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sid_guardian2022-12-30 08:56 am
dorinda) wrote in sid_guardian2022-12-30 08:56 am
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Ep 31-32, "Internal and external trouble": Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi clash
This scene discussion is about an argument Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi have at the end of episode 31 and the start of episode 32. It sounds simple, put like that--but at this point in the series, everything is getting complicated, including the storyline, the relationships, and the emotions!
Location of the scene: ep 31 at about 41:28, continuing into ep 32.
Five important things that came before this scene:
1. Way back in ep 18, Chu Shuzhi impulsively entered a cage fight while investigating, and Zhao Yunlan was exasperated:
2. In ep 29, Shen Wei left for Dixing and made Zhao Yunlan promise he would stay here (starting at about 35:25):
Zhao Yunlan hasn't heard from him since (and we the audience know that it's because Shen Wei has been caught and is being tortured). Zhao Yunlan has been fruitlessly calling him with incense and brooding over his promise, as we see for instance in the ep 30 scene starting at 38:07.
3. In ep 31, Zu Hong was trapped in her dream. When she struck at Xiao Guo in the dream, Chu Shuzhi's puppet unexpectedly appeared and immobilized her.
4. In ep 30, Zhao Yunlan and Minister Gao butted heads--the Minister threatened to shut down the SID and Zhao Yunlan basically dared him to. Now in ep 31, the Inspectorate has actually tried to shut them down--ZYL has just chased the lackeys away for now.
5. In ep 30, Ya Qing released secret info about the SID onto the internet, which is causing paranoia and panic. And in 31 right before the scene in question, Lao Li shows ZYL the big newspaper headline about "the Sinister Special Investigations Department of Light Road". These anti-SID smear campaigns emphasize that the SID is employing a Dixingren convicted murderer.
So, Zhao Yunlan is at a pretty stressful crux here, to say the least! Shen Wei--the Inspectorate--the public--his team--Lao Chu.
And now, the office argument under discussion...
To start (ep 31, 41:28), Zhao Yunlan looks sternly at Lao Chu and snaps: Chu Shuzhi. Come with me. It feels like a big deal for Zhao Yunlan to use his full name instead of "Lao Chu"...I'd be interested to know how many times he does that in the series.
They go to Zhao Yunlan's office for the dressing-down:
ZYL (smacking the newspaper hard onto his desk): You crossed the line. Huh?
(he tosses the small doll onto the desk; Lao Chu gently picks it up)
Xiao Guo didn't know better. You don't know better either? How could you let that activate inside a dream? (he's shouting by now) What if Zhu Hong got hurt? What if she couldn't wake up?!
CSZ: (looking at the doll, quietly) Unlikely.
ZYL: Unlikely? I think you got tired of this Department. You're getting too bold!
CSZ: (as he speaks, he looks up in direct challenge, his voice rising to a shout) And I think you've got too soft-hearted! Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you'll miss the big picture and regret it forever!
On ZYL's hard stare, the episode fades out.
It continues immediately in ep 32 (starting at about 02:09), backed up in the action a bit.
After Chu Shuzhi's line, "Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you'll miss the big picture and regret it forever!", it goes on, rising to a full shouting match:
CSZ: (gesturing emphatically with the doll) He only takes action to help when there's danger. As for Zhu Hong, she deserves what she gets!
ZYL: Chu Shuzhi, are you out of your mind?! Can't you tell friend from foe any more?!
CSZ: I just wanted to solve the problem!!!
ZYL: (pointing at him aggressively) If you don't want to work here, get o---!
Interrupting that last fateful word, Da Qing runs in, with his wide-eyed 'people are yowling' stare. Chu Shuzhi is very still, staring fiercely at Zhao Yunlan.
ZYL: (slams the desk) Can't you knock?
DQ: No need in an emergency. Be glad I didn't come through the window.
ZYL: You found Cong Bo?
DQ: I found him, and we're trying to remove those online articles. Someone is posting them on purpose. Rumor spreads too fast, he can't do anything.
ZYL: (Heavily, looking at Chu Shuzhi, who has turned his back) Internal and external trouble. (Shen Wei's words from the promise scene in ep 29 ;___; )
DQ: (pointing to incense burner) We haven't heard anything from the Lord Envoy yet.
ZYL: (his jaw clenches; he stares intensely at nothing. HE KNOWS THAT.)
(A long pause. He stands upright.) Now you're all back here, you can defend our home. I'll go find him. (he moves to leave)
DQ: (blocking his way) No, I don't think Dixing is safe right now. You can't go there.
ZYL: So we just [wait] for death here?!
CSZ: (turning toward them, but not looking either one in the face) I'll go. Chief Zhao should be in control here. Everyone will feel more at ease.
