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sid_guardian2023-04-11 06:50 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2023-04-11 06:50 pm
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GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 13
Beginning of episode: Da Qing trashes Wang Xiangyang's fruit shop
Ending of episode: Zhao Yunlan reveals he was faking being hypnotised
Important scenes/developments:
There's a LOT this episode!
- Zhao Yunlan and co find Da Qing trashing the fruit shop and tame him with fish.
- Zhu Jiu uses Zheng Yi to cause chaos at the Huang/Li wedding, and Shen Wei lets off his Dixing power EMP to break the mass hypnosis.
- Zhao Yunlan and co arrive, and Zhao Yunlan starts to scold Shen Wei but gets diverted into schmoozing (and defending Shen Wei to) Minister Gao.
- Cong Bo has a scoop.
- Zhao Yunlan stews in the Huangs' parlour; Shen Wei comes in to check on him? apologise? give more flimsy excuses.
- The SID find Cong Bo cowering in the street, and Zhao Yunlan learns there's someone behind Zhu Jiu.
- Zhu Jiu and Ya Qing bicker (despite Zheng Yi's presence).
- Chu Shuzhi rescues Guo Changcheng from the Snakes, and in flashback Changcheng defends the SID to Fourth Uncle.
- Zhao Yunlan finds Tan Xiao at the lab and sends him to the SID.
- Ying Chun actively aligns herself with the Envoy by telling on Ya Qing.
- Shen Wei finds Zhao Yunlan at the lab, and Zhao Yunlan confronts him with this circumstantial proof of his other role and says, "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends."
- Zhu Jiu interrupts this heart-to-heart and uses Zheng Yi to take Zhao Yunlan hostage. Shen Wei tries to bargain and transforms into his Envoy form. Zhu Jiu whisks Zhao Yunlan and Zheng Yi away.
- Shen Wei looks for Zhao Yunlan, over-extending himself, and coughs up blood.
- Ying Chun appeals to Ya Qing to turn back to the Light Side, but Ya Qing says it's too late.
- Zhu Jiu uses Zhao Yunlan to invade the SID, reuniting Zheng Yi and Tan Xiao so Zheng Yi will give him the Hallows.
- On Zhu Jiu's command, Zhao Yunlan shoots Zhu Hong.
- Shen Wei arrives, finds Zhu Hong's body and tells seemingly hypnotised Zhao Yunlan, "You're my best friend."
- The whole fake-out with Zhu Jiu telling Zhao Yunlan to shoot Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan shooting, and Shen Wei rising up again for that classic battle couple shot from the credits.
- The glorious reveal where Zhao Yunlan is a total brat, and we and Shen Wei learn he's been faking all along.
Thoughts
- Ahhh, where to start. At the beginning, I guess? Poor Da Qing! My favourite thing about the scene at the fruit stand is how Zhao Yunlan uses palm-up beckoning (for animals), rather than palm-down beckoning that you'd use for people. *g* Also, I wonder if he cuts the explanations short because he feels responsible for leaving Da Qing in a vulnerable situation and doesn't want to talk about it?
- Lin Jing says to Zhu Hong, "This wasn't so bad. After all, the Deputy's an innocent. If the boss was under a spell and out of control... It doesn't bear thinking about." foreshadowing Zhao Yunlan apparently falling prey to Zheng Yi's hypnosis power, and how dangerous it will seem. :D
- The wedding. I suppose "my father was forcing me to marry someone I loved who wasn't into me" is a fair justification for the groom Huang Linqi's obnoxiousness at the start of episode 5, but I still don't really care. Then Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi arrive and wreak chaos.
- There's a great swoopy shot of Shen Wei arriving. He's surprised it's Zhu Jiu controlling Zheng Yi, which I'd forgotten, and which makes some of ep 12 make more sense. (That is, if he thought it was Tan Xiao who was using Zheng Yi as a weapon, then sure, taking him out of the equation and scaring him makes sense and doesn't leave the SID in danger. If only he'd been right! Which... does raise the question of why Zhao Yunlan didn't ask Tan Xiao what he wanted with the Hallows. Tan Xiao had no reason to be loyal to Zhu Jiu at that point, and it might have changed the course of things?!)
- I feel like Shen Wei needs to be memed here.
In fact...
:D :D :D - Ahhhhh, I love Shen Wei's dark energy EMP!
One of my favourite sequences in the whole show. - And then Zhao Yunlan shows up and immediately starts scolding Shen Wei for being there, before noticing Minister Gao and switching into Schmooze Mode. I LOVE THIS, OMG!
He puts all his professional credit on the line to protect Shen Wei. a;sldkfajs;dlfkjsada;sdlfkjadsf;lk And then Minister Gao's reaction to Shen Wei, shaking his hand and thanking him, is another reveal for Zhao Yunlan, and he switches into "Yeah, I'm trying to recruit him!" :D :D :D He's trying so hard to navigate these confusing waters with aplomb, but the currents keep changing. - Lin Jing says to the bride's dead father, "I never thought your ending would be like this." 想不到你是这样的结局 Which always sounds to me like he knows him.
- Zhao Yunlan stewing in the Huangs' parlour. ALSO my favourite part of this episode. He's so serious and intense, and so hurt ("It seems I was tricked by you."), but he still makes sure to let Shen Wei know he wants him around ("If you were the trouble, I'd take it by the dozen to trouble my whole life." *flails*)
A couple more pics
And there's some Very Intense Lollipop Action. Plus this (my paraphrasing):
ZYL: Minister Gao just told me you knocked down everyone all by yourself. Can you explain it?
SW: *looks at him* I-- I work out a lot.
ZYL: *incredulous laugh* You're still lying to me.
SW: [I am very much not.]
In other words, I think Shen Wei's explanation is deliberately transparent. He doesn't expect Zhao Yunlan to believe him for a second, ergo it's not a lie. But that's not enough for Zhao Yunlan, who wants straight-up verbal confirmation. - Can Shen Wei hear the other side of Zhao Yunlan's phone call, or is his expression because he's having feelings about what Zhao Yunlan just said and the way he said it? I thought the former, but I could go either way.
- Cong Bo freaking out in the street. From his flashback, Zhao Yunlan finds out there's someone else behind Zhu Jiu. We also get our first glimpse of Ya Qing in human form, looking fabulous. And Cong Bo seems genuinely shaken, but I think his headache is fake. When Lin Jing and Da Qing lead him away to take his statement, he drops the act for a moment to look back suspiciously at Shen Wei.
- Zhu Jiu and Ya Qing bicker on the rooftop. Hee! I'd forgotten this, and I love it! Also, this confirms our speculation from a previous rewatch discussion that it was information from the Yashou that led to the capture of the Mountain-River Awl. \o/ Also, Ya Qing appears to be bringing messages from Ye Zun (does she travel to Dixing?), and she knows about the life essence "ingredients" that Zhu Jiu is procuring as food. /o\ At the end of the scene, we get a close-up on the flowering plant who is Ying Chun's informant. :D :D :D
Here's their exchange.
YQ: She'll ruin your plan. Without information from the Crow Tribe, you'd never have found the Mountain-River Awl or stolen the Longevity Dial. You're the one our boss sent on this mission. The Mountain-River Awl mess wasn't my fault. If it wasn't for the boss's order, I wouldn't give you the time of day.
ZJ: Yes, it's your fault, you cowardly Yashou. Except for providing intelligence, you're utterly useless.
YQ: *uses DE to throw a crate at him* You'd better remember what you said today. One day, I promise, you will apologize to all Yashou.
