The Gauche in the Machine (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
china_shop) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sid_guardian2022-07-16 12:32 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2022-07-16 12:32 pm
Entry tags:
A tour of the lab and Lin Jing's inventions
I was thinking about how the hi-tech ear plug in ep 13 work, and that led to an inventory of Lin Jing's other inventions, starting with the scene where he gives Zhao Xinci a tour of his lab in ep 16 (2:09 to 3:23).
Lin Jing keeps up a running monologue. Zhao Xinci follows, listening and observing but not encouraging him.
Lin Jing: This way, Special Commissioner. This is my laboratory. All of my trophies are here.
来 特派员 这里是我的实验室 所有的战利品都在这
This one, the photon detector. It has helped us solve many important cases.
这个 这个光子探测仪 让我们破获许多大案 就是靠它
(He must mean the cases we saw in canon, right, since as far as we know things were quiet before then? Do we ever see him use this? Here's a close-up of the photo detector.)
And this one, the Bed of Experimentation. All of my research and results are on this bed
来还有这张 这张实验床 我所有的研究 所有的结果 都在这张床上
Zhao Xinci gets distracted by the Longevity Dial in its case.
Lin Jing hurries over and drapes his arm over it like it's his date.
Lin Jing: This is part of my personal collection. My hobby is to collect things.
这个是我的私人藏宾 我是个业余收藏爱好者
Zhao Xinci is sceptical? Curious? Can tell Lin Jing is lying?
LJ: Come, come, let me show you my inventions.
来来来 我带你看看我的发明
For instance, this apparatus. It's able to effectively detect dark energy. Special Commissioner, this tool is very perceptive and very accurate. Nothing will slip under its radar. Allow me to demonstrate.
比如这个仪器 它能有效地探测黑能量 特派员 我这个仪器非常灵敏 也非常工整 任何破绽 都逃不出它的法眼 我示范给你看
Dark energy detector: *detects*
LJ: It might be broken.
那个 可能是坏了
ZXC: That's enough. I've now seen what you guys do at your jobs. I want to meet your Chief Zhao.
行了 你们几个的工作 我都了解了 还是让我去见见你们赵处吧
LJ: Yes, sir.
是
Things I find interesting about this scene:
Any thoughts? Did I miss any?
The scene
Lin Jing keeps up a running monologue. Zhao Xinci follows, listening and observing but not encouraging him.
Lin Jing: This way, Special Commissioner. This is my laboratory. All of my trophies are here.
来 特派员 这里是我的实验室 所有的战利品都在这
This one, the photon detector. It has helped us solve many important cases.
这个 这个光子探测仪 让我们破获许多大案 就是靠它
(He must mean the cases we saw in canon, right, since as far as we know things were quiet before then? Do we ever see him use this? Here's a close-up of the photo detector.)
And this one, the Bed of Experimentation. All of my research and results are on this bed
来还有这张 这张实验床 我所有的研究 所有的结果 都在这张床上
Zhao Xinci gets distracted by the Longevity Dial in its case.
Lin Jing hurries over and drapes his arm over it like it's his date.
Lin Jing: This is part of my personal collection. My hobby is to collect things.
这个是我的私人藏宾 我是个业余收藏爱好者
Zhao Xinci is sceptical? Curious? Can tell Lin Jing is lying?
LJ: Come, come, let me show you my inventions.
来来来 我带你看看我的发明
For instance, this apparatus. It's able to effectively detect dark energy. Special Commissioner, this tool is very perceptive and very accurate. Nothing will slip under its radar. Allow me to demonstrate.
比如这个仪器 它能有效地探测黑能量 特派员 我这个仪器非常灵敏 也非常工整 任何破绽 都逃不出它的法眼 我示范给你看
Dark energy detector: *detects*
LJ: It might be broken.
那个 可能是坏了
ZXC: That's enough. I've now seen what you guys do at your jobs. I want to meet your Chief Zhao.
行了 你们几个的工作 我都了解了 还是让我去见见你们赵处吧
LJ: Yes, sir.
