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sid_guardian2022-04-23 11:11 pm
trobadora) wrote in sid_guardian2022-04-23 11:11 pm
Entry tags:
Focus on: Shen Wei wakes up after 10,000 years
Location of scene(s): episode 35, 29:38 - 34:52
(It's more of a sequence of scenes, but it makes no sense to rip them apart, so I'm going to talk about all of it.)
To recap: After Zhao Yunlan's stay in ancient Haixing, he and Shen Wei have met again in the Hallows-space inside the wormhole. Before they go back to the present, Zhao Yunlan wants to know what happened to Da Qing and Shen Wei. The Hallows-space, conveniently doubling as a cinema, conveniently displays subsequent events in Da Qing's life. Then Zhao Yunlan asks about Shen Wei falling into the abyss.
Shen Wei explains: "I fell into into the crack in the ground, but nevertheless I didn't die. Maybe it was the Hallows' influence, or maybe my fortune came from Ye Zun, like he said."
我落入地缝之中之后，却没有死。或许受到了圣器的影响，又或许就像夜尊说的一样是托了他的福。
And then our scene begins. We flash back to the Dijun Palace:
(Is it just me, or does the palace look brighter than it does in the present?)
Ding Dun reports to the Regent: "Lord Regent, Dixing's power sources are depleting day by day. More and more residents are escaping through the passage to the surface."
摄政大人，现在整个地星的能源供给一日不如一日。越来越多的居民透过通道私逃到地面上。
The third person present - this appears to be the same person Shen Wei meets in episode 16, where he says, "So you're the clerk who replaced Ding Dun" - speculates: "Since ten thousand years ago, the Hallows have gradually scattered. These strange events must be related to the Hallows."
万年以来圣器逐渐散落。看这怪象一定跟圣器有关。
The Regent complains about them making too much of a fuss, and adds: "Ye Zun's behaviour has also changed recently."
最近夜尊也有所异动。
He says he's contacted the humans' supervisory department, and with their permission he's sending Ding Dun to investigate on the surface.
And I have questions. So many questions!
Once Ding Dun has left, the Regent worries: "Ten thousand years ago the Black-Cloaked Envoy worked hard to make it possible to live down here. I can't be the one to ruin that with my old man's inefficiency."
万年前黑袍使他们打拼下的生息之所。总不至于毁在我这老头的任上吧。
The clerk has a different take: "In my opinion, it's only because the Black-Cloaked Envoy was too much of a coward back then that we have to live here at all."
依我看 就是当年的黑袍使。太过退缩 害我们不得不再这里蜗居。
The Regent, at this point in time, is not on board with that kind of talk; he shuts the clerk up with a look and sends him to check on Ye Zun - if Ye Zun escapes, all of Dixing is in trouble.
(This makes me wonder if there were times over the past 10,000 years where Dixing was in trouble because Ye Zun almost escaped - if not, would that idea have been at the forefront of the Regent's mind like this? Damn, I want more Dixing history!)
The scene changes to our usual rocky area aboveground, where Ding Dun and a team of armed Dixing soldiers are searching.
The spot on the ground where Shen Wei is moving from beneath; the soil is fresh and loose like a molehill. *g* When he sits up, all the dirt falls away, face and hair and robe miraculously clean. He looks exactly as he did 10,000 years ago, without his mask and with his hood off.
Back to the Dijun Palace, where the Regent is apparently showing the Envoy around. The Regent is marvelling at the Envoy's return after 10k years, and flatters him in the usual manner, calling him Dixing's great hero (地星的大英雄). Shen Wei looks around curiously, taking in his surroundings.
When the Regent stumbles (deliberately presenting himself as clumsy/overexcited?), Shen Wei catches him.
Shen Wei: "Dijun. Regent. Dixingren. Excellent!"
地君，摄政，地星人。很好！
He's clearly pleased to see modern Dixing, an apparently thriving civilisation - to know that after the war, people returned and rebuilt, the natural disasters and the war that he remembers all far in the past.
