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sid_guardian2022-06-17 10:26 pm
Scene Discussion: Episode 2x2
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:
- 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!)
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
no subject
*facepalms* right, I don't know how I didn't notice. I think the youtube subs had him translated as saying Chief Zhao and that just stuck in my brain? :')
(I love how he navigates the political waters so expertly, even/especially when he's being less than welcoming. ♥)
It's one of his strengths! :D I wish it was explored more in fic (or maybe I just haven't found the right fics yet lmao I'm always down for my babies being badass at navigating the system to their advantage)
Ahh, that's such a good point! I love that (and now you've identified it, I think it's part of what I find attractive about it *koff*). I wonder if he kind of forgot for a moment that he's quit. *pets him*
It's a very hot but casual lean against the tree! *thumbs up* (oh man, I could totally buy it, ZYL being so out of sorts and needing to reorient himself thus breaking away from the group and groping for a smoke but coming up with a lollipop instead... ó.ò)
Hm, except Shen Wei hasn't just suddenly appeared. He's been at the university for ten years... I'm not sure ZYL would have leapt to suspecting him of being Dixingren yet, either. So far, his experience of Dixingren have been light years from this respectable, controlled professor.
but he has suddenly stuck his nose in SID's business just as things are starting! very suspicious :D and idk I could see ZYL formenting the Dixingren theory in the back of his mind, after the fall from the roof without a scratch. Except for the ones left by the shadow man's claws, but it's not like he sees those :') plus Shen Wei argues a lot in favour of Dixingren pretty early on, but I forget which episodes those happen at exactly, they're sprinkled in there... hm. I don't think he's feeling like it's /confirmed/ yet, but he does make some impressively intuitive leaps. OTOH you're right, ZYL here is still stuck in his prejudice and only slowly prodding those assumptions, so Professor Shen's austensible respectibility would be a counterargument for that theory.
Or just context-appropriate behaviour?
Valid point! I was mostly hung up that this is the first time in Shen Wei's presence that he's turned it off (I think we would've seen it on the rooftop if SID arrived to Professor Shen trying to fight off the Shadow Man, but that's not what happened so. ZYL arrived late to the hospital fight, and Shen Wei was "stuck" in the car during the post-car confrontation, so there weren't a lot of contexts yet necessiting ZYL to be 100% serious.
no subject
... this is making me wonder how much he took up smoking as an excuse to retreat at times. Some people smoke as a social activity, but I could see it going either way with ZYL, at the start. *pets him*
but he has suddenly stuck his nose in SID's business just as things are starting!
Yes, he's very much an interested party. He knows far too much to be entirely innocent. But he could be protecting someone or just have a scholarly interest. (I presume the surface excuse for consulting him on cases is that he's knowledgeable about Dixing in a scholarly way? Oh, maybe that's yet another reason for Shen Wei refusing to work for them officially: he won't confirm he's from Dixing, and he doesn't want to work for ZYL under false pretences, however nominal? There are lots of other, stronger reasons, but I can see that weighing in, maybe?)
after the fall from the roof without a scratch
He got lucky, and the bushes broke his fall, I don't know what you mean! *whistles with slightly desperate "innocence"* :D
and Shen Wei was "stuck" in the car during the post-car confrontation
Oh! This made me go back and watch the car scene (pre-attack). ZYL is pretty serious/subdued there? And there's also the bit where the two of them saved Li Qian from jumping off the biology building... So I don't think this is the first time. Maybe the first time he could have flirted and didn't, though. But again, funeral.
no subject
Hmmm, I could see it being both? I don't know how "rebellious" smoking is in China, but that could be a factor, too. (Alternatively, wanting to appear more grown-up?) Starts with social drinking and smoking (since bars are major smoking areas in China, iirc?), and then gives him a neat excuse to step out in other situations.
Yes, he's very much an interested party. He knows far too much to be entirely innocent. But he could be protecting someone or just have a scholarly interest.
I'm not saying it's the only theory! :D In my head, ZYL always has multiple theories going that he's crossing off as the likelihood sinks until he arrives at the most likely conclusion two steps ahead of others.
I do wonder though, because Dixing is supposed to be not well-known, right? Kinda a secret? ZYL was surprised Shen Wei knew anything. On the other hand, his research pre-supposes the existence of mutants of some form... (if he were working for Professor Ouyang, he'd have a legit excuse, but tbf he's not interested in that. Besides, conflict of interests much huh?) I'm not sure how clear canon is re: how much an invested someone could learn about Dixingren, like Cong Bo only learned because he caught cam footage of Shen Wei using his powers, and he's a snoop and was looking into the SID. Which would suggest it's pretty well under wraps? But on the other hand... ngggh I don't know.
Oh! This made me go back and watch the car scene (pre-attack). ZYL is pretty serious/subdued there?
Oh, fair! that was a somber scene indeed. (but yeah, funerals. Not a great place to try new pick-up lines)
no subject
Or it started as a "reason" to sneak out of his dad's house, when he was still living at home. Like, desperately needing to get out, but not quite admitting that to himself, so taking up secret smoking so he could lie to himself that he wasn't desperate to escape, he was handling things fine? Idk. /random :-)
Anyway, however he started, I'm sure it became a thing he used both for socialising and for getting space, as needed.
I'm not saying it's the only theory! :D In my head, ZYL always has multiple theories going that he's crossing off as the likelihood sinks until he arrives at the most likely conclusion two steps ahead of others.
