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sid_guardian2023-08-09 10:47 am
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2023-08-09 10:47 am
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GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 30
Beginning of episode: Shen Wei, Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu are at the locust tree gate and about to go to Dixing.
Ending of episode: Zhao Yunlan pulls his dark energy gun on Zhang Shi.
Important scenes/developments:
- Shen Wei gives Sha Ya the ring from Lin Jing.
- Zhao Yunlan and Minister Gao argue about whether to hide the Ye Zun threat from the public.
- Ye Zun tells Ya Qing to hack the SID and leak false info.
- Zhao Yunlan hears Lin Jing in the lab with Professor Ouyang and confirms Lin Jing is a spy.
- Lin Jing leaves the SID, and everyone is very upset.
- Shen Wei arrives in the Dijun's palace with Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu, and finds that Ye Zun has taken over.
- Flashback to the coup.
- Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu tell Shen Wei to save himself, so he leaves and goes to the pillar.
- There are four patients at Dragon City hospital with the same mysterious complaint.
- Lin Jing starts working with Professor Ouyang and Li Qian in the Haixing lab.
- Shen Wei yells at Ye Zun and gets chained to the pillar.
- Zhao Yunlan argues with Minister Gao again; Zhao Xinci (but actually Zhang Shi) arrives and tries to mediate.
- Cong Bo starts to delete all SID electronic data, but Ya Qing knocks him out and leaks it online.
- The SID team is upset; Zhao Yunlan stews in his office; Da Qing takes charge.
- Da Qing and Zhu Hong are questioned in the street by a member of the public. Da Qing saves himself; Ying Chun saves Zhu Hong.
- Fourth Uncle tells Zhu Hong to return to the forest, but she's determined to stay.
- Chu Shuzhi received a forged note from the Envoy and is worried for his safety.
- Zhao Yunlan burns incense in his office and struggles with his inaction.
- An official car arrives at the SID to collect Zhao Yunlan; on his way out he tells Wang Zheng and Sang Zan to defend the Hallows.
- Zhao Xinci greets his son with, "You've made me so disappointed."
- They go to Zhao Yunlan's flat, where Zhao Yunlan pulls his dark-energy gun on Zhang Shi.
Zhao Yunlan is a whole rainbow of frustration and worry in this episode.
Thoughts
In this episode, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan both face political opposition from their respective governments (though I have a hard time getting a read on the Regent). And with Shen Wei in Dixing, there's a bit more space for focusing on Zhao Yunlan's relationship with the rest of his team.
Some notes:
- For minor characters, two-thirds of whom we have no real reason to care about, the show spends a whole lot of time on Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu's story, including the extensive flashbacks last episode. I think it's going, "Pay attention! This is an important theme!" to set us up for the ending between Shen Wei and Ye Zun. We can infer by now that Ye Zun is most likely operating from false information, that his vengeance is misguided, and that the conflict will resolve when the truth is revealed. Anyway, I was thinking about this when Shen Wei gave Sha Ya the ring from Lin Jing, and I suddenly went, "Oh nooo, is the ring ≡ the pendant??" (Is Lin Jing very roughly equivalent to Zhao Yunlan in this scenario -- human, peripheral to the conflict, devoted? I know he's devoted to the wrong party for a one-to-one analogy, but parallels can't be too on the nose or there's no suspense/mystery.) The ring is given in absentia, it marks a separation (which ends in death), it holds a hidden wonder (stars, lollipop wrapper; po-tay-to, po-tah-to) which is revealed after the holder affirms their connection to the giver... And one is given in Haixing and fills the sky with stars; the other is given in Dixing, and Zhao Yunlan clutches it while he... yeah. I don't think this is coincidence!)
Shen Wei: Do you have any farewell messages for [Lin Jing]?
Sha Ya: We will meet again one day.
Anyway, before that, Hua Yuzhu finally apologises, the two women make up, which is sweet. Awww, Hua Yuzhu calls Sha Ya her most important person. (I wonder if Shen Wei later tells this to Zhao Yunlan.)
I love how awkwardly Shen Wei presents Lin Jing's ring. (I would be the same!) I still don't like Lin Jing making Sha Ya say that she loves him, but the ring is otherwise very cool. It seems strange to deploy it in Haixing, where there are already stars, but I guess they don't know what awaits them on the other side of the gateway. - In the hallway of the DoS, Zhao Yunlan tells Lin Jing he's brought him along to explain the situation to Minister Gao. Lin Jing excuses himself to the bathroom, and Zhao Yunlan meets with Minister Gao alone and argues strenuously that they should warn the public about Ye Zun. (I don't actually know about this; wouldn't it potentially cause chaos and worsen anti-Dixing prejudice, when the message inevitably got scrambled? And what can the average person on the street do to prepare, other than form vigilante squads? /o\ Maybe it is better to wait till they know what they're dealing with? But Zhao Yunlan seems very sure it's the right thing to do.)
I think Minister Gao might still be shaken up from the kidnapping, even if (or because) he doesn't remember it. He asks Zhao Yunlan to follow orders. Zhao Yunlan tries to persuade him to change the order. Minister Gao looks at the weird portrait of Ma Gui and says the DoS has existed a long time (more setup for YOHE).
Min Gao: To be honest, I don't know if my current decisions are correct or not. But humans have lived in peace for a long time, such that they can't bear such fear and turmoil. No matter how great the crisis, we must silently bear it on our shoulders.
Zhao Yunlan reluctantly gives in. - Ya Qing and seething-energy-Ye Zun meet in a Haixing park. Ye Zun wants to go after the SID (they're too annoying) and tells Ya Qing to alter their information and release it online. She's secretly reluctant (this is where she draws the line??), but gives herself a silent peptalk: "I can't turn back. Once the Yashou are revitalized, all my choices will be proven right."
- At the DoS, Zhao Yunlan bluffs his way into the lab with a lollipop, ha! (Sneaky, and also, aww, I've missed that mischievous energy.) Meanwhile, Prof Ouyang wants Wang Xiangyang's remains, which... is gross but makes sense from a research POV!! Wang Xiangyang was a human who used a lot of dark energy, after all. Lin Jing talks back to Prof Ouyang (the effect of spending so much time with the SID rabble?) -- he defends the SID and casts aspersions on Prof Ouyang's research. Go, Lin Jing! And apparently there's no soundproofing in this lab, because Zhao Yunlan lets himself in with the degausser and slow-claps. He says to Lin Jing, "Come to the bathroom with me." LOLOL! Also, I love that he just walks off, leaving Lin Jing to decide whether to follow.
