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sid_guardian2021-05-01 12:47 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2021-05-01 12:47 pm
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Focus on the singing in the car scene, ep 14
Ep 14, 14:56 to 17:06 (here on youtube)
It’s easy to assume this takes place the morning after the "I know your secrets" / "We've always been friends" / "I'll need compensation… join the SID for me?" conversation (discussion post here). Otoh, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are heading to the Department of Supervision for a formal/scheduled meeting with Minister Gao, who's expecting both of them, so either Zhao Yunlan reported in remotely about his new recruit the night before or early that morning, or a day or two have passed.
Anyway. They're in Zhao Yunlan's ridiculous enormous red Jeep, and Zhao Yunlan's high spirits are spilling out in the form of singing and driving too fast. At least at this point he's keeping both his hands on the wheel (fingers tapping).
Shen Wei says, "Anything joyous? You're driving so fast." He doesn't seem sternly disapproving or anything, but he's serious. The mismatch between their moods is palpable.
As far as I can tell, Zhao Yunlan doesn't slow down. He says, "Nope, we’re going to the ministry to report Zheng Yi’s case. I hope we can finish it quickly. Those guys are so talkative, especially that Minister Gao. He remembered you since last time you showed your power and saved him during the wedding, so he asked me to bring you along."
(This always makes me imagine Zhao Yunlan on the phone with Minister Gao, earlier, with Minister Gao saying, "Yes, yes, I remember Professor Shen. He's the hero who stopped the chaos at the wedding. So capable! Bring him with you to our meeting -- I'd like to thank him again," and Zhao Yunlan saying, "Ah, about that... I'll bring him but could you please not mention his power? It would make him uncomfortable." Because Zhao Yunlan can totally be tactful -- just not to Shen Wei's face.)
Shen Wei, in wry Professor Shen mode, starts, "I may let them down. I'm just an ordinary--" but cuts himself off and looks discomfited.
"An ordinary? An ordinary master? Or an ordinary Dixing leader?" asks Zhao Yunlan.
Shen Wei looks at Zhao Yunlan with a hint of uncertainty. "I hope you'll keep this secret from the others."
Zhao Yunlan's "reassurance" is typically glib: "No worries. I’m not stupid. If they know they've been lazing around under the watchful eye of the Black-Cloaked Envoy, they might all retire early out of guilt and fear."
"They are afraid of me, and I feel uncomfortable staying together with them," says Shen Wei, clearly speaking as the Envoy. "If I wasn't worried about the Hallows being snatched and used by the wicked, I wouldn't have come back here." This raises so many questions! (See below.)
It raises questions for Zhao Yunlan, too, who jumps at the opportunity to pry a little. "Did you have a bad experience here before?"
The Envoy doesn't answer and looks straight ahead. I'm never sure if he's thinking of the ancient war, losing Kunlun, losing Ye Zun, or the more recent matters of Zhao Xinci's SID and general Haixing anti-Dixing bigotry.
After a moment, Zhao Yunlan nods and says, "Fine, change of topic then. Does it mean I’m the only one you’re comfortable with--"
"--since I’m the only one you told your identity?" The last part, bordering on flirty. Apparently either a) he has amnesia and has forgotten the circumstances under which Shen Wei's identity was revealed, or b) he took Shen Wei's "Who says I can't [erase your memories]?" at face value. ;-p
The Envoy looks out the open passenger window and huffs, refusing to play along with the suggestion that he revealed his identity by choice.
"Okay, fine," says Zhao Yunlan, determinedly cheerful. "I’ll let you choose a topic."
Shen Wei looks at him and says, "We can just not talk."
Zhao Yunlan nods, casts him a sideways glance to see how much he can get away with, then immediately gets in his face with the singing and hand motions. Off the Envoy's look, he says, "Well, you didn’t say I couldn’t sing!" and laughs.
Shen Wei looks away and grins, too, despite himself.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
"If I wasn't worried about the Hallows being snatched and used by the wicked, I wouldn't have come back here."
Shen Wei is a liar. How much do you think he's still lying or omitting details here? Did he come to Haixing just for the Hallows, in search of Kunlun, to corral Dixing troublemakers, or for R&R? Or some combination of those? Did he only remain in Haixing for one of those reasons, or did making a life in academia become a draw in its own right?
