GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 22

[china_shop]

Beginning of episode: Professor Ouyang vouches for Dr Feng.
Ending of episode: Da Qing is barred from the Dixing archives at gunpoint.

Important scenes/developments:

• Professor Ouyang vouches for Dr Feng and talks to Shen Wei about dark energy and Dixingren.
• Dr Feng starts to treat Zhao Yunlan, but notices Da Qing at the window and bundles everyone out the door.
• Shen Wei apologises to Dr Feng and kneels in the rain.
• The sudden-ageing case starts.
• Dr Feng heals Zhao Yunlan, and Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei smile at each other. ♥!
• Professor Ouyang runs tests on Li Qian, and she's so impressive he recruits her.
• Dark energy in Dragon City has changed, and Lin Jing's detector isn't working.
• The SID team triangulates the sudden-ageing victims, which leads them back to Dr Feng.
• Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan tell Dr Feng that his miracles have a price; Dr Feng and Zhao Yunlan reverse the energy transfer together.
• Sha Ya raids the DoS lab but leaves empty-handed.
• Li Qian sends a "how to use the Longevity Dial to cure blindness" anon email.
• The SID receives a taunting letter from the Master of the Merit Brush.
• Da Qing receives hypnotherapy from Dr Cheng and remembers Ye Zun but thinks he's Shen Wei.
• The Dial Exchange!!
• Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan have a home-cooked meal and plan a trip to Dixing.
• At the gate to Dixing, Da Qing runs up, distrusting Shen Wei's motives, and tags along.
• Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing land in the Dixing bar and ignore the bartender.
• Shen Wei finds them giving the bartender business advice.
• At the palace, the facilities are closed for the next Dijun's inauguration. Da Qing tries to sneak into the archives but is stopped at gunpoint.

Thoughts
Three overall observations.

A) There are three transfers in this episode:

1. Dr Feng's treatment, in two parts: stolen energy, later returned.
2. The Longevity Dial exchange: energy freely given.
3. Travelling through the portal to Dixing: an unexpected addition (Da Qing, who is allied but currently a little antagonistic) throws things off, and the transfer goes awry, separating Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei.

I think the third is a kind of metaphor for Shen Wei's light energy corruption, with Da Qing in the role of the energy that unexpectedly infects Shen Wei and disrupts his and Zhao Yunlan's relationship.

B) I really like how this episode focuses more on regular people -- the office workers in Haixing, the bartender in Dixing -- and less on politicians and bureaucrats. Now we've moved away from the university, we're not getting as much time with Shen Wei's students, and this helps fill that gap, reminding us of the ordinary people whose lives are at stake if Team Ye Zun have their way.

C) The episode starts and ends with Da Qing's failed snooping -- first at Dr Feng's clinic, and then at the Dixing archives. Theme: people are not prepared to give up their secrets!

Other notes:

• Professor Ouyang vouches for Dr Feng, saying, "I didn't see him use any advanced medical technology, but the effects were amazingly immediate. This kind of ability is perhaps beyond the scope of humans." 也没见到他用什么高科技的仪器但见效快得却惊人这种本事恐怕已经超过人类极限了 Shen Wei replies, "You mean Dixingren?" 您的意思是 地星人
  
  So Shen Wei doesn't just talk theoretically about mutations with other scientists; he's explicitly discusses Dixingren, at least to Professor Ouyang. And Professor Ouyang responds, "That would be left for you to verify." 这个 就靠你们去证实了 Does he know Shen Wei is the Envoy, or Dixingren, or is he just referring to Professor Shen's research? I feel like he'd react harder if he knew? Anyway, Shen Wei bows as Professor Ouyang leaves, so respectful.


• Dr Feng agrees to examine Zhao Yunlan and talks to him directly (which I appreciate). Shen Wei looms protectively and is clearly reluctant to leave. He pats Zhao Yunlan's shoulder on the way out. I love Dr Feng's bantering with Zhao Yunlan: "Well, a man of striking appearance for sure. I can't let you stay blind, right?" 长得倒是一表人才总不可能真的看着你眼瞎吧 LOL! They are birds of a feather. Also, Zhao Yunlan has his legs crossed even lying down, hee! And Dr Feng has a thank-you banner like the one Zhao Yunlan sent Shen Wei (there are a few more around his clinic, too).
  