ZYL: (with a sigh, raising his hand) I need to think about it.
He walks to the window, breathing tightly, his shoulders hunched. Chu Shuzhi is facing away from him, his jaw muscles flexing.
This argument sets the stage for some crucial developments in the rest of ep 32, and after:
1. Zhao Yunlan is called on the carpet at the Inspectorate again, and he stands up for the SID and directly for Chu Shuzhi (Also, you don't want to touch a single member of the SID. That includes him. Whatever crime he was found guilty of, that's in the past. If you dare touch him, give it a try.)
Zhao Yunlan is really being a leader there, openly challenging the Inspectorate, and specifically protecting the troublemaker whom he almost just fired!
2. When ZYL gets back from the Inspectorate, he tries to have another, less shouty, talk with Chu Shuzhi, about keeping his cool in the face of the public panic. Whatever happens, endure it, he says firmly, and I feel he's talking to himself as well as Chu Shuzhi.
Chu Shuzhi (who of course ignores the whole idea of Keeping His Cool-- Cool? What is that??) again broaches the topic of going to Dixing after Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, trust me this time. I will bring Professor Shen back for you.
There's a long pause. Zhao Yunlan's face goes through a journey--from painful hope, as if he deeply wants to accept--
--to inward thoughtfulness--
--to the answer, "No."
Chu Shuzhi tries to argue, but Zhao Yunlan slaps the desk, standing. Steadily, finally: No.
And this all sparks the events of the rest of ep 32, and ep 33:
* Terrible events: Chu Shuzhi storms off to Dixing, and not only ends up not rescuing Shen Wei, but also seemingly gets Guo Changcheng killed, returns in shock without him, falls into the Master of Nightmare's realm where he has the false "Changcheng" to comfort him, and wakes to ZYL's painful news that Changcheng didn't return, at which he utterly collapses.
* Wonderful events: Shen Wei has used a scrap of his remaining power to transport Changcheng to Dijun Palace, and send Zhao Yunlan a message that says only, Dijun Palace--Wei. This is the signal Zhao Yunlan needs, and he goes immediately to Dixing--but, not just to scoop up Xiao Guo and run, as Shen Wei begs him to do. ZYL also of course takes the risk of rescuing Shen Wei, with the bravely sacrificial help of the Shadow Man.
(I highly recommendlaireshi 's wonderful scene discussion post about the rescue!
Thoughts and reactions:
I wanted to zero in on that first office argument in ep 31/32 because it jumps up and down with both feet on an important character trait in both Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi--impetuousness, improvisation, ignoring rules and restrictions, cutting the Gordian Knot with one swipe.
We've seen Chu Shuzhi be like this for the whole series, direct and straightforward, right up to the puppet protecting Changcheng in Zhu Hong's dream no matter what else might happen--his focus is single-minded, and he trusts everyone else to take their own chances.
We've seen (and heard from Shen Wei in the "pot, kettle" scene) that Zhao Yunlan also does this, especially when contrasted with more formal people and institutions like Hei Pao Shi and the Inspectorate. He jumps in and wings it where angels fear to tread.
But now, he has promised Shen Wei this one thing. Very gravely and directly. We can see how seriously he takes it, by watching him repeatedly struggle with it. As he whispers to himself in ep 30, obviously suffering: “The enemy’s acting and I’m doing nothing. Totally not my style.”
In this office argument (and the later one, and even in the puppet protecting GCC in Zhu Hong's dream), it feels to me like Chu Shuzhi is serving as Zhao Yunlan's shadow self--the one who just acts, according to his own emotions. He doesn't worry about the others, about the bosses or the citizens, or about responsibilities. Here he keeps arguing and asking for something that Zhao Yunlan wishes he himself could do, and has been forcing himself against his nature not to do. Chu Shuzhi is the voice in the back of Zhao Yunlan's mind, the dark angel on his shoulder. Be ruthless. Don't regret it. Solve the problem. Pot, kettle.
With all the pressure, it seems like Zhao Yunlan really does almost snap and leave for Dixing during this argument! But he manages to restrain himself--he even manages to forbid Chu Shuzhi from going after Shen Wei for him.
Of course Chu Shuzhi wants to, because 1) he doesn't believe in playing anything safe ever, and 2) he's also been upset by the public reaction to his past and the way it endangers the SID, so he says "Everyone will feel more at ease" if he leaves ;___; , and 3) he feels deeply on the issue, as we saw in his reaction to the faked note from Shen Wei in ep 30, If he’s in danger and I don’t go to save him, I.... But Zhao Yunlan says no, sticking to the letter of Shen Wei's request, which is to protect the team, including Lao Chu.