是
Things I find interesting about this scene:
- Zhao Xinci getting distracted by the Dial. Does he recognise it? Would Zhang Shi?
- I love that Lin Jing doesn't claim it as one of his inventions or try to explain it away beyond "Just a collector's item, nothing to see here, moving on."
- The SID is keeping the presence of the Hallow a secret from the Xingdu Bureau (and presumably the Department of Supervision, too). Why? And how much has Lin Jing secretly told Professor Ouyang?
- The business with the dark energy detector is set up to foreshadow Zhao Xinci's secret, but it's interesting how quick Lin Jing is to assume it's his detector that's at fault. It's completely unthinkable that any Haixing authority figure could have dark energy powers (which helps explain why it takes so long for Zhao Yunlan to figure out what's going on with Shen Wei).
- Lin Jing's sweatshirt reads "STRIKE OUT", which seems appropriate, given the end of the scene. Heh.
More of Lin Jing's inventions
- Ep 5, 5:00: popcorn maker
The popcorn maker looks steam-punky and strange and is primarily a humorous misdirect -- is Lin Jing doing amazing ground-breaking science? No, he's making snacks. It shows Lin Jing goofing off (which becomes a plot point later on), and gives us an adorable team scene with everyone happily partaking (including Zhao Yunlan, who arrives late and jumps onto the table to eat, why??). Xiao Guo starts to understand the SID team's dynamics. - Ep 8, 3:54: SID security barrier
The SID's security system effectively keeps out people with dark energy, while being sensitive to the red stamp that lets friends of the SID pass through freely. Presumably the Envoy has some kind of token in lieu of a stamp, given he hasn't visited Zhao Yunlan's SID pre-canon. (The barrier is powerful enough to keep Ye Zun out, so should work on the Envoy, too.) Can be rebooted remotely. - Ep 8, 4:56: Changcheng's fear-electricity baton
On my initial watch, Changcheng's baton made me laugh and laugh. Lin Jing finds it funny, too. The baton is half a clever weapon that turns Changcheng's greatest weakness into a strength, and half just a silly joke. *hearts* - Ep 12, 14:27: experimentation bed
The experimentation bed shows up in many scenes -- this one where Zhao Yunlan has flagrantly lied to get Shen Wei to take his shirt off, the one with ZYL's nose bleed and Shen Wei's aggressive face-cleaning, as well as when Da Ji is killed and brought back to the SID, when Changcheng is brought back from Dixing half-dead, and others. It's unclear exactly what the bed does, but I love it anyway. - Ep 13, 41:10: ear plugs
The high-tech ear plug must somehow turn Zheng Yi's/Zhu Jiu's unspoken hypnotic compulsions into suggestions, because otherwise Zhao Yunlan wouldn't have known what to do, and Zhu Jiu would have become suspicious. Also, there appears to only be one of them. Love the smug way Zhao Yunlan blows dust (or ear wax?) off it while showing it off. - Ep 20, 41:09: power-suppression handcuffs
Afaicr, the power-suppression cuffs are only ever used on Zhu Jiu. Because otherwise the story would warp in a completely different direction. Still, it's interesting to know they have the technology (presumably related to the security system?). Like a lot of tech, their weak point is user error, eg, Changcheng being tricked into removing them from Zhu Jiu's wrists. - Ep 25, 18:24: stun-gun watch
I'd forgotten about this, buttrobadora reminded me. Lin Jing is very proud of this invention:
LJ: *presenting the watch* High tech stuff.
ZYL: A stun-gun watch? Like in the cartoon?
LJ: Exactly, let me tell you...
They're interrupted by a phone call, and Zhao Yunlan leaves without letting Lin Jing finish, to his dismay. "Hey, I wasn't done! Let me brag a bit, hey!"
According tosolo's subs, the watch is a reference to a watch in Detective Conan. In Guardian, I think it's used as a tracker, when Zhao Yunlan is kidnapped?
