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_guardian2023-03-27 09:57 am
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2023-03-27 09:57 am
Entry tags:
GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 11
Beginning of episode: Hei Pao Shi and Zhao Yunlan empathise with Sang Zan
Ending of episode: Fourth Uncle of the Snake Tribe drugs Zhu Hong
Important scenes/developments:
- Zhu Jiu fights the Envoy and Sang Zan. He dissolves Sang Zan. Zhao Yunlan shoots Zhu Jiu in the chest, but he flees.
- The Envoy draws the Mountain-River Awl out of the pillar, and Wang Zheng begs him to use it to reconstitute Sang Zan's energy.
- Zhao Yunlan gives Sang Zan an unpaid job at the SID.
- Zhao Yunlan finds Zhu Hong asleep, and her reaction to a mention of Shen Wei arouses his suspicions (again).
- The Drinking Scene!! Shen Wei throws himself on an alcohol grenade and immediately falls unconscious.
- Zhao Yunlan puts him to bed and smells his jacket.
- Shen Wei wakes up to a note from Zhao Yunlan, also smells his jacket, and realises his cover might be blown.
- Back in Dragon City, Guo Changcheng writes in his diary that the SID is unhappy.
- Start of the Zheng Yi case.
- Guo Changcheng has an upset stomach and calls Lao Chu a giant popsicle.
- Zhao Yunlan has a LOT of flashbacks about Shen Wei and speculates about the Envoy with Da Qing.
- Zhao Yunlan takes Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing and Lin Jing to the "mass suicide" crime scene. They find a link to Shen Wei.
- Zhu Hong takes Guo Changcheng to the Snake Tribe to ask about the Hallows. Fourth Uncle drugs Zhu Hong.
Thoughts
- In the flashbacks, the Awl activates after Sang Zan cries, "The Hanga Tribe will go extinct sooner or later. No one can save us!" 瀚噶族迟早是要灭亡的谁也救不了我们 Not sure if that's supposed to be significant?
- After Wang Zheng recounts her story, Zhao Yunlan checks in with the Envoy, "How is it?" and the Envoy says it lines up with what he knows. Love that little moment of trust between them.
- Zhao Yunlan tries to free Wang Zheng from the dark energy ropes, but he can't interact with the dark energy and is repelled. The Envoy catches him. <3
- Sang Zan comes out and fights Zhu Jiu. Zhu Jiu starts to suck Sang Zan's life force. Zhao Yunlan finally shoots his gun -- hitting Zhu Jiu in the chest. (I feel like this should finish him off, but it doesn't.)
- The Envoy draws the Awl from the pillar, and he and Zhao Yunlan gaze at each other while Zhu Jiu gets away.
- Wang Zheng begs the Envoy to reconstitute Sang Zan, and he does (off-screen).
- Meanwhile, outside the cave system, Chu Shuzhi and Changcheng fight youchu.
Changcheng gets turned around and zaps Chu Shuzhi with his baton, and Chu Shuzhi is OUTRAGED. Hee! Karma for laughing at Zhao Yunlan getting zapped last ep. - Back in the cave, Zhao Yunlan talks the Envoy up to his team: "Now, the Longevity Dial and the Mountain-River Awl can be said to have been returned to their owners. This time, it is really thanks to Hei Pao Shi daren." 现在长生晷和山河锥 也算是物归原主了这次实在是多亏了我们黑袍使大人啊 ("Their owners"?)
- The Envoy says, "Zhu Jiu used Wang Zheng to lure you all here so as to use the power of humans to get the Mountain-River Awl." 烛九利用汪徵把你们引到这里来就是想利用你们人类的力量得到山河锥 (But it was the Envoy who opened the pillar.) He adds, "But for such a huge trap, he couldn't have planned it on his own." 可这么大一个局应该不是他一个人谋划的 (But he doesn't relate his suspicions.)
- The Envoy: They held tightly to the person dearest to their heart, not abandoning each other whether in life or death. 他们相互抓紧了心尖之人生死不弃 -- implying hope for the show's ending?
- I know people have suggested in the past that Zhao Yunlan's "As you know, the SID is of course a mature and welcoming environment," is in answer to his mistakenly assuming the Envoy and Chu Shuzhi are an item, but this time around, my reading is that Zhao Yunlan makes personal enquiries of the Envoy, Chu Shuzhi glares at him for overstepping, and ZYL uses that line to change the subject back to Wang Zheng and Sang Zan. MMV, though!
- Zhao Yunlan finds Zhu Hong asleep at the table, difficult to wake. When he asks about Shen Wei, her reaction is dazed and vague, arousing his suspicions. Then Shen Wei appears on the balcony above and smiles down at him, radiating innocence and "pleased to see you."
