sid_guardian | Focus On: Episode 25: Where GCC Is Not Feeling Like Himself

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Focus On: Episode 25: Where GCC Is Not Feeling Like Himself

Focus on: Episode 25: Where Guo Changcheng is not feeling quite like himself

Location of the scene: Episode 25, 2:51 to 4:25

I sourced the screencaps from sid_guardian | Guardian Screencaps, Episodes 20-25 (dreamwidth.org)

Special Notes: My thoughts are in italics and the translation is from Viki.

Context: Zhao Yunlan and Guo Changcheng discuss moving the prisoner Zhu Hao to the Seastar Administration building and Zhao Yunlan tells GCC to do it. The scene cuts away and we move into the main bullpen of SID HQ where everyone is either eating or drinking as Zhao Yunlan walks in. Our list of players are Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing and Zhu Hong.

The team sits around the table eating and drinking. Da Qing also defends his honor with why he brought so much food back. (He was tricked). I thought this was an interesting camera angle to use to show the team sitting around the table

As they continue to discuss Zhu Hao, Guo Changcheng finally arrives back from presumably dropping him off. He throws his notebook down on the tabletop and sits down. I remember when I first watched this episode as soon as he threw his notebook I was all: Well, that can’t be good. Because GCC has always treated that notebook like his baby.

When he throws his notebook down on the table everyone turns to look at him, with Da Qing saying: Little Guo, are you going to write in your diary again? Chu Shuzhi picks the notebook up and says: I have read it. The content was extremely positive. Zhu Hong excitedly reaches for it and says: Let me read it, too! For some reason I really like how this shot is set up. Over ZYL’s shoulder and showing his relaxed pose, but also CSZ and GCC. I really enjoy a lot of how the camera shots were set up throughout the series.

When she grabs it GCC exclaims as he smacks it out of her: Do not touch it without my permission! Zhu Hong looks shocked and so too does Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing, with ZYL offering an uncomfortable laugh. GCC so aggressive with that slap book out of hand move. I’ve always read ZH’s expression here as really sad/surprised, whereas the rest of the crew is all just like: WTH just happened here?

Chu Shuzhi reaches to check Gou Changcheng’s forehead, asking: Donkey, do you have a fever? He definitely has something LOL

Guo Changcheng slaps Chu Shuzhi’s hand away and Chu Shuzhi grabs the front of his jacket and pulls him closer, though GCC likewise leans closer. I don’t necessarily read CSZ’s face here as angerangergrranger, but more like perplexed WTH happened anger. Like: I cannot believe you hit me.

Zhu Hong still looks very sadly confused upset here.

Then very deliberately he pushes Chu Shuzhi’s hand off while keeping eye contact. Oh my gosh that eye contact made me uncomfortable!! But the whole shoving his hand aside was again so aggressive for GCC

GCC then proceeds to say: Is your hand getting itchy? (are you wanting a fight). Then he proceeds to say: I am telling you guys! Nobody’s allowed to touch any of my things without my permission! CSZ stares at GCC as he proclaims this. The look on GCC’s face is such a sneer! As for CSZ, I feel like his stare has such confusion in it. Like what is going on with GCC? We're all with you there CSZ, all of us. LOL.

At this point, GCC gets up and stalks away. Everyone watches him and ZYL turns back and asks: What’s going on? CSZ looks contemplative and then he does a sort of double-blink and the scene ends. Once I re-watched it, I always took that second double blink of CSZ’s as him now becoming infected with the personality swap plot device as well .

My thoughts & questions:

If anyone ever has a chance look for the BTS for this episode. It’s really funny. It’s the part where GCC is sleeping on the couch, and it’s really hard for anyone to keep from laughing. I also have to wonder if the actor had a ton of fun with this particular episode. It really does seem like they all did!

I really liked everyone’s visceral reaction in the scene to the obvious change in GCC. Everyone’s expression was all: whhatttt just happened here. They really did an awesome job with not overplaying it, but still selling their shock/surprise very well.

The fact that CSZ proclaims to reading the diary makes me laugh and laugh, and then furiously think some fan fiction needs to be written about that. Also, when he says he’s read the diary it doesn’t come across to me as mean or sarcastic, but simply matter-of-fact.