ZY: Hey you two! *uses her power*
ZJ & YQ: *defend themselves with their powers*
ZJ: If you still want to find your Tan Xiao, do what I say!
YQ: This girl is a time bomb. You can't control her.
ZJ: Time bomb works for me. As long as it kills people, I don't care if I get injured.
YQ: Psycho. *turns to leave* The boss needs more nourishment this month. Prepare it well.
ZJ: You don't need to worry about the boss.
YQ: *transforms and flies off*
ZY: Tan Xiao. I need to find Tan Xiao. Tan Xiao. I need to find Tan Xiao.
ZJ: Shut the fuck up! Who knows where Tan Xiao... *gathers himself* Only I know where he is. If you want to find him, follow me. - Ahhhh, Chu Shuzhi stomping confidently through the forest. He knocks out a couple of Snake patrol guys, finds Guo Changcheng still tied up (was he there all night? he's changed clothes, anyway) and stages a dramatic rescue without listening to Changcheng's protestations. I love this so much!
- Tan Xiao waiting in the lab. Oh, I'd forgotten about his super creepy dream. I mean, I'm glad he's upset about the terrible murders, but still, this must be awful! (Dream!ZY: You are too close to me. Don't forget, I'm a monster.) As soon as the door opens, he says, "How is she?" And Zhao Yunlan is taken completely off-guard. He was not expecting this!
- Chu Shuzhi drags Changcheng through the forest. (CSZ: No matter how useless you are, I promised Zhao Yunlan to take care of you, so I'll get you back safely.) Flashback to Changcheng's stirring speech to Fourth Uncle about the SID (quoted in this post, if you want the text). In the present timeline, Changcheng tells Chu Shuzhi, "Actually, you hit him in vain."
Exasperated, Chu Shuzhi snaps, "Thinking about it carefully, Zhao Yunlan didn't ask me to bring you back in one piece, so it's okay if you don't have arms or legs. [...] Come on! Chose one, arm or leg!" LOL! This is awesome!! - Ying Chun! Being an informant! \o/ And she called Shen Wei "Hei Pao". I love everything about this. Poor Shen Wei, with his "I have no way to retreat."
- Shen Wei enters the lab, hears violin music. "Tan Xiao?"
And then he sees Zhao Yunlan and suffers cascading system failure as his compartmentalised identities crash into each other. :D :D :D :D :D (So, does that mean the Envoy told Tan Xiao in the park, "Wait here!" and vanished and came back as Professor Shen, who brought him to the lab? (Why the lab?) Or did Shen Wei reveal the connection between his identities to Tan Xiao? That would be an extra kick in the teeth for Zhao Yunlan!) Anyway, Zhao Yunlan lays out the circumstantial evidence, then comes over, lowers his voice and says, "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends."
And Shen Wei looks at him. as;ldfkajsd;lfkasjdf;lksajdf;lksjdf;alskdfja;slkdfjas;ldkfjas;ldkfjas;ldkfjas;ldfkjasd Shen Wei says he thought he could handle everything himself, and he just wanted to keep you (plural) you (singular) safe. a;lsdkfjas;dlfks;ldfkjas;ldfkjsadf Zhao Yunlan does his, "I'm not worth that" laugh, and Shen Wei starts, "Actually, I--" And I'm dying to know what he was going to say, but of course Zhu Jiu chooses that moment to interrupt, gah! - I always assume that Zhao Yunlan-with-earplugs hears the compulsions as suggestions so he knows what to do? That must feel pretty weird and unpleasant.
Does he know for sure he's not hypnotised, given he doesn't get a chance to go against what he's told to do? /o\ - Shen Wei's bluffing is best bluffing!
That faux dismissive smirk when he says Zhu Jiu doesn't have to hurt "ordinary people". (Sadly, at this point it's a bit late to play it cool.) Zhu Jiu retorts that all humans are his enemy (but we later learn his real enemy is Hei Pao Shi). He whisks Zhao Yunlan and Zheng Yi away. - Searching for them, Shen Wei overextends himself and coughs blood.
Ouch! - A fantastic scene between Ying Chun and Ya Qing, in which we find out the depth of their relationship, and Ya Qing's motives. I love how serious Ying Chun is; she's not just a pretty face/dress!
And Ya Qing is so moved by her appeal, but, "It's too late." *heartbreak* - Zhu Jiu bitches about Ya Qing to Zheng Yi (seriously?). Zhao Yunlan is on the ground, fake-unconscious. Zhu Jiu realises he can use him to get into the SID. Uh-oh.
- Changcheng is watching over Tan Xiao, who thinks the SID still have Zheng Yi safe. Zhu Hong shows up and lets slip that the kid is missing, and Tan Xiao loses it, so she coolly knocks him out. Hee! (Zhu Hong's "I live and die with the SID," repeated from last episode, is foreshadowing for her death fake-out at the end of the episode. Wheeeee!)
- Da Qing and Lin Jing looking for Zheng Yi like a couple of doofuses in sunglasses. No one knows Zhao Yunlan's been taken. (Note: Lin Jing says of his detector that the signal isn't stable in crowds.) Da Qing mistakes a girl for Zheng Yi and causes a fuss, and he has to flash his ID to disperse the crowd. (The mistaken girl is another kid who's been abandoned/is crying for their parent, echoing the "If you keep being so noisy, I will really leave you behind" line from last episode that set off his rampage. All the abandonment issues, as befits Da Qing's memory recovery arc.)
- Okay, this is interesting: Chu Shuzhi finds Zhu Jiu's lair, with the chess set. How? Then Shen Wei runs in. The next minute, not finding who he's looking for, Shen Wei vanishes again. So what the hell does Chu Shuzhi make of that? He must at least figure that's proof Shen Wei is Dixingren, right?
- Invading the SID!! Everything about this is excellent! (Except it really bothers me that Zheng Yi just lets all these things happen. Even if she's only 12 (or 15) and traumatised, she could react to Zhu Jiu saying, "Kill [Zhu Hong]"! I want more ambivalence! And a few minutes later, Tan Xiao is all, "Yeah, hand over the super-powerful objects to this creep," even though they no longer have any reason to cooperate! WHY?)
I was so worried about Zhu Hong the first time through. - Shen Wei, having exhausted other options and knowing Tan Xiao is at the SID, realises the others must be going there. He shows up, checks on Zhu Hong, and confronts Zhao Yunlan.
When he says, "We haven't known each other for long," the camera crosses the line. :D - Oh Zhu Jiu, Ye Zun would be so pissed off if he knew you were trying to kill Shen Wei! No one gets to do that but Ye Zun!
- And then the glorious, glorious reveal!
Zhao Yunlan winking in the flashback! Zhu Hong is okay!
Discussion starters:
- Favourite line of dialogue? Favourite scene? For me, they're "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends," and the reveal that Zhao Yunlan was faking/the battle couple moment, but really, the episode is just PACKED with amazing goodness!
- So many secondary characters are introduced or highlighted in eps 12 and 13: Wang Xiangyang, Cong Bo, Fourth Uncle, Ying Chun (in human form), Ya Qing (in human form), Minister Gao. Among them, who is your favourite?
Pics!
- Zhao Yunlan is so serious when he's sitting in the Huangs' parlour -- is he fuming about Shen Wei's secrets, or the case, or is it what he says when Shen Wei comes in, that he's worried the SID can't handle all the recent incursions? And when he says to Shen Wei, "You don't even want to make up an excuse now? Are you actually—" 现在连一个马虎的理由都懒得编了你到底是不是 whaaaat was the end of that question going to be?