Any thoughts? Did I miss any?
no subject
Things were quiet, but they must have had some cases. Still, yeah, it would have to have been at least in part cases we see in canon, to count as "lots of big cases" – unless of course Lin Jing is exaggerating shamelessly and the thing came in useful maybe twice. :p
(We never see them use the photon detector, do we?)
Zhao Xinci getting distracted by the Dial. Does he recognise it? Would Zhang Shi?
Zhang Shi knows about the Hallows; of course he'd recognise them. And the SID knows about the Hallows at least in theory. Zhu Hong might have recognised it from Yashou sources when she sees Li Qian's pendant, but Lin Jing pulls up something about it on his computer. So Zhao Xinci might know, even if Zhang Shi said nothing to him.
I love that Lin Jing doesn't claim it as one of his inventions or try to explain it away beyond "Just a collector's item, nothing to see here, moving on."
Hee! Yeah, he's trying really hard to to make it sound uninteresting!
The SID is keeping the presence of the Hallow a secret from the Xingdu Bureau (and presumably the Department of Supervision, too). Why? And how much has Lin Jing secretly told Professor Ouyang?
I don't think Zhao Yunlan trusts his superiors very much – he knows his father is at the Xingdu Bureau, and he knows what Zhao Xinci's attitudes are like. And something big is going on with the Hallows – he doesn't want his superiors to get in the way and take things away from him.
Meanwhile, I think Lin Jing at this point still fully trusts Professor Ouyang and probably told him everything, not seeing a problem with that. My take is that it's only as things heat up, the SID as a team grows closer and the things the lab is doing become shadier that he starts questioning his loyalties.
It shows Lin Jing goofing off (which becomes a plot point later on), and gives us an adorable team scene with everyone happily partaking (including Zhao Yunlan, who arrives late and jumps onto the table to eat, why??).It's unclear exactly what the bed does, but I love it anyway.
Haha, yeah, that’s true about most of Lin Jing's equipment! I love this kind of stuff.
The high-tech ear plug must somehow turn Zheng Yi's/Zhu Jiu's unspoken hypnotic compulsions into suggestions, because otherwise Zhao Yunlan wouldn't have known what to do, and Zhu Jiu would have become suspicious.
When Zheng Yi's power works normally, she isn't literally remote-controlling people, is she? Her power somehow communicates to them what they're supposed to do, and they're compelled to do it. So Lin Jing's earplugs must only disrupt the compulsion part ...
Afaicr, the power-suppression cuffs are only ever used on Zhu Jiu. Because otherwise the story would warp in a completely different direction.
Yeah, they appear once and only very briefly, so I keep forgetting whether they're even canon, LOL. And is their function ever actually stated? Do we know they're Lin Jing's invention? I don't remember ...
It makes total sense that they can't use such a thing more, because it would change too much about the power dynamics between Dixing and Haixing, and the SID and the people they go after, etc., which makes them a little weird in context. Unless Zhu Jiu's powers aren't cutting out because of the handcuffs, but because of his injuries, and the handcuffs are a coincidence? Idk.
In Guardian, I think it's used as a tracker, when Zhao Yunlan is kidnapped?
Yeah, it's not stated outright but the watch starts lighting up and making a sound just before Shen Wei et al. turn up to rescue Zhao Yunlan, and it's not just Shen Wei coming, so it seems they tracked him that way.
no subject
Yeah, I was thinking "big cases" implied it couldn't be any of the minor stuff that may have happened pre-canon. But you're right, he could be inflating his and the SID's importance. Oh, maybe he used it to analyse the samples from the water-boy kidnapping case or something? He was collecting evidence there. Possibly something in the web novelist case, too. I'm going to keep an eye out for it, from now on.
Zhang Shi knows about the Hallows; of course he'd recognise them. And the SID knows about the Hallows at least in theory.
I only wondered because, to me, Zhao Xinci doesn't really look surprised or shocked to see the Dial (though of course he does always play his cards very close to his chest). I guess if Lin Jing told Professor Ouyang, Zhao Xinci could already have been aware of its presence -- or he might just be wondering what is this glowy object in a special-looking case and why isn't Lin Jing showing it off?