- The Drinking Scene! (I've already expounded about this at length in a scene discussion, so ) Zhao Yunlan's gut is obviously still not feeling great, but he keeps drinking to be sociable. Finally Shen Wei can't stand it, swipes the drink from his hand and makes a toast. He drinks it all and promptly falls unconscious, thus conclusively answering two lingering questions: Can Zhao Yunlan trust him? and Is it personal? Then Zhao Yunlan puts Shen Wei to bed in a mirror of the disaster-flat scene from ep 8 (IV instead of pills).
I'll copy a chunk of that post in here. (Feel free to skip!)
Although the scene is played for laughs, I think it (and the one that follows, where Zhao Yunlan puts Shen Wei to bed with an IV and gazes at him, then sniffs the jacket and laughs incredulously) is the culmination of a mini-character-arc that’s about more than just the Envoy identity reveal. It’s about Zhao Yunlan having inadvertently exposed his soft underbelly to Shen Wei and feeling incredibly vulnerable. Shen Wei has seen through his lies (the failed book con), seen his physical weakness (the gastritis), and seen his lack of maturity and self-care (the apartment). Zhao Yunlan, who for various reasons still doesn’t entirely trust Shen Wei, has no way of knowing yet if Shen Wei will use those weaknesses against him. Shen Wei already tried to sideline him with the warning about not leaving the city, the morning after the gastritis -- and that’s not on!
In fact, I feel like that warning kicks off a kind of power struggle from Zhao Yunlan’s side about who is protecting whom. Like, Shen Wei basically says, “I’m going to this place, but you shouldn’t even leave the city.” So Zhao Yunlan airily rejects Shen Wei’s advice, then gets Lin Jing to fix Shen Wei’s broken down car (helping by proxy), insists on joining forces on the way to the mountain, gives Shen Wei his coat to guard against the cold, and tells Zhu Hong to detain him so he can’t go wandering off into danger. Even using Shen Wei as a travel pillow is arguably a way of keeping tabs on him, so Zhao Yunlan will be there if they run into trouble.
Meanwhile Shen Wei is letting all this slip by him without reacting much. Protesting lightly but accepting the gestures -- without, of course, bending even an inch to the underlying “I want to protect you” message. If he pushed back too directly, it would raise questions about his identity -- why doesn’t this seemingly ordinary professor need protecting? So he can’t discourage Zhao Yunlan’s efforts. (Plus he doesn't really want to.)
And then this scene. Zhao Yunlan is caught in a trap of social convention -- drinking with your host is how you maintain good relations and be a good guest -- and he’s clearly already suffering for it. It’s a combination of all his weaknesses: the lying (this time about his enthusiasm for drinking), the physical ailment, and the lack of self-care. Shen Wei sees that, and at first he doesn’t intervene. This is Zhao Yunlan’s business, after all. But by the third round, Shen Wei can’t stand it anymore.
He doesn’t reproach Zhao Yunlan for not taking better care of himself or embarrass him by mentioning his stomach condition, and he doesn’t undo any of the relationship-building work Zhao Yunlan has done. Instead, Shen Wei uses the custom of offering toasts to appropriate Zhao Yunlan’s bowl and drink it himself. This protects Zhao Yunlan twice: 1) it saves him from that particular drink, and 2) Shen Wei must know he’ll immediately fall unconscious, giving Zhao Yunlan an excuse to leave the table.
I have so many feelings about this gesture! It’s incredibly eloquent and meaningful in a multitude of ways; for example, it:- demonstrates attentiveness and caring without criticising Zhao Yunlan or taking a scolding adult position
- proves that Shen Wei won’t use Zhao Yunlan’s vulnerabilities against him
- Shen Wei is low-key taking a bullet for Zhao Yunlan (which is basically their love language, I think?)
- without breaking Shen Wei’s cover (until you factor in the jacket).
- It’s a display of Shen Wei’s own weakness wrt alcohol
- and it leaves Shen Wei vulnerable, ergo, it’s also a show of trust / “I know you’ll take care of me.”
It also gives us some classic Shen Wei expressions, from concerned to sweetly sozzled.
Anyway, until now, Shen Wei has done Zhao Yunlan many kindnesses -- he’s claimed friendship and laughed with him, helped him with cases when he had no obligation to, rescued him from the gutter and made him breakfast-- He’s probably done more for Zhao Yunlan than anyone but Da Qing. But I think it’s this selfless, thoughtful, slightly dorkily enacted move that tips Zhao Yunlan into deciding he can trust Shen Wei (and in my preferred reading of the next scene, into admitting to himself that he’s in love).