In the bathroom, Lin Jing looks like he expects Zhao Yunlan to kick his arse. He realises that being brought to the DoS was a test, and he failed it.
ZYL: You know what I'm like. As long as one is my brother, I will desperately protect him. But if you've betrayed me or taken advantage of my friendship, the only thing I can do is...
Cut to the SID, and Lin Jing packing up his stuff.
Everyone is Very Upset in different ways, which is really fun. (LOL at Wang Zheng's accounting of Lin Jing's tardiness and sleeping on the job.) Lin Jing returns Changcheng's baton, saying he's fixed it. (Did Sha Ya break it when ChuGuo interrupted the attack on Changcheng's uncle and aunt?)
Anyway, Zhao Yunlan is being a hardass about this. *pets him* Lin Jing nobly tries to take some of the heat with his "I can't stay," but everyone's still distraught/outraged.
Lin Jing: We shall meet again some day.
Zhao Yunlan: See yourself out.
(Zhu Hong stompily goes anyway.)
The team photo on his monitor!! *weeps*
Zhao Yunlan turns away, saying, "You guys, come here and I'll tell you your next assignments." He's really testing the team's loyalty. They all have their backs to him. (Chu Shuzhi looks so unhappy!! Maybe he thinks he's next. After all, he's kind of a spy, too, even if he answers to a friend of the SID, and he doesn't know Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei talked about it. /o\) - Shen Wei arrives in the Dijun's Palace in his Envoy robes, with Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu in tow. But oh no, Ye Zun has control of the guards, and the Regent is being completely useless and/or outright evil! Flashback to the coup and him trying to message the Envoy, but An Bai's friend notices and stomps on the incense. (Would it have worked without burning the incense?) (I wish we'd got to see if An Bai was aware of any of this. It's interesting that Ye Zun doesn't try to coopt him -- maybe the throne offers some protection?)
Anyway, the Regent seems to have decided to make the best of the situation? Pretend he's still in charge? He tells the guards to shoot the Envoy. Fighty fight. The Regent holds Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu hostage. "They say that Hei Pao Shi bemoans the state of the universe and pities the fate of mankind. If these two little girls get hurt, I'm sure Hei Pao Shi would feel upset." Shen Wei is wounded, oh no! His breath hitches, and I think he's shocked and assessing the damage and calculating his next step, how/whether he can get to Ye Zun. If he's going to be this much weakened, he has to use it.
FTR, Shen Wei could totally have taken the guards if not for the Dial exchange, and the Regent knows that, too. I wonder if that's why he felt free to open fire... Shen Wei judges him, "Even if I die, it's still like being alive. You are alive now, but you are 'dead' indeed!"
Sha Ya and Hua Yuzhu tell Shen Wei to save himself, and he teleports away in a cloud of dark energy. (Has he ever used that power before? It's cool!) He reappears in the empty streets of Dixing, running, and changes into his blue suit. He still seems to have quite a lot of dark energy at his disposal. - In Dragon City hospital, a fourth patient is brought in with the same mysterious symptoms: "There's black pigment permeating their muscles, shortness of breath, and all physical functions are in disorder. [...] The most important thing is that we can't find anything wrong. All the organs are in good condition." -- are these Professor Ouyang's test subjects?? We immediately cut to Li Qian doing science, so they might be, but surely Professor Ouyang would want to monitor them himself!
Anyway, Professor Ouyang introduces Lin Jing to Li Qian. (Lin Jing didn't know Li Qian worked at the lab, huh. I thought the SID knew that.) Professor Ouyang says, "The only hope to save the world is in our hands." - Shen Wei yells at the pillar. Oh, I think he changed clothes because he's being Ye Zun's big brother here, not the Envoy? (Is Ye Zun's note actually where we find out they're brothers?) Shen Wei gets stuck to the pillar, manages to break free and summons his dao, but then energy!Ye Zun appears and uses his gravity power to yank the dao from Shen Wei's hands and chain him.
Shen Wei: People aren't food!
Ye Zun: Fuck you. See if you like being stuck in/to a pillar. >:-)
Shen Wei tries using logic to convince Ye Zun to kill him instead of everyone else, but logic is not Ye Zun's love language. He wants to torment Shen Wei by going after his friends. I feel like if Shen Wei had used more Zhao Yunlan-esque tactics here, he could totally have annoyed Ye Zun into eating him, but Shen Wei is Shen Wei. - Zhao Yunlan is back at the DoS, nagging Minister Gao to make a public statement.
Minister Gao rebukes him for insubordination and threatens to disband the SID. Zhao Yunlan calls his bluff, which seems ill-judged. I find it interesting that Minister Gao doesn't just fire Zhao Yunlan and appoint another chief. (And I don't quite know what Zhao Yunlan is reacting against here? There haven't been any actual developments -- why the urgency? Does he want to free himself up to go to Dixing? Or is it just that he's getting more and more wound up, worrying about Shen Wei?)
Anyway, Zhang Shi comes in and tries to mediate. Zhao Yunlan accuses his father of playing good cop/bad cop and leaves, saying professionally he'll follow orders, but personally he strongly objects. "Civilians have the right to know the truth. Our Special Investigations will try our best to solve the crisis. But if it can't be solved, we will face it with the civilians." Which is presumably why Ye Zun is moving to cut off the SID at its knees.
After he leaves, Zhang Shi talks him up to Minister Gao. "He knows what to do."
Minister Gao: But... what if he gets hot-headed?
Zhang Shi: Give up the pawn to save the general? Sometimes a chess player has no choice but to do it. But if a person is a chess player and also a father, what should he do?
(I love how everyone in the world can tell Zhang Shi isn't Zhao Xinci except for Gao Jingfeng who's known Zhao Xinci for, like, 20+ years.) - Under protest, Cong Bo starts deleting all the SID's personal and background info, but Ya Qing shows up, knocks him out and takes his place at the keyboard. (Ye Zun told her to alter the information -- I wonder what she's making it say.) At the hospital, Dr Cheng overhears patients gossiping about the SID and tries to call Shen Wei.
Cong Bo wakes alone and wails to himself. Ya Qing has released all the info. Outside, Ya Qing looks upon the fruits of her labour and smiles. - One day later, at the SID, Chu Shuzhi, Zhu Hong, Da Qing and Guo Changcheng sit around the table, all upset about the leak -- especially Chu Shuzhi who wants to go explain (to Cong Bo? to the people generally?). (I wonder if he's already received the fake Envoy message at this stage, too.)
Da Qing takes charge (yay!). He tells Chu Shuzhi and Xiao Guo to investigate the Crows, while he and Zhu Hong check on Cong Bo.