(After Lin Jing hastily explains it away, ZXC says "Ahh" in a very Zhao Yunlan kind of way, which pleases me greatly. I meant to mention that in the post.)
but Lin Jing pulls up something about it on his computer. So Zhao Xinci might know, even if Zhang Shi said nothing to him.
He might. Or he might have paid as little attention to random blueprints on the SID computer as Zhao Yunlan apparently has? And yeah, it's unclear to me how much Zhang Shi shares info either voluntarily or involuntarily with Zhao Xinci. (I'm not wedded to the idea of him not recognising the Dial; I just don't think it's completely cut and dried.)
I don't think Zhao Yunlan trusts his superiors very much – he knows his father is at the Xingdu Bureau, and he knows what Zhao Xinci's attitudes are like.
I got the feeling it was during the meeting with Minister Gao in ep 14 when ZYL realised how much direct influence his father had over the SID and became wary of Minister Gao/the DoS. But he must have been hiding info about the Sundial since ep 2. And it's risky, you know? If the DoS find out he's withholding info, that's going to undercut their trust of him, which weakens his position.
I find it interesting the show laid the groundwork for the SID-DoS split so early, anyway.
Meanwhile, I think Lin Jing at this point still fully trusts Professor Ouyang and probably told him everything, not seeing a problem with that. My take is that it's only as things heat up, the SID as a team grows closer and the things the lab is doing become shadier that he starts questioning his loyalties.
Yeah, I'd buy that. *noogies him*
When Zheng Yi's power works normally, she isn't literally remote-controlling people, is she? Her power somehow communicates to them what they're supposed to do, and they're compelled to do it. So Lin Jing's earplugs must only disrupt the compulsion part ...
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. And sometimes she just puts them into a suggestible trance, given it was Zhu Jiu who was giving Zhao Yunlan instructions.
Yeah, they appear once and only very briefly, so I keep forgetting whether they're even canon, LOL. And is their function ever actually stated? Do we know they're Lin Jing's invention? I don't remember ...
No, I just checked, and no one mentions or explains them at all, unless it's after Zhu Jiu escapes. (I guess the show didn't want to make a big plot point of them?) I've always assumed, based on the fact that Zhu Jiu's expression once they were on, and the way Zhu Jiu tricked Guo Changcheng into removing them, that they were suppressing his ability to use his powers, but you're right, that weakness could have been from his injury.
I still feel like the implication is supposed to be that they're suppressing his dark energy somehow, though, and that Lin Jing must have made them.
Yeah, it's not stated outright but the watch starts lighting up and making a sound just before Shen Wei et al. turn up to rescue Zhao Yunlan, and it's not just Shen Wei coming, so it seems they tracked him that way.
You know, I've always misremembered/explain that to myself as Shen Wei tracking him down via some kind of dark energy connection...
no subject
Oh, good idea! I like that, yeah.
I only wondered because, to me, Zhao Xinci doesn't really look surprised or shocked to see the Dial (though of course he does always play his cards very close to his chest).
Yeah, I think it could go either way; there's no clear evidence one way or the other.
(After Lin Jing hastily explains it away, ZXC says "Ahh" in a very Zhao Yunlan kind of way, which pleases me greatly. I meant to mention that in the post.)
Hee! :D
I got the feeling it was during the meeting with Minister Gao in ep 14 when ZYL realised how much direct influence his father had over the SID and became wary of Minister Gao/the DoS.
I thought he was already wary, but when he found out that his father had been promoted AND Minister Gao knew him that well and thought highly of hiim, it suddenly became 500% worse. *g*
(It's so interesting to me that he didn't know ZXC and Minister Gao knew each other, since IIRC Minister Gao used to be ZXC's partner ...)
And it's risky, you know? If the DoS find out he's withholding info, that's going to undercut their trust of him, which weakens his position.
Yes, absolutely agreed!
I still feel like the implication is supposed to be that they're suppressing his dark energy somehow, though, and that Lin Jing must have made them.