I think this is my favourite scene of the whole show: Zhao Yunlan stares down at unconscious Shen Wei and remembers their third meeting where he felt like he'd met Shen Wei before. adskfasdkfasdfkjasdkfjasdf - Zhao Yunlan goes to drape the jacket over Shen Wei, smells stinky youchu blood on it, and all the pieces fall into place. as;lfkajsdf;lkjsdf;lksjdf
- Shen Wei wakes up the next morning to a note (with smiley face!) and notices the stench of the jacket. Flashbacks to him reversing the hypnosis back onto Zhu Hong, and the rest of the previous day's adventures (with some top quality plain clothes Envoying).
He wonders if his identity has been revealed. - Back in Dragon City: the Zheng Yi case starts. (The scientists are very happy to have tortured a koi to death in front of a young girl. I don't understand this research -- why the fish?) (Also, Zheng Yi has no obvious physical injuries at this point. Doesn't she have bruises on her arms later?)
- At the SID: Wang Zheng is teaching Sang Zan to write. Lin Jing explains the Hallows to Zhu Hong (The Longevity Dial creates a genetic guide link that can allow the sharing of pheromones. The Mountain-River Awl restructures one's flesh into an energy state, achieving an immortal energy being. All might seem like fantasy and magical, but all can actually be explained by science. 长生晷啊 是建立基因导链实现信息素的共享山河锥 是把肉体重组成量子态实现能量体永生看着都是怪力乱神 其实都是科学道理 Zhu Hong speaks for me, replying, "I'm more confused after your explanation." 你怎么一说 我刚迷糊了) Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi both have upset stomachs from the trip.
(How much do I love Changcheng calling his mentor a giant popsicle, and Chu Shuzhi overhearing?!? *g* Chu Shuzhi retaliates by using pages of Changcheng's diary as toilet paper.) - Da Qing goes to check on Zhao Yunlan, who is holed up in his office recontextualising everything Shen Wei has ever said or done. Cue ALL the flashbacks. I love this conversation between him and Da Qing, it's so casual and so important for ZYL to have someone to talk to, even if he isn't sharing his realisation.
- Zhao Yunlan takes Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing, and Lin Jing to the "suicide" scene and sends Zhu Hong and Changcheng to the Snake Tribe to ask about the Hallows.
- The trees are full of snakes! What makes Changcheng pass out? We don't see, but it's implied later that it's the young men of the Snake tribe.
- At the sonic lab, Lin Jing says the bodies show no signs of fighting, but weren't they just beating up Tan Xiao? You'd think they'd have bruised knuckles. Da Qing gives our first mention (I think?) of some dark energy powers needing a medium of transmission ("But I don't know through what medium did this Dixingren exert his power on." 只是不知道 这家伙发动异能的媒介是哪里), setting up the Zhu Jiu resolution. (Of course the boss victim called Shen Wei as soon as his project succeeded. Of course he did!)
- Fourth Uncle! Zhu Hong is very self-possessed and knows enough not to spill SID secrets; Changcheng is more loose-lipped. So much drugging in these episodes! It's a good thing Zhu Hong has a strong constitution!!
- Zhu Hong gets the last line of the episode: Since when do family members trick each other? 什么时候我们亲人之间 也耍起心眼了 -- another thematic through-line of the show (Zhao Xinci concealing Zhang Shi, Lin Jing hiding his spying from the SID, everything between Shen Wei and Ye Zun, and Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan...).
Discussion starters:
- What's your favourite scene / moment / line of dialogue in this episode? Anything you particularly noticed this time through?
- In the Hanga flashbacks, I don't understand how the judgement box works; is it supposed to be a secret that there are two skins in there, and a conceit that the box offers up a kind of divine judgement? Or something else?
- In the caves, the Envoy says, "Also, the Hallows have bad effects on Dixingren." 况且圣器对地星人本来有反噬的效果 I'm so curious about this! Do we get any other evidence or hint of this in the show?
- Zhu Jiu and the Envoy have a great fight. When Zhu Jiu accuses the Envoy: "Hei Pao Shi who sold his own kind just to obtain merit and prestige, you have the nerve to call me the mastermind of all these crimes?" (出卖同类 获得功名的黑袍使竟然还好意思说 我是罪魁祸首) what do you think Zhao Yunlan makes of that? Does he discount it because it's spoken by an enemy, or does it set curious wheels turning? Any thoughts?
Let’s talk about episode 11!
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!
Links to episode 11 fanworks and meta go here!
- any other episode reactions or related meta
- fanworks, picspams, squee, etc, relating to episode 11 generally or to specific scenes, characters, or events in this episode
Link to your own works and/or others'. Help us build as comprehensive a collection of links as possible!Re: Links to episode 11 fanworks and meta go here!