*nodnod* That's fair. I guess I'm just questioning it because in ep 4 we see him starting to put the pieces together (at which point Shen Wei promptly decides to give himself a minor injury and not heal it). Which suggests ZYL hadn't figured it out sooner, I think.
I do wonder though, because Dixing is supposed to be not well-known, right? Kinda a secret? ZYL was surprised Shen Wei knew anything.
He was (and also that he was speaking of them so openly, and in their defence, I think?). Counter-evidence (seen in previous discussions on this subject which I can't find right now) include: Teacher Zhang wasn't shocked or surprised by Wang Yike's abilities, Dr Cheng has a Dixingren younger brother, there are other Dixingren living in Haixing, and occasional attacks. There must be rumours. And the science community seems to know more than most other people -- which ZYL might know about through Lin Jing.
(but yeah, funerals. Not a great place to try new pick-up lines)
Hee! Depends on the funeral, but yeah.
no subject
That seems like a very Zhao Yunlan thing to do indeed :'D
I guess I'm just questioning it because in ep 4 we see him starting to put the pieces together (at which point Shen Wei promptly decides to give himself a minor injury and not heal it). Which suggests ZYL hadn't figured it out sooner, I think.
Fair point! I'm not sure what my personal opinion is quite yet, I will keep an eye on that during my rewatch <3 Right now, I could be sold on it either way
Counter-evidence (seen in previous discussions on this subject which I can't find right now) include: Teacher Zhang wasn't shocked or surprised by Wang Yike's abilities, Dr Cheng has a Dixingren younger brother, there are other Dixingren living in Haixing, and occasional attacks. There must be rumours. And the science community seems to know more than most other people -- which ZYL might know about through Lin Jing.
The existence of Dixingren and how secret it is kept is a headache to me, I definitely want to dig into that worldbuilding *adds it to list of Rewatch Notes* alongside with What Do We Know Of The Treaty. From my first impression watching Guardian last year, it felt like they were contradicting and retconning things later in the show, but that might just be misinterpreting the set-up one way and that not panning out. Same with: are Dixingren allowed topside, it feels like there's several contradictory cases (like you said, Dr Cheng's younger brother is obviously Dixingren, why didn't the SID know about him before? On the other hand, we were supposed to buy that ZXC shot Sha Ya's boyfriend without provocation, even if they twisted that into a 'misunderstanding' later. Mirror girl didn't hurt anyone, but was taken in for judgment... it's confusing lol)
no subject
Free real estate? :-) I think it probably just means it's not uniform. Some people know, some people suspect Weird Things Are Afoot, some people are friends with Dixingren and know to keep it on the DL, and most people have no idea about anything. Meanwhile, the DoS hushes things up as much as possible, to avoid mass panic. That seems pretty plausible to me?
like you said, Dr Cheng's younger brother is obviously Dixingren, why didn't the SID know about him before? On the other hand, we were supposed to buy that ZXC shot Sha Ya's boyfriend without provocation, even if they twisted that into a 'misunderstanding' later. Mirror girl didn't hurt anyone, but was taken in for judgment... it's confusing lol
Dixingren aren't officially allowed topside, as far as Haixing is concerned. I don't think ZYL's SID consider it their job to proactively go and round up or take note of every Dixingren in Dragon City, though, even if they could. They're called out when there are cases. Presumably Zu Ma (Dr Cheng's brother) hadn't caused any trouble before the video game case, so the SID wouldn't have been aware of his existence.
Mirror Girl was taken away because she threatened to blow up her boyfriend and the SID, after her boyfriend failed to recognise her and called her a monster. And as a direct result of that case, the SID and the Envoy explicitly agreed that people should only be deported if they've broken the law (which was technically a change of policy for the SID, I think, but which I feel like ZYL was pretty comfortable with by then).
ZXC made his name as a hardline anti-Dixingren SID chief, which means everyone's willing to think the worst of him. And, to be fair, he is pretty bad a lot of the time. ;-p
/how I see it :-)
no subject
I don't think ZYL's SID consider it their job to proactively go and round up or take note of every Dixingren in Dragon City, though, even if they could. They're called out when there are cases. Presumably Zu Ma (Dr Cheng's brother) hadn't caused any trouble before the video game case, so the SID wouldn't have been aware of his existence.
I agree with this in theory, but Zu Ma presumably has been a Medical Phenomenon for longer than Zhao Yunlan was Chief - if he's of a similar age as Cheng Xinyan, and their parents were looking into why he wasn't aging, then there should've been a stir during Zhao Xinci's tenure imo? Though I suppose they might've not been connected with medical professionals who heard about the Weird New Patient. I just can't see how something like that wouldn't make the papers at least ^^" It would be different if he weren't in a hospital bed but hidden away at home. (I'm fine ignoring it as a plot hole, I just can't bend it in a way that satisfies my sense of plausibility x'D)
Good point on Mirror Girl! (And I love love /love/ Zhao Yunlan's developement in the "Dixingren are people too" department always <3)
no subject
Maybe they weren't? Maybe there's a semi-unspoken received wisdom in Dragon City that you keep your weirdnesses quiet and off the radar?
Or maybe the DoS discourages that kind of reporting in mainstream outlets, to avoid people asking too many questions and starting a panic? (That would explain why Cong Bo seems to be largely working online.)
And I love love /love/ Zhao Yunlan's developement in the "Dixingren are people too" department always <3
Yessss! The very best! <3 <3 <3