- Zhu Jiu asks Shen Wei, "Hei Pao Shi daren, how long can you maintain your complete form on the surface?" Which suggests being the Envoy is more than just a change of clothes. I know we've talked about this before, but... any thoughts?
- I love Ying Chun's little twirl of coming and going. How does she travel? Is it a special plant power?
- Episodes 12 and 13 really highlight the Yashou as three distinct tribes with different political stances: the isolationist Snakes, the turned-to-the-Dark-Side Crows, and the informants-for-Hei-Pao-Shi Flowers. Do you sympathise with their different strategies?
- Team Shen Wei Coughing Blood? Or Team Zhao Yunlan Glaring While Shoving A Lollipop Into His Mouth? :D :D :D
Let’s talk about episode 13!
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 13 fanworks and meta go here!
- any other episode reactions or related meta
- fanworks, picspams, squee, etc, relating to episode 13 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 13 fanworks and meta go here!
"Were you just pretending right from the start?" scene discussion by
Fanworks by me
Who You Always Were -- canon divergence of ep 13, where Da Qing doesn't recover as readily from the hypnosis, and Zhao Yunlan asks Shen Wei for help with that (alternative reveal, and a lot of meta-as-fic about the scene in the Huangs' parlour)
Alignment -- Zhao Yunlan has a nightmare and goes across the hall to talk to Shen Wei about letting himself be kidnapped (technically set during episode 14, but it interrogates ZYL's claim that he did it to make Shen Wei reveal himself)
picspam of Zhao Yunlan schmoozing Minister Gao at the wedding
no subject
The whole wedding is so fun! Shen Wei's Side Eye of Danger. The blue suit. Minister Gao. The confrontation in the parlour. Everything!
Zhu Jiu interrupts this heart-to-heart and uses Zheng Yi to take Zhao Yunlan hostage.
I love when Zhu Jiu goes "what are you to each other". Catching on to something there, are you.
He knew he could use Zhao Yunlan as a hostage against Shen Wei, but still underestimated what these two have going on XD
Shen Wei looks for Zhao Yunlan, over-extending himself, and coughs up blood.
He looks so good coughing blood it's not fair
The whole fake-out with Zhu Jiu telling Zhao Yunlan to shoot Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan shooting, and Shen Wei rising up again for that classic battle couple shot from the credits.
Hrrrgh I am losing my mind over this whole scene. They work together flawlessly, even in the middle of an ongoing disagreement.
Zhao Yunlan is so serious when he's sitting in the Huangs' parlour -- is he fuming about Shen Wei's secrets, or the case, or is it what he says when Shen Wei comes in, that he's worried the SID can't handle all the recent incursions?
I think it's the first one, he can't believe Shen Wei is still lying to his face, and with the flimsiest of excuses no less. I don't think Shen Wei is actually trying to convince him, he just wants to Not Talk About It for now - but Zhao Yunlan doesn't know/understand that.
Zhu Jiu asks Shen Wei, "Hei Pao Shi daren, how long can you maintain your complete form on the surface?" Which suggests being the Envoy is more than just a change of clothes. I know we've talked about this before, but... any thoughts?
We see Shen Wei envoy-ing without the robes, too. The "complete form" phrasing doesn't really make sense to me... Maybe he means how much energy Shen Wei can expend?
I love Ying Chun's little twirl of coming and going. How does she travel? Is it a special plant power?
She's adorable. I wonder if the twirl is necessary, or if she does it for dramatics just like Shen Wei.
the isolationist Snakes, the turned-to-the-Dark-Side Crows, and the informants-for-Hei-Pao-Shi Flowers. Do you sympathise with their different strategies?
The snakes have the right idea - live in the middle of nowhere and don't get involved with those batshit humans.
But more seriously, I like that all three of them are presented sympathetically. The leaders are all trying to do what's best for their people.
no subject
Thanks! I couldn't resist. *g*
The whole wedding is so fun! Shen Wei's Side Eye of Danger. The blue suit. Minister Gao. The confrontation in the parlour. Everything!
Yessssss, such a gift! Especially how, despite all the chaos around them and the fact that it's an actual wedding, it's all still 99% about Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. :D
I love when Zhu Jiu goes "what are you to each other". Catching on to something there, are you.
He knew he could use Zhao Yunlan as a hostage against Shen Wei, but still underestimated what these two have going on XD
Ahh, yes! It's such a interesting contrast, too, I think: if it had been Zhao Yunlan offering himself in exchange, it could have been for anyone, you know? We see in the video game episode how readily he'll risk his life for strangers. But Shen Wei is very strategic. For the Envoy to offer himself as a replacement hostage is a Big Deal! No wonder Zhu Jiu is intrigued.
Hrrrgh I am losing my mind over this whole scene. They work together flawlessly, even in the middle of an ongoing disagreement.
:D :D :D It's amazing, isn't it? So in synch! :D :D :D (Do you think they're still disagreeing at this stage? Despite Zhu Jiu's interruption, I feel like they resolved a lot of the tension at the lab when Shen Wei explained he'd been trying to protect Zhao Yunlan...?)
I think it's the first one, he can't believe Shen Wei is still lying to his face, and with the flimsiest of excuses no less.
I thought that too. As well as personal frustration, he has to be upset that Shen Wei as Envoy kept him out of the loop re Tan Xiao, but then he dismisses Shen Wei's apology about bringing trouble, so I wasn't sure.
I don't think Shen Wei is actually trying to convince him, he just wants to Not Talk About It for now - but Zhao Yunlan doesn't know/understand that.
Yes, very much agreed! :D :D :D
We see Shen Wei envoy-ing without the robes, too. The "complete form" phrasing doesn't really make sense to me... Maybe he means how much energy Shen Wei can expend?
True, good point! Maybe? Or maybe there are hidden physiological differences between Dixingren and Haixingren? But none of the other Dixingren in Haixing seem to have the same problem...
She's adorable. I wonder if the twirl is necessary, or if she does it for dramatics just like Shen Wei.
Hee! Maybe she needs the momentum.
But more seriously, I like that all three of them are presented sympathetically. The leaders are all trying to do what's best for their people.
Yes, they're all so determined and earnest. You're right, that is really great. (Such a contrast with the Regent! ;-p)
no subject
Right? It's amazing. All the tension between them before, and zero chance to talk to each other, but they're completely in synch!
I don't think Shen Wei is actually trying to convince him, he just wants to Not Talk About It for now - but Zhao Yunlan doesn't know/understand that.
Yeah, that's how I see it too!
But more seriously, I like that all three of them are presented sympathetically. The leaders are all trying to do what's best for their people.
Ooh, yes, that's an excellent point! So much love.
no subject
This episode raises a lot of questions for me regarding Yashou abilities. We see Ya Qing defending herself from Zheng Yi's vocal powers with some form of dark energy? shield which seems to be an innate power as opposed to Zhu Jiu's weird hand gauntlet things that appear to give him multiple powers. We know that the Snakes have hypnosis, but don't really see them using any other powers. All we really see of the plant Yashou is transforming forms (I think), so maybe they can turn into pollen and float away wherever they want?
Can all the Yashou travel to Dixing? Do they use dark energy too? Is that why Shen Wei doesn't seem to mind when Da Qing ends up in Dixing, unlike his very anti-Zhao Yunlan interacting with dark energy/Dixing stance?
no subject
Yes! That was very stylish, too. :D
as opposed to Zhu Jiu's weird hand gauntlet things that appear to give him multiple powers.