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in the Hanga Caves and after (ep 10/11), hosted by
Shen Wei drinking for Zhao Yunlan in the Hanga Arc, hosted by
Shen Wei waking up in the mountains with an IV in his arm, hosted by
Fourth Uncle character post
A fic by me:
Catastrophe - 5,060 words, after the trip, Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing swap bodies (pre-SW/ZYL)
ETA: Carpe Sunbeam - after a bump on the head, Da Qing remembers Kunlun (10,693 words, G-rated, Da Qing & Shen Wei, Da Qing & Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan)
Re: Links to episode 11 fanworks and meta go here!
Now This Darkness (5250 words) [Teen]
Relationship: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Content Tags: Episode Related, Episode 11, Canon Divergence, Presumed Dead, (sort of), Angst, Hallows Shenanigans, Shen Wei's Long Sleep, Alternate Envoy Reveal, First Kiss, Watching Zhao Yunlan Sleep
Summary: In Zhao Yunlan's hand, the Mountain-River Awl suddenly pulses with a bright glow; in the ghost's hand, the knife pulses in the same light, just as it stabs into Shen Wei.
The next moment, there's only a cloud of black energy where Shen Wei was, rapidly dissipating like so much smoke.
no subject
This is not an entirely serious answer, but it seems to be an extremely small tribe of people prone to murdering each other. So he’s just being realistic XD
Love that little moment of trust between them.
These small moments are so good<3 I wish we had more scenes of them before Zhao Yunlan figures out his identity.
What's your favourite scene / moment / line of dialogue in this episode? Anything you particularly noticed this time through?
The drinking scene!
Peer pressure to drink alcohol is a disrespect of someone’s autonomy and privacy, and Shen Wei’s not going to stand for that when it comes to Zhao Yunlan. So he defends him the best way he knows: By physically intervening.
It hadn’t really clicked for me prior to the rewatch that Shen Wei knew he would pass out, and the vulnerability & trust that implies.
But the hypnosis scene is also fun. Zhu Hong’s interactions with Shen Wei are always interesting.
no subject
LOL! Yeah, very true. *g* I was just wondering if that was why the Awl had activated -- maybe it wants to preserve the tribe? Save them from Sang Zan? *g*
I wish we had more scenes of them before Zhao Yunlan figures out his identity.
It would have been fascinating to see them get closer, wouldn't it? (Thank goodness for fanworks. *g*)
Peer pressure to drink alcohol is a disrespect of someone’s autonomy and privacy
I think in this instance it's very much a cultural thing, too, right? That's how you network. (Which is why Prof Zhou was reproaching Shen Wei for not doing it, in ep 8.) The fact that here no one's bothering Shen Wei about drinking water suggests to me that the village head would probably have been fine with Zhao Yunlan switching it up -- so I think it's Zhao Yunlan himself who's pushing himself to play the social game. He doesn't want to rudely refuse their hospitality... or disrupt the flow by admitting weakness.
So he defends him the best way he knows: By physically intervening.
Yes! I love that he doesn't scold Zhao Yunlan or undermine the social ties he's building. Making a toast is the perfect cover for confiscating his drink. *g*
It hadn’t really clicked for me prior to the rewatch that Shen Wei knew he would pass out, and the vulnerability & trust that implies.
It's So Good!!! :D :D :D :D
But the hypnosis scene is also fun. Zhu Hong’s interactions with Shen Wei are always interesting.
Agreed! Zhu Hong seems so much younger than Shen Wei, it's very clear in the flashback how much he's letting her tell him what to do, at the start of that scene. :D
no subject
Quite a damning judgement of Sang Zan by the Awl XD
I think in this instance it's very much a cultural thing, too, right? That's how you network.
Oh yes it's this kind of delicate social situation that Zhao Yunlan knows exactly how to nagivate. Even at the cost of gastritis apparently.
Shen Wei is in an easier position, generally not relying on soft skills as much XD
I love how directly he takes action. It's so him <3
I love that he doesn't scold Zhao Yunlan or undermine the social ties he's building
Yes! These two are so good at complementing and supporting each other.
it's very clear in the flashback how much he's letting her tell him what to do
I wonder if he's letting her in order to keep his cover or because he's curious what she'll do. Both?
no subject
Hee! It doesn't seem to have a medium setting. It's either solitary confinement for an indefinite length of time or... nothing. :-)
I love how directly he takes action. It's so him <3
Yes, so true!
I wonder if he's letting her in order to keep his cover or because he's curious what she'll do. Both?
Ooh, good question. His cover is definitely part of it. And maybe his teaching side is coming out? He's letting her try, and then instructing/correcting her?
no subject
no subject
Nitpicky, but - the Awl may preserve the people in energy ghost form, but it absolutely destroys the tribe.
so I think it's Zhao Yunlan himself who's pushing himself to play the social game. He doesn't want to rudely refuse their hospitality... or disrupt the flow by admitting weakness.
