (including Kunlun being Zhao Yunlan), or can he only remember from when he left to go on his solo adventures?

And how long was Zhao Yunlan in the past for? Was Shen Wei waiting in the weird in-between place for him all that time?

I apologise if these are stupid questions!

Comments

[naye]

Excellent questions!

I don't have straight up answers, but xparrot put together an absolutely fantastic resource looking at the details of Zhao Yunlan's time in the past here on her journal.

[undeadrobins]

Oooh, I'll go have a nosy at that one :)

[trobadora]

When we saw Shen Wei cutting himself, was he trying to 'bleed out' the dark energy so he could replace it with light energy? If so, where did the light energy come from?

Yes, that's how I understand it. I think he might initially have got some light energy from Zhao Yunlan? But also, there has to be ambient light energy in Haixing, because when they show the portal between Haixing and Dixing (that scene where Zhao Yunlan shares Shen Wei's vision), it's described as the intersection of dark and light energy. So Shen Wei can presumably absorb light energy from his surroundings.

How much does Da Qing remember by the end of it? Does he now remember everything (including Kunlun being Zhao Yunlan), or can he only remember from when he left to go on his solo adventures?

I think that by the end, he remembers everything.

And how long was Zhao Yunlan in the past for? Was Shen Wei waiting in the weird in-between place for him all that time?

It's a bit unclear on the show - made to look like everything happens in one night, but then there's the flashback where Zhao Yunlan introduces Ma Gui to the concept of alcohol, which would take some time to make, and there's also the fact that Zhao Yunlan shoots the rebel leader with his gun and we know that takes time to heal, but later we see him uninjured. So my take is, probably a month or two?

And yes, Shen Wei was waiting for him, but it's not normal space, so time may not have passed for him in quite the same manner.

[undeadrobins]

I think that by the end, he remembers everything.

That idea makes me happy. I don't like the idea of my little fat cat not knowing things.

So my take is, probably a month or two?

That makes sense to me. I just wasn't sure that Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan could develop the kind of relationship that means Shen Wei would wait 10k years if it had only been one day.

[trobadora]

Yeah, one day would be very unsatisfactory! I think everyone prefers it to have been longer.

[extrapenguin]

How much does Da Qing remember by the end of it?
He outright tells Shen Wei at one point that he remembers everything now! (I think this was still before the time travel?)

[undeadrobins]

Ahh, excellent, thank you!

[clevermanka]

Not stupid questions at all!

I think the answer to "how long was Zhao Yunlan in the past" is "whatever amount of time best serves the fic one is currently writing."

[undeadrobins]

I like your way of thinking! The main reason I wanted to know was so I didn't accidentally write something incorrect if I start the fic I'm thinking about. But if no one really knows (or cares) that's all good!

[clevermanka]

[naye]

I write it whichever way serves the story best and have gotten absolutely no complaints so far! (And I like reading whatever people come up with, too.)

[china_shop]

I think the answer to "how long was Zhao Yunlan in the past" is "whatever amount of time best serves the fic one is currently writing."

+1

(I think this answer (with substitutions for "time", as appropriate) is transferable to many many things. *g*)

[clevermanka]

True. Gotta love a malleable canon.

[laireshi]

100% agreed, lol. And it works for pretty much anything in Guardian. "How do Shen Wei's powers work in Haixing? However you want them to work for the maximum amount of angst!" ... or, uh, for other plot reasons.

[clevermanka]