OMG! I'd never connected Zhu Jiu's powers to his gauntlets! Ha! (Is that confirmed? I'm so curious now. *g*)
Snakes have hypnosis, explosive energy (like Zhu Hong escaping from the face stealer), and red fighting energy (seen in eps 39/40). I think Shen Wei lists their powers in the interrogation scene when he's needling Zhu Hong. *g* (And now I'm wondering why Fourth Uncle drugged Zhu Hong instead of hypnotising her. Huh.)
All we really see of the plant Yashou is transforming forms (I think), so maybe they can turn into pollen and float away wherever they want?
Ahhh, I like that interpretation. Hee!
Can all the Yashou travel to Dixing? Do they use dark energy too? Is that why Shen Wei doesn't seem to mind when Da Qing ends up in Dixing, unlike his very anti-Zhao Yunlan interacting with dark energy/Dixing stance?
I think so? I think when Da Qing and Ya Qing transform, that puff of blackness is dark energy -- if not identical to Dixing energy, then very similar? But I'm really just making stuff up. *g*
no subject
Well, he does use seem to use them to schlorp the teens' energy out of their bodies, and the dark energy he was using to counter Zheng Yi was coming out of them. I'm pretty sure he uses them for other things too, and since we know his innate power is teleportation, he has to have Something that enables him to do those other things. But I don't think there's ever anything stated explicitly in the show.
Maybe snake hypnosis only works on non-snakes? Which wouldn't work with Shen Wei turning the hypnosis back on Zhu Hong, unless we take into account that she isn't very good at it... maybe snakes just don't tend to bother with hypnotising each other since they should be capable of countering it?
no subject
and since we know his innate power is teleportation, he has to have Something that enables him to do those other things.
Yeah, agreed. I assumed Ye Zun was supplementing Zhu Jiu's power, but I didn't realise there was a device/devices involved. (Someone should really steal them off him -- maybe Zheng Yi?!)
maybe snakes just don't tend to bother with hypnotising each other since they should be capable of countering it?
Ha, maybe! Or maybe it's considered rude, and drugging isn't. *g*
no subject
I think it's the same in both cases, unrelated to Zhu Jiu's gauntlet - they're both using black energy directly, not through a specific power. Actually, I wonder if the ancestors of Yashou and Dixingren already were able to use blakc energy? All we hear about are the mutations (Dixingren) and gene fusion with native species (Yashou), but those are all on top of being able to use black energy in non-specific ways.
(Regarding Zhu Jiu's use of black energy - we see him with black energy balls in both hands at 18 minutes in, but he only has a gauntlet on one hand, so that has to be unrelated ...)
All we really see of the plant Yashou is transforming forms (I think), so maybe they can turn into pollen and float away wherever they want?
The way Ying Chun appears sometimes (including in this episode) looks to me like she's floating in the form of petals on the wind. Lovely!
Do they use dark energy too? Is that why Shen Wei doesn't seem to mind when Da Qing ends up in Dixing, unlike his very anti-Zhao Yunlan interacting with dark energy/Dixing stance?
Ooh, yes, that makes a lot of sense! Yashou powers and Dixingren powers both seem to come from black energy, and so it would make sense that Yashou would be able to handle the Dixing environment better.
no subject
Haha, right? I always forget just how much! I mean, of course I remember that the wedding and the fake-out confrontation with Zhu Jiu are in the same episode, but I forget that it's also Ya Qing's first proper appearance, and the confrontation between her and Ying Chun, for example ...
Zhu Jiu and Da Qing bicker (despite Zheng Yi's presence).
Ya, not Da, LOL. But that gave me a very funny image of Zhu Jiu trying and failing to argue with Da Qing's cat logic. :D
how Zhao Yunlan uses palm-up beckoning (for animals), rather than palm-down beckoning that you'd use for people
Huh, is that a common thing? I'm not familiar with that distinction, fascinating! (Though I'm not quite sure what palm-down beckoning looks like?)
Btw, I absolutely adore how the fish immediately gains 100% of Da Qing's attention, hypnotised or not. :D
Also, I wonder if he cuts the explanations short because he feels responsible for leaving Da Qing in a vulnerable situation and doesn't want to talk about it?
Where does he cut the explanations short? I'm not quite sure what you're referring to.
foreshadowing Zhao Yunlan apparently falling prey to Zheng Yi's hypnosis power, and how dangerous it will seem. :D
Hee! Yes, I love how smoothly it's integrated with Lin Jing shit-talking. :D
if he thought it was Tan Xiao who was using Zheng Yi as a weapon, then sure, taking him out of the equation and scaring him makes sense and doesn't leave the SID in danger
Yes! Such a good point. I love how many of the small details are becoming clearer on this rewatch, and it really only works because we're for once watching it all in order, no skipping. *g*
Which... does raise the question of why Zhao Yunlan didn't ask Tan Xiao what he wanted with the Hallows. Tan Xiao had no reason to be loyal to Zhu Jiu at that point, and it might have changed the course of things?!
Yeah, that's also a very good point! Perhaps he would have next, if the Envoy hadn't appeared just then? And agreed, that would be a fascinating canon divergence point!
I feel like Shen Wei needs to be memed here.
OMG, this is THE BEST. :D :D :D
And agreed, the pulse he uses to knock everyone out is fantastic.
Question: how does Shen Wei know to go to the wedding? I think I'm forgetting something here.
Also fascinating; it really does look like when Shen Wei arrives, he does a time freeze, for only the second time (after the rooftop appearance in episode 1). But it doesn't seem to affect Zheng Yi - is that an inherent limitation of the power (that it can only affect Haixingren?), or is she that strong so she can overcome a black energy effect? (Zhu Jiu seems to be outside the radius of the initial freeze? Idk.)
And then Zhao Yunlan shows up and immediately starts scolding Shen Wei for being there, before noticing Minister Gao and switching into Schmooze Mode. I LOVE THIS, OMG!
He puts all his professional credit on the line to protect Shen Wei.
Hee! Yes! I love all the gear-switching he's doing in this scene. Scolding Shen Wei, interceding with Minister Gao while pretending not to know Shen Wei well, then claiming him for the SID! It's so much fun to see him constantly adjust as his understanding of the situation changes. ♥
Lin Jing says to the bride's dead father, "I never thought your ending would be like this." 想不到你是这样的结局 Which always sounds to me like he knows him.
Well, from the previous Wu Xiaojun case? And he knows (like they all do) what that guy and his buddy the other father did to Wu Xiaojun, and that he got away with it. Maybe he means "I thought he'd get away with it all, or something he did would catch up with him eventually, but not that he'd end up accidental collateral damage in some unrelated event"?
He's so serious and intense, and so hurt ("It seems I was tricked by you."), but he still makes sure to let Shen Wei know he wants him around ("If you were the trouble, I'd take it by the dozen to trouble my whole life." *flails*)
That is such a !!!!!! line, especially at this point! I wonder what Shen Wei makes of it, and how serious he thinks Zhao Yunlan is.
In other words, I think Shen Wei's explanation is deliberately transparent. He doesn't expect Zhao Yunlan to believe him for a second, ergo it's not a lie. But that's not enough for Zhao Yunlan, who wants straight-up verbal confirmation.
Yeah, they're once again just not on the same page at all. Shen Wei just wants Zhao Yunlan to stop pushing, and Zhao Yunlan just wants Shen Wei to stop hiding. And I think their misunderstanding (not their conflict) is clear with Shen Wei's "I just work out a lot" - Zhao Yunlan takes it as a slight ("you don't even bother to make up a proper excuse") when IMO it's meant to be the opposite, the offer of a shared unspoken understanding.