Wang Zheng finds Zhao Yunlan stewing in his office. He says, "It seems like we were one step late. Ye Zun's people are ahead of us in leading public opinion." It's almost like he saw this exact scenario coming, but I guess he's aware of the SID's vulnerabilities, and its secretiveness is right up there.
He looks out the window and sees Ya Qing gloating. - In the street, Da Qing and Zhu Hong are accosted by a random nosy human. Da Qing slips away, and Zhu Hong is saved by Ying Chun, which strangely makes the rando give up, rather than following to ask More Questions. Zhu Hong wants to hide recent developments from Fourth Uncle, but he shows up and tells her to come back to the forest. She refuses.
Fourth Uncle says, "Have you become so blind because of your feelings for that Zhao Yunlan?", apparently forgetting that way back in eps 12 and 13 she was saying, "I live and die with the SID." Now, Zhu Hong says, "That has nothing to do with this! I only know that Yashou covering their eyes and pretending nothing's happening can't work anymore." Fourth Uncle says she's still a little girl inside, but she convinces him to give her three more days. (How does he know about the leak, anyway? Is it being reported on the radio, too?) - Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng attack a Crow guy, then let him go. (I'm not sure what that achieved.) Chu Shuzhi is worried about the Envoy. He received a letter telling him to go guard the Dijun's palace. Changcheng identifies it as a fake, but Chu Shuzhi already knows. He's still worried.
They decide to confer with Zhao Yunlan. - Zhao Yunlan at his desk with THREE incense cones in the burner, head bowed, remembering his promise to Shen Wei and going out of his mind. Man, you let yourself care about someone, and then the world feels like it's collapsing around your ears. Wang Zheng says, "Chief Zhao, I can't reach them." (Who?) Zhao Yunlan says, "The enemy has taken action, but I am still doing nothing. It's totally not my style."
The incense burner is hot? cold? to the touch. Zhao Yunlan starts to make a move, but looks out the window and sees an official car pulling up. Guo Ying gets out. (Who does he work for? He's usually Minister Gao's off-sider, but here he's ferrying Zhao Xinci around?)
I think Zhao Yunlan thinks this is Minister Gao's doing, that he's about to get raked over the coals for the disaster? Or can he see his dad in the back seat? Either way, he gestures cheerfully, putting his best face on it. (He also tells Wang Zheng and Sang Zan to guard the Hallows at all costs.)
Then he gets in the car, and it's his father, who opens with, "Zhao Yunlan, you've made me so disappointed." Oh my goddddd, Zhao Xinci! This is the first time you've seen each other since the roof!!! Zhao Yunlan nods as if he expected nothing less. He's going to endure it. But then Zhang Shi comes out and tells Guo Ying to take them to Zhao Yunlan's flat. - At the flat, Zhao Yunlan sprawls sulkily on the couch with his feet up while Zhang Shi sends Guo Ying away.
Zhang Shi: It looks tidier than I expected.
Zhao Yunlan: You are not him.
Zhang Shi: (doesn't deny it) How can you tell?
ZYL: (refusing to engage) *pulls his gun*
So the score at the end of this episode is three-nil to Team Ye Zun, who have successfully captured the palace, captured Shen Wei, and leaked information in Haixing to send the SID into a tailspin.
Meanwhile, the SID faces the obstacles of the DoS, Shen Wei's absence, and Zhao Yunlan sending Lin Jing away. The glimmers of hope are all in the SID's stubbornness: Zhu Hong being determined to stay and fight, Chu Shuzhi and Changcheng seeing through the forgery and deciding to confer with Zhao Yunlan rather than running off half-cocked, and Zhao Yunlan holding desperately, by the skin of his teeth, to his promise to Shen Wei. Even Cong Bo continues to cooperate, despite his whining.
Discussion starters:
- What's your favourite scene in this episode? Favourite line of dialogue?
- How many bullet holes is Shen Wei sporting after the fight at the palace?
- And has the Regent actually taken Ye Zun's side at this point? If not, what's he playing at, telling the guards to open fire on the Envoy? I find it hard to figure him out.
- Why do you think Shen Wei changes into his suit after he escapes from the palace?
- How differently would things have gone in Haixing if Minister Gao had let Zhao Yunlan go public sooner and set the narrative?
- Why didn't Zhao Yunlan tell the rest of the team his arrangement with Lin Jing? Does he not trust them? Or is it just for the sake of dramatic tension in the meta sense?
- When did Ya Qing learn to use computers, and how hard is it to type in gloves?
- How strange must it feel for Chu Shuzhi to be worried about the Envoy?
- What's up with the mysterious medical cases? Do you think they're linked to the serum project?
Let’s talk about episode 30!
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Zhang Shi takes Zhao Yunlan home, and Zhao Yunlan confronts him by me
Shen Wei and romantic gifts by
Fic:
About a painting by me, 5-drabble sequence inspired by the weird portrait of Ma Gui
no subject
I think this is an example of considering individuals vs. the collective.
Zhao Yunlan is thinking of the people as individuals: They deserve to know what's happening and not to be lied to. He knows what it feels like to have important information withheld.
Minister Gao is thinking in terms of crowd control: He knows the danger of large-scale panic and doesn't want to risk it. It's a valid concern!
Ye Zun wants to go after the SID (they're too annoying) and tells Ya Qing to alter their information and release it online. She's secretly reluctant (this is where she draws the line??)
I don't think it's the doxxing specifically that crosses the line for her. Rather, she knows she's gone - and is still going - too far in general, but she's stuck in a sunk cost fallacy. Can't stop now, right before the end!
And apparently there's no soundproofing in this lab, because Zhao Yunlan lets himself in with the degausser and slow-claps.
Right? He's behind what looks like a heavy fireroof door, but it's actually paper apparently XD
Chu Shuzhi looks so unhappy!! Maybe he thinks he's next.
Ooh, I hadn't considered he might feel this way. But it makes sense! Although Chu Shuzhi has always been very obviously a spy, who knows when Zhao Yunlan will decide to no longer tolerate that.
Da Qing takes charge (yay!)
Love to see Da Qing acting as deputy!
What's your favourite scene in this episode? Favourite line of dialogue?
Chains Chains ChaINNs!
Ok I'll try to be normal. That whole sequence in Dixing is great: Flashy Envoy fighting! The blue suit! Pillar chains! ❤️
And has the Regent actually taken Ye Zun's side at this point? If not, what's he playing at, telling the guards to open fire on the Envoy? I find it hard to figure him out.