  Dr Feng is interrupted by Da Qing's snooping at the window (why doesn't Dr Feng just get curtains??? alternatively, why doesn't Da Qing snoop in cat form???). Da Qing reports to Shen Wei that he's using dark energy (though it's actually pale blue). Shen Wei says, "Regardless of what he is, if he can heal his eyes, I'll only thank him." 不管他是什么人只要能救人我必谢他 (I always love it when Shen Wei refers to Zhao Yunlan without using his name: it's so obvious who he's focused on.) Anyway, it's too late. Feng is incensed, bundles them out and shuts the door. He's really nervous about being caught.


• At the SID, everyone is sombre except for Zhao Yunlan. Come on, people, making him cheer you up is so backwards! ;-p (I feel like a lot of his forced cheer is a natural defence mechanism and reaction to his own internal/suppressed worry, but everyone else being openly stressed and gloomy cannot be helping!) Zhao Yunlan tries, "Isn't it great there's no one monitoring your work now?" 这敢情多好啊 这都没人监督你们工作了 Ha.


• Shen Wei goes to Dr Feng to apologise. He says he'll do anything. (I wonder what Dr Feng makes of Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan's relationship.) Dr Feng tells him to kneel. Shen Wei visibly struggles with his pride and dignity -- this is really hitting him where he lives! After a moment, he submits, but Dr Feng stops him and sends him outside. Shen Wei kneels as people pass by, and then -- very artistically -- in the rain. Finally Dr Feng calls him stubborn and relents. Shen Wei takes off his wet glasses and gives a small wet smile. I wonder if the glasses are a compartmentalisation strategy -- it was Professor Shen kneeling, not Shen Wei or the Envoy?


• A dude on a random blind date suddenly gets old.


• Dr Feng examines Zhao Yunlan again. Shen Wei paces outside like a 1950s expecting father. (I like his casualwear, though.) The procedure really takes it out of Dr Feng. Zhao Yunlan opens his eyes, and Dr Feng calls Shen Wei in. Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan SMILE AT EACH OTHER LIKE THE SUN COMING OUT!!! as;ldfksjdf;lksajdf;adksjfa Their love is so palpable!!! a;ldkfjas;dlfkajs;dlfkjasdfasdfakj


• Zhao Yunlan gets a call about a case as if no one knows he's at the doctor's. (After the call, he tells Shen Wei there's a case, but when they're back at the SID, Wang Zheng gets off the phone and says, "Chief Zhao, Haixing Administration has transferred the case to us." 赵处 海星鉴已经把案子转到我们处了, so I'm a little confused about the timeline. Do they get the case twice?)
  
  Also, no one ever seems to pay Dr Feng. Is he paid via the public health system (in which case, there should be more paperwork!) or is the payment just happening off-screen?


• Suddenly-aged victim's place: his coworker shows up. This is the THIRD case! What the hell is happening at their company!! I am inappropriately amused. Meanwhile at the SID, everyone is sitting around lackadaisically working the case? Zhao Yunlan's reading about it in the paper. Zhu Hong recognises the victim's name. Zhao Yunlan sends Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng to interview the victim. Zhao Yunlan: Those two are becoming a better and better team. 这两人啊 还真是越来越有默契了 -- aww! Maybe tell them that?


• The sudden-aged victim says, "Now, my life is ruined." 这一来把我的一生都毁了 and I'm all, eh, you've gained a few years; it happens. ;-p Then the victim's coworker ages before Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng's eyes.


• Case rundown at the SID. Lin Jing's detector isn't working. (Lin Jing: "Boss, the detector is not working properly these days. It's not sensing any dark energy. I thought it was because the Dixingren went back to their families for the holidays and hadn't returned." 老大 最近我的仪器似乎失灵了什么黑能量的踪迹都探测不到我还以为地星人回家过节到现在还没回来呢 - ha.) Shen Wei says he didn't sense any dark energy while Dr Feng was healing Zhao Yunlan's eyes.
  
