trobadora (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trobadora) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sid_guardian2021-09-11 10:59 pm
trobadora) wrote in sid_guardian2021-09-11 10:59 pm
Entry tags:
Focus on: Shen Wei tucks Zhao Yunlan into bed again, episode 28
Location of scene: episode 28, 32:06 - 34:04
For context, Zhao Yunlan has just found out that Wang Xiangyang et al. have kidnapped his father and Minister Gao. Wang Xiangyang has left them a coded message and 24 hours to solve it/save the kidnapped people. (sakana17 covered that scene in a recent discussion post). Zhao Yunlan is frantically trying to figure out what will happen next, and gets the brilliant idea to turn to the Hallows. To be fair, he has previously had a vision of the car accident starting this kidnapping - but when he reaches for the Sundial and it activates in his hand, he immediately flinches and bends over in pain, then falls to the floor and passes out. Wang Zheng finds him there. And then ...
We start our scene with Zhao Yunlan lying in bed, Shen Wei's blurry hands visible in the foreground. He has his hands together, one thumb stroking the other hand in a nervous/self-soothing gesture.
He is watching Zhao Yunlan as Zhao Yunlan sleeps, and he's not wearing his glasses:
Shen Wei thinks to himself: 明明那么聪明的人，为什么这次偏偏那么 ... - "You're obviously such a smart person. But this time, why are you so ..."
He blinks, turns his head away from Zhao Yunlan for a moment, then turns back and says the last word out loud: 愚蠢 - "Stupid."
He continues out loud: 还好 这次的共鸣轻微 - "At least the resonance was slight this time."
Again we can see his thumb stroking over the back of his other hand.
Shen Wei: 要不然 - "Otherwise ..."
He cuts himself off, looks at Zhao Yunlan with obvious worry. He turns away again for another moment, then back at Zhao Yunlan, and is apparently overcome by the urge to do something, so he reaches for Zhao Yunlan's hand, which is sticking out from under the duvet, and tucks it in. He carefully arranges and pats down the duvet over his arm and shoulder.
Then Shen Wei puts his hands together, bows his head for a moment. When he lifts it again, he's clearly coming to a decision.
Close-up on the incense burner and Shen Wei's left hand placing an incense cone inside. Click on the image for the large version - there is an almost-healed scratch on his thumb! Which is a cool detail - later this episode he'll get another cut on the back of his hand, and ZYL will notice he's not healing instantly any more:
Shen Wei lights the incense cone, then stands straight in front of it, facing Zhao Yunlan's window. He tells the messenger: 摄政官大人钧鉴，多日不见汇报地星的情况。是否生变？本使怀疑夜尊借圣器之乱有所图谋。天下的安危系于我辈一身。还请尽快回复。
"Your Excellency the Regent, I have not seen a report on the situation in Dixing for many days. Has anything happened? I suspect Ye Zun is using the chaos caused by the Hallows to advance his plots. The safety of the world depends on our generation. Please respond quickly."
(Speaking officially, SW calls himself 本使, "this Envoy".)
Shen Wei looks very thoughtful and worried. With a gesture of his hand, he sends the message.
Now Zhao Yunlan starts waking up, making mumbling noises in bed. Shen Wei turns to him and walks to the side of his bed.
Shen Wei: 你醒了 - "You're awake."
Zhao Yunlan's first question is: 几点了？ - "What time is it?"
Because of course that's what he's immediately worried about, given that they're on a countdown.
Shen Wei tells him: 从收到黑纸信开始已经过去六个小时了 - "Since we received the black letter, six hours have passed."
(That makes it 6am now, btw - they received the letter at midnight.)
Zhao Yunlan opens his eyes and looks at Shen Wei.
Why I love this scene
The intimacy of it always gets to me. It's so lovely and tender, even/especially when Shen Wei is scolding Zhao Yunlan! (I adore Shen Wei's exasperated/frustrated/worried caretaking.) And Shen Wei especially looks so gorgeous in this scene - they both do, but I really had to stop myself from screencapping Shen Wei's every microexpression here. So much love!