I think he's taking whatever side he believes will win, and right now it looks pretty good for Team Ye Zun.
How differently would things have gone in Haixing if Minister Gao had let Zhao Yunlan go public sooner and set the narrative?
Probably not that different. Many people who should theoretically know better still believe sensationalist outrage-inducing crap after all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
no subject
Zhao Yunlan is thinking of the people as individuals: They deserve to know what's happening and not to be lied to. He knows what it feels like to have important information withheld.
Minister Gao is thinking in terms of crowd control: He knows the danger of large-scale panic and doesn't want to risk it. It's a valid concern!
Ohhh, that makes so much sense, especially Zhao Yunlan feeling like that about having info withheld. *pets him* That's great framing -- thanks! <3
Come to think of it, he's always been on the side of "no secrets". I guess it culminates in his post-YOHE speech, and in broadcasting Ye Zun's villain monologuing later on.
I don't think it's the doxxing specifically that crosses the line for her. Rather, she knows she's gone - and is still going - too far in general, but she's stuck in a sunk cost fallacy. Can't stop now, right before the end!
Ha, yeah, it's a reminder that she's not actually a true believer in Ye Zun's genocidal plan -- it's a means to an end for her. It's just funny that this is the time we get to hear her wrestling with herself.
Ooh, I hadn't considered he might feel this way. But it makes sense! Although Chu Shuzhi has always been very obviously a spy, who knows when Zhao Yunlan will decide to no longer tolerate that.
Ohh. I mean, I'm not sure Chu Shuzhi really believes Zhao Yunlan would kick him out, but he must have a lot of feelings about it anyway -- and Zhao Yunlan isn't in a very stable frame of mind, so who knows? (And he does yell at him to leave in just a few episodes, I think?)
Chains Chains ChaINNs!
Ok I'll try to be normal. That whole sequence in Dixing is great: Flashy Envoy fighting! The blue suit! Pillar chains! ❤️
Hee! *so many hearts* (It is so great!!)
I think he's taking whatever side he believes will win, and right now it looks pretty good for Team Ye Zun.
Maybe. It's hard, because there's obviously no love lost between the Regent and Shen Wei, but the Regent disapproves of Ye Zun pretty strongly, too. He was upset when the Deacon killed the old Dijun, and he's talked about Ye Zun's troublemaking a lot before, and tried the siege squad. I really do wonder if he's just been biding his time, hoping the Envoy would come and set things to rights -- but when the Envoy does show up, his powers are weakened, oh no!
Probably not that different. Many people who should theoretically know better still believe sensationalist outrage-inducing crap after all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. :-/
no subject
Yes, this, exactly! And, you know, with some help Shen Wei might still win that fight - but the Regent isn't doing anything to help. (Surely even if he himself has zero useful abilities, he'd be able to instigate something? He's good at being sneaky after all ...)
no subject
Minister Gao is thinking in terms of crowd control: He knows the danger of large-scale panic and doesn't want to risk it. It's a valid concern!
All true! But also, Zhao Yunlan isn't not considering crowd control. He says he thinks it's inevitable that it'll get out, so he wants them to disclose it themselves and control the narrative, rather than leaving that to their enemies.
Chains Chains ChaINNs!
I think I may be the only fan in the fandom for whom a chained Shen Wei doesn't really do anything? *g*
Totally agreed that the whole Dixing sequence is excellent, though. Fight scenes, tension, a confrontation between the brothers! And everything going wrong for Shen Wei - but we know he has a contingency plan ...
Many people who should theoretically know better still believe sensationalist outrage-inducing crap after all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Too, too true, alas. /o\
no subject
It feels more fatalistic than I'd normally expect from him. Rather than doing anything to try to stop Team Ye Zun, or counter whatever their next move might be, he's trying to manage the effect of the next attack. If you know what I mean?
I think I may be the only fan in the fandom for whom a chained Shen Wei doesn't really do anything? *g*
Not the only one! (But possibly for different reasons? It's not it being Shen Wei that makes it not my thing...)
no subject
Not the only one! (But possibly for different reasons? It's not it being Shen Wei that makes it not my thing...)
Oh, point! Yeah, we have some overlap but also some differences.
no subject
But if it was just that, would it be so fraught and urgent? It's the threat of Ye Zun he's trying to reveal, not just the presence of Dixingren generally.
no subject
no subject
And I guess the thing is, anything else is a big policy shift -- one that the SID has already made, independently. Expecting Minister Gao to suddenly make the same leap without all the experiences that got Zhao Yunlan there is kind of a big ask.
Whereas dealing with the immediate threat in front of them and having disaster preparedness in place is very clearly urgent -- but also nebulous, given the nature of the threat.
no subject
Yeah, that's a very good point!
no subject
Yes! They're both besieged in different ways, and while Shen Wei is being outright attacked, what's going on in Haixing isn't any less dangerous for (so far) being less violent.
Yes, very true about the parallels and the foreshadowing!
Anyway, I was thinking about this when Shen Wei gave Sha Ya the ring from Lin Jing, and I suddenly went, "Oh nooo, is the ring ≡ the pendant??" (Is Lin Jing very roughly equivalent to Zhao Yunlan in this scenario -- human, peripheral to the conflict, devoted? I know he's devoted to the wrong party for a one-to-one analogy, but parallels can't be too on the nose or there's no suspense/mystery.)
I'm not sure I understand, who would make for more of a one-to-one analogy?
But yeah, I think there's definitely a parallel being drawn, not just with the ring, but also with Sha Ya telling Shen Wei to tell Lin Jing "we will meet again one day", which is also what Kunlun promises YOHE!Shen Wei. And what, later in this episode, despite not having heard Sha Ya's message, Lin Jing tells the SID when he's leaving. Wide thematic parallels, not all resolved in the same way but still echoing each other!
The ring is given in absentia, it marks a separation (which ends in death), it holds a hidden wonder (stars, lollipop wrapper; po-tay-to, po-tah-to) which is revealed after the holder affirms their connection to the giver... And one is given in Haixing and fills the sky with stars; the other is given in Dixing, and Zhao Yunlan clutches it while he... yeah. I don't think this is coincidence!)
This is such a lovely observation!!!!!! :D
Yeah, agreed. And it's still ugh, but it could easily have come across way more unpleasant than it actually does!
And OMG do I ever wish we could have seen the scene where Lin Jing talked to Shen Wei and asked him to pass this message on! *g*
And as for Sha Ya's reaction to the revelations, she calls herself ridiculous, and Shen Wei seems to have a reaction - looks like this is touching something in him. What is he thinking about? Can it be Ye Zun? I mean, he doesn't even know yet that Ye Zun wrongly blames him for what happened when they were separated.