The Regent flatters him some more, praising his leadership back then. He must be worrying (and rightfully, despite him being the slimy weasel he is) what a returned Black-Cloaked Envoy will mean for Dixing today, and whether this guy who's mainly known for fighting an ancient war will expect or plan to take control again now.
Shen Wei is fully aware of these considerations, and is quick to forestall them: "At that time I was chosen as leader to seek peace for us all. Solo: It is easy to conquer, but difficult to govern. Your burden is much heavier than mine was then. Every generation has its own leaders. I understand that. So you don't need to worry."
当年大家推举我当首领也不过是为了带领大家谋求和平。打江山易 守江山难。你们的担子比我当年要更重一些。一朝天子一朝臣的道理 本使明白。所以你不必担心。
(The idiom he's using, 一朝天子一朝臣, means "new emperor, new officials", or, a new chief brings in new aides.)
(At that point in time, Shen Wei can't know what the Regent is like. He doesn't know enough about the present-day government to judge it yet, and even if he did, what right does he have to claim leadership? He's essentially an ancient legend come back to life; making it clear from the start that he's not expecting that to give him the right to supersede the present-day government strikes me as perceptive and shrewd as well as ethical, no matter how much we might wish he'd put more pressure on the Regent ...)
The Regent slightly changes the subject: "You said just now you wanted to go over there."
您刚才说您想要去那边。
How long have they been talking, before this conversation we see on screen? Shen Wei has clearly already been given some sort of briefing on the current situation, given his explanation: "Dixingren wanting freedom and escaping to the surface can be excused. But we can't allow them to flaunt their special powers on the surface and cause upheaval there."
地星人渴望自由 私逃地上是情有可原的。可是不能纵容他们在地上 暴露异能 扰乱秩序。
His expression and his voice go hard here - you can tell he remembers Dixingren back then trying to take over Haixing, and the war that ensued. Keeping the peace between Dixing and Haixing is his first priority, just as restoring that peace was back then.
He continues, "Besides, we don't know where the Hallows are now. Therefore I should be stationed over there for some time."
更何况 现在圣器不知所踪。所以本使要在那边驻守一段时间。
Searching for the Hallows seems to be his second priority. I'm not sure why that requires him being in Haixing, though - perhaps by process of elimination, as it's assumed that if the Hallows were somewhere in Dixing, they would have been found?
The Regent says he'll contact the Haixing Supervisory Department so they'll give the Envoy an airtight human identity, and asks what name the Envoy wants to use up there.
The Envoy, of course, gives the name he was given by Kunlun: "Shen Wēi."
沈巍。
The scene changes to the Heavenly Pillar. The Envoy is now wearing his modern robes, though still no mask, and his hood is still down.
Ye Zun, in the face of his brother's return, says: "Seems like the heavens want us to keep fighting each other."
看来是老天要我们继续斗下去。
Shen Wei asks if after 10,000 years, he still has not repented, but Ye Zun doesn't think he has anything to repent for: "Time will prove that you're wrong and I'm right. A kind heart can never be a match for absolute power."
时间终究会证明你是错的，我是对的。空泛的一颗圣心永远比不过 扫平世界的绝对力量。
Shen Wei tells Ye Zun he's planning to go upstairs to protect the world and keep the peace.
Ye Zun: "Stop bragging. You're destined to be as lonely there as I am. Don't forget, you're the Black-Cloaked Envoy. To them, you're an alien."
别说大话了。你去那里注定要和我享有一样的孤独。别忘了，你是黑袍使 是那些人眼中的异类。
I'm fascinated by Ye Zun bringing up his own loneliness here, even if it's only to take a swipe at his brother.
Shen Wei, in return, quotes a friend (Kunlun, presumably): "A friend of mine said once, we Dixingren also love and hate. We are just the same as them.
我的一个朋友说过我们地星人也会爱，恨和感动。我们跟他们其实就是同一种人。
(Side note, can anyone can think of a good way to translate 感动 in this context? I'm not surprised most of the subtitle people threw up their hands ...)