Yes, this! He just can't bring himself to pull back. *pets him*
t's very clear in the flashback how much he's letting her tell him what to do, at the start of that scene.
I'm so fascinated by that, yes! I do love it when people are much, much more in control than it initially seems. *g*
no subject
Maybe it's malfunctioning? Or it thinks it can protect the tribe, but without the other Hallows there, it ends up destroying it?
I do love it when people are much, much more in control than it initially seems. *g*
:D :D :D (In this case, I wonder if it's partly a pedagogical technique?)
no subject
(In this case, I wonder if it's partly a pedagogical technique?)
Ooooh yes, I love that thought! Him teaching her about her powers is so fascinating, and makes me wonder where he learned so much about it. (From Fu You? But we never see her use Snake powers, so that opens as many questions as it answers. *g*)
no subject
It's so hard to tell. Some of their actions seem wilful, and others responsive or random. (Like, why did they take Zhao Yunlan to YOHE?) I'm open to a variety of interpretations. :-)
and makes me wonder where he learned so much about it. (From Fu You? But we never see her use Snake powers, so that opens as many questions as it answers. *g*)
From Fourth Uncle, thirty years ago? Or maybe from texts, ancient or otherwise? He is a scholar, after all. :-)
no subject
no subject
Right???? I didn't originally pick up on that either. But it's so good!!!!!
no subject
I'll just go through everything in the order it happens in the episode:
I mean, correlation doesn't equal causation in real life, but narrative shorthands are a different thing. By which I mean, yes, I absolutely took this to mean that the Awl specifically responded to Sang Zan's thoughts/feelings. His fury and despair seem to fuel the Awl, making his words come literally true and destroy the Hanga tribe.
Yes, it's so good! I feel like that's extra meaningful because he trusts the Envoy with one of his people. He listened to the warning (last episode's "Wang Zheng may not be Wang Zheng?"), and now he listens to the all-clear, taking it as his cue to try and free Wang Zheng. ♥
I was also wondering about this! But perhaps Zhao Yunlan understands that the person whose job it is to capture Dixingren who came to Haixing and take them back to Dixing for judgment isn't going to be popular with Dixingren criminals in Haixing.
This! Zhu Jiu tricks the Envoy into blasting the pillar open, doesn't he? Teleporting away at the last moment so the blast hits the pillar. For all his strength, he can't get at the Awl himself. So even though the Envoy says Zhu Jiu baited the SID into coming to use their human power to get at the Awl, was the SID in turn the bait for the Envoy? Or did Zhu Jiu think the SID could get into the pillar by themselves somehow, maybe with the Sundial's help?
It would make some sense. The Envoy is very conspicuously not fighting Zhu Jiu, or helping Sang Zan when he emerges from the Pillar to fight Zhu Jiu! He and Zhao Yunlan just stand there watching until Sang Zan is dissolved, and THEN they both jump into action. Maybe dissolving Sang Zan, who was part of the pillar, weakened the power emanating from it? Theories?
The shot from the gun doesn't kill Zhu Jiu, and doesn't seem to have much of an effect here - which is strange, because the shot later in the lab (when ZYL stops pretending to be hypnotised) seems to never actually heal. So idk what's going on here - was he secretly wearing armour under his clothes? *g*
Shen Wei: 我找了你一万年 - wǒ zhǎole nǐ yī wàn nián - I searched for you for ten thousand years
Wang Zheng: 我等了你一百年 - wǒ děngle nǐ yī bǎi nián - I waited for you for a hundred years
I wonder what he means here. Does he mean the Envoy/Dixingren when he says "original owners"? Since they've been kind of holding the Sundial for the Envoy, more or less - the Envoy asked them to keep it, right? - and the Hallows are said to belong to Dixing, I guess that works.
I don't think so, specifically - but honestly, is there anyone these things don't have a bad effect on? *g*
I absolutely think so. Wang Zheng literally died - was executed - and Sang Zan got taken by the Awl. And yet they were reunited a hundred years later, after all. Why should Shen Wei being killed by Ye Zun and Zhao Yunlan being taken by the Lantern be any different?
I'm 100% with you on this, I'm just not seeing it. To me, it goes like this:
Shen Wei feels touched by Wang Zheng's and Sang Zan's story, and Zhao Yunlan immediately uses it to tease him and ask him if he's got someone as well. - Chu Shuzhi tries to get him to stop disrespecting the Envoy. - Zhao Yunlan laughs it off, as if he just realised he overstepped and is trying to cover for it, and swerves into "the SID is such a great environment, Sang Zan is now a part of us".
(And the term he uses to describe the SID 成人之美 is an idiom. The dictionary defines it as: 1. to help or encourage someone accomplish something; to assist; 2. (chiefly literary) to magnify other people's virtue; to make good someone's honourable intentions.)