Oh, I think he changed clothes because he's being Ye Zun's big brother here, not the Envoy?
And that too, probably!
I wonder about this, since Lin Jing goes to the "bathroom" before the meeting and doesn't apparently expect to be missed. So weird!
(Lin Jing looks very mopey, as Zhao Yunlan remarks, and part of it is of course because of Sha Ya, but the other part I'm sure is that it's starting to hit home just how much he doesn't want to betray the SID.)
Between this scene and the later one when Zhao Yunlan argues for warning the public again, I think it's pretty clear that he not only thinks people deserve to know the truth, but also expects the information to get out anyway. (Which it would later, even if Ya Qing didn't spread anything online, with the attacks from Ye Zun's people and Ye Zun's broadcasts.) The way I understand it, he thinks they should go public now, so they have a chance to control over the way the information is presented, and can spin everything in a way more likely to keep people calm. If they don't, at best they've left things to chance; at worst they've handed this chance to their enemies instead.
I wonder why he chose that avenue of attack over something more obvious, like killing them? And he says he thinks that once people lose faith in the SID, it'll just collapse on its own - going by the way Ya Qing looks off to the side at that, she doesn't seem terribly convinced.
I think her reluctance is more about the delay than about drawing a line - she's asking about the final attack, and he's telling her there's another plan she should take care of. She wants her payoff, and I think the longer things go the more she starts worrying that it won't happen, but she keeps telling herself it will, because she has too much invested in it by now. (Also, Ye Zun tells her disruption should be useful to the Yashou, making it sound like he cares about what she wants.)
Yeah, this is a great conversation, and you can see why Zhao Yunlan after hearing this is pretty damn sure of Lin Jing and doesn't hesitate making him a double agent. Especially given that Professor Ouyang complains about Lin Jing not giving him any useful info in the last year! ♥ (Which does make me wonder what info he gave him in the years prior to that ...)
And I love that Lin Jing calls him out on his unethical research, and getting stranger and not looking well. We've seen Professor Ouyang get worse over the course of the show - glad Lin Jing is pointing it out!
This is such an awesome bit!
It's delightful! Everyone's defensive of Lin Jing, even knowing he was a spy! Apart from Wang Zheng's speech, I especially love Xiao-Guo reminding Zhao Yunlan that the Inspectorate is their superior, and Chu Shuzhi supporting him, and Zhu Hong telling him to just wait for Professor Shen to come back, because Zhao Yunlan will listen to him. She doesn't doubt for a second that Shen Wei will be on their side in this. :D
No, he still used it during the rooftop confrontation with Sha Ya, but she electrocuted him and it there, so I assume that's when it broke.
I love how she stomp-stomp-stomps after him!
Yeah, maybe! We talked a bit about this on discord, and of course it's different - Zhao Yunlan always knew Chu Shuzhi was sent by the Envoy, whereas he had no idea Lin Jing had been deliberately sent to the SID. And he knew Chu Shuzhi was loyal to the Envoy, whereas he had no idea Lin Jing had any other loyalties. But I don't think all of that would be on Chu Shuzhi's mind.
Besides, as
To me, the Regent looks very tense when Shen Wei discovers the guards are under Ye Zun's control, and he seems a bit annoyed that it took the Envoy so long to turn up while all this was going on in the palace. And when Shen Wei gets shot, he looks genuinely shocked, even if he immediately covers it by mocking Shen Wei for his weakness.
The way I read it, the Envoy is hedging his bets - on the one hand, completely expecting the Envoy to win this fight and save the day, but also not willing to risk openly taking a stand against Ye Zun before that.
(Also, Sha Ya really must be drained after Wang Xiangyang's death - if she could fight at anything resembling her previous power level, surely she would?)
Maybe he could have ignited it with black energy?
Or maybe the Dijun isn't able to do anything that Ye Zun would care about? If he can't act on his own, and everyone he might give orders to has been suborned, does it matter?
I was wondering the same thing - I don't know; it would surely have come in handy a few times but we've never actually seen it before ...
Yeah, he's far from powerless, just not as quick to shrug off an injury as he used to be.
Huh, I hadn't thought about that, but they might be! I'd thought it was maybe the effect of some weird Dixing power from one of Ye Zun's flunkies, but couldn't figure out the point. Also, "melanin permeating the skin" is such a weird thing to list as a symptom!
Huh, yeah, I'm not sure why Zhao Yunlan would have kept this from people ...
I have so many questions about Ye Zun's weird black energy form! First off, why does he appear this way? Previously when he escaped the Pillar, he did that energy projection thing; why is he a blob now?! And all the moving around as an energy cloud, punching Shen Wei with a cloud and such, makes me wonder if the black energy holding Shen Wei to the Pillar when he first hits it, and the black energy on the chains that tightens them and makes them painful for Shen Wei, is also Ye Zun himself, not just a power he's exercising ... After all, when Ye Zun leaves, all that goes away too and Shen Wei is just held by the chains.
LOL! But also, I don't think Shen Wei is at the point where he really wants to provoke Ye Zun into eating him, just yet. He's ready to take the opportunity if Ye Zun goes for it, but I don't think he believes just yet that there's no other way to deal with this.
Yeah, that's definitely bad judgment on Zhao Yunlan's part. As for Minister Gao, he's still not aware of how things stand between Zhao Yunlan and his father, so he probably doesn't think firing him is a credible threat while Zhao Yunlan's father is the head of the Xingdu Bureau. And his initial threat to disband the SID is OTT, but then he doesn't expect Zhao Yunlan to react the way he does!
He says he thinks it's inevitable anyway. So given that things are ramping up, he expects that if they don't get the info out in a controlled way soon, it'll get out in uncontrolled ways and they'll lose the chance to influence the public opinion at all. Which he turns out to be right about, sooner than he probably thought he would!
Is this Zhang Shi from the start? I thought it might well be Zhao Xinci at the start, since him saying that so long as the SID is on the same page as them there's no problem seemed like a veiled threat to me - "get on the same page, or else".
The end of the scene is definitely Zhang Shi, though, yeah.
To be continued ...
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I have questions! What data are we talking about here? Where is he deleting these things from? Surely not from the SID's own systems?
Original: 把你们的资料履历全部删掉？
Original subs: Delete all your CV and information?
Viki: Delete all your personal background and work information?
Solo: Delete everything about you from the internet?
I think the "internet" comes from 资料 also being profile in the internet sense, but idk if that's right here. I'm not sure from where he's being asked to delete these things, but given that we see him delete what looks like a folder, perhaps it's about his own files? Does he have confidential stuff on his computer? In which case what she's leaking is from Cong Bo's computer ...