However! One interesting and complicated thing is, isn't it Chu Shuzhi's disobedience and failure in Dixing, that actually ends up allowing Zhao Yunlan to rescue Shen Wei? Chu Shuzhi's attempt to cut the Gordian Knot with one slice (as he full-body-shouts in this argument, "I just wanted to solve the problem!!!") and the harm that befalls the sacrificial lamb Guo Changcheng, is what gets the eternal protector Shen Wei to finally break radio silence and send Zhao Yunlan the note--and it's that note that Zhao Yunlan gladly takes as a release from his promise. Or at least enough of a release to get him to Dixing, and then he is in full Zhao Yunlan Winging It mode from there, even when Shen Wei tries to tell him not to.
So it seems there is still virtue in being impetuous and daring, in taking risks, in being single-minded and skipping past the rules?
And I really chew on all this, because it feels complicated.
Questions:
* What would have happened if Da Qing hadn't come in right then? He interrupts Zhao Yunlan's (impulsive!) firing of Chu Shuzhi, plus he blocks Zhao Yunlan's (impulsive!!) decision to go to Dixing after Shen Wei. Is there any scenario in which Zhao Yunlan's crisis-impulsiveness in these moments actually ended up with, for instance, Chu Shuzhi charging off to Dixing sooner ("Well if I'm fired, then you can't tell me what to do") and/or Zhao Yunlan going down there by himself or after Chu Shuzhi?
* Chu Shuzhi desperately wants to go bring Shen Wei back; Zhao Yunlan desperately wants Shen Wei back. Zhao Yunlan says he'll think about letting him go to Dixing--and he later ends up saying No. Why? Did his speech to Minister Gao in between, protecting his team and Lao Chu in particular, affect his decision? Or was it about necessary vs. unnecessary risks? Or--?
* Was Zhao Yunlan right to keep his promise for so long? Was Shen Wei right to ask him to make the promise in the first place?
* Is it an actual advancement in Chu Shuzhi's behavior for him to ask, several times, for permission to rescue Shen Wei? (Granted, he still doesn't know how to take No for an answer, but he did ask, and very patiently...for him. :D )
I know I touched on a whole lot of scenes, in contextualizing this one--but they would still make great discussion posts for their own purposes! The "pot, kettle" scene in 18, the intense promise in 29, Zhao Yunlan brooding painfully over his promise in ep 30, Zhao Yunlan being aggressive and protective in the Inspectorate in 30/31, the second office discussion/argument between Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi later in 32, and of course Chu Shuzhi's ill-fated (but useful??) trip down to Dixing and into the nightmare in 32/33.
I guess it's obvious that this crux in the narrative really gets to me. What do you think?
Location of the scene: ep 31 at about 41:28, continuing into ep 32.
Five important things that came before this scene:
1. Way back in ep 18, Chu Shuzhi impulsively entered a cage fight while investigating, and Zhao Yunlan was exasperated:
Zhao Yunlan: Lao Chu always runs unnecessary risks. No organization, no discipline. He never respects me as his boss!
Shen Wei, smiling: Is the pot calling the kettle black?
2. In ep 29, Shen Wei left for Dixing and made Zhao Yunlan promise he would stay here (starting at about 35:25):
SW: Zhao Yunlan, I must go back to Dixing now.
ZYL: I'll go with you.
SW: No, the SID is in a very delicate position now. Unauthorized actions will bring you internal and external trouble. (Gazing into ZYL's eyes, almost whispering) Zhao Yunlan, promise me. No matter what happens, you must hold tight. Keep calm and maintain the status quo.
ZYL: (painfully closes his eyes and swallows, then steels himself and grasps SW's shoulder) Hei Lao Ge, we can only maintain the peace if we are all alive.
Zhao Yunlan hasn't heard from him since (and we the audience know that it's because Shen Wei has been caught and is being tortured). Zhao Yunlan has been fruitlessly calling him with incense and brooding over his promise, as we see for instance in the ep 30 scene starting at 38:07.
3. In ep 31, Zu Hong was trapped in her dream. When she struck at Xiao Guo in the dream, Chu Shuzhi's puppet unexpectedly appeared and immobilized her.
4. In ep 30, Zhao Yunlan and Minister Gao butted heads--the Minister threatened to shut down the SID and Zhao Yunlan basically dared him to. Now in ep 31, the Inspectorate has actually tried to shut them down--ZYL has just chased the lackeys away for now.
5. In ep 30, Ya Qing released secret info about the SID onto the internet, which is causing paranoia and panic. And in 31 right before the scene in question, Lao Li shows ZYL the big newspaper headline about "the Sinister Special Investigations Department of Light Road". These anti-SID smear campaigns emphasize that the SID is employing a Dixingren convicted murderer.