Or is he talking specifically here about the Envoy's coming back in episode 1? He recognises Li Qian's necklace just before the Shadow Man attacks. Was that why the Envoy made his appearance? (Chu Shuzhi had already subdued the Shadow Man.) Or was it because of Zhao Yunlan, to get to know him in both guises?
How about you -- what do you like (or dislike) about the car-singing scene? What do you think is going through their minds? How many more questions would Zhao Yunlan have asked if Shen Wei had seemed at all willing to answer him? (My answer: ALL the questions!) Would Shen Wei have answered his questions if he'd asked them in a more sincere, Kunlun-like manner? Does the car-singing imply that Zhao Yunlan also sings in the shower and at other times?
Come and discuss this scene! :-) Links to meta, picspams, and related fanworks, new or old, are very much appreciated. Basically, this is the place for anything you want to say or link to about this scene.
Singing in the Car scene summary
It’s easy to assume this takes place the morning after the "I know your secrets" / "We've always been friends" / "I'll need compensation… join the SID for me?" conversation (discussion post here). Otoh, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are heading to the Department of Supervision for a formal/scheduled meeting with Minister Gao, who's expecting both of them, so either Zhao Yunlan reported in remotely about his new recruit the night before or early that morning, or a day or two have passed.
Anyway. They're in Zhao Yunlan's ridiculous enormous red Jeep, and Zhao Yunlan's high spirits are spilling out in the form of singing and driving too fast. At least at this point he's keeping both his hands on the wheel (fingers tapping).
Shen Wei says, "Anything joyous? You're driving so fast." He doesn't seem sternly disapproving or anything, but he's serious. The mismatch between their moods is palpable.
As far as I can tell, Zhao Yunlan doesn't slow down. He says, "Nope, we’re going to the ministry to report Zheng Yi’s case. I hope we can finish it quickly. Those guys are so talkative, especially that Minister Gao. He remembered you since last time you showed your power and saved him during the wedding, so he asked me to bring you along."
(This always makes me imagine Zhao Yunlan on the phone with Minister Gao, earlier, with Minister Gao saying, "Yes, yes, I remember Professor Shen. He's the hero who stopped the chaos at the wedding. So capable! Bring him with you to our meeting -- I'd like to thank him again," and Zhao Yunlan saying, "Ah, about that... I'll bring him but could you please not mention his power? It would make him uncomfortable." Because Zhao Yunlan can totally be tactful -- just not to Shen Wei's face.)
Shen Wei, in wry Professor Shen mode, starts, "I may let them down. I'm just an ordinary--" but cuts himself off and looks discomfited.
"An ordinary? An ordinary master? Or an ordinary Dixing leader?" asks Zhao Yunlan.
Shen Wei looks at Zhao Yunlan with a hint of uncertainty. "I hope you'll keep this secret from the others."
Zhao Yunlan's "reassurance" is typically glib: "No worries. I’m not stupid. If they know they've been lazing around under the watchful eye of the Black-Cloaked Envoy, they might all retire early out of guilt and fear."
"They are afraid of me, and I feel uncomfortable staying together with them," says Shen Wei, clearly speaking as the Envoy. "If I wasn't worried about the Hallows being snatched and used by the wicked, I wouldn't have come back here." This raises so many questions! (See below.)
It raises questions for Zhao Yunlan, too, who jumps at the opportunity to pry a little. "Did you have a bad experience here before?"
The Envoy doesn't answer and looks straight ahead. I'm never sure if he's thinking of the ancient war, losing Kunlun, losing Ye Zun, or the more recent matters of Zhao Xinci's SID and general Haixing anti-Dixing bigotry.
After a moment, Zhao Yunlan nods and says, "Fine, change of topic then. Does it mean I’m the only one you’re comfortable with--"
"--since I’m the only one you told your identity?" The last part, bordering on flirty. Apparently either a) he has amnesia and has forgotten the circumstances under which Shen Wei's identity was revealed, or b) he took Shen Wei's "Who says I can't [erase your memories]?" at face value. ;-p
The Envoy looks out the open passenger window and huffs, refusing to play along with the suggestion that he revealed his identity by choice.