Huh. The line in the original subs is "You should find a way to modify their information then publish it in public", but
Original line: 你去想办法把那群人的资料加工一下，公布于众
I love Da Qing being deputy chief!
Interestingly, Zhu Hong calls her aunt (gugu)! Seems that despite her looks, Ying Chun is considered to be more Fourth Uncle's generation than Zhu Hong's own.
Ha, good question, but yeah, why wouldn't it be on the radio? Especially if he's listening to a local station.
I guess they did confirm the Crows were spreading rumours. But yeah, I don't see how that helps, given that Zhao Yunlan already saw Ya Qing gloating.
1) I love that Xiao-Guo can identify Shen Wei's handwriting well enough to recognise an imitation! :D
2) I love that Lao-Chu knows Shen Wei well enough to know these are not orders he would give. (I don't think he'd have known that at the beginning of canon!) And I love that he's worrying about the Envoy's wellbeing - unlike Zhao Yunlan, he doesn't even know the Envoy is weakened, but he's worried all the same, and the fake orders only make him worry more because they say bad things about the situation the Envoy walked into. And he feels guilty for not going to help, even though he knows that's what whoever faked the letter wants him to do ... *pets him*
Awww! Poor Zhao Yunlan.
He asked her to contact the Inspectorate earlier, so I assume that's who she means. I guess they're not taking the SID's calls right now? Or their phones are overwhelmed with everyone calling in for information/help/complaints about the SID. *g*
The metal is hot because the incense has been burning so long. Normally it wouldn't have time to heat up before the Envoy responded to the call! And now ...
Idk, but it's great for giving making a show of official action from the Inspectorate and the Xingdu Bureau! Which is presumably what Zhao Xinci wants.
I thought he recognised his father, yeah.
Seriously! WTF is wrong with him.
I love the sulking! :D
(Also, Zhang Shi calls Guo Ying "Xiao-Guo". :D
This line really sounds like Zhang Shi is saying what Zhao Xinci would normally say, but isn't quite pulling off the tone! Great acting.
Meanwhile, the SID faces the obstacles of the DoS, Shen Wei's absence, and Zhao Yunlan sending Lin Jing away. The glimmers of hope are all in the SID's stubbornness: Zhu Hong being determined to stay and fight, Chu Shuzhi and Changcheng seeing through the forgery and deciding to confer with Zhao Yunlan rather than running off half-cocked, and Zhao Yunlan holding desperately, by the skin of his teeth, to his promise to Shen Wei. Even Cong Bo continues to cooperate, despite his whining.
I'm just quoting this in full because this is such a lovely summary. ♥ ♥ ♥
I think my favourite bit is Zhao Yunlan sitting at his desk, remembering Shen Wei telling him to hold out, and burning his fingers on the incense burner. ♥
Too many! (I figure he heals them pretty quickly, just not instantly as he used to, not fast enough. When he's walking through the streets and going to the Pillar, he doesn't look like he's still injured. But still!)
Last time I watched this, I was where you are. This time I feel like I have a better grip on him - YMMV. (See above.) IMO his major, self-defeating flaw is really not is sleazy evil, but his utter unwillingness to commit to anything, to take any side, if it would pose any risk at all. Even though not taking a side, or trying to play both sides, or trying to bide time, poses risks of its own.
See above, I think it's mainly that he's no longer seeing any benefit in leaning into the role of the Envoy, now that the Palace has been taken over.
I think for Ye Zun's overall plan it wouldn't have made that much difference. But even just some public support might have made things easier. And if the Inspectorate had been willing to trust Zhao Yunlan's judgment on this and work withif the SID, then the SID wouldn't have had to do everything they did while looking over their shoulder and dealing with backstabbing from their own superiors.
I don't think he trusts their acting ability! What with Ya Qing and her Crows observing the SID, and who knows what other informants Ye Zun may have, he seems to consider it safest if no one but Lin Jing and him knows.
Her gloves don't look hard to type in; they're very thin and lacy. But I'm very curious about where she learned her computer skills, and what she usually uses them for!
SO strange, OMG! I would love to see fic from his POV, trying to wrap his head around that.
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Could it be an honorary title due to Ying Chun's position as tribe elder?
Ha, good question, but yeah, why wouldn't it be on the radio? Especially if he's listening to a local station.
I thought the DoS might have some control over/ability to pressure the radio stations. (Or that a Chinese audience might assume that, anyway.)
I love that Lao-Chu knows Shen Wei well enough to know these are not orders he would give. (I don't think he'd have known that at the beginning of canon!) And I love that he's worrying about the Envoy's wellbeing - unlike Zhao Yunlan, he doesn't even know the Envoy is weakened, but he's worried all the same, and the fake orders only make him worry more because they say bad things about the situation the Envoy walked into. And he feels guilty for not going to help, even though he knows that's what whoever faked the letter wants him to do ... *pets him*
Yesss, all of this!
He asked her to contact the Inspectorate earlier, so I assume that's who she means. I guess they're not taking the SID's calls right now? Or their phones are overwhelmed with everyone calling in for information/help/complaints about the SID. *g*
Ahh, that makes sense. Thanks!
This line really sounds like Zhang Shi is saying what Zhao Xinci would normally say, but isn't quite pulling off the tone! Great acting.
Yess, I love that.
When he's walking through the streets and going to the Pillar, he doesn't look like he's still injured.
Yeah, true. Good point.
IMO his major, self-defeating flaw is really not is sleazy evil, but his utter unwillingness to commit to anything, to take any side, if it would pose any risk at all. Even though not taking a side, or trying to play both sides, or trying to bide time, poses risks of its own.
He really is a mirror of Minister Gao in this sense, isn't he?
See above, I think it's mainly that he's no longer seeing any benefit in leaning into the role of the Envoy, now that the Palace has been taken over.
So do you think suit!Shen Wei is the default now, even in Haixing? When do you think that changed for him?
I don't think he trusts their acting ability! What with Ya Qing and her Crows observing the SID, and who knows what other informants Ye Zun may have, he seems to consider it safest if no one but Lin Jing and him knows.
Ohh, that makes so much sense. Thank you!
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Live broadcasts are hard to control, though, especially the kind where people can call in.
He really is a mirror of Minister Gao in this sense, isn't he?
YES!!!!!! Seriously, I'm so delighted to discover this particular thematic mirroring :D
So do you think suit!Shen Wei is the default now, even in Haixing? When do you think that changed for him?