But also, a huge reason for why I'm so fond of this little scene is because of the parallels to the scene in episode 8 (which I talked about here):
In both cases you have Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan into bed, and a smoke messenger, and Zhao Yunlan waking up. But this time, Shen Wei doesn't sit next to the bed but on it, and he doesn't wear glasses, and this time, a sleeping Zhao Yunlan is turned towards him rather than away. And when he wakes, Zhao Yunlan doesn't startle to find Shen Wei there at all. (Of course, as we know from the kitchen scene/episode 23, he's used to Shen Wei being in his flat while he's sleeping!) There's a clear, measurable physical progression in their relationship, encapsulated in the contrast between these two scenes, and I love it SO MUCH.
(Even if we don't get to see the next step in that progression, which obviously would be Shen Wei in Zhao Yunlan's bed, lying down with him. *g*)
Questions:
So, let's talk about this scene! Isn't it great? And if anyone has links to fanworks involving this scene, please share! ♥
For context, Zhao Yunlan has just found out that Wang Xiangyang et al. have kidnapped his father and Minister Gao. Wang Xiangyang has left them a coded message and 24 hours to solve it/save the kidnapped people. (
sakana17 covered that scene in a recent discussion post). Zhao Yunlan is frantically trying to figure out what will happen next, and gets the brilliant idea to turn to the Hallows. To be fair, he has previously had a vision of the car accident starting this kidnapping - but when he reaches for the Sundial and it activates in his hand, he immediately flinches and bends over in pain, then falls to the floor and passes out. Wang Zheng finds him there. And then ...
We start our scene with Zhao Yunlan lying in bed, Shen Wei's blurry hands visible in the foreground. He has his hands together, one thumb stroking the other hand in a nervous/self-soothing gesture.
He is watching Zhao Yunlan as Zhao Yunlan sleeps, and he's not wearing his glasses:
Shen Wei thinks to himself: 明明那么聪明的人，为什么这次偏偏那么 ... - "You're obviously such a smart person. But this time, why are you so ..."
He blinks, turns his head away from Zhao Yunlan for a moment, then turns back and says the last word out loud: 愚蠢 - "Stupid."
He continues out loud: 还好 这次的共鸣轻微 - "At least the resonance was slight this time."
Again we can see his thumb stroking over the back of his other hand.
Shen Wei: 要不然 - "Otherwise ..."
He cuts himself off, looks at Zhao Yunlan with obvious worry. He turns away again for another moment, then back at Zhao Yunlan, and is apparently overcome by the urge to do something, so he reaches for Zhao Yunlan's hand, which is sticking out from under the duvet, and tucks it in. He carefully arranges and pats down the duvet over his arm and shoulder.
Then Shen Wei puts his hands together, bows his head for a moment. When he lifts it again, he's clearly coming to a decision.
Close-up on the incense burner and Shen Wei's left hand placing an incense cone inside. Click on the image for the large version - there is an almost-healed scratch on his thumb! Which is a cool detail - later this episode he'll get another cut on the back of his hand, and ZYL will notice he's not healing instantly any more:
Shen Wei lights the incense cone, then stands straight in front of it, facing Zhao Yunlan's window. He tells the messenger: 摄政官大人钧鉴，多日不见汇报地星的情况。是否生变？本使怀疑夜尊借圣器之乱有所图谋。天下的安危系于我辈一身。还请尽快回复。
"Your Excellency the Regent, I have not seen a report on the situation in Dixing for many days. Has anything happened? I suspect Ye Zun is using the chaos caused by the Hallows to advance his plots. The safety of the world depends on our generation. Please respond quickly."
(Speaking officially, SW calls himself 本使, "this Envoy".)
Shen Wei looks very thoughtful and worried. With a gesture of his hand, he sends the message.
Now Zhao Yunlan starts waking up, making mumbling noises in bed. Shen Wei turns to him and walks to the side of his bed.
Shen Wei: 你醒了 - "You're awake."
Zhao Yunlan's first question is: 几点了？ - "What time is it?"