Btw, people on Discord pointed out the zoom in that moment where the focus changes and the background moves - this one. So cool! (I still don't know what it's properly called, sorry.)
Can Shen Wei hear the other side of Zhao Yunlan's phone call, or is his expression because he's having feelings about what Zhao Yunlan just said and the way he said it? I thought the former, but I could go either way.
I think both, actually - he's heard, but also the way he looks after Zhao Yunlan before he follows seem more like he's contemplating the tension between them.
And Cong Bo seems genuinely shaken, but I think his headache is fake. When Lin Jing and Da Qing lead him away to take his statement, he drops the act for a moment to look back suspiciously at Shen Wei.
I always assumed that the headache was real, but that he was playing it up at that point.
Also, I had totally forgotten about the scene where Cong Bo witnesses Zhu Jiu talking to crow!Ya Qing. And how quick Zhu Jiu is in picking up on someone watching!
Zhao Yunlan afterwards says that going by what Cong Bo says there's someone behind Zhu Jiu, but the version of the subs I watched with don't actually mention that:
你就等着跟在我屁股后面，向老板请功吧。
Solo's subs: You better just follow me and hope for a reward.
Viki subs: You better just follow my ass and ask rewards from the boss.
So here's the first direct mention of a boss! He comes up again in the next Zhu Jiu & Ya Qing scene as well, of course.
Without information from the Crow Tribe, you'd never have found the Mountain-River Awl or stolen the Longevity Dial.
You know, this makes me wonder about an AU where Ya Qing finds the Hallows for her own tribe, not for Zhu Jiu/Ye Zun ... I mean, the restricted zone in Snake territory where the second passage to Dixing is has a place to use the Hallows, and there might be legends or top secret tribe leader-level info about it?
Is the hydrangea a Yashou? Every time I rewatch this I become more convinced, and it would make sense - Ying Chun has to get her info from somewhere. *g*
He knocks out a couple of Snake patrol guys, finds Guo Changcheng still tied up (was he there all night? he's changed clothes, anyway) and stages a dramatic rescue without listening to Changcheng's protestations.
So much fun! :D
Chu Shuzhi identifies himself on the phone as "Lao-Chu", I don't think I picked up on that before! Hee!
So, does that mean the Envoy told Tan Xiao in the park, "Wait here!" and vanished and came back as Professor Shen, who brought him to the lab? (Why the lab?) Or did Shen Wei reveal the connection between his identities to Tan Xiao? That would be an extra kick in the teeth for Zhao Yunlan!
All very good questions that I have no answers for! But I can't imagine Shen Wei deliberately connecting his identities for anyone at this point. (IIRC the only person he ever deliberately identifies himself to is Ying Chun, and that's because she's already seen him as Professor Shen, but he needs her help as the Envoy.)
and he just wanted to keep you (plural) you (singular) safe
I love this bit so much. I'm so used to all kinds of canons going with "you ... all of you ..." for (im)plausible deniability, but no, Guardian does it the other way round. Perfection. :D :D :D
Shen Wei starts, "Actually, I--" And I'm dying to know what he was going to say, but of course Zhu Jiu chooses that moment to interrupt, gah!
Same here! He says he wanted to keep ZYL safe, ZYL laughs (in disbelief? frustration?), and then Shen Wei starts with "Actually, I -" so it looks like it's the laugh that prompted him to speak. I really want to know what he'd have said, argh!
I always assume that Zhao Yunlan-with-earplugs hears the compulsions as suggestions so he knows what to do?
He has to hear it somehow, because otherwise he couldn't pretend!
What I want to know, though, is why it looks like Zhu Jiu is controlling him! Did Zheng Yi hypnotise him and tell him to do whatever Zhu Jiu wants? Or how does this work?
That faux dismissive smirk when he says Zhu Jiu doesn't have to hurt "ordinary people". (Sadly, at this point it's a bit late to play it cool.)
It's a great smirk, though! And also, I love how he swerves from this to offering himself in Zhao Yunlan's stead, not that it was ever going to work. (Not least because Zhu Jiu couldn't control Shen Wei for a second.)
Searching for them, Shen Wei overextends himself and coughs blood.
This is the (in)famous scene where some people hear him say "Yunlan" before he says "Zhao Yunlan"! I heard it before myself - but this time, I couldn't. So weird!
A fantastic scene between Ying Chun and Ya Qing, in which we find out the depth of their relationship, and Ya Qing's motives.
This is such a great scene! And it shows Ya Qing's regret so clearly - all that tension in her, and "too late", and everything. Her clenched fist! It's laying the groundwork for her switching sides later, even while it shows us how deep she's dug herself, believing she has no way back.
(Incidentally - that's something she and Shen Wei have in common: neither of them think they have any way to retreat.)
Zhu Hong's "I live and die with the SID," repeated from last episode, is foreshadowing for her death fake-out at the end of the episode. Wheeeee!
Oh, you're right, excellent point! I never put that together before! :D
Okay, this is interesting: Chu Shuzhi finds Zhu Jiu's lair, with the chess set. How? Then Shen Wei runs in. The next minute, not finding who he's looking for, Shen Wei vanishes again. So what the hell does Chu Shuzhi make of that? He must at least figure that's proof Shen Wei is Dixingren, right?
I want to know SO MUCH about this little scene! How does Chu Shuzhi find Zhu Jiu's lair? How does Shen Wei? Why do they both apparently find it at the same time?! And yep, what you say about Lao-Chu's POV - he must figure Shen Wei is involved in things somehow.
But also, Shen Wei immediately decides out that if Zhu Jiu isn't there, there's only one place he can have gone - and when he says so, Lao-Chu clearly agrees with him, so perhaps he's too busy being worried about what Zhu Jiu may be doing at the SID to think much about Shen Wei just then? Damn, Lao-Chu POV of this scene would be so great!
Except it really bothers me that Zheng Yi just lets all these things happen. Even if she's only 12 (or 15) and traumatised, she could react to Zhu Jiu saying, "Kill [Zhu Hong]"!
Zheng Yi seems so much younger even than she looks (which is already so much younger than the 15 she's claimed to be)! I can only explain it as her being very traumatised and essentially checked out. Poor girl.
And a few minutes later, Tan Xiao is all, "Yeah, hand over the super-powerful objects to this creep," even though they no longer have any reason to cooperate! WHY?
That part, I can understand. He wants to get away from Zhu Jiu, and more importantly, get Zheng Yi away from him - but that's never going to happen while they have something Zhu Jiu wants. And he's just watched Zhu Jiu make Zhao Yunlan kill Shen Wei (as far as he knows). It's not the greatest choice, but I think it's understandable.
Oh Zhu Jiu, Ye Zun would be so pissed off if he knew you were trying to kill Shen Wei! No one gets to do that but Ye Zun!
LOLOLOL, very true! :D
And it does look to me like Zhu Jiu thinks the gun can kill Shen Wei, though whether that's actually true is up in the air.
Regarding the question of whether Zhao Yunlan actually shot Shen Wei here, I think Shen Wei probably could have handled it (and maybe even invisibly, unlike the way Ye Zun handles it later), but Zhao Yunlan wouldn't have risked it. So he probably did the same thing he did with Zhu Hong, and counted on Shen Wei being able to handle that without being knocked out.
Also, question for the ages: Zhao Yunlan shoots Zhu Jiu in the arm, and it at the very least gives him a lot of trouble for a long time - in fact IIRC it's implied later that that wound would kill him eventually. So why was he completely unaffected by being shot in the Hanga caves?!