This sounds very like Zhao Yunlan's present-day speech during his public broadcast - if he said something similar back then, Shen Wei's heart eyes during that broadcast gain an additional layer ...
Shen Wei puts up his hood and puts on his mask - it's the new embroidered robe, and the new mask.
"Take care."
保重。
And then we switch to Haixing - a scene indistinguishable from the current day save for the slight sepia tone of the flashbacks. Two Dixingren are robbing a woman. One of them brags about ordinary people being no match for them; the other seems worried, says he's heard the Black-Cloaked Envoy has returned and has come upstairs to keep them under control.
Says the other: "If he really dares to come, tell him to come at me!"
他要是真敢来，你叫他来找我。
Shen Wei, having listened to this, promptly hops (yes, hops!) out of his portal.
Which is fascinating! Because we see him exiting the portal without anyone seeing him, listening in, and then visibly exiting the portal again. Is he still half inside the portal, or can he use his portals invisibly (which, useful!)? And did he then throw up a flashy portal effect again just to make a grand entrance? :D
Shen Wei: "This place is not for you. You better go back."
这里不适合你们。你们还是回去吧。
And he employs another power that I don't recall seeing before, making them vanish. Then he looks around at modern-day Dragon City: "So this is Haixing after ten thousand years."
原来这里就是万年后的海星。
(This really is indistinguishable from the current day, right up to the benches! Also, there's apparently a cineplex, according to the sign on the left. Quite a lot for Shen Wei to take in!)
And we've reached the end of the flashback sequence. :)
Additional questions, on top of the ones listed above:
So, let's talk about this scene! Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts. And if anyone has links to related fanworks or meta, please share! ♥
(It's more of a sequence of scenes, but it makes no sense to rip them apart, so I'm going to talk about all of it.)
To recap: After Zhao Yunlan's stay in ancient Haixing, he and Shen Wei have met again in the Hallows-space inside the wormhole. Before they go back to the present, Zhao Yunlan wants to know what happened to Da Qing and Shen Wei. The Hallows-space, conveniently doubling as a cinema, conveniently displays subsequent events in Da Qing's life. Then Zhao Yunlan asks about Shen Wei falling into the abyss.
Shen Wei explains: "I fell into into the crack in the ground, but nevertheless I didn't die. Maybe it was the Hallows' influence, or maybe my fortune came from Ye Zun, like he said."
我落入地缝之中之后，却没有死。或许受到了圣器的影响，又或许就像夜尊说的一样是托了他的福。
And then our scene begins. We flash back to the Dijun Palace:
(Is it just me, or does the palace look brighter than it does in the present?)
Ding Dun reports to the Regent: "Lord Regent, Dixing's power sources are depleting day by day. More and more residents are escaping through the passage to the surface."
摄政大人，现在整个地星的能源供给一日不如一日。越来越多的居民透过通道私逃到地面上。
The third person present - this appears to be the same person Shen Wei meets in episode 16, where he says, "So you're the clerk who replaced Ding Dun" - speculates: "Since ten thousand years ago, the Hallows have gradually scattered. These strange events must be related to the Hallows."
万年以来圣器逐渐散落。看这怪象一定跟圣器有关。
The Regent complains about them making too much of a fuss, and adds: "Ye Zun's behaviour has also changed recently."
最近夜尊也有所异动。
He says he's contacted the humans' supervisory department, and with their permission he's sending Ding Dun to investigate on the surface.
And I have questions. So many questions!
- If this guy later took over Ding Dun's job, what's his job here and now? What's Ding Dun's job, given that he's apparently qualified to lead teams of armed soldiers? Why is the clerk by the Regent's side here, just as he will be over 20 years later?
- What strange events is he referring to? Is Dixing's power depleting in ways that aren't obviously the effect of the Hallows' absence?
