GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 4

[china_shop]

Beginning of episode: Shen Wei is caught at a crime scene in the alleys of Dragon City.

Ending of episode: The Envoy and Chu Shuzhi's second meeting in the park.

Important scenes/developments:

• The interrogation scene.
• Shen Wei accompanies Zhao Yunlan and Lin Yusen to a crime scene, gets attacked, and heals the cut on his arm.
• Zhao Yunlan starts to form a theory about Shen Wei's power.
• Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's first night-time stroll, during which they talk about names and friendship.
• Shen Wei pricks his finger and laughs when Zhao Yunlan freaks out.
• The SID (minus Zhao Yunlan) run a sting, and Da Qing and Zhu Hong are kidnapped.
• Zhu Jiu works out Shen Wei is the Envoy.
• We see a flashback to Zhang Danni's life on the streets as a Dixingren in Haixing.
• Zhu Jiu incites Lin Yusen to blow up the culprits, and the Envoy is wounded? His robes are damaged, anyway.
• Zhao Yunlan is pissed at the Envoy arriving late and taking away Lin Yusen's body with the others.
• The Envoy meets Chu Shuzhi in the park, warns him to be on his guard, and foreshadows the danger of mixing dark and light energy.

Thoughts
I got carried away again. Feel free to comment without reading all this! (I also made 162 screencaps while I was watching; guess I'll post a picspam later. ;-)

• Chu Shuzhi can tell Lin Yusen is an ordinary person. /Dixing ability observation


• The interrogation scene -- is such a gift; everything about it is amazing. We've already had imashoe's in-depth scene discussion, but I have to note a few things:
  • When Zhu Hong confronts Shen Wei about his nerves, Shen Wei takes a moment and drops the act, essentially agreeing that his behaviour doesn't fit his cover. The whole thing is performance. And then he moves the drinking glass aside so precisely to lean forward and tease her.
  • After Shen Wei goes all attack-is-the-best-form-of-defence at Zhu Hong, Zhao Yunlan's laugh is genuine.
    
    Is this the first time we've seen him laugh for real?
  • I love Lin Jing's reaction to Shen Wei reaching for Chu Shuzhi's doll, and Chu Shuzhi grabbing his wrist. :D And then Shen Wei coolly pulls himself free.
    
    Also love the use of Zhao Yunlan's reflection in the glass here. Both of them obscured in different ways.
  • Shen Wei's tiny head bow to Chu Shuzhi as Chu Shuzhi leaves. Aww!
  • The way Shen Wei looks when Zhao Yunlan says, "I am going to be straightforward and will ask you just one question." 我开门见山就问你一个问题 gets me every time.
    
    
  • Depending on what subs you're using, the line before that might not make sense. It should be like the Viki translation: "We don't usually bring back ordinary criminals, witnesses, or suspects to our headquarters." 等闲的犯人 证人嫌疑人我们是不会带回单位的 (Which also explains why later in the show they take Zhang Danni to a tea shop.)
  • I did wonder during my rewatch why they hadn't talked to Zhang Danni for corroboration of Shen Wei's statements, forgetting that in the next scene Lin Jing says, "It's a pity Zhang Danni is in shock from fear. She doesn't remember anything." 可惜那个张丹妮吓蒙了什么都不记得了 Given how good Zhao Yunlan is at reading people, I wonder if he suspected Zhang Danni from the start and just used the situation as a cover to interrogate Shen Wei? Da Qing is already tailing her when Guo Changcheng walks her home, later on, which I think suggests Zhao Yunlan knows something is up.


• The jacket Lin Jing is testing in the lab is Lin Yusen's. (I don't think I paid enough attention to notice that before.)
  
  
  
  In this scene, Zhu Hong is pushing the case forward and starts to plan the sting later in the episode. This is a big contrast to her distracting Lin Jing with Da Qing's fish treats! I wonder if she's more engaged in the work of the SID after Zhao Yunlan called her in last episode to talk to Zhang Ruonan, especially since the victims this time are women too? She's basically been authorised to step outside of her "office manager" role, and she might think it will get Zhao Yunlan's attention?


• Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi talk on the mezzanine.
  
  
  
  It's so rare to see them confer like this, and I love it! (Later in the episode, in the car and during the final confrontation with Zhang Danni, they have a similar capably-working-well-together vibe.) I feel like Chu Shuzhi is more engaged this episode, too, maybe because the SID and Zhao Yunlan seem to have the Envoy's seal of approval.
  
