sakana17: shen wei holds his symbolic necklace (guardian-shenwei-necklace)
sakana17 ([personal profile] sakana17) wrote in [community profile] sid_guardian2022-09-30 06:24 pm

Scene discussion: Episode 12: Tan Xiao breaks into the SID and Zhao Yunlan catches the Awl

Focus on: Tan Xiao breaking into the SID and Zhao Yunlan catching the Awl
Location of scene: Episode 12, 8:20-10:00

Context: Zhao Yunlan is in Shen Wei's office, having a frustrating conversation about Zheng Zhongyuan, who had called Shen Wei before his death. Zhao Yunlan calls the SID to ask if Da Qing is back, and while Wang Zheng is speaking to him on the phone, she is affected by sonic waves and collapses. Zhao Yunlan jumps up to leave and tells Shen Wei something is happening at the station. Shen Wei says he'll come with him.

The scene:
We enter the SID through the POV of the intruder, who opens the doors with sonic waves. Sang Zan is crouched on the floor, cradling Wang Zheng. The intruder directs sonic waves at Sang Zan. He appears confused and looks away from the intruder. He squeezes his eyes shut and shakes out of his stupor, and tries to wake Wang Zheng, calling her by her original name, Gelan.

In the lab, the Mountain-River Awl and the Longevity Dial are glowing in their vitrines. We now see that the intruder is Tan Xiao. He looks at the Awl and Dial and thrusts his arms forward with concentration and effort, directing a sonic wave at them. His left hand is open, but the fingers of his right hand are curled inward, concealing the device he uses to generate and amplify sonic waves. The glass of the vitrines starts to crack.

Screencap of Tan Xiao breaking glass from Guardian drama episode 12

Back in the SID main room, the sonic waves are affecting Sang Zan, and Wang Zheng has not regained consciousness.

Screencap of Sang Zan holding Wang Zheng from Guardian drama episode 12

Sang Zan hangs on, and when he hears the alarm bell from the lab, he rushes toward it.

In the lab, the vitrines shatter and Tan Xiao is pleased. He stops directing the sonic waves and picks up the Mountain-River Awl.

Screencap of Tan Xiao holding the Awl from Guardian drama episode 12

Sang Zan, struggling to stay on his feet, reaches the lab door. He points at Tan Xiao, saying, "No! Bad guy!"

Screencap of Sang Zan pointing from Guardian drama episode 12

Tan Xiao replies, "I'm sorry," before thrusting his right fist out in Sang Zan's direction.

Screencap of Tan Xiao saying sorry from Guardian drama episode 12

Sonic waves propel Sang Zan back and he falls to the floor outside the lab. He manages to reach a cord that's fastened along the baseboard/skirting. He pulls the cord and passes out. A crossbow (or more than one?) inside the lab is activated, sending three arrows at Tan Xiao. As he contorts to avoid getting hit, he stumbles against the lab table and loses his grip on the Awl. Tan Xiao watches helplessly as it flies away from him and is caught by Zhao Yunlan.

Screencap of Zhao Yunlan catching the Awl from Guardian drama episode 12

Zhao Yunlan, at the lab entrance, clutches the Awl in his left hand and stares at it.

Screencap of Zhao Yunlan in close-up from Guardian drama episode 12

There are flashes* of: [1] Li Guangbiao at the wedding, rolling the ground, covering his ears; [2] Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng passed out over Zhu Hong's Fourth Uncle's table; [3] the cave pillar where Sang Zan had been imprisoned; and [4] Zhu Hong passed out on the SID floor. Zhao Yunlan's hand shakes and he starts to fall.

Shen Wei appears and grabs him, holding him upright.

Screencap of Shen Wei catching Zhao Yunlan from Guardian drama episode 12

He asks Zhao Yunlan if he's alright. Zhao Yunlan, still unsteady, says he's fine.

Screencap of Shen Wei facing Zhao Yunlan from Guardian drama episode 12

Shen Wei sees Tan Xiao coming toward them, ready to attack.

Screencap of Shen Wei watching Tan Xiao from Guardian drama episode 12

While holding up Zhao Yunlan with his left arm, Shen Wei extends his right arm and blasts Tan Xiao with dark energy.

Screencap of Shen Wei zapping Tan Xiao from Guardian drama episode 12

Tan Xiao is thrown backwards, lands on the floor, and winces in pain. He sees a way to escape and scrambles away.

Shen Wei's focus is drawn back to Zhao Yunlan, who can no longer remain upright. He holds on as Zhao Yunlan sinks to the floor and passes out. Shen Wei shakes him and calls his name but Zhao Yunlan is unresponsive.

Screencap of Shen Wei holding Zhao Yunlan from Guardian drama episode 12

Shen Wei stares at the Awl, still clutched in Zhao Yunlan's hand.