- Regarding the scattering of the Hallows, when and how did this happen? From what's said here it sounds like the last time they were all fully accounted for was 10,000 years ago when they were first taken to Dixing, but we know from Zhang Shi that the Guardian Lantern only went out very recently - he speaks of decades, not even centuries (in episode 36) ...
- Ye Zun is apparently a known quantity in Dixing - he therefore can't have been asleep or in stasis. (Poor guy, that's definitely cruel and unusual punishment!) What's he been doing recently that's so unusual for him, and why? Can he feel Shen Wei waking up?
- What's the surface got to do with anything - why is the Regent sending Ding Dun upstairs? How does he know that's where they'll find something?
Once Ding Dun has left, the Regent worries: "Ten thousand years ago the Black-Cloaked Envoy worked hard to make it possible to live down here. I can't be the one to ruin that with my old man's inefficiency."
万年前黑袍使他们打拼下的生息之所。总不至于毁在我这老头的任上吧。
The clerk has a different take: "In my opinion, it's only because the Black-Cloaked Envoy was too much of a coward back then that we have to live here at all."
依我看 就是当年的黑袍使。太过退缩 害我们不得不再这里蜗居。
The Regent, at this point in time, is not on board with that kind of talk; he shuts the clerk up with a look and sends him to check on Ye Zun - if Ye Zun escapes, all of Dixing is in trouble.
(This makes me wonder if there were times over the past 10,000 years where Dixing was in trouble because Ye Zun almost escaped - if not, would that idea have been at the forefront of the Regent's mind like this? Damn, I want more Dixing history!)
The scene changes to our usual rocky area aboveground, where Ding Dun and a team of armed Dixing soldiers are searching.
The spot on the ground where Shen Wei is moving from beneath; the soil is fresh and loose like a molehill. *g* When he sits up, all the dirt falls away, face and hair and robe miraculously clean. He looks exactly as he did 10,000 years ago, without his mask and with his hood off.
Back to the Dijun Palace, where the Regent is apparently showing the Envoy around. The Regent is marvelling at the Envoy's return after 10k years, and flatters him in the usual manner, calling him Dixing's great hero (地星的大英雄). Shen Wei looks around curiously, taking in his surroundings.
When the Regent stumbles (deliberately presenting himself as clumsy/overexcited?), Shen Wei catches him.
Shen Wei: "Dijun. Regent. Dixingren. Excellent!"
地君，摄政，地星人。很好！
He's clearly pleased to see modern Dixing, an apparently thriving civilisation - to know that after the war, people returned and rebuilt, the natural disasters and the war that he remembers all far in the past.
The Regent flatters him some more, praising his leadership back then. He must be worrying (and rightfully, despite him being the slimy weasel he is) what a returned Black-Cloaked Envoy will mean for Dixing today, and whether this guy who's mainly known for fighting an ancient war will expect or plan to take control again now.
Shen Wei is fully aware of these considerations, and is quick to forestall them: "At that time I was chosen as leader to seek peace for us all. Solo: It is easy to conquer, but difficult to govern. Your burden is much heavier than mine was then. Every generation has its own leaders. I understand that. So you don't need to worry."
当年大家推举我当首领也不过是为了带领大家谋求和平。打江山易 守江山难。你们的担子比我当年要更重一些。一朝天子一朝臣的道理 本使明白。所以你不必担心。
(The idiom he's using, 一朝天子一朝臣, means "new emperor, new officials", or, a new chief brings in new aides.)
(At that point in time, Shen Wei can't know what the Regent is like. He doesn't know enough about the present-day government to judge it yet, and even if he did, what right does he have to claim leadership? He's essentially an ancient legend come back to life; making it clear from the start that he's not expecting that to give him the right to supersede the present-day government strikes me as perceptive and shrewd as well as ethical, no matter how much we might wish he'd put more pressure on the Regent ...)
The Regent slightly changes the subject: "You said just now you wanted to go over there."