The parts I loved the most about this scene:

Seeing the team in a more relaxed setting and being ‘found family’. I love when they’re just hanging around and chattering just we all do with our family/found family. So many heartwarming feelings.

I also think this particular episode shows a much more relaxed CSZ. Or perhaps a CSZ in a more relaxed setting where he isn’t quite so frowny-stoic or beat-them-up-stoic. I like all the episodes where CSZ opens up more with the team or one on one with various team members. I also think his expressions concerning GCC’s change of personality were absolutely on point! I also feel he had the most visceral reactions what with dealing with GCC the most throughout the series, so he’s potentially more emotionally invested with GCC than say the others.

I don’t have many questions beyond, how did everyone else like this episode and did they enjoy the personality swaps?

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Ahh, this is a great little scene full of wonderful character beats. Thank you for this awesome post! :-D

I really enjoy a lot of how the camera shots were set up throughout the series.

Yes, the camera work on the show overall is really wonderful, isn't it? I appreciate you highlighting the angles and framing here.

Ooh, I don't think I consciously noticed before, but Chu Shuzhi gives us just enough information about the case that we can start to figure out for ourselves what's up with Guo Changcheng when he arrives. \o/

Da Qing also defends his honor with why he brought so much food back. (He was tricked).

LOL! Does that explain the beer, Da Qing? *noogies them all*

I love that Chu Shuzhi has not only read Guo Changcheng's diary, but he approves of it. I wonder if he read it with permission. (After all, GCC doesn't swipe it out of his hand.)

I’ve always read ZH’s expression here as really sad/surprised, whereas the rest of the crew is all just like: WTH just happened here?

Ha, yes, his rebuke is effective mostly because it's so unexpected. Poor Zhu Hong! The happy office puppy just growled and bit her, when she's supposed to be the fierce one! She doesn't seem to know what to do with that at all.

I think Zhao Yunlan kind of gestures to Chu Shuzhi with his food, silently going, "You deal with this. Managing Xiao Guo is your job."

I don’t necessarily read CSZ’s face here as angerangergrranger, but more like perplexed WTH happened anger. Like: I cannot believe you hit me.

Yessss, I think Chu Shuzhi is trying to glare Xiao Guo into submission, isn't he? But Xiao Guo (impossibly!) refuses to submit. Everyone knows something is really wrong here!

Once I re-watched it, I always took that second double blink of CSZ’s as him now becoming infected with the personality swap plot device as well

I think you're right. That's when it takes hold on him, though it affects him very differently, of course. (It's interesting that, afair, it doesn't affect Da Qing?)

I really liked everyone’s visceral reaction in the scene to the obvious change in GCC. Everyone’s expression was all: whhatttt just happened here.

Yesss! They're all so startled and flummoxed by it.

Seeing the team in a more relaxed setting and being ‘found family’. I love when they’re just hanging around and chattering just we all do with our family/found family. So many heartwarming feelings.

This, so much! I have so many feels about them all growing closer over the course of the show.

I think I need to rewatch this episode before I can answer your question. Mostly I remember adoring poor ZYL's frustration with everyone acting out of character. Like, he's figured out how to manage them all by pushing their respective buttons, and now all their buttons have CHANGED!!! :D :D :D

Thanks again for the post (and the great screencaps)! Yay!

I love that Chu Shuzhi has not only read Guo Changcheng's diary, but he approves of it. I wonder if he read it with permission. (After all, GCC doesn't swipe it out of his hand.)

I always saw this as yes GCC totally gave CSZ permission to read this book, although you could also argue that even if he didn’t, obviously GCC feels comfortable with the fact that CSZ read his diary (even in his alpha male version of GCC).

Ha, yes, his rebuke is effective mostly because it's so unexpected. Poor Zhu Hong! The happy office puppy just growled and bit her, when she's supposed to be the fierce one! She doesn't seem to know what to do with that at all.

YES! Exactly this. Like: Wait a minute he’s the terrified one, what just happened here?!?!

I think Zhao Yunlan kind of gestures to Chu Shuzhi with his food, silently going, "You deal with this. Managing Xiao Guo is your job."

