I know I already said this, but this is such a great write-up! I really enjoyed reading it. :D
Shen Wei looks down for a moment, and then apparently decides that antagonising everyone is the way to go.
I always read this as "100% not mild-mannerered professor". He's really going all-out showing off that he's not who he appears to be. AT ALL. And I really like the way Zhao Yunlan enjoys it when Shen Wei goes on the offensive. I think this is also an early hint that shows us that Zhao Yunlan will like Shen Wei's Envoy side as well, he isn't just into the professor.
Between talk of puppets and philosophy, he tries to touch Chu Shuzhi's puppet.
And he knows Chu Shuzhi and his background, so he's being as obnoxious and provocative as he can here. (No wonder Zhao Yunlan likes it.) I adore troll!Shen Wei so much, heh.
Is he talking about himself here? What is he trying to convey by saying that while looking directly at Zhao Yunlan?
I really like marycrawford's read below, that he's redirecting the compliment at Zhao Yunlan.
[*10 seconds, it's 10 seconds of silence.]
Hee! :D
Shen Wei reveals that he has particular knowledge about the Yashou. For a regular university professor, is this more or less unusual than knowing about Dixing and Dixingren?
I think less unusual, since Yashou at least are living on the surface. Dixingren aren't even supposed to be there!
Does this mean that their interrogation strategy here is different from their usual modus operandi?
Yeah, I don't think this is in any way usual.
Which makes me wonder, do you think the Black-Cloaked Envoy has diplomatic immunity, or some equivalent?
Some equivalent, to be sure.
This scene was early in the show. If you remember, what was your reaction when you first saw it? What was your impression of Shen Wei? The SID? Zhao Yunlan? What about now, with hindsight on your side?
First reaction: I love Shen Wei. Later reaction: I love troll!Shen Wei. *g*
It's such a good scene that tells us so much about these characters, about what gets under Zhu Hong's and Lao-Chu's s skin, what Shen Wei is capable of, how much Zhao Yunlan wants to poke at Shen Wei and how much he likes what he finds.
What about Shen Wei's strategy? Is this the best response to being interrogated by the SID? Why use this approach with them?
It's the best response if your goal is to hook Zhao Yunlan!
It's not a strategy that would work on someone else, but then Shen Wei wouldn't have acted this way if he were dealing with anyone else. And Zhao Yunlan believes Shen Wei because there isn't any evidence that he's involved, and in fact evidence that he isn't - as both Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan note later, there's blood on the scene but none on either the supposed victim nor Shen Wei nor Lin Yusen. Something's fishy about the whole thing, and they know it.
What do you think about Zhu Hong's insecurity regarding her Yashou powers? Why do you think she's insecure about them?
Given how well she seems to have her powers in hand towards the end of the show, it might be that she's blocking herself by trying to be more human. Which her family definitely would not approve of! But she can't admit it to herself because then she'd have to admit the effects her choices are having.
no subject
Shen Wei looks down for a moment, and then apparently decides that antagonising everyone is the way to go.
I always read this as "100% not mild-mannerered professor". He's really going all-out showing off that he's not who he appears to be. AT ALL. And I really like the way Zhao Yunlan enjoys it when Shen Wei goes on the offensive. I think this is also an early hint that shows us that Zhao Yunlan will like Shen Wei's Envoy side as well, he isn't just into the professor.
Between talk of puppets and philosophy, he tries to touch Chu Shuzhi's puppet.
And he knows Chu Shuzhi and his background, so he's being as obnoxious and provocative as he can here. (No wonder Zhao Yunlan likes it.) I adore troll!Shen Wei so much, heh.
Is he talking about himself here? What is he trying to convey by saying that while looking directly at Zhao Yunlan?
I really like
[*10 seconds, it's 10 seconds of silence.]
Hee! :D
Shen Wei reveals that he has particular knowledge about the Yashou. For a regular university professor, is this more or less unusual than knowing about Dixing and Dixingren?
I think less unusual, since Yashou at least are living on the surface. Dixingren aren't even supposed to be there!
Does this mean that their interrogation strategy here is different from their usual modus operandi?
Yeah, I don't think this is in any way usual.
Which makes me wonder, do you think the Black-Cloaked Envoy has diplomatic immunity, or some equivalent?
Some equivalent, to be sure.
This scene was early in the show. If you remember, what was your reaction when you first saw it? What was your impression of Shen Wei? The SID? Zhao Yunlan? What about now, with hindsight on your side?
First reaction: I love Shen Wei. Later reaction: I love troll!Shen Wei. *g*
It's such a good scene that tells us so much about these characters, about what gets under Zhu Hong's and Lao-Chu's s skin, what Shen Wei is capable of, how much Zhao Yunlan wants to poke at Shen Wei and how much he likes what he finds.
What about Shen Wei's strategy? Is this the best response to being interrogated by the SID? Why use this approach with them?
It's the best response if your goal is to hook Zhao Yunlan!
It's not a strategy that would work on someone else, but then Shen Wei wouldn't have acted this way if he were dealing with anyone else. And Zhao Yunlan believes Shen Wei because there isn't any evidence that he's involved, and in fact evidence that he isn't - as both Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan note later, there's blood on the scene but none on either the supposed victim nor Shen Wei nor Lin Yusen. Something's fishy about the whole thing, and they know it.
What do you think about Zhu Hong's insecurity regarding her Yashou powers? Why do you think she's insecure about them?
Given how well she seems to have her powers in hand towards the end of the show, it might be that she's blocking herself by trying to be more human. Which her family definitely would not approve of! But she can't admit it to herself because then she'd have to admit the effects her choices are having.