您刚才说您想要去那边。
How long have they been talking, before this conversation we see on screen? Shen Wei has clearly already been given some sort of briefing on the current situation, given his explanation: "Dixingren wanting freedom and escaping to the surface can be excused. But we can't allow them to flaunt their special powers on the surface and cause upheaval there."
地星人渴望自由 私逃地上是情有可原的。可是不能纵容他们在地上 暴露异能 扰乱秩序。
His expression and his voice go hard here - you can tell he remembers Dixingren back then trying to take over Haixing, and the war that ensued. Keeping the peace between Dixing and Haixing is his first priority, just as restoring that peace was back then.
He continues, "Besides, we don't know where the Hallows are now. Therefore I should be stationed over there for some time."
更何况 现在圣器不知所踪。所以本使要在那边驻守一段时间。
Searching for the Hallows seems to be his second priority. I'm not sure why that requires him being in Haixing, though - perhaps by process of elimination, as it's assumed that if the Hallows were somewhere in Dixing, they would have been found?
The Regent says he'll contact the Haixing Supervisory Department so they'll give the Envoy an airtight human identity, and asks what name the Envoy wants to use up there.
The Envoy, of course, gives the name he was given by Kunlun: "Shen Wēi."
沈巍。
The scene changes to the Heavenly Pillar. The Envoy is now wearing his modern robes, though still no mask, and his hood is still down.
Ye Zun, in the face of his brother's return, says: "Seems like the heavens want us to keep fighting each other."
看来是老天要我们继续斗下去。
Shen Wei asks if after 10,000 years, he still has not repented, but Ye Zun doesn't think he has anything to repent for: "Time will prove that you're wrong and I'm right. A kind heart can never be a match for absolute power."
时间终究会证明你是错的，我是对的。空泛的一颗圣心永远比不过 扫平世界的绝对力量。
Shen Wei tells Ye Zun he's planning to go upstairs to protect the world and keep the peace.
Ye Zun: "Stop bragging. You're destined to be as lonely there as I am. Don't forget, you're the Black-Cloaked Envoy. To them, you're an alien."
别说大话了。你去那里注定要和我享有一样的孤独。别忘了，你是黑袍使 是那些人眼中的异类。
I'm fascinated by Ye Zun bringing up his own loneliness here, even if it's only to take a swipe at his brother.
Shen Wei, in return, quotes a friend (Kunlun, presumably): "A friend of mine said once, we Dixingren also love and hate. We are just the same as them.
我的一个朋友说过我们地星人也会爱，恨和感动。我们跟他们其实就是同一种人。
(Side note, can anyone can think of a good way to translate 感动 in this context? I'm not surprised most of the subtitle people threw up their hands ...)
This sounds very like Zhao Yunlan's present-day speech during his public broadcast - if he said something similar back then, Shen Wei's heart eyes during that broadcast gain an additional layer ...
Shen Wei puts up his hood and puts on his mask - it's the new embroidered robe, and the new mask.
"Take care."
保重。
And then we switch to Haixing - a scene indistinguishable from the current day save for the slight sepia tone of the flashbacks. Two Dixingren are robbing a woman. One of them brags about ordinary people being no match for them; the other seems worried, says he's heard the Black-Cloaked Envoy has returned and has come upstairs to keep them under control.
Says the other: "If he really dares to come, tell him to come at me!"
他要是真敢来，你叫他来找我。
Shen Wei, having listened to this, promptly hops (yes, hops!) out of his portal.
Which is fascinating! Because we see him exiting the portal without anyone seeing him, listening in, and then visibly exiting the portal again. Is he still half inside the portal, or can he use his portals invisibly (which, useful!)? And did he then throw up a flashy portal effect again just to make a grand entrance? :D
Shen Wei: "This place is not for you. You better go back."
这里不适合你们。你们还是回去吧。
And he employs another power that I don't recall seeing before, making them vanish. Then he looks around at modern-day Dragon City: "So this is Haixing after ten thousand years."