Ooh, yes, that’s likely it exactly! Like: Dude he’s your puppy reign him back, kthanx.

Yessss, I think Chu Shuzhi is trying to glare Xiao Guo into submission, isn't he? But Xiao Guo (impossibly!) refuses to submit. Everyone knows something is really wrong here!

Hahah. He so doesn’t break eye contact at all. Such intense stares.

I think you're right. That's when it takes hold on him, though it affects him very differently, of course. (It's interesting that, afair, it doesn't affect Da Qing?)

I assumed the Yashou types possibly weren’t susceptible to the ‘infection’, if you will. :D

I think I need to rewatch this episode before I can answer your question. Mostly I remember adoring poor ZYL's frustration with everyone acting out of character. Like, he's figured out how to manage them all by pushing their respective buttons, and now all their buttons have CHANGED!!! :D :D :D

Oh, ZYL he was sooo frustrated, yes. Agreed wholeheartedly with the above!

Thanks again for the post (and the great screencaps)! Yay!

AHhh you’re welcome! I am having so much fun doing these :D

> (It's interesting that, afair, it doesn't affect Da Qing?)

Ohhh that is interesting because it affects Zhu Hong but not Da Qing! But, oh, the three people who aren't affected are Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei, and Da Qing - the three people who've had the most contact with the Hallows. Maybe they're *handwaves* something something protected? (We already know Zhao Yunlan isn't susceptible for... did Shen Wei ever say why ZYL was immune?)

... I've just remembered Lin Jing but we get a canon reason as to why he wasn't affected so that's fine! <.<

aksdjflk;asdjfldsa. Yes, I forgot ZH was affected (even though I knew that too, if that makes sense LOL) but my brain was like: Yashou. And then it ran with that.

Perhaps it is from their contact with the Hallows. I don't recall SW saying why ZYL wasn't affected. :)

hehehe it's okay!! *pats your brain*

The Hallows are responsible for many things... why not this too? *helpless shrug*

I don't recall SW saying why ZYL wasn't affected. :)

I assumed it was similar to the way ZYL is immune to Ye Zun's mind control; the Regent says, at some point, that only the small fry succumb to him. Similarly, Dr Cheng says that all personality changes are sourced from one's own weakness...

I always thought it was at least in part for the same reason that Lin Jing isn't affected - so much of his public image is already a deliberate construction ...

Oh, hmm, I think by ep 25, I like to think that's less true of ZYL within the SID. And the idea that his being more genuine makes him more vulnerable to attack seems... like not a great side-effect? So I'm gonna stick with my reading, I think.

(It would be interesting to know why he thinks he's immune. Everyone seems to take his immunity for granted. He's the Lord of the Guardians! Of course he's immune!)

I don't think being more genuine makes him more vulnerable, but then I also don't think Lin Jing isn't being genuine, despite the whole spying thing. For ZYL, I think it's more like a constant awareness of the image he's projecting. And that doesn't go away, after all, even if he does open up to people more, because that is a choice, too. (Compared to someone like Lao-Chu or Xiao-Guo, who in very different ways are both much more "what you see is what you get", if that makes sense?)

What ZYL thinks - when he calls Dr Cheng and asks what it means when someone's not affected (the "does that mean they're brave and righteous and have no weakness?"/"no, it probably means they're always disguising themselves somehow" conversation), from the way he phrases the question he seems to be asking for himself. And then he realises what her answer must mean for Lin Jing - but I always thought he applied it to himself as well; I read that as a deliberate parallel.

Hm. But when ZYL tries it on with Shen Wei, as Shen Wei's leaving, SW says, "Cut it out. Anyone but you is susceptible." -- and says it with such confidence that it seems to be a settled matter. ZYL doesn't ask why he's an exception, so I don't think there's supposed to be any mystery about it? So I assumed the mystery was why Lin Jing wasn't affected.

(I wonder if "brave and righteous and having no weakness" are just seen as standard attributes of a good guy? Idk.)

Yeah, I don't know about what Shen Wei says - either what he meant or what ZYL thought he meant. I don't even have a good theory, LOL. But the "brave and righteous etc." comes across as self-mocking to me, as if he was making fun of himself for even suggesting such a thing about himself - it really doesn't sound to me as if he's talking about Lin Jing. So I guess my interpretation is that even if Shen Wei thought there wasn't any mystery about it, ZYL probably wasn't so clear on it. YMMV, obviously.