This protects Zhao Yunlan twice: 1) it saves him from that particular drink, and 2) Shen Wei must know he'll immediately fall unconscious, giving Zhao Yunlan an excuse to leave the table.
Perfection! :D
Oh, and the koi-destroying tech and Zheng Yi's voice-hypnosis are mixed together so well here, you really can't tell what's happening unless you already know.
You and me both! Pheromones, WTF. Honestly, this is so out there, I wonder if Lin Jing is just bullshitting his "scientific explanation" because he actually doesn't understand how the Hallows work either.
(And I love Zhu Hong cracking her knuckles when he insults her intelligence!)
Yes! I love that whole flashback montage as he puts the pieces together!
Also, last week I said, that the Envoy telling Zhao Yunlan he shouldn't have ignored his warning may not have been talking about the written message he just sent into the cave, but the "don't leave Dragon City" warning - and here, Zhao Yunlan connects these two pieces as well. :D
And then I checked the Chinese: 但黑袍使身为总话事人 统辖一众地星人 仍是举足轻重的 人家好好的
My language skills are nowhere near up to this, but I think he may actually be saying something like "but the Black-Cloaked Envoy's word also matters a lot, and he plays a critical role in governing Dixingren" ...I really wish we had a native speaker around here who could help with such things.
Yeah, and then Xiao-Guo puts his foot in it by saying he thought the snake was a monster! *g*
Love all the snakes on the trees! And I wonder if maybe he saw a half-transformed snake, the equivalent of Ying Chun's humanoid bush form? Or just a snake getting up and close would do it as well, of course. *g*
As well as, more immediately, Zheng Yi's power which can be blocked by blocking out sound!
Just, ?????
Yes! And I enjoy Xiao-Guo's outrage on Zhu Hong's behalf, he's so good. ♥
(As
Honestly, it's the flashback sequence. The drinking scene is SO good, but there's just something about the flashback that makes me :D :D :D every time.
Oh, very good question! To be honest, I also don't understand how it works ...
no subject
Yay! :D
Or whether they just decided to re-establish slavery as an institution especially to be cruel to Sang Zan.
It would make sense if that was their go-to punishment, short of execution. It's what they know, after all.
By which I mean, yes, I absolutely took this to mean that the Awl specifically responded to Sang Zan's thoughts/feelings. His fury and despair seem to fuel the Awl, making his words come literally true and destroy the Hanga tribe.
Oh, wait, does the whole tribe die at that point? I thought it was just Sang Zan getting entombed. Ahh, that makes so much more sense -- why the ghosts blame Wang Zheng, and why Wang Zheng blames herself. I mean, still misplaced blame, but at least there's some logic there. Okaaaay.
I feel like that's extra meaningful because he trusts the Envoy with one of his people. He listened to the warning (last episode's "Wang Zheng may not be Wang Zheng?"), and now he listens to the all-clear, taking it as his cue to try and free Wang Zheng. ♥
Yesssss!
But perhaps Zhao Yunlan understands that the person whose job it is to capture Dixingren who came to Haixing and take them back to Dixing for judgment isn't going to be popular with Dixingren criminals in Haixing.
Yeah, I'm sure he's contextualising it in his head, but I feel like there should be some reaction to the idea that not all Dixingren react to the Envoy with awe the way Chu Shuzhi does. And I guess the fact that Zhu Jiu is criticising the Envoy and fighting him and not immediately losing -- that's got to be concerning, too. They have a capable enemy! One who plans and strategises and has a potentially persuasive political agenda that might attract other frustrated Dixingren.
This! Zhu Jiu tricks the Envoy into blasting the pillar open, doesn't he? Teleporting away at the last moment so the blast hits the pillar.
Yes! That's what I think too. So yeah, I don't know if Shen Wei is just not mentioning that, or if he hasn't put that piece together yet... or if he's acknowledging here that the SID are bait for him?
I have no theories about the barrier/pillar/fighting, but I like your thoughts!
The way the Envoy and Zhao Yunlan look at each other after Shen Wei gets the Awl! :D
Riiiiiiiight?!?! (What is ZYL thinking/feeling as he stares at the Envoy like that???)
And then the Shen Wei-Wang Zheng parallel, yesss!
but honestly, is there anyone these things don't have a bad effect on? *g*
LOL!
Shen Wei seems to just be thinking about someone being behind Zhu Jiu - do you think he knew before? or is he just now realising? I think he probably suspected something before, but it's solidifying now.
I think he suspected before. I think the whole thing with Ding Dun, and the contamination of Lin Yusen both aroused his suspicions, and he must have at least considered the possibility Ye Zun is involved.
And the term he uses to describe the SID 成人之美 is an idiom. The dictionary defines it as: 1. to help or encourage someone accomplish something; to assist; 2. (chiefly literary) to magnify other people's virtue; to make good someone's honourable intentions.