So, Zhao Yunlan is at a pretty stressful crux here, to say the least! Shen Wei--the Inspectorate--the public--his team--Lao Chu.
And now, the office argument under discussion...
To start (ep 31, 41:28), Zhao Yunlan looks sternly at Lao Chu and snaps: Chu Shuzhi. Come with me. It feels like a big deal for Zhao Yunlan to use his full name instead of "Lao Chu"...I'd be interested to know how many times he does that in the series.
They go to Zhao Yunlan's office for the dressing-down:
ZYL (smacking the newspaper hard onto his desk): You crossed the line. Huh?
(he tosses the small doll onto the desk; Lao Chu gently picks it up)
Xiao Guo didn't know better. You don't know better either? How could you let that activate inside a dream? (he's shouting by now) What if Zhu Hong got hurt? What if she couldn't wake up?!
CSZ: (looking at the doll, quietly) Unlikely.
ZYL: Unlikely? I think you got tired of this Department. You're getting too bold!
CSZ: (as he speaks, he looks up in direct challenge, his voice rising to a shout) And I think you've got too soft-hearted! Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you'll miss the big picture and regret it forever!
On ZYL's hard stare, the episode fades out.
It continues immediately in ep 32 (starting at about 02:09), backed up in the action a bit.
After Chu Shuzhi's line, "Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you'll miss the big picture and regret it forever!", it goes on, rising to a full shouting match:
CSZ: (gesturing emphatically with the doll) He only takes action to help when there's danger. As for Zhu Hong, she deserves what she gets!
ZYL: Chu Shuzhi, are you out of your mind?! Can't you tell friend from foe any more?!
CSZ: I just wanted to solve the problem!!!
ZYL: (pointing at him aggressively) If you don't want to work here, get o---!
Interrupting that last fateful word, Da Qing runs in, with his wide-eyed 'people are yowling' stare. Chu Shuzhi is very still, staring fiercely at Zhao Yunlan.
ZYL: (slams the desk) Can't you knock?
DQ: No need in an emergency. Be glad I didn't come through the window.
ZYL: You found Cong Bo?
DQ: I found him, and we're trying to remove those online articles. Someone is posting them on purpose. Rumor spreads too fast, he can't do anything.
ZYL: (Heavily, looking at Chu Shuzhi, who has turned his back) Internal and external trouble. (Shen Wei's words from the promise scene in ep 29 ;___; )
DQ: (pointing to incense burner) We haven't heard anything from the Lord Envoy yet.
ZYL: (his jaw clenches; he stares intensely at nothing. HE KNOWS THAT.)
(A long pause. He stands upright.) Now you're all back here, you can defend our home. I'll go find him. (he moves to leave)
DQ: (blocking his way) No, I don't think Dixing is safe right now. You can't go there.
ZYL: So we just [wait] for death here?!
CSZ: (turning toward them, but not looking either one in the face) I'll go. Chief Zhao should be in control here. Everyone will feel more at ease.
ZYL: (with a sigh, raising his hand) I need to think about it.
He walks to the window, breathing tightly, his shoulders hunched. Chu Shuzhi is facing away from him, his jaw muscles flexing.
This argument sets the stage for some crucial developments in the rest of ep 32, and after:
1. Zhao Yunlan is called on the carpet at the Inspectorate again, and he stands up for the SID and directly for Chu Shuzhi (Also, you don't want to touch a single member of the SID. That includes him. Whatever crime he was found guilty of, that's in the past. If you dare touch him, give it a try.)
Zhao Yunlan is really being a leader there, openly challenging the Inspectorate, and specifically protecting the troublemaker whom he almost just fired!
2. When ZYL gets back from the Inspectorate, he tries to have another, less shouty, talk with Chu Shuzhi, about keeping his cool in the face of the public panic. Whatever happens, endure it, he says firmly, and I feel he's talking to himself as well as Chu Shuzhi.
Chu Shuzhi (who of course ignores the whole idea of Keeping His Cool-- Cool? What is that??) again broaches the topic of going to Dixing after Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, trust me this time. I will bring Professor Shen back for you.
There's a long pause. Zhao Yunlan's face goes through a journey--from painful hope, as if he deeply wants to accept--
--to inward thoughtfulness--
--to the answer, "No."
Chu Shuzhi tries to argue, but Zhao Yunlan slaps the desk, standing. Steadily, finally: No.
And this all sparks the events of the rest of ep 32, and ep 33:
* Terrible events: Chu Shuzhi storms off to Dixing, and not only ends up not rescuing Shen Wei, but also seemingly gets Guo Changcheng killed, returns in shock without him, falls into the Master of Nightmare's realm where he has the false "Changcheng" to comfort him, and wakes to ZYL's painful news that Changcheng didn't return, at which he utterly collapses.