  SW: (cont.) And something has been bothering me this whole time. In everything, yin and yang are complementary. One falls and another rises. This is the rule of nature. But those victims aged without any warning, as if their life energy was suddenly pulled out.
  而且有一件事情我一直没想明白凡事都是阴阳互补 此消彼长 这是天地之常理可是那些患者的面容毫无征兆的一日苍老就像是被突然抽走了生命的能量
  SW: (cont.) It's similar to the effect of one of the Hallows, the Longevity Dial, which shares the user's lifeforce.
  就像是圣器之一的长生晷就是用来生命共享的
  CSZ: One's life force cannot disappear into thin air. If someone else stole it for another use, then this life force must fall somewhere and rise somewhere else.
  生命的能量是不会白白消失的如果被人挪作他用那此处消必定彼处长
  
  Foreshadowing the use of the Longevity Dial here, but also, I looove that Chu Shuzhi gets in on the theorising. Has Professor Shen given him a reading list, lol? (Actually, given his research before the trip to the Hanga mountains, Chu Shuzhi is totally capable of motivating himself to study up on relevant phenomena, especially now he knows the Envoy is an academic. :D :D :D)
  
  Anyway, connecting the dots leads them back to Dr Feng.


• At the DoS Lab, Professor Ouyang has called Li Qian in to give a sample. (Yay, Li Qian! :D) He tells Professor Zhou, "As expected of a previous owner of a Hallow who came in contact with its magnetic field, her cells are indeed multiplying." 不愧是与圣器形成磁场链接的前任主人她的细胞确实有一定的增殖 Does he mean cancer? /o\ Do they ever tell her about her test results??
  
  Li Qian comes in and pulls the classic "genius" move of correcting the complex equation on the whiteboard, which gets her a job offer.


• Dr Feng greets Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan with, "Who's the blind one this time?" 是不是谁的眼睛又瞎了 Zhao Yunlan and I both lol. Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan pull their good cop/bad cop routine again, and I love this so much. Zhao Yunlan sits on the coffee table (which doesn't seem to bother anyone), and Dr Feng explains about the Master of the Merit Brush "activating [his] miracle doctor genes." Dr Feng is really upset, aw. I like him a lot, even if he was squirrelly on first meeting. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei realise someone is behind this (ie, Ye Zun has another front man?) but they don't know who.
  
  Dr Feng says, "Let me make up for my previous mistakes." 让我弥补自己之前犯下的错吧 (Which makes me think of Zhao Yunlan telling Zhang Shi to do that later on, in the flashback in ep 40, but maybe it's a common expression?) And then, awwww, Shen Wei knows exactly what Zhao Yunlan's thinking before he even says it, knows that Zhao Yunlan's resolve will be forming alongside Dr Feng's. Grabs his arm. So much is unspoken between them, so much love and concern and understanding. Zhao Yunlan's shoulder pat says, "It will be all right" and "you know I have to." He waits until Shen Wei releases him before he sits down next to Dr Feng. aalkdjalkfjasdkfajsd;lfka
  
  Zhao Yunlan to Dr Feng: My eyes recovered at someone else's expense, too. Let's do it together. 我的眼睛也是靠牺牲无辜者来治愈的咱俩一块啊
  
  He's all determination wrapped up in bravado, and I love him so very much for it!!! He has to do this. It's who he is. as;dlkfjas;dlfkajsd;flkjsadf;lkjsdf;lkdsjf


• Zhao Yunlan is so brave. The procedure hurts him. And there's nothing at all Shen Wei can do to help. And then ahhhhhh, Zhao Yunlan realising/adjusting to the fact he's blind again, then realising the doctor is sick. Shen Wei realising/adjusting to the reality of Zhao Yunlan's renewed blindness. SO MANY FEELS!!! And best of all, they totally make the moment not about them: Zhao Yunlan praises the doctor, and Shen Wei bows to him (not just a polite bow, either). *esplodes with love*


• Sha Ya breaks into the DoS Lab. Even her hair is disguised. Her safe-cracking skills leave a lot to be desired, though. She zaps Professor Zhou, and gets away clean but empty-handed. At the rooftop lair, Wang Xiangyang is melodramatic, and it's pretty clear that Ya Qing is the brains of the operation now.