Oh, cool! Thanks so much for that! (And agreed on your reading of that exchange.)
I do love that Zhao Yunlan just tosses the first SID job he can think of at Sang Zan!
Without even asking if he's literate!
On arriving back at the village: why does ZYL arrive back alone? I presume the others have gone to... wash up for dinner or something? But given they were all together in the caves just a scene ago...
Then Zhao Yunlan turns around to ask if the Envoy agrees, and the Envoy is just gone, no portal or anything in sight.
And ZYL looks around, stammering, "Hei... Hei... Hei..." HEE!
So either he can portal without the dramatic effect, or he used a different power - Wu Tian'en's teleportation - go get away to somewhere he could summon a portal without being seen.)
Or made himself invisible and snuck off. *g* I'm voting for Wu Tian'en's thousand steps, though.
THE DRINKING SCENE!!! *flails all over again*
The other thing I thought of was Zhao Yunlan choosing not to hang around to confront or question Shen Wei then, but leaving, taking the time to figure things out for himself and stew over his realisation. And to wait. In the note, he says, "We headed back first. Let's meet soon! From Zhao" (Viki subs). But once he gets back to Dragon City, he just waits to see if Shen Wei will contact him first. Which Shen Wei doesn't. If the lab boss hadn't called Shen Wei, so he wasn't connected with the case, how would ZYL and Shen Wei have re-established contact? Presumably Zhao Yunlan wouldn't have waited forever? And Shen Wei -- living right across the hall but not feeling like he can reach out? OUCH!
Also, I forgot to note in this post the detail about Shen Wei's IV being disconnected in the morning. So ZYL stayed (watched him) long enough for the IV to finish and to unhook it, and then wrote the note and left... that always makes me asdlkasjd;fkjasd;flkja :D
And to dramatically transform after he's already done some plainclothes Envoying! I do think that indicates the boundaries between his identities blurring - he's being more himself regardless of what he's wearing, rather than fully separating his roles.
That's a really good point. I think the Envoy's teaming up with Zhao Yunlan shows that, too. (I mean, what choice did Shen Wei have, at that point? But he does volunteer more info that he might have a few episodes ago.)
However, this time round I noticed (see above) that there's a time gap between the Envoy disappearing from the caves (daylight) and Zhao Yunlan returning to the hotel (getting dark). Not that I know what research they could have done during that gap - and also, Zhu Hong was just left peacefully sleeping on the table? *g*
And they couldn't have gone into the caves or they'd probably have run into the SID team. Yeah, idk.
Oh, and the koi-destroying tech and Zheng Yi's voice-hypnosis are mixed together so well here, you really can't tell what's happening unless you already know.
Ohhh, so the koi-destroying tech is being used here as well? That makes so much more sense, lol. Glad I have you to explain these things to me. So did Tan Xiao turn on the tech and Zheng Yi used her hypnosis at the same time? They teamed up to take down the bullies? (Was Tan Xiao okay with, like, the MURDER?? /o\)
My language skills are nowhere near up to this, but I think he may actually be saying something like "but the Black-Cloaked Envoy's word also matters a lot, and he plays a critical role in governing Dixingren" ...I really wish we had a native speaker around here who could help with such things.
Oh, okay! That would make sense. (Yes, if there's anyone reading this who can give a more informed take, please jump in!!)
And I wonder if maybe he saw a half-transformed snake, the equivalent of Ying Chun's humanoid bush form?
Ooh, that would definitely do it.
And we have another instance of "what are you even talking about?!", this time from Fourth Uncle: " remember back when all our clan collectively underwent mutation, but you, little girl, you were still molting and couldn't mutate fully."
LOL, yeah, my mind just glosses over that line. *g* Maybe it was a seasonal thing, and Zhu Hong couldn't keep up? Maybe they only transform at certain phases of the moon or something? IDEK!!
realgar being a traditional snake repellent.
Oh, excellent!
Honestly, it's the flashback sequence. The drinking scene is SO good, but there's just something about the flashback that makes me :D :D :D every time.
You mean Shen Wei's Hanga adventures? YES!
(I know this comment took you ages, but it was worth it! Just ftr.) ♥ ♥ ♥
no subject
Yeah. Depressing but true.
Oh, wait, does the whole tribe die at that point? I thought it was just Sang Zan getting entombed.
Yep, that's when the whole tribe gets ghostified! And yeah, the blame is understandable even if none of it was Wang Zheng's fault.
I feel like there should be some reaction to the idea that not all Dixingren react to the Envoy with awe the way Chu Shuzhi does. And I guess the fact that Zhu Jiu is criticising the Envoy and fighting him and not immediately losing -- that's got to be concerning, too.