* Wonderful events: Shen Wei has used a scrap of his remaining power to transport Changcheng to Dijun Palace, and send Zhao Yunlan a message that says only, Dijun Palace--Wei. This is the signal Zhao Yunlan needs, and he goes immediately to Dixing--but, not just to scoop up Xiao Guo and run, as Shen Wei begs him to do. ZYL also of course takes the risk of rescuing Shen Wei, with the bravely sacrificial help of the Shadow Man.
(I highly recommend
laireshi 's wonderful scene discussion post about the rescue!Thoughts and reactions:
I wanted to zero in on that first office argument in ep 31/32 because it jumps up and down with both feet on an important character trait in both Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi--impetuousness, improvisation, ignoring rules and restrictions, cutting the Gordian Knot with one swipe.
We've seen Chu Shuzhi be like this for the whole series, direct and straightforward, right up to the puppet protecting Changcheng in Zhu Hong's dream no matter what else might happen--his focus is single-minded, and he trusts everyone else to take their own chances.
We've seen (and heard from Shen Wei in the "pot, kettle" scene) that Zhao Yunlan also does this, especially when contrasted with more formal people and institutions like Hei Pao Shi and the Inspectorate. He jumps in and wings it where angels fear to tread.
But now, he has promised Shen Wei this one thing. Very gravely and directly. We can see how seriously he takes it, by watching him repeatedly struggle with it. As he whispers to himself in ep 30, obviously suffering: “The enemy’s acting and I’m doing nothing. Totally not my style.”
In this office argument (and the later one, and even in the puppet protecting GCC in Zhu Hong's dream), it feels to me like Chu Shuzhi is serving as Zhao Yunlan's shadow self--the one who just acts, according to his own emotions. He doesn't worry about the others, about the bosses or the citizens, or about responsibilities. Here he keeps arguing and asking for something that Zhao Yunlan wishes he himself could do, and has been forcing himself against his nature not to do. Chu Shuzhi is the voice in the back of Zhao Yunlan's mind, the dark angel on his shoulder. Be ruthless. Don't regret it. Solve the problem. Pot, kettle.
With all the pressure, it seems like Zhao Yunlan really does almost snap and leave for Dixing during this argument! But he manages to restrain himself--he even manages to forbid Chu Shuzhi from going after Shen Wei for him.
Of course Chu Shuzhi wants to, because 1) he doesn't believe in playing anything safe ever, and 2) he's also been upset by the public reaction to his past and the way it endangers the SID, so he says "Everyone will feel more at ease" if he leaves ;___; , and 3) he feels deeply on the issue, as we saw in his reaction to the faked note from Shen Wei in ep 30, If he’s in danger and I don’t go to save him, I.... But Zhao Yunlan says no, sticking to the letter of Shen Wei's request, which is to protect the team, including Lao Chu.
However! One interesting and complicated thing is, isn't it Chu Shuzhi's disobedience and failure in Dixing, that actually ends up allowing Zhao Yunlan to rescue Shen Wei? Chu Shuzhi's attempt to cut the Gordian Knot with one slice (as he full-body-shouts in this argument, "I just wanted to solve the problem!!!") and the harm that befalls the sacrificial lamb Guo Changcheng, is what gets the eternal protector Shen Wei to finally break radio silence and send Zhao Yunlan the note--and it's that note that Zhao Yunlan gladly takes as a release from his promise. Or at least enough of a release to get him to Dixing, and then he is in full Zhao Yunlan Winging It mode from there, even when Shen Wei tries to tell him not to.
So it seems there is still virtue in being impetuous and daring, in taking risks, in being single-minded and skipping past the rules?
And I really chew on all this, because it feels complicated.
Questions:
* What would have happened if Da Qing hadn't come in right then? He interrupts Zhao Yunlan's (impulsive!) firing of Chu Shuzhi, plus he blocks Zhao Yunlan's (impulsive!!) decision to go to Dixing after Shen Wei. Is there any scenario in which Zhao Yunlan's crisis-impulsiveness in these moments actually ended up with, for instance, Chu Shuzhi charging off to Dixing sooner ("Well if I'm fired, then you can't tell me what to do") and/or Zhao Yunlan going down there by himself or after Chu Shuzhi?
* Chu Shuzhi desperately wants to go bring Shen Wei back; Zhao Yunlan desperately wants Shen Wei back. Zhao Yunlan says he'll think about letting him go to Dixing--and he later ends up saying No. Why? Did his speech to Minister Gao in between, protecting his team and Lao Chu in particular, affect his decision? Or was it about necessary vs. unnecessary risks? Or--?