Screencap of Shen Wei staring at the Awl from Guardian drama episode 12

Screencap of Zhao Yunlan's hand holding the Awl from Guardian drama episode 12

*Scenes that flash when Zhao Yunlan is holding the Awl:
[1] episode 13, 6:18
[2] episode 12, 3:56
[3] episode 8, 31:18
[4] episode 13, 37:36

My reactions about this scene:
+ Sang Zan! Although Tan Xiao escapes, if Sang Zan hadn't activated his trap, Tan Xiao could've taken the Awl and Longevity Dial, too. I like the foreshadowing about the trap earlier in the episode when Sang Zan is practicing writing and Wang Zheng tells him, "Stop playing with your old-fashioned traps all the time. We're not hunting anymore." My headcanon is that Sang Zan knows the SID needs to be protected and he wants to do his part however he knows how.

+ Shen Wei zapping Tan Xiao! I will never dismiss the gifts this show has given me, but there are times I wish for more, and BAMF Shen Wei is one of those times. I could happily watch him zapping people with dark energy all day. :) (Especially when it involves protecting Zhao Yunlan. ♥)

+ Shen Wei grabbing Zhao Yunlan! And holding him up. And keeping hold of him when he can't stay up. It's all wonderful. ♥

Questions:
Ideas about how Tan Xiao escaped from the lab?

Shen Wei leaves his office with Zhao Yunlan to go to the SID. Any theories about why he doesn't arrive at the lab door at the same time as Zhao Yunlan? Did Shen Wei stop to check on Wang Zheng?

Did the Mountain-River Awl propel itself into Zhao Yunlan's hand on purpose? (Zhao Yunlan/Holy Tools OTP :D)

Despite trying to pass lab tests as a Haixing person later in this episode, Shen Wei doesn't hesitate to use dark energy against Tan Xiao while Zhao Yunlan is right there. Maybe Shen Wei is certain Zhao Yunlan is passed out, and/or the need to protect Zhao Yunlan overrides everything else. What if Zhao Yunlan saw Shen Wei using his dark energy here? How might that have changed things?

Any headcanons, theories, ideas, thoughts, reactions, squee, fanwork recs about this scene? Please share!
china_shop: Zhao Yunlan wearing a blue mask that says, "I heart SW." (Guardian - Zhao Yunlan I <3 SW mask)

[personal profile] china_shop 2022-10-03 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Ahhh, this is such a great post! ♥!!! I especially love all your reactions!


+ Shen Wei grabbing Zhao Yunlan! And holding him up. And keeping hold of him when he can't stay up. It's all wonderful. ♥

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Despite trying to pass lab tests as a Haixing person later in this episode, Shen Wei doesn't hesitate to use dark energy against Tan Xiao while Zhao Yunlan is right there. Maybe Shen Wei is certain Zhao Yunlan is passed out, and/or the need to protect Zhao Yunlan overrides everything else. What if Zhao Yunlan saw Shen Wei using his dark energy here? How might that have changed things?

I don't think it would have changed things that much? I think it's really telling that when ZYL says there's trouble at the SID, Shen Wei drops his ordinary person protestations and says, seriously, "I'll come with you," and ZYL nods. That makes no sense if Shen Wei were strict about keeping up the pretence, you know? He could have waited until ZYL had left and portalled to the SID as the Envoy, but he doesn't. (Similarly, he didn't have to volunteer for the lab experiment later; Lin Jing could've just waited until Xiao Guo got back!) So I feel like the struggle between them at this stage isn't about whether it's true, so much as whether SW will openly acknowledge it and "make it official" between them. Whether he'll let ZYL inside his defences and let the compartmentalisation fall. If he had to use his dark energy in front of ZYL at this stage, I think he'd come up with another figleaf non-excuse -- and ZYL would either get frustrated again or accept it because it was in service of protecting the Hallows and the SID (or both!). /my 2 cents

There are flashes* of: [1] Li Guangbiao at the wedding, rolling the ground, covering his ears; [2] Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng passed out over Zhu Hong's Fourth Uncle's table; [3] the cave pillar where Sang Zan had been imprisoned; and [4] Zhu Hong passed out on the SID floor.

Oh, thank you so, so much for cataloguing these! That's so interesting, especially that some are in the past and some in the future. I wonder whether the Awl was trying to convey a message, or if it's just a random selection of stuff. It's not even like they're all External Danger Situations (unless you think Fourth Uncle counts). Hmm...
china_shop: Close up of the two of them, with Zhao Yunlan looking at Shen Wei. (Guardian - two shot)

[personal profile] china_shop 2022-10-07 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
[1] Li Guangbiao at the wedding and [4] Zhu Hong on the floor are premonitions/flashes of things to come; [3] Sang Zan's cave pillar is where the Awl had been

Ooh, it just occurred to me that those three are all connected to Zhu Jiu and his going after the Hallows!

But that doesn't explain #2, unless the Awl thinks Fourth Uncle is secretly in league with the SID's enemies. ;-)