shadaras (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shadaras) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sid_guardian2023-05-14 01:17 pm
shadaras) wrote in sid_guardian2023-05-14 01:17 pm
Entry tags:
Subject: GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 18
Beginning of episode: Ye Huo walks away from Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng in the fight club.
Ending of episode: Zhu Jiu and Ya Qing stand on a rooftop talking about their plans.
Important scenes/developments:
- Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng watch a cage fight.
- Chu Shuzhi decides to lure out the arena champion by stepping into the cage himself.
- Ye Huo accepts Chu Shuzhi’s challenge, because he wants to know if Chu Shuzhi really can protect his friends.
- Zhao Yunlan learns that they’ve gotten involved in the actual fighting and has strong feelings about this. Shen Wei says he’s the pot calling the kettle black when he brings up Chu Shuzhi’s risk-taking and insubordination.
- Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan talk briefly about Chu Shuzhi’s backstory as it relates to Hei Pao Shi.
- As Chu Shuzhi prepares to fight Ye Huo, Bo Bi tells him about the revenge he wants to take for his little brother’s death.
- Chu Shuzhi and Ye Huo fight; Ye Huo reveals his Dixingren power of creating fire.
- Zhao Yunlan decides he needs to check on Guo Chengchang and Chu Shuzhi, just in case, and Shen Wei comes along with him.
- Chu Shuzhi gets the upper hand in the fight. The crowd storms the cage to protect their fave.
- Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei arrive. Zhao Yunlan fires a fake gun at the ceiling to quell the crowd.
- Bo Bi confronts Ye Huo. We see Ye Huo’s perspective on how he “betrayed” Xiao Jie by not allowing him to win a fight.
- Bo Bi and Ye Huo briefly fight before Shen Wei (as Hei Pao Shi) interrupts and sends Bo Bi to safety.
- Ye Huo escapes on a motorcycle; Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan chase him in Zhao Yunlan’s jeep.
- Lin Jing and Da Qing arrive to help, and are sent to investigate the “base” Ye Huo is leading them away from.
- Ye Huo ambushes Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in a warehouse for a very fun fight.
- Lin Jing, Da Qing, and Bo Bi (who followed them) investigate the large secluded house they arrived at and are captured by the young men who live there.
- Zhu Jiu kills the fight club’s boss, who had been supplying him with life energy.
- Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei roll up at the kidnappers’ house and are completely unphased by demands and threats. Instead, they discuss Dixing’s education system.
- Ye Huo comes out of Zhao Yunlan’s car and talks about his relationship with the young men in the house, revealing that he’s saved them from Zhu Jiu’s schemes.
- Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng rescue the hostages.
- Shen Wei says that he can be lenient to Ye Huo, since Ye Huo was using his powers to help people instead of hurt them.
- Chu Shuzhi and Ye Huo share a moment, each praising an aspect of the other’s life.
- Zhu Jiu and Ya Qing stand on an empty rooftop discussing their plans.
Discussion starters:
(I think my thoughts mostly got turned into these questions/observations!)
- How/why do you think Chu Shuzhi was so certain neither person fighting in the ring at first was Dixingren? I don’t think Dixingren are generally shown to be able to sense each other, and Chu Shuzhi certainly hasn’t shown any evidence of that ability before…
- Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan give us one of our first taste of specifics about Chu Shuzhi’s backstory: He was rescued from penal labor to infiltrate the SID for Hei Pao Shi. Zhao Yunlan says he was always aware that Chu Shuzhi was a spy and simply didn’t care. What do you think of how these elements were introduced?
- The conversation Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan have about the state of Dixing’s schools is eternally fascinating. What are your thoughts about Dixing education?
- Or, for a different direction on that conversation: Do you think it’s meaningful that they’re openly discussing visiting Dixing? It’s not a common topic of conversation, and the way Shen Wei speaks about Dixing blurs the edges of his Professor Wei vs Hei Pao Shi identities.
- Similarly, we see Shen Wei rescue Bo Bi while dressed as Hei Bao Shi, but then he immediately turns back to Shen Wei to talk to Ye Huo. At the end as well, Shen Wei speaks of giving Hei Pao Shi’s clemency to Ye Huo while looking like Shen Wei (just before the SID crew arrives). The strict lines placed between Hei Pao Shi and Shen Wei are visibly breaking down during this episode; what are your thoughts about this?
- Bo Bi says that he’s been waiting two years for this chance to take his revenge for Xiao Jie’s death. This implies that Zhu Jiu’s been siphoning life energy from people for at least that long! Does this timeline make sense to you?
- Why do you think Ye Huo burnt himself? Was it intentional? Was it something he was forced to do? Any and all headcanons are welcome, since there’s nothing I can recall the show saying about it!
- How did the golden winner’s belt help Lin Jing track Ye Huo? Is that device some kind of essense tracker? Did it get infused with Ye Huo’s aura by being an object he owned for so long? Presumably something like that, since it also detected the place Ye Huo lives…
- A question brought up on Discord: Zhu Jiu is very dramatic, in this final scene, about how he’s coming to the end of his life. Contextually, this seems to be the result of his arm wound worsening. Why do you think his wound isn’t healing?
(Personally, I think it’d be neat if the anti-Dixingren gun were infused with light energy and infected Zhu Jiu with light energy (which is now causing his wound to fester, since light and dark energy don’t coexist well), but I’d love to hear other theories! (or thoughts about this theory!))