* Was Zhao Yunlan right to keep his promise for so long? Was Shen Wei right to ask him to make the promise in the first place?
* Is it an actual advancement in Chu Shuzhi's behavior for him to ask, several times, for permission to rescue Shen Wei? (Granted, he still doesn't know how to take No for an answer, but he did ask, and very patiently...for him. :D )
I know I touched on a whole lot of scenes, in contextualizing this one--but they would still make great discussion posts for their own purposes! The "pot, kettle" scene in 18, the intense promise in 29, Zhao Yunlan brooding painfully over his promise in ep 30, Zhao Yunlan being aggressive and protective in the Inspectorate in 30/31, the second office discussion/argument between Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi later in 32, and of course Chu Shuzhi's ill-fated (but useful??) trip down to Dixing and into the nightmare in 32/33.
I guess it's obvious that this crux in the narrative really gets to me. What do you think?
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2. When ZYL gets back from the Inspectorate, he tries to have another, less shouty, talk with Chu Shuzhi, about keeping his cool in the face of the public panic. Whatever happens, endure it, he says firmly, and I feel he's talking to himself as well as Chu Shuzhi. - This description made me giggle out loud with the less shouty talk XD I also agree that ZYL is also giving him this pep talk!!
Chu Shuzhi (who of course ignores the whole idea of Keeping His Cool-- Cool? What is that??) again broaches the topic of going to Dixing after Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, trust me this time. I will bring Professor Shen back for you. - I always thought CSZ saying this was playing just a little dirty, since it's clear how much ZYL wants SHen Wei to back in Haixing.
I think in the last picture where ZYL says no for a second time, that CSZ's expression reads very surprised. Like he can't believe ZYL is saying no. LOL.
I wanted to zero in on that first office argument in ep 31/32 because it jumps up and down with both feet on an important character trait in both Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi--impetuousness, improvisation, ignoring rules and restrictions, cutting the Gordian Knot with one swipe. - This is such a good definition of both ZYL and CSZ. I love it! LOVE IT!
In this office argument (and the later one, and even in the puppet protecting GCC in Zhu Hong's dream), it feels to me like Chu Shuzhi is serving as Zhao Yunlan's shadow self--the one who just acts, according to his own emotions. He doesn't worry about the others, about the bosses or the citizens, or about responsibilities. Here he keeps arguing and asking for something that Zhao Yunlan wishes he himself could do, and has been forcing himself against his nature not to do. Chu Shuzhi is the voice in the back of Zhao Yunlan's mind, the dark angel on his shoulder. Be ruthless. Don't regret it. Solve the problem. Pot, kettle. - AHHH I love all of this too. I am totally just squeeing because all of this write-up is excellent!!!! SQUEE.
Of course Chu Shuzhi wants to, because 1) he doesn't believe in playing anything safe ever, and 2) he's also been upset by the public reaction to his past and the way it endangers the SID, so he says "Everyone will feel more at ease" if he leaves ;___; , and 3) he feels deeply on the issue, as we saw in his reaction to the faked note from Shen Wei in ep 30, If he’s in danger and I don’t go to save him, I.... But Zhao Yunlan says no, sticking to the letter of Shen Wei's request, which is to protect the team, including Lao Chu. - YES YES to al of this :D
What would have happened if Da Qing hadn't come in right then? He interrupts Zhao Yunlan's (impulsive!) firing of Chu Shuzhi, plus he blocks Zhao Yunlan's (impulsive!!) decision to go to Dixing after Shen Wei. Is there any scenario in which Zhao Yunlan's crisis-impulsiveness in these moments actually ended up with, for instance, Chu Shuzhi charging off to Dixing sooner ("Well if I'm fired, then you can't tell me what to do") and/or Zhao Yunlan going down there by himself or after Chu Shuzhi? - I could definitely see (if DQ hadn't barged in) ZYL finishing that sentence and CSZ just all: FINE THEN GOODBYE. And going off to Dixing to try and fix everything. Which I think would still spell out disaster for them, but also still possibly help ZYL get down to Dixing, as well.
Chu Shuzhi desperately wants to go bring Shen Wei back; Zhao Yunlan desperately wants Shen Wei back. Zhao Yunlan says he'll think about letting him go to Dixing--and he later ends up saying No. Why? Did his speech to Minister Gao in between, protecting his team and Lao Chu in particular, affect his decision? Or was it about necessary vs. unnecessary risks? Or--? - I always saw this particular scene of him not wanting to break a promise to Shen Wei. Sure, he wants to protect his team and everything, as well, but to my brain, this always came across that ZYL wanted to not break that promise to SW for as long as he could (because everything was in such a state flux, sometimes promises can't be kept).