I love that Chu Shuzhi has not only read Guo Changcheng's diary, but he approves of it. I wonder if he read it with permission. (After all, GCC doesn't swipe it out of his hand.)

Yeah, I think that has to be it. Also, I can totally see Xiao-Guo showing Lao-Chu what he's written!

It's interesting that, afair, it doesn't affect Da Qing?

Hm, he just disappears from the episode after this scene, and doesn't reappear until Kong Jing is dead, right? So maybe he was affected and went off somewhere else to do whatever personality-swapped cats do ...

Like, he's figured out how to manage them all by pushing their respective buttons, and now all their buttons have CHANGED!!! :D :D :D

Haha, that's the perfect way to put it! :D

Hm, he just disappears from the episode after this scene, and doesn't reappear until Kong Jing is dead, right? So maybe he was affected and went off somewhere else to do whatever personality-swapped cats do ...

LOL! Something energetic and diligent, no doubt. ;-)

When I watched the episode I was a bit baffled by meta questions like "why is Zhao Yunlan immune" and "what is going on with the taxi driver / original multiple personality guy" (and if I'm honest I'm probably still a bit baffled!).

I think on some level the personality swaps are very affecting for all the characters so like on the one hand when I watched the episode there were funny moments that I laughed at but when I think about it more I think each of them would be horrified at the way they were acting when under the influence of the swap. Like GCC was so rude and rough with people - he would be mortified to find out how he'd acted when his whole character is about kindness and gentleness.

When I watched the episode I was a bit baffled by meta questions like "why is Zhao Yunlan immune" and "what is going on with the taxi driver / original multiple personality guy" (and if I'm honest I'm probably still a bit baffled!).

I too was baffled with the taxi driver, but if I remember correctly one of his passengers had been infected and then he was too. I could be remembering wrong, but I think that's what happened. I'd need to watch episode 24 to verify XD

I think on some level the personality swaps are very affecting for all the characters so like on the one hand when I watched the episode there were funny moments that I laughed at but when I think about it more I think each of them would be horrified at the way they were acting when under the influence of the swap. Like GCC was so rude and rough with people - he would be mortified to find out how he'd acted when his whole character is about kindness and gentleness.

Agreed! Poor GCC would definitely be horrified, as would the others. I imagine CSZ would be all: Never speak of this again or I keel you. ZH possibly in a similar manner as CSZ and GCC would just be mortified for a very long while :D

Yeah I think you're right - IIRC in the end the OG serum guy had been his passenger? I found the whole episode pretty confusing but I've only seen it once so maybe on a re-watch things will make more sense! ^^;;

> I imagine CSZ would be all: Never speak of this again or I keel you.

I'm not sure CSZ would be able to speak of it himself, if I'm honest. And ZYL and SW both agree that CSZ would be horrified so I'm pretty sure they have no wish to speak of it themselves. I think everyone just avoids meeting everyone else's eyes for like a week and they just never speak of it ever ever again!!

Yeah I think you're right - IIRC in the end the OG serum guy had been his passenger? I found the whole episode pretty confusing but I've only seen it once so maybe on a re-watch things will make more sense! ^^;;

There are definitely a few episodes that I've had to rewatch for guardian because I felt like I was missing something. 24 was definitely one of them! XD Kind of like the first episode of The Untamed. It made so much better sense on the rewatch LOL.

I'm not sure CSZ would be able to speak of it himself, if I'm honest. And ZYL and SW both agree that CSZ would be horrified so I'm pretty sure they have no wish to speak of it themselves. I think everyone just avoids meeting everyone else's eyes for like a week and they just never speak of it ever ever again!!

The awkwardness would be for real. There would be so much second-hand embarrassment for everyone.

Yeah, cos like - this is the taxi driver that failed to pick up Wang Xiangyang's wife, right? And the crows were the ones that abducted Zhao Yunlan towards the end of the episode - so like... the merit brush is involved somehow, right? I am definitely still baffled OTL

Yes!!! I always assumed the merit brush was likewise involved. That particular arc was def a little hard to parse and follow for my brain for some reason. I always felt some edits might have taken out bits of the story that helped explain it more.