Let’s talk about episode 18!
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!
(I would particularly enjoy picspams for this episode, as I didn't have the spoons to highlight any screenshots myself! <3)
Links to episode 18 fanworks and meta go here!
- any other episode reactions or related meta
- fanworks, picspams, squee, etc, relating to episode 18 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 18 fanworks and meta go here!
1. Chu Shuzhi vs Ye Huo Cage Fight, which I hosted.
2. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei talk in front of the kidnappers' place, which
Additionally, my fic and the spring wind starts to sing (Chu Shuzhi & Ye Huo, rated G, 3.7k) isn't technically about this episode (it's set post-canon), but this episode was central to the themes, ideas, and post-canon work I imagined for Ye Huo in that fic. I kept returning to this episode while writing it, so I feel like it's appropriate to share it for this episode's discussion. :)
Re: Links to episode 18 fanworks and meta go here!
no subject
Bo Bi and Ye Huo briefly fight before Shen Wei (as Hei Pao Shi) interrupts and sends Bo Bi to safety
During the rewatch we were wondering why Heipaoshi de-transforms in front of Ye Huo when he confronts him.
I checked the scene again and noticed that HPS is always positioned so we can’t see his mask very well (only a little glint). Could it be that they didn’t have the mask when they shot this scene/episode? It would explain why Shen Wei needs to be plain-clothed.
In-universe it’s a different question and I agree the line between Heipaoshi and Shen Wei is increasingly blurred. Now that Zhao Yunlan is in the know, Shen Wei seems more relaxed about his secret identity.
Ye Huo ambushes Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in a warehouse for a very fun fight.
Battle Couple Weilan is so good <3
How/why do you think Chu Shuzhi was so certain neither person fighting in the ring at first was Dixingren? I don’t think Dixingren are generally shown to be able to sense each other, and Chu Shuzhi certainly hasn’t shown any evidence of that ability before…
I was wondering about that too. Can he tell by sight or sensing energy? What is the extent of this ability? Do they even really need the dark energy detector when they have Chu Shuzhi? Or was he just guessing after all? So many questions…
Why do you think Ye Huo burnt himself? Was it intentional? Was it something he was forced to do? Any and all headcanons are welcome, since there’s nothing I can recall the show saying about it!
I admit I’m confused by this whole “burned himself” thing. He has his fire in his hands and it doesn’t burn him, right? But on his face it burned him? I probably missed something here.
no subject
Oooh, this is an excellent observation! I did notice the way Shen Wei's face is hidden by his hood in those shots. You know,
I admit I’m confused by this whole “burned himself” thing. He has his fire in his hands and it doesn’t burn him, right?
It's a pretty common trope that people coming into their superpowers initially don't have control over them, so I thought that was what was intended here - Ye Huo burnt himself when he first developed his fire power, but now he's in full control of it and it can't harm him any more.
no subject
Yes that theory holds a lot of water - I am definitely a One Mask Truther XD
If they messed up the filming order or had to do re-shoots unexpectedly, such a situation could happen easily. Man, they were really working with zero budget on this show.
It's a pretty common trope that people coming into their superpowers initially don't have control over them, so I thought that was what was intended here
You know what that makes a lot of sense. For some reason I was stuck on a either he’s immune to his own powers or not false dichotomy.
no subject
Man, they were really working with zero budget on this show.
It's amazing how much they managed with that budget - the dedication that clearly went into it, from everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥
no subject
Yeah, I think he's starting to experiment with overlapping his identities a bit more. It's so fascinating to see the progression! :D
I was wondering about that too. Can he tell by sight or sensing energy? What is the extent of this ability? Do they even really need the dark energy detector when they have Chu Shuzhi? Or was he just guessing after all?
I think Chu Shuzhi has said before that someone is "ordinary" or not, so I think he can get an impression sometimes, but obviously he's not foolproof. Maybe the detector is more reliable, and also an objective measure which will better satisfy the DoS in reports and such? (And ha, now, especially after the Zheng Yi case, I feel like they should use the detector on everyone as a matter of course! ;-p)
no subject
They really should make more use of that detector! And also act on it when it detects dark energy, not just go oh I guess it must be broken XD
no subject
In Lin Jing's defence, it was a director of the Xingdu Bureau -- who could possibly believe he was Dixingren?? *g*
no subject
Why do you think Ye Huo burnt himself? Was it intentional? Was it something he was forced to do?
I always wished that the drama gave us something more about that. I mentioned before that my theory was this: it happened when his power manifested for the first time and he didn’t know yet how to use it. Maybe his power manifested because of a traumatic event, like with Ye Zun.
no subject
Yeah, that's what I assumed too!
no subject
+1
I do wonder whether his scars are part of the reason he ended up in Haixing (a fresh start?), and also wonder when he started wearing the mask. It's great that he takes it off with his proteges, at least. :-)
no subject
no subject
Let me go through the episode in order. (Sorry for the reposted comments, I had a stupid error that I really needed to remove ...)
I think the show is somewhat inconsistent on whether Dixingren can tell who's Dixingren. Shen Wei also at one point says (about the muggers) that they don't appear to have the qualities of Dixingren. And I think it's pretty clear in the not-actually-a-cliffhanger line about Ye Huo at the beginning of the episode that Lao-Chu has identified him as Dixingren somehow. (What else could he have meant?)