Was Zhao Yunlan right to keep his promise for so long? Was Shen Wei right to ask him to make the promise in the first place? - Ahhhh such a hard question to answer. I think for SW the answer is no. I think SW was just trying to make sure ZYL wasn't involved in all the brouhaha going on, but ZYL already was? So it created problems that might have been avoided if they had worked together. Or so my brain often thinks when I rewatch this episode :D :D As for ZYL, HMMMMM. It's hard to say because we can see it did work out for him LOL, so my brain still tips toward yes.
Is it an actual advancement in Chu Shuzhi's behavior for him to ask, several times, for permission to rescue Shen Wei? (Granted, he still doesn't know how to take No for an answer, but he did ask, and very patiently...for him. :D ) - I think so! I think CSZ is now aware of things more, so he can see that delicate balance, and he's trying to make sure he doesn't tip it over.
AHhh! I really loved this write-up! Such an awesome and thought-provoking write-up :D THANK YOU for posting it!!!!
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Yes, I agree there. And now that you mention it, I don't know if Chu Shuzhi, or anyone on the team, knows the actual content of the promise! Shen Wei pulled Zhao Yunlan aside to talk to him about it, and I've forgotten whether Zhao Yunlan explains it in any depth to the others. Hmmm. Anyway, that would be one potential reason to be surprised, along with the basic 'he obviously wants Shen Wei back SO BADLY, and yet he's saying NO???'.
So it created problems that might have been avoided if they had worked together.
I totally agree there as well. I feel like Shen Wei's protectiveness of Zhao Yunlan turns at times to overprotectiveness and secretiveness, and I would have preferred him to work with Zhao Yunlan more instead of taking certain things entirely on himself...
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Chu Shuzhi is the voice in the back of Zhao Yunlan's mind, the dark angel on his shoulder. Be ruthless. Don't regret it. Solve the problem. Pot, kettle.
Oooh, I love this idea SO MUCH. For one thing, it reminds me of how Danny Arnold claimed that all the characters on Barney Miller were aspects of himself - I vaguely recall he said he'd never been nearly as cool as Harris, but always secretly wanted to be. For another, it's a great way to explain their dynamic in fights like this. Opposing Chu Shuzhi and working hard to batten him down is necessary for Zhao Yunlan to exercise his own self-control--in a sense, it actually IS ZYL exercising his own self-control.
Also, I hadn't noticed this until I read your summary and the moments you point out - but CSZ is tempting fate when he yells that Zhu Hong deserves what she gets, presumably because she's allowed herself to be fooled by the Nightmare Master, who traps her by showing her what she wants ... and then HE gets fooled the same way, to such an extent that it contributes to his falling apart.
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Aaaaaah, I love how you put this. Arguing with Chu Shuzhi is externalizing Zhao Yunlan's own desire to run riot so that he can focus and articulate all the reasons why he shouldn't. And so it makes sense that in this argument, before he actually has to start specifically articulating--before Chu Shuzhi has started asking to go, so that Zhao Yunlan has to start saying No--seems to be the only point where Zhao Yunlan really almost lets himself go down to Dixing.
CSZ is tempting fate when he yells that Zhu Hong deserves what she gets, presumably because she's allowed herself to be fooled by the Nightmare Master, who traps her by showing her what she wants ... and then HE gets fooled the same way, to such an extent that it contributes to his falling apart.
Oooh, yes, ouch! Again he's speaking so impulsively, and it really does come back to bite him. (And... what, me, loving a character who's a bundle of tightly-held problems who eventually falls apart? :D )
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Oooooh. You know, I'd been trying to figure out what similarities have led so many people to wander into Guardian fandom from due South ... but man, Chu Shuzhi has SO very much in common with Kelly Robinson!!! What a cool and insightful way of looking at the character.
I suspect that if Xiao Guo's grandmother was still alive, she'd have Chu Shuzhi calling her Grandma and writing letters to her.
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Was Zhao Yunlan right to keep his promise for so long? Was Shen Wei right to ask him to make the promise in the first place?
That's a knotty problem! Shen Wei wants to keep ZYL safe, always, even when he could have used the help and it could arguably have kept him from being captured. Zhao Yunlan goes into Dixing as an infiltrator from the start, and he's right to do so; he's not about to announce himself at the palace.
On the one hand: if Ye Zun wasn't conveniently absent just then (I forget what he was doing, or if it was mentioned, etc; he was still a glowing bodiless entity at this point, right?), ZYL would have arrived to find Shen Wei in chains, Ye Zun would have tortured him in front of Shen Wei, and it would all have ended just as badly as it did later, or worse.