Because of course that's what he's immediately worried about, given that they're on a countdown.
Shen Wei tells him: 从收到黑纸信开始已经过去六个小时了 - "Since we received the black letter, six hours have passed."
(That makes it 6am now, btw - they received the letter at midnight.)
Zhao Yunlan opens his eyes and looks at Shen Wei.
Why I love this scene
The intimacy of it always gets to me. It's so lovely and tender, even/especially when Shen Wei is scolding Zhao Yunlan! (I adore Shen Wei's exasperated/frustrated/worried caretaking.) And Shen Wei especially looks so gorgeous in this scene - they both do, but I really had to stop myself from screencapping Shen Wei's every microexpression here. So much love!
But also, a huge reason for why I'm so fond of this little scene is because of the parallels to the scene in episode 8 (which I talked about here):
In both cases you have Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan into bed, and a smoke messenger, and Zhao Yunlan waking up. But this time, Shen Wei doesn't sit next to the bed but on it, and he doesn't wear glasses, and this time, a sleeping Zhao Yunlan is turned towards him rather than away. And when he wakes, Zhao Yunlan doesn't startle to find Shen Wei there at all. (Of course, as we know from the kitchen scene/episode 23, he's used to Shen Wei being in his flat while he's sleeping!) There's a clear, measurable physical progression in their relationship, encapsulated in the contrast between these two scenes, and I love it SO MUCH.
(Even if we don't get to see the next step in that progression, which obviously would be Shen Wei in Zhao Yunlan's bed, lying down with him. *g*)
Questions:
- What's your favourite thing about this scene? Mine is the many, many times Shen Wei looks away from Zhao Yunlan while sitting on his bed, gathering his thoughts/wrangling his feelings, only to then immediately look back at Zhao Yunlan. ♥
- How do you think Zhao Yunlan got from the lab to his bed? Did Wang Zheng manage to call anyone else before Shen Wei came rushing in? *g* Did Shen Wei portal them home?
- Given the countdown, and the fact that at least Lin Jing, Cong Bo, Zhao Yunlan and Wang Zheng were all awake well after midnight, what was Shen Wei in the middle of when Zhao Yunlan passed out? (He must have felt the Hallows activating; he usually turns up very quickly when that happens.) And when this scene starts, Shen Wei has clearly already examined Zhao Yunlan and found no serious damage. But at first he must have feared the worst. What was going through his head in that moment?
- What do you think decided Shen Wei on staying by Zhao Yunlan's bedside rather than going back to whatever he was doing before? How long would he have stayed if Zhao Yunlan hadn't woken up relatively quickly after being taken home?
- Why do you think Shen Wei decided to message the Regent when he did? Did he really expect a useful answer, or was he just itching for something to do?
- How did Shen Wei get that scratch on his thumb? *g*
- After the end of this scene, does Shen Wei scold Zhao Yunlan again while he's awake, too? (Is there fic about that?)
- How do you think the Hallows visions work? Zhao Yunlan got knocked out trying to get a vision of the future out of the Sundial, but the vision of his father's car accident that he did have (in episode 21) wasn't immediately connected to touching any of the Hallows. (It happened randomly on the street, though it was shortly after overusing the Sundial to defend himself against Ye Zun left him blind.) The future-visions I remember were from touching the Mountain-River Awl - actual future visions in episode 14, and an averted-future vision in episode 19. (The visions in episode 20 are also not immediately from touching one of the Hallows.) And it's the Awl that Shen Wei tells him in episode 19 can unmoor people in time. So do you think he'd have had better luck trying the Awl?