• Aww, Professor Ouyang is actually decent to Professor Zhou on the phone, telling him to rest well. Li Qian's orientation is cut short by the urgency. Professor Ouyang tells her, "To the public's eye, our research topic is simply to understand Dixingren's genes. However, a crude genetic research—" 对外我们的实验内容是简单的对地星人的基因进行研究但是仅仅是枯燥的数据研究
  Li Qian: Isn't worthy to be coveted by so many. 不至于引起这么多人的觊觎
  
  She seems serious but unsurprised. I wonder what her political stance is on all this. Professor Ouyang retrieves a hard drive from the safe. (Does Li Qian spy on the safe PIN?)


• SID couch: Zhao Yunlan is waving his cane like a conductor's baton. Shen Wei confiscates it. Zhao Yunlan sends Chu Shuzhi and Lin Jing to investigate the DoS lab break-in. Reiteration that something about dark energy in Haixing has changed. Cue Shen Wei's thinking face, but he doesn't say anything. He's very quiet overall, for that matter, worrying.
  
  Changcheng brings in a letter from the Master of the Merit Brush.


• Li Qian sees the research data.
  
  LQ: With this kind of experiment, the Special Investigations will— 这样的实验特调处他们
  Ouyang: Don't bring up those undisciplined Special Investigation people. Zhao Yunlan is blind now. 别跟我提特调处那些乌合之众 赵云澜已经瞎了
  Ouyang: (cont.) If he can't recover, someone will replace him as the new leader. And when that time comes, your Professor Shen might get transferred to this facility. 如果治不好特调处迟早要换帅到时候也许你的沈教授就会调到这里
  
  (Presumably Lin Jing told him about Zhao Yunlan's eyesight?) This spurs Li Qian to send an anon email re: how to fix blindness with the Longevity Dial.
  
  But also, what was she going to say? How will the research affect the SID?


• The Master of the Merit Brush's letter says: "Extreme aging was just the prologue. The curtains are now open. At any time, if your department can find out my true identity and seize me, then I will hand over the Merit Brush." 老化案只是序曲帷幕已经拉开任何时候只要贵处参透我的真面目并且把我抓到功德笔却拱手相让 - pretty confident, there!


• Lin Jing gets Li Qian's anon email. Shen Wei reads it and smiles. (Because he'd thought there was nothing he could do? Because an energy bond makes sense of his connection with Kunlun long ago? Because this is a chance to "return a life"? Some other reason?) (Who is Chu Shuzhi staring at so intently? Shen Wei?)


• Da Qing's hypnotherapy session with Cheng Xinyan. Cuteness re his automatic fish reflex, and then he remembers looking for Kunlun and finding Ye Zun. He wakes very worked up. Cheng Xinyan asks what he remembers, and he says, "Shen Wei!" (Twins shenanigans!! I think this must be a composite memory, though, because afaicr it doesn't fit into the ep 35 YOHE timeline.)


• The Dial Exchange! ♥ ♥ ♥
  
  
  
  Zhao Yunlan is a dork afterwards. Chu Shuzhi doesn't laugh at the fakeout prank, but does grin and clap Zhao Yunlan on the shoulder afterwards, aww. It all seems too easy, but we know the Hallows by now -- there'll definitely be a cost (that's probably why they mentioned Li Qian's cells multiplying earlier this episode?), and then Shen Wei gets a hit of something from the Dial but hides it. Aww, his cute smile when Zhao Yunlan thanks him. Aww!


• Zhao Yunlan's flat. Shen Wei cooked dinner. Ahhhhhh, this is so domestic!! *flails* They're so shacked up.
  