On the other hand: Shen Wei would have ended up dying alone or at Ye Zun's hands, without ZYL's help and rescue. And the time loop would never have happened, making everything impossible the way timeloops do...
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(Also, my favorite translation of "Internal and external trouble" here is "Everything's fucked"...;) )
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Chu Shuzhi's line, "Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you'll miss the big picture and regret it forever!"
This sounds so much like the voice of bitter experience I'm wondering what he's referring to? Is it related to what happened with Nianzhi? (Should I get it?)
"As for Zhu Hong, she deserves what she gets!"
Chu Shuzhi's willingness to let Zhu Hong get hurt is very !!!! to me. Like, this is the last quarter of the show, the SID is very much a team by now, and he's still willing to take that risk to protect Changcheng (even though Zhao Yunlan was there and wouldn't let anything happen to him)? Wow.
(I guess this is after the more comical situation where Zhu Hong left Xiao Guo tied up at the Snake village, and Chu Shuzhi had to go rescue him...)
Also, Chu Shuzhi declaring his lack of concern for Zhu Hong reminds me of the scene earlier in episode 30 (10:10ish) between Zhao Xinci and Zhao Yunlan. Zhao Xinci calls Chu Shuzhi a stumbling block and tells Zhao Yunlan to throw him under the bus. Zhao Yunlan says, "I’ve been the Chief at Special Investigation for many years now, didn’t really have any special accomplishments. But there’s one thing I will do -- my people, I will protect them."
For Zhao Yunlan to have taken this stand and then have Chu Shuzhi (of all people!) being careless of Zhu Hong's safety must really grate.
it feels to me like Chu Shuzhi is serving as Zhao Yunlan's shadow self--the one who just acts, according to his own emotions.
This is such a fantastic observation. Yes yes yes! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Chu Shuzhi is the voice in the back of Zhao Yunlan's mind, the dark angel on his shoulder. Be ruthless. Don't regret it. Solve the problem.
Pushing right down on Zhao Yunlan's deepest bruises, as expressed in ep 29 to Zhao Xinci: "I’m telling you, I’m different from you: instead of having regrets for twenty years, I will follow my heart from the beginning." (This imposed restraint is killing him!)
So it seems there is still virtue in being impetuous and daring, in taking risks, in being single-minded and skipping past the rules?
I think so. Otherwise you're Zhao Xinci, right? It's a matter of tempering your daring with judgement and being careful of causing collateral damage (Zhu Hong!).
Is there any scenario in which Zhao Yunlan's crisis-impulsiveness in these moments actually ended up with, for instance, Chu Shuzhi charging off to Dixing sooner ("Well if I'm fired, then you can't tell me what to do")
That would be amazing. :D :D :D
Zhao Yunlan says he'll think about letting him go to Dixing--and he later ends up saying No. Why? Did his speech to Minister Gao in between, protecting his team and Lao Chu in particular, affect his decision? Or was it about necessary vs. unnecessary risks? Or--?
I think it's all about the promise. He would absolutely take the risk if Shen Wei hadn't made him promise not to. Chu Shuzhi is needed in Haixing. The Envoy placed him there. He's under Zhao Yunlan's protection.
* Is it an actual advancement in Chu Shuzhi's behavior for him to ask, several times, for permission to rescue Shen Wei? (Granted, he still doesn't know how to take No for an answer, but he did ask, and very patiently...for him. :D )
Hee! Definitely.
*leaves a heap of kudos here, for good measure*
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I love your reminders of Zhao Xinci, and the context Zhao Yunlan is operating in. He defines his only strength as protecting his people (GUARDIAN, did you say?), and now this whole situation is just hammering on that from every direction. Frankly it's the worst possible time for Chu Shuzhi to get so far out of line.
It does seem rough of Lao Chu to speak so blithely about Zhu Hong. I think that of the whole team, those two have the comparatively thickest skins and feel free to be the most brusque with each other, but I also think he wouldn't truly want her to actually be harmed. Also I figure he's (over)confident when it comes to the puppet, and doesn't really think its presence could have caused trouble--and I would believe him, since it's his power and he should know, if only he weren't being so demonstrably careless/impulsive in this episode.
Chu Shuzhi is needed in Haixing. The Envoy placed him there. He's under Zhao Yunlan's protection.
Aww, good point! I hadn't thought of it quite that way, but that is so true.
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Also I figure he's (over)confident when it comes to the puppet, and doesn't really think its presence could have caused trouble--and I would believe him, since it's his power and he should know, if only he weren't being so demonstrably careless/impulsive in this episode.
Yes, agreed on both counts. All the puppet did was restrain Zhu Hong, which wouldn't normally be a big deal -- unfortunately, in the context of her dream it might have been the difference between being stuck there forever or escaping.