Yeah, it still looks like that to me as well, I just wanted to point out it's not entirely unambiguous.
You know, I've always misremembered/explain that to myself as Shen Wei tracking him down via some kind of dark energy connection...
I feel like even apart from the watch, if it was Shen Wei tracking him, it would just be Shen Wei who turned up, not Lin Jing and the others as well ...
no subject
I thought he was already wary, but when he found out that his father had been promoted AND Minister Gao knew him that well and thought highly of hiim, it suddenly became 500% worse. *g*
Yeah, that makes sense. I thought he was wary in a general "bureaucrats don't understand frontline staff" kind of way, but felt like they were on the same general side. Just, apparently, not enough to report the acquisition of a powerful ancient artefact.
(It's so interesting to me that he didn't know ZXC and Minister Gao knew each other, since IIRC Minister Gao used to be ZXC's partner ...)
I wonder if Zhao Xinci distanced himself from Gao Jingfeng after Zhang Shi's arrival, in much the same way he distanced himself from his family. Partly to protect the pushed-away ones, and partly because they were the people who knew him well enough to be able to tell that something fundamental had changed (ETA: and ZXC couldn't bear to be confronted with that?). Presumably Gao Jingfeng didn't move to the SID with Zhao Xinci, either -- just stayed regular police. I can imagine it being the kind of information about his father's work associates that a kid would be very hazy on. And Gao is a common enough name.
I feel like even apart from the watch, if it was Shen Wei tracking him, it would just be Shen Wei who turned up, not Lin Jing and the others as well ...
Oh yes, good point! (It would be so interesting to see Shen Wei's or Ling Jing's POV of the search for ZYL! I might have to request that for wishlist. :-)
no subject
Yes, indeed!
I wonder if Zhao Xinci distanced himself from Gao Jingfeng after Zhang Shi's arrival
Yes, indeed! Though Minister Gao clearly still feels connected to him, it sounds very like Zhao Xinci to reduce things to just professional interactions. Gao Jingfeng must have been well-connected even then, since he's the one who tells ZXC about the plan to set up the SID, which makes sense for him then going into politics while ZXC runs the SID for some time.
It would be so interesting to see Shen Wei's or Ling Jing's POV of the search for ZYL!
Yes! WANT! :D
no subject
I feel like Minister Gao looks up to him, you know (because ZXC is sharper and more decisive) and that they were close enough once that he puts the distancing down to busyness rather than a deliberate withdrawal?
no subject
no subject
Lin Jing keeps up a running monologue. Zhao Xinci follows, listening and observing but not encouraging him.
Putting Lin Jing's inability to keep his mouth shut to good use (did you know his Jing character 静 means "quiet"? Wishful thinking on his parents' part, clearly). And Zhao Xinci seems to know perfectly well what is going on and to be playing along, rather than actually falling for any of Lin Jing's patter. He's only really disturbed when the dark energy detector comes out, presumably because he knows it's going to react to him.
Irrelevantly, I love the whole scene with the popcorn maker, especially Xiao Guo chivalrously serving Zhu Hong and her satisfied "see, here's a man who knows how to behave."
I don't think the bed itself does anything (maybe?) it's just a useful place for people to lie down and have things done to them with other machines?
Overall, I feel like all these gadget scenes you've picked out emphasize Lin Jing's important on-the-surface character points: that he likes a laugh, likes teasing people (sometimes unkindly), likes running off at the mouth (and bragging) regardless of whether it's true or not--and lies badly and obviously, that he is genuinely a gadget genius but doesn't always put his talents to the best use, that he's either not very perceptive about human relations or just doesn't care what he's seeing--all of which are true, but also serve to heighten the punch when we gradually learn that he's also a damn good liar when he wants to be, that he does see people and does care about them, that he can be deadly serious (and still not forget to brag).
(sorry, you didn't expect to make a post about Lin Jing and have me not ramble in the comments, did you? Anyway, this is an excellent post.)
no subject
YESSSSSSSSS all this! (I love your Lin Jing rambling! :D)
no subject
did you know his Jing character 静 means "quiet"? Wishful thinking on his parents' part, clearly
LOL! Perfect.