I'm not sure when it changed, but at some point before the first time he went to Dixing and didn't bother to change at all, not before he went through the passage, not when he entered the palace and talked to officials, just ... not at all.
And I love the robes and want him to wear them more often! But I feel like at this point he's no longer "robes when being the Envoy, suit when being Professor Shen", but he's always being both now, you know?
(I love him Envoying in a suit, but I would really REALLY love seeing him Professoring in his robes!)
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Live broadcasts are hard to control, though, especially the kind where people can call in.
True, but if it's known there are consequences, they kind of control themselves to some extent? (I guess I'm wondering how authoritarian Haixing is. It can't be explicitly democratic -- I can't imagine the censors would allow that? But are we supposed to think it's pretty relaxed/liberal, for all that?)
YES!!!!!! Seriously, I'm so delighted to discover this particular thematic mirroring :D
\o/!! :D
I'm not sure when it changed, but at some point before the first time he went to Dixing and didn't bother to change at all, not before he went through the passage, not when he entered the palace and talked to officials, just ... not at all.
It must be psychologically connected to the reveal in Haixing somehow, I think? Hm.
(I love him Envoying in a suit, but I would really REALLY love seeing him Professoring in his robes!)
Yes! *eyes several WIPs that meet this criteria, to a greater or lesser extent* ;-p
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Maybe not as much if emotions are running high!
But that's a good question about how authoritarian Haixing is. I'm never sure either - obviously it's China-but-not, but that "not" allows for a lot of variance. *g* More relaxed than RL!China, at least, I'd say?
Yes! *eyes several WIPs that meet this criteria, to a greater or lesser extent* ;-p
*makes grabby hands towards your WIPs*
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True!
But that's a good question about how authoritarian Haixing is. I'm never sure either - obviously it's China-but-not, but that "not" allows for a lot of variance. *g* More relaxed than RL!China, at least, I'd say?
China's got worse lately, hasn't it? Maybe they were aiming for something like how China was in 2015 (I presume production started then?), or within an acceptable liberal margin of that.
<3 <3 <3
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This actually made me wonder if they're besieged in exactly the same way: with a leader (or co-leader) who is refusing to address the reality of the problem and just trying to buy time without having a plan or doing anything constructive. Or something?
I'm not sure I understand, who would make for more of a one-to-one analogy?
I meant Sha Ya ≡ Ye Zun, so shouldn't the SW/ZYL-equivalent relationship be with Hua Yuzhu?
but also with Sha Ya telling Shen Wei to tell Lin Jing "we will meet again one day", which is also what Kunlun promises YOHE!Shen Wei. And what, later in this episode, despite not having heard Sha Ya's message, Lin Jing tells the SID when he's leaving.
Ooh, good catch!
And OMG do I ever wish we could have seen the scene where Lin Jing talked to Shen Wei and asked him to pass this message on! *g*
LOLOL! I hadn't thought of that. *wants*
We talked the other day about Hua Yuzhu's reasons for her silence about what really happened to Gu Ban; here she reveals that part of it is that she blames herself and thinks Gu Ban died because of her.
Oh, I missed that somehow. I guess that makes sense, in the logic of trauma.
And as for Sha Ya's reaction to the revelations, she calls herself ridiculous, and Shen Wei seems to have a reaction - looks like this is touching something in him.
I thought he was just noting her repentance, and would take it into account when delivering her to the palace. It doesn't look that personal a reaction to me.
The way I understand it, he thinks they should go public now, so they have a chance to control over the way the information is presented, and can spin everything in a way more likely to keep people calm. If they don't, at best they've left things to chance; at worst they've handed this chance to their enemies instead.
Yeah, he really does seem to have given up on the idea of stopping the attacks before they start. Things are moving forward now, whether he likes it or not. I feel like he should be shoring up their defences well beyond worrying about public perception, but I guess it's hard when they don't know what form the next attack will take.
I wonder why he chose that avenue of attack over something more obvious, like killing them?
I think he likes toying with / torturing people -- which also ties into Ya Qing's reluctance and distaste for this tactic, maybe?
No, he still used it during the rooftop confrontation with Sha Ya, but she electrocuted him and it there, so I assume that's when it broke.
Ah, thanks!
Zhao Yunlan seems to treat the Haixing Inspectorate and the lab as more of a threat to the SID and its mission than Dixing, which is very interesting since we're talking about his own superiors ...
I guess they're more present and are empowered to assert themselves over the SID. But this is a new development, right? Over the course of the show...
The way I read it, the Envoy is hedging his bets - on the one hand, completely expecting the Envoy to win this fight and save the day, but also not willing to risk openly taking a stand against Ye Zun before that.
In his reluctant defence, Ye Zun probably wouldn't have hesitated to have him killed if he resisted, would he? Most of the Regent's power stems from having lackeys, and now his lackeys have been turned against him.
Or maybe the Dijun isn't able to do anything that Ye Zun would care about? If he can't act on his own, and everyone he might give orders to has been suborned, does it matter?
True. But symbolically?
Re Shen Wei's teleporting power -- maybe it requires a degree of dark energy that's only available to him in Dixing?
Huh, I hadn't thought about that, but they might be! I'd thought it was maybe the effect of some weird Dixing power from one of Ye Zun's flunkies, but couldn't figure out the point.
Presumably it will become clear. :-)
But also, I don't think Shen Wei is at the point where he really wants to provoke Ye Zun into eating him, just yet. He's ready to take the opportunity if Ye Zun goes for it, but I don't think he believes just yet that there's no other way to deal with this.
I think it depends how wounded he is. And either way, he must be getting close to thinking it's time. Ye Zun is free, and he's so dangerous!!
Is this Zhang Shi from the start? I thought it might well be Zhao Xinci at the start, since him saying that so long as the SID is on the same page as them there's no problem seemed like a veiled threat to me - "get on the same page, or else".
I'm pretty sure it's Zhang Shi -- he's conciliatory, and he tries to cajole ZYL into behaving (talks to him, rather than Minister Gao), instead of criticising or browbeating him. Also, his expression just looks more Zhang Shi-ish to me. But I might be wrong. :-)
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Ooh, yes, you're so right! That's excactly it. Oh, I love that. :D
I meant Sha Ya ≡ Ye Zun, so shouldn't the SW/ZYL-equivalent relationship be with Hua Yuzhu?
Oh, right! Now I see what you mean. Yeah, the roles are shuffled around, it's not a one-to-one parallel. I like it when mirroring works that way; feels less on the nose, if that makes sense?
Yeah, he really does seem to have given up on the idea of stopping the attacks before they start.