(My comment got too long for the comment box, so more to follow!)
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Favourite line of dialogue? Favourite scene? For me, they're "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends," and the reveal that Zhao Yunlan was faking/the battle couple moment, but really, the episode is just PACKED with amazing goodness!
"You actually killed Zhu Hong." My favourite line and moment in an episode not at all short on excellent moments! It's just so brilliant. Even though moments ago Shen Wei was frantically searching for Zhao Yunlan and trying to rescue him, he's changed course without missing a step. Zhao Yunlan faked killing Zhu Hong, and by claiming he actually did, Shen Wei neatly lets him know he knows. And then they proceed to work perfectly in sync with no prior arrangement and no clear way of communicating! ♥ ♥ ♥
Zhao Yunlan is so serious when he's sitting in the Huangs' parlour -- is he fuming about Shen Wei's secrets, or the case, or is it what he says when Shen Wei comes in, that he's worried the SID can't handle all the recent incursions?
I definitely think he's fuming about Shen Wei's secrets! The whole bit about the cases just seems like it's another "come join the SID and work with us" recruitment attempt. And I think Shen Wei takes it the same way. Out in the alley after Lin Jing and Da Qing leave with Cong Bo, Zhao Yunlan repeats it again, complaining about being short-staffed, and Shen Wei promptly says he has to go back to uni for an experiment.
And when he says to Shen Wei, "You don't even want to make up an excuse now? Are you actually-" 现在连一个马虎的理由都懒得编了你到底是不是 whaaaat was the end of that question going to be?
I think something like, "Are you actually going to keep up this charade even now?"
Zhu Jiu asks Shen Wei, "Hei Pao Shi daren, how long can you maintain your complete form on the surface?" Which suggests being the Envoy is more than just a change of clothes. I know we've talked about this before, but... any thoughts?
Going by the way the way Shen Wei uses black energy vision and then, when he overextends himself, collapses into his Haixing look, also suggests that there is (or can be) more of a difference between the two appearances than the mere look. But all his plain-clothes Envoying both in Haixing and in Dixing makes it hard to say.
I guess it's mostly about his black energy, and the fact that (as he says in the Hanga caves) he can only use half his power in Haixing.
I love Ying Chun's little twirl of coming and going. How does she travel? Is it a special plant power?
We see the petals before she arrives - she seems to be able to travel as petals on the wind. It's a bit clearer with her arrival in episode 19, I think. I took that to be a Flower Yashou power, yeah.
Episodes 12 and 13 really highlight the Yashou as three distinct tribes with different political stances: the isolationist Snakes, the turned-to-the-Dark-Side Crows, and the informants-for-Hei-Pao-Shi Flowers. Do you sympathise with their different strategies?
They're all acting from understandable motives! But the Snakes are the ones who are deluding themselves the most, I think. I mean, it's telling that Ying Chun starts out as "nope, staying out of this, I'm going away" and then ends up helping Shen Wei instead, you know? She wanted to keep out of the conflict, and she still thinks neutrality is the right choice (given what she says to Ya Qing), but under the circumstances she's realised she can't actually turn away. (Mainly because she realised what was going on with Ya Qing, I assume, but also because of talking to Shen Wei and getting a clear read on him as a person, and his motives ...)
Team Shen Wei Coughing Blood? Or Team Zhao Yunlan Glaring While Shoving A Lollipop Into His Mouth? :D :D :D
Team Shen Wei's Little Smirk. *g*
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LOL! (Fixed now.) I think I'd enjoy Zhu Jiu much more if he had to deal with Da Qing. *g*
Huh, is that a common thing? I'm not familiar with that distinction, fascinating! (Though I'm not quite sure what palm-down beckoning looks like?)
Yeah, I see it a lot in Kdramas, and I checked and it's a thing in China, too. Though if you're being polite/respectful, you just make eye contact and nod.
Where does he cut the explanations short? I'm not quite sure what you're referring to.
I mean, he doesn't hang around to check on Da Qing or ask what happened. Lin Jing starts to explain to Da Qing, and Zhao Yunlan cuts him off and walks away. Sure, there's a case, but the way he looks away when Da Qing mentions Zheng Yi feels like more than that to me. Idk.
OMG, this is THE BEST. :D :D :D
:D :D :D
Question: how does Shen Wei know to go to the wedding? I think I'm forgetting something here.
Maybe he was on the guest list, as one of Dragon City's most eligible bachelors? He's certainly dressed for it. Or maybe he sensed a disturbance in the Force the same way Lin Jing's detector/radar thing did? (I had a poll question about this back in the day, fwiw.)
Also fascinating; it really does look like when Shen Wei arrives, he does a time freeze, for only the second time (after the rooftop appearance in episode 1). But it doesn't seem to affect Zheng Yi - is that an inherent limitation of the power (that it can only affect Haixingren?), or is she that strong so she can overcome a black energy effect? (Zhu Jiu seems to be outside the radius of the initial freeze? Idk.)
Oh, excellent question! Alas, I have no theories.
Well, from the previous Wu Xiaojun case? And he knows (like they all do) what that guy and his buddy the other father did to Wu Xiaojun, and that he got away with it. Maybe he means "I thought he'd get away with it all, or something he did would catch up with him eventually, but not that he'd end up accidental collateral damage in some unrelated event"?
The fact that he's addressing the dead person rather than talking about him makes it sound more personal to me, like they had a prior connection, but maybe it's just a translation thing.
That is such a !!!!!! line, especially at this point! I wonder what Shen Wei makes of it, and how serious he thinks Zhao Yunlan is.
RIGHT? All through this battle of wills, he's making it very clear he's on Shen Wei's side -- putting their chairs side by side, this line, and then "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends." He's being super open about where his allegiance lies. *hearts all of it*
Ooh, thanks for pointing out the dolly zoom! Awesome. :D
I think both, actually - he's heard, but also the way he looks after Zhao Yunlan before he follows seem more like he's contemplating the tension between them.
That works!
Also, I had totally forgotten about the scene where Cong Bo witnesses Zhu Jiu talking to crow!Ya Qing. And how quick Zhu Jiu is in picking up on someone watching!
I think Ya Qing clued Zhu Jiu in? There's a little gesture with her beak.
You know, this makes me wonder about an AU where Ya Qing finds the Hallows for her own tribe, not for Zhu Jiu/Ye Zun ... I mean, the restricted zone in Snake territory where the second passage to Dixing is has a place to use the Hallows, and there might be legends or top secret tribe leader-level info about it?
Ooooooh! (I hope you feel inspired to write this one day! I would looove to read it.)
Is the hydrangea a Yashou? Every time I rewatch this I become more convinced, and it would make sense - Ying Chun has to get her info from somewhere. *g*
I'm pretty sure it is. There's the pointed focus on it, and then Ying Chun says to Shen Wei, "We just got some intelligence."
我们刚刚得到情报 (26:06)
I've had that thought before. It would fit Zhu Hong's father's story very well. I don't think it has to be mentioned, particularly given it's her mother not her father, and sexism. But who knows?
Chu Shuzhi identifies himself on the phone as "Lao-Chu", I don't think I picked up on that before! Hee!
Ha, so weird. (Who's he talking to?)
I'm so used to all kinds of canons going with "you ... all of you ..." for (im)plausible deniability, but no, Guardian does it the other way round. Perfection. :D :D :D
Ahhhhh, excellent point, yes!! Shen Wei is making no secret at all of his investment and concern for Zhao Yunlan. :D :D :D :D :D :D
Same here! He says he wanted to keep ZYL safe, ZYL laughs (in disbelief? frustration?), and then Shen Wei starts with "Actually, I -" so it looks like it's the laugh that prompted him to speak. I really want to know what he'd have said, argh!