And Zhao Xinci seems to know perfectly well what is going on and to be playing along, rather than actually falling for any of Lin Jing's patter. He's only really disturbed when the dark energy detector comes out, presumably because he knows it's going to react to him.
And even then, he retains his poise. Note to self: do not play poker with Zhao Xinci! *g*
Irrelevantly, I love the whole scene with the popcorn maker, especially Xiao Guo chivalrously serving Zhu Hong and her satisfied "see, here's a man who knows how to behave."
Yes, the whole team shines there. I love Da Qing trying to stop ZYL from interrupting, and ZYL jumping on the table and taking a handful. *g*
I don't think the bed itself does anything (maybe?) it's just a useful place for people to lie down and have things done to them with other machines?
Yeah. It has some lights in the base, but it's not clear that they indicate anything. Maybe it can be heated?
all of which are true, but also serve to heighten the punch when we gradually learn that he's also a damn good liar when he wants to be, that he does see people and does care about them, that he can be deadly serious (and still not forget to brag).
Oh, that's so true. His arc is actually a lot like ZYL's -- learning to be real with people. He might also be the only character we see dream, outside of the Master of Nightmares arc. I'm not 100% sure of that, but we do see him dream at least twice -- once at the start of the face-stealer case (in the car!) and once about Sha Ya.
I love your rambles! <3
The Underground Fighting arc
I rewatched the underground fighting arc recently and Lin Jing had two inventions there: a software program that tracks dark energy at a greater distance than the gun-thingy, which he used when Ye Huo and company split; and an earplug that allows him to eavesdrop on nearby conversations, and which, even though it's actually *in his ear*, apparently enables the people next to him to eavesdrop as well, judging by their reactions. He uses that one when he and Da Qing and the guy who thought Ye Huo had driven his brother to suicide were being held hostage.
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
Hee! So glad it might come in handy, yay! \o/ (*encouraging pompoms for your vid*)
I rewatched the underground fighting arc recently and Lin Jing had two inventions there
Oh yes, excellent point. The earplug bit always perplexes me, because I was like, "So Lin Jing & co are finding out that Shen Wei is the Envoy, right?" but they never do! They don't even seem confused by the conversation between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. So I wasn't quite sure what the point of it was?
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
Maybe as a near miss, and foreshadowing? It's funny how they almost hear the bits that would have revealed it to them ...
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
I could see that! Also maybe an indication that Lin Jing was very very smart to invent the listening device, but maybe not so smart in the non-scientific arena, so he didn't put together the pieces that his invention enabled him to access.
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
Haha, that definitely makes sense. Good point!
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
Thank you, thank you! It may be a while (=months!), but I really want to do this. :-)
The earplug bit always perplexes me [snip] I wasn't quite sure what the point of it was?
The first time I saw it I was mostly noticing the whole comedic interaction between the Very Serious Hostage Takers on the one hand, and SW & ZYL bickering like the VSHTs aren't even there on the other ... so I just thought it was fun that Lin Jing et al got to be in on this oddball conversation. I feel a bit silly realizing that Lin Jing and Da Qing somehow missed the clues to Shen Wei's Super Sekrit Identity that were dropped in that conversation - but then, so did I, lol.
The most recent time I watched it, I confess I was distracted by Da Qing digging around in Lin Jing's pockets, but of course, he has no sense of personal space, so there was nothing even the tiniest bit slashy there. Not even one itty bitty bit. So I reminded myself, multiple times.
Re: The Underground Fighting arc
Ha, yes, that's a delightful juxtaposition. SW & ZYL are so totally unflummoxed. *g*
Sometimes I wonder if Lin Jing has already put the pieces together (there's the thing with the experiment bed and the equipment "malfunction", and probably other stuff) and is keeping quiet because he understands about having secrets. :-)
Not even one itty bitty bit.
Not even the tiniest scrap! (At least from my POV. *g*)