Yeah Wang Xiangyang seemed to be pretty thorough about people he felt had wronged him/caused his wife's death? But the episode was a bit confusing for sure.

I don't think there are any Crows involved in Zhao Yunlan's kidnapping - it's just Kong Jing, the guy who's the origin of all the personality swapping and whose death ends it. And his powers weren't from the Merit Brush - he was Haixingren and got the superpower serum the lab developed - but I always wondered if the effect was enhanced afterwards with the Merit Brush ... The show doesn't say one way or the other, as far as I can remember.

Forgive me, I'm not in a position to check the episode right now - but I thought there were crow darts around when ZYL was taken? Maybe I'm confusing multiple different episodes tho

I just checked, and a crow dart comes in the wall-fan and kills the taxi driver, then ZYL, GCC and CSZ run outside. They split up, and ZYL is immediately accosted by Kong Jin with a knife. Kong Jin says, "Honestly, I hate brutal fights and killings, but the boss has been bugging me. I have no other way."

ZYL: Boss? Who's your boss?
Kong Jin: You want to meet him? Then, I'll call him out.
ZYL: Okay.
Kong Jin changes personalities and knocks him out.

ETA: So you're both right. Crow darts were involved, but there were no crows around when ZYL was taken.

Edited 2022-01-18 03:49 (UTC)

Ah, thank you so much! I'm so relieved to know I wasn't going crazy and imagining the crow connection ^^;;

Whether or not the crows were involved with Kong Jin beyond locating and killing the taxi driver seems inconclusive tho based on canon evidence...

Yeah, it's not clear if they were ~~killing two birds with one stone~~ deliberately drawing ZYL out of the SID at that particular moment, as well as silencing the taxi driver.

~~I see what you did there~~ :D :D

I guess that means it's up to viewer interpretation! My favourite territory where everyone is valid :D

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I think you're right about deliberately drawing ZYL out, as well as getting rid of the taxi driver. It looks to me like Ya Qing and Wang Xiangyang may be watching the entire time? Given that there's a crow dart at the start (killing the taxi driver, drawing ZYL out) and at the end (killing Kong Jing)?

Oh no, you're totally right about the crow dart! I thought you meant the Crows themselves had kidnapped him, and it's just Kong Jing with the knife in that moment. I do think Ya Qing was deliberately drawing him out and setting up the kidnapping. Sorry for the confusion!

Ah, I get you now!! Yeah it wouldn't be the first time Wang Xiangyang and/or Ya Qing have sent others to do their dirty work so I wouldn't be surprised if they had facilitated Kong Jing's... everything!

This is an excellent write-up! :D

I love the camera angle and the framing in the first pics! Guardian is really good with this kind of thing, it's so beautifully shot. ♥

GCC so aggressive with that slap book out of hand move. I’ve always read ZH’s expression here as really sad/surprised, whereas the rest of the crew is all just like: WTH just happened here?

I think Zhu Hong is so stunned she’s basically gone blank. And with good reason!

I don’t necessarily read CSZ’s face here as angerangergrranger, but more like perplexed WTH happened anger. Like: I cannot believe you hit me.

He’s trying to glare Xiao-Guo into behaving normally again, isn’t he? But it’s not working.

Once I re-watched it, I always took that second double blink of CSZ’s as him now becoming infected with the personality swap plot device as well .

Ooh, yes, that has to be it!

I love when they’re just hanging around and chattering just we all do with our family/found family.

Yes! Me too, I love these team moments. ♥

I think Zhu Hong is so stunned she’s basically gone blank. And with good reason!

Yes! The natural order of things has been up-ended! :-)

AHhh thank you so much for commenting on my write up. :D

He’s trying to glare Xiao-Guo into behaving normally again, isn’t he? But it’s not working.

It so didn't work. Guo Changcheng was in full puffed-up-chest mode XD

Yes! Me too, I love these team moments. ♥

Absolute yes to this! Team moments best moments :D

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Focus On: Episode 25: Where GCC Is Not Feeling Like Himself

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