Maybe the laugh is relief that the secret-keeping is for Zhao Yunlan's sake (however misguided), rather than to shut him out? And Shen Wei recognises that and is about to say something even more personal??
What I want to know, though, is why it looks like Zhu Jiu is controlling him! Did Zheng Yi hypnotise him and tell him to do whatever Zhu Jiu wants? Or how does this work?
I think Zheng Yi puts him in a hypnotic state so he's open to the power of Zhu Jiu's suggestion? Which does make me wonder whether Shen Wei could have countered the suggestion, if he wasn't worried about Zhu Jiu immediately whisking the others away.
It's a great smirk, though! And also, I love how he swerves from this to offering himself in Zhao Yunlan's stead, not that it was ever going to work. (Not least because Zhu Jiu couldn't control Shen Wei for a second.)
It's all so good! And maybe Shen Wei could have rendered himself helpless somehow? Or fake!helpless? Idk. (Btw, I forgot to mention, but this, with Zhao Yunlan taken hostage by a villain, must be giving Shen Wei some serious "Rebel Chief taking Ye Zun" flashbacks, even if young!him wasn't there to see that. (He probably imagined it many times over as a child?)
(Incidentally - that's something she and Shen Wei have in common: neither of them think they have any way to retreat.)
Ohh, excellent catch! Nice!
I want to know SO MUCH about this little scene! How does Chu Shuzhi find Zhu Jiu's lair? How does Shen Wei? Why do they both apparently find it at the same time?! And yep, what you say about Lao-Chu's POV - he must figure Shen Wei is involved in things somehow.
If they'd located the lair as part of an earlier case, it would all make so much more sense -- along with Zhu Jiu relocating to that rooftop. Maybe there was a cut scene?
Damn, Lao-Chu POV of this scene would be so great!
It really would -- or his reflecting on it later. :D
And he's just watched Zhu Jiu make Zhao Yunlan kill Shen Wei (as far as he knows). It's not the greatest choice, but I think it's understandable.
Okay, that's fair. It does work in that context. I just want him to seem more conflicted about it, but I guess he has no real reason to trust or be loyal to the SID.
Regarding the question of whether Zhao Yunlan actually shot Shen Wei here, I think Shen Wei probably could have handled it (and maybe even invisibly, unlike the way Ye Zun handles it later), but Zhao Yunlan wouldn't have risked it. So he probably did the same thing he did with Zhu Hong, and counted on Shen Wei being able to handle that without being knocked out.
Yes, agreed -- or even shot right past him without grazing him, since the bullet risks damaging his energy, and he already knows Shen Wei's in on the ruse? With Zhu Hong, there was no chance to coordinate, so he had to knock her out.
So why was he completely unaffected by being shot in the Hanga caves?!
Yeah, I've got nothing for that. Hallows shenanigans?
"You actually killed Zhu Hong." My favourite line and moment in an episode not at all short on excellent moments! It's just so brilliant.
Ohhh, yes! Excellent choice!
I definitely think he's fuming about Shen Wei's secrets!
Given the location, it feels like it should be more case-related. Maybe he's pissed off about everything getting out of control because the Envoy didn't tell him the truth -- what he says in the lab scene?
Out in the alley after Lin Jing and Da Qing leave with Cong Bo, Zhao Yunlan repeats it again, complaining about being short-staffed, and Shen Wei promptly says he has to go back to uni for an experiment.
How many recruitment attempts is that now? *g*
I think something like, "Are you actually going to keep up this charade even now?"
That works!
and then, when he overextends himself, collapses into his Haixing look, also suggests that there is (or can be) more of a difference between the two appearances than the mere look.
Maybe the look takes extra energy to maintain in Haixing, and that's why it vanishes? That would track with him doing more and more plain clothes Envoying as the series progresses and his energy is weakened...?
But the Snakes are the ones who are deluding themselves the most, I think.
I... lean towards it being the Crows who are most deluded, personally. If Ya Qing thinks that Ye Zun and Zhu Jiu will do her any favours once they have their way, I think she's being massively optimistic. At least the Snakes are just doing what they've always done, and it's more or less worked for them for ten thousand years.
Team Shen Wei's Little Smirk. *g*
Haha, excellent choice!
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Oh, the "waving a car into a parking bay" gesture! (That's the only context I see this used here. *g*) Fascinating, thank you for the context and the video!
I mean, he doesn't hang around to check on Da Qing or ask what happened. Lin Jing starts to explain to Da Qing, and Zhao Yunlan cuts him off and walks away. Sure, there's a case, but the way he looks away when Da Qing mentions Zheng Yi feels like more than that to me. Idk.
Huh, it doesn't strike me that way - to me, Zhao Yunlan gets the phone call and then his focus is on getting there. He only stops long enough to see Da Qing is back to himself.
Maybe he was on the guest list, as one of Dragon City's most eligible bachelors? He's certainly dressed for it. Or maybe he sensed a disturbance in the Force the same way Lin Jing's detector/radar thing did? (I had a poll question about this back in the day, fwiw.)
Oh, thanks for linking that, interesting to look at my previous response! I think all in all I'm still on the same page - he turned up there when he did because he'd sensed the black energy.
Ooh, thanks for pointing out the dolly zoom! Awesome. :D
Is it a dolly zoom, then? I thought in that, the foreground and the background would both be moving, but ZYL and SW are static and only the background moves. (But I know next to nothing abouit film terminology, alas!)
I think Ya Qing clued Zhu Jiu in? There's a little gesture with her beak.
Oh, huh, I totally missed that! Still, he picks up on it very quickly, when all he can see is the shadow.
(I hope you feel inspired to write this one day! I would looove to read it.)
I would love to read it too! To write it I'd have to figure out a LOT more than what I've got, LOL. (Any thoughts on what should happen in this AU?)
I've had that thought before. It would fit Zhu Hong's father's story very well. I don't think it has to be mentioned, particularly given it's her mother not her father, and sexism. But who knows?
I feel pretty strongly that since Zhu Hong gets criticised or complains herself more than once about her failures at being a "proper" Snake, if she was actually biologically not one, that would have been mentioned in context ...
Ha, so weird. (Who's he talking to?)
Is it weird? (I thought he was talking to Zhao Yunlan, but it could be anyone at the SID.)
Maybe the laugh is relief that the secret-keeping is for Zhao Yunlan's sake (however misguided), rather than to shut him out? And Shen Wei recognises that and is about to say something even more personal??
It doesn't come across as relief to me - it looks more like he's dismissing what Shen Wei says, not really believing it in the moment ...
Btw, I forgot to mention, but this, with Zhao Yunlan taken hostage by a villain, must be giving Shen Wei some serious "Rebel Chief taking Ye Zun" flashbacks, even if young!him wasn't there to see that. (He probably imagined it many times over as a child?)
Oh god, yeah, good point! Ouch, poor Shen Wei!
If they'd located the lair as part of an earlier case, it would all make so much more sense -- along with Zhu Jiu relocating to that rooftop. Maybe there was a cut scene?
That would make more sense indeed! *sighs*
Maybe the look takes extra energy to maintain in Haixing, and that's why it vanishes? That would track with him doing more and more plain clothes Envoying as the series progresses and his energy is weakened...?
That would still mean the look isn't just different clothes, and I have no good theory why or how. Are his robes and mask made of something other than ordinary fabric? Oooh, maybe they're reinforced with black energy and need to constantly be fed energy to work, and in Dixing there's enough ambient black energy, but in Haixing there's not and it has to come out of his own energy?