原来这里就是万年后的海星。
(This really is indistinguishable from the current day, right up to the benches! Also, there's apparently a cineplex, according to the sign on the left. Quite a lot for Shen Wei to take in!)
And we've reached the end of the flashback sequence. :)
Additional questions, on top of the ones listed above:
- Do you think Shen Wei sometimes regrets immediately going to the surface and not spending more time in Dixing?
- What does the Regent make of the Envoy, in truth?
- We see no shock from Shen Wei about his brother having been trapped inside the pillar for so long - he's clearly already had time to get over that. He also makes no attempt to reach his brother, and shows no surprise at Ye Zun's vicious might-makes-right speech. One wonders what kind of briefing he received about Ye Zun's role over the last 10,000 years, to have him approach him like this ...
- Shen Wei's new mask seems to be modelled after Ye Zun's golden mask in YOHE - do you think that's one of those prop things we're not supposed to think about too closely, or are there in-universe reasons behind it?
- We know from the first encounter with Wu Tian'en that Shen Wei has been awake for over 20 years, since Wu Tian'en knew him back then, so the Shen Wei identity the Regent plans to have set up for him can't be the present Professor Shen, who is officially 32 years old at the start of the drama and would have been under 12 back then. What do you think his first Haixing identity was?
- The Envoy doesn't hesitate to send the two thieves back to Dixing. How much does he know about their situation? Does he care at this point? If he'd come across these same people twenty years later, might he have let them get away?
So, let's talk about this scene! Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts. And if anyone has links to related fanworks or meta, please share! ♥
no subject
This is such an interesting question - the Regent here seems to be, if not principled, then at least taking a reasonably firm stance pro HPS (though, granted, this is before HPS is literally in front of his face again; but also, he has nothing specific to gain from being in favour at this stage, unlike some of the obvious bootlicking later) and I wonder how this tallies with his later behaviour towards Shen Wei.
Damn, I want more Dixing history!
Such a mood. I keep making stuff up, but it would really have been nice to have a little bit more canon to build on.
At that point in time, Shen Wei can't know what the Regent is like. He doesn't know enough about the present-day government to judge it yet, and even if he did, what right does he have to claim leadership? He's essentially an ancient legend come back to life; making it clear from the start that he's not expecting that to give him the right to supersede the present-day government strikes me as perceptive and shrewd as well as ethical, no matter how much we might wish he'd put more pressure on the Regent ...
Exactly this! I've seen several takes arguing that Shen Wei should've done more for Dixing, politically speaking, but his position really isn't suited for that. He's completely out of his own time, lacks all the context and as far as we know has never done any non-war-related governing/leading - why would he seize power now? Not to mention that, as you say, it would be deeply ethically dubious to do so, simply on the strength of his power. Which I think Shen Wei is always well aware of.
Keeping the peace between Dixing and Haixing is his first priority, just as restoring that peace was back then.
As principled as it is, it does make me sad for him. Always duty, and (at least until Zhao Yunlan), no real reason to imagine or want for more enough to consider doing something else.
Do you think Shen Wei sometimes regrets immediately going to the surface and not spending more time in Dixing?
Yes, I think so. Not on a personal level - I think he's pretty content living in Haixing, and his university work, and of course he's searching for Kunlun - but on an ideological level. Part of the criticism leveled at Heipaoshi by some Dixingren is that he doesn't know how they live, doesn't identify with them, and while I'm not sure that's entirely true, I do think Shen Wei realises just how far apart his age and current circumstances pull him from the average Dixingren. Staying in Dixing for a while longer might have mitigated that a little.
(Sidenote: I've always been confused about whether he didn't stay in Dixing for a little while first, given the whole thing with Wu Tian'en's team, which seemed to imply to me that he sent them to Haixing while still in Dixing himself; but maybe I understood that wrong.)
What does the Regent make of the Envoy, in truth?