- Because it's so prominent in some of the shots: what does Shen Wei think about that swing in Zhao Yunlan's bedroom? :D
So, let's talk about this scene! Isn't it great? And if anyone has links to fanworks involving this scene, please share! ♥
no subject
no subject
no subject
My favourite thing about this scene is Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan's hand back under the duvet - it's such a small but intimate and caring gesture and I adore it. And that Zhao Yunlan doesn't wake up while he'd doing it. Because he's tired, but also Shen Wei's touch is clearly familiar at this point and I'm very happy to extrapolate that more touching has preceded this scene ;)
I think Shen Wei just couldn't help himself re: staying at Zhao Yunlan's bedside. He's got that tendency anyway, and he's really worried because Zhao Yunlan faffed with the Hallows AGAIN (the last time made him blind and Shen Wei can only sacrifice his own health to fix that sort of thing once) - clearly he can't be trusted to be sensible about his own health as soon as Shen Wei isn't directly watching over him. I'd also suggest that maybe quietly sitting at Zhao Yunlan's bedside is the closest Shen Wei gets to proper rest during that time and he knows he needs to be at his (already wonky) best if they're to solve this case before the deadline.
As for the Hallows vision, I always thought it was a side-effect of Zhao Yunlan having travelled (/will travel) through time via the Hallows, so he's already, idk, sensitive to temporal stuff? But I didn't catch Shen Wei saying that about the Awl, so that might be a better theory.
no subject
My favourite thing about this scene is Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan's hand back under the duvet - it's such a small but intimate and caring gesture and I adore it.
YES! And that's a great point about Zhao Yunlan not waking up. I mean, maybe he's still knocked out and wouldn't wake up no matter what, but I like to think it's familiarity with Shen Wei's touch as well. His total non-reaction to waking up in Shen Wei's presence makes it clear there aren't many boundaries there any more, and touch fits into that perfectly.
I think Shen Wei just couldn't help himself re: staying at Zhao Yunlan's bedside.
Yeah, agreed, I have no doubt that he really felt he needed to be right there, right now, and not let Zhao Yunlan out of his sight if he could at all help it. (I love that protective tendency of his so much. ♥)
I'd also suggest that maybe quietly sitting at Zhao Yunlan's bedside is the closest Shen Wei gets to proper rest during that time and he knows he needs to be at his (already wonky) best if they're to solve this case before the deadline.
Oh, OUCH! But yeah, that rings totally true to me.
As for the Hallows vision, I always thought it was a side-effect of Zhao Yunlan having travelled (/will travel) through time via the Hallows, so he's already, idk, sensitive to temporal stuff? But I didn't catch Shen Wei saying that about the Awl, so that might be a better theory.
I like the theory that Zhao Yunlan is extra sensitive to temporal effects due to the time loop! That makes a lot of sense to me regardless of what exactly the Hallows do otherwise.
no subject
-- One of my general show reactions on my first watch was that it was really clever to introduce Shen Wei in glasses and get us used to him that way, so that it packs such a punch when he takes them off and we see him at, like, 100% beautiful instead of 80%.
-- Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan really do spend a lot of time each being furious at the other for lack of self-care, kind of the flip side of the theme of sacrifice. (Shen Wei, you really do not have room to be calling him an idiot.)
-- Shen Wei's more or less seamless switch from severe Envoy to, you should pardon the expression, caring boyfriend when Zhao Yunlan wakes. (I wonder if this is moving horizontally (?) from one sphere of responsibility to another, or vertically (??) to a deeper level of himself, or...sorry, that's entirely incoherent, but you see what I mean).
no subject
YESSSSSSSSSSS, it's so good! I'm always so happy to see him sans glasses! So many layers - masks and intimacy and everything, it really is inspired. And "100% beautiful" is exactly my reaction. ♥
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan really do spend a lot of time each being furious at the other for lack of self-care, kind of the flip side of the theme of sacrifice. (Shen Wei, you really do not have room to be calling him an idiot.)
I do love that they're both so "do as I say, don't do as I do" about it! They're so very much the same in that regard! And it means they understand each other so well on that front, which gives their frustration and anger a completely different flavour than if they didn't. I love it so, so much.
Shen Wei's more or less seamless switch from severe Envoy to, you should pardon the expression, caring boyfriend when Zhao Yunlan wakes. (I wonder if this is moving horizontally (?) from one sphere of responsibility to another, or vertically (??) to a deeper level of himself, or...sorry, that's entirely incoherent, but you see what I mean).
