Scene Discussion: Episode 2x2

[awanderingcoyote]

I wanted to discuss two very short scenes from Episode 2 between Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei/Hei Pao Shi.  With them being soo short, I've combined them into one post.

I hope everyone enjoys!

 

Here is the nitty-gritty for each episode:

First Scene: From the 30:56 mark to the 31:18 mark

Second Scene: From 33:30 mark to the 33:05 mark

Screen captures sourced from the awesome: Guardian Episode 2 Caps 2 - Kernezelda (smugmug.com) 😊

And translations from Solo’s guardian vids 😊

Scene 1:

We start with Zhao Yunlan stepping closer to the ‘newly’ arrived Hei Pao Shi, after he’s put the other Dixingren down flat on the ground.

Zhao Yunlan: Old Bro Black.  You really came in time.

At this point Hei Pao Shi turns around to face Zhao Yunlan.  When he first turns his eyes don’t meet Zhao Yunlan’s, it’s only after a moment that he finally lifts his gaze upward.  (I find his expression here interesting here. Almost like reluctance or possibly hesitation? Perhaps a I want to look, but I don’t because my heart can’t take it.)

We then have a moment where the camera is focused on Zhao Yunlan.  (His expression reads as intensely curious to my brain)  Then it’s back to Hei Pao Shi. 

When Hei Pao Shi speaks, he looks down and says: I was careless again and arrived late.


 

The camera angle transitions to a long shot showing both ZYL and HPS.  (I really love how it’s angled in the below shot, it’s very catchy to the eye-or at least my eye!!)

Hei Pao Shi continues to speak: Forgive me.

Zhao Yunlan says: No. No. No. I don’t deserve this.

Then Zhao Yunlan proceeds to say: All right, take him away from here. I can’t settle this. (I’m still reading HPS’ expression here as tentative or fragile, something!! I cannot find the right words tonight XD)


 

At this point HPS steps away and back over to the other Dixingren, all the while as Zhao Yunlan watches him.

/End
 

Scene 2:

<b>CW:</b> Death of a beloved family member/grief/cemeteries.

Professor Shen and the SID Team are at the cemetery to support Li Qian. Eventually, Zhao Yunlan steps away to lean against a nearby tree, and not long after Shen Wei follows.  As the Professor arrives Zhao Yunlan unwraps a lollipop the he had pulled from his jacket pocket.

 

When Shen Wei arrives ZYL looks up and SW gives a small smile before it transitions into a long shot. (I know I’ve said it before but they’ve really set up some lovely lovely shots throughout this whole show).  In the background you can see the rest of the SID crew that came along still surround LQ.

Shen Wei gazes at the group whereas Zhao Yunlan stays focused on the lollipop.  Finally, as the camera focuses over Shen Wei’s shoulder, Shen Wei begins to speak: Since Li Qian’s grandmother’s funeral (the camera shifts to SW’s face) the Dixing person hasn’t appeared again.  (Zhao Yunlan’s expression is very somber and said – rightly so in this situation – but having watched the whole series it makes me think he’s thinking about his mom and such.)


 

The shot changes again to show a more full body angle of the two and Zhao Yunlan looks away, saying as he does: Guo Changcheng, that blabbermouth. Why is he telling you everything? (Did he though? LOL. Or is it because SW IS HPS XD XD.  But poor GCC getting the blame for it all.)

It shifts back to Shen Wei who says: I really want to know why these people choose this time to reappear.


 At this, Zhao Yunlan (who was looking off into the distance) turns his attention back to Shen Wei.

 

When Zhao Yunlan speaks, the camera angel turns back to looking over Shen Wei’s shoulder.  (To note, before ZYL speaks he stares at SW for a hot few seconds, then looks away, and takes a moment to take the lollipop out of his mouth.  My brain interrupted this as ZYL considering just how much to say to Shen Wei.>

 

Zhao Yunlan says: I think there’s a problem somewhere as well.

Scene 1 Thoughts/Questions:

1. At the end of the scene either the music makes it sound like a crow is cawing, or they added the sound effect in there, or I’m crazy, but my ears hear a crow caw of some sort!!! Which if it is a crow caw, I think is possibly a precursor to Ya Qing showing up? (I can’t recall what episode she showed up, so I could totally be wrong!)
2. How does everyone read Zhao Yunlan and Hei Pao Shi’s expressions in the first few minutes of their conversation?  I definitely read ZYL as SUPER curious.  Like: let me watch everything he does, because I want to know MOAR about this cloaked man whereas HPS’ look is much tentative. I still don’t know what word I really want to use. Pining-ish? Or possibly uncertain/scared, or a combination of them.   My brain interprets it as ‘I cannot look, but I have to look, but I cannot because <b>reasons</b>’ and that’s the best way I can summarize it LOL.
3. What thoughts do you think are going through Shen Wei’s head? I am super curious what people think he’s thinking (along with how to read his expression!!)