  Zhao Yunlan picks up on Chu Shuzhi's ear-wiggling and understands what it signifies (that he's tailing Lin Yusen via puppet), and Chu Shuzhi says, "Casting a long line to catch a big fish -- you taught me that." 放长线 钓大鱼你教的 I have Questions!! Is that something we've seen demonstrated in the show?


• Guo Changcheng is more of a background figure in this episode. I wonder if everyone's doubting he can cut it and unsure what to do with him, after he fainted at the murder scene last time. And then Lin Yusen has shown up, just as baby-faced, and wants in on the action, too!
  
  
  
  I love his sketch! I love Zhao Yunlan's reaction to it! Hee! (I had to adjust it a bit to make it clearer.)


• The way Zhao Yunlan stops dead in the street when he sees Shen Wei waiting for him on the bench. (Omg, Shen Wei is literally waiting for him on a bench! Did they plan this with the later bench scene in mind??)
  
   
  Standing on the footpath, Shen Wei looks about six inches taller than Zhao Yunlan. Zhao Yunlan actually has to look up to talk to him!
  
  Zhao Yunlan says, outright, "I believe that you are innocent." 我也相信你是清白的 (!!!! This is such an admission, especially when he knows there's something going on with Shen Wei! ♥) and also "Although you are a scholar, when you are determined, there's no way to refuse you." 虽说你是个文人吧可这强硬起来还真是没办法让人拒绝 (I feel like Lin Yusen should be spluttering indignantly in the background here, hee!)


• By the time they reach the park, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are already perfectly in step.
  
   
  aslkfdjasd;lkfjasdf;a


• Zhao Yunlan leaves Shen Wei to mind Zhang Danni and chases Jia Hui, and then and there, Shen Wei determines to never let himself get stuck in such a situation again. ;-p And then Zhao Yunlan comes back and reacts to the cut on Shen Wei's arm -- a parallel to Shen Wei seeing the scrape on Zhao Yunlan's arm in episode 2?


• Zhang Danni in the tea room. No one is moved by her tears. Zhao Yunlan tests her strength. (I don't think that would hold up in court, assuming Haixing has courts.) After she leaves, Shen Wei makes an observation about the blood at last night's scene. (Zhao Yunlan must have already factored that in, surely?) Which triggers some flashbacks about Shen Wei himself. I think Zhao Yunlan concludes Shen Wei is invulnerable?
  
   
  This is not Zhao Yunlan's usual smirk!
  
   
  
  Shen Wei really is walking a tightrope of holding Zhao Yunlan's attention without giving the game away. In that last shot of Zhao Yunlan, I feel like he's wondering what he'll do if/when his suspicions about Shen Wei are confirmed.


• Being walked home by Changcheng, Zhang Danni drops the act entirely. Does she think the SID don't talk to each other? Also, she leads them right to her lair place.


• At Zhang Danni and Jia Hui's lair,[1] there are three drinking glasses on the tray, and Zhang Danni says, "We have to execute the task Zhu Jiu set up." 我们该去执行烛九布置的任务 I guess Zhu Jiu makes house calls now.
  [1] Actually, they have two lairs -- the one where Jia Hui ties up Zhu Hong, and the one where the SID find real!Zhang Danni's body.


• The sting scene (miss_ingno's scene discussion here). This time through, I'm sure Lin Jing is laughing at Zhu Hong acting out of character. *g*


• At the same time (which makes me pretty sure Zhao Yunlan doesn't know about the sting), Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are taking their first nighttime walk in modern times. (See sakana17's scene discussion post.)
  
  ZYL: If my mom knew I had an intellectual like you as a friend, she'd be bursting with joy. 我妈要是知道我交了你这么一个只知分子朋友那得了开花啊
  SW: What's precious between friends is intimacy. If she saw you now, she would definitely be happy. 两个朋友之间 贵在知心他要是看见你现在这样也一定会很开心的
  ZYL: Perhaps. One day when I go up there myself, I'll surely ask her.
  也许吧等哪天我也上去了我一定问问她
  
  So, while flattering Shen Wei about his intellectualism, Zhao Yunlan claims friendship first (possibly in reaction to Shen Wei mentioning "someone very important" who gave him his name?). Shen Wei immediately one-ups him by claiming very intimate friendship (discussion of the particular term he uses here), while at the same time implying status is irrelevant, ie, putting them on an even footing. (And using a term about knowing each other's hearts, which given how many secrets he's keeping...!!) Faced with this, Zhao Yunlan deflects/changes the subject by indicating that his mother has passed away, and laughs.