I... lean towards it being the Crows who are most deluded, personally. If Ya Qing thinks that Ye Zun and Zhu Jiu will do her any favours once they have their way, I think she's being massively optimistic. At least the Snakes are just doing what they've always done, and it's more or less worked for them for ten thousand years.
Ya Qing is 100% entirely deluding herself about Ye Zun, but she's completely right that the situation as a whole isn't sustainable for the Yashou, and what she's wrong about is what to do about it. Fourth Uncle seems to delude himself that there's no actual problem to begin with, which seems more fundamental an error to me.
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It is. From wikipedia: The effect is achieved by zooming a zoom lens to adjust the angle of view (often referred to as field of view, or FOV) while the camera dollies (moves) toward or away from the subject in such a way as to keep the subject the same size in the frame throughout. [...] Thus, during the zoom, there is a continuous perspective distortion, the most directly noticeable feature being that the background appears to change size relative to the subject.
I would love to read it too! To write it I'd have to figure out a LOT more than what I've got, LOL. (Any thoughts on what should happen in this AU?)
It partly depends on what Ya Qing means by revivification. Any idea on that? What specifically does she want? But one strategy could be to gather the Hallows herself with the intention of using them to build an alliance with Dixing (or with the highest bidder?). And then the SID comes after the Hallows, and so does Zhu Jiu, and she finds herself under siege and eventually has to pick a side. Something in that vein? Idk.
Is it weird? (I thought he was talking to Zhao Yunlan, but it could be anyone at the SID.)
It seems a little weird to me? (If it's not weird, why did you highlight it? Just as a point of interest?)
Are his robes and mask made of something other than ordinary fabric? Oooh, maybe they're reinforced with black energy and need to constantly be fed energy to work, and in Dixing there's enough ambient black energy, but in Haixing there's not and it has to come out of his own energy?
Oh! I just realised his robes must have some special element, because it's shocking to Chu Shuzhi that they're damaged by the explosion at the end of episode 4. Chu Shuzhi reacts as if it's the Envoy who's been hurt there, not just his robes, I think?
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Thank you, I learned something new! :D
It partly depends on what Ya Qing means by revivification. Any idea on that?
I think she mainly means not being pushed further and further back and having to hide as humans spread out more and more and claim all the land?
But one strategy could be to gather the Hallows herself with the intention of using them to build an alliance with Dixing (or with the highest bidder?).
Oh, that's a cool idea, I can see where that could go! *ponders*
(If it's not weird, why did you highlight it? Just as a point of interest?)
I may be wrong, but I feel like calling himself Lao-Chu means he thinks of himself in relation to the people who call him that, i.e. the SID - as part of that group. Just the Chu Shuzhi outsider-to-part-of-the-family trajectory, you know?
Oh! I just realised his robes must have some special element, because it's shocking to Chu Shuzhi that they're damaged by the explosion at the end of episode 4. Chu Shuzhi reacts as if it's the Envoy who's been hurt there, not just his robes, I think?
Oooh, good thinking! At the very least it implies that the Envoy's self-defences should cover his clothes as well. (I always thought Chu Shuzhi assumed that if something could get through far enough to harm the robe, it would also be far enough to injure the Envoy himself.)
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I wonder what else she tried before resorting to teaming up with Ye Zun. I mean, I'd like to think that wasn't her first attempt, you know?
I may be wrong, but I feel like calling himself Lao-Chu means he thinks of himself in relation to the people who call him that, i.e. the SID - as part of that group. Just the Chu Shuzhi outsider-to-part-of-the-family trajectory, you know?
Oh, right. It still strikes me as weird, though. Like, maybe he's trying it on for size but it doesn't feel natural yet, or he doesn't trust the others to see it as natural, so he has to spell out the relationship? (But then, does Zhao Yunlan ever refer to himself as Lao Zhao to anyone? If he does, I wouldn't know.)
At the very least it implies that the Envoy's self-defences should cover his clothes as well. (I always thought Chu Shuzhi assumed that if something could get through far enough to harm the robe, it would also be far enough to injure the Envoy himself.)
Yeah, I think that's the implication, and that Shen Wei probably had another of those artistically agonised self-healing scenes off-screen, and then -- left the robe tattered so he could demonstrate it to Chu Shuzhi without having to put it into words?
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Oh, yeah, same here! The way she talks about it, it doesn't seem like it's the first thing she tried. I'd love to know what else she did as well!
But then, does Zhao Yunlan ever refer to himself as Lao Zhao to anyone? If he does, I wouldn't know.
I don't remember any instances, and I agree it would be a bit weird there. "Trying it on", as you say, would make sense for Lao-Chu!
and that Shen Wei probably had another of those artistically agonised self-healing scenes off-screen, and then -- left the robe tattered so he could demonstrate it to Chu Shuzhi without having to put it into words?
Haha, yeah, exactly like that, I assume! :D
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Now I'm imagining her showing up at the DoS to make a complaint in her full Yashou glory, and them not having any idea what to make of her or what to do. (After all, Yashou don't have deeds to the land she's claiming! There's no laws for this! Does she have any legal standing at all?)
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Yeah, I always assumed not, and that that's part of the problem - Dixing is on more solid ground with the treaty, whereas the Yashou have mostly been flying under the radar and ignored.
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I see what you did there! ;-D
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I rewatched it, and I was thinking about it overnight, and you're right that it's not pure relief, but I don't think it's scepticism either. It's really obvious Shen Wei's being very sincere here. So I think maybe it's Zhao Yunlan's kneejerk incredulous "not worth it" kicking in, plus either some "I'm an idiot; I've been misunderstanding our relationship", and/or "you think I'm an incompetent who needs protecting!" Oh, the latter would play into his letting himself get kidnapped, perhaps? Faking being helpless when he's actually prepared and capable and has a plan? (I mean, how else is a self-respecting action hero with self-worth issues supposed to react to "I've been going to these lengths to protect you"?)
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The new thing I found myself wondering rewatching this episode was Ying Chun's personal involvement. She sounds honestly concerned for Heipao to be putting himself in danger, to a degree that doesn't quite tally with 'just concerned that my most powerful ally in keeping the peace might do something stupid'. I really, really want to know how they got to know each other; if that time in ep 6 (?) was the first time they talked, this really doesn't make much sense to me, though maybe I'm reading too much into it.
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That's an excellent point. We see him talk to her twice in bush form, iirc? The introduction in episode 6, and the fight with Zhu Jiu in episode 8?
(Ohhh, looking that up, I see in their first meeting, Shen Wei says, "It is said that the [Flower] Yashou Clan know everything and have information from all around the world. I would like you to help me find someone." (Which I think was case-related? I already can't remember.) Now I'm wondering why he didn't go to the flowers when he first arrived in Haixing looking for Kunlun... or maybe he did, and they didn't know, and that was before he'd assumed his Professor Shen identity, which was why he had to reintroduce himself in ep 6.)
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And that's a good point about Ying Chun's personal feelings - she seems to actually care about him as a person. Either she came to care for him very quickly over very few conversations (though there could have been more offscreen?), or she knew him before. Though with the way they talk to each other at first, at the very least they haven't been in touch for some time. And either way there's a shift between their first conversation where she bows and calls him "Hei Pao-daren", and this episode where she just says "Hei Pao" without the honorific or formality.
(Also, unlike Fourth Uncle, she doesn't recognise him as Hei Pao Shi without the mask, until he summons his dao to identify himself.)