Ohhhh, yes! That shift! So smooth and seamless. Also the moment when he first switches into Envoy mode, still sitting on the bed but his expression changing ... ♥ Hm, I think Shen Wei himself might conceptualise it as going to a deeper/truer level of himself, mainly because it's a more private level that doesn't get shown often, but personally I think it's more like code-switching?
no subject
Love your caps and writeup - I never noticed that scratch on his hand! I wonder if it was just a real life scrape.
The intimacy of it always gets to me. It's so lovely and tender, even/especially when Shen Wei is scolding Zhao Yunlan! (I adore Shen Wei's exasperated/frustrated/worried caretaking.) And Shen Wei especially looks so gorgeous in this scene - they both do, but I really had to stop myself from screencapping Shen Wei's every microexpression here. So much love!
100% agreement from me. They're both so beautiful and Shen Wei's FACE, ye gods. It's like he's boiling over with love and concern, and it comes out as scolding, but we can see what lies underneath.
does Shen Wei scold Zhao Yunlan again while he's awake, too?
EXCELLENT DAMN QUESTION. I don't think I've seen fic specifically about this, but if you ask me -- I mean the bed is Right There. And all that anger and concern and love could lead to something a lot more energetic more than hand holding, once Shen Wei is reassured that Zhao Yunlan is okay for now.
no subject
Totally with you on having to yell at the scene for a bit. :D
Yeah, the scrape might have been just a RL thing - presumably they would have drawn more attention to it if it was deliberate? - but I love how well it fits at this point in the timeline.
It's like he's boiling over with love and concern, and it comes out as scolding, but we can see what lies underneath.
THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS OMG. I love it so much. :D
but if you ask me -- I mean the bed is Right There. And all that anger and concern and love could lead to something a lot more energetic more than hand holding, once Shen Wei is reassured that Zhao Yunlan is okay for now.
YES PLEASE. SOMEONE GET ON THAT RIGHT NOW, I NEEDS IT. :D :D :D
no subject
In both cases you have Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan into bed, and a smoke messenger, and Zhao Yunlan waking up. But this time, Shen Wei doesn't sit next to the bed but on it, and he doesn't wear glasses, and this time, a sleeping Zhao Yunlan is turned towards him rather than away.
That is so beautiful and I never made that connection! I hope to be back for more, but thank you for making this post; I loved to see the insights into the original dialogue and all the little details I might not have noticed otherwise. <3
no subject
(And this post will still be here if you come back with a longer comment at some point! No rush! ♥)
no subject
Haha, I love that in the first cap, ZYL's fringe has fallen over his forehead, like yeah, this is early-canon ZYL groping the Hallows all over again. A relapse.
That moment when Shen Wei trails off after "Otherwise..." I feel like he's really feeling the burden of keeping ZYL alive and in one piece (and would, you know, appreciate some help from ZYL on that score!) -- but all he can do right now is tuck his hand under the covers. It's just, loving ZYL is hard!
Your Excellency the Regent, I have not seen a report on the situation in Dixing for many days.
I love the implication that he usually receives regular reports!
What do you think decided Shen Wei on staying by Zhao Yunlan's bedside rather than going back to whatever he was doing before? How long would he have stayed if Zhao Yunlan hadn't woken up relatively quickly after being taken home?
These are really pivotal questions for me. Team Merit Brush have hostages! Zhao Yunlan is not in immediate danger. The fact that Shen Wei chooses to sit with him rather than trying to make headway on the case seems really significant. Is it because only Zhao Yunlan can solve this (because Wang Xiangyang is human, and the hostages are human, and the case involves detective work which is more ZYL's wheelhouse than Shen Wei's), or does he really not feel able to leave ZYL alone right now (because he's worried about more dark energy corruption and ongoing effects)?
I wonder if sending the smoke messenger is him doing all he can to ascertain the current situation (and possibly help with the case) without leaving ZYL alone.
After the end of this scene, does Shen Wei scold Zhao Yunlan again while he's awake, too? (Is there fic about that?)