I feel like unless they can quickly and decisively defeat Ye Zun NOW, which he clearly knows they can't, further attacks aren't preventable. There are Dixingren and Yashou living right here in Haixing who are either working for Ye Zun for their own reasons, or suborned by him, and he will use them. Meanwhile the public doesn't even know these peoples exist, much less anything about the political situation or the danger they're in, or who to turn to when an attack happens.
I feel like he should be shoring up their defences well beyond worrying about public perception, but I guess it's hard when they don't know what form the next attack will take.
Yeah, and what could he do? I figure he's not coming up with anything proactive he could do, other than making sure everyone is prepared. Which they can't be if they don't know.
I think he likes toying with / torturing people -- which also ties into Ya Qing's reluctance and distaste for this tactic, maybe?
I guess that makes sense, yeah!
I guess they're more present and are empowered to assert themselves over the SID. But this is a new development, right? Over the course of the show...
Yeah, at the beginning he seemed to regard his superiors in the usual way, sometimes-obstructive bureaucrats who need to be manoeuvred into doing what he needs them to do. And at some point he decided they were actively a danger to the SID, but I'm not sure when exactly that happens. Some time before he decides to break into the lab, I guess?
In his reluctant defence, Ye Zun probably wouldn't have hesitated to have him killed if he resisted, would he? Most of the Regent's power stems from having lackeys, and now his lackeys have been turned against him.
That's true, or at least as far as the Regent knows! Ye Zun might have preferred to keep him so he can use him against Shen Wei anyway, but there's no way of telling.
True. But symbolically?
True!
Re Shen Wei's teleporting power -- maybe it requires a degree of dark energy that's only available to him in Dixing?
Ooh! Or maybe not power levels as such, but we know teleportation needs a medium, and if this version relies on ambient black energy, it might not be possible in Haixing?
Presumably it will become clear. :-)
One hopes! *g*
I think it depends how wounded he is. And either way, he must be getting close to thinking it's time. Ye Zun is free, and he's so dangerous!!
I don't think he's that wounded at that point; he looks fine when he's walking through the streets. But agreed that it's definitely on his mind!
I'm pretty sure it's Zhang Shi -- he's conciliatory, and he tries to cajole ZYL into behaving (talks to him, rather than Minister Gao), instead of criticising or browbeating him. Also, his expression just looks more Zhang Shi-ish to me. But I might be wrong. :-)
I guess it can be read either way!
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Yes, absolutely. Keeps some suspense and ambiguity. And besides, Shen Wei isn't Hua Yuzhu -- they're completely different situations, just with similar themes.
I feel like unless they can quickly and decisively defeat Ye Zun NOW, which he clearly knows they can't, further attacks aren't preventable.
I feel like the whole point of Shen Wei going to Dixing was to try to decisively defeat Ye Zun, now that he's out of the pillar? I wonder how much of ZYL's agitation is not having heard from Shen Wei and thus assuming/worrying (correctly, as it turns out) that it's not going so well. Given just the degree of danger they already knew about, anything could have happened.
Meanwhile the public doesn't even know these peoples exist, much less anything about the political situation or the danger they're in, or who to turn to when an attack happens.
Oh, that last bit is an excellent point, though. It would be great to have disaster planning in place. I guess the problem is that they have no idea what form the disaster will take. How do you plan for a Master of Nightmares attack, for ex?
Yeah, and what could he do? I figure he's not coming up with anything proactive he could do, other than making sure everyone is prepared. Which they can't be if they don't know.
I think he could be doing more to protect his people. Like, giving them resources and planning so that if they are accosted in the street, they have a rote response rather than just feeling scared. *pets Zhu Hong* But yeah, generally, it all sucks, and he's not allowed to do the one thing he thinks will help. :-(((
Yeah, at the beginning he seemed to regard his superiors in the usual way, sometimes-obstructive bureaucrats who need to be manoeuvred into doing what he needs them to do. And at some point he decided they were actively a danger to the SID, but I'm not sure when exactly that happens. Some time before he decides to break into the lab, I guess?
Oh! Maybe when they wouldn't let him investigate the lab? That might have been the first time they tried to sideline the SID?
Ooh! Or maybe not power levels as such, but we know teleportation needs a medium, and if this version relies on ambient black energy, it might not be possible in Haixing?
Ooh, I love that! <3
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Idk if anyone expected him to just defealt Ye Zun like that? Certainly not Shen Wei himself, because if he thought he could do that so easily he wouldn't have needed a contingency plan. I figure he expected to be working with the palace to contain the crisis, but then the palace had already been taken over ...
I wonder how much of ZYL's agitation is not having heard from Shen Wei and thus assuming/worrying (correctly, as it turns out) that it's not going so well.
Yeah, that's an excellent point!
Oh, that last bit is an excellent point, though. It would be great to have disaster planning in place. I guess the problem is that they have no idea what form the disaster will take. How do you plan for a Master of Nightmares attack, for ex?
Idk either, but IMO that's what the Ministry should be working at, not trying to shove it all under the rug as hard as they can.
I think he could be doing more to protect his people. Like, giving them resources and planning so that if they are accosted in the street, they have a rote response rather than just feeling scared. *pets Zhu Hong*
Yeah, true, he definitely could have done that at least!
Oh! Maybe when they wouldn't let him investigate the lab? That might have been the first time they tried to sideline the SID?
Oh! Yes, and that was also when they saw Li Qian and Minister Gao denied it was her? So from that denial, he could easily have concluded something shady was going on.
Ooh, I love that! <3
:D :D :D
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I think the goal was to try to keep a lid on it, anyway. And yeah, exactly, the palace having fallen is a big disaster. (I didn't necessarily mean Shen Wei had to defeat Ye Zun all by himself.) Plus, Shen Wei didn't know about the siege squad, either, so he might have thought there would be more options at his/their disposal.
(I wonder who led the siege squad, and if they'd have done better under experienced leadership...)
Idk either, but IMO that's what the Ministry should be working at, not trying to shove it all under the rug as hard as they can.
I guess they're so used to the SID handling any problems that come up, they're like, "Just keep doing that, and everything will be okay."
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Ah, okay, that makes more sense then!
Plus, Shen Wei didn't know about the siege squad, either, so he might have thought there would be more options at his/their disposal.
Agreed! I assume he doesn't even know how bad things got before the Regent decided to send out the siege squad, since that was around the time he messaged the Regent and complained about not receiving reports lately, right?
(I wonder who led the siege squad, and if they'd have done better under experienced leadership...)
Yeah, I definitely feel like that would have helped!
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