"Okay, fine," says Zhao Yunlan, determinedly cheerful. "I’ll let you choose a topic."
Shen Wei looks at him and says, "We can just not talk."
Zhao Yunlan nods, casts him a sideways glance to see how much he can get away with, then immediately gets in his face with the singing and hand motions. Off the Envoy's look, he says, "Well, you didn’t say I couldn’t sing!" and laughs.
Shen Wei looks away and grins, too, despite himself.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Things on Zhao Yunlan’s mind
- Relieved and glad that the truth is finally out in the open
- Gloating about having (inadvertently) forced the issue
- Impatient with imminent bureaucracy, but happy enough that it can’t puncture his high spirits
- Bursting with questions and curiosity about the Envoy
- Trying to get Shen Wei to relax his boundaries between Professor Shen and the Envoy
- Trying to show him that this development is a good thing, and jolly him into being okay with it (minor success at the end with the singing?)
Things on Shen Wei’s mind
- Still pissed off about the reveal (Zhao Yunlan putting himself in danger, Zhu Jiu getting away)
- Zhao Yunlan’s gloating is not helping!!
- Maybe doesn’t feel like he’s been cornered into joining the SID (because he rejected the compensation request, after all), but aware that Zhao Yunlan tried that
- Wondering how he’s going to balance his university work with his work with the SID
- Anticipating University Chancellor’s reaction and concerned that his new role might impact his academic career (see this scene discussion post)
- Aware that Minister Gao has seen his powers at the wedding and unsure how much discretion he can count on
- His life is getting complicated, identities harder to compartmentalise. Uncomfortable with the overlap and not sure which "mode" to be in
- Recalibrating his secret-keeping – how much to reveal/keep hidden
- Considering how much being aligned with the SID increases the danger for Zhao Yunlan, and what steps Shen Wei can take to mitigate that.
"If I wasn't worried about the Hallows being snatched..."
"If I wasn't worried about the Hallows being snatched and used by the wicked, I wouldn't have come back here."
Shen Wei is a liar. How much do you think he's still lying or omitting details here? Did he come to Haixing just for the Hallows, in search of Kunlun, to corral Dixing troublemakers, or for R&R? Or some combination of those? Did he only remain in Haixing for one of those reasons, or did making a life in academia become a draw in its own right?
Or is he talking specifically here about the Envoy's coming back in episode 1? He recognises Li Qian's necklace just before the Shadow Man attacks. Was that why the Envoy made his appearance? (Chu Shuzhi had already subdued the Shadow Man.) Or was it because of Zhao Yunlan, to get to know him in both guises?
Things I love about this scene
- There’s a mismatch of moods, but they still like each other, and Shen Wei finds Zhao Yunlan funny despite himself.
- Zhao Yunlan's dorkiness is never more evident. I think he's unsure how their relationship stands, whether he can take the same liberties with the Envoy that he took with Professor Shen, etc, but rather than standing back and waiting to find out, he's decided to show ALL his emotions at 110%, thus inviting Shen Wei to express himself likewise.
- Shen Wei is angry and uncomfortable, and perhaps feeling vulnerable now that his secret is out of his control, but he's not making any effort to hide his discomfort; he’s not being polite or conciliatory, he doesn’t recriminate, and he doesn’t try to pull rank.
- Shen Wei is still sorting things out, especially whether to (and how to) integrate his different personas and roles, and Zhao Yunlan knows it, and this is how they're both dealing with the change in their professional and personal relationships.
How about you -- what do you like (or dislike) about the car-singing scene? What do you think is going through their minds? How many more questions would Zhao Yunlan have asked if Shen Wei had seemed at all willing to answer him? (My answer: ALL the questions!) Would Shen Wei have answered his questions if he'd asked them in a more sincere, Kunlun-like manner? Does the car-singing imply that Zhao Yunlan also sings in the shower and at other times?
Come and discuss this scene! :-) Links to meta, picspams, and related fanworks, new or old, are very much appreciated. Basically, this is the place for anything you want to say or link to about this scene.