  
  Note Da Qing's favourite serving platter.
  
  Zhao Yunlan's line: I thought that after my vision came back, there wouldn't be any more happy days of "If I ask for food, then I get food." 本来想着呢 等我这复明之后像这种饭来张口的幸福生活是不是就不会 有了 (To quote qikiqtarjuaq here: It's a super common saying that literally translates to: "When food is ready, I only need to open my mouth. When my clothes are ready, I just need to stick out my hands.") Shen Wei isn't wearing his glasses. This is so great!
  
  They talk about the Merit Brush and dark energy. Shen Wei admits (to Zhao Yunlan, but not to the SID at large) that he can't sense dark energy in Dragon City anymore. Also, he's contacted the Regent(!!) who said there might be info at the palace. Zhao Yunlan jumps on this opportunity for a Dixing do-over. Shen Wei puts up some resistance, but not much. I love them.


• The Old Locust Tree gate to Dixing. Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are all serious business. Then Da Qing rushes up and demands to know Shen Wei's agenda. Zhao Yunlan tries to calm him, says they'll be back that night, but Da Qing runs into the gate after them, upsetting the magnetic field.


• The Dixing bartender is frustrated that his higher prices (raised because the Envoy deigned to visit the bar) have driven away his customers. Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan fall through a portal and land smack on his floor. And then Zhao Yunlan proceeds to look around and ignore the bartender. I'm not sure why he's doing this -- is he being deliberately provocative? Da Qing finally confirms Zhao Yunlan's eyesight has been restored. The bartender gets increasingly (justifiably!) annoyed at being ignored.
  
  Meanwhile, Shen Wei scours the streets in search of his other half, hears a rumour and goes to the bar, where he finds Zhao Yunlan giving business advice to the bartender in exchange for a shoulder rub(!!!), and referring to Da Qing as an auspicious cat. Shen Wei's relieved eyeroll is love. <333
  
  I think my favourite thing about this (besides the entirely gratuitous shoulder rub) is that it's so ordinary. It's not dangerous!Dixing, or political!Dixing or angry drunk!Dixing. Just an ordinary guy trying to keep his business afloat -- and also Zhao Yunlan being a troll. ♥!!
  
  The bartender offers Shen Wei a drink, but they all just leave while he's getting it. So rude!


• Palace. The facilities are closed till after the inauguration, says the Deacon, who never passes up an opportunity to challenge Shen Wei. Shen Wei has feelings about the retirement of the old Dijun (or the Dijun system in general) and says, "The Dijun also suffers from old age and death. Perhaps, he ages even faster than other people." 地君也会老也会死也许比别人老得更快一些 (I have questions about all this, but I'll save them for next episode.) The Regent invites Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan to the ceremony, and Zhao Yunlan agrees for both of them, then signals Da Qing to sneak into the archive, but Da Qing is met with an implacable armed guard. He can't cute his way past.
  
  Some of this Dixing trip foreshadows the ending in a way: an inauguration (new leader), Da Qing representing the SID team, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan separated...

Discussion starters:

• Your favourite scene? There are so many good ones! Favourite line of dialogue?


• Which of Shen Wei's "you got your sight back" smiles do you love most -- the beam at Dr Feng's, or the soft happiness at Zhao Yunlan's thanks after the Dial exchange?


• In light of his own research, what do you think Professor Ouyang thinks about Doctor Feng? Does he know of other constructive (vs destructive) uses of dark energy? How many Dixingren has he knowingly met/seen before?


• Assuming Dr Feng isn't Dixingren, why is he so worried about being seen? Alternatively, do you think he's actually Dixingren?


• Do you think that was the first time Shen Wei had ever knelt to anyone (other than sex positions)? If not, please elaborate.


• Zhao Xinci and Professor Ouyang both know that Zhao Yunlan is blind. If the SID hadn't found a cure, how long till Minister Gao would have found out? What would have happened then?


• Why does Zhao Yunlan ignore the bartender at first?

Let’s talk about episode 22!
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!