Oh, good point - I suppose they knew in the abstract that the person going after the Hallows was going against the Envoy, but they never saw a confrontation before. It makes sense that Zhao Yunlan at this point would begin to understand more - the Hanga arc is a turning point in so many ways!
Yes! That's what I think too. So yeah, I don't know if Shen Wei is just not mentioning that, or if he hasn't put that piece together yet... or if he's acknowledging here that the SID are bait for him?
Ha, glad it looks that way to you too. Thinking about it, it seems like he's just not mentioning it, but he has to be worried about the SID being in danger again because of him ...
Riiiiiiiight?!?! (What is ZYL thinking/feeling as he stares at the Envoy like that???)
I would love to know! It's such a striking moment.
I think he suspected before. I think the whole thing with Ding Dun, and the contamination of Lin Yusen both aroused his suspicions, and he must have at least considered the possibility Ye Zun is involved.
True, Ding Dun especially ties the thing to unrest in Dixing more than anything else. He has to have some idea.
On arriving back at the village: why does ZYL arrive back alone? I presume the others have gone to... wash up for dinner or something? But given they were all together in the caves just a scene ago...
Oh, another good question! Seems to me like there's a prime opportunity for some missing scenes here, but I'm drawing a blank on what they might be. *g*
The other thing I thought of was Zhao Yunlan choosing not to hang around to confront or question Shen Wei then, but leaving, taking the time to figure things out for himself and stew over his realisation.
Yes! Excellent point! And given the way he's still flailing and trying to put things together and make them make sense in his head days later, I think he very much needed the space.
If the lab boss hadn't called Shen Wei, so he wasn't connected with the case, how would ZYL and Shen Wei have re-established contact? Presumably Zhao Yunlan wouldn't have waited forever? And Shen Wei -- living right across the hall but not feeling like he can reach out? OUCH!
If I'm right that Shen Wei is worried about the SID having been used as bait for him, he may well have also been trying to keep his distance. Luckily we know with these two it would never last very long, but yeah, OUCH.
Also, I forgot to note in this post the detail about Shen Wei's IV being disconnected in the morning. So ZYL stayed (watched him) long enough for the IV to finish and to unhook it, and then wrote the note and left... that always makes me asdlkasjd;fkjasd;flkja :D
AHHHHHHHHHHH ♥ ♥ ♥ :D :D :D
And they couldn't have gone into the caves or they'd probably have run into the SID team. Yeah, idk.
Right??????
Ohhh, so the koi-destroying tech is being used here as well? That makes so much more sense, lol. Glad I have you to explain these things to me. So did Tan Xiao turn on the tech and Zheng Yi used her hypnosis at the same time? They teamed up to take down the bullies? (Was Tan Xiao okay with, like, the MURDER?? /o\)
I may be wrong, but it looks to me like it starts with the tech being switched on, and then Zheng Yi's power is added. Perhaps she turned it on herself - she's been around the lab; she may well know how. I never thought Tan Xiao was involved in killing the guys, but that's definitely something to pay attention to during the next few episodes ...
LOL, yeah, my mind just glosses over that line. *g* Maybe it was a seasonal thing, and Zhu Hong couldn't keep up? Maybe they only transform at certain phases of the moon or something? IDEK!!
Seasonal doesn't feel right with how he talks about it ... oh, maybe they have some multi-year cycle going on? That would be cool!
You mean Shen Wei's Hanga adventures? YES!
Yes, sorry, with all the flashbacks that wasn't a great descriptor. I mean the Shen Wei flashback indeed! It's so good, I love it to pieces, and Shen Wei being BAMF is my favourite thing. *g*
(I know this comment took you ages, but it was worth it! Just ftr.) ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ ♥ ♥
no subject
Pushing down on that psychic bruise of needing to protect and having failed before (with Ye Zun). :-(
Seems to me like there's a prime opportunity for some missing scenes here, but I'm drawing a blank on what they might be. *g*
Maybe someone mentioned cars to Sang Zan, and he's so sceptical, they have to take him and show him one right now? *g*
I never thought Tan Xiao was involved in killing the guys
Yeah, me neither. I think if he's a killer/co-conspirator, the whole story kind of falls apart in terms of the morality/wisdom of letting him off the hook and remain as Zheng Yi's guardian, so...
no subject
Yes, and Zhu Jiu's taunted him about the SID before, and he's already tried to distance himself, hasn't he? And he will keep wondering, right until the reveal, if the truth would endanger them more.
I think if he's a killer/co-conspirator, the whole story kind of falls apart in terms of the morality/wisdom of letting him off the hook and remain as Zheng Yi's guardian, so...
Yes, 100% agreed!
no subject
So this must feel like more evidence/one more reason to hold back and try to stay away. :-((((
no subject