Though Lao-Chu here doesn't say the fighters are human - he says they're both ordinary people. so they might also be Dixingren whose powers haven't activated. But at the same time, the Zheng Yi case proves pretty conclusively that Lao-Chu can't sense when someone's Dixingren or has an active power, or he'd know Tan Xiao wasn't and Zheng Yi was. I have no idea how to reconcile that in-universe.
Shen Wei says he's the pot calling the kettle black when he brings up Chu Shuzhi's risk-taking and insubordination.
I love it so much that Shen Wei calls him out on that! :D But also, that Shen Wei (unlike Zhao Yunlan) doesn't seem to be bothered or worried about Lao-Chu participating in the fighting, which is a fascinating difference in their approach. And Shen Wei remains calm while Zhao Yunlan gets more and more restless until he just has to go after Lao-Chu! Even if he doesn't admit to being worried. *g*
(Meanwhile, Shen Wei says this sort of thing is what makes Zhao Yunlan Zhao Yunlan! Hee!)
We already knew there was something going on with Lao-Chu's backstory (his attack on the Regent being the most obvious clue), and I think it's fascinating how this is just dropped here like that. But I'm more interested in why Shen Wei chooses this moment to mention Lao-Chu being sent to the SID as a spy. I mean, Zhao Yunlan is right that it was kind of obvious, so of course he was aware. But why is this worth bringing up now? Is it strictly to distract Zhao Yunlan from his current annoyance with Chu Shuzhi?
Given the look on Zhao Yunlan's face when Shen Wei asks if the issue is settled, seems like he's not sure why Shen Wei is bringing it up either! :p
So it seems Shen Wei never asked anything about the SID itself, its members or its inner workings, and neither of them thought it relevant to bring up. I have to assume that means the information Shen Wei was after was strictly confined to how the SID handles Dixingren on the surface. Which makes sense to me: before he learns who Zhao Yunlan is, Shen Wei doesn't actually care about the SID per se, but it makes sense that if he's minimising contact himself (which he did, since he never once appeared during Zhao Yunlan's entire tenure before episode 1), he wants someone there who can keep an eye on what the SID is doing with his people.
(Da Qing, of course, has been at the SID since the Zhao Xinci days - but it would make complete sense for me for Zhao Xinci to make sure the Envoy had no contact with his team, and appointing himself the sole point of contact.)
Oh, and it's also very interesting that Lao-Chu doesn't use his powers in the arena ...
This is honestly hilarious to me, especially the guy who shouts they'll lose their money because of Chu Shuzhi.
It's not a fake gun; it's the black energy gun. What Zhao Yunlan says is, "If anyone had dared rush us just now, this black energy gun would have been exposed as a trick," since it's useless against humans.
I think this also supports the theory that the gun doesn't use specific ammunition, or he wouldn't waste it like this.
Ooh, great catch! I always forget about that. But I guess Zhu Jiu had to get started somehow, and neither he nor Ye Zun knew where the Hallows were - they were looking for them, but it only makes sense that it would take time. If the Hallows were that easy to find, someone would have managed it earlier. So Zhu Jiu must have been around for some time prior to episode 1, and two years sounds reasonable to me. It also makes sense that Zhu Jiu would have been collecting energy for Ye Zun during that time, making himself useful until he could turn up something bigger.
On the other hand, the timeline doesn't add up at all - going by this, the flashback where Ye Huo discovers what Zhu Jiu and the manager were doing to the boys, that led to him not letting them win to keep them off the manager's radar, would have taken place over two years ago. But we saw it in episode 12, where it seemed as if it were happening just then. I guess we have to assume the placement of the flashback in episode 12 was misleading ...
(This all makes me wonder what would have happened if the SID had stumbled on the underground fight ring case before episode 1, and if they'd found out about Zhu Jiu from there ... Oh, and I also wonder if Zhu Jiu recruited some of his flunkies from there, if he found Dixingren with suitable powers at that place ...)
I always took this to be the classic mutant/superpower trope where first coming into your powers tends to be an out-of-control event and the person only learns to control them afterwards. So, young Ye Huo first bursting into flame, without knowing what to do with it, so he burnt himself, much like
a) Your typo (Bao!) made me go ♥ ♥ ♥
b) It's super fascinating to me that Shen Wei chooses to de-mask in front of Ye Huo, which we've never seen him do before. We've seen him do it the other way round, summoning his blade or his robes when he's been in civvies - in front of Ying Chun, for example, and in the Dixing bar - but never this way.
I suppose he's de-escalating, but also, now that Zhao Yunlan knows, he's getting more used to just being himself. The lines are between the Envoy and Professor Shen - Shen Wei is the whole person, and he's being more himself rather than compartmentalising. Still, this is a very big thing to do in front of outsiders!
Also, when Lin Jing turns up, the detector tells them there's black energy in both directions. Does that mean the three guys at Ye Huo's base are also Dixingren? My impression was originally that the boys the manager and Zhu Jiu were preying on were all human, and Ya Qing later in this episode says Ye Zun gave them the mission of collecting fresh human energy - but now that I think about it, Zhu Jiu does end up bottling his own energy in the end, so Dixingren can be used for this too, so some might have been caught up in this scheme as well? It's not like the manager could tell, and it's not like Zhu Jiu would care who gets sacrificed.
