First I love all the screenshots! Bestest!! And this is an absolutely wonderful write-up!!
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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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!!!!