Isn't it in the way he reacts when Zhao Yunlan says, "You won't hold it against me, right?" when they're on their way to the phone box? That refusal to soften on the matter?
Also, the way he responds to ZYL's "What time is it?" is basically "You wasted six hours because you touched the Hallows,
you idiot," and I think ZYL gets that. *pets them both*Everything you say about the parallels with the ep 8 scene is AMAZING -- I love every word of it!
Re the swing: is there any non-sex-toy explanation for its existence? I'd say it was a plaything for Da Qing except we never see him (or anyone) acknowledge it.
no subject
Haha, that's a great way to put it! :D
I love the implication that he usually receives regular reports!
Ohhhh, yes, I totally missed that, but it's so obvious now that you mention it! I wonder what the Regent's reports are like, LOL.
Team Merit Brush have hostages! Zhao Yunlan is not in immediate danger. The fact that Shen Wei chooses to sit with him rather than trying to make headway on the case seems really significant.
Right? Even if Zhao Yunlan hasn't been unconscious for long, it's still an important question! I think Shen Wei does feel like he can't leave Zhao Yunlan alone safely, and also they don't have any clues, so there's nothing definite he could be doing instead. But how long that would have lasted - at what point he'd have decided to leave, and what his reasoning would have been - that's something I'd really love to see explored.
Isn't it in the way he reacts when Zhao Yunlan says, "You won't hold it against me, right?" when they're on their way to the phone box? That refusal to soften on the matter?
Oh! Yes, I'd forgotten about that, but you're totally right!
Also, the way he responds to ZYL's "What time is it?" is basically "You wasted six hours because you touched the Hallows, you idiot," and I think ZYL gets that. *pets them both*
It's less than six hours, possibly significantly less - Lin Jing and Cong Bo have already been at it trying to decode the message for some time when Zhao Yunlan decides to grab the sundial. But even so, yes, basically this!
Doesn't mean there wouldn't be explicit verbal scolding on Shen Wei's part too, though. *g*
Everything you say about the parallels with the ep 8 scene is AMAZING -- I love every word of it!
♥ ♥ ♥
Re the swing: is there any non-sex-toy explanation for its existence?
That's what I want to know! It's very prominently visible, and also no one ever seems to acknowledge it in any way, and I'd really like to know what the hell the set designers were thinking. *g*
no subject
Very good question! Maybe Shen Wei wasn't too worried about the state of Dixing, pre-canon, because the reports were all "situation normal" -- and then he took the Shadow Man down and got a bit of a shock, leading to his "prison of torment" comment to Chu Shuzhi?
and also they don't have any clues, so there's nothing definite he could be doing instead.
Yeah, maybe
emailingmessaging the Regent is the sum of what he can do until ZYL wakens. Stalking the streets with his dark energy vision won't work because the Merit Brush has changed dark energy in the city. Shen Wei doesn't know Wang Xiangyang personally. The SID are doing what they can...It's less than six hours, possibly significantly less - Lin Jing and Cong Bo have already been at it trying to decode the message for some time when Zhao Yunlan decides to grab the sundial.
Oh, true. Good point.
It's very prominently visible, and also no one ever seems to acknowledge it in any way, and I'd really like to know what the hell the set designers were thinking. *g*
Okay, I just googled sex swings, and they're generally strappy and designed for reclining. Maybe ZYL's swing is just there to be suggestive... or ZYL decided he wanted a sex swing, did zero research, installed it, and then discovered it was not actually that useful/comfortable, but never got around to taking it down? *g*
no subject
Stalking the streets with his dark energy vision won't work because the Merit Brush has changed dark energy in the city.
Yeah, exactly. There's not much he can do other than randomly poke at things ...
Maybe ZYL's swing is just there to be suggestive... or ZYL decided he wanted a sex swing, did zero research, installed it, and then discovered it was not actually that useful/comfortable, but never got around to taking it down? *g*
Haha, both of those sound very him! And I really like the idea that it's just there to be suggestive/provocative, because that seems like his style of in-your-faceness. Though of course that makes you wonders who it's aimed at ...
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject