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sid_guardian2022-01-07 06:44 pm
undeadrobins) wrote in sid_guardian2022-01-07 06:44 pm
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Focus on: Da Qing and his bells
This is my first time doing a scene focus, and one of the first times I've ever really looked at anything like this in detail. Meta is not my strong suit, so if anything I've put here makes no sense, please let me know!
This scene is just one small part of the whole "Zhao Yunlan returns to the present/future" scene that happens in episode 35 around the 15 minute mark. It's also the scene that had the most impact on me when I first watched the show, and influences a lot of my Guardian-related thoughts and writing ideas.
So the team have gathered all of the Holy Tools and Zhao Yunlan has just told Shen Wei that he's leaving. Da Qing, always the eavesdropper, overhears and comes running over.
"You're leaving? Where are you going?"
Zhao Yunlan tells him they'll meet again, but Da Qing won't hear any of it.
After calling him "Damn Cat" (or Dead Cat, depending on your translation), Zhao Yunlan stands up. It looks to me like he purposely holds himself straighter, maybe trying for some sort of authority – which we all know he'll never really have over Da Qing.
"If you keep acting like this, I may not want you anymore."
"But I…" Da Qing's voice trails off and he looks so young and so scared. This is the point he realises how much Zhao Yunlan means to him, and how he's frightened of being alone. After all, he's the only cat Yashou we've seen in the old Haixing era.
When he speaks, the camera is looking at Shen Wei, rather than him (while this may be because they added the line in post or something like that, I prefer to think it was an artistic choice). Shen Wei doesn't want to look up and interrupt what's happening, but I like to think he appreciates Da Qing for being able to say what he can't.
The translated subs by Solo give this line as "I'll miss you", but the Chinese is 我舍不得你, which I understand translates more as "I hate to see you go" or "I hate to be parted from you". There is a slight difference in the tone of these, in my opinion, although I can't quite put it into words properly. You'd never believe I work in comms for a living, would you?!
Anyway, Zhao Yunlan laughs softly and puts his hand on the back of Da Qing's neck. "One day you'll find the person you want to follow and want to guard. Whether human or cat, love is what makes us greater. You'll understand it then."
I read this as Zhao Yunlan explaining why he has to leave – that he needs to return to the people he loves, human, Dixingren and cat. From Da Qing's point of view, it could be seen as a typical "you're too young to understand, but trust me" type of comment that I used to hate as a teenager.
Interestingly, despite just telling Da Qing that he'll one day find the person he wants, Zhao Yunlan then tells him he's Da Qing's "Master for life, whether for now or in the future", and Da Qing's little face lights up beautifully.
That's when he pulls out his bells. (As an aside, I regularly mistype when I'm talking about this, and call them his balls, which I suppose is also accurate in a way…)
He knows who he wants to follow, and he's just been told, implicitly, that Zhao Yunlan will be that master forever. "I'm used to freedom," he says in the flashback. "I won't need a master." Oh, kitten. You're so naïve. It's telling that he believes – at that point – that a master is someone to control him.
Speaking of which, the use of the word 主人 – master – is interesting here. Fu You, Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing all use it when talking about the bells, but Fu You also mentions it being an 'approved master'. To me this indicates that it's a choice for Da Qing, rather than a master/slave type relationship, which is what I would usually expect from that word. This may be a Chinese cultural difference, of course. I'd be interested to hear what you think.
When he hands over the bells, that he's been cradling gently in his hand, he doesn't explain to Zhao Yunlan what they are or what they mean. He's so scared, even though he's literally just heard Zhao Yunlan essentially pledge to be with him throughout time.
Obviously, Zhao Yunlan recognises them from the present/future (I HATE writing about time travel!), and he knows where they belong. He fastens them around Da Qing's neck and says "You keep them". Da Qing's sad face turns into another smile.
And then the moment is broken by Ye Zun and his buddies. When we see Da Qing next, he's running towards Zhao Yunlan with the Holy Tools in his arms, and is flung to the ground by Ye Zun. Zhao Yunlan looks between Shen Wei (also on the ground) and Da Qing, and seems to make the choice to run to Da Qing first, relieved to discover that he's still alive. And Zhao Yunlan is pulled back into their weird wormhole.
What I love most about this scene
When I watched the show the first time, I was, like most everyone else, focused on the Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan relationship. Right up until I got to this scene.
This scene to me is more 'romantic in a platonic way' (yeah, I know, but I'm not sure how else to describe it) than anything else in the show. Da Qing is literally giving his heart away, to a man he's not known for long. Zhao Yunlan understands the depth of that love so completely, and in that moment understands how much he means to Da Qing and, in turn, how much Da Qing means to him.
Even if Da Qing never remembers this, Zhao Yunlan will, and his relationship with the cat he's known for so long will change.
We see Zhao Yunlan doing what he usually does in moments of heightened emotions and feelings – laughing – but he does it in such a fond way that it hurts my heart a little. It's a laugh that says "I know you so well" and "I care about you so much", and isn't meant in a bad way at all.
It hurts my heart that Da Qing doesn't get to know what happened to Zhao Yunlan. At least Shen Wei watched the Holy Tools pull him away; Da Qing was still unconscious at the time and then woke up with amnesia. Poor kitten.
It's been a while since I rewatched the whole show, so I might just have to do that, and keep my focus on Da Qing (and his relationship with Zhao Yunlan) this time. I feel like I need to note down everything we know about him!
Thoughts and questions
This scene is just one small part of the whole "Zhao Yunlan returns to the present/future" scene that happens in episode 35 around the 15 minute mark. It's also the scene that had the most impact on me when I first watched the show, and influences a lot of my Guardian-related thoughts and writing ideas.
So the team have gathered all of the Holy Tools and Zhao Yunlan has just told Shen Wei that he's leaving. Da Qing, always the eavesdropper, overhears and comes running over.
"You're leaving? Where are you going?"
Zhao Yunlan tells him they'll meet again, but Da Qing won't hear any of it.
After calling him "Damn Cat" (or Dead Cat, depending on your translation), Zhao Yunlan stands up. It looks to me like he purposely holds himself straighter, maybe trying for some sort of authority – which we all know he'll never really have over Da Qing.
"If you keep acting like this, I may not want you anymore."
"But I…" Da Qing's voice trails off and he looks so young and so scared. This is the point he realises how much Zhao Yunlan means to him, and how he's frightened of being alone. After all, he's the only cat Yashou we've seen in the old Haixing era.
When he speaks, the camera is looking at Shen Wei, rather than him (while this may be because they added the line in post or something like that, I prefer to think it was an artistic choice). Shen Wei doesn't want to look up and interrupt what's happening, but I like to think he appreciates Da Qing for being able to say what he can't.
The translated subs by Solo give this line as "I'll miss you", but the Chinese is 我舍不得你, which I understand translates more as "I hate to see you go" or "I hate to be parted from you". There is a slight difference in the tone of these, in my opinion, although I can't quite put it into words properly. You'd never believe I work in comms for a living, would you?!
Anyway, Zhao Yunlan laughs softly and puts his hand on the back of Da Qing's neck. "One day you'll find the person you want to follow and want to guard. Whether human or cat, love is what makes us greater. You'll understand it then."
I read this as Zhao Yunlan explaining why he has to leave – that he needs to return to the people he loves, human, Dixingren and cat. From Da Qing's point of view, it could be seen as a typical "you're too young to understand, but trust me" type of comment that I used to hate as a teenager.
Interestingly, despite just telling Da Qing that he'll one day find the person he wants, Zhao Yunlan then tells him he's Da Qing's "Master for life, whether for now or in the future", and Da Qing's little face lights up beautifully.
That's when he pulls out his bells. (As an aside, I regularly mistype when I'm talking about this, and call them his balls, which I suppose is also accurate in a way…)
He knows who he wants to follow, and he's just been told, implicitly, that Zhao Yunlan will be that master forever. "I'm used to freedom," he says in the flashback. "I won't need a master." Oh, kitten. You're so naïve. It's telling that he believes – at that point – that a master is someone to control him.
Speaking of which, the use of the word 主人 – master – is interesting here. Fu You, Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing all use it when talking about the bells, but Fu You also mentions it being an 'approved master'. To me this indicates that it's a choice for Da Qing, rather than a master/slave type relationship, which is what I would usually expect from that word. This may be a Chinese cultural difference, of course. I'd be interested to hear what you think.
When he hands over the bells, that he's been cradling gently in his hand, he doesn't explain to Zhao Yunlan what they are or what they mean. He's so scared, even though he's literally just heard Zhao Yunlan essentially pledge to be with him throughout time.
Obviously, Zhao Yunlan recognises them from the present/future (I HATE writing about time travel!), and he knows where they belong. He fastens them around Da Qing's neck and says "You keep them". Da Qing's sad face turns into another smile.
And then the moment is broken by Ye Zun and his buddies. When we see Da Qing next, he's running towards Zhao Yunlan with the Holy Tools in his arms, and is flung to the ground by Ye Zun. Zhao Yunlan looks between Shen Wei (also on the ground) and Da Qing, and seems to make the choice to run to Da Qing first, relieved to discover that he's still alive. And Zhao Yunlan is pulled back into their weird wormhole.
What I love most about this scene
When I watched the show the first time, I was, like most everyone else, focused on the Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan relationship. Right up until I got to this scene.
This scene to me is more 'romantic in a platonic way' (yeah, I know, but I'm not sure how else to describe it) than anything else in the show. Da Qing is literally giving his heart away, to a man he's not known for long. Zhao Yunlan understands the depth of that love so completely, and in that moment understands how much he means to Da Qing and, in turn, how much Da Qing means to him.
Even if Da Qing never remembers this, Zhao Yunlan will, and his relationship with the cat he's known for so long will change.
We see Zhao Yunlan doing what he usually does in moments of heightened emotions and feelings – laughing – but he does it in such a fond way that it hurts my heart a little. It's a laugh that says "I know you so well" and "I care about you so much", and isn't meant in a bad way at all.
It hurts my heart that Da Qing doesn't get to know what happened to Zhao Yunlan. At least Shen Wei watched the Holy Tools pull him away; Da Qing was still unconscious at the time and then woke up with amnesia. Poor kitten.
It's been a while since I rewatched the whole show, so I might just have to do that, and keep my focus on Da Qing (and his relationship with Zhao Yunlan) this time. I feel like I need to note down everything we know about him!
Thoughts and questions
- How does Da Qing feel about Zhao Yunlan? Are his feelings purely platonic, or does he have some romantic love in there too?
- What was it about Zhao Yunlan that made Da Qing so sure that he was the one who deserved his bells?
- How might this conversation have continued if they hadn't been interrupted? How does Shen Wei feel hearing this conversation?
- What happens to Da Qing between this time and the time we meet him in the present? I would like all of the theories and suggestions (and fic! art!) about him through the years.
- Does this differ to the story in the novel? I've never read it, but I'm interested in how the relationship between Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan is portrayed in that.
- Where are the other cat Yashou? Apart from the annoying female that turns up, we never hear or see anything about them.
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> How does Da Qing feel about Zhao Yunlan? Are his feelings purely platonic, or does he have some romantic love in there too?
I don't see any romance in here - just platonic love, trust, and loyalty.
> How does Shen Wei feel hearing this conversation?
I think from the moment Zhao Yunlan says he's leaving, Shen Wei is devastated and remains so this whole time. I think Da Qing is saying everything Shen Wei wishes he could say but refuses to let himself because he thinks he shouldn't / he thinks he has to uphold Heipaoshi's reputation / he wants to be strong for Kunlun ;_;
> What happens to Da Qing between this time and the time we meet him in the present?
I think he wanders around looking for his person (and maybe other cat Yashou?), and gradually the oldest memories would fade as newer memories take their place (the weight of ten thousand years worth of memories is a lot for anyone to carry!) but he would always remember that he had an owner somewhere in the world, and that they would meet again.
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And I love that his relationship with Zhao Yunlan is a loop, too - he takes Zhao Yunlan as his owner in the present timeline, which means Zhao Yunlan acts / says he's his owner in YOHE! :D :D :D
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Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing: claiming as theirs the person who has very clearly already claimed them
♥
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I always wonder how much ZYL's saying, "Catty, can you be more mature? If you're like this, I won't admit I'm your master" to Da Qing stays Shen Wei's tongue, too... :-(
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I think part of it too could be that Zhao Yunlan is a bit uncomfortable with his own feelings sometimes and he must also be upset to leave - not to imply that he doesn't want to go back to the present but that he loves these people of his and his leaving is going to hurt them so badly and if it's not being actively discussed then he doesn't have to think about it too much ;_;
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Yes! *sniffles*