• Zhao Yunlan chases Lin Yusen, and when he catches him and sees all the traps, sits on a convenient rock. (There was a description of him years back as someone who "never stands when he can sit, never sits when he can lie down". Does anyone have a link to that, by any chance?)
  
  
  Zhu Jiu taunts Shen Wei, and Shen Wei goes all plain-clothes Envoy.
  
  And then Shen Wei's deliberate finger prick! I love this so much. I love that a) Zhao Yunlan immediately becomes very serious, physically agitated, can't stand someone getting hurt on his watch; and b) Shen Wei breaks bambi-eyed character to laugh in surprise; this feels like a very genuine laugh to me. (Maybe he's thinking of all their ancient sword wounds?)


• First sighting of the fruit shop couple, Bai Suxia and Wang Xiangyang, who'll become significant later on. And the great talk with Lin Yusen where Zhao Yunlan, who's already saddled with one hapless newbie, can't help promising another one a chance. "I'm not personally averse to your zeal and rashness." 我个人呢 并不是很反感你这样满腔热血的愣头青 LOL!


• I love the visual effect of Zhu Hong's druggedness and adore her self-rescuing. And Guo Changcheng being super brave defending her.


• Zhu Jiu has worked out that Shen Wei is the Envoy. He says, "You are restraining yourself. You're afraid your identity will endanger the people of Special Investigations." 你在克制你怕自己的身份会给特调处的人带来危险, giving us one reason why Shen Wei is hiding his identity, and threatens to tell Zhao Yunlan. Shen Wei says to leave Zhao Yunlan out of it, or else! Shen Wei lets off a dark energy bolt. Zhu Jiu says, "I know you keep track of the SID. That's why I left them a small surprise." 我知道你很关注特调处所以 我也顺手给他们溜了一个小惊喜 So according to Zhu Jiu, what happens next is directly due to Shen Wei's association with the SID. No wonder Shen Wei is stubborn about officially staying apart from them.


• The car scene: Guo Changcheng is freaking out about killing/hurting Jia Hui. Tensions are running high.
  
  
  
  I love how Chu Shuzhi and Zhao Yunlan conspire to give Changcheng a fright; those two are working so well together! But Zhao Yunlan doesn't recriminate anyone for running the sting, so... was he in on it or not?
  
  
  Chu Shuzhi and Zhao Yunlan working together at the crime scene.


• I don't understand Zhao Yunlan's bluff. Zhang Danni offers to trade unconscious Da Qing for Jia Hui. Zhao Yunlan says he needs Da Qing, but does she need Jia Hui that much? She equivocates. He turns to leave -- but she's already offered a trade! So why not take it? Is he just stalling until Chu Shuzhi is back in action? Anyway, then we get a flashback to life on the streets. And then Zhao Yunlan tries the "he's right behind you" trick, but it doesn't work.


• Lin Yusen runs in, explosion, everyone dies.
  
  
  
  Zhao Yunlan's worst nightmare.
  
   
  
  At first Zhao Yunlan's too busy staring horrified at the bodies to register the Envoy's presence, whereas Chu Shuzhi immediately does and faces him.
  
  
  
  And then that wonderfully tense exchange where the Envoy, having arrived late, says he has to take all the bodies away, and Zhao Yunlan is so pissed he calls him by his full title, Daren and all. (He calls him Hei-laoge at the start of the scene, with the "might as well not have come at all" line, and then turns away to try to rein in his emotions.)
  
  This must really suck for Shen Wei, too. He knew Lin Yusen. He knows that Zhu Jiu is using him to get back at Shen Wei himself. And he has to lie about why he's taking the body away, and bear Zhao Yunlan's anger. It's all so fraught! He silently arranges an assignation with Chu Shuzhi.


• Zhu Jiu is frustrated... because the SID weren't caught in the blast? (Wow, thinking about it, he orchestrated this whole thing, which means he set Zhang Danni and Jia Hui up.)


• The Envoy and Chu Shuzhi meet in the park. Shen Wei asks if Chu Shuzhi also thinks he was unreasonable and demonstrates rather than states the damage he took. (I wonder how badly he was hurt.) He already knows who's doing this, but he doesn't tell. He does say that "human energy and dark energy are naturally mutually exclusive" 人类的能量和黑能量之间是天然互斥的 and tells Chu Shuzhi not to tell anyone, but to be on guard. I love that he respects Chu Shuzhi enough to explain all this!
  