Question for the ages! I haven't figured it out, though I'm also not sure the Regent entirely knows himself. All Dixingren do seem to have a knee-jerk 'Heipaoshi!!' awe reaction (presumably having grown up with stories of the war hero?), even those who don't like him. So I wouldn't be surprised if the Regent has some of that in these early scenes, even while his brain is already ticking away in the background wondering what this will do to the balance of power. I can also imagine him being a little, hmm, not necessarily contemptuous of Shen Wei's youth and lack of harshness, but perhaps surprised by it in a 'I can use this' way?
We see no shock from Shen Wei about his brother having been trapped inside the pillar for so long - he's clearly already had time to get over that. He also makes no attempt to reach his brother, and shows no surprise at Ye Zun's vicious might-makes-right speech. One wonders what kind of briefing he received about Ye Zun's role over the last 10,000 years, to have him approach him like this ...
Honestly, this is one of the details that to me argue for Shen Wei not having been entirely out of it the entire 10,000 years because it's so inconsistent. In the entire modern day arc, starting here, Shen Wei doesn't really seem to care about Ye Zun almost at all. He approaches him with regret, but mostly as an enemy. Whereas the last scene in YOHE still has him desperately trying to save Ye Zun, and I can't really see Shen Wei's character being such that just some briefing would immediately dissuade him from that without checking it out for himself. I don't know, it's tricky.
What do you think his first Haixing identity was?
I have no answer to this, but I never even thought of that! Hmmm.
The Envoy doesn't hesitate to send the two thieves back to Dixing. How much does he know about their situation? Does he care at this point? If he'd come across these same people twenty years later, might he have let them get away?
I presumed the guy bragging about people being no match for his powers made him deal with them so decisively, since he previously said it's only troublemakers he intends to deal with to keep the peace. That's generally how I read his Envoying - as long as a Dixingren living in Haixing doesn't make trouble he won't go out of his way to deport them, but once they do, he's pretty firm about it until the events of the show (as the Treaty demands).
no subject
Hm, it's one thing to align himself with a legend who doesn't challenge his actual rule, vs. dealing with a real-life person with vast sway over people's minds. The legend can be instrumentalised in his favour in ways the real person can't. But yeah, I find it so interesting that he comes across so much more reasonable than usual here!
I keep making stuff up, but it would really have been nice to have a little bit more canon to build on.
Right? I appreciate everyone who plays with those themes in fanfic, but I still do wish we had more canon.
I've seen several takes arguing that Shen Wei should've done more for Dixing, politically speaking, but his position really isn't suited for that. He's completely out of his own time, lacks all the context and as far as we know has never done any non-war-related governing/leading - why would he seize power now? Not to mention that, as you say, it would be deeply ethically dubious to do so, simply on the strength of his power. Which I think Shen Wei is always well aware of.
Yeah, 100% agreed. I've seen some criticism of Shen Wei on the grounds that he didn't do things I personally strongly feel would be unethical, ill-advised and OOC. *g* And that's a very good point about having no non-war governing experience.
As principled as it is, it does make me sad for him. Always duty, and (at least until Zhao Yunlan), no real reason to imagine or want for more enough to consider doing something else.
He's hoping to meet Kunlun again, at least. And when he does get adjusted to Haixing he finds things to enjoy there - his whole professor gig is basically a hobby, not a duty, after all.
Part of the criticism leveled at Heipaoshi by some Dixingren is that he doesn't know how they live, doesn't identify with them, and while I'm not sure that's entirely true, I do think Shen Wei realises just how far apart his age and current circumstances pull him from the average Dixingren. Staying in Dixing for a while longer might have mitigated that a little.
Yeah, that's what I feel as well.
(Sidenote: I've always been confused about whether he didn't stay in Dixing for a little while first, given the whole thing with Wu Tian'en's team, which seemed to imply to me that he sent them to Haixing while still in Dixing himself; but maybe I understood that wrong.)
I can also imagine him being a little, hmm, not necessarily contemptuous of Shen Wei's youth and lack of harshness, but perhaps surprised by it in a 'I can use this' way?
