This is such a great post, and you point out so many parallels! I completely agree with you, Guardian is SO good with these mirrors, parallels and echoes, and I love it so much!
But even though it's played for laughs, including that moment of non-recognition, and giving Zhao Yunlan a fleeting sense of how Shen Wei felt in episode 1, adds a richness and balance to the story (as well as showing us Standard Pre-Kunlun Envoy Operating Procedure).
Yes, all of this, including your parenthetical! ♥ ♥ ♥
Anyway, I've been meaning to come back to this post with something more substantial, but I have no brain at the moment, so I can only add one little thing - a take on two scenes you already brought up, but which parallel each other in multiple different ways. Have a few:
Shen Wei looks up and sees Kunlun for the first time (episode 34) // Shen Wei looks up and sees Kunlun for the first time in 10,000 years (episode 1):
Or alternatively, Shen Wei looks up and sees Kunlun for the first time in 10,000 years (episode 1) // Zhao Yunlan sees 10,000-years-ago Shen Wei for the first time:
Or even, Zhao Yunlan sees Shen Wei for the first time (episode 1) / Shen Wei sees Zhao Yunlan for the first time (episode 34):
FWIW, my take on the Li Qian situation is that unfortunately she's more likely to have her lifespan shortened as a consequence of her use of the Sundial. I think it needs all of the Hallows together for an effect like Da Qing's immortality - the Hallows can be beneficial when used/activated/self-activating all together, but individually they're much more likely to do harm, or at least have serious negative side effects.
no subject
But even though it's played for laughs, including that moment of non-recognition, and giving Zhao Yunlan a fleeting sense of how Shen Wei felt in episode 1, adds a richness and balance to the story (as well as showing us Standard Pre-Kunlun Envoy Operating Procedure).
Yes, all of this, including your parenthetical! ♥ ♥ ♥
Anyway, I've been meaning to come back to this post with something more substantial, but I have no brain at the moment, so I can only add one little thing - a take on two scenes you already brought up, but which parallel each other in multiple different ways. Have a few:
Shen Wei looks up and sees Kunlun for the first time (episode 34) // Shen Wei looks up and sees Kunlun for the first time in 10,000 years (episode 1):
Or alternatively, Shen Wei looks up and sees Kunlun for the first time in 10,000 years (episode 1) // Zhao Yunlan sees 10,000-years-ago Shen Wei for the first time:
Or even, Zhao Yunlan sees Shen Wei for the first time (episode 1) / Shen Wei sees Zhao Yunlan for the first time (episode 34):
FWIW, my take on the Li Qian situation is that unfortunately she's more likely to have her lifespan shortened as a consequence of her use of the Sundial. I think it needs all of the Hallows together for an effect like Da Qing's immortality - the Hallows can be beneficial when used/activated/self-activating all together, but individually they're much more likely to do harm, or at least have serious negative side effects.