  CSZ: What about you? You won't give any explanations and will just continue walking alone? 那您自己呢不做任何解释继续一人独行吗
  Flashback to the night-time stroll this episode (audio only):
  ZYL: Then does the "wei" in your name also have a deeper meaning? 那你这巍字是不是也别有深意义啊
  Flashback to Ye Olde Haixing Era:
  Kunlun: In this world, the mountains connect to the seas, with lofty peaks, stretching on endlessly. Just like how in life, you must shoulder burdens and continue moving forward, never resting. Why don't we call you "Shen Wei" (sinking with loftiness)? 这个世间啊山海相连巍巍高山 延绵不绝就像是人生啊 负重前行永无停歇之日要不然你就叫做沈巍
  Chu Shuzhi bows to the Envoy’s back and leaves.
  SW: (thinks to himself) Once a promise is made, even mountains can't get in our way. I promised you, that for the sake of the people, for the sake of Haixing's peace, even if I have to forever shoulder burdens while going the opposite way, I will bravely advance forward.一约既定 万山无阻我答应过你的为了天下苍生为了海星和平即便永世负重逆行吾往矣
  
  
  
  I once made a post asking about the promise he references here. I really felt like I was missing something. Now I think, based on what Kunlun told him about shouldering burdens and moving forward, that Shen Wei's name is the promise. He took it on as an oath and carries it with him. OMG!
  
  When he says "even if I have to forever shoulder burdens while going the opposite way, I will bravely advance forward" -- by "going the opposite way" does he mean working counter to Kunlun/Zhao Yunlan, ie, moving away from him? *cries*

Discussion starters:

1. What's your favourite part of the interrogation scene? Anything that you particularly noticed this time through?
2. What's your favourite other moment in this episode?
3. What do you make of Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi suddenly working so well together?
4. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship jumps in this episode from cursory interrogation to "I think you're innocent, and you can tag along" to "intimate night-time chat-strolls." What is Zhao Yunlan thinking? Is he still suspicious?
5. Would the case have proceeded differently if Zhang Danni had tried to give evidence against Shen Wei?
6. How do you think Shen Wei feels about being brought back to the SID for questioning? It clearly isn't part of his plan.
7. How did Zhu Jiu convince Zhang Danni and Jia Hui to play along? Do you think they're true believers or did he promise them something?
8. Zhu Jiu glues Shen Wei's feet to the ground twice -- at the initial crime scene and again in the park. Does he do it again after this episode? If not, why? (Actually, I think it's likely Shen Wei found a way to negate it.)
9. Does Zhao Yunlan actually take Shen Wei to the hospital for a tetanus shot?
10. When Zhao Yunlan tells Guo Changcheng not to look at the real Zhang Danni's body, is he protecting him, or is it just that he doesn't want to deal with him fainting again? (It seems much kinder than last episode's "don't make me skin you alive" exasperation, to me.)
11. Zhang Danni recognises Chu Shuzhi the same way the hospital attacker did in episode 2. Did she already know, or did Zhu Jiu tell her?

Let's talk about episode 4!
Come and talk about this episode -- anything from favourite scenes or lines of dialogue to notes/questions about continuity or translation, most gorgeous (or angsty) smile, or anything else that strikes your fancy! And share links to your own and/or others' episode-related meta, picspams, and fanworks, new or old!

Comments

[china_shop]

Ooh, that's really interesting. Tonally Lin Yusen is such a mix of grieving but inept vigilante, aspiring SID agent and comic relief (with his terrible drawing) that it's hard to take him seriously, and I don't remember him appearing in any fics I've read. I wonder how differently he would have come across if he'd actually spoken to his crush.

This may be just happenstance, but it does seem to serve the purpose of bringing the SID characters, as well as Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's changing relationship, to the forefront.

As well as raising the stakes without really making us feel them yet, foreshadowing while saving the real heartbreak for later on? But you're right, I think. For me, Lin Yusen's story is allll about Zhao Yunlan -- how he tries (but not hard enough) to assert his authority in sending Lin Yusen home, how he reluctantly steps into the mentor-y role, how gutted he is by Lin Yusen's death, and how much he resents the Envoy for taking away his body. I think Lin Yusen's death feels like his second big failure, coming on the heels of Zhang Ruonan, and he blames himself more than the culprits. You know?

(Canon-divergence fic about Zhang Danni and company could be really interesting, if it managed to diverge before they actually killed anyone! As yet another variation on masks, selfhood, etc.)

Oh, yes! Good point. I wonder how Jia Hui discovered his power, and what he first did with it... That would be fascinating to read about.