(Lao-Chu later calls the people Ye Huo protected "ordinary people", though ... so why would they have detectable black energy?)
How did the golden winner's belt help Lin Jing track Ye Huo? Is that device some kind of essense tracker? Did it get infused with Ye Huo's aura by being an object he owned for so long? Presumably something like that, since it also detected the place Ye Huo lives...
That is a very good question, I have no idea! The way the detector works in this scene doesn't quite fit with anything else. For one, not only can they track Ye Huo's movements from scanning the belt, they also discover another source of black energy a kilometer away! If they could discover black energy this easily at a distance, wouldn't the SID's job be very different?!
Regarding the belt more specifically, it looks like they're using the trope of people's energy lingering on their possessions, but that just doesn't seem to be the case (or at least not in any usable way) elsewhere in the drama!
And oops, I exceeded the comment box again – more to come!
no subject
Yeah, I love this fight scene, it's so great! From Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei entering in step to the end where Shen Wei gets to show off his powers, it's delightful. And Zhao Yunlan as an unpowered human holds his own for quite a while, though he probably couldn't have won by himself.
And Ye Huo makes a gesture towards blowing up some gas bottles, but when that's stopped, he seems to actually give up and accept he's not getting out of this. He could try to escape later, too, but he doesn't. And Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan seem to be pretty sure of him, since they leave him in the jeep alone when they reach Ye Huo's house.
Very fascinating, btw, that Shen Wei first holds his dao with the edge towards Ye Huo's neck, and then turns it so it's the blunt side!
This whole scene is GLORIOUS. In theory it's a hostage scene, but there is zero tension about the safety of the hostages, and the boys who are trying to free Ye Huo are never for a moment an actual threat, and Zhao Yunlan de-escalates things by talking about school, which then derails him and Zhao Yunlan into talking about Dixing, while the kidnappers are ignored! EXCELLENT. Meanwhile, the actual tension in the scene comes all from Lin Jing's listening gadget, which almost leads to an Envoy reveal as they just fail to overhear Zhao Yunlan's and Shen Wei's Dixing-related talk, and then Ye Huo addressing Shen Wei as Hei Pao Shi! DELIGHTFUL.
I assume that since they don't have schools, they don't have standardised education for all, but instead home-schooling and apprenticeships and that sort of thing. Which is necessarily unequal, which is presumably why the Regent is very in favour of it. :p
Btw, I'm actually a bit annoyed with Zhao Yunlan apparently not taking the problems with Dixing's governance seriously when he says Shen Wei's proposal were turned down because he didn't put himself in the shoes of the decision-makers, and says he'll go be Shen Wei's PR next time. I mean, I'm sure Zhao Yunlan could be useful on that front if he actually understood more about how Dixing is run, but he's so dismissive about the problem! Ugh.
The thing is, Shen Wei is literally right - if he says Zhao Yunlan can't go, Zhao Yunlan can't go. But they both know it's not that simple because their relationship is more equal than that, and if Zhao Yunlan has good reasons, Shen Wei won't stop him.
I think since Shen Wei has already revealed himself to Ye Huo and they have no idea that the SID might be listening, it seems like a private conversation between them? I don't think we're supposed to assume the kidnappers can hear what they're talking about, since Zhao Yunlan claims they're "considering [their] request". *g* So Shen Wei feels no need to hold back and is just being himself (all of himself, Envoy and Professor and private person all in one).
I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to interfere, bringing up Zheng Yi, but Shen Wei shuts him down ("Dixing has its own rules") - and then proceeds to grant extrajudicial mercy anyway. :D
(I do think it matters that he's not letting Zhao Yunlan talk over him, or for him, when it comes to something like this. It's a Dixing matter, and it's not just between him and Zhao Yunlan - in front of others, he can't let a Haixingren appear to make his decisions for him. Shen Wei doesn't do it often, but he has a very clear sense of when that kind of boundary needs to be enforced.)
I keep forgetting this! It seems you can't actually fully heal from a wound caused by the black energy gun - which, uh, is not a good thing in a weapon, and makes me not like that Zhao Yunlan starts using it much more. Your light energy idea is absolutely brilliant, though, and would explain a lot about the gun and how it can be so destructive to Dixingren.
(This also makes me wonder about the Rebel Leader in YOHE, who was also shot with it ... Will have to pay attention when we get to those episodes!)
no subject
Also, what is the remote control the boss has, that Zhu Jiu picks up after he kills him? I feel like I'm missing something here.
IIRC, next episode it's used to blow up the winner's belt, which is what allows Zhu Jiu to win the fight against the SID and Ye Huo. (It took me a while to remember this.) I do not know why that was rigged to blow (leverage on Ye Huo? a way to take him out of the picture, just in case? we'll be able to talk about it more next week, I think!), but... I'm pretty sure that's what it's about! :)
no subject
no subject
Yeah, I think he's smart enough to know he's outmatched. And maybe, too, Shen Wei's measured approach and that turning of the dao you mention (which is fantastic! Great catch!) convinces Ye Huo that Shen Wei can be trusted.
Da Qing, Lin Jing and Bo Bi are kind of spectacularly bad at checking out Ye Huo's place.
Bless their hapless cotton socks. Xiao Guo coudn't have done any worse. *g*
Btw, I'm actually a bit annoyed with Zhao Yunlan apparently not taking the problems with Dixing's governance seriously when he says Shen Wei's proposal were turned down because he didn't put himself in the shoes of the decision-makers, and says he'll go be Shen Wei's PR next time.
Hee! He is being a bit of a jerk, but Shen Wei doesn't seem to take offence, and the whole argument seems so staged, I think they're enjoying themselves. Actually, I wonder if it's really just a ZYL ploy to justify going back to Dixing (or to make Shen Wei react and try to put his foot down, lol).
So Shen Wei feels no need to hold back and is just being himself (all of himself, Envoy and Professor and private person all in one).
Yesss! I think he might have figured out who to be, by this time. :D
I do think it matters that he's not letting Zhao Yunlan talk over him, or for him, when it comes to something like this. It's a Dixing matter, and it's not just between him and Zhao Yunlan - in front of others, he can't let a Haixingren appear to make his decisions for him. Shen Wei doesn't do it often, but he has a very clear sense of when that kind of boundary needs to be enforced.
Agreed! (I love that, too.)
Your light energy idea is absolutely brilliant, though, and would explain a lot about the gun and how it can be so destructive to Dixingren.
And why there's no shortage of "bullets". :D
no subject
Ha, yeah, I could see that!
no subject
So we can see his arm muscles, duh :D
But why is this worth bringing up now? Is it strictly to distract Zhao Yunlan from his current annoyance with Chu Shuzhi?
He says this in response to Zhao Yunlan stating that Chu Shuzhi respects no one but Shen Wei.
Maybe he just remembered he never fessed up to planting a spy and he’s suddenly worried Zhao Yunlan doesn’t actually know to what extent his own statement is true?
The drama is being very evil when it has Zhao Yunlan tease Lao-Chu's reaction to an Envoy reveal, but then we never actually get to see said reaction! *grumbles*
Aaah, yes that was so mean! Thank god for fanfiction<3
It's not a fake gun; it's the black energy gun.
Zhao Yunlan is awfully confident in his ability to not accidentally discharge that gun into Shen Wei’s face, carelessly waving it about. Keep the muzzle down!
Also, can the black energy bullets ricochet? If so, firing into the ceiling isn’t exactly safe either.
Very fascinating, btw, that Shen Wei first holds his dao with the edge towards Ye Huo's neck, and then turns it so it's the blunt side!
I really like this detail. Shen Wei does threaten him, but no more than necessary, and he is cautious not to harm accidentally. This is a man who knows how to handle his weapon (take notes, Yunlan XD).
no subject
Hee! I can't argue with these priorities AT ALL. :D
Also, can the black energy bullets ricochet?
Very good question! But I don't recall any instance where it did; it mostly seems to disperse into a puff of black smoke when it hits something?
This is a man who knows how to handle his weapon (take notes, Yunlan XD).
♥ ♥ ♥
no subject
HEE!
no subject
Agreed, but I'm pretty sure we've seen Chu Shuzhi determine someone's ordinariness/Dixingren-ness more than once before. I wonder if it's a skill that can be learned -- maybe the Envoy taught him what to look for / how to sense it?
they're looking for a Dixingren, and he clearly thinks (correctly) the champion must be. But he's already identified Ye Huo as Dixingren, hasn't he? So why the fight, rather than attempting to confront him otherwise?
There could be more than one Dixingren in the place? Or maybe CSZ is just spoiling for a fight with Ye Huo. *g*
Love Zhao Yunlan's anger when he hears Lao-Chu is fighting! Shouting at Xiao-Guo! Throwing his phone on the desk! Slamming his boot on the desk! Hee!
Hee! Yes! All those things -- so good!
Zhao Yunlan gets more and more restless until he just has to go after Lao-Chu! Even if he doesn't admit to being worried. *g*
I'm not quite sure what he's worried about, though. Does he think CSZ will be hurt, or he'll cause trouble, or is he worried CSZ will call attention to himself/the SID? (I'm partly wondering because, although Solo's subs say, "I sent him to check the fighters, not to be one himself", the original subs & Viki's say, "I sent him there to find Dixingren, not to fight with people under the spotlight." 我是让他去聚光灯下查人 而不是让他自己站在聚光灯下
But I'm more interested in why Shen Wei chooses this moment to mention Lao-Chu being sent to the SID as a spy. I mean, Zhao Yunlan is right that it was kind of obvious, so of course he was aware. But why is this worth bringing up now?
I think the way he says it is a challenge, and it's an implicit reminder of Shen Wei's other role, and his authority (over CSZ and in general) and his bigger-picture/longer-term approach. I feel like this whole conversation is Shen Wei figuring out who to be for the SID. He's of limited use as pure Professor Shen, and he doesn't want to be the Envoy (yet), so he's kind of wrestling with the different aspects of himself, I think?
Also, I feel like this remark has slight echoes of ZYL confessing about the spycam? Except that here Shen Wei is not apologising at all. And ZYL laughs and responds by calling him Hei-laoge.
I have to assume that means the information Shen Wei was after was strictly confined to how the SID handles Dixingren on the surface. Which makes sense to me: before he learns who Zhao Yunlan is, Shen Wei doesn't actually care about the SID per se
I think that's true, and I also think that actually spying on the SID would be beneath him. It's not his jurisdiction or any of his business what goes on in the inside. It speaks well of him that he's concerned about how they deal with Dixingren, but I think it also speaks well of him that he didn't intrude any further than that -- you know? (And didn't compromise CSZ the way that Lin Jing is compromised by Prof Ouyang.)
It's fascinating that Ye Huo uses his Dixing power in front of this entire crowd and no one has any reaction to it.
Maybe they think it's a stagecraft special effect, or maybe everyone who goes to underground clubs is too amped up on adrenaline and testosterone to care... ;-p
I think this also supports the theory that the gun doesn't use specific ammunition, or he wouldn't waste it like this.
I'm not sure about this, given his personality. If he saw a need, I'm not sure he'd count the cost. *g*
So Zhu Jiu must have been around for some time prior to episode 1, and two years sounds reasonable to me.
Do we know (or do you have a theory about) when Ya Qing was recruited? I wonder what she tried first, and whether it pre- or post-dated Zhu Hong working at the SID... Not that I think Ya Qing would go to the SID with her concerns, but the fact that Zhu Hong is a Yashou embedded in a Haixing agency might make Zhu Hong feel like she should try to help? Maybe?
Oh, and I also wonder if Zhu Jiu recruited some of his flunkies from there, if he found Dixingren with suitable powers at that place ...
Ohh, now there's an idea! Maybe the hospital attacker from ep 2? He seems the right demographic for the club. ;-p
Also, when Lin Jing turns up, the detector tells them there's black energy in both directions. Does that mean the three guys at Ye Huo's base are also Dixingren?
I think that the implication is dark energy leaves traces on the owner's objects (which would vibe with Ding Dun's power, now I think about it), and each Dixingren's power has an energy signature. So Lin Jing was taking readings from the prize belt and using it to find both Ye Huo and [a pile of Ye Huo's stuff at his base]. (Oh, now I wonder if the fight club is on the radar too, and they just ignored that.)
The way the detector works in this scene doesn't quite fit with anything else.
I assumed it was the same radar thing that let Wang Zheng know about the disturbance at the wedding?
no subject
Oh, that would be interesting! But does Shen Wei always know? Now trying to think through all the cases ... *g*
There could be more than one Dixingren in the place? Or maybe CSZ is just spoiling for a fight with Ye Huo. *g*
Ha, yeah, I think he is a bit!
I'm not quite sure what he's worried about, though. Does he think CSZ will be hurt, or he'll cause trouble, or is he worried CSZ will call attention to himself/the SID?
I think he's probably worried about Chu Shuzhi losing sight of the investigation and getting into a fight with other Dixingren. And maybe also wondering if he sent the worst possible team to the fight ring - one guy who's spoiling for a fight, and another who doesn't know the first thing about fighting. *g*
I'm partly wondering because, although Solo's subs say, "I sent him to check the fighters, not to be one himself", the original subs & Viki's say, "I sent him there to find Dixingren, not to fight with people under the spotlight." 我是让他去聚光灯下查人 而不是让他自己站在聚光灯下
I think what he says in the original is, "I sent him to check out the people in the spotlight, not stand in the spotlight himself" - no mention of Dixingren.
I think the way he says it is a challenge, and it's an implicit reminder of Shen Wei's other role, and his authority (over CSZ and in general) and his bigger-picture/longer-term approach.
Yes, like I said in reply to your other comment, now that you've said it, this makes so much sense!
I think that's true, and I also think that actually spying on the SID would be beneath him. It's not his jurisdiction or any of his business what goes on in the inside. It speaks well of him that he's concerned about how they deal with Dixingren, but I think it also speaks well of him that he didn't intrude any further than that -- you know?
100% agreed on all of that!
Do we know (or do you have a theory about) when Ya Qing was recruited? I wonder what she tried first, and whether it pre- or post-dated Zhu Hong working at the SID... Not that I think Ya Qing would go to the SID with her concerns, but the fact that Zhu Hong is a Yashou embedded in a Haixing agency might make Zhu Hong feel like she should try to help? Maybe?
I don't think we have a time frame for that, no. But also, I think most Yashou look at Zhu Hong joining the SID as leaving her tribe behind and siding with humans - not helped by her trying to seem more human for Zhao Yunlan! So that's a gulf not easily bridged, even if Zhu Hong herself wanted to (which I don't think she does, at that point - she's caught up in her personal life and not thinking about the bigger picture at all).
Ohh, now there's an idea! Maybe the hospital attacker from ep 2? He seems the right demographic for the club. ;-p
Yeah, I thought of that guy as well! It would make a lot of sense, wouldn't it?
I think that the implication is dark energy leaves traces on the owner's objects (which would vibe with Ding Dun's power, now I think about it), and each Dixingren's power has an energy signature. So Lin Jing was taking readings from the prize belt and using it to find both Ye Huo and [a pile of Ye Huo's stuff at his base]. (Oh, now I wonder if the fight club is on the radar too, and they just ignored that.)
Oh, yeah, that makes sense, to some degree. So they can't actually detect black energy in general, but they can trace a specific person's energy? At least it would explain why they're not using it on a wider scale!
I assumed it was the same radar thing that let Wang Zheng know about the disturbance at the wedding?
Oh, good point! I'd forgotten about that. And also the way they found Zheng Yi when she was hypnotising Zhu Hong. (Though IIRC it was never quite clear what they were picking up on there, what with the confusion between her sonic power and Tan Xiao's sonic gadget - they may just accidentally have hit on the right thing! *g*)
no subject
No skill is 100%?
I think he's probably worried about Chu Shuzhi losing sight of the investigation and getting into a fight with other Dixingren.
Or with anyone. In light of the "spotlight" remark, I think he's more worried about CSZ drawing attention to himself. They're supposed to be a covert agency!
But also, I think most Yashou look at Zhu Hong joining the SID as leaving her tribe behind and siding with humans - not helped by her trying to seem more human for Zhao Yunlan! So that's a gulf not easily bridged, even if Zhu Hong herself wanted to
But it does seem to me like a gulf Ya Qing could try to leverage (back before she got bitter and frustrated)... idk.
no subject
I honestly don't think Ya Qing would even consider it an option - I think she'd be more likely to see Zhu as a cautionary example for what Yashou decline could lead to: Yashou who can't even fully transform and who try to be human and reject their own culture ...
no subject
no subject
no subject
I had another thought about this: maybe the point is that Shen Wei had partial information (where Ye Huo went), but working with the SID gives him a bigger picture (that PLUS the location of YH's base). So I think it's a deliberate point the show is making.
Like, too, maybe Ye Huo would have got away on his bike if ZYL hadn't driven up with his car just then. All of it combines to show Shen Wei the advantages of joining forces? (On top of the advantage of getting to spend more time with ZYL, of course. *g*)
no subject
no subject
But every time Shen Wei pushes up against ZYL's lines, ZYL laughs and cedes. "There is no issue." He doesn't provide any resistance to push against. *hearts*
Also, we have ZYL saying of CSZ, "He's reckless, and he doesn't respect me as chief," and SW saying, "Pot, kettle." Does that mean SW's placing himself as "chief", ie, pulling rank? After that line, they stare at each other, and SW doesn't back down, so ZYL laughs and goes back to talking about Lao Chu (and how much he respects Shen Wei /maybe a compliment by proxy?). It's like ZYL recognises Shen Wei needs space to figure this all out for himself.
And then, throughout the case, we have ZYL taking the lead (and Shen Wei letting him): he silently directs Shen Wei to follow Bo Bi, he zooms up with the car when Shen Wei could have used his Wu Tian'en power or some other method of following Ye Huo, he uses Lin Jing to track Ye Huo's energy signature, he banters and negotiates.
So yeah, I think a lot of the episode is about Shen Wei exploring being part of the SID team, trying it on for size. Maybe that's also why he shows his Haixing self to Ye Huo -- as an experiment, and because it's low-stakes, because he's fully expecting to deport Ye Huo anyway.)
Also, this dynamic creates a great misdirect: when they get out of the car at Ye Huo's base, Shen Wei hangs back by the jeep while ZYL runs over to check Lin Jing's car. At first I thought Shen Wei was standing back and observing, still letting ZYL take the lead, but later it's revealed that he's at least partly guarding the jeep because Ye Huo's inside.
Anyway, Ye Huo knows who's really boss -- he almost exclusively addresses Shen Wei out of the two of them, I think? -- and as Trobadora says above, when it comes to deciding Ye Huo's fate as a Dixingren, Shen Wei makes it very clear that this is the Envoy's jurisdiction and decision, not the SID's. *hearts*
In conclusion, I do like that Shen Wei's first official case with the SID involves an A+ awesome Dixingren, and an utter scumbag human (the club boss). :D
no subject
Hm, does it need to be pointed in the right direction? He doesn't seem to point it at Lao-Chu.
This is just after his conversations with the chancellor and Jiajia, and we know he was thinking about them only a few moments ago, so I think a lot of his challenging affect/tension is about his role in the SID.
Oooh, excellent thought, that makes so much sense! I don't think he's angry or even uncomfortable, but now that you've said it, yeah, it totally reads as him feeling out his position in relation to the SID, not as Professor Shen and not as the Envoy, but as himself, now that Zhao Yunlan knows who he is and he's agreed to be part of the SID. He's not really a consultant in the way Professor Shen might have been a consultant, so how does he fit? It makes sense that he's testing things out and bringing up sending Chu Shuzhi as a spy, in that context! Thank you for figuring this out. :D
But every time Shen Wei pushes up against ZYL's lines, ZYL laughs and cedes. "There is no issue." He doesn't provide any resistance to push against. *hearts*
I think Shen Wei really needs to hear this - that Zhao Yunlan won't try to shove him into either of his roles, but accept him as he is. ♥ ♥ ♥
Also, we have ZYL saying of CSZ, "He's reckless, and he doesn't respect me as chief," and SW saying, "Pot, kettle." Does that mean SW's placing himself as "chief", ie, pulling rank?
I just took him to mean ZYL is also reckless and disrespectful to his superiors, not that Shen Wei is casting himself in that position ...
Also, this dynamic creates a great misdirect: when they get out of the car at Ye Huo's base, Shen Wei hangs back by the jeep while ZYL runs over to check Lin Jing's car. At first I thought Shen Wei was standing back and observing, still letting ZYL take the lead, but later it's revealed that he's at least partly guarding the jeep because Ye Huo's inside.
Oh, interesting! Yeah, that makes sense.
Anyway, Ye Huo knows who's really boss -- he almost exclusively addresses Shen Wei out of the two of them, I think? -- and as Trobadora says above, when it comes to deciding Ye Huo's fate as a Dixingren, Shen Wei makes it very clear that this is the Envoy's jurisdiction and decision, not the SID's. *hearts*
Yes! Shen Wei lets Zhao Yunlan take the lead on the investigation, because it's a SID investigation, but he doesn't stop being the Envoy or inhabiting that role in relation to Ye Huo, which makes for very interesting dynamics when they're all three in the scene!
I think it's about not letting people go without backup? Or, more specifically, about ZYL putting himself on the line and being the backup?
I think it's about caring about his team, and not letting people go without backup is a fundamental part of that. And also that Zhao Yunlan just can't stand back and do nothing when there's something he could be doing - similarly to what Kunlun said to young Shen Wei about?
What does it mean that CC only bets one yuan?
I'm not sure! He starts out with a bill and then retracts it, doesn't he?
I'm kind of judging the dead brother who was all, "Please throw this fight so I can have the prize money." Like, that's not how competitions work, and not a solid money-making strategy; does he think underground fight clubs are full of philanthropists?
No, but he clearly thought Ye Huo was a philanthropist who would help him out in that way, since he needed it so badly. But then he didn't actually explain why, so Ye Huo couldn't have known!
Ye Huo leaving his motorbike outside the warehouse is such a come-get-me taunt. :D
Hee! Right????
I wonder why he didn't try to sell Ye Huo -- is he too much of a cash cow, or does the scar make him ineligible?
And/or he's not confident he can actually manage to kill Ye Huo, given Ye Huo's fighting skills and fire power?
(Does Shen Wei realise what's happening to the kids? I think in the bar he reacts to the news of their disappearance.)
I don't think he knows just then, but he probably figures it out at some point?
Arriving at Ye Huo's base, ZYL asks Shen Wei what's wrong, and Shen Wei says, "I have a premonition." What's that about??
I was wondering about that too!
Every single time, I half-expect Lin Jing's earbug to lead to an Envoy reveal.
Canon divergence AU time! :D
(And the fact that CSZ is unknowingly echoing the Envoy's sentiments! aslkfajs;dlfkasj;dflkjad)
Ooooh, I didn't realise, but yes!!!!!!
Threatening CSZ's bonus is new, though, isn't it? And CSZ is so wholly unimpressed by it. *g*
Yep, all new as far as I can remember! Lao-Chu really is part of the team now, LOL.
In conclusion, I do like that Shen Wei's first official case with the SID involves an A+ awesome Dixingren, and an utter scumbag human (the club boss). :D
YES, this is so good! I love it so much! (In general, I really love that the SID's cases, despite all being about investigating Dixingren, lead to human villains pretty often. The show is so good at this! :D)
no subject
He waves it very near him! But okay, yeah, not directly pointing.
I don't think he's angry or even uncomfortable, but now that you've said it, yeah, it totally reads as him feeling out his position in relation to the SID, not as Professor Shen and not as the Envoy, but as himself, now that Zhao Yunlan knows who he is and he's agreed to be part of the SID.
Yay, so glad that interpretation works for you. There's something in his expression for a lot of this convo that reminds me of him saying, "Who told you I can't [erase your memories]?" in ep 14.
Also, something I thought overnight: this office scene is reminiscent of all those earlier scenes in Shen Wei's office, but now it's ZYL behind the desk/in his element, and Shen Wei in the visitor's chair. (There are also elements of KL joining the Allied Forces echoed in Shen Wei joining the SID, but at this point, no one except SW knows that.)
Oh, and also, I think they're only in ZYL's office at all because of Shen Wei's secret. In later episodes, they're centred much more around the couch in the main room.
I just took him to mean ZYL is also reckless and disrespectful to his superiors, not that Shen Wei is casting himself in that position
Have we seen ZYL be disrespectful to his superiors, though? I thought the total opposite: at the wedding and again during the meeting at the DoS, he fawns all over Minister Gao. That's why I thought this line was more about not listening to authority, eg, the Envoy telling him not to touch the Hallows. *g*
And/or he's not confident he can actually manage to kill Ye Huo, given Ye Huo's fighting skills and fire power?
That's true. I can see that being daunting.
no subject
Oooh, yes, I see exactly what you mean! :D
And that's an excellent point about the reversed desk/visitor roles! Very cool. (Agreed they're only in the office because of Shen Wei's secret, yeah.)
Have we seen ZYL be disrespectful to his superiors, though?
Well, Zhao Xinci is his superior, and he went all the way to Dixing to avoid him. :p But I take your point about Minister Gao.
no subject
no subject
I agree with Trobadora. Also, everyone we meet, inside and outside the palace, seems to be literate, iirc -- the bartender makes a delightful lucky cat sign (or has it made for him, I suppose), and An Bai can write. And there are archives and bureaucrats, and almost certainly scholars. But without a centralised school/academy/university of some kind, where great minds can come together and cross-pollinate ideas, I guess research probably progresses quite slowly. Which is a terrible shame, because Dixing research! Think how fascinating!!!
Do you think it’s meaningful that they’re openly discussing visiting Dixing? It’s not a common topic of conversation, and the way Shen Wei speaks about Dixing blurs the edges of his Professor Wei vs Hei Pao Shi identities.
Yes, I think it's absolutely a sign that Shen Wei has got more comfortable and is establishing a new SID-related identity.
Personally, I think it’d be neat if the anti-Dixingren gun were infused with light energy and infected Zhu Jiu with light energy (which is now causing his wound to fester, since light and dark energy don’t coexist well)
Ohhh, that would work so well! I love that theory.