Yeah, that sounds about right to me. And also glad about it because if he'd ever thought about it before, he'd probably have thought HPS was way more of a stereotypical tough-guy warrior ...
Honestly, this is one of the details that to me argue for Shen Wei not having been entirely out of it the entire 10,000 years because it's so inconsistent. In the entire modern day arc, starting here, Shen Wei doesn't really seem to care about Ye Zun almost at all. He approaches him with regret, but mostly as an enemy. Whereas the last scene in YOHE still has him desperately trying to save Ye Zun, and I can't really see Shen Wei's character being such that just some briefing would immediately dissuade him from that without checking it out for himself. I don't know, it's tricky.
Yeah, I feel you on that. I think being somewhat aware, or even periodically awake, and witnessing Ye Zun's slide into further darkness, would make sense.
I have no answer to this, but I never even thought of that! Hmmm.
If you ever think of something, I'd love to hear about it!
I presumed the guy bragging about people being no match for his powers made him deal with them so decisively
Yeah, that makes sense to me!
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Insert the usual 'I really wish we'd got a little more background/backstory for him' whining here :D
He's hoping to meet Kunlun again, at least. And when he does get adjusted to Haixing he finds things to enjoy there - his whole professor gig is basically a hobby, not a duty, after all.
Yes, true. He does carve out a pretty nice niche in Haixing - I'm just not convinced that was his plan, or even something he specifically hoped for at this point in time.
if he'd ever thought about it before, he'd probably have thought HPS was way more of a stereotypical tough-guy warrior ...
It'd be the most obvious assumption, I think. And many Dixingren don't seem to see any facets to the Envoy even during the main plot arc, so it's not like Shen Wei goes out of his way to show off other sides of himself.
If you ever think of something, I'd love to hear about it!
I suspect he didn't immediately dive into a Haixingren job, given that he has quite a lot of learning and acclimatising to do. He probably spent a lot of time in the library, and roaming through Dragon City and getting familiar with the place. Maybe building up relations with the Yashou, since at least Ying Chung and Fourth Uncle (do we ever get a name for him??) seem to know him reasonably well.
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*whines with you*
He does carve out a pretty nice niche in Haixing - I'm just not convinced that was his plan, or even something he specifically hoped for at this point in time.
No, agreed, I don't think he was looking for anything of the sort, other than finding Kunlun again.
I suspect he didn't immediately dive into a Haixingren job, given that he has quite a lot of learning and acclimatising to do. He probably spent a lot of time in the library, and roaming through Dragon City and getting familiar with the place. Maybe building up relations with the Yashou, since at least Ying Chung and Fourth Uncle (do we ever get a name for him??) seem to know him reasonably well.
Oooh, that's a great idea, I love the thought of him with the Yashou! (No, no name for Fourth Uncle, poor guy. *g*)
I agree about spending a lot of time getting to know modern-day Haixing. I wish we could have seen some of that!
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I do have a bit of an 'what actually is going on with the Yashou?' agenda, but... we know even less about them than we know about Dixing from show canon. Pretty much just a blank canvas, and those are intimidating.
I agree about spending a lot of time getting to know modern-day Haixing. I wish we could have seen some of that!
I would absolutely watch/read an entire series about Shen Wei encountering Modern Life (TM). He's clearly adaptable and competent enough there wouldn't be too much embarrassment (my usual problem with this kind of storyline), and there'd be a lot of fun '... but why, how did this happen, what are people doing' moments. Also, him at university is still a concept I want someone to explore in depth...
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He's clearly adaptable and competent enough there wouldn't be too much embarrassment (my usual problem with this kind of storyline)
Yes! This! I have a huge embarrassment squick, and I loathe fish-out-of-water humour, so this kind of narrative is usually not for me, but I absolutely want to see Shen Wei meeting modern Haixing without those things! And then deciding to go to uni, and actually being a student, after/while also being Hei Pao Shi ... I want all of that!
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Also, your icon is gorgeous. ♥
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