Scene 2 Thoughts/Questions:

1. What thoughts do you think both Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are having as they tiptoe around the elephant in the room?  The elephant being: SW is HPS and KNOWS things and ZYL isn’t quite sure who SW is and how much he can possibly trust him.
2. An interesting thing to note in this scene is there’s absolutely no background music, which I think brings another level of seriousness to it.  All you can hear is the typical background noises one might hear, like birds chirping, etc.
3. I think it’s very interesting to see Zhao Yunlan’s expression stay rock solid somber – which is obviously warranted! – but it likewise lends an air of sadness to it all.
4. Finally, do you think Shen Wei doesn’t know what/who is causing the problem and playing dumb to see what Zhao Yunlan and SID know, or does he perhaps not realize (at this point) who’s stirring the pot? 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to people’s points and discussions on these two clips from the second episode :D

Comments

[china_shop]

I also imagine the formality was/is used as a way for Shen Wei to erect a wall between himself and others. Much like how he used his mask. So that people would see something other than what was there (not that he was necessarily 'scared' here like when he used to go into battle, but hopefully I'm making sense!).

*nodnod* I think the formality is part of the role and part of Shen Wei's compartmentalising, for himself as well as for others. Does that make sense? (I feel like the 'scared to go into battle' probably only really referred to early on, when he was a new soldier; by the time he told Kunlun about it, it was just to explain why he started wearing the mask, not something that was still true? I mean, he was a general by then. But that's just my reading of it. :-)

Yes, definitely assessing too! I agree. I like the thought of ZYL trying to determine if they can work together.

And then in the next scene, ZYL summons the Envoy to the SID to talk about the Hallows, so he must have decided that building a good working relationship is a viable option. <3 <3 <3

You have to wonder what his father told him about HPS, because I don't think that was ever addressed much in the show.

Yess, that would have been so fascinating to find out -- how much did ZYL know about the Envoy beforehand, and where did he learn it from??

Also, I am having feelings now about thinking how SW is probably like: Let me just be in his presence.

Right? He must be having So Many Emotions, after all this time! (And then ZYL shows up at the university in the next episode and sneezes on his fishtank, and SW tells him off for interrupting his work, lol.)

♥ ♥ ♥

[trobadora]

I think the formality is part of the role and part of Shen Wei's compartmentalising, for himself as well as for others.

That's how I see it too!

I feel like the 'scared to go into battle' probably only really referred to early on, when he was a new soldier; by the time he told Kunlun about it, it was just to explain why he started wearing the mask, not something that was still true?

And this as well! *g*

And then in the next scene, ZYL summons the Envoy to the SID to talk about the Hallows, so he must have decided that building a good working relationship is a viable option.

He still needs Da Qing to prompt him first; he's not the one who brings it up. But he does decide to try, yeah!

[awanderingcoyote]

*nodnod* I think the formality is part of the role and part of Shen Wei's compartmentalising, for himself as well as for others. Does that make sense? (I feel like the 'scared to go into battle' probably only really referred to early on, when he was a new soldier; by the time he told Kunlun about it, it was just to explain why he started wearing the mask, not something that was still true? I mean, he was a general by then. But that's just my reading of it. :-) - Yes! I definitely see it as compartmentalizing it as well! And yes, I didn't explain myself well in my original reply for the scared to go into battle :) Not to say he's that way now and that it's still true, just how he had used the mask to help him put it in a box, as it were, to allow him to keep going. Words have been so hard this last week XD XD XD But Shen Wei is definitely putting everything into boxes XD

Yess, that would have been so fascinating to find out -- how much did ZYL know about the Envoy beforehand, and where did he learn it from?? - I know!! I agree with this completely. He could probably have even heard rumors and gossip about the 'fearsome Hei Pao Shi'. That would be interesting to explore in a fic!

Right? He must be having So Many Emotions, after all this time! (And then ZYL shows up at the university in the next episode and sneezes on his fishtank, and SW tells him off for interrupting his work, lol.) - THAT SNEEZING!! LOL. And GCC in the background like: I'm just here to take notes XD XD (I think GCC was there) But either way those two! I love all their interactions XD

[china_shop]

Re Shen Wei's fear in battle, I have a new take on that as of *checks watch* three days ago, which I'm going to post about soon. So I feel mean having said this here and people agreeing with me, because I've change my mind quite a lot -- but it's not that I didn't mean it when I said it. I just joined some more dots recently. I'll be interested to see if my new reasoning persuades you, if/when you get a chance to check it out. <3

And GCC in the background like: I'm just here to take notes XD XD (I think GCC was there)

Ahaha, yes, I think you're right. Poor GCC, trying to be a good intern around his IMPOSSIBLE boss. :D :D :D

(I hope